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|| DRAGONQUEST Newsletter November 1995 ||
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|| Volume 2 / Number 10 ||
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The DQ Newsletter is for discussions of the DragonQuest role
playing game. The key addresses you need to know are:
Philip Proefrock (Editor, Article Submissions, Etc.)
psproefr@miamiu.muohio.edu
David Nadler (Distribution Coordinator)
nadled@daytonoh.ATTGIS.com
Drake Stanton (FTP Site Coordinator)
drache@netcom.com
All articles are copyrighted property of their respective authors.
Reproducing or republishing an article, in whole or in part, in
any other forum requires permission of the author or the
moderator. The DragonQuest Newsletter also maintains an ftp
archive site:
[ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/dr/drache]
which includes back issues of the newsletter and other articles of
interest to DragonQuest players and GMs.
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C O N T E N T S [v2/n10] {part 2 of Nov issue}
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{part 1 contents}
***** Editorial -- Philip Proefrock
*****
***** Letters -- Anthony T. Stanford
***** -- Andrew South
***** -- Brent Jackson
***** -- John Kahane
*****
***** Mages and Iron Projectiles -- Anthony T. Stanford
Rituals of Binding Elements -- Brent Jackson
Composite/Compound Bows -- Anthony T. Stanford
Column: DQ ARCHIVE
Advertisements
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RITUALS OF BINDING ELEMENTS
-- Brent Jackson (brent@hypercom.co.nz)
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The DQ rituals for binding elements do not give many guidelines
as to what is possible and not possible once the element is
bound. For this reason GMs are usually hard on what they allow
players to do, and as a result characters seldom use them. Here
is a suggested rewrite of those Rituals. Mind and Rune mages are
not elementalists so should not be able to manipulate elements.
People are allowed to use any part of these for personal use
providing that all uses are marked "(Copyright Brent Jackson
1994)".
RITUALS OF ELEMENTAL BINDING
Version 0.4 (c) Brent Jackson 1994
Ritual of Binding Elements (Mind R-1)
This ritual no longer exists.
Ritual of Binding Air (Air Q-1)
Duration : 1 hour ( + 1 / Rank )
Experience Multiple : 150
Base Chance : MA ( + 4 / Rank )
Resist : None
Target : Air
Cast Time : 1 hour
Actions : Concentration
The Adept may bind any air that is not within, nor part of, an
entity, that is within 1 foot (+ 1 / Rank) of any part of the
Adept. The maximum amount of air that may be bound is (Rank
squared + 1) x 10 cubic feet. When the duration expires, the
Adept's passive concentration is broken, or the bound air moves
further than 50 feet (+ 25 / Rank) from the Adept, the binding
will cease with the air reverting to being normal air. The air
may be shaped by the Adept as desired by active concentration.
The adept may move the bound air about at will, at a speed of up
to 10 mph (+ 2 / Rank), provided that the bound air remains in
contact with an air mass. The bound air will remain at the same
pressure as the air mass to which it is attached. The adept may
raise the temperature of the bound air by up to Rank degrees C, or
decrease it by up to twice that amount. The rate of temperature
change is 2 degrees / minute. Bound air may not be extended
underwater. Vapours, smoke and other airborne particles will not
enter into bound air. Bound air may be breathed normally, but the
air that actually enters the entity will become unbound. (Note
that an average human breathes about half a cubic foot of air per
minute. Attempting to preserve air will probably half this rate,
and being unconscious will half it again. Similarly, exercise
will double the rate of consumption, and strenuous exercise will
double it again). If the ritual backfires (greater than 40 above
the base chance), a localised rainstorm results in addition to any
other possible backfire effect.
Ritual of Windspeak (Air Q-2)
This ritual is now Q-2.
Ritual of Binding Water (Water Q-1)
Duration : 1 hour ( + 1 / Rank )
Experience Multiple : 125
Base Chance : MA ( + 4 / Rank )
Resist : None
Target : Water
Cast Time : 1 hour
Actions : Concentration
The Adept may bind a volume of liquid water that is not within,
nor part of, an entity, that is within 1 foot (+ 1 / Rank) of any
part of the Adept. The maximum amount of water that may be bound
is (Rank squared + 1) x 10 cubic feet. The water to be bound must
be in contact with the adept and be all one volume. When the
duration expires, the Adept's passive concentration is broken, or
the bound water moves further than 30 feet (+ 15 / Rank) from the
Adept, the binding will cease with the water reverting to being
normal water. The water may be shaped by the Adept as desired by
active concentration. The adept may move the bound water about at
will, at a speed of up to 5 mph (+ 1 / Rank) over the surface of a
liquid, or at half that speed through a liquid or over a solid.
The bound water will not mix with any other liquids nor dissolve
or suspend any solids that it comes in contact with. It can be
treated as though it has an infinitely elastic skin. The adept
may alter the temperature of the bound water by up to 2 x Rank
degrees C from that of its surroundings. The rate of temperature
change is 1 degree C / minute. The Adept may allow a portion of
the bound water to become unbound, up to Rank times. Any water
separated from the bound water (eg. drunk, closed in a container)
immediately becomes unbound. If it backfires (greater than 40
above the base chance), the water vaporises in addition to any
other possible backfire effect.
Ritual of Binding Fire (Fire Q-1)
Duration : 1 hour ( + 1 / Rank )
Experience Multiple : 175
Base Chance : MA ( + 4 / Rank )
Resist : None
Target : Fire
Cast Time : 1 hour
Actions : Concentration
The adept may bind a single fire that may be contained within a
sphere of 1 foot diameter ( + 1 / Rank), that is not more than 10
feet ( + 10 / Rank) from the Adept. When the duration expires,
the Adept's passive concentration is broken, or the bound fire
moves further than 20 feet (+ 10 / Rank) from the Adept, the
binding will cease with the fire reverting to being normal fire.
The bound fire will continue to burn with the same intensity,
noise and size but without consuming any fuel. The fire may be
shaped by the Adept as desired by active concentration. The adept
may move the bound fire about at will, at a speed of up to 10 mph
(+ 2 / Rank) provided that it remains in contact with a burnable
substance and air. Bound fire will heat substances that it is
contact with, but only to the extent of slightly charring the
object's surface. If the bound fire comes in contact with an
entity, a portion of the bound fire will become unbound. The
Adept may also, by actively concentrating, cause a portion of the
bound fire to become unbound. A portion of the bound fire may
become unbound up to Rank times, but only once per pulse. Any
part of the fire becoming unbound will immediately begin to burn
normally. If in contact with an entity, it will do Rank / 2
damage (round down) before expiring. Although the bound fire
itself cannot be doused, it can be smothered (separated from air),
or its "fuelling" substance could be saturated so as to become
incapable of burning. If it backfires (greater than 40 above the
base chance), the fire is extinguished in addition to any other
possible backfire effect.
Ritual of Binding Earth (Earth Q-1)
Duration : 1 hour ( + 1 / Rank )
Experience Multiple : 200
Base Chance : MA ( + 4 / Rank )
Resist : None
Target : Earth
Cast Time : 1 hour
Actions : Concentration
The Adept may bind a volume of non-magical soil, clay, stone or
sand, that is not part of an entity, that is within 1 foot (+ 1 /
Rank) of any part of the Adept. The earth to be bound must be in
contact with the adept and be all one volume. The maximum amount
of earth that may be bound is (Rank squared + 1) x 5 cubic feet.
When the duration expires, the Adept's passive concentration is
broken, or the bound earth moves further than 10 feet (+ 5 / Rank)
from the Adept, the binding will cease with the earth reverting to
its normal state. Bound soil, clay or sand may be shaped by the
Adept as desired by active concentration. The shape of bound
stone may not be altered. The adept may move the bound earth
about at will, at a speed of up to 2 mph (+ 1 / Rank) over the
earth's surface. The bound earth has an effective Physical
Strength of 10 (+ 2 / Rank). It may attack in close combat with a
Base Chance equal to 2 x its PS, doing damage as per unarmed
combat. A successful attack requires the target to roll under 4 x
((2 x AG) + (PS - PS of Bound Earth)) or be knocked prone. Each 2
points of damage (round down) done to the earth by magic, or by B
or C class weapons, reduces its PS by 1. This represents the
hacking or bashing of pieces off the bound earth. Any earth
separated from the bound earth immediately becomes unbound. If
its PS is reduced to zero then no earth remains bound. If it
backfires (greater than 40 above the base chance), the earth turns
to mud in addition to any other possible backfire effect.
Ritual of Summon Animals (Earth Q-2)
This ritual is now Q-2.
Ritual of Shaping Stone (Earth R-1)
Duration : 1 hour ( + 1 / Rank ) (& special)
Experience Multiple : 500
Base Chance : MA ( + 3 / Rank ) (& special)
Resist : None
Target : Stone
Cast Time : 1 hour
Actions : Concentration
The Adept may bind a volume of stone, that is not part of an
entity, that is within 10 feet (+ 1 / Rank) of any part of the
Adept. The maximum amount of stone to be bound is 100 cubic feet
(+ 100 / Rank). When the duration expires, the Adept's passive
concentration is broken, the bound stone is separated from the
earth, or the bound stone moves further than 50 feet (+ 25 / Rank)
from the Adept, the binding will cease. The bound stone may be
slowly shaped by the Adept as desired by active concentration, and
has the consistency of soft clay. The bound stone may be moved
about at a speed of up to 1 mph (+ 1 / 4 full Ranks). It may not
be moved through the earth or other stone. Any stone separated
from the bound stone immediately becomes unbound. If a ritual
sacrifice of a sentient entity is performed during the course of
the ritual, the MA of the sacrificed entity is added to the base
chance of the ritual. Moreover, when the duration of the ritual
expires the stone retains some magic. This magic means that the
stone may not be affected by any magic (other than this ritual
performed with a sacrifice), nor may any magic, object or entity
pass through it. If it backfires (greater than 40 above the base
chance), the stone turns to mud in addition to any other possible
backfire effect.
Spell of Binding Elements (Rune G-8)
This spell no longer exists.
-- Brent Jackson (brent@hypercom.co.nz)
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COMPOSITE/COMPOUND BOWS
-- Anthony T. Stanford (legion@netins.net)
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I've never heard of anyone making this mistake, but some of the
artwork in one of the modules actually showed an elf with a
COMPOUND bow, which caused some giggling. Those are completely
modern weapons, having appeared sometime in the 1970's, I would
guess. It wasn't even a very good drawing of a compound bow,
which has one cammed pulley on each end, not two.
However, the weapon listed in the rules is a COMPOSITE bow, not a
COMPOUND bow. It really should have been purged with all the
other exotic weapons. It too was a Mongol device, made of a
composite of horn and wood (thus it's name). It looked just like
a normal bow except that it was shorter (it was made for use from
horseback), usually recurved, and it wasn't made entirely of wood.
It involved NO pulleys. Trust me on this.
-- Anthony T. Stanford (legion@netins.net)
---------------------_D_Q_ _A_R_C_H_I_V_E_-----------------------
=================================================================
[Archive ftp site is at: ftp.netcom.com in the pub/dr/drache
directory.
[ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/dr/drache]
Archivist and ftp Guru: Drake Stanton (drache@netcom.com)]
College of White Magics
ARCHIVE NAME: White.magics
[Note: Name of archive unconfirmed at the time this issue was sent
out.]
This college is very much a parallel to the College of Black
Magics, perhaps a bit too much so. The College of White Magics is
one of the most popular colleges for DQ players to create, since
its presence is obviously lacking among the original set of 12 (or
15 if you also have 'Arcane Wisdom'). According to some SPI
materials of the time, 'Arcane' was, at one point, going to
contain six new colleges (rather than just three), and a College
of White Magics was among those, so it was something that was at
least in development. There are several versions I am familiar
with, and I am sure there are more I haven't seen, too.
This is a stronger entry than a commercially published version I
have seen (a variant called "The College of White Magicke" (sic)
from an article in a magazine whose title I have never been able
to find), but I don't know that this is yet the definitive
version, either. If you haven't yet created your own version for
your campaign, this is worth downloading.
Some notes from the description and introduction:
"Another one... this one was also written by Martin Dick, so I
can't claim credit. I believe a few people have had a stab at
writing a College of White Magics already, but this is the one we
use, so if it's of any interest or use, its yours.
--------------------------------------------------------------
"THE COLLEGE OF WHITE MAGICS
"The College of White Magics is the magical opponent of the
College of Black Magics. It uses the powers of magic to counter
the Powers of Darkness and to spread the power of Light. They are
a very old group who have been diminished in power and influence
since the rise of the Church, which is in many ways a similar
power for the Light. Their magic is primarily aimed towards
defensive and healing powers, although it does have some offensive
magic. The College is divided into three differing levels of
commitment."
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NEW AND slightly IMPROVED DQ WEB SITE!
URL
---
http://www.st.nepean.uws.edu.au/~dallbutt/dq/index.html
The web page is looking a little better now for those
of you who use Netscape.
The Page's offerings include:
* Past and Current Newsletters.
* New Colleges and Skills.
* Canonical DragonQuest Index.
* Art.
* DragonQuest FAQ - nothing much there yet.
Waiting for submissions (hint hint :)
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### End of DragonQuest Newsletter v2/n10 -- November 1995
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