General Discussion
- Thread starter Beoric
- Start date
- Status
The Heretic
Should be playing D&D instead
I'd like ideas for different interesting rooms to have in a wizard's lair, and any recommendations I can look at to get additional ideas from. You have your basics, "summoning room", "alchemy lab", "reagent/spell component room", and maybe some a bit off the wall like "magic mirror communication room", but I'm hoping to get additional ideas. Stuff that's interesting, stuff that I wouldn't imagine myself. The first actionable room in the Crypt of Istaris (Dungeon #9) is a good example. There's a statue of a wizard in the room that's a puzzle. If you ignore the statue and head down one of the passages a wall will block you off and the statue will start shooting magic missiles. Fun stuff like that.
The Heretic
squeen
8, 8, I forget what is for
Thanks for the support Avi, but it's fine. Let them vent and kick the dog (even if it's me). Their political world-bubble just burst. We'll all come back together after an extended silence and start murmuring about D&D again. No crisis. Also, there's now a decent chance that life is going to get better for everyone soon and there will be some sheepish confessions of hysteria. Propaganda & lies will be exposed when the deep-state dies. Gen X's desire is to bring the 80s back (like the way boomers just forced us all to relive the sh*t 70s culture war)---good vibes will rule and D&D should be HUGE! 
DangerousPuhson
My my my, we just loooove to hear ourselves don't we?
I assume you mean me. What did I ever do to you?
I'll have you know I'm hardly qualified to be considered a "malcontent"; I just have strong opinions that other people have problems with sometimes, and I don't roll over when somebody tries to come at me. It's not like I'm flooding the forum with malicious spam and trolling points; my shit is on-topic and my points are due consideration. Passionate conversation is not the same as spiteful conversation, no matter how heated it gets.
squeen
8, 8, I forget what is for
Come on DP! You know you're a "malcontent" --- wear the badge with pride. I've call you a provocateur a bunch of times and you liked it. It means exactly the same thing.
What you were trying to do, by calling me out as a member of a hated sub-sect (i.e. Trump voter) in order to group-shame me was actually acting like a Marxist stooge. That's the truly evil appellation (sorry Bryce!). Malcontent is the same as "bad boy". You're just acting hurt because Avi defended me against the group-hate, breaking the momentum. He pushed back against the majority, and that takes real courage.
Look. I know you and your tactics. I'm not afraid or offended. We are on-line, i.e. I'm not going to get lynched, so I can safely find your antics and thinking amusing. I think the whole board does, and usually it's good grist for general discussion. @The1True, @Beoric, and @The Heretic taking your side because of their politics is to be expected. No worries. You and I sniping at each other is not the issue. When I tell you to f*ck off, its just me saying "I see the trap you have laid, I'm not walking into it."
The real inflammatory issue was that I linked to the dreaded enemy --- the man The Party has instructed is the target of our Orwellian "Two Minutes of Hate". Blocking me is a proxy for blocking him.
What you were trying to do, by calling me out as a member of a hated sub-sect (i.e. Trump voter) in order to group-shame me was actually acting like a Marxist stooge. That's the truly evil appellation (sorry Bryce!). Malcontent is the same as "bad boy". You're just acting hurt because Avi defended me against the group-hate, breaking the momentum. He pushed back against the majority, and that takes real courage.
Look. I know you and your tactics. I'm not afraid or offended. We are on-line, i.e. I'm not going to get lynched, so I can safely find your antics and thinking amusing. I think the whole board does, and usually it's good grist for general discussion. @The1True, @Beoric, and @The Heretic taking your side because of their politics is to be expected. No worries. You and I sniping at each other is not the issue. When I tell you to f*ck off, its just me saying "I see the trap you have laid, I'm not walking into it."
The real inflammatory issue was that I linked to the dreaded enemy --- the man The Party has instructed is the target of our Orwellian "Two Minutes of Hate". Blocking me is a proxy for blocking him.
DangerousPuhson
My my my, we just loooove to hear ourselves don't we?
I didn't "like it". I found it insultingly dismissive of what I considered valid points, actually.
I'm not a malcontent, nor am I a provocateur. I am a guy, with opinions, in a forum with a bunch of guys with slightly different opinions. Disagreement and heated discussion are par for the course; that's not malcontent/provocateur behavior, it's just how forums are. When you go against the grain, you get pushback (Exhibit A: this conversation) - that's not the same thing as deliberately sabotage. Rational people are able to distinguish between the two.
I didn't do anything, you've group-shamed yourself with your words and actions. I had no idea who you voted for until you told us all who you voted for.
And "Marxist stooge"? Really? Buddy, you sound nuts... like "dude-shouting-at-random-people-on-the-subway" nuts. The cold war is over. But hey if you really hate Marxists so much, you had better vote for the guy who is best buddies with Putin and Russia, amirite? Because logic.
For the record, I didn't block you... but damn you for making me dislike you, squeen. I was just starting to warm up to your folksy charcoal sketches too.
Last edited:
Beoric
8, 8, I forget what is for
I'm late for work, so I can't post a lot, but I will say this. I think the big problem with wizard's towers is that a tall column of stacked rooms has difficulty being anything other than linear. I have two points on this:
1. When talking about castles, the word "tower" doesn't necessarily mean what we normally think of as a tower, it refers to the keep, or sometimes the whole castle. So you have less limitations on your architectural design.
2. If the wizard is high level, the tower could push into extra-dimensional space, sort of a Tardis by tower kind of thing.
EDIT: 3. Building on #2, you could have all sorts of crazy stuff in there. I was thinking about modelling it on Castle Amber (Zelazny, not X2), but I actually think a better source of inspiration would be the 1985 horror comedy movie "House". Or you might be able to actually use parts of X2, but I don't remember it well enough to know for sure.
Last edited:
Malrex
So ... slow work day? Every day?
He was asked to stop a few times and he kept doubling down and looks like maybe tripling down now.
DP was asked to stop too and keeps posting spoilers so I'm putting him on ignore now as well.
And for the record, I hate all politicians equally.
@The Heretic --I think when approaching your Wizard Tower idea, you should keep with your theme. You said the lair is underground...but when I read your description, I kept thinking of the 'city of steam'....I'm picturing a squat main tower with multiple towers branching off of it....access to the towers is not by stairs but by steam shafts that work like a mundane levitation. All the usual stuff like the alchemy lab and whatnot---Im thinking the wizard may of chose this area because it interests him, so maybe most of his experiments are dealing with steam or mineral bath/water type stuff. In fact there should be some sort of fancy bathroom with a special property mineral bath.
Or to go bonkers--maybe its not really a tower but a lair built into a geyser....
So there could still be some mundane levitation shaft areas. Traps could be bursting hot water, high areas of pressure, pockets of bad gas, etc. Interesting vents that direct breezes to take sulphur smells away (but could be different points of access).
Some of the lair could be underground for sure, but would be moist, with hot water droplets dripping from the ceiling, maybe some funky fungi (sorta overdone) is growing down there or molds. But more importantly, I would focus on the different minerals...a rainbow of colors. Maybe he was working on a special mineral golem.... for your viewing pleasure for epithermal environments-- Bing Videos
Could be lava tubes and shafts thrusting deep underground...etc.
Maybe the orcs have a big mining area under here as well....and they just cracked open a steam mephit nest or something to add some chaos.
Treasure could be new magic items using steam (Wand of Steam?) or spells going along with the theme (Flesh to Mineral...Steam Scorcher (no idea what that spell would do but sorta sounds cool?).
I keep thinking of White Plume Mountain, but don't think that exactly fits. I dont read many adventures anymore so not sure of any good examples.
I dont know...everyone makes goblins in a hole or wizards in a tower--but no one has done a wizard in a geyser...just saying.
The Heretic
Should be playing D&D instead
100% agreed. I think you were in a hurry and missed the part where I said the wizard's 'tower' is going to be an underground lair.
I absolutely love X2. Used it already, alas. Come to think of it, maybe I could find some inspiration from Tegel Manor.
The Heretic
The Heretic
Should be playing D&D instead
Politicians are a necessary evil. Woe to those who are beguiled by their false promises.
That's an interesting idea. I've been kind of regretting the idea to make this a 'city of steam' but I should lean into that. I needed a justification in my mind as to why this city existed where it did (I drew the map in college, so it's remained static while my concept of the world has evolved). But that's a good idea.
I hate to bring it up, because no one wants to hear someone go on and on about their campaign, but this all fits with the campaign's back story rather well. The wizard is interested in the power he thinks he will gain by bringing about the end of the world. The city is perched above a huge shallow, unnavigable lake (think Caspian Sea or larger), and unknown to everyone one of Tharizdun's evil underling gods is imprisoned underneath this sea. The steam is something of a byproduct of that prison. In world there is a prophecy that when this god is released the world will end. My apologies for the boring lore dump, but you gave me a gentle nudge to tie this all in.
So there could still be some mundane levitation shaft areas. Traps could be bursting hot water, high areas of pressure, pockets of bad gas, etc. Interesting vents that direct breezes to take sulphur smells away (but could be different points of access).
This is all good stuff to think about.
Very true! Not that I'd ever release it or write it down. White Plume Mountain was also another good idea. I might find something interesting in there to add to the mix.
The Heretic
The Heretic
Should be playing D&D instead
Avi
*eyeroll*
The ending of your argument makes the start weaker... Would have made it better to end there.
Not everyone disagreeing with you is a puppet.
P.S. - I write under MY name, do you?
Beoric
8, 8, I forget what is for
I was thinking the same thing.
I'm happy to hear about people's campaigns in limited doses. Pretty much until it becomes a wall of text, really.
Most politicians make an effort to keep most of their promises. When a politician promises something, you should not assume they don't intend to keep it. If you are counting on a politician to not keep their promises, you might be in for an unpleasant surprise.
And no, I'm not a politician. I know a few, on various points in the political spectrum, but I'm not really close with any.
The1True
8, 8, I forget what is for
Sorry, this thread got long and messy, so it's getting hard to Reply specifically to something. This is in response to @Heretic 's call for ideas. Or is this a call for printed material that can be inserted?
The point I'm getting stuck on is that you stripped away a bunch of "renfair" stuff from a printed adventure, which implies to me you like it gritty and humanocentric. But then you've got a steam city full of Orcs which just seems to be stumbling into high-fantasy territory, so now I'm confused. No judgment btw, all campaign themes are good campaign themes, I'm just trying to get a bead on what's acceptable in your universe.
I mean, fuck me I hate the way anachronistic steam punk snuck into my favourite fantasy worlds (I'm looking at you, Terry Pratchett and Joe Abercrombie...), but a wizard lair in a steam city does seem like a real opportunity for mad science... steam spewing constructs and such. An evil factory floor producing an army of automated evil. Massive steam powered generators gathering energy for something huge and destructive. That sort of ting.
Another source of inspiration might be deepsea steam vents with their weird architecture and even weirder fauna. Massive slimy colonies of bacteria. etc.
As for preprinted... yeah, other than S2, I'm drawing a blank. Mud Sorceror would be perfect, but there's no way you can scale that down to the appropriate level.
The point I'm getting stuck on is that you stripped away a bunch of "renfair" stuff from a printed adventure, which implies to me you like it gritty and humanocentric. But then you've got a steam city full of Orcs which just seems to be stumbling into high-fantasy territory, so now I'm confused. No judgment btw, all campaign themes are good campaign themes, I'm just trying to get a bead on what's acceptable in your universe.
I mean, fuck me I hate the way anachronistic steam punk snuck into my favourite fantasy worlds (I'm looking at you, Terry Pratchett and Joe Abercrombie...), but a wizard lair in a steam city does seem like a real opportunity for mad science... steam spewing constructs and such. An evil factory floor producing an army of automated evil. Massive steam powered generators gathering energy for something huge and destructive. That sort of ting.
Another source of inspiration might be deepsea steam vents with their weird architecture and even weirder fauna. Massive slimy colonies of bacteria. etc.
As for preprinted... yeah, other than S2, I'm drawing a blank. Mud Sorceror would be perfect, but there's no way you can scale that down to the appropriate level.
The Heretic
Should be playing D&D instead
Agreed. That was a low blow. In my calmer moments I would've left it out, and last night I had strong second thoughts about doing so. You're post seemed a little suspicious, as I didn't remember your name being associated with any of the past flamewars involving DP. Your point of view seems to align heavily with Squeen's so it wasn't entirely out of the realm of possibility. More likely my memory isn't very good about past DP-Squeen flareups or you're a friend of Squeen's and/or he contacted you for moral support. I was annoyed and being very snarky. My apologies.
I am not sure how the Ignore function works, if Squeen can see what I write or not. Disirregardless, please let him know that even though I am strongly disagree with his point of view, I am happy that he reflected some of my own foibles. In other forums, I have said exactly the same things he did ("you're a moron or out to destroy America!") about a politician who is not to be named, so it was clarifying to see that reflected back at me. "Oh, do I sound that unhinged and loony when I rant about <blank>? I should stop doing that." I feel I could have a productive conversation with him, we wouldn't change our positions but we may soften them to be more accepting of the diversity of opinion, but his statement about being closed-minded stopped that in its tracks. I could go on and on but that would be TL
R and would easily veer into political territory.And finally, yes, it was inappropriate for DP to bring up politics in the first place. It was very presumptive to assume that everybody agreed with his point of view. Likewise it was extremely presumptive for Squeen to assume that everyone would be happy to be 'liberated'.
Touche! I am a private person, I have used my first name in the past, but I do not produce gaming material for the general public. People on the internet can get crazy <ahem!> and I do not wish to be harassed outside of this forum.
The Heretic
The Heretic
Should be playing D&D instead
Oof, I have to be quick. Both!
I'll reply to the ren faire comment later to clarify things a bit.
The 'orc city' is really a ruin occupied by the remnants of an orc army. The steam was more window dressing than anything, and no steampunk imagery was intended. I was thinking more like 'a sauna for the very wealthy who don't realize where the steam is coming from"/cosmic horror.
The Heretic
DangerousPuhson
My my my, we just loooove to hear ourselves don't we?
For the record, as an "international" person, the American election is more about news than politics to us. Ignoring a massive piece of news in a conversational setting is extremely counter-intuitive. Admittedly my profanity-laden shock wasn't the best prelude to that, and clearly triggered something embedded deep within certain folk - that was my bad.
The Heretic
Should be playing D&D instead
Thanks DP! Yes, that's true. You may not be aware that citizens of the United States ("Americans") can be kind of full of themselves and think the world revolves around them.
And yeah, a plurality of the members on this board (if not an outright majority) are not citizens of the United States.
The Heretic
squeen
8, 8, I forget what is for
Genuinely puzzled by this. Who's autonomy have I infringed upon?
This also went over my head.
EDIT: Oh! It was aimed at Avi. I believe Avi lives in Isreal and I am near Baltimore,. We are not a single entity, but must align mentally on some level. (poor Avi!
)@The Heretic :
For the record, the world does revolve around America right now --- the US State Dept. makes sure of it, overtly and covertly.
Personally, I'm not in favor of my homeland and tax dollars being used to finance an empire. I hate the NATO and neocon notion of full spectral dominance in all global theaters. I'd like other nations to run their own affairs without our boot on their neck.
But Canada is different. It's "family", and you don't turn your back on family when it's clearly suffering.
Here's another example of "corruption and the deep state". Don't look if he triggers you.
Who in the West, beside the USA has an equivalent to the First Amendment right to free speech?
I was shocked to learn NO ONE! So surprised in fact, I'm still half expecting someone to cough up a counter-example.
Most calls for internet censorship (i.e. "misinformation" laws) on both sides of the Atlantic originate in the US State Dept. who are desperate since 2016 (Trump/Brexit) to put the internet free-speech genie back in the bottle and regain control of the narrative they had with legacy media.
This a bold shot across the bow of the censorship/industrial complex, and I LOVE it.
x.com
If you want to know more, google Mike Benz. He's done tons of interviews on the topic & made it his life's crusade. Total rabbit hole.
I was shocked to learn NO ONE! So surprised in fact, I'm still half expecting someone to cough up a counter-example.
Most calls for internet censorship (i.e. "misinformation" laws) on both sides of the Atlantic originate in the US State Dept. who are desperate since 2016 (Trump/Brexit) to put the internet free-speech genie back in the bottle and regain control of the narrative they had with legacy media.
This a bold shot across the bow of the censorship/industrial complex, and I LOVE it.
x.com
x.com
Sorry folks. But blocking me seems like sticking your fingers in your ears. It only hurts you.
No politics---that's a board rule & I wantonly broke it because I knew Prince had gone AWOL. Guilty.
But first, one final salvo because I've become an all-in believer in the resistance and want to spread the word: I thought the GenX stats was amusing, because of a back-and-forth @Malrex and I had a years or so ago. Saying the US was sending the cavalry was a mild ribbing, at best. Grow up a bit, eh? Are we not men?
Are you ready for the red pill Neo? Or would you prefer to go back to your 9-5 job and dreary apartment?
There's a lot of info out there now for all to see since Musk freed X for the censors last year. I honestly believe the left just got its culture-war narrative bubble burst and hoped for some curiously about an obvious blind-spot. These radical announcements from Trump are a reflection of where the Overton window has moved in the past year. Shocking, the MAGA/MAHA movement has become a "big tent" and now contains former democrats, union working-class, classical liberals, and libertarians---all of whom are fed up with a corrupt government run by-and-for an oligarchy with faux-Marxist, anti-western slogans for the lower-classes while they built the totalitarian state-machine. Old party identifiers lost all meaning. Populist reactions are happening in Europe & South America too (Netherlands, Argentina, ElSalvador, etc.). More than anything, we the people were desparate for truth and justice in an empire of lies and lawfare. It was amazing to watch it coalesce in real-time. The victory was almost beyond hope because of the massive systemic forces (75% of the nation's wealth, 80% of legacy media bias) arrayed against the common man (ALWAYS labeled "far-right" extremists by the State Propaganda). Mark my words: history will denote this as a (non-violent!) 2nd American Revolution, if it doesn't get crushed in the next year or two. A historic return to the principals of 1776 that once inspired the world.
Here's the pill. A repeat of the "Fine People Hoax" the media has been perpetuating for over 8 years by Obama 1 week before the election. This one wakes a lot of people up. There are about 50 similar media/regime hoaxes, easily disproved but commonly accepted.
x.com
Here's the pill. A repeat of the "Fine People Hoax" the media has been perpetuating for over 8 years by Obama 1 week before the election. This one wakes a lot of people up. There are about 50 similar media/regime hoaxes, easily disproved but commonly accepted.
x.com
x.com
Last edited:
Beoric
8, 8, I forget what is for
Suddenly I'm thinking Fritz Lang's Metropolis as an aesthetic.
Their posts no longer appear in the feed, and quotes of their posts have a spoiler button telling you that the quote is from an account you are ignoring. But they can still see your posts, and quote them or reply to them. It's like what is now being done on X-Twitter, they can still dunk on you, but you won't see that it is happening. Not that it's really a problem on this forum, there are so few users.
But I'm a Bluesky convert, so I'm now in favour of the nuclear block.
- Status