The Campaign Builder's Guild

I haven't seen the movie, but I strongly recommend the book.

Voila! The Gnomish Ship-Breaker!
Edit from Ishmayl: I went ahead and put the text here, it will be much easier for people to read this way.

Gnomish Ship-Breaker

    All was quiet on the ocean, save for the soft wind that propelled the Angelfin ever onwards in the hot sun, and the creak of the boards as the galleon is softly tossed by small crests. No birds, the first lieutenant thought, frowning. It was much too quiet. As he looked to the water, he saw a vast shadow flit by, hidden by waves. He leaned over the side, just a little, and as the shadow grew larger so did his eyes. He turned to shout warning to the crew, but a ship this size would never turn out of the way in time. When the metal behemoth broke the surface, it rose a short distance into the air and came crashing down, gravity doing all the work, as the gnomes who gripped the side cackled with glee. Moments later, there was silence once more, save for the soft wind, and the dull thunks of shattered boards knocked together by the small waves.

    The gnomes retreated under the seas perhaps a thousand years ago to protect the secrets of the ancient wizards. Their masteries of mechanical magics suited them perfectly to the task. Over the centuries, the gnomes began to evolve to suit their new environment, and are now perfectly amphibious. Some two or three hundred years ago, when the humans began to explore the seas once more, the gnomes were desperate for a way to encourage human ships to stay away from certain areas, namely those areas in which there were ancient laboratories.

    The gnomes recognized fairly quickly that what they needed was a way to inspire fear in the humans, of the "here there be dragons" sort. Lampkin, the great inventor of the day, decided on a gigantic fish, which gnomes could ride to harass or destroy ships that came too close to the protected waters. Lampkin left the outside of the great fish rough and unfinished on purpose, that it might provide a greater scare to the humans.

    You must imagine a whale-sized hunk of metal, clanking and heaving, rising from the water and jumping, intending to land on your ship. It weighs tons, has rough and sharp edges, and furthermore, gnomes with their own weapons and spells cling to the side, ready to cut you down. Quite an intimidating sight for any captain. At first, the gnomes would just buzz ships, coming near to them without destroying them, so as to allow the ship to return to port and tell of the great disturbing creature.

    The ship-breaker's greatest asset, its size, is also its greatest weakness. While its powerful fins allow it move relatively quickly under the water, when it is in the air, its course is essentially set. A galleon does not steer well on short notice, as mentioned above, but a smaller ship might be able to change course and avoid being crushed. Adventurers might save themselves by diving off the boat before the metal behemoth lands on it. Its last weakness is that, being a gnomish machine, it is animated by magic. One of the gnomes on its back is moving the ship-breaker himself, and if that gnome were to be killed, it would cease moving. Small comforts, but this frightening monster is not invincible.

    This creature fits into my setting in the ways mentioned above. My gnomes really did retreat to the seas and become aquatic creatures, and they really did intend to protect the secrets of the ancient wizards. This creature might be modified to fit another setting by changing the creatures who operate it to whatever aquatic species you like. In a pinch, the metal whale could be replaced by a live one, but it would lose some of its ambiance in the process. Anywhere you have water, and large fish, metal or real, you have the option to haul out the ship-breaker.

I want to know how you did your map! And if it's hand drawn, I am in awe. I'll actually critique stuff when I get over the map ;).

I think the largest piece of advice I can give is that, in my opinion, it's a good idea to make nothing short of biology absolute for an entire species. Humans alone have such a wide variety of cultures and beliefs that it seems unlikely to me that other species would not have at least a small amount of variety.

With my project, I've found it helpful to identify a range of beliefs that the majority in any society might hold, and allow for extreme opinions on both sides.

I'm going to write specifically about Kudan Mysticism.

 How would I use this in my everyday life, or my job?

I probably wouldn't, much. Sparkletwist mentioned the Jedi in reference to the Irasi tradition, but I think it applies more here. I think with wisdom and experience, one uses one's power less and one's wits more. I read that in a Star Wars book, I think.

 Get Rich Quick/World Domination Plots

I don't really personally feel that the Kudanites (I don't know your word for Mages in the Kudan Tradition) are really set up to get rich quick. They're not really set up to do anything quickly. They are, however, set up to take over the world by long, slow, quiet conquest, of the sort that nobody ever sees until it's already upon them. Information is the currency of the elite.

 Skilled Warrior/Group of Peons/Mage of another tradition

Against a single skilled warrior, the patience and endurance is useful much in the same way that Muhammad Ali defeated George Foreman: He stood there and took it until Foreman got too tired to fight back.

Against a group of peons, the powers of endurance and patience are equally important, though the tactics are more suited to waiting for the appropriate opportunity, rather than outlasting your opponents.

Against a mage of another tradition, it is the patience and the knowledge that will prevail.

 Place of Residence

I imagine as being a place of quiet contemplation, comfortable and reserved.

It's always different, but my last game was with a bunch of people new to D&D, so I had to give them the full experience (with a twist, of course).

Yes, they all started in a tavern, and no, nobody knew anybody else.

Until the Duke's men kicked in the door.

The twelve thugs singled out the characters (four thugs each), accused them all of working for a foreign king, and attacked them. Afterwards, they decided to stick together because, "That was pretty f-ed up, and might happen again."

Paladin. Stone Bridge. Over Lava.

It's not really original, but hey, it happened.

1) The fact that I've really started, for real this time.

2) 0. I'm actually prepping for a future campaign.

3) NA

4) Feedback is always good. I have a blog. I'm going to keep hawking said blog until somebody reads/comments on it ;). Keep in mind I'm still very much in progress.

The movie is, well, not exactly very good. I loved the books. Still love'em. My *dad* liked them, and he doesn't like *anything*. ...Not quite true, but still.

The dissolving of daemons is not book-canon (I thought it was really dumb). The richness of the plot and writing was lost in the attempt to make the movie happen quickly enough.

As for what dust is...well, the first book doesn't really cover it. It's a trilogy, and it IS clearly explained, just not right away.

I don't disagree that the movie wasn't very good, but as my sister likes to say, "Don't judge a book by its movie."

I particularly partial to Harp (a beer) and Strongbow (a cider).

Sadly, I am working 10pm-4:30 New Years Eve. I get to ring in the New Year making cheap, bad mexican food.

Quote from: JharvissI'm also thinking of just having 12 months, 3 to each season, and each having a name along the lines of Waxing Winter, High Winter, and Waning Winter, and so on.  

In Canada, there's four distinct seasons:

1) Winter
2) More Winter
3) Is Winter done yet?
4) Construction.

I play it. I love it. I'm not too shabby with it. Why do you ask?

Quote from: Sdragon1984Oh, I already knew I was weird, and this doesn't suprise me at all. I mean, most DM's are more concerned about the plot, and see the setting as little more then a pretty backdrop...

I'm way more concerned about the plot. I just want a world that gives me plenty to work with, in the style that I want.

I'm proud to be a member of this small but illustrious group.

(I figure a small number of people are either right or crazy, and I'd rather be right ;) )

Check out my blogpost and race profile on my new dwarves!

That was...glorious. I love it.