Ah, that's alright then. I understood it as you somehow dumping superheated steam on a tank of water to make flashboil it, which was just too weird.
I think we'd need to attach a Decanter to reliably refill it, tho. A storage tank of any size for any number of cannons will be gigantic, and an issue all on its own, wherever the cannons are stored.
And like I said, I'm not confident in this thing acting as anything other than artillery. A moving target will be more or less impossible to track at close range.
It's not exactly meant for close combat, but it ain't any worse then a tank turret.
As for water storage, this is fully accounted for in the Moonchaser. It does indeed add a lot of hassle, but it's nothing show-stopping for a static turret battery.
Yeah, but have any number of cannons in one place, and you will need a small lake to have ammo for anything more than a couple minutes of shooting.
I think adding the Decanters is a reasonable thing to do as it severely diminishes the problems of using a thousand liters of water as ammo, and neatly curtails the issue of sufficient flow.
Think about it, everything we put these on will require a huge water tower to feed them, which just adds a bunch of vulnerabilities to the system and enormous bulk.
Which two decanters per cannon, we can cut literally tons of infrastructure that'd be otherwise required to make them function.
And does a single engine have enough output to power ten cannons, all of which are constantly firing?
I would add some adamantine parts, too, like breech, barrel, wherever you are building pressure, valves.
Yeah, but have any number of cannons in one place, and you will need a small lake to have ammo for anything more than a couple minutes of shooting.
I think adding the Decanters is a reasonable thing to do as it severely diminishes the problems of using a thousand liters of water as ammo, and neatly curtails the issue of sufficient flow.
Think about it, everything we put these on will require a huge water tower to feed them, which just adds a bunch of vulnerabilities to the system and enormous bulk.
And does a single engine have enough output to power ten cannons, all of which are constantly firing?
I would add some adamantine parts, too, like breech, barrel, wherever you are building pressure, valves.
The decanter isn't providing as much water as you think and frankly, I don't see these cannons being used for sustained shelling anyway. If we go with Explosive Pack ammo or really anything beyond basic steel shells, the cost goes through the roof.
As for the bulk, yes again. The Moonchaser has a huge amount of tanks to get a few minutes of sustained fire. But it's still far more cost effective then Decanters. You would need 9 decanters to keep the 1/round firing speed.
Oh yeah, agree (though those robes are somewhat niche), I'm not talking about Viserys though, but about other party members. Mithril twilight armour is an amazing base to work from for casters with arcane spell failure, I would hate for there to grow an unconsious thread consensus that armour is not good for mages. Thought I have faith TNE and Goldfish would offer a fair evaluation on the costs/benefit of glammered armour Vs some other option.
But I really wanna get some Mithril over Lya and Maelor.
Edit: ninja'd by the ABOMINATION! ah, well if it doesn't have good effect to cost raito, fair enough. @DragonParadox do the archons know rituals that can cheply change a basic PfG item into a PfE, (relative to the cost of making one that is). I can't remember what all we traded, or if this ritual effect was covered by their consecration knowledge. (I... think we bought that?)
Why don't we use dragon hoards as anti-inflation measures? Just have the dragons guard the bullion reserves of our central bank and if the inflation rises too much, simply stock the excess bullion in the hoards.
As for the bulk, yes again. The Moonchaser has a huge amount of tanks to get a few minutes of sustained fire. But it's still far more cost effective then Decanters. You would need 9 decanters to keep the 1/round firing speed.
On the emplacement of cannons: for the battery to fire continuously for two minutes, they spend 200 thousand liters of water.
We need a gigantic (and highly vulnerable and visible) water reservoir on top of the emplacement to feed it, and a handful of decanters to actualy fill it.
That will probably take some time and cost. And also, manufacture and assembly time and cost.
I'd make some parts Adamantine, mainly, the breech and barrel assembly, but also all the critical valves.
That's how Pathfinder handles ballistic weapons, dude. They target Touch AC. It makes perfect sense for us to do the same and it's an easy change to implement.
I honestly wasn't aware of that. Though then any non-touch AC should count as DR, stacking with other DR sources.
A breastplate can stop a small calibre bullet just fine, but should do next to nothing against actual cannons. This would also keep the guns competitive with spells against high-CR threats, without making it trivial to kill a dragon with them.
I've been fiddling with ways to implementing firearms for a while, too.
Some play on AC and DR is a neat way to go, but at some point, the AC absolutely should count. Something missing due AC is the "completely deflected/blunted" situation. And at some point, things start having battleship-grade armour from sheer NA. And a magical battleship, at that. And that can completely deflect or absorb even a heavy blow like this.
Magical armour should count fully against firearms, for example, and force effects should count fully regardless of what's targeting them.
Furthermore, hitting something like a flying large demon with a huge cannon would be a absolute bitch. It's hard to hit enemy ships parallel to yours and moving at about the same speed, but a target that's actively trying to dodge?
It would be more luck than anything.
"Just make a ranged touch attack" just doesn't feel right. Unlike a magical siege engine, we aren't aiming a doom laser and just need to point the weapon and shock the enslaved elemental. It needs distance, altitude, wind, and a bunch of other things dialed in.
Let me see what I had researched previously.
I still havent read the latest update at the time I'm posting this, I'm cathing up on the thread.
[] Give her the pick between the options.
-[] Skane, where her powers would be greatly appreciated and used against a foe that should not trouble her conscience.
-[] The Xorn outpost, which would be more similar to her native home in locale then the Deep.
-[] Naath, where she could help to protect the people from the wildlife and aid Wyllas efforts to improve their homeland.
-[] This must not be a final choice. Her help would certainly be appreciated in all those places and she could also split her time between them, if she would like.
"You would be welcome in many places in my realm and those of my allies, my lady," you answer at length. "In the north where I have set up a keep on the frozen shores far from civilization the power of Winter Unending stirs, while to the south in Naath there is much work to be done lifting the people of that island from want and sorrow that was imposed upon them by the raids of pirates and slavers. If you would rather leave the world of men entirely for a time there is a tribe of stone swimmers which has recently come into prosperity by trading with me whom might require aid fending off raiders and brigands. Whatever you choose know that this need not be your final word on the matter."
"A handsome offer..." The spirit ponders your offer a long while, fiery eyes closed in contemplation. "I have heard of the lands of Ever-Winter and the Power that dwells there from the young ones who tended me. It would be a worthy thing to protect mortals from such beings." With a deep bow and a slightly melancholy smile she walks out to the balcony and from there streaks off into the heavens heading northwest. For a moment you wonder what the Lannisters would think of such a being guarding one of your holdings, but you quickly dismiss it from your mind. There are more important things to do than gloating.
***
The sword laying before you certainly does not look innocent, gold shining slickly in the light of the mage lanterns as though dipped in oil, seals of power that seem to move like worms when seen out of the corner of the eye, but still it does not look near so foul as to account for its nature. It does not merely kill but claims the soul of the victim and in the right, or rather the wrong hands, it allows the bearer to consume it, gaining a measure of its vitality, its power, or its lore for a time.
"Three days..." you trail off. "It seems so short a time to consume all that a soul is. Are you certain it is not merely weakened and sent on?" you add to Lya.
She shakes her head sadly but with conviction also. "No, that part is clear since the sword wants to be used." Seeing your expression she adds, "Not in any conscious manner. There is no mind to it, but still it hungers, or perhaps it is hunger. I suspect it was made from the spirit of another fiend like to the one we fought as the last step of its ascension to those lofty heights of malice."
You find yourself at once disturbed by what that says of the fragility of the soul and intrigued. There are certain souls that should rightly be sundered, fiends who will only trouble the world more should they be allowed to endure, servants of Winter, for whom true death would be a mercy compared to their master's ministrations...
Gained That Which Devours
That Which Devours
Description: This golden blade shines slickly in the light of the mage lanterns as though dipped in oil, seals of power upon its face seem to move like worms when seen out of the corner of the eye.
Base enchantment: +1 Vorpal Sword
Powers (only usable by a Rakshasa, UMD DC 35 to emulate):
A creature slain by either a coup de grace or the weapon's Vorpal quality has its soul drawn into the blade, allowing the bearer to consume it and gaining some aspect of its abilities for three days
Vitality: Gain 3 Hit Points per HD of the creature slain Might: Gain the use of one Feat, Supernatural, or Extraordinary Ability (so long as it does not depend on anatomy not shared between the slain and the slayer) Wit: Gain full use of the slain creature's skill ranks in one skill, or access to the slain creature's mind as per Probe Thoughts
Multiple uses of the same aspect do not stack.
Caster Level: 18
"What about the chains?" you ask, not even sure if you want to hear the answer. It is one thing to sunder souls, quite another to enslave them in death using them as shields. That is horror you would not inflict upon your most hated foes, nor the most depraved of fiends.
"Shattered, diminished," Lya confirms, her face showing the same relief as your own. "Though perhaps not beyond some use. I was thinking..."
"Yes?" you prompt.
"I was thinking of empowering Dark Sister into something like the fend's blade, something to use against those foes for whom death does not lightly come, but dare not take alive to offer up onto Yss. I would not dare use the golden sword as a base for fear something of its fel nature might infect the blade, but I could take inspiration from it, use the chains, use the scythe we claimed in White Harbor..."
Gained Sundered Soul Shackles
Gained Ring of Untarnished Glory +5
"What of the weapon itself? Aught we shatter it once you have learned all you can from it?" you ask.
She takes a long moment to consider before answering: "I think we should keep it against great need but not make use of it slightly. I do not trust its... 'craftsmanship'."
You nod in understanding. Fiend-forged weapons have oft carried hidden costs, and though you can think of instances when that has not been the case, as with Valaena's whip, you would rather not take the chance lightly on something so potent.
***
From Lya's laboratory you head at once further up the winding stairway to speak to Teana of the rituals she had mentioned earlier. You find her with her head buried in parchments but in good cheer just the same.
"Can't you make your shadow do that?" you ask in jest.
"I am, and it is still not enough," she replies in like manner. She soon grows serious again as her gaze returns to the papers. "I requested your presence here, Your Grace, because I am worried about some of the pitfalls of success. This..." she presses a small booklet into your hand "...is a list of all the rituals conceived of this month. I am impressed by the scope of it all, but also worried."
"In what manner?" you ask, looking down the list with pride. Your inquisitors and lawmen would not be so easily blinded as they had been by the minor devil who had been moving with impunity in the Deep, almost having framed a loyal lawmen in addition to all his other crimes.
"I worry about them being put to unscrupulous use by charlatans who claim they can do more than they can," Teana explains. "Magic can be overwhelming when you first experience it for even those of us who make it our own, much less the common people. For all the good healing and mending might do if they are spread widely, they might also blacken the name of all mages if say a 'sorcerer' claims that a simple healing spell will mend the plague, or simply uses the appearance of true magic to substantiate whatever nonsense he is selling that week."
"You obviously would not have brought this to me if you did not have some solution in mind," you note. "What do you suggest?"
"Steal a march on the charlatans," she replies at once. "Wide ranging public demonstrations with the correct information disseminated by Scholarum adepts in good standing, in addition to spreading the information through whatever other sources are available—temples, large companies, etc. It will cost some money of course, but I think it will be worth it in the end."
What do you reply?
[] Accept Teana's idea, mages are already hated and misunderstood quite enough, best not make that distrust even worse
-[] Write in plan for disseminating the formation
[] Reject Teana's idea, the charlatans will weed themselves out in time
OOC: Raising the ships will be in the next update. This one already has a lot going on in it.
We need a gigantic (and highly vulnerable and visible) water reservoir on top of the emplacement to feed it, and a handful of decanters to actualy fill it.
We need a gigantic (and highly vulnerable and visible) water reservoir on top of the emplacement to feed it, and a handful of decanters to actualy fill it.
That will probably take some time and cost. And also, manufacture and assembly time and cost.
I'd make some parts Adamantine, mainly, the breech and barrel assembly, but also all the critical valves.
I honestly don't see the need for either a decanter, with the river nearby, or for Adamantine parts. The pressure is high, but not so high that it can't be addressed by Hardened steel.
I've been fiddling with ways to implementing firearms for a while, too.
Some play on AC and DR is a neat way to go, but at some point, the AC absolutely should count. Something missing due AC is the "completely deflected/blunted" situation. And at some point, things start having battleship-grade armour from sheer NA. And a magical battleship, at that.
Magical armour should count fully against firearms, for example, and force effects should count fully regardless of what's targeting them.
Furthermore, hitting something like a flying large demon with a huge cannon would be a absolute bitch. It's hard to hit enemy ships parallel to yours and moving at about the same speed, but a target that's actively trying to dodge?
It would be more luck than anything.
"Just make a ranged touch attack" just doesn't feel right. Unlike a magical siege engine, we aren't aiming a doom laser and just need to point the weapon and shock the enslaved elemental. It needs distance, altitude, wind, and a bunch of other things dialed in.
I see no reason why magical AC should count any more then physical. Mage Armor isn't a impenetrable force-field, just a breastplate. Wings of Cover and it's ilk are a different matter, but my proposal doesn't change their effectiveness.
And I don't understand why you say this would have trouble hitting a ship. The Demon would get dodge AC and would be harder to hit due to range, but I see no reason it should get special bonuses up-close.
I'm really not seeing why you want to blanket-nerf this. It's hardly overpowered with my proposal and the rest is DM sanity.
@DragonParadox, has Naeron the Codex Archon made any progress in looking over the Trove of Valyrian Lore that we got for the first part of the expedition to Lyceos? He's had like five or so days to study it by this point.
@DragonParadox, has Naeron the Codex Archon made any progress in looking over the Trove of Valyrian Lore that we got for the first part of the expedition to Lyceos? He's had like five or so days to study it by this point.
Five days is not really that much, for something that was put together as a time capsule, however you do have the person who put that trove of lore together, assuming she does not commit suicide. You could just ask her.
Five days is not really that much, for something that was put together as a time capsule, however you do have the person who put that trove of lore together, assuming she does not commit suicide. You could just ask her.
Hasn't Rhaella been staying with her and trying to help her?
That aside, what was Naeron able to get from the lore? Even if five days isn't nearly enough at the very least he should have a general idea of what he's researching by now.
Hasn't Rhaella been staying with her and trying to help her?
That aside, what was Naeron able to get from the lore? Even if five days isn't nearly enough at the very least he should have a general idea of what he's researching by now.
Well a lot of it is just cultural works, plays poems philosophical treatises, but there is also a lot of information on practical subjects, both mundane and arcane: things like architecture and ship-building along side seminal works in transmutation and presumably other fields of magic.
[X] Accept Teana's idea, mages are already hated and misunderstood quite enough, best not make that distrust even worse
This is amazing. Everything I wanted. I love it!
Next month we should start setting up batteries of minor mages casting some of these spells at various enemies for us (Divination!). @DragonParadox, could that lead to improved rumor posts? Or some intelligence on enemy plans before they happen? It would be super cool to intercept an enemy plan caught due to divination.
And will we be getting some rumor posts for the end of the month? It's been a while since the last ones. We have decent intel from all around the world thanks to our trading companies AND extraplanar links, now!
Sounds like a great plan. I love it. What could go wrong?
In any case that sword is already a good method of mulching souls in an emergency without having to go to Yss. If we don't give it to Glyra we should keep it in our cloak.
Furthermore, like Azel said, banning Reincarnation or having massive inheritance taxes aren't the solution (and it would cause rebellions too). What we need is economic activity that doesn't create a massive poor underclass, progressive taxation that limits truly insane wealth, and sound internal policies to limit monopolies and stop a single family from controlling entire government departments or something.
Does this make sense?
The idea is to allow free entreprise, and allow people to get very rich. But once people start getting richer than Rockefeller and control huge swathes of the economy, THEN our legal system keeps them in check.
Unless we restrict access, and we can do it through monopolizing the production of the necessary herbs to drive up the price and then concede grants to notable people, it should become a relatively normal thing for a big, big slice of the population to keep reincarnating.
And I don't understand why you say this would have trouble hitting a ship. The Demon would get dodge AC and would be harder to hit due to range, but I see no reason it should get special bonuses up-close.
I mean that a normal cannon wouldn't perfectly hit a ship, a much much easier target than a large/huge flying creature. And if it was just a matter of rolling a ranged touch attack, they'd never miss in ship-to-ship combat.
I will dig up the rules for targetting squares on siege weapons.
