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I just noticed something about Water Sleeps
by Matt Cutter 21 Nov '17

21 Nov '17

Third paragraph of the first chapter says two of fifty people returned from Glittering Stone to lie about what happened. That's Swan and Soulcatcher. But it also says a third "had come back to retail the truth had ben killed in the Kiaulune wars, far away from the captital." I missed that before. I'm rereading Glittering Stone right now. I haven't run across the name of this person yet. Does anybody remember if we ever find out who it is?

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Re: [Glencook-fans] Anybody interested in the Black Company Campaign Setting RPG?
by Matt Cutter 21 Nov '17

21 Nov '17

Resent. I never received this, so I don't know if it made it through. ---CUT HERE--- Very interesting; thanks for sharing. Spellcasters are complex, aren't they? The most complex I got was the outline below. Fester was a little man who'd attached himself to a remnant of the Company in the North. Maybe some brothers from Juniper who didn't march out with Elmo. Maybe the last Tonque brother restarted the band. Maybe Raven's kids get a bug up their butt. Maybe some brothers who faded during the Kiluane wars surfaced after the Company marched across Glittering Stone. Whatever, as is always the case, the Company grew and at some point headed south to followup and rejoin their predecessors... Fester - Human low-powered spell caster: Hermit Background, Magic Use bonus skill, Self-sufficient as bonus feat. Level 1 - Jack of All Trades 1 - Dabbler feat, Self-sufficient (background bonus feat), Talent (Aflict, JOAT bonus feat). Level 2 - Jack of All Trades 2 - Talent (Necromancy, JOAT bonus feat). Level 3 - Academian 1 - Skill Focus (Magic Use, Academian bonus feat), Tracking (3rd). Level 4 - Spirit Shaman 1 - Level 5 - Spirit Shaman 2 - Level 6 - Spirit Shaman 3 - Talent (Animal Talent, 6th). Level 7 - Spirit Shaman 4 - Talent (Figment, SpSh Talent bonus feat). Level 8 - Spirit Shaman 5 - Armored Mage (SpSh Magic bonus feat). Level 9 - Spirit Shaman 6 - Physician (9th). Level 10 - Spirit Shaman 7 - (magnitude - from Dabbler to First Magnitude). Level 11 - Spirit Shaman 8 - Talent (Healing, SpSh Talent bonus feat). Level 12 - Spirit Shaman 9 - Spiritwalker (SpSh bonus feat), Master Crafstman (12th). Level 13 - Spirit Shaman 10 - Embed Spell (SpSh Magic bonus feat). Level 14 - Artificer 1 - Level 15 - Artificer 2 - Defy Time (15th). Level 16 - Artificer 3 - Level 17 - Artificer 4 - Level 18 - Artificer 5 - Talent (Dispel, 18th). Level 19 - ??? Level 20 - ??? -------------------------------------------- On Tue, 11/14/17, David Ainsworth <Narsham(a)comcast.net> wrote: Subject: Re: [Glencook-fans] Anybody interested in the Black Company Campaign Setting RPG? To: "Glen Cook: Science Fiction/Fantasy Author" <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 8:42 PM In case anyone else is interested, here's a few stat blocks from that campaign, including my spell notes (which get complicated): Apothis “Cult Leader”, Rostem Thief 2/Wizard 5 AP 3 HD 6+6d6+31, hp 64 Mdt 25, Init +2, Spd 30 ft, AC 15 (Leather +2, D +2), ff 13, touch 13 [add up to +4 expertise] BAB +3/Grapple +1 Atk Dagger +1 melee (19-20, 1d4-2) SQ (Beggar), Knave, Sneak Attack +1d6, Evasion, First Magnitude, 10% fort F/R/W: +5/+8/+4 S 7 D 14 Co 18 I 14 W 11 Ch 18 Bluff +20, Detect Magic +11, Disable Device +9, Disguise +12, Escape Artist +8, Ghost Sound +14, Hide +6, Intimidate +9, Knowledge (arcana) +9, Knowledge (religion) +7, Magic Use +23, Move Silently +6, Open Lock +9, Perform +10, Prestidigitation +12, Sense Motive +5, Tumble +7 Feats: Toughness, Expertise, Skill Focus (Magic Use), Talent, Talent, Spell Energy, Talent, (1st)Talent, Talent, Talent Spells Known (DC 16; Spell Energy 7): Beguile (+2), Dispel (+2 to roll), Figment (+2), Glamer(+2), Pattern(+2), Wards Aptitude = 14 Swift Action: DC 14 or less (drain 1d8+2) 1 action: DC 15-19 (drain 1d8+3) 2 actions: DC 20-24 (drain 1d8+4) 4 actions: DC 30-34 (drain 1d8+6) [Auto succeed at DC 34 or less] Beguile: Base DC 15. (+4 to 10' ray, +1/10'), (+1/rnd duration), (+15 for 20' range, 10' radius effect). Beguile ray: 20' range, 5 rnd duration, DC 24, 2 actions, drain 1d8+4. Dispel: Base DC 10 for 1d20+3, 10' range. (+10/additional spell), (+2 for a +1 to the roll) (+1/10' range), (+10 for a 10' radius). Quick dispel: 10' range, 1d20+4 roll, DC 14, swift action, drain 1d8+3. Target dispel: 30' range, 1d20+9 roll, DC 24, 2 actions, drain 1d8+4. Figment: Base DC 10. (+1/10', +1/rnd duration; +5/sense, +2/extra image, +18 for a script). “Wall of Fire” DC 34: 30' range, 10 rnd duration, 30' long area, thermal sense added, drain 1d8+5. Death God DC 29:10' range, 5 rnd duration, audible/olfactory/tactile senses. Glamer: Base DC 10. Anonymizer (on self): DC 19 for 10 rounds with Disguise +16, adding plate mail and a sword. Look-alike: DC 24 for 6 rounds on all in a 10' radius of caster, Will save. Frightener (on self): DC 34 for 4 rounds with +3 to intimidate. Pattern: Base DC 15. 10' cone for 1 rnd. (+1/rnd duration, +1/10' range, +5 per 10' radius burst or +2/5' square or +6/extra 10' cone range). Quick blast: DC 19, 4 rnd duration, drain 1d8+3. Stunning burst: DC 34, 60' range, 4 rnd duration, 20' radius burst, drain 1d8+6. Spells prepped: (DC 90=1 week prep, auto-succeed) “Bloodlust of Death:” Beguile talent, range 60', duration 5 rounds, 20' radius burst effect, first round all targets attack nearest creature. DC 59, drain 1d8+11 Battle Warding: Ward talent, range 10' burst, stops 5 points from S/P/B, duration 15 rounds DC 89, drain 1d8+17 Wears Fine Leather Armor (Fortified), Uses Fine Dagger (Guard) Nightcrawler Physician: Stitch, Physician: Academician 9/Noble 3 S 10 D 12 Co 14 I 18 W 18 Ch 15 HD 6+3d8+8d6+24 Mdt 26 Init +5 BAB +6/+1 F/R/W: +7/+6/+13 AP=11 Background: Physician–Physician heal check (see pg 57), Conc/Heal/Prof (Herbalist)/Survival Skill points: 144+12/24+3 Skills: 4/d add +4 to Diplomacy or Sense Motive check, Improved Reserarch (+10 library work), 3/d add +4 to all Int checks for 10 rounds, +2 to Cha and research in Mastery languages, -4 in Fair, -8 in Poor Concentration 12r +2 con = +14 Decipher Script 15r +4 int +3 focus = +22 Diplomacy 10r + 2 cha +2 synergy +1 diplomat = +15 Heal 15r + 4 wis +5 focus +2 comp = +26 +2 kit = +28 Knowledge (arcana) 7r + 4 int +2 education = +13 Knowledge (geography) 12r +4 int +2 education = +18 Knowledge (history) 12r +4 int +2 education +2 synergy +2 comp = +24 Knowledge (nature) 12r +4 int +2 education = +18 Knowledge (religion) 7r +4 int +2 education = +13 Listen 10r + 4 wis= +14 Profession (Herbalist) 12r +4 wis +2 comp = +18 Research 12r + 4 int + 3 focus +2 comp (+2 historical research or religious) = +21 Ride 10r +1 dex = +11 Search 12r +4 int +2 comp = +18 Sense Motive 12r +4 wis +3 focus +1 diplomat +2 comp = +22 Survival 12r +4 wis (+2 aboveground, +2 avoid hazards, +2 follow tracks) = +16 Languages (all include read/write except Finger Speech): Forsberger (mastery), Jewel Cities (Mastery), Jewel Cities (ancient-Good), Rosean (mastery), Jewel Cities, Opal (Mastery), Finger Speech (fair), TelleKurre (fair), UchiTelle (poor) Feats: Skill Focus (Heal) [B1], Skill Focus (Heal) [B1], Expertise [1], Gift of Tongues [B3], Track [3], Skill Focus (Research) [B4], Skill Focus (Decipher Script) [B6], Improved Init[6], Skill Focus (Sense Motive) [B8], Physician [9], Advanced Healing[12] Equipment: Excellent Medical Kit (Well-Crafted X 2), Stitch’s Armor (Exceptional Full Plate, Fortified X 2 and Thick), Fine Large Iron Shield (Guard), Fine Battleaxe (Sharp), Dagger AC: 21 (-1 to hit for +2 deflection, up to -5 to hit for +5 AC, max AC 28), Touch 11, FF 18 20% Fortification, 1/– DR Battle Axe: +6/+1 att, X 3 crit, dam 1d8+1 Dagger: +6/+1 att, 19-20 crit, dam 1d4 Nightcrawler wizard: Twilight, Nightstalker wizard 12 L Wizard S 13 D 15 Co 17 I 16 W 12 Ch 20 hp 82 Mdt 29 Init +2 Bab +6/+1 F/R/W +7/+8/+9 Background: Magician’s Apprentice (+I to Magic Use, +1 Det Mag and Prest) Skill points: 36+4/99+11 = 150 Skills: (+2 to spoken in Jewel Cities) Bluff 10r +5(ch) +3 (figment) = +18 Concentration 15r +3(co)= +18 Detect Magic 12r +3(in) +3 (Reveal) +2 (magic use) = +20 [Disguise 0r +5 (ch) +3 (Glamer)] = +8 (+10 act in character) Ghost Sound 15r +5 (ch) +2 (bluff)= +22 [Heal 0r +1 (wi) +3 (healing)]= +4 Hide 14hr +2 (dx) +3 (obscure)= +19 Intimidate 15hr=7.5r +5 (ch) +3 (fear) +2 (bluff)=+17 Knowledge (arcane) 15r +3 (in)=+18 Magic Use 15r +3 (in) +5 (ch) +8 (insight) +3 (focus) +2 (Know-arcane)=+36 Move Silently 10hr +2 (dx)=+12 Prestidigitation 15r +5 (ch)=+20 Resistance 15r +3 (co)=+18 [Search 0r +3 (in) +2 (Sense)]= +5 [Spot 0r +1 (wi) +2 (Sense)]= +3 Languages: Jewel Cities (mastery, written), TelleKurre (good, written), Forsberger (Good, written), Rosean (Good, written), (lp=15 (3r)) Feats: SF (Magic Use), Spirit Walk, Talent X 10, Combat Casting, Defy Time, Spell Energy Reservoir X 2, Talent Focus (Obscure) Equipment: Fetishes, Exceptional Light Mace (Crushing for +2 subdual per hit, Double Guard for -2 to att for +2 deflection to AC), Twilight’s Mask (projects 30' radius Twilight effect at all times), Dagger Second Magnitude: +8 insight to Magic Use, 9 spell energy (aptitude=23) Talents: Figment (+2) [1L], Glamer [1Lbonus], Sense [3L], Pattern [5L], Reveal (+2) [5L], Healing [6L], Fear [7L], Create Cold (+2) [9L], Obscure(+7) [11L], Hold [12L] (Save DC 21) Base DC (except Hold, which is 8 lower)=54, Boosted DC=84 (+3 energy), Panic DC=87 (+1 AP) Swift Action DC: DC 23, drain d8+4-E 1 action DC: DC 28, drain d8+5-E 4 action DC: DC 43, drain d8+8-E Prep DC: DC 78 (minutes to 1 hour CT); DC 103 (minutes to 1 day) City Search (Reveal Talent): 15 DC base Props: V, S, Fet; Range: 100 feet (+9) Duration: 1 hour+1 rnd (+20), Mobile sensor +15 = DC 59 8 actions casting time, 1d8+12 drain “Heart Out, 2 points” (Figment Talent): DC 10 base Props: All, Range: 10', Effect: 10' cube, Duration: 1 round, add audible, olfactory (+10)=DC 20 Swift Action casting time, 1d8+4 drain 3 prep spells possible: Lash of Cold (Create Cold Talent): 15 DC base Props: All, Range: 50' (+4), Area: 15' radius (+10), Damage 24d8 = DC 103 1d8+21 drain Cloak of Grey (Obscure Talent): 20 DC base Props: All, Duration: 1 hour (+20), Effect: +30% miss chance (+50) = DC 90 1d8+18 drain Hold It (Hold Talent): 20 DC base Props: All, Range: 100' (+9), Duration: 15 rnds (+14), Area: 60' radius (+35) = DC 78 On 11/14/2017 11:34 AM, Matt Cutter via glencook-fans wrote: > Yeah, the book needed one or two more editorial passes. I don't know if there was ever any errata for it. > > Balance was never a goal, though. The setting itself isn't balanced. > > Do you have stats for your "priest?" I've done some character generation, but never really seen anyone > else's characters. > > I'm not sure 5ED could handle a freeform magic system, but I'd be willing to try. I wonder if the Adventures > in Middle Earth subset of rules (Lord of the Rings, between the Hobbit and the Trilogy, book, no movie) > would be a good basis. > -------------------------------------------- > On Wed, 11/8/17, David Ainsworth <Narsham(a)comcast.net> wrote: > > Subject: Re: [Glencook-fans] Anybody interested in the Black Company Campaign Setting RPG? > To: "Glen Cook: Science Fiction/Fantasy Author" <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: Wednesday, November 8, 2017, 11:26 PM > > > It's an interesting system, but the magic rules in particular have big problems and are > buggy and poorly proof-read. They aren't consistent within themselves and they also > aren't very balanced: you can either be a really minor talent and do next to nothing, or you can be a > modestly leveled wizard throwing 20d6 fireballs as if you were 20th level. > > Worse, many examples in the book of calculating spell DCs have some kind of mistake > or error, so you can't even rely upon the sample spells some of the time. > > Extracting magic or restricting it to encounters with > Taken or the > Circle makes the system more playable. There's > still the problem > that having minor magic is pretty central to the > setting. > > > > I ran a brief campaign starting with the PCs getting > recruited in > Opal by the Nightstalkers, who were training up prior > to tackling > the Plain of Fear on the way to Rust. The first > "finale" would > have featured a confrontation in the sewers below that > city > between the characters, a member of the Circle, the > Nightstalker's > wizard Twilight, and the Faceless Man. If they > survived, they'd > have been agents for the Faceless Man at that point, > and the next > campaign would have seen them flown to the Tower at > Charm for the > part of the battle there Croaker missed. > > > > The setting is pretty fantastic and the few missions I > was able to > run went really well, including a run into a ruined > part of town > to retrieve a stolen possession which involved a lot > of rooftop > climbing and jumping as a gang attacked them. The > final mission > saw them investigate a lost patrol and stumble across > a "priest" > who turned out to have magical talent, in conjunction > with some > kind of mutated creatures, which would have set up a > mystery > involving someone training minor talents for his own > purposes. > > > > I'd be interested to see what a version based on > 5th edition > D&D would look like. > > > > David > > > _______________________________________________ glencook-fans mailing list glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/glencook-fans

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Re: [Glencook-fans] Anybody interested in the Black Company Campaign Setting RPG?
by Matt Cutter 16 Nov '17

16 Nov '17

Very interesting; thanks for sharing. Spellcasters are complex, aren't they? The most complex I got was the outline below. Fester was a little man who'd attached himself to a remnant of the Company in the North. Maybe some brothers from Juniper who didn't march out with Elmo. Maybe the last Tonque brother restarted the band. Maybe Raven's kids get a bug up their butt. Whatever, as is always the case, the Company grew and at some point headed south to followup and rejoin their predecessors... Fester - Human low-powered spell caster: Hermit Background, Magic Use bonus skill, Self-sufficient as bonus feat. Level 1 - Jack of All Trades 1 - Dabbler feat, Self-sufficient (background bonus feat), Talent (Aflict, JOAT bonus feat). Level 2 - Jack of All Trades 2 - Talent (Necromancy, JOAT bonus feat). Level 3 - Academian 1 - Skill Focus (Magic Use, Academian bonus feat), Tracking (3rd). Level 4 - Spirit Shaman 1 - Level 5 - Spirit Shaman 2 - Level 6 - Spirit Shaman 3 - Talent (Animal Talent, 6th). Level 7 - Spirit Shaman 4 - Talent (Figment, SpSh Talent bonus feat). Level 8 - Spirit Shaman 5 - Armored Mage (SpSh Magic bonus feat). Level 9 - Spirit Shaman 6 - Physician (9th). Level 10 - Spirit Shaman 7 - (magnitude - from Dabbler to First Magnitude). Level 11 - Spirit Shaman 8 - Talent (Healing, SpSh Talent bonus feat). Level 12 - Spirit Shaman 9 - Spiritwalker (SpSh bonus feat), Master Crafstman (12th). Level 13 - Spirit Shaman 10 - Embed Spell (SpSh Magic bonus feat). Level 14 - Artificer 1 - Level 15 - Artificer 2 - Defy Time (15th). Level 16 - Artificer 3 - Level 17 - Artificer 4 - Level 18 - Artificer 5 - Talent (Dispel, 18th). Level 19 - ??? Level 20 - ??? -------------------------------------------- On Tue, 11/14/17, David Ainsworth <Narsham(a)comcast.net> wrote: Subject: Re: [Glencook-fans] Anybody interested in the Black Company Campaign Setting RPG? To: "Glen Cook: Science Fiction/Fantasy Author" <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 8:42 PM In case anyone else is interested, here's a few stat blocks from that campaign, including my spell notes (which get complicated): Apothis “Cult Leader”, Rostem Thief 2/Wizard 5 AP 3 HD 6+6d6+31, hp 64 Mdt 25, Init +2, Spd 30 ft, AC 15 (Leather +2, D +2), ff 13, touch 13 [add up to +4 expertise] BAB +3/Grapple +1 Atk Dagger +1 melee (19-20, 1d4-2) SQ (Beggar), Knave, Sneak Attack +1d6, Evasion, First Magnitude, 10% fort F/R/W: +5/+8/+4 S 7 D 14 Co 18 I 14 W 11 Ch 18 Bluff +20, Detect Magic +11, Disable Device +9, Disguise +12, Escape Artist +8, Ghost Sound +14, Hide +6, Intimidate +9, Knowledge (arcana) +9, Knowledge (religion) +7, Magic Use +23, Move Silently +6, Open Lock +9, Perform +10, Prestidigitation +12, Sense Motive +5, Tumble +7 Feats: Toughness, Expertise, Skill Focus (Magic Use), Talent, Talent, Spell Energy, Talent, (1st)Talent, Talent, Talent Spells Known (DC 16; Spell Energy 7): Beguile (+2), Dispel (+2 to roll), Figment (+2), Glamer(+2), Pattern(+2), Wards Aptitude = 14 Swift Action: DC 14 or less (drain 1d8+2) 1 action: DC 15-19 (drain 1d8+3) 2 actions: DC 20-24 (drain 1d8+4) 4 actions: DC 30-34 (drain 1d8+6) [Auto succeed at DC 34 or less] Beguile: Base DC 15. (+4 to 10' ray, +1/10'), (+1/rnd duration), (+15 for 20' range, 10' radius effect). Beguile ray: 20' range, 5 rnd duration, DC 24, 2 actions, drain 1d8+4. Dispel: Base DC 10 for 1d20+3, 10' range. (+10/additional spell), (+2 for a +1 to the roll) (+1/10' range), (+10 for a 10' radius). Quick dispel: 10' range, 1d20+4 roll, DC 14, swift action, drain 1d8+3. Target dispel: 30' range, 1d20+9 roll, DC 24, 2 actions, drain 1d8+4. Figment: Base DC 10. (+1/10', +1/rnd duration; +5/sense, +2/extra image, +18 for a script). “Wall of Fire” DC 34: 30' range, 10 rnd duration, 30' long area, thermal sense added, drain 1d8+5. Death God DC 29:10' range, 5 rnd duration, audible/olfactory/tactile senses. Glamer: Base DC 10. Anonymizer (on self): DC 19 for 10 rounds with Disguise +16, adding plate mail and a sword. Look-alike: DC 24 for 6 rounds on all in a 10' radius of caster, Will save. Frightener (on self): DC 34 for 4 rounds with +3 to intimidate. Pattern: Base DC 15. 10' cone for 1 rnd. (+1/rnd duration, +1/10' range, +5 per 10' radius burst or +2/5' square or +6/extra 10' cone range). Quick blast: DC 19, 4 rnd duration, drain 1d8+3. Stunning burst: DC 34, 60' range, 4 rnd duration, 20' radius burst, drain 1d8+6. Spells prepped: (DC 90=1 week prep, auto-succeed) “Bloodlust of Death:” Beguile talent, range 60', duration 5 rounds, 20' radius burst effect, first round all targets attack nearest creature. DC 59, drain 1d8+11 Battle Warding: Ward talent, range 10' burst, stops 5 points from S/P/B, duration 15 rounds DC 89, drain 1d8+17 Wears Fine Leather Armor (Fortified), Uses Fine Dagger (Guard) Nightcrawler Physician: Stitch, Physician: Academician 9/Noble 3 S 10 D 12 Co 14 I 18 W 18 Ch 15 HD 6+3d8+8d6+24 Mdt 26 Init +5 BAB +6/+1 F/R/W: +7/+6/+13 AP=11 Background: Physician–Physician heal check (see pg 57), Conc/Heal/Prof (Herbalist)/Survival Skill points: 144+12/24+3 Skills: 4/d add +4 to Diplomacy or Sense Motive check, Improved Reserarch (+10 library work), 3/d add +4 to all Int checks for 10 rounds, +2 to Cha and research in Mastery languages, -4 in Fair, -8 in Poor Concentration 12r +2 con = +14 Decipher Script 15r +4 int +3 focus = +22 Diplomacy 10r + 2 cha +2 synergy +1 diplomat = +15 Heal 15r + 4 wis +5 focus +2 comp = +26 +2 kit = +28 Knowledge (arcana) 7r + 4 int +2 education = +13 Knowledge (geography) 12r +4 int +2 education = +18 Knowledge (history) 12r +4 int +2 education +2 synergy +2 comp = +24 Knowledge (nature) 12r +4 int +2 education = +18 Knowledge (religion) 7r +4 int +2 education = +13 Listen 10r + 4 wis= +14 Profession (Herbalist) 12r +4 wis +2 comp = +18 Research 12r + 4 int + 3 focus +2 comp (+2 historical research or religious) = +21 Ride 10r +1 dex = +11 Search 12r +4 int +2 comp = +18 Sense Motive 12r +4 wis +3 focus +1 diplomat +2 comp = +22 Survival 12r +4 wis (+2 aboveground, +2 avoid hazards, +2 follow tracks) = +16 Languages (all include read/write except Finger Speech): Forsberger (mastery), Jewel Cities (Mastery), Jewel Cities (ancient-Good), Rosean (mastery), Jewel Cities, Opal (Mastery), Finger Speech (fair), TelleKurre (fair), UchiTelle (poor) Feats: Skill Focus (Heal) [B1], Skill Focus (Heal) [B1], Expertise [1], Gift of Tongues [B3], Track [3], Skill Focus (Research) [B4], Skill Focus (Decipher Script) [B6], Improved Init[6], Skill Focus (Sense Motive) [B8], Physician [9], Advanced Healing[12] Equipment: Excellent Medical Kit (Well-Crafted X 2), Stitch’s Armor (Exceptional Full Plate, Fortified X 2 and Thick), Fine Large Iron Shield (Guard), Fine Battleaxe (Sharp), Dagger AC: 21 (-1 to hit for +2 deflection, up to -5 to hit for +5 AC, max AC 28), Touch 11, FF 18 20% Fortification, 1/– DR Battle Axe: +6/+1 att, X 3 crit, dam 1d8+1 Dagger: +6/+1 att, 19-20 crit, dam 1d4 Nightcrawler wizard: Twilight, Nightstalker wizard 12 L Wizard S 13 D 15 Co 17 I 16 W 12 Ch 20 hp 82 Mdt 29 Init +2 Bab +6/+1 F/R/W +7/+8/+9 Background: Magician’s Apprentice (+I to Magic Use, +1 Det Mag and Prest) Skill points: 36+4/99+11 = 150 Skills: (+2 to spoken in Jewel Cities) Bluff 10r +5(ch) +3 (figment) = +18 Concentration 15r +3(co)= +18 Detect Magic 12r +3(in) +3 (Reveal) +2 (magic use) = +20 [Disguise 0r +5 (ch) +3 (Glamer)] = +8 (+10 act in character) Ghost Sound 15r +5 (ch) +2 (bluff)= +22 [Heal 0r +1 (wi) +3 (healing)]= +4 Hide 14hr +2 (dx) +3 (obscure)= +19 Intimidate 15hr=7.5r +5 (ch) +3 (fear) +2 (bluff)=+17 Knowledge (arcane) 15r +3 (in)=+18 Magic Use 15r +3 (in) +5 (ch) +8 (insight) +3 (focus) +2 (Know-arcane)=+36 Move Silently 10hr +2 (dx)=+12 Prestidigitation 15r +5 (ch)=+20 Resistance 15r +3 (co)=+18 [Search 0r +3 (in) +2 (Sense)]= +5 [Spot 0r +1 (wi) +2 (Sense)]= +3 Languages: Jewel Cities (mastery, written), TelleKurre (good, written), Forsberger (Good, written), Rosean (Good, written), (lp=15 (3r)) Feats: SF (Magic Use), Spirit Walk, Talent X 10, Combat Casting, Defy Time, Spell Energy Reservoir X 2, Talent Focus (Obscure) Equipment: Fetishes, Exceptional Light Mace (Crushing for +2 subdual per hit, Double Guard for -2 to att for +2 deflection to AC), Twilight’s Mask (projects 30' radius Twilight effect at all times), Dagger Second Magnitude: +8 insight to Magic Use, 9 spell energy (aptitude=23) Talents: Figment (+2) [1L], Glamer [1Lbonus], Sense [3L], Pattern [5L], Reveal (+2) [5L], Healing [6L], Fear [7L], Create Cold (+2) [9L], Obscure(+7) [11L], Hold [12L] (Save DC 21) Base DC (except Hold, which is 8 lower)=54, Boosted DC=84 (+3 energy), Panic DC=87 (+1 AP) Swift Action DC: DC 23, drain d8+4-E 1 action DC: DC 28, drain d8+5-E 4 action DC: DC 43, drain d8+8-E Prep DC: DC 78 (minutes to 1 hour CT); DC 103 (minutes to 1 day) City Search (Reveal Talent): 15 DC base Props: V, S, Fet; Range: 100 feet (+9) Duration: 1 hour+1 rnd (+20), Mobile sensor +15 = DC 59 8 actions casting time, 1d8+12 drain “Heart Out, 2 points” (Figment Talent): DC 10 base Props: All, Range: 10', Effect: 10' cube, Duration: 1 round, add audible, olfactory (+10)=DC 20 Swift Action casting time, 1d8+4 drain 3 prep spells possible: Lash of Cold (Create Cold Talent): 15 DC base Props: All, Range: 50' (+4), Area: 15' radius (+10), Damage 24d8 = DC 103 1d8+21 drain Cloak of Grey (Obscure Talent): 20 DC base Props: All, Duration: 1 hour (+20), Effect: +30% miss chance (+50) = DC 90 1d8+18 drain Hold It (Hold Talent): 20 DC base Props: All, Range: 100' (+9), Duration: 15 rnds (+14), Area: 60' radius (+35) = DC 78 On 11/14/2017 11:34 AM, Matt Cutter via glencook-fans wrote: > Yeah, the book needed one or two more editorial passes. I don't know if there was ever any errata for it. > > Balance was never a goal, though. The setting itself isn't balanced. > > Do you have stats for your "priest?" I've done some character generation, but never really seen anyone > else's characters. > > I'm not sure 5ED could handle a freeform magic system, but I'd be willing to try. I wonder if the Adventures > in Middle Earth subset of rules (Lord of the Rings, between the Hobbit and the Trilogy, book, no movie) > would be a good basis. > -------------------------------------------- > On Wed, 11/8/17, David Ainsworth <Narsham(a)comcast.net> wrote: > > Subject: Re: [Glencook-fans] Anybody interested in the Black Company Campaign Setting RPG? > To: "Glen Cook: Science Fiction/Fantasy Author" <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> > Date: Wednesday, November 8, 2017, 11:26 PM > > > It's an interesting system, but the magic rules in particular have big problems and are > buggy and poorly proof-read. They aren't consistent within themselves and they also > aren't very balanced: you can either be a really minor talent and do next to nothing, or you can be a > modestly leveled wizard throwing 20d6 fireballs as if you were 20th level. > > Worse, many examples in the book of calculating spell DCs have some kind of mistake > or error, so you can't even rely upon the sample spells some of the time. > > Extracting magic or restricting it to encounters with > Taken or the > Circle makes the system more playable. There's > still the problem > that having minor magic is pretty central to the > setting. > > > > I ran a brief campaign starting with the PCs getting > recruited in > Opal by the Nightstalkers, who were training up prior > to tackling > the Plain of Fear on the way to Rust. The first > "finale" would > have featured a confrontation in the sewers below that > city > between the characters, a member of the Circle, the > Nightstalker's > wizard Twilight, and the Faceless Man. If they > survived, they'd > have been agents for the Faceless Man at that point, > and the next > campaign would have seen them flown to the Tower at > Charm for the > part of the battle there Croaker missed. > > > > The setting is pretty fantastic and the few missions I > was able to > run went really well, including a run into a ruined > part of town > to retrieve a stolen possession which involved a lot > of rooftop > climbing and jumping as a gang attacked them. The > final mission > saw them investigate a lost patrol and stumble across > a "priest" > who turned out to have magical talent, in conjunction > with some > kind of mutated creatures, which would have set up a > mystery > involving someone training minor talents for his own > purposes. > > > > I'd be interested to see what a version based on > 5th edition > D&D would look like. > > > > David > > > _______________________________________________ glencook-fans mailing list glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/glencook-fans

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Re: [Glencook-fans] Anybody interested in the Black Company Campaign Setting RPG?
by Matt Cutter 14 Nov '17

14 Nov '17

Yeah, the book needed one or two more editorial passes. I don't know if there was ever any errata for it. Balance was never a goal, though. The setting itself isn't balanced. Do you have stats for your "priest?" I've done some character generation, but never really seen anyone else's characters. I'm not sure 5ED could handle a freeform magic system, but I'd be willing to try. I wonder if the Adventures in Middle Earth subset of rules (Lord of the Rings, between the Hobbit and the Trilogy, book, no movie) would be a good basis. -------------------------------------------- On Wed, 11/8/17, David Ainsworth <Narsham(a)comcast.net> wrote: Subject: Re: [Glencook-fans] Anybody interested in the Black Company Campaign Setting RPG? To: "Glen Cook: Science Fiction/Fantasy Author" <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Wednesday, November 8, 2017, 11:26 PM It's an interesting system, but the magic rules in particular have big problems and are buggy and poorly proof-read. They aren't consistent within themselves and they also aren't very balanced: you can either be a really minor talent and do next to nothing, or you can be a modestly leveled wizard throwing 20d6 fireballs as if you were 20th level. Worse, many examples in the book of calculating spell DCs have some kind of mistake or error, so you can't even rely upon the sample spells some of the time. Extracting magic or restricting it to encounters with Taken or the Circle makes the system more playable. There's still the problem that having minor magic is pretty central to the setting. I ran a brief campaign starting with the PCs getting recruited in Opal by the Nightstalkers, who were training up prior to tackling the Plain of Fear on the way to Rust. The first "finale" would have featured a confrontation in the sewers below that city between the characters, a member of the Circle, the Nightstalker's wizard Twilight, and the Faceless Man. If they survived, they'd have been agents for the Faceless Man at that point, and the next campaign would have seen them flown to the Tower at Charm for the part of the battle there Croaker missed. The setting is pretty fantastic and the few missions I was able to run went really well, including a run into a ruined part of town to retrieve a stolen possession which involved a lot of rooftop climbing and jumping as a gang attacked them. The final mission saw them investigate a lost patrol and stumble across a "priest" who turned out to have magical talent, in conjunction with some kind of mutated creatures, which would have set up a mystery involving someone training minor talents for his own purposes. I'd be interested to see what a version based on 5th edition D&D would look like. David On 11/8/2017 2:19 PM, Scott Bonner wrote: I know I really wanted it at the time but could not afford it. I think it would be a great world to game in. On Wed, Nov 8, 2017 at 2:09 PM, Matt Cutter via glencook-fans <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> wrote: I know it's 13 years old (how'd that happen!?), but I've been looking it over recently for old times sake. I wish I'd had somebody to run one for me back in the day. ______________________________ _________________ glencook-fans mailing list glencook-fans@mailman. xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/ cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ glencook-fans -- Scott _______________________________________________ glencook-fans mailing list glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/glencook-fans _______________________________________________ glencook-fans mailing list glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/glencook-fans -----Inline Attachment Follows-----

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Anybody interested in the Black Company Campaign Setting RPG?
by Matt Cutter 08 Nov '17

08 Nov '17

I know it's 13 years old (how'd that happen!?), but I've been looking it over recently for old times sake. I wish I'd had somebody to run one for me back in the day.

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Garrett, PI.
by Matt Cutter 02 Nov '17

02 Nov '17

Unknown at this point. I have not heard of any more planned releases at all for any Cook material. What would be really cool would be to get all his various short works released as independent Kindle material... -------------------------------------------- On Mon, 10/30/17, saulamca(a)aol.com <saulamca(a)aol.com> wrote: Subject: Re: [Glencook-fans] Shadowmasters To: glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com Cc: thorr_kan(a)yahoo.com Date: Monday, October 30, 2017, 4:00 PM Good question on more Garret novels. He has done some more short stories on the Black Company. Sent from AOL Mobile Mail On Monday, October 30, 2017, crvett69--- via glencook-fans <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> wrote: not to hijack the thread but is he planning on writing any more Garret novels and is garret his first or last name?

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Re: [Glencook-fans] Shadowmasters
by Matt Cutter 30 Oct '17

30 Oct '17

Or is it _She is the Darkness_? I can't find my hardcovers! -------------------------------------------- On Tue, 10/24/17, Matt Cutter via glencook-fans <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> wrote: Subject: Re: [Glencook-fans] Shadowmasters To: "saulamca(a)aol.com" <saulamca(a)aol.com>, "Glen Cook: Science Fiction/Fantasy Author" <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2017, 4:02 PM It's _Bleak Seasons_ where Otto and Hagop make run back to the Empire and back to Taglios, right? -------------------------------------------- On Tue, 10/24/17, saulamca--- via glencook-fans <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> wrote: Subject: Re: [Glencook-fans] Shadowmasters To: glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2017, 3:42 PM Also do not remember reading this c Sent from AOL Mobile Mail On Tuesday, October 24, 2017, Matt Cutter via glencook-fans <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> wrote: We never do find out who Moonshadow is, do we? Additionally, from the Black Company Wiki: http://blackcompany.wikia.com "Returning from their journey to the North, Otto and Hagop informed Croaker and Murgen that Whisper and Blister were some of the five surviving Taken still living under the Empire's domain, albeit still stripped of their power." I...don't recall that, and I'm away from books right now. Am I misremembering, or was this actually stated? _______________________________________________ glencook-fans mailing list glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/glencook-fans _______________________________________________ glencook-fans mailing list glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/glencook-fans _______________________________________________ glencook-fans mailing list glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/glencook-fans

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Re: [Glencook-fans] Shadowmasters
by Matt Cutter 30 Oct '17

30 Oct '17

It might be _She is the Darkness_. And I can't find my hardcovers! -------------------------------------------- On Tue, 10/24/17, Matt Cutter via glencook-fans <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> wrote: Subject: Re: [Glencook-fans] Shadowmasters To: "saulamca(a)aol.com" <saulamca(a)aol.com>, "Glen Cook: Science Fiction/Fantasy Author" <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2017, 4:02 PM It's _Bleak Seasons_ where Otto and Hagop make run back to the Empire and back to Taglios, right? -------------------------------------------- On Tue, 10/24/17, saulamca--- via glencook-fans <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> wrote: Subject: Re: [Glencook-fans] Shadowmasters To: glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2017, 3:42 PM Also do not remember reading this c Sent from AOL Mobile Mail On Tuesday, October 24, 2017, Matt Cutter via glencook-fans <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> wrote: We never do find out who Moonshadow is, do we? Additionally, from the Black Company Wiki: http://blackcompany.wikia.com "Returning from their journey to the North, Otto and Hagop informed Croaker and Murgen that Whisper and Blister were some of the five surviving Taken still living under the Empire's domain, albeit still stripped of their power." I...don't recall that, and I'm away from books right now. Am I misremembering, or was this actually stated? _______________________________________________ glencook-fans mailing list glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/glencook-fans _______________________________________________ glencook-fans mailing list glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/glencook-fans _______________________________________________ glencook-fans mailing list glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/glencook-fans

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Re: [Glencook-fans] Shadowmasters
by Matt Cutter 24 Oct '17

24 Oct '17

It's _Bleak Seasons_ where Otto and Hagop make run back to the Empire and back to Taglios, right? -------------------------------------------- On Tue, 10/24/17, saulamca--- via glencook-fans <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> wrote: Subject: Re: [Glencook-fans] Shadowmasters To: glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2017, 3:42 PM Also do not remember reading this c Sent from AOL Mobile Mail On Tuesday, October 24, 2017, Matt Cutter via glencook-fans <glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com> wrote: We never do find out who Moonshadow is, do we? Additionally, from the Black Company Wiki: http://blackcompany.wikia.com "Returning from their journey to the North, Otto and Hagop informed Croaker and Murgen that Whisper and Blister were some of the five surviving Taken still living under the Empire's domain, albeit still stripped of their power." I...don't recall that, and I'm away from books right now. Am I misremembering, or was this actually stated? _______________________________________________ glencook-fans mailing list glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/glencook-fans _______________________________________________ glencook-fans mailing list glencook-fans(a)mailman.xmission.com https://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/glencook-fans

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Shadowmasters
by Matt Cutter 24 Oct '17

24 Oct '17

We never do find out who Moonshadow is, do we? Additionally, from the Black Company Wiki: http://blackcompany.wikia.com "Returning from their journey to the North, Otto and Hagop informed Croaker and Murgen that Whisper and Blister were some of the five surviving Taken still living under the Empire's domain, albeit still stripped of their power." I...don't recall that, and I'm away from books right now. Am I misremembering, or was this actually stated?

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