=========================================================== || || DRAGONQUEST Newsletter January 2001 || || Volume 6 / Number 1 =========================================================== The DQ Newsletter is for discussions of the DragonQuest role- playing game. The key addresses you need to know are: Rodger Thorm (Editor, Article Submissions, Etc.) dqn@b... 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 website is in the process of being moved. It will be part of the list site: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dqnewsletter ----------------------------------------------------------------- C O N T E N T S [v6/n01] ================================================================= Editorial -- Restart Letters -- Jason Winter New DragonQuest Discussion List -- John Kahane The Ascetic -- Ian Bacon Advertisements DragonQuest NET ----------------------------------------------------------------- EDITORIAL: Restart ================================================================= It seems as though every other issue of the DragonQuest Newsletter has been about making a new start, about things getting rolling, about something new happening, so it should be no surprise that this one follows in that same vein. After all, it has been over a year since the last Newsletter was released. Many of you may have thought that the Newsletter had finally given way to the discussion group on WebRPG, or the web pages, or some of the other DragonQuest resources. There are other places that DQ players and GMs can go for informa- tion about the game. Even at its peak, the Newsletter has been only a once-a-month publication, and the pace of the 'Net is much faster than that. But I still believe that there is a place in the mix for the DQN. And I believe that there are still people who want to read new things about DragonQuest and that there are still people who want to write and share their ideas about the game. To that end, a recent e-mail prompted me to think of a new way of organizing the operation of the Newsletter to help keep it active. I am proposing that there will be a group of editors who will each be responsible for some aspects of material for the Newsletter. Getting the Newsletter produced on a monthly basis is not impossible for one person to do alone, but it would be easier if there was a team of people working on it. I will act as editor-in-chief, overseeing the whole, maintaining the mailing list, and the like. Individual editors may be responsible for things such as New Rules, New Races, Character and NPC Descriptions, New Creatures, Mini-Adventures, etc. Editors would be responsible for creating content for their category as well as editing submissions from others in that category. There are also several related interest groups that should perhaps also be represented editorially. The DragonQuest Players Association is foremost on this list, and there are others as well. I would also like to get all of the old back issues of the Newsletter collected and posted to the DQnewsletter site Files section.  I think that it would also be wonderful to assemble an index of articles so that past information can be easily looked up. Anyone who is interested in being part of the editorial team should contact me to discuss what category they would like to be involved with and how they can contribute to the Newsletter. Hopefully this can lead to greater stability for the Newsletter. On top of this, eGroups has just completed being swallowed up by Yahoo!, so you may need to wrestle with Yahoo's new policies before you can again get access to the website and other features. As of this moment, we have not yet seen all of the changes that this is going to impose on Newsletter readers. Hopefully the transition will not go too roughly, and we will try to do what we can to assist anyone having difficulties with the change of service. We apologize for this, but the situation is beyond our control. Rodger Thorm DQN Editor ------------------------_L_E_T_T_E_R_S_-------------------------- ================================================================= Subject: Re: DQ Newsletter Hey. Sorry for the slow reply. As to helping out, that would be fine/great. As I said before, I really miss the newsletter. I had a few ideas that I thought would be a nice addition to the Newsletter as well. A new regular feature or two like: "Happenings in Alusia" Where each issue we could pick an area on the Frontiers of Alusia map and perhaps describe the current goings-on in that area. "Talk about Castle Chilton". This could be rumors and such that could be adventure leads/gossip/false rumors/etc. Each issue have a dozen or so listed that people could use. Have them be generic enough that they could be used anywhere if wanted/needed. We could also have a regular feature where regions of Alusia could just be better defined. I.e. A a write-up one month on The Hills of Skoshi. We could also have a Mini-adventure each issue. This would be nothing more than perhaps anything from a paragraph or two to a page with a real small adventure. It could be a small cave with a family of bugbears, or perhaps a hut on the side of an unused road with a hermit inside. That kind of thing. The above are just a few ideas I had had just lately. They should be something though that appears every issue if possible so that people can come to expect them. I/we could start out the first few issues writing them up myself/ourselves, and if it catches on, hopefully others would submit write-ups/rumors etc as well. There could also be two issues at least initially (or perhaps after a bit if we can get down a good, regular routine). The regular issue that has been sent out since the start, and perhaps a .pdf version with a bit more 'pizazz' (heh, i know that's spelled wrong, but I have no idea on the correct spelling :-) Perhaps an included map with the mini-adventure or whatever. Anyway. These are just the ideas I had had before I mailed you about this. let me know what your think, and any ideas you might have. I am interested to hear your feelings on the where you would like to see the newsletter go and what it should contain. ----------------------------------------------------------------- NEW DRAGONQUEST DISCUSSION LIST -- John Kahane <jkahane@c...> ================================================================= Well, as some folks may have noticed, I started up a new DRAGONQUEST forum and mailing list over on eGroups, now Yahoo! Groups, called DragonQuest-RPG. The purpose of the DragonQuest-RPG forum is to provide a place for gamers and fans of the old SPI fantasy rpg system a place to discuss the game, mechanics of the game, aspects of the game, aspects of fantasy in all its forms that relate to the game, and anything else that is vaguely DragonQuest-related in a friendly, "softly" moderated place that allows for both on-line as well as off-line reading, in both individual e-mail and digest formats. This forum and mailing list is not meant to conflict with or interfere with any other DragonQuest RPG mailing lists out there, but is meant to provide an outlet and place where folks can discuss things and upload and download files and other information and material about and pertaining the DragonQuest fantasy rpg. If you would like to subscribe to the DragonQuest-RPG mailing list, you can do this in one of two ways. You can go directly to: http://www.yahoogroups.com/DragonQuest-RPG and subscribe through the website, or you can send an e-mail to: DragonQuest-RPG-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and join up that way. I look forward to seeing folks in the DragonQuest-RPG forum, and look forward to discussing my favourite fantasy roleplaying game with others of similar interests. John M. Kahane Moderator, DragonQuest-RPG forum e-mail: jkahane@c... ----------------------------------------------------------------- Character Type: ASCETIC -- Ian Bacon <ibacon@c...> ================================================================= The Ascetic Introduction Asceticism denotes a system of practices that aims at the development of virtue and strength of character through self-denial and mortification. It has been an aspect of many religions and philosophies. Methods of asceticism generally include exercises such as celibacy, fasting, periods of silence, self-mutilation, flagellation, performance of unpleasant tasks, self-castration and withdrawal from human companionship. It is thought that these practices gradually free a person's spiritual element from the body's demands. Once control has been achieved, a harmony of the whole person is experienced. Thoughts on how to use the Ascetic in DragonQuest The Ascetic is an NPC that has few valid reasons to interact with the normal group of DragonQuest adventurers. The motivations of money, glory and social status mean nothing to him. In this fashion Ascetics can best be played as wanderers who by chance or design meet the party and provide intelligence of one form or another. The difficulty lies in eliciting this information. Offers of money or other material considerations will merely insult the true Ascetics and turn him away from the party. Time, consideration and careful planning are needed to gain there cooperation. In a lesser role, with a random encounter, they can simply add an element of danger and unplanned opportunity to the shrewd (or unlucky) adventurer. The motivation and background of the Ascetic NPC must fit his calling. An Ascetic who has wandered in a desert region for decades may know the location of the buried treasure but have little reason to reveal it as its recovery will merely add to the burden of avarice in the world. Conversely, he may choose to engage the party in long conversation in an attempt to persuade them to abandon their quests of this world and join him in the search for the next. However, the unique abilities of the Ascetic can provide an interesting and challenging alternative to the usual NPC enticements of proffered coin or threats of violence in seeking assistance and advice. It would be rare for an Ascetic to play a major NPC role, however, it is possible. For example, an important prince could reject life at court and then turn to the wilderness. His distraught parents could then offer great rewards to the party to return him. Or, an Ascetic could have stumbled across the location of a much needed magic item. Finding this one person and then gaining information from him would consume hours of play. For the purposes of random encounters the Ascetic can be considered to one category of pilgrim. It is suggested that no more than five Ascetics be encountered at any one time. Lifestyle An Asceticshas no plan other than to seek mortification of the flesh and to become one with the world via a search for enlightenment. To this end he/she will wander the world avoiding areas of human habitation seeking wastelands and deserts. This brings Ascetics into contact with strange creatures and even stranger locations. There is a chance that any Ascetic met by a party will know unusual facts and become a source of knowledge. For some period of his life the Ascetic will turn from the wilderness and spend time living in a city, begging and offering his skills to passers-by. This is done to test his resolve by exposing himself to the pleasures that only cities can offer. This choice can either increase the affection to his calling or destroy it. Ascetics will eschew comfortable clothing, sandals or any other trappings of luxury. They will be seen, in all weather, wearing a simple tunic or merely a cloak, with a breech clout for modesty. A staff has become their symbol and only vanity (though it is best not to phrase its usage in such a fashion). Food will be consumed sparingly and only as a means of nourishing the body. Sleep is also avoided, meditation is preferred. Most Ascetics are vegetarians, some few will by choice eat meat as they believe it brings them closer to nature. Reflecting the medieval nature of the DragonQuest world 2/3 of Ascetics will be men. Approximately half of Ascetics at any one time will be travelling alone. This may change as circumstance and motivation dictate. An Ascetic may wander in solitude for a time and then join a band of his brothers only to leave them again. The Ascetics lifestyle is hard. This has the effect of reducing physical beauty. Take 25% of any Ascetics PB value and in any case the maximum PB for an Ascetics is 9. The Gamesmaster may decrease the Ascetics PB with age. Due to their devotions Ascetics 'enjoy' a long life. Add 50% to the normal life span. It must be stressed however, that Ascetics do not fear death - some even embrace it. The follower of the path will never use weapons or armour. Striking a fellow living creature negates any progress and Ascetic has made (the only exception to this is the hunting of food animals). Skills & Abilities Almost as a matter of course the Ascetic can gather and prepare food, find water where none else can and determine his location and bearing - he is never lost. In this sense he can be considered to possess the Ranger skills of 60.4 (recognising plants and animals) and 60.1 ('bump' of direction). No Ascetic is a member of a College. If he was originally a member it is totally rejected when embracing the way of the staff. Similarily, Ascetics are never members of guilds, fraternities or any other organised body. Magic The magic abilities of the Ascetic derive from years and decades of contemplation and deprivation. They are not as direct as those of the Magical Colleges but give the Ascetic contact with the underlying forces of magic. These magical abilities are Talents, common to all Ascetics. 1. Perceive Mana (T-1) The force that gives the Adept his power to manipulate reality is Mana. It comes to him from the other planes. Ascetics can sense this force over great distances, allowing them to know of regions of high and low mana. At Rank 5 and higher they can both temporarily block or enhance (equivalent to a mana rich area, 27.1) the access to mana for one minute per Rank over an area of 100' radius from their location. This Talent can only be used once in a 24 hour period. 2. Trance (T-2) While in a trance state, Ascetics are immune to the effects of heat and cold and require no food or drink. At rank 0 an acolyte suffers the same discomfort as a normal human. Each rank adds 10 degrees (F) to the range of temperature that can be experienced without harm, 70 degrees being the optimum temperature. For example, at rank 6 an Ascetic can endure a 60 degree range, from 40 - 100 degrees. A high ranked Ascetic can spend winter, on a mountain top, and experience no harm. 3. Perceive the Future (T-3) One of their more dangerous abilities is knowing the future. In moments of clarity an Ascetics can correctly perceive the future of an individual or of an entire nation. The truth is always known and will be told without fear or favour. No matter how bizzare the prediction it will always occur through the strange workings of Fate. One should carefully consider the consequences before seeking knowledge of the future from such a source. An Ascetic is never capricious but his outlook is never yours and may give unasked for answers. Only a blind Ascetic can perform this task, and an offering, no matter how small or trivial is required. 4. Perceive Reality (T-4) A long life devoted to searching for purity gives one a firm grasp on what lies beneath the perceived. An Ascetic will always recognise a lie or half truth (but may not necessarily act on this knowledge). He will also be aware when something is not as it should be. This latter ability is played at the GMs discretion depending on Rank and the subtlety of the deceit. Lastly, they will also know much of the area they are travelling through. 5. Mental Protect (T-5) An Ascetic possess the ability to cloak their thoughts so they cannot be read. He is also immune to all forms of mental control. Endurance and Fatigue Ascetics have a great ability to ignore discomfort, fatigue and injury. Exhaustion that would disable an ordinary human can be disregarded with no loss of mobility or concentration. They are also incapable of being stunned or rendered unconscious. Ascetics possess double normal human fatigue and endurance. An additional 10% is added to these characteristics per Rank. Those who follow the staff are also capable of performing seemingly superhuman actions. These can include lifting heavy objects and enduring pain and injury (they can never be successfully tortured). Rank The normal catalogue of Rank with titles and so forth is completely rejected by Ascetics - such titulature is an affront to their calling. For the purpose of game play each decade passed equals one level of Rank. Thus an Ascetic who has spent between 50 and 59 years in the search is at Rank 5. ================================================================= DragonQuest NET ----------------------------------------------------------------- For quite a while, one of the services of the DragonQuest Newsletter was to keep a list of URLs to websites and other online resources which contained DragonQuest-related information. With the abundance of websites for DQ, and with so many online resources now available, the Newsletter is actually a pretty inefficient way of keeping a list. Therefore, rather than including a list of resources in each Newsletter, we will, instead, try to review websites that have recently come online (or that we have recently discovered) or websites that have added new content. If you are involved in producing a website with DragonQuest-related material, and would like to have your site featured in an upcoming issue of the DragonQuest Newsletter, please contact Rodger Thorm (dqn@b...). ------------------------ADVERTISEMENTS--------------------------- ================================================================= DQN Subscriptions -- If you aren't on the list, send email with your name and your email address to: dqn@n... ================================================================= ########################################################### ### End of DragonQuest Newsletter v6/n01 -- January 2001 ###########################################################