Poor bastards

[Setzer Gabbiani]

Now that I have your attention (And maybe your attitude), read on:

The year is... Well, the year doesn't really matter, as time drags on for the inhabitants of Thrax (An-Thrax heh hehe). A world below the world. The working class struggle to stay alive as inflated beuracracies in a level above while they're worthless lives away a half mile above. Recently, they've also used the lower level as a prison, dropping the scum of they're world onto yours. Every day the rate of new prisoners and deaths rise here, and your all sick of it. An underground movement has surfaced, and arms are being taken up against the literal "upper crust" society. The question is, how long will they tolerate insolence of those they consider beneath them? The final campaign for freedom has begun, and how it ends depends on the underground forces' skill. With the upper's controlling of wizardry, they have a formidable force. However, they're control of the power isn't as much as they think.

Start 4th level, 3,300 gp, 48 points buy. No wizards, but I will allow 1 sorc. 3-5 players.

[Altanira]

Cool! This reminds me of David Wingrove's Chung Kuo series.

Any information on the role of races/classes in Thrax? (Considering an Elven Bard or Cleric from above who was thrown down as a prisoner for a minor political offense...BIG mistake on the part of the authorities...or else a half-orc local strongman who gets fed up with the scum of above messing up his turf and decides to take his complaints to the top).

[Setzer Gabbiani]

The rift seperating the world was created half a milennium ago, when someone discovered the orb of arcanis -- the source of all arcane magic. The powers that be killed the one who discovered it and tapped it's power. Since then, they have had rule over who may learn arcane secrets. Of course, sorcerers (Being unheard of above as the uppers are so material they can't realize inner power) may tap the orb without sanction.

As for your question on classes: Political prisoners are done with as the rest of the dregs, sent to the level below with a portal safely away from prying eyes and the orb. Anyone that knows about the orb, but shouldn't, is killed. No one's escaped such a fate yet.

[SponkleofInfini]

This reminds me of Final Fantasy 7........I am in by the way, are you allowing psionics?

[Setzer Gabbiani]

To be honest (And many people already know this) I hate psionics. However, they're not studied, I'll allow it.

Sorcerers and magic-using bards (There is a nonmagical variety that comprised most bards, with a few studying on the upper level, and a rare core bard) are rare because of the hold on arcane magic keeps it's full potential from most people. Psionics, however, are naturally rare (as sorcery is) so I'm also limiting the number of psionic PCs to 1.

As for the FF VII remark -- you're right. I just got Septerra Core, and decided that this would make a good short-term campaign. Septerra core, by the way, is somewhere between FF VII and Fallout.

[The_Friendly_Fiend]

You hate psionics but you have two psionic using characters in your Dragon game. That's logic for you. :fun:

[Setzer Gabbiani]

If a person pays the outrageous prices for the books, I won't screw them over. I still don't like psionics though. The limitations are story-based here.

[Altanira]

What about gods? With the right god, the cleric could work well for the abovegrounder type--otherwise, bard it would be. (The idea I'm shooting for is this: Elf dropped down there for something minor due to having political enemies, decides that, since he's stuck down there with people who he considers inferior as a matter of course, he might as well make long-term plans for revenge, learns of a planned rebellion and joins it for the purpose of getting back home. Eventually he comes to respect the people of Thrax and tries to take a leadership role in the rebellion out of an honest desire to help. There our story begins...)

[Setzer Gabbiani]

Gods aren't really a big part of this story. Any diety extremely lawful and/or covetous is used by the uppers, though the general masses don't know anything about the orb of arcanis. Freedom dieties are followed below, with some people going for vengful ones. The others are just around, not being any majority. Arcane-focused ones are ignored, with the exception being those that know of the orb's powers.

In general, the dieties aren't named. Just pick domains that are with your alignment or with the campaign focus. Elemental domains are general, with earth having more attention below.

[SponkleofInfini]

Hmm I am thinking of 3 possible comcepts........one being a psion, second being an archer type character, 3 being a gythka weilding Thri-kreen :)

[Setzer Gabbiani]

To balance out the lack of magic compared to the enemies, this is a pseudo-cyberpunk game. Weapons up to modern may be used.

Pistol [Automatic] 300 gp
Ammo [20] 5 gp
Pistol [Revolver] 100 gp
Ammo [20] 5 gp
Rifle [Automatic] 500 gp
Ammo [30] 5 gp
Rifle [Repeater] 300 gp
Ammo [20] 5 gp
Scattergun 900 gp
Ammo [20] 20 gp
Grenade Launcher
Grenade [Fragmentation] 500 gp
Grenade [Smoke] 100 gp
Dynamite 250 gp


And by the way sponk, only core races in this game.

[Setzer Gabbiani]

Two more things:

1. This is more roleplaying than hack-'n-slash. If more than 5 players show up, I decide on history.

2. HP is max 1st level, and 75% every other thereafter.

[Altanira]

What are the damages on modern weapons? As per PHB? (And are they Martial, Simple, Exotic?)

[Talaananthes]

id like to join, and would be interested in playing a marinish type person. maybe elven, not sure though. my guess is fighter class.

[SponkleofInfini]

Alright then, I think will Psion. Will you allow stuff from the wizard's site?

[Setzer Gabbiani]

Ugh... Alright Sponk -- just give me the link and I'll let you un-story a tacked-on class some more. If it's even remotely balanced anyway.

Altanira, modern weapons are a catchall category. One exotic feat gives proficiency. As for the damage, pistols do 1d10 and rifles 1d12. Automatic versions allow your normal number of attacks (Like with a bow). Scattergun is 3d6 within one range increment, 2d6 within two, and 1d6 in a 5ft. line to the max range.

[Altanira]

Hmm...I think I'll be the local strongman instead. Human Rog 2/BBN 2, wields heavy flail and guns...yeah.

[Talaananthes]

~grins wideckdly~

do you allow flamethrowers?

[Setzer Gabbiani]

get a scattergun and call it a flamethrower.

[SponkleofInfini]

I think I will withdraw from this game before we start.

[Altanira]

Where do we send character stats and backgrounds?

The current concept is a Human Rog/Bbn local strongman, whose thing is that he's too tough to need guns, and wields a mightly longbow and heavy flail. He's sick of aboveworlder scum landing in his territory, and has been trying to drive them out. This, of course, leads him into the company of those trying to overthrow the system...

[Setzer Gabbiani]

email them to me at joker_doom@hotmail.com

[Setzer Gabbiani]

Oh, man--I can imagine a character like that. Sneaking behind an enemy with a heavy flail. As soon a some punk says "...and what army?" you rage. After that they have approximately 2 seconds to react before you put another (Much-needed) hole in their head.

A house rule you might want to know about flails -- I consider them bludgeoning/piercing weapons. Even the PHB picture shows spikes on it anyway.

[Setzer Gabbiani]

As a note to anyone who was interestined in this game, I haven't dropped the idea.

[Setzer Gabbiani]

Also, I've done some thinking about the world in which this'll take place. Since arcane magic is almost nonexistent on the underplate of Thrax, and divine magic no more plentiful than normal, psionics would be semicommon there. There's no limit on psionic characters, as mind power pretty much goes right with this kind of world.