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A Sword Without a Hilt: A Song of Ice and Fire/D&D 3.5 Crossover

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Was poking around Draconomicon in anticipation of eventually getting some nice dragon corpses courtesy of Tiamat, and I found this again:
Secure Cavern: The entire cavern is affected by a mind blank spell. No one in the cavern can be affected by devices and spells that detect, influence, or read emotions and thoughts, up to and including miracle or wish. Even a scrying attempt that scans an area does not work.
Strong abjuration; CL 15th; Craft Wondrous Item, mind blank; Price 60,000 gp.
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For anyone who wasn't aware, this is the ward in the anti-divination room in the Shadow Tower -- it's pretty much what made finding Amrelath's phylactery so frustrating... but by the same token it also gave us a hell of an advantage in our planning for the conquest of Tyrosh, so eh.

Anyway, since it's effectively a permanent Mind Blank for an entire room and everything in it, we should of course plan to make more of these in strategic locations, like the future Imperium Palace, maybe the head Legion compound, whatever fortress we build for Waymar's Griffon Knight Order, etc.

It would cost 12,000 IM to craft -- in other words, 60 days of crafting if you go by base time. Still. Mind Blank for an entire room. We have far bigger priorities now of course, but this is definitely something we should get around to.
TalonofAnathrax said:
@DragonParadox hasn't kept the student numbers consistent with the number of people listed as Instructors, so it's hard to say. Anything from 300 students and 300 aspirants to 1 200 students and 1 200 aspirants (if we actually let our Druid Creature Treants or Advanced Druid Leshy teach at some point! We never seem to!). Some of those will be in Tyrosh (which needs a Philosopher's Tree and good library, by the way! @Duesal, add that to the tree wishlist?), but most will be in SD.
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I get where you're coming from with this, but I'm kind of iffy on Philosophy Trees everywhere. Healing Trees and Defense Trees are one thing, but this was meant to be unique to Sorcerer's Deep. How about just having the Wisdom of Ages effect on new trees in the Scholarum outposts rather than recreating the Philosopher's Tree wholesale?
 
TalonofAnathrax said:
if we actually let our Druid Creature Treants or Advanced Druid Leshy teach at some point! We never seem to!
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We aren't getting any druids from them (because OG weirdness, we seem to need a dedicated teacher that isn't connected to OG's?), but DP have previously stated that they are a consistent part of Scholarum staff?...
Other Instructors:
1 Lotus Leshy, 2 Treants (Druid2)
Alas the Whisperer (Witch)
2 Raptorans (Oracles)
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yeah, they are there.
Teana, Velen, 2 Oracles, 2 Druid Treants, 1 Lotus Leshy, Sarah, are all teaching if what I'm getting is right...

But speaking of that, @DragonParadox, haven't we decided on having the rest of mages we bought on PoA teach too, once they got their craftbots? Alas the Whisperer (?) and some other guy?
Or am I mixing up who's a craftbotperson and who's not? @Goldfish?

Duesal said:
I get where you're coming from with this, but I'm kind of iffy on Philosophy Trees everywhere. Healing Trees and Defense Trees are one thing, but this was meant to be unique to Sorcerer's Deep. How about just having the Wisdom of Ages effect on new trees in the Scholarum outposts rather than recreating the Philosopher's Tree wholesale?
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Total agreement.
You may diversify other branches of Scholarum into whatever, but I will fight to keeping this one unique to SD.
Rah.
 
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TalonofAnathrax said:
I will fight to the death to defend my right to shitpost as needed!
And it won't stop em from trying to be a debate exemplar when needed. I'll fail sometimes, but I'll still try! And of course I try to make it clear when I'm shitposting.

To be clear: I'll fight you in some sort of online contest. And online death. If you want to actually fight a french person, walk into a Toulouse bakery and ask to buy a pain au chocolat or something :D
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For you, only hug ratings.

Not because I like you or anything.

But because they annoy you.
 
Duesal said:
How about just having the Wisdom of Ages effect on new trees in the Scholarum outposts rather than recreating the Philosopher's Tree wholesale?
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How is that any better? And how will you get that effect?

Anyway, do as you wish. I'm half-convinced DP won't bother differentiating between Scholarum branches anyway, so...

egoo said:
We aren't getting any druids from them (because OG weirdness, we seem to need a dedicated teacher that isn't connected to OG's?), but DP have previously stated that they are a consistent part of Scholarum staff?...
yeah, they are there.
Teana, Velen, 2 Oracles, 2 Druid Treants, 1 Lotus Leshy, Sarah, are all teaching if what I'm getting is right...
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They are there, but there's a place in the threadmark where class sizes are written. And as of now, there's only 300 people attending classes (so presumably 300 aspirants and 300 initiates total). This is a problem.
 
TalonofAnathrax said:
They are there, but there's a place in the threadmark where class sizes are written. And as of now, there's only 300 people attending classes (so presumably 300 aspirants and 300 initiates total). This is a problem.
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Yeah, we need either a re-math of that, or foregoing that part altogether.
DP did say people we getting very cramped in ST, and 'mere' 600 people wouldn't do that when studying.
 
egoo said:
We aren't getting any druids from them (because OG weirdness, we seem to need a dedicated teacher that isn't connected to OG's?), but DP have previously stated that they are a consistent part of Scholarum staff?...
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IIRC we should actually be getting druids eventually. The Old Gods opened the dam on the core classes, but the other unique classes (like the Minotaur Oracle) are still a case-by-case basis since the Others get a unique PC of their own. It's just going to take a while to see more druids aside from Reva and Liset.
egoo said:
Total agreement. You may diversify other branches of Scholarum into whatever, but I will fight to keeping this one unique to SD. Rah.
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TalonofAnathrax said:
How is that any better? And how will you get that effect?
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My only quibble with this was that we had an awesome park to go with the Philosopher's Tree. It was the fluff that I wanted to keep unique to Sorcerer's Deep.

Also the Wisdom of Ages effect is literally the effect you're asking for. It's what has the mechanical impact on the Scholarum.
Wisdom of the Ages —> By imbibing the water gathering at the tree, a person can try to gleam some knowledge of ages past from the Old Gods and commune with the greatest minds among them. The person must meditate beneath its branches for an hour to gain a bonus to all Knowledge checks and to all Craft of Profession checks used to teach, learn, invent or refine theories and ways of working. This also allows the subject to make these skill-checks untrained. The height bonus can be freely chosen, up to a maximum of +20, but the person must pass a Will-Save with a DC equal to the desired bonus. If the subject fails this check, he does not gain the bonus and becomes Nauseated for an hour, as the insights gleamed from the Old Gods overwhelm him. Every hour after receiving this bonus, the person must pass another Will-Save of the same DC or the effect ends and leaves him Fatigued. The effect also ends if the person leaves the maze, but he must not remain in the inner sanctum.
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I'm not saying I'm against having this effect off of Sorcerer's Deep, I'd just personally prefer if the tree as a whole was differentiated.

EDIT: So while the Philosopher's Tree of Sorcerer's Deep would be a place for debates and lectures and whatnot, the trees in outposts would be mainly used for research and crafting boosts etc without the philosophy aspect to them.
 
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@Snowfire, @BeepSmile, for what it's worth, I'm sorry for apparently greatly upsetting both you. I do hope you two will keep contributing in the thread and the request to talk to me in private stands. I would like to understand exactly what it is that you consider offensive and toxic in my behavior, so that I don't unintentionally cause further incidents like this.
 
@Duesal, I think I understand you better now:
  • You don't want more copies of the Philosopher's Tree around
  • But you are willing to have more trees with the effects I want and 2 different ones
Correct?
 
TalonofAnathrax said:
@Duesal, I think I understand you better now:
  • You don't want more copies of the Philosopher's Tree around
  • But you are willing to have more trees with the effects I want and 2 different ones
Correct?
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I think he would just like for each tree to be unique. If they accomplish what you intend for them, that's fine, but having them be not discernibly different, and even better, very obviously unique, holds no appeal to him.
 
egoo said:
We aren't getting any druids from them (because OG weirdness, we seem to need a dedicated teacher that isn't connected to OG's?), but DP have previously stated that they are a consistent part of Scholarum staff?...

yeah, they are there.
Teana, Velen, 2 Oracles, 2 Druid Treants, 1 Lotus Leshy, Sarah, are all teaching if what I'm getting is right...

But speaking of that, @DragonParadox, haven't we decided on having the rest of mages we bought on PoA teach too, once they got their craftbots? Alas the Whisperer (?) and some other guy?
Or am I mixing up who's a craftbotperson and who's not? @Goldfish?
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Yeah, Alas should be teaching or available for research now. The only crafting she's doing is via Dedicated Wright. The 6th level Oracle with Craft Arms and Armor is also enchanting only using his Dedicated Wright, though I'm not sure what else we could use him for. He may or may not be suitable for teaching. Maybe instructing new Mage-Smiths?
 
Crake said:
I think he would just like for each tree to be unique. If they accomplish what you intend for them, that's fine, but having them be not discernibly different, and even better, very obviously unique, holds no appeal to him.
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There are honestly very few trees I will argue to keep unique. Among those trees is the Philosopher's Tree. I am perfectly happy to churn out carbon copies of others, like the Healing Tree, for infrastructure purposes.
Goldfish said:
Yeah, Alas should be teaching or available for research now. The only crafting she's doing is via Dedicated Wright. The 6th level Oracle with Craft Arms and Armor is also enchanting only using his Dedicated Wright, though I'm not sure what else we could use him for. He may or may not be suitable for teaching. Maybe instructing new Mage-Smiths?
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We also had a Hunter, which was apparently a ranger who got Druid magic. Haven't seen much of him. He was supposed to be training people in the Scholarum for a few months now.
 
Duesal said:
We also had a Hunter, which was apparently a ranger who got Druid magic. Haven't seen much of him. He was supposed to be training people in the Scholarum for a few months now.
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Huh?
Wasn't SoftStrider the only person who was training rangers for us? We got, like, 6 people out of it and since then foregone their study for 2+ months?

I completely missed the existence of this guy >_<
Any quotes?

(also, do go on and add to "Research Actions 2" DP threadmarked once you are free. I'm waiting somewhat eagerly to make it into a 'proper' post that I'll feel deserving of a threadmark)
 
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Azel said:
@Snowfire, @BeepSmile, for what it's worth, I'm sorry for apparently greatly upsetting both you. I do hope you two will keep contributing in the thread and the request to talk to me in private stands. I would like to understand exactly what it is that you consider offensive and toxic in my behavior, so that I don't unintentionally cause further incidents like this.
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...look. You have made this clear. I have said I may take you up on it at some point. Now please take the hint from how I stopped pinging you around the Meraxes incident and leave me alone.

The apology is accepted, by the way.

[X] Plan neat and clean.
Adhoc vote count started by Snowfire on Jan 28, 2019 at 7:42 PM, finished with 397 posts and 32 votes.
  • [X] Plan Ludicrous Accusations
    -[X] Hit Myrcella with a Greater Dispel Magic, then Quickened Deep Slumber.
    -[X] Use a Bloodwished Modify Memory to implant the following memory:
    --[X] When she came into the room, she heard someone approaching and hid behind a set of armor out of fear of being scolded for ruining her dress.
    --[X] She saw Varys coming in and doing something, then a gold coated Falxugon appears in a pillar of flame.
    --[X] Varys tells him that this hurry is becoming problematic and that he knows Stannis orders just fine without his servants constantly reminding him.
    --[X] The Falxugon huffs, then spots Myrcella and grabs her, proclaiming that they can get started on getting rid of the heirs right here and now.
    --[X] Varys denies this, citing the time isn't right and instead says that he will make her forget and puts her to sleep.
    -[X] Use Bloodwished Unconscious Agenda to suppress the memory until Myrcella learns that Varys has disappeared or is that, at which point she will "remember" this again and tell it to Cersei.
    [X] Plan neat and clean.
    -[X] Hit Myrcella with a Greater Dispel Magic, then Quickened Deep Slumber.
    -[X] Use a Bloodwished Modify Memory to implant the following memory:
    --[X] She caught the kitty, and sat down and cuddled with it for a bit. She got sleepy from because she was tired from chasing it, and because it was purring, so she decided to take a nap.
    -[X] Take a moment to make sure the princess is safe from harm, then take the cat and move on.
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egoo said:
Huh?
Wasn't SoftStrider the only person who was training rangers for us? We got, like, 6 people out of it and since then foregone their study for 2+ months?

I completely missed the existence of this guy >_<
Any quotes?

(also, do go on and add to "Research Actions 2" DP threadmarked once you are free. I'm waiting somewhat eagerly to make it into a 'proper' post that I'll feel deserving of a threadmark)
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Here you go.
DragonParadox said:
Good at thumping heads
One level 10 CN half giant (frost) Skald
One level 7 TN Avarial Hunter
Two level 6 Human Rogues

Crafters:
One level 8 NG Sylph Witch with brew potions and craft wondrous item
Two level 6 LN Raptoran Oracles with the Battle and Bones Mysteries (twins) one of which has craft Weapons and Armor
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We hired the level 7 Avariel Hunter, and all the crafters.

Hunters, from what I've been told, cast Druid spells while basically being Rangers. We've had this guy for a few months, though he seems to have faded into the background. We can ask DP about him and his progress in teaching tomorrow.

Soft Strider is training Rangers for us.

The Hunter should be training Hunters.

EDIT: Also, it's probably time to expand the Shadow Tower. Next turn we need to take a trip to the Shadow Plane and steal as much of its essence as we can get our hands on.
 
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Replying to Snowfire without pinging him:
I mainly pinged you for the apology. Nothing else.
I've included the offer again in case BeepSmile missed it.
 
Duesal said:
the level 7 Avariel
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ah, yes, that's the dude I've always been thinking and forgetting everything about!
Come to think of it, he's probably gotten breathed on by Ice Drgaon.

Ah, so...
If what I'm getting is right, we have the following people teaching in SD Scholarum:
1) Teana
2) Velen
3) 2 Oracles (one of whom is a crafter via craftbots and his feat, and as such also a teacher)
4) 2 Druid Treants
5) 1 Lotus Leshy
6) Sarah

We also have the following problems:
1) Avariel Hunter of 7th level that was there from the very beginning, with the other PoA teachers/crafters was completely forgotten about and we need the results from him.
2) Druid Treants don't give us any druids, despite OG's having made their 'generic' classes (like druid) more-or-less freely available.
3) Alas the Wisperer, level 7 Witch, isn't yet teaching although she's crafting via craftbot nowadays too, and should be moved to teaching.
4) the numbers of applicants/students are bjorked.
TalonofAnathrax said:
They are there, but there's a place in the threadmark where class sizes are written. And as of now, there's only 300 people attending classes (so presumably 300 aspirants and 300 initiates total). This is a problem.
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is that all?
:/

Duesal said:
Also, it's probably time to expand the Shadow Tower.
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What I tried to convey with the minor action seen coming to fruition in this update was just that, but DP preferred to just rebuild the tower, instead of dropping some more facilities on the plaza-sized space directly around the tower which is already available :/
 
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egoo said:
What I tried to convey with the minor action was just that, but DP preferred to just rebuild the tower, instead of dropping some more facilities on the plaza-sized space directly around the tower which is already available :/
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This is not a minor action at all.

Reconstructing the infrastructure using the dragonstone we've harvested from Naath and Fallen Valyria, sure. But going to the Shadow Plane in person with the entire demiplane in tow, and then stealing the planar energies to add to the demiplane? That should be a full action. There is bound to be nasty stuff to meet us, and we probably want Lya and Viserys working in tandem on this. Maybe Teana, too, since she's the shadow mage.

Also, I don't know what gave the impression that there was space to expand horizontally.
 
Duesal said:
But going to the Shadow Plane in person with the entire demiplane in tow, and then stealing the planar energies to add to the demiplane? That should be a full action.
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ah, that's probably where we differentiate in what we understood as "Expand the Shadow Tower".

Your definition is about dealing with the Demiplane, for which I'm not arguing anything you've said - but I was talking about the infrastructure.

Because like I've said multiple times, in spite of bjørked numbers in scholarum tab, we should have about 800-1000 students at minimum, and the place was getting very cramped.

And we could have easily increased that by adding some wings to the tower, the place around it is small, but it's still a plaza.
 
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egoo said:
ah, that's probably where we differentiate in what we understood as "Expand the Shadow Tower".

Your definition is about dealing with the Demiplane, for which I'm not arguing anything you've said - but I was talking about the infrastructure.

Because like I've said multiple times, in spite of bjørked numbers in scholarum tab, we should have about 800-1000 students at minimum, and the place was getting very cramped.

And we could have easily increased that by adding some wings to the tower, the place around it is small, but it's still a plaza.
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The way I see it, by repairing the Shadow Tower to what it once was before the Doom broke it, we've given ourselves a bit of breathing room. However, I don't see any indication that there's room to expand the infrastructure horizontally and make that Scholarum City that people have been wanting. It's a cool concept and it's got my support, but we'll probably need to expand the demiplane as a whole before we'll get to do that.
 
Duesal said:
However, I don't see any indication that there's room to expand the infrastructure horizontally and make that Scholarum City that people have been wanting.
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There's certainly no place for that 'city' there now, true.

But dropping, for example, a ringular structure around the tower, if only 3-4 floors high (to keep it in order with technological availability of conveniences, which is fairly low even for mages), a horrific increase in capacity would have been reached, without completely obscuring the tower itself.

It would have also completely taken every bit of space the demiplane has available, but well, that's better than having people cramped in there.

As of right now...
Well, its imperfect, and it grinds on me nerves, but it is better than what we had, about 1/3 more space if I'm not wrong.
 
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I wonder how many other mercs are moving to greener pasterns now that Disputed Lands no longer have much need of them.

If they are smart they would join Legion since we offer good pay and other benefits while also interested in recruiting experienced fighters.
 
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