Until the World is Beautiful

Religious Ramblings

2012-01-31T02:22:00.000-08:00

If your spirituality makes you feel good and helps you do good things for other people more power to you. Don't push it on others and don't use it to justify your own personal shortcomings. I don't feel that religion should be abolished. I hope instead that it evolves into something more modern, tolerant, and less superstitious. There is an abundance of inherent beauty and mystery in the universe without making things up. You can still find truth and inspiration through the lens of metaphor and poetry.

There is no indication to me that religion makes people evil. I think we are just inherently evil with or without instruction. Given the right circumstances any one of you would turn on your neighbor and destroy them. We like to think ourselves civilized but our aggressive, savage nature, says otherwise. This isn't an evolutionary flaw, when we were hunter gatherers it benefited our survival greatly. The shape of modern society was forged in blood, domination, and cruelty. We can no longer afford to let our primal urges control us, however. The planet is getting smaller, it's ability to support an ever increasing number of people, who don't take care of it, will come to an end. Our only hope is to advance enough technologically to the point that we can colonize other planets.

If there is a God or something that created our universe, I am certain that it doesn't care about your day to day lives. An all-powerful, all-knowing entity would view us as nothing more than bacteria. A minor element of the super organism that is the Earth, rotating around an above average size star, inside a galaxy composed of 200-400 billion other stars, located in a sea of 500 billion other galaxies. When you die, the atoms that compose your body will merely be recycled to create new matter. The permanence of our planet, our sun, our lives, is an illusion. The universe has been here for 13.75 billion years, humans have only been around for 200,000. If you believe in God you do him a great disservice when taking his creations for granted and for thinking yourself so important.

If you are an anti-intellectual, if you disregard science and reason, you are the enemy of humanity. You are a barrier to progress and the death knell to our miraculous, fragile existence. Blind faith, irrational fears, and delusional thinking will only delay our ability to demonstrate verifiable truths and to understand the mind of God.

Sammath Gul Lyrics

2011-09-18T13:19:00.000-07:00

final draft

Part 1

verse:
cold winds from the north
harsh winter on its way
hunters venture out
searching for prey

the herd goes south
true aim, clean kill
pride and honor won
blood would be filled

chorus:
life from blood and blade
took the first road home
when the north winds came

Part 2

verse:
making their way home
filled with dread
the hunters unknowingly
bowed their heads

their only progeny
extinguished by flames
some of them grieved
some went insane

chorus:
"plundered and ruined
our love slaughtered
murdered and maimed
our sons, our daughters"

Part 3

verse:
swearing vengeance
rage welled up inside
he carried her body
through the blood and snow

in the darkness of the tomb
a shadowy figure whispers a deal
"i can bring her back
if you kill a hundred men"

chorus:
"take the ebon blade
slay them by my hand
curse them all until
none of them stand"

Part 4

Verse:
at first he only killed
the most vicious and vile
while searching for the men
who set his village on fire

the blade kept him going
searching for answers
whispering with the
voice of the necromancer

chorus:
"take no pity
on these men of vice
death is their mistress
the cost is their life"

Part 5

verse:
this must be the home
of that most wretched tribe
their women wear jewelry
of those who have died

with bloodlust and vengeance
he raised the blade high
it came down in a storm
no one survived

"you took from me
what cannot be replaced
i smite all you people
and your unholy race"

chorus:
standing upon piles of viscera
surrounded by broken and dead
covered in blood and hate
the sword glowed black and red

Part 6

verse:
when the moon was half dim
the shadows lifted her up
dark light surrounded her body

"this is power you cant control
i have kept my end of the deal
your love now walks among us"

clutching her
he looked into her eyes
into emptiness and despair

no memories
no feelings remained
a beautiful shell
on an empty frame

he tried to kill the shadows
the demon laughing, screaming
the ebon blade was bound
even death would not release him

chorus:
"your soul is undead
forged in your mind
thrall to your sire
weapon of mine"

©

Rivercity by Night

2010-12-03T16:15:00.000-08:00

This was a website I made. Made the music too.

Top Ten D&D Minis

2010-11-08T04:30:00.000-08:00

Due to my ongoing obsession with collecting Dungeons & Dragons miniatures I have become familiar with the wide variety available. There are over 1000 different minis spanning 20 sets beginning with the 2003 launch of the line. The figures can be used to play a miniatures skirmish style wargame or to represent characters and monsters for any tabletop fantasy RPG.

Here are my top ten miniatures. They were chosen purely for aesthetic reasons. There are many other smaller minis that would be more useful at the game table. These make great display pieces or can be used for one-off boss type battles, however.

10. Zombie White Dragon (Deathknell)
Value: $15

I love zombies and dragons. Combining the two is a winner in my book. This is a nice mini even if it is somewhat smaller than most dragons. It makes me wonder how it was turned into a zombie. Did a powerful necromancer kill a young white dragon and raise it from the dead?

9. Displacer Beast Pack Lord (War of the Dragon Queen)
Value: $5

An iconic D&D monster. The Displacer Beast can phase in and out of reality making it difficult to hit. It can also use the tentacles on it's back to ruin an adventurers day. This particular one is a Pack Lord and is bigger than most.

8. Mind Flayer Noble (Lords of Madness)
Value: $15

There are quite a few good mind flayer sculpts in different sets. This one comes from the latest set, Lords of Madness. The larger size allows for more detail even if it's not typical for a mind flayer.

7. Beholder Ultimate Tyrant (Legendary Evils)
Value: $10

Of all the beholders this is my favorite one. The paint is really nice and the spikes give it a more fearsome appearance.

6. Heroslayer Hydra (Lords of Madness)
Value: $35

This is another of the "very rare" minis from Lords of Madness. It's also one of the only hydras. The other one being the Fen Hydra. This one has five heads instead of four and is much larger.

5. Elder Blue Dragon (Lords of Madness)
Value: $50

I like how each of the Chromatic Dragons in D&D has a unique appearance. Besides being blue, the Elder Blue is distinguished by the large horn protruding from the top it's head. If you're lucky enough you can find one of these in a Lords of Madness booster pack.

4. Elder White Dragon (Against the Giants)
Value: $25

White Dragons live in cold climates surrounded by frost and snow. This sculpt has a lot of detail and the pose is great.

3. Huge Red Dragon (Giants of Legend)
Value: $60

Second only to the Colossal Red Dragon this is a fine sculpt and will send your players scrambling for cover when placed on the table. Incoming fire!

2. Aspect of Tiamat (War of the Dragon Queen)
Value: $75

Tiamat is a goddess, the mother of evil dragons and this is her representative. The five heads are each of the Chromatic Dragons.

1. Dracolich (War of the Dragon Queen)
Value: $50

This is by far the best looking undead dragon. The re-animated remains of an Elder Blue. If you see this thing hovering about, your best bet is to run.

The prices listed are the approximate lowest price found using abPrices.com as of 11/8/2010. Many times these sell for much higher than the value listed and go out of stock frequently.

Ravenholme D&D 4E Adventure Lvl 1-2

2010-10-01T21:21:00.000-07:00

Ravenholme is a small village that lies on the edge of the Bleak Forest under the shadow of the Enduring Mountains. The village was founded by a religious sect seeking freedom from persecution. The cult is known for their bizarre practices and rituals which involve cannibalization of the dead. After being separated from civilization for many years, other than the occasional merchant brave enough to venture into village, Ravenholme descended into madness. It began when the residents were stricken with plague. One by one they began dying and the priests determined there was a witch among them causing the outbreak. Accusations flew and trials were held but the executions did nothing to stop the plague from eventually killing almost all of the villagers.
The players have been offered a reward to investigate the village after the last group of adventurers sent there failed to return.

Grey clouds are forming in the sky as you make your way towards Ravenholme. From a distance it appears to be a quaint country village. It begins raining and the dirt path you are walking on soon becomes muddy and sticks to your boots. You can make out a cluster of buildings. It appears that several of the buildings are only partially standing. Charred beams and piles of blackened rubble indicate they caught on fire before slumping to the ground. What remains of the front doors have been painted with a large red X.
There is an old well immediately in front of you. A rope tied off to a cranking mechanism descends down into the dark interior. To the east there is a horse stable. To the north four buildings remain standing, intact for the most part. The buildings flank a dirt path leading to a large church.

Well : If the players turn the crank on the well a bucket comes up. It is filled with maggots feasting on putrid remains of indiscernible origin.

Ravenholme Spider Swarm		Level 1 Soldier
Medium natural beast		XP 100
Initiative +7 Senses Perception +1; tremorsense Swarm Attack aura 1; the bloodweb spider swarm makes a basic attack as a free action against each enemy that begins its turn in the aura. In addition, an enemy that enters or starts its turn in the aura is slowed (save ends) by strands of crimson webbing. HP 29; Bloodied 14 AC 15; Fortitude 10; Reflex 14; Will 10 Resist half damage from melee and ranged attacks; Vulnerable 10 damage from close and area attacks. Speed 4 , Climb 4 (spider climb)
m Swarm of Fangs (standard; at-will) • Poison
+4 vs Reflex; 1d10 damage, and ongoing 5 poison damage (save ends)
Alignment Unaligned		Languages —
Skills Stealth +10
Str 11 (+0)	Dex 21 (+5)		Wis 13 (+1)
Con 13 (+1)	Int -2 (–6)		Cha 5 (–3)

Stables : The stables are empty except for a rotting horse carcass, some old horseshoes and hand tools.

Building A : The door is unlocked. This appears to have been a shop or tavern of sorts. Most of the goods have been carried off. All that remain are empty barrels and crates. Rotten fruit lies about on the tables. Perception DC 10: reveals a bag of flour, DC 13: two bottles of wine, and DC 16: 5 gold pieces. There are several large cracks and holes at the base of the walls.

Giant Roach		Level 1 Minion
Small natural beast		XP 25
Initiative +3 Senses Perception +5; low-light vision HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion. AC 15; Fortitude 13; Reflex 15; Will 12 Speed 6 , Climb 3
m Bite (standard; at-will)
+6 vs AC; 3 damage
Alignment Unaligned		Languages —
Str 12 (+1)	Dex 17 (+3)		Wis 10 (+0)
Con 12 (+1)	Int 2 (–4)		Cha 6 (–2)

Building B : There is a large red X painted on the door and it is locked. The windows are boarded up. Strength DC 16 to bash door, Thievery DC 17 to unlock. Upon opening the door a putrid smell wafts out. The interior is dark and a creaking sound can be heard coming from the second floor. A corpse lies in a bed on the second floor, its skin blackened and pulled tightly around the bones. It is clutching a bag containing 60 gold pieces.

Minor Wraith		Level 1 Lurker
Medium shadow humanoid		XP 100
Initiative +7 Senses Perception –1; darkvision HP 17; Bloodied 8 Regeneration 5 (if the wraith takes radiant damage, regeneration is negated until the end of the wraith’s next turn) AC 12; Fortitude 9; Reflex 12; Will 10 Immune disease; poison; Resist insubstantial, 10 necrotic; Vulnerable 5 radiant (see also regeneration above) Speed Fly 6 (hover); phasing
m Shadow Touch (standard; at-will) • Necrotic
+4 vs Reflex; 1d6 + 3 necrotic damage, and the target is weakened (save ends)
Combat Advantage • Necrotic
The wraith deals an extra 1d6 necrotic damage against any target it has combat advantage against.
Shadow Glide (move; encounter)
The wraith shifts 6 squares.
Spawn Wraith
Any humanoid killed by a wraith rises as a free-willed wraith at the start of its creator’s next turn, appearing in the space where it died (or in the nearest unoccupied space). Raising the slain creature (using the raise dead ritual) does not destroy the spawned wraith.
Alignment Chaotic Evil		Languages Common
Skills Stealth +8
Str 2 (–4)	Dex 16 (+3)		Wis 8 (–1)
Con 11 (+0)	Int 4 (–3)		Cha 13 (+1)

The wraith will try to hide until the players take the bag.

Building C : There is furniture pushed against the inside of the door. Opening the door requires Strength. DC 10, pushes it open 1 foot, DC 13, 2 feet, DC 15 opens it all the way. There is also a window on the back of the building that is partially open. Upon entering, a cat darts across the room and hops through the window. This building appears to have been a nursery. There are children’s toys strewn across the floor. Perception DC 13 reveals a Dwarven Music Box amongst the toys, DC 15 reveals a hidden door in the floor. The door leads to a small cellar where a woman and two children are hiding. She screams upon seeing the players and waves a kitchen knife at them.

Building D : The door is rigged to a crossbow mounted to a table inside. ATTACK: +4 vs. Reflex; 1d6+3. There are corpses piled onto makeshift cots on the floor. Perception 15 reveals a key hidden away. The key opens Building B.

Phantom Warrior		Level 1 Soldier
Medium shadow humanoid		XP 100
Initiative +5 Senses Perception +10; darkvision HP 20; Bloodied 10 AC 15; Fortitude 13; Reflex 12; Will 13 Immune disease; poison; Resist insubstantial Speed 6 , Fly 6 (hover); phasing
m Phantom Sword (standard; at-will) • Necrotic
+6 vs Reflex; 1d8 + 1 necrotic damage, and the target is marked until the end of the phantom warrior’s next turn
Phantom Tactics
A phantom warrior has combat advantage against any target that has another phantom warrior adjacent to it.
Alignment Any		Languages Common
Str 12 (+1)	Dex 10 (+0)		Wis 9 (–1)
Con 10 (+0)	Int 8 (–1)		Cha 12 (+1)

Church : The interior of the church is covered in giant spider webs. Corpses hang suspended in the air, wrapped in sticky cocoons. There is a huge hole in the ceiling and chunks of the roof lie about. Hymn books and pages are scattered throughout the debris and stuck in the webbing, many of the pews are turned over or broken in half. Spread around the altar in the center of the room are 287 gold pieces gathered in assorted vessels, Holy Symbol +1, and an Amulet of Protection +1. Beyond the church lies a graveyard.
Players entering the web must make Athletics or Acrobatics DC 14 or become immobilized.

Deathjump Spider		Level 1 Skirmisher
Medium natural beast		XP 100
Initiative +5 Senses Perception +6; tremorsense HP 29; Bloodied 14 AC 17; Fortitude 14; Reflex 15; Will 13 Resist 5 poison Speed 6 , Climb 6 (spider climb)
m Bite (standard; at-will) • Poison
+3 vs AC; 2d6 + 2 damage, and the target takes ongoing 5 poison damage and is slowed (save ends both)
M Death from Above (standard; at-will) • Poison
The deathjump spider leaps at its prey, shifting 6 squares and making a bite attack. On a hit, it deals an extra 1d6 damage and also knocks the target prone.; -1
Prodigious Leap (move; encounter)
The deathjump spider shifts 10 squares.
Soft Fall
The deathjump spider ignores the first 30 feet when determining damage from a fall.
Alignment Unaligned		Languages —
Skills Athletics +7, Stealth +8
Str 15 (+2)	Dex 16 (+3)		Wis 12 (+1)
Con 13 (+1)	Int -1 (–6)		Cha 6 (–2)

Graveyard : Many of the graves here have been dug up, some are covered with mounds of dead flowers. Perception DC 20 reveals some of these to be open grave traps. ATTACK: +4 vs. Reflex; 1d4 dmg. 6 foot fall. Player can make a saving throw to avoid falling in. There are zombies spread throughout the graveyard. They will ignore players that are more than 5 squares away. When one attacks, the others will follow however. There is a large tomb at the far end of the graveyard.

Zombie Creep		Level 1 Minion
Medium natural animate		XP 25
Initiative –3 Senses Perception –2; darkvision HP 1; a missed attack never damages a minion. AC 11; Fortitude 11; Reflex 7; Will 8 Immune disease; poison Speed 4
m Slam (standard; at-will)
+4 vs AC; 6 damage
Alignment Unaligned		Languages —
Str 13 (+1)	Dex 5 (–3)		Wis 7 (–2)
Con 9 (–1)	Int 0 (–5)		Cha 2 (–4)
Equipment Leather Armor

Tomb : The entrance to the tomb is surrounded by elaborate stone carvings. Stairs lead down to a hallway. In the hall there is a green fungus growing on the walls and floor. Once disturbed it releases a cloud of poison that does 1d6+3 dmg to anyone caught in the area of effect (3x3 square radius). At the end of the hall there is a dimly lit chamber. A robed figure stands with his back to the characters. He appears to be dissecting a corpse laid out on a stone slab. If all the zombies were not killed from the graveyard they will follow the players into the tomb and fill the hallway.

Tomb Necromancer		Level 1 Controller
Medium natural humanoid		XP 100
Initiative +1 Senses Perception +0 HP 28; Bloodied 14 AC 15; Fortitude 12; Reflex 13; Will 14 Speed 6
m Staff of Death (standard; at-will) • Weapon, Necrotic
+6 vs AC; 1d6 + -1 necrotic damage, and the target is immobilized (save ends)
R Grave Bolt (standard; at-will) • Necrotic
Ranged 20; +3 vs Reflex; 1d6 + 3 necrotic damage, and the target is immobilized (save ends)
C Horrific Visage (standard; recharge 4 5 6) • Fear
Close blast 3; +4 vs Will; 1d6 + -1 damage, and the target is pushed 3 squares
Reanimate (immediate reaction, when an undead minion ally within 5 squares of the crazed necromancer (10 if adjacent to the statue) is reduced to 0 hit points; recharge 5 6) • Healing
The undead minion ally regains 1 hit point.
Alignment Evil		Languages Common
Skills Arcana +7, Religion +7
Str 8 (–1)	Dex 12 (+1)		Wis 7 (–2)
Con 12 (+1)	Int 14 (+2)		Cha 16 (+3)

The chamber contains a battleaxe+1, an ivory statue worth 250GP, and 122GP.

A Postcard

2010-02-08T22:47:00.000-08:00

Adrift in white noise.
Nothing ever blooms here now.
The muse escapes me.

Now I'm Feeling Vaporized

2010-01-07T05:16:00.000-08:00

I quit smoking a month ago and starting using an electronic cigarette. I like it to call it a nicotine inhaler or personal vaporizer instead though when explaining because of the stigma associated with cigarettes. If you don't know about them already, it consists of a rechargeable battery, atomizer and cartridge containing nicotine in liquid form. It mimics the action of smoking without having to inhale the 4000+ chemicals in a cigarette created from combustion. You puff on the device like you would a cigarette and inhale vapor. Once exhaled, the vapor itself doesn't linger in the air, smell, or leave stains like smoke.

The main benefit is the ability to avoid smoking traditional cigarettes, or "analogs" without the severe withdrawal symptoms and being able to avoid cravings while in public places where smoking is prohibited. This is not a means to ending nicotine addiction although one could lower the amount of nicotine intake gradually and quit the drug all together if so desired.

There are other products like nicotine gum, patches and pills that help some people quit. From what I understand the rate of success with these methods is about 20%. Besides being very expensive and having severe side effects (Chantix is known to make people suicidal), one thing these products lack is the kinetic feel and the physical ritual of smoking itself. It's not just the chemical itself that is addictive.

I can happily report that since I've switched to using my e-cig that I can breathe deeper, I no longer cough constantly, I can smell and taste things better, my clothes don't stink, and my quality of life has improved. It only took one month to notice the difference. Based on this I'm inclined to believe this is a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes.

There are still many studies that need to be done on the long-term effects of e-cigs and many who will demonize them until such evidence exists. I am by no means suggesting that e-cigs or nicotine addiction is harmless. I merely wish to have the personal freedom to enjoy my vice the same way others enjoy a cup of coffee without being treated like a common criminal.

I was going to provide some links to accompany this post showing where to obtain these products and the most economical way to do so. I have decided against this as I don't feel it would be responsible to advertise a highly addictive substance to people. Nor am I obligated to make these companies any money. If you do think you could benefit from this technology I would suggest doing your research first and if you don't already have a nicotine habit, you shouldn't start one.

I will say, stay away from that place at the mall, you know the one. You will end up paying three times what the product is worth.

Elsewhere

2010-01-05T10:15:00.000-08:00

Early sample.

Setting

This game takes place on an alien world that is similar to but different from Earth. The planet has an atmosphere, oceans, forests, and diverse life-forms. There are six distinct, human-like, alien species with behavior much like our own. Each of these species has adapted to their environment in different ways.

The six playable species are civilized and rely on one another for trade and mutual protection from greater enemies. They have common ground in that regard. There are internal struggles and in-fighting amongst various tribes, classes or guilds. The known world is filled with ruins of older civilizations. These ruins contain great treasures, artifacts or knowledge to be sought after.

The level of technology in Elsewhere is comparable to the Medieval Era. In this sense, the setting would be best described as Medieval Science Fiction. Society is on the cusp of a cultural and technological Renaissance but is held back by ancient tradition. Primitive firearms exist but are expensive to produce and unreliable. The most common mode of travel is by ship or boat, due the vast network of rivers and the surrounding waterways of the continents. Wagons pulled by animal are the primary form of transport over land.

There are forms of knowledge rooted in realism (explosives, chemistry, medicine, etc.) similar to spell casting in the traditional Fantasy RPG. The knowledge to make and use these are highly guarded secrets and only taught to proven students. Not only to protect the knowledge from being misused but also because they are inherently dangerous. These technologies are often viewed as magical and other-worldly by commoners.

There are also exaggerated naturalistic abilities that are based on the actual abilities of animals on Earth. These include heightened senses, night vision, and gliding. Each species has its own unique adaptations, culture, strengths and weaknesses.

Species

Canidae
Appearance: Wolf-like.
Abilities: Retractable claws, Heightened Senses, Wall Running. Can withstand extreme cold, excellent hunters.
Habitat: The cold north. Most are nomads and travel in packs.
Religion: Worship a solar deity. Burn dead in bonfires.
Politics: Republic. Council of Elders consists of one representative from each clan, normally the eldest. Votes are taken by the representatives although the highest ranking elder has the final say.

Varanidae
Appearance: Reptilian. Scaly skin, large yellow-orange eyes, forked tongue, small horns.
Abilities: Venom, Heat Perception, Chameleon
Habitat: Live in bayou, capital city similar to New Orleans, French Quarter.
Religion: Secular for the most part although remnants of polytheism remain.
Politics: Monarchy.

Vespoidea
Appearance: Insect-like.
Abilities: Sting, Super Strength, Exoskeleton
Habitat: Large hill/mound cities.
Religion: Ancestor worship, ancient queens and legendary warriors. Bury dead in tombs.
Politics: Monarchy. Ruled by a queen. Class system consisting of nobles, warriors, artisans and laborers. Often heredity determines ones social standing although wealthy merchants can "ascend" to the noble class.

Talpidae
Appearance: Mole-like. White pupils, fur, whiskers.
Abilities: Precognition, Supersensitive Hearing, Burrow
Habitat: Underground labyrinth of chambers and tunnels. Poor eyesight, use other senses to form a mental image of their surroundings. The libraries are well guarded and contain valuable knowledge in the form of books and scrolls. These are written with a system of raised symbols and read by touch. Females carry young in pouches.
Religion: Monotheists. Believe in powerful force that resides in the center of the planet.
Politics: Theocracy. Ruled by an elite class of priests.

Chiroptera
Appearance: Bat-like. Membrane stretching from lower arm to side. These do not function as wings but still allow the creature to glide.
Abilities: Glide, Leap, Echo Location
Habitat: Live in huge open cave colonies, structures suspended from the roof and walls. Series of ropes power vertical platforms. Homes have doors in the bottom for gliding down. Mostly nocturnal, follow a lunar calender.
Religion: Polytheists. Worship the three moons.

Anguilla
Appearance: Amphibian. Dark eyes, tentacle hair, patterns of light on skin that shift and move.
Abilities: Shock, Breathe Underwater, Telepathy
Habitat: Venice like cities with portions underwater.
Religion: Monotheists. Believe in a powerful sea deity that sleeps in the depths of the ocean.
Politics: Quasi-Republic, Theocracy. "Representatives" vote on law but are appointed by the ruling priest.

The System

You will need at least two ten-sided die of different colors to play. Assign one color to be the “tens” place and the other color to be the “ones”. When rolling both at once, this will give you a result of 1-100, also known as a percentile roll. It will be referred to as 1d100 in this text.

Character Creation Summary

1. Choose a Species. This will determine your Base Attributes and Abilities.
2. Customize your character. You have 100 points to divide among your attributes, add these points to the Base Attribute scores. During character creation no attribute can exceed 70.
3. Determine your starting Health, Initiative, Encumbrance, and Movement Speed from your Attribute scores.
4. Choose a Profession. This determines which Talents you start with and the role you will play.
5. Purchase weapons, armor, and equipment.
6. Name your creation, describe his/her physical appearance and any background information.

Attributes

Physical

· Strength (STR) – Determines your chance to hit with most melee weapons.
· Agility (AGI) – Determines your chance to hit with ranged weapons and daggers.
· Endurance (END) – Determines your maximum health and damage resistance.

Mental

· Knowledge (KNO) – Determines your chance to succeed when using explosives, chemistry, or medicine.
· Awareness (AWA) – Influences your initiative score and chance to detect hidden enemies.
· Personality (PER) – Determines your degree of social standing and hypnosis modifiers.

Attributes range from 20-80. Each species has it's own base attributes indicating the strengths and weaknesses of that species. After deciding on a species, you have 100 additional points to further customize your character. Your initial attribute scores cannot exceed 70.

Base Attributes

Species      STR   AGI     END     KNO    AWA    PER

Canid         50      30       40       30        30      20
Varan         30      50       30       20        40      30
Vespoid      40      30       50       30        20      30
Talpid        30      20       30       50        30      40
Chiro         20      40       30       30        50      30
Anguil        30      30       20       40        30      50

Your total attribute score determines your chance of success when attempting to perform an action. This can be expressed as a percentage. You must roll equal to or under your attribute score on 1d100 to succeed. This is known as a "roll-under" system. If you roll higher than your attribute score the action fails. If you roll the same number as your score it is a critical success. In combat a critical success results in 2x the normal damage for your weapon. If you roll two zeros it is a critical failure, you cannot roll 100.

Ex. Joe wants to throw an object at a target. Assuming his Strength is high enough to lift the object Joe would use his Agility score to determine the outcome. Joe's Agility is 70, giving him a 70% chance to succeed.

There are four possible outcomes:

1. Normal success. Ex. Joe rolls 37, he hits the target.
2. Critical success. Ex. Joe rolls 70, he hits the target and breaks it into pieces.
3. Normal failure. Ex. Joe rolls 85, he misses the target.
4. Critical failure. Ex. Joe rolls 00, he misses the target and falls down in the process.

Optional Rule:
Some actions can require multiple successes. The GM can have you roll more than once, with the number of “wins” determining the degree of success.

Ordinary actions do not require a roll. These include things like walking, running, picking up an object, talking, etc. These are considered to be automatic successes.

Movement

The average of your Strength and Agility (STR+AGI/2) is your movement speed. This is the number of feet per turn you can run at maximum speed (40'-160'). Half of this number is your normal run speed (20'-80'). Round fractions down. You must run at normal speed for one turn before reaching the maximum rate. You can then run at full speed 4 turns before needing to stop and rest.

Penalties:
Rough Terrain – Reduces running speed by 5.
Medium Armor – Reduces running speed by 5.
Heavy Armor – Reduces running speed by 10.
Over Encumbered – Reduces running speed by 10.
Running Uphill – Reduces running speed by 15.
Seriously Injured Foot/Leg – Reduces running speed by 20.

Encumbrance

The average of your Strength and Endurance (STR+END/2) determines how much weight you can carry before becoming over encumbered.

20-40: 1/4 body weight
41-65: 1/2 body weight
66-80: 1x body weight

Optional Rule:
Instead of calculating the weight of each individual item you can rely on some common sense. Anything that won't fit in your backpack or a pouch like a large weapon or heavy armor must be strapped on, resting in a scabbard, or carried in your hands. There are obvious limits to how much you can carry.

Life and Death

A character's Endurance times 5 equals their starting amount of health (100-350). Additional health is awarded when a character levels up, the amount being determined by class.

Any character can heal a minor wound by successfully making a Knowledge roll. More serious injuries require someone with the Medicine skill. Healing does not happen instantly, it takes a number of turns or a period of rest to get the full benefit. When your character drops to 10 health he/she is dying. The character falls unconscious and cannot perform any actions. You will continue to lose 1 point of health every turn unless you receive medical attention. If your health falls to zero your character is dead and cannot be brought back to life.

Optional Rule:
In a group, the GM can allow you to create a new character that is only one or more levels below that of your original character and then reintroduce you to the group through role–playing. An unfortunate side–effect of using this rule is that a character may commit suicide because they are unhappy with their current role, the same penalty applies though, you cannot get the character back and the new one will suffer some experience and equipment loss.

Thirst, Hunger and Fatigue

A character can only go so long without food, water, and sleep.

If you're healthy you can survive without water under ideal conditions for up to 6 days. You would take a -10 penalty to all rolls starting on the second day and an additional -10 for each day thereafter. On the sixth day you would begin to die and lose health at a rate of 100/hour. In extreme heat while performing strenuous physical activity you can die from dehydration in under 4 hours.

If you're healthy and drink water you can go up to 8 weeks without food. You would suffer -5 after the first two days and an additional -5 for each day thereafter. A larger character with more fat reserves will survive longer than a small one. In extreme cold your body will use up energy at a faster rate to keep you warm, increasing the penalty to -10.

You can go up to two weeks without sleeping. After 24 hours you would need to make an Endurance roll to stay awake, and another every 12 hours thereafter. If you fail the roll, you fall asleep wherever you are at the time.

Combat

The average of your Awareness and Agility (AGI+AWA/2) determines your Initiative score.

When both parties are prepared for a fight, the player or NPC with the highest Initiative goes first. Then the next highest would attack and so on until combat is resolved. In the instance of a surprise attack or ambush the player or NPC being attacked would need to make a successful Awareness roll to avoid being caught off guard.

Weapons have a set amount of damage depending on the quality and type of weapon. They also have a speed rating from 1-3. This rating determines how many times one can attack with that weapon in a single turn. A large cumbersome weapon would only yield one attack per turn whereas a small one may provide more chances to strike. Armor has a set damage reduction (DR) amount depending on the quality and type of armor and whether the armor is damaged or not. A number of critical hits can damage armor and reduce it's effectiveness. The number of critical hits required is dependent on the quality of the armor. Armor can be repaired with the requisite talent.

When a player or NPC is hit, you take the damage number of the weapon and subtract the DR of the armor to determine the amount inflicted. You then subtract this number from the victim's health.

Ex. Joe hits a monster with a sword that does 40dmg. The monster is wearing armor that provides 10dmg reduction. The monster loses 30 health.

Talents

When using a talent it effectively increases your attribute scores giving you a better chance to succeed than normal. Most talents have bonuses that increase by rank. Typical bonuses are scaled to the rank of the talent as follows.

Rank 1: +5%
Rank 2: +10%
Rank 3: +15%
Rank 4: +20%

Players begin with one rank in each talent of their chosen profession. You improve talents by spending points, these are awarded when you advance in level. A talent can only be improved one rank per level. Some have a prerequisite talent that must be learned first as well.

Professions

Mercenary – You are a fighter for hire, you owe no allegiance to any nation.
Talents: Medium Armor, Edged, Blunt, Dual Wield, Charge, Whirlwind
Favored Attributes: Strength, Agility

Knight – You are well equipped warrior, loyal to a nobleman or king.
Talents: Heavy Armor, Two-handed Weapons, Blunt, Edged, Toughness, Shield Bash
Favored Attributes: Endurance, Strength

Ranger – You are a woodsman, hunter of game and master of the bow.
Talents: Stealth, Ambush, Tracking, Traps, Ranged Weapons, Light Armor
Favored Attributes: Agility, Knowledge

Assassin – You are a stealthy killer, striking from the shadows.
Talents: Stealth, Ambush, Thievery, Poisons, Daggers, Light Armor
Favored Attributes: Agility, Awareness

Monk – You are a devout scholar, trained in the arts of healing and master of self-disipline.
Talents: Medicine, Hypnosis, Linguistics, Persuasion, Diplomacy, Martial Arts
Favored Attributes: Personality, Knowledge

Scientist – You are a tinkerer and inventor, skilled with explosives and chemistry.
Talents: Chemistry, Explosives, Investigation, Observation, Invention, Learning
Favored Attributes: Knowledge, Awareness

STR

1 – Swimming – Swim longer and dive deeper.
2 – Climbing – Climb sheer surfaces.
3 – Specialty: Blunt Clubs, staves, maces.
4 – Specialty: Edged Swords, axes.
5 – Specialty: Two–handed Great sword, great axe, great hammer.
6 – Specialty: Medium Armor - Reduces the movement penalty for wearing medium armor and allows you to repair damaged medium armor.
7 – Charge – Run into a single enemy knocking them down, causing them to lose a turn. You must be running at maximum movement speed.
8 – Whirlwind – Attacks multiple enemies in area of effect.
9 – The Bleeding - Causes damage over time.
10 – Decapitation – Req. Bleeding R4. Instant kill, severing the head from the body. Can only be used once per encounter.

AGI

1 – Specialty: Light Armor - Allows you to repair damaged leather armor.
2 – Dual Wield Eliminates weapon speed penalty for wielding two weapons.
3 – Specialty: Daggers
4 – Specialty: Ranged Weapons
5 – Martial Arts – Improved hand–to–hand. Disarm opponent at R4.
6 – Stealth – Move silently and undetected.
7 – Thievery – Open locks, Craft lock picks, Pick pockets, Escape
8 – Ambush – Provides a bonus when attacking enemies from stealth.
9 - Sniper - Req. Ranged R.4. Instantly kills enemy with ranged weapon in one shot.
10 – Assassination – Req. Ambush R4. Instantly kills an enemy while attacking from stealth with melee weapon.

END

1 – Increased Lung Capacity - Hold your breath longer.
2 - Marathon Runner - Run longer distances without tiring.
3 - Soft Landing - Fall farther without taking damage.
4 - Survival - Live longer without food or water.
5 – Toughness - Decreases amount of damage taken.
6 – Resist Poison - Allows you to resist the effects of poison.
7 - Specialty: Heavy Armor - Reduces the movement penalty for wearing heavy armor and allows you to repair damaged heavy armor.
8 – Fast Healing - Increases your rate of healing.
9 - Shield Bash - Stuns an oppnent for two turns, causing critical damage.
10 – Adrenaline Surge - Req. Fast Healing R4. Makes you impervious to pain, you take no damage for two turns.

KNO

1 – Sewing – Craft clothes, repair clothes.
2 – Camping – Reliably start a fire and create shelter.
3 – Fishing – Catch more and bigger fish.
4 – Artistry - Draw, paint, play an instrument.
5 – Linguistics - Speak multiple languages and interpret ancient symbols.
6 – Traps – Disarm a trap, set a trap.
7 - Poisons - Create deadly poisons and apply them to weapons.
8 – Medicine – Set broken bones and heal injuries. Create remedies to common ailments.
9 – Explosives – Create powerful explosives with the power to destroy, blind and confuse the enemy.
10 – Chemistry – Create acid, liquid fire, sleeping gas, and other chemical weapons.

AWA

1 – Sense of Direction - Be aware of landmarks and study the skies.
2 – Stalk - Trail someone, learn their routines.
3 – Camouflage - Blend in with your surroundings.
4 – Listening - Detect faint noises and recognize audible clues.
5 – Fast Reflexes - Respond quickly when in danger. Dodge incoming attacks.
6 – Tracking – Identify and follow the tracks of animals or humanoids.
7 – Observation – Let's you find things that are hidden and detect stealth.
8 – Investigation - Discover clues and decipher riddles.
9 - Invention - Can improvise devices and create mechanical solutions.
10 - Intuition - Req. Observation R4 - Let's you re-roll one failed roll. Can be used once per day.

PER

1 – Haggle – Bargain for a better price and receive more for sold goods.
2 – Entertain – Sing a song, dance, tell a story, make jokes.
3 – Intimidate – Convince someone to follow your orders through fear.
4 – Seduction – Seduce someone into following you or doing what you ask.
5 – Disguise – Convince someone you are someone else with props and through acting.
6 – Animal Ken – Befriend animals, train them.
7 – Persuasion – Persuade someone to do what you ask of them. Bluffing.
8 – Diplomacy – Create peace between active enemies, interact with nobles and dignitaries.
9 – Interrogate - Req. Persuasion R4. Extract information from unwilling participants through psychological torture.
10 – Hypnosis – Plant a suggestion into the victim's mind.

Ambition > Motivation

2010-01-05T06:10:00.000-08:00

I have a tendency to dream of grand ideas that never come to fruition, due to a lack of motivation, reward, or simple failure on my part. It's something I've been doing my whole life. Leaving piles and pages of notes, sketches and shadows to gather dust and glare resentfully at me from across the room. Sometimes I bury them under books, burn them to disc and try to forget about them. Empty canvases and incomplete constructions, they haunt me. If only, I say. I could have created that master piece by now, written that best-selling novel, created an awe-inspiring soundtrack. It's easier to make excuses, to delay than to exert the effort. One of my favorite excuses is that I don't have the necessary resources or materials available even though technology has made that one harder to maintain with any degree of confidence. Another excuse is that I need a cheerleader, better yet a whole group of them, pushing me forward when I lose focus or lag behind the process. There may be some truth to that, it's a better excuse anyways. Realistically, I think my ambitions are just too great to achieve anything relatively significant and satisfying. Scaling back those goals would do me some good.