Digest Archive vol 1 Issue 244
From: owner-champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Sent: Tuesday, March 23, 1999 12:18 PM
To: champ-l-digest@sysabend.org
Subject: champ-l-digest V1 #244
champ-l-digest Tuesday, March 23 1999 Volume 01 : Number 244
In this issue:
Re: WANTED: Power Ring--Cheap (Simulating Power Construct)
Character: Shelob
Re: Character: Sauron / Saruman
Re: Character: Sauron / Saruman
Re: Find Out What The Future Holds For You?
Re: Character: Sauron / Saruman
Re: Character: Sauron / Saruman
Re: Character: Sauron / Saruman
BTILC
Re: Character: Sauron / Saruman
Re: Character: Sauron / Saruman
Character: Theoden
Re: Character: Theoden
Re: Character: Theoden
Re: Character: Theoden
RE: Character: Sauron / Saruman
RE: Teleport Against Other ??? amendment
Character: Tom Bombadil
RE: Teleport Against Other ??? amendment
Re: Business Man
Character: Fangorn
New Creation Worskshop Packages
Re: New Creation Worskshop Packages
Character: The Watcher in the Water
Tolkien Characters and Plans
Re: Character: Tom Bombadil
Re: Tolkien Characters and Plans
Re: New Creation Worskshop Packages
RE: New Creation Worskshop Packages
Re: Character: Tom Bombadil
Giant Beetle Minature (fwd)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 13:43:18 -0600
From: Bill Svitavsky <bsvitavsky@mln.lib.ma.us>
Subject: Re: WANTED: Power Ring--Cheap (Simulating Power Construct)
At 02:33 PM 3/21/99 -0500, Corey Spillis wrote:
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Michael (Damon) & Peni Griffin <griffin@txdirect.net>
>To: champ-l@sysabend.org <champ-l@sysabend.org>
>Date: Sunday, March 21, 1999 1:43 PM
>Subject: Re: WANTED: Power Ring--Cheap (Simulating Power Construct)
>
>
>>Let's keep this friendly, shall we? If there *is* a place where comic-book
>>hero-bashing is appropriate, this isn't it. I have no objection to Kyle
>>Raynor as such; my problem is strictly with the way DC treated Hal Jordan
>>when they decided it was time to pass the mantle. Turning a longtime
>>heroic figure into a homicidal lunatic who murders several of his
>>comadrades in arms en route to Oa to revenge himself on the Guardians for
>>refusing to "resurrect" Coast City...very bad form, that. It was enough to
>>stop my reading of that title cold, and it had nothing to do with the new
>>guy. After all, in Jordan's day, there were other GLs all over the
>>place...as many as seven at a time on Earth alone, IIRC.
>
>
>Then you missed Hal's redemption in the Final Night crossover. He passed
>completely out of the DC Universe the way he truly deserved....A Hero.
>Restarted the sun and saved everyone. Not to mention Kyle travelled back
>in time and not only confronted Hal as Parallax, but met a younger Hal as GL
> who gave him a copy of his ring. In case you've forgotten (also for the
>ring
>power list) the power rings can duplicate themselves so as to allow the
>corps
>to grow. Jade is currently acting GL of Earth.
>
I know I'm perpetuating an off-topic thread, but...
I don't think Hal's "redemption" saved the bad storyline that turned him
into Parallax. It was implausible that he acted that way in the first
place. Having Hal die a hero didn't fix the problem. My own preference
would be to leave Hal dead, but to explain away the implausible
mischaracterization and to establish better reasons for Kyle to be GL.
But we really should leave this off the Champions list; it's a regular
topic of conversation on rec.arts.comics.dc.universe, where many people
(including myself) have expressed their opinions on Hal, Kyle, Ron Marz &
Kevin Dooley at great length. I suggest that anyone interested in debating
the topic further check out racdcu - even if you don't have
direct Usenet access, anybody with Web access can participate via Dejanews
(http://www.dejanews.com).
- - Bill Svitavsky
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 14:00:52 -0500
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Character: Shelob
SHELOB, MOTHER OF SPIDERS
50 STR 10* * = Growth Figured In
15 DEX 15
22 CON 24
20 BODY 8*
10 INT 0
12 EGO 4
20 PRE 10
2 COM 4
6 PD 2
4 ED 0
4 SPD 15
10 REC 4
44 END 0
45 STUN 4*
Characteristics Cost: 92
40 6 LVLS Growth (stats already included), Always On,
0 END Persistent
24 8/8 Armor
5 6 Extra Limbs
6 +3" Running
4 +2 Enhanced PER, Hearing
8 +4 Enhanced PER, Smell
- -2 -2" Swimming
7 +10 PRE, Not For Defense
13 +10 STR Clinging
15 1D6 HKA, "Bite" (2d6 w/ STR)
36 3D6 RKA NND, No Range, Only if Bite Does Body,
Only v. Living Things, 16 Charges
45 4 1/2D6 Entangle, Extra Time (Full Phase), Sticky
10 2 Levels, melee
1 Lang: Black Speech
1 Lang: Westron
Powers Cost: 213
Total Cost: 305
Base Points: 75
25 Distinctive, "Gigantic Spider", not concealable, extreme
8 Watched, "Sauron", more powerful, harsh, appear 8-
15 Physical Lim, "No Fine Manipulation", all the time, slightly
20 Psych Lim, "All-Consuming Hunger", very common, strong
10 Rep, "Secret Killer of Cirith Ungol", occur 8-, extreme
reputation
25 Susc,"Holy Artifacts", uncommon, per phase, 3D6
10 Vuln,"Magic Weapons", uncommon, x2 body
117 Bonus
Disadvantages Total: 230
Experience Spent: 0
Total Points: 305
Shelob is the greatest spider alive in Middle-Earth in the Third Age.
Standing more than fifteen feet high and weighing more than six tons,
she is an evil eating and birthing machine. A daughter of Ungoliant
the Great, who fought with Morgoth himself, Shelob somehow survived
the ruin of Beleriand at the end of the First Age. She moved first
to Mirkwood, where her descendants still live to terrorize men and elves
thousands of years later.
For most of the Second and all of the third age, Shelob made a lair
in the Ephel Duath (The Mountains of Shadow), where the pass from
Minas Ithil into Mordor was named Cirith Ungol (Pass of the Spider)
was named for her. For more than six thousand years, Shelob
guarded the pass and made travel through it extremely dangerous
for anything less than an army. Sauron came to rely on Shelob's
guardianship to protect that route into Mordor.
In Third Age 3000, Shelob captured Gollum as he tried to sneak out
of Mordor, but released him when he swore to bring her food. In 3019,
Gollum returned, leading Frodo and Sam. Gollum planned to take the
One Ring from Frodo after Shelob had consumed his fluids. Shelob did
succeed in rendering Frodo unconscious, but Sam injured her terribly
with the elven sword Sting and with the light of the Vala Elbereth, which
Galadriel had put into her Phial. Shelob retreated and Sam rescued
Frodo. It is unknown whether Shelob survived her terrible injuries and
lived into the Fourth Age.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 14:06:23 -0500
From: Geoff Speare <geoff@igcn.com>
Subject: Re: Character: Sauron / Saruman
...can't resist...must comment...
One of the key factors of Saruman and Sauron (and presumably Gandalf) was
the effect their will had on their servants and enemies. When Aragorn,
Gimli, and Legolas chased the orcs through Rohan, they felt what was
clearly Saruman's will slowing them and speeding the orcs. When Sauron's
mind shook free of all his strategems as Frodo claimed the ring, his
minions stopped, bereft of purpose. The thought of a powerful master
literally lending his will to his subjects seems like an interesting
ability for a fantasy game, and one that would be interesting to model in
Hero.
Geoff Speare
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 14:12:45 -0500
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Character: Sauron / Saruman
At 02:06 PM 3/22/99 -0500, Geoff Speare wrote:
>...can't resist...must comment...
Resistance is useless.
The purpose of posting these to the list is to elicit comment, so please
don't hold back.
>One of the key factors of Saruman and Sauron (and presumably Gandalf) was
>the effect their will had on their servants and enemies. When Aragorn,
>Gimli, and Legolas chased the orcs through Rohan, they felt what was
>clearly Saruman's will slowing them and speeding the orcs. When Sauron's
>mind shook free of all his strategems as Frodo claimed the ring, his
>minions stopped, bereft of purpose.
Huh? To what does this refer, Geoff? Frodo had the ring long before the
War of the Ring. Do you mean when he hefted it over the Sammath Naur,
intending to destroy it?
> The thought of a powerful master
>literally lending his will to his subjects seems like an interesting
>ability for a fantasy game, and one that would be interesting to model in
>Hero.
Okay. How would -you- model it?
A Mind-Link? A bonus to EGO, Usable by Others at range? (now -that'd- be
expensive!)
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 14:11:02 -0500
From: Mike Christodoulou <Cypriot@Concentric.net>
Subject: Re: Find Out What The Future Holds For You?
At 06:18 AM 3/22/99 -0800, Bob Greenwade wrote:
> While Lisa and others are writing to the Abuse reporting address, I've
>whipped off a response to the original sender pointing out that the
>inability to foresee the hostile response caused by posting these ads to
>the list demonstrates that her service is an obvious crock.
Dangerous move. Ever seen somebody advertise a "validated" list of
e-mail addresses for sale? It's the list of people who have sent a
response -- any response -- to spam mail.
====================== =================================================
Mike Christodoulou "Never doubt that a small group of committed
Cypriot@Concentric.Net citizens can change the world. In fact, it is
(770) 662-5605 the only thing that ever has." -- Margaret Mead
====================== =================================================
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 14:24:16 -0500
From: Geoff Speare <geoff@igcn.com>
Subject: Re: Character: Sauron / Saruman
>Huh? To what does this refer, Geoff? Frodo had the ring long before the
>War of the Ring. Do you mean when he hefted it over the Sammath Naur,
>intending to destroy it?
Frodo had the ring for a long time but never claimed it: over the Sammath
Naur, he claimed it as his own, intending to not destroy it. That's the
passage I was referring to.
>Okay. How would -you- model it?
>
>A Mind-Link? A bonus to EGO, Usable by Others at range? (now -that'd- be
>expensive!)
It's gonna be hugely expensive, since whatever it is, it clearly affects
tens of thousands of subjects at continental ranges. There are two
problems: 1) It's very subtle; 2) It deals with morale, which is not well
represented in Hero.
I would model it as a bonus to EGO (perhaps not for mental combat), and a
Mind Control that can only achieve EGO-level effects (actions the target is
inclined to do anyway). The Mind Control would have the Telepathic option.
I would make the whole thing AOE with the limitation "only affects those
sworn to service" for the boosting effect.
Here we are:
2d6 EGO Aid
8d6 Mind Control, Telepathic "only achieve EGO effect"
AOE x20,000 area +7 [something like that, enough to cover the world]
0 END
"Only affects those in the service of user"
Geoff Speare
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 14:22:36 -0500 (EST)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: Re: Character: Sauron / Saruman
On Mon, 22 Mar 1999, Scott C. Nolan wrote:
> >One of the key factors of Saruman and Sauron (and presumably Gandalf) was
> >the effect their will had on their servants and enemies. When Aragorn,
> >Gimli, and Legolas chased the orcs through Rohan, they felt what was
> >clearly Saruman's will slowing them and speeding the orcs. When Sauron's
> >mind shook free of all his strategems as Frodo claimed the ring, his
> >minions stopped, bereft of purpose.
>
> Huh? To what does this refer, Geoff? Frodo had the ring long before the
> War of the Ring. Do you mean when he hefted it over the Sammath Naur,
> intending to destroy it?
>
> > The thought of a powerful master
> >literally lending his will to his subjects seems like an interesting
> >ability for a fantasy game, and one that would be interesting to model in
> >Hero.
>
> Okay. How would -you- model it?
>
> A Mind-Link? A bonus to EGO, Usable by Others at range? (now -that'd- be
> expensive!)
Depending on which version of Change Environment you use (such as 4th Ed,
Almanac version, or the version posted on this list) *or* what house rules
youy might use, I'd say that CE might work quite well (for some purposes).
An enormous (area wise) Aid to PRE or EGO might work as well.
- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
"You! Get me a drink! Make it large, strong, and to go,
and put it on Godot's tab!"
Der Rock the Destroyer, from _Buck Godot: PSmIth_
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 14:49:30 -0500
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Character: Sauron / Saruman
>>A Mind-Link? A bonus to EGO, Usable by Others at range? (now -that'd- be
>>expensive!)
>
>It's gonna be hugely expensive, since whatever it is, it clearly affects
>tens of thousands of subjects at continental ranges. There are two
>problems: 1) It's very subtle; 2) It deals with morale, which is not well
>represented in Hero.
>
>I would model it as a bonus to EGO (perhaps not for mental combat), and a
>Mind Control that can only achieve EGO-level effects (actions the target is
>inclined to do anyway). The Mind Control would have the Telepathic option.
>
>I would make the whole thing AOE with the limitation "only affects those
>sworn to service" for the boosting effect.
>
>Here we are:
>
>2d6 EGO Aid
>8d6 Mind Control, Telepathic "only achieve EGO effect"
>
>AOE x20,000 area +7 [something like that, enough to cover the world]
>0 END
>
>"Only affects those in the service of user"
>
>Geoff Speare
Not bad. I might use this in my final write-up.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 15:08:06 -0500 (EST)
From: Michael Surbrook <susano@dedaana.otd.com>
Subject: BTILC
A short while ago, someone on this lsit was nice enough to send me a slew
of Big Trouble In Little China jpegs. I have just finished reformatting
my mini-sourcebook with said jpegs. If you wnat a looksee, go to:
http://www.otd.com/~susano/btilcintro.html
Oh, and uhm... I misplaced the email form the perosn who sent me the
pics... but: Thanks!
- --
Michael Surbrook - susano@otd.com - http://www.otd.com/~susano/index.html
"You! Get me a drink! Make it large, strong, and to go,
and put it on Godot's tab!"
Der Rock the Destroyer, from _Buck Godot: PSmIth_
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 12:27:14 -0800
From: "Filksinger" <filkhero@usa.net>
Subject: Re: Character: Sauron / Saruman
From: Scott C. Nolan <nolan@erols.com>
>
> Huh? To what does this refer, Geoff? Frodo had the ring long before the
> War of the Ring. Do you mean when he hefted it over the Sammath Naur,
> intending to destroy it?
No, he said when Frodo _claimed_ the Ring. Frodo did not _claim_ the One
Ring until the very edge of the Crack of Doom.
> > The thought of a powerful master
> >literally lending his will to his subjects seems like an interesting
> >ability for a fantasy game, and one that would be interesting to model in
> >Hero.
>
> Okay. How would -you- model it?
>
> A Mind-Link? A bonus to EGO, Usable by Others at range? (now -that'd- be
> expensive!)
One of the things I have wanted to do for some time was to create a list of
powers suitibly powerful for beings like Gandalf, Sauron, and Saruman, yet
would still explain why they so frequently seemed helpless. Gandalf couldn't
save his party from the goblins in the Hobbit, yet I would expect Gandalf to
be, in some way, more powerful than most superheroes. Intangibles, like
lending Ego or Presence to one's entire side, seem to fit the bill.
So, anyone have any other ideas?
Filksinger
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 15:49:42 -0500
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Character: Sauron / Saruman
>2d6 EGO Aid
>8d6 Mind Control, Telepathic "only achieve EGO effect"
>
>AOE x20,000 area +7 [something like that, enough to cover the world]
>0 END
>
>"Only affects those in the service of user"
>
>Geoff Speare
>
The more I think about this, the more I like the first power and not the
second.
The second power makes him into some sort of Hive-Mind, which I don't think
is justified. There are references to him sending out messengers. I think
Sauron normally exerts his will through fear and powerful lieutenants, not
directly.
Still, he could exert his will through his VPP, if he wanted to.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 16:21:20 -0500
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Character: Theoden
THEODEN, LORD OF THE MARK
13 STR 6
12 DEX 6
14 CON 16
12 BODY 8
16 INT 6
15 EGO 10
15 PRE 5
14 COM 2
5 PD 3
3 ED 0
4 SPD 18
7 REC 4
28 END 0
35 STUN 14
Characteristics Cost: 98
5 WF, Lances, Common Melee, Common Missile
24 3 Levels, all combat
10 2 Levels: Mounted Combat, related group
7 Animal Handler 13-
7 High Society 14 -
3 Navigation 11-
9 Oratory 15-
13 Riding 16-
5 Survival 12-
9 Tactics 15-
1 Lang: Rohirric, native, literacy
4 Lang: Westron, fluent w/accent, literacy
7 AK: Rohan 16-
5 KS: Eothraim History 14-
7 KS: Rohan Politics 16-
3 KS: Orc Tribes 12-
6 15- Contact: Grima
5 14- Contact: Marshals of Rohan
2 11- Contact: Denethor
2 11- Contact: Gandalf
90 16, 000 100-point Followers
10 Head of State
15 Money, filthy rich
Powers Cost: 249
Total Cost: 347
Base Points: 75
10 Age, 60+
15 Watched, "Saruman", more powerful, non-combat influence, harsh,
appear 14-
20 Psych Lim, "Dominated by Grima", very common, strong
15 Psych Lim, "Courageous", common, strong
10 Psych Lim, "Generous", common, moderate
10 Public ID, "King of Rohan"
192 Last of the Second Line Bonus
Disadvantages Total: 272
Experience Spent: 0
Total Points: 347
Theoden was king of Rohan during the War of the Ring, and was
seventy-one years old at his death. Son of King Thengel, Theoden
was the seveteenth king of Rohan, and eighth of the Second Line.
Theoden was a powerful warrior in his youth, and a powerful king.
But under the evil spells of Saruman and his counsellor, Grima,
Theoden declined into dottage. He was cured in 3019 by Gandalf
the White and regained much of his old vigor in the short period
before his death.
He led the Rohirrim against Saruman at the Battle of the Hornburg
and against Sauron's forces at the Pelennor Fields, where he
defeated an army of Haradrim. He was slain by the Lord of the
Nazgul at the Pelennor Fields.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 16:23:02 -0500
From: John P Weatherman <jweatherman@lsfi.com>
Subject: Re: Character: Theoden
On Mon, 22 Mar 1999, Scott C. Nolan wrote:
> THEODEN, LORD OF THE MARK
> 6 15- Contact: Grima
I's actually make Grima a DNPC. After all, DNPCs represent people who get you
in trouble, and that sounds far more like Grima that a Contact, which is
generally a benefit.
> 2 11- Contact: Gandalf
Depending on the exact time, this may or may not fit. Maybe some kind of a
limitation is called for to represent Gandolf's "outcast" status?
> 20 Psych Lim, "Dominated by Grima", very common, strong
At the time this applies, Gandolf should not be a contact and Grima is a
liability as well.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 16:38:45 -0500
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Character: Theoden
At 04:23 PM 3/22/99 -0500, John P Weatherman wrote:
>On Mon, 22 Mar 1999, Scott C. Nolan wrote:
>> THEODEN, LORD OF THE MARK
>> 6 15- Contact: Grima
>
>I's actually make Grima a DNPC. After all, DNPCs represent people who get you
>in trouble, and that sounds far more like Grima that a Contact, which is
>generally a benefit.
While I agree with your reasoning, the result seems a bit off, to me. It is
not
as though Theoden has to run out and protect Grima. I gave him a Psych Limit
for this, and think that Grima is a Contact simply because Theoden doesn't know
that his councillor is harmful.
>> 2 11- Contact: Gandalf
>
>Depending on the exact time, this may or may not fit. Maybe some kind of a
>limitation is called for to represent Gandolf's "outcast" status?
True. I thought about this. What occurred to me is that Gandalf showed up
frequently even though he was not wanted. I think it fits.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 16:43:55 -0500
From: Geoff Speare <geoff@igcn.com>
Subject: Re: Character: Theoden
>I gave him a Psych Limit
>for this, and think that Grima is a Contact simply because Theoden doesn't
know
>that his councillor is harmful.
Except that Contacts are supposed to be useful... :)
If this were for a player, I would make Grima a Mystery Disadvantage, which
would cover both a disad value and the cost of a dummy "contact" for Grima.
For an NPC, the Psych Lim plus Watched (which definitely became a Hunted!)
seems perfect.
Geoff Speare
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 20:46:47 -0500
From: "Scott A. Colcord" <sacolcor@ic.net>
Subject: RE: Character: Sauron / Saruman
> The second power makes him into some sort of Hive-Mind, which I don't
> think is justified. There are references to him sending out messengers.
> I think Sauron normally exerts his will through fear and powerful
> lieutenants, not directly. Still, he could exert his will through his
> VPP, if he wanted to.
I think I agree here. Sauron has a hefty VPP at his disposal...if he wants
to do large-scale manipulations of his forces, he should do it by allocating
some of that pool.
----Scott
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 23:33:37 -0600 (Central Standard Time)
From: Tim Gilberg <gilberg@ou.edu>
Subject: RE: Teleport Against Other ??? amendment
> > Very much a plot device. Though how about a "Maze" spell. INT roll
> >needed to escape from the other dimension.
>
> Mental Illusions?
If you make INT the needed stat and assume that the target doesn't
actually physically leave. If he/she physically disappears, then no.
-Tim Gilberg
-"English Majors of the World! Untie!"
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 00:43:59 -0500
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Character: Tom Bombadil
TOM BOMBADIL, SPIRIT OF THE OLD FOREST
15 STR 5
18 DEX 24
20 CON 20
18 BODY 16
21 INT 11
25/40 EGO 30
15/30 PRE 5
14 COM 2
8 PD 5
6 ED 2
4 SPD 12
9 REC 4
50 END 5
50 STUN 14
Characteristics Cost: 155
6 Life Support, immune to disease, immune to aging
9 +3 Enhanced PER, with all senses
9 +2 Detect, "Magic", make into sense
3 Bump Of Direction
38 15- Danger Sense, any attack, general area
10 Eidetic Memory
3 Lightsleep
2 WF, Swords, Quarterstaff
20 2 Levels, all skills (noted in parentheses below)
7 Acrobatics 15- (17-)
5 Disguise 12- (14-)
5 Mimicry 12- (14-)
13 Navigation 16- (18-)
3 Paramedic 13- (15-)
3 Sleight Of Hand 13- (15-)
28 15- Universal Translator
1 Lang: The Tongue of Aman, native, literacy
6 Lang: Quenya, imitate dialects, literacy
5 Lang: Sindarin, imitate dialects, literacy
5 Lang: Westron, imitate dialects, literacy
5 Lang: Hobbitish, imitate dialects, literacy
7 AK: The Old Forest and Barrow-Downs 17- (19-)
3 KS: The Peoples of Middle-Earth 13- (15-)
3 KS: Maiar of Middle-Earth 13- (15-)
108 "Maiar Powers" VPP (50-point pool),
restricted type of powers, can change powers as 0 phase,
no skill roll required, 0 END
37 10" Teleport, x2K Increased Range, If Name is called at target
point
10 +15 PRE, Only For Defense
15 +15 EGO, Only Within the Old Forest, Only for Defense
6 +3" Running
Powers Cost: 375
Total Cost: 530
Base Points: 75
20 Psych Lim, "Unconcerned with the Outside World", common, total
15 Psych Lim, "Does not like to leave Old Forest and Barrow
Downs", common, strong
15 Psych Lim, "Kind-Hearted", common, strong
5 DNPC, "Goldberry", less powerful, appear 8-
400 Oldest and Fatherless Bonus
Disadvantages Total: 455
Experience Spent: 0
Total Points: 530
Tom Bombadil is the lord and master of the Old Forest. He is a maia
whose only concern is what goes on in and around the Old Forest, and
within it, he is very nearly invincible, including being immune to the power
of the One Ring. It is rare for Tom to travel beyond the Old Forest, and
then only to the Barrow-Downs or Marish in the Shire, both of which were
once part of the Old Forest.
During the War of the Ring, Tom rescued Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin
from the attack of Old Man Willow, and guested them at his and
Goldberry's house. He gave them a rhyme to summon him, and later
rescued them from the Barrow-Wight.
Tom looks like a man, but is shorter than an elf. He dresses in a pointed
hat with a bright blue feather, a bright blue coat and large yellow boots.
He is merry nearly all the time, and very much in love with Goldberry,
the River-Woman's daughter, who may or may not also be a maia.
Tom calls himself "Eldest" and claims to have been alive since
the First Age. This probably refers not to the First Age of the Sun,
by which men account time, but to the first age when the ainur
were allowed into the world, which is far older. Thus, Tom might
have been the first of the maiar to leave the active service of the
Valar and take up residence in Middle-Earth, possibly as it was
still being shaped.
Tom Bombadil is the whimsical name given him by the hobbits
of Buckland, with whom he enjoys conversing, particularly
Farmer Maggot. He was called Iarwain Ben-Adar ("Oldest
and Fatherless") by the elves, Forn by the dwarves and Orald
("Very Old") by the Dunedain.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 00:48:10 -0500
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: RE: Teleport Against Other ??? amendment
At 11:33 PM 3/22/99 -0600, Tim Gilberg wrote:
>
>> > Very much a plot device. Though how about a "Maze" spell. INT
roll
>> >needed to escape from the other dimension.
>>
>> Mental Illusions?
>
> If you make INT the needed stat and assume that the target doesn't
>actually physically leave. If he/she physically disappears, then no.
In my campaign, "Maze" is as follows:
Extra-Dimensional Travel, Usable Against Other, Ranged
Victim automatically returns after Making INT roll,
roll made on each time chart increment (-1/2),
Not v. Minotaurs (-1/4)
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 01:12:56 -0500 (EST)
From: "Daniel P. Pawtowski" <dpawtows@acm.vt.edu>
Subject: Re: Business Man
> And last but not least: The super beeper.
> Danger Sense: Message on Beeper --- DUCK!
> or worse yet, clarisence. I can picture it now. Beep, Beep, What that?
Ummmm..... Actually....
There is a proposed system for the Army that does that, sorta. It's a
vehicle radar set used to detect incoming ballistic missiles (like
Scuds, for example) and determine where they're going to hit. The system
will then determine what soldiers are in the area likely to be
affected, and issue a warning. That last bit will be done with modified
commerical pagers.
That is, a future soldier really *will* have a beeper that will tell
him to "DUCK". Or to put on a gas mask, if the warhead is suspected to
contain poision gas. I'll assume they're supposed to be left on
vibration-mode, for obvious reasons.
While it's not much, I think it falls into the categorty of "It's
better than yelling 'Incoming' out the door of the radar truck".
Fairly cheap, too.
Daniel Pawtowski
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 01:52:57 -0500
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Character: Fangorn
FANGORN, GUARDIAN OF FANGORN FOREST
60 STR 10* * = Growth Figured In
15 DEX 15
30 CON 40
30 BODY 24*
18 INT 8
18 EGO 16
25 PRE 15
8 COM 1
14 PD 10
8 ED 2
3 SPD 5
11 REC 2
60 END 0
65 STUN 10*
Characteristics Cost: 156
80 8 LVLS Growth (stats already included), 0 END Persistent
7 10/4 Damage Resistance
13 Life Support, doesn't breathe, immune to aging
30 4" Stretching, "Branches and Roots", 0 END
25 Spatial Awareness
25 360 Degree Sensing, with all senses
30 Clairsentience, see future, Only to Foretell Weather, 0 END
7 Concealment 16-, Only in appropriate Setting
6 Stealth 14-, Only in appropriate Setting
4 KS: Brewing 14-
6 KS: Ents 16-
7 AK: Fangorn Forest 17-
0 Lang: Entish, native
3 Lang: Sindarin, fluent w/accent
2 Lang: Westron, fluent conversation
- -4 -2" Running
- -2 -2" Swimming
1 "Entdraught", 6 recoverable charges, OAF, Extra Time:1 year
(1) 1 LVL Growth, Usable By Others, Trigger, 0 END Persistent
Only if not fully mature
70 8D6 Mind Control, telepathic contact, Only v. Huorns,
Extra time:5 minutes,only to start power,
Area Effect, radius, x1K Increased Area, 0 END
Powers Cost: 310
Total Cost: 466
Base Points: 75
25 Distinctive,"Talking, Mobile, Tree",not concealable,extreme
20 Psych Lim,"Does Not Hurry",very common,strong
15 Psych Lim,"Hatred of Orcs",common,strong
10 Vuln,"Fire",common,x1 1/2 body
321 Oldest Living Thing Bonus
Disadvantages Total: 391
Experience Spent: 0
Total Points: 466
Fangorn is the oldest living thing in Middle-Earth (Tom Bombadil
and other such spirits and maiar aside). He is an ent, a species of
intelligent, mobile trees designed by the Vala Yavanna to give protection
to the wild places of Middle-Earth. By the end of the Third Age,
there were few ents left, though a good many seemed to live in Fangorn
Forest, which is named after its eldest resident.
Fangorn and all ents have the strength of trees, able to crush rock to
gravel, just as the roots of a tree can, but in moments, instead of
decades. Despite their immense physical power, ents are normally
content to remain unmoving for long periods of time, and rarely
take any action without a lengthy internal dialogue or debate.
Fangorn, being eldest, is among the most influential of the ents,
but all decisions are made democratically, by the advent of a
moot called, for obvious reasons, the Entmoot.
Fangorn can brew a hearty draught called Entdraught, beloved of
ents, which has the property of causing those who drink it to grow
to large size if they have not yet reached the full extent of their
maturity. Drinking the entdraught caused Merry and Pippin to
grow to be the tallest hobbits ever.
Fangorn and other ents also have the power to control the huorns,
the semi-conscious wild ents who had lost some of their power,
and become largely dormant.
During the War of the Ring, Saruman's orcs had caused great fires
and depredations in Fangorn, probably to feed the fires of Orthanc's
furnaces, and had aroused the hatred of the ents. With urging from
Merry and Pippin, Fangorn aroused the fury of the ents at an
uncharacteristically short Entmoot, and the ents and huorns marched
on Isengard. There, they tore the ancient citadel apart, slew
many orcs and laid seige to Saruman in the unbreakable tower
of Orthanc, imprisoning him until Gandalf could arrive to cast him
out of the Order of the Istari.
Fangorn was also known as Treebeard. His full name in entish
took days to pronounce.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 22:58:52 -0800
From: Scott Bennie <sbennie@dowco.com>
Subject: New Creation Worskshop Packages
Steve Peterson mentioned on AOL that Creation Workshop packages are in
the works not only for Ars Magica, but Legends of the Five Rings, GURPS,
and Deadlands.
Thought you might like to know.
Scott Bennie
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 23:30:40 -0800
From: "Raven" <raven@neteze.com>
Subject: Re: New Creation Worskshop Packages
Has anyone heard more about a R. Talsorian update to Creation Workshop. I
had heard that there was one in the testing phase.
Anyone know more?
- -----Original Message-----
From: Scott Bennie <sbennie@dowco.com>
To: champ-l@sysabend.org <champ-l@sysabend.org>
Date: Monday, March 22, 1999 11:03 PM
Subject: New Creation Worskshop Packages
>Steve Peterson mentioned on AOL that Creation Workshop packages are in
>the works not only for Ars Magica, but Legends of the Five Rings, GURPS,
>and Deadlands.
>
>Thought you might like to know.
>
>Scott Bennie
>
>
>
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 02:49:04 -0500
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Character: The Watcher in the Water
WATCHER IN THE WATER, GUARDIAN OF THE WEST GATE
35 STR 10* * = Growth Figured In
16 DEX 18
20 CON 20
18 BODY 10*
6 INT 4
12 EGO 4
15 PRE 5
6 COM 2
7 PD 3
5 ED 1
3 SPD 4
10 REC 4
40 END 0
50 STUN 12*
Characteristics Cost: 85
30 3 LVLS Growth (stats already included), 0 END Persistent
5 8 Extra Limbs
20 4" Stretching, No Noncombat Stretching, 0 END
8 Life Support, safe in vacuum/pressure, breathe env: Water
16 1D6+1 HKA, "Bite", Reduced Penetration (2 1/2d6 w/ STR)
4 4/4 Damage Resistance
10 +0 STR Clinging
10 +10" Swimming
- -12 -6" Running
4 2 Levels: Grab
Powers Cost: 95
Total Cost: 180
Base Points: 75
15 Physical Lim, "No Fine Manipulation", all the time, slightly
15 Psych Lim, "Bound to Defend West Gate", common, strong
20 Susc, "Being out of Water", uncommon, per turn, 3D6
55 Mountain Squid Bonus
Disadvantages Total: 105
Experience Spent: 0
Total Points: 180
The Watcher in the Water is a monstrous, many-tentacled beast that lives
in a lake created by the damming of the Sirannon and situated in
front of the West Gate of Moria. It attacks passersby at the direction
of the Lord of Moria, the Balrog.
The Watcher attacks with its powerful tentacles, attempting to seize
its victims and either drown them or draw them in to its massive
maw, where it can deliver a deadly bite.
During the War of the Ring, the Watcher had a slightly different task:
to drive the Fellowship into Moria. It attacked, but let them go when
they ran for the West Gate, and slammed it closed behind them.
The Watcher's tentacles are green, luminous and slimy.
NOTES:
1. Tolkien never states that the Watcher works directly for the Balrog.
This is a supposition of mine that seems to be supported by some
fairly solid evidence. The creature undoubtedly has at least some
low cunning, as seen by its deliberate act of closing the gate
behind the Fellowship.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 03:23:12 -0500
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Tolkien Characters and Plans
Well, folks, that's it. Thirty-Nine characters, ranging
from 90 to 1368 points. I thank you for your many
observations and useful suggestions. I will soon put
these up on my website, complete with adjustments
and updates. I'll let the list know when that happens.
After that, I plan to do write-ups of all the characters
from Zelazny's "Chronicles of Amber".
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 09:18:11 -0500
From: Bill Svitavsky <nbymail11@mln.lib.ma.us>
Subject: Re: Character: Tom Bombadil
At 12:43 AM 3/23/99 -0500, Scott C. Nolan wrote:
>TOM BOMBADIL, SPIRIT OF THE OLD FOREST
>
>5 DNPC, "Goldberry", less powerful, appear 8-
It's been quite a while since I've read LoTR, but it seems to me Goldberry
was both powerful and useful. Perhaps she should be a follower, not a DNPC.
Granted, ""less powerful" than Tom Bombadil covers a lot of ground.
>Tom looks like a man, but is shorter than an elf.
Aren't Tolkien's elves *taller* then men? This sentence would imply otherwise.
- - Bill Svitavsky
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 08:49:27 -0500
From: David_A._Fair@fc.mcps.k12.md.us (David A. Fair)
Subject: Re: Tolkien Characters and Plans
nolan@erols.com writes:
>After that, I plan to do write-ups of all the characters
>from Zelazny's "Chronicles of Amber".
I look forward to this set. The Chronicles of Amber were among the very
best sci-fi/fantasy memories of my youth. So much so that I named my
son Corwin...
Thanks,
Dave
- ---------------------------------------------------------
David A. Fair
Montgomery County Public Schools
Office of Global Access Technology
Elementary User Support Specialist
David_Fair@fc.mcps.k12.md.us
- ---------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 06:53:10 -0800
From: Bob Greenwade <bob.greenwade@klock.com>
Subject: Re: New Creation Worskshop Packages
At 10:58 PM 3/22/1999 -0800, Scott Bennie wrote:
>Steve Peterson mentioned on AOL that Creation Workshop packages are in
>the works not only for Ars Magica, but Legends of the Five Rings, GURPS,
>and Deadlands.
>
>Thought you might like to know.
Cool! I'll be looking forward to the GURPS one, at least....
- ---
Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROS member]
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
Merry-Go-Round Webring -- wanna join?
http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 10:11:03 -0500
From: "Johnson, Adam" <AJohnson@clariion.com>
Subject: RE: New Creation Worskshop Packages
I'd look forward to GURPS too, even though I have two decent character creation packages for GURPS right now.
I'd like to see a good CW package for TimeLords, though. I tried working on one myself, but... I dropped it due to lack of time to work on it, and I'm not that good at Visual Basic programming as of yet. (You see, I was doing a self-contained program in VB, not using CW.)
- ----------------------------------------------------------
Adam Johnson
Product Support -- Head Lab Resident Area Tech (RAT)
ajohnson@clariion.com
Life's a long song... but the tune ends too soon for us all
Jethro Tull, "Life's a Long Song," Living in the Past
- ----------------------------------------------------------
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob Greenwade [SMTP:bob.greenwade@klock.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, 23 March, 1999 9:53
> To: champ-l@sysabend.org
> Subject: Re: New Creation Worskshop Packages
>
> At 10:58 PM 3/22/1999 -0800, Scott Bennie wrote:
> >Steve Peterson mentioned on AOL that Creation Workshop packages are in
> >the works not only for Ars Magica, but Legends of the Five Rings, GURPS,
> >and Deadlands.
> >
> >Thought you might like to know.
>
> Cool! I'll be looking forward to the GURPS one, at least....
> ---
> Bob's Original Hero Stuff Page! [Circle of HEROS member]
> http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/original.htm
> Merry-Go-Round Webring -- wanna join?
> http://www.klock.com/public/users/bob.greenwade/merrhome.htm
>
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 11:27:41 -0500
From: "Scott C. Nolan" <nolan@erols.com>
Subject: Re: Character: Tom Bombadil
At 09:18 AM 3/23/99 -0500, Bill Svitavsky wrote:
>At 12:43 AM 3/23/99 -0500, Scott C. Nolan wrote:
>>Tom looks like a man, but is shorter than an elf.
>
>Aren't Tolkien's elves *taller* then men? This sentence would imply otherwise.
The description is Tolkien's, not mine. First, remember that ol' JRRT was
writing the stories for close to fifty years, and that Bombadil was, as a
character,
older than any other (it was a character Tolkien used to tell stories to his
children about).
Second, remember that while the Noldor may have been ~6'5", so were the
Dunedain. The Sindar were shorter, around 5'10, and the Silvan elves
even shorter.
What can I tell you? Consistency ain't one of the Prof's long suits.
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 12:17:10 -0500 (EST)
From: Jason Sullivan <ravanos@NJCU.edu>
Subject: Giant Beetle Minature (fwd)
I have a plastic beetle toy I'd like to use as a minature, but I
am baffled as to how I should assign levels of Growth, Stretching, and DI
when writing up it's stats.
It looks like this from the side:
o /\---\___ /--___________-_
\\ / / / \\ \-__
\ \-_ / ___--- / \
\/ \_[/ ___ / ___ ___ \
%o__/_ \ *\ /--_\ *\______-/* /__--/-
}} ---____\__\_-___\__\_____/__/__--/-
/
Where ever there is a "*", there is a leg. I showed where the leg
sprouted from, but omitted the rest of the leg section to avoid confusion.
Each leg has three joints. The head has a large curved horn, two tiny red
eyes, and mandibles jutting from the sides of the "mouth" parallel to it.
The front of the carpace appears to be thicker and ridged. The latter
appears to be an enclosure for the wings.
I measured the following parts:
Overall Length: @ 6 cm
Overall Width (at widest point): @ 3 cm
Overall Height (at highest point): @ 3 cm
Height at tail end (slopes down at thorax): @ 2.5 cm
Horn: @ 2 cm long
Head: @ 1 cm x 1.5 cm x 1.5 cm (joins with horn)
Mandible: @ 1 cm long
Leg: @ 5 cm long (from joint on underside)
Leg (from side):@ 3-3.5 cm long (forlegs shorter than side)
Tell me what size this thing is in terms of Growth, if you can,
and speculate about the weight and the distance of the attacks.
------------------------------
End of champ-l-digest V1 #244
*****************************
Web Page created by Text2Web v1.3.6 by Dev Virdi
http://www.virdi.demon.co.uk/
Date: Tuesday, June 15, 1999 01:10 PM