The Campaign Builder's Guild

Quote from: Tangent_Jaerc
What if you simplieifed your defense roll tp 1d20 + Dex + Shield + Misc bonuses + "training".
Characters with full BAB get +2 training, character with 3/4 BAB get +0, characters with poor BAB get -2.

I do not think requiring iterative attacks in order to use the defense roll is a sanity-preserving idea. It especially will caus wired oddness if applied to creatures with natural attacks.

Hmm, as much fun as the idea is that the more people are attacking you, the harder it is to keep defending against them, you may be right that "iterative" attacks might get too crazy.  However, once you get past the low levels, a simple "+2" for training becomes insufficient to keep up with your enemies.

To demonstrate, lets take 2 fighters who are statistically identical.  Each has a 14 for both Str and Dex.

At level 1:
Attacker: 1d20+3 [+1(BAB)+2(Str)]
Defender: 1d20+6 [+2(Training)+2(Dex)+2(Large shield)]

At level 1, the advantage is to the defender, but at level 10...

Attacker: 1d20+12 [+10 (BaB)+2 (Str)]
Defender: 1d20+6 [+2 (Training)+2 (Dex) +2 (Shield)]

The attacker has now soundly surpassed the defender.  Barring significant magical advantage for the defender, attackers by far have the advantage. 

If the defense instead used a the highest BAB, now the defender has an advantage.  On the first attack it is only his shield bonus.  On the second attack, it is significantly more, as the attacker's bonus is decreasing with each attack, while the defender's bonus remains the the same. 

So, while the scaling bonuses on defense attempts can get a bit crazy, two PCs would at least remain balanced against each other.

Not a "real" update to anything, but here is a map I made on the Cartographer's Guild of a Celtic Hill Fort.  Though not any specific place in the setting, this is the kind of fortification one would be likely to see in Cad Goleor. 

[spoiler][/spoiler]

I like that.

The art style makes it look like it could be a flash game. Celtic Hill Fort tower defense. :D

How about this for modifying the defense roll?

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/adventuring/defenseBonus.htm

So at 1st level it would be
Attacker: 1d20+3 [+1(BAB)+2(Str)]
Defender: 1d20+10 [+6(Defense)+2(Dex)+2(Large shield)]]

Advantage defender.  But at 10th level
Attacker: 1d20+13 [+10(BAB)+2(Str) +1(Weapon)]
Defender: 1d20+13 [+9(Defense)+2(Dex)+2(Large shield)]]

We have evened out.  And all the way at 20th level
Attacker: 1d20+23 [+20(BAB)+2(Str) +1(Weapon)]
Defender: 1d20+16 [+12(Defense)+2(Dex)+2(Large shield)]]

The advantage has switched to the attacker. 

This does not take into account magic weapons and shields, or any feats that might influence one or the other.  This would afford the characters with a scaling defense to help keep up with the scaling attacks.  And while the growth in attack bonus generally outpaces the growth in defense bonus, it helps keep characters from lagging so far behind.  And by adding opportunities to specialize in defense through feats, characters could choose to keep their defenses equal to, or maybe even higher than their enemies' attacks.

And if I think about it, the advantage is still to the defender on the the second, third, etc. attacks, because their bonuses go down. 

A bit of a bump, hoping to get some input on the modified defense roll.

Also another minor question: Which term should I use for the "honor" price of a man killed: The more commonly known "wergeld" or the more authentically Celtic "eineachlan?"

Eraic, Galanas or Sarhaed are all terms referring to the same concept of 'blood-money', though they tended to be used closer to the medieval period.

And when it comes to the Defence Roll, I think that looks like a fairly sound system. I would personally argue that the highest set of bonuses should be restricted to the Fighter and the Cleric and Paladin shouldn't be given that advantage.

Quote from: HippopotamusDundee
And when it comes to the Defence Roll, I think that looks like a fairly sound system. I would personally argue that the highest set of bonuses should be restricted to the Fighter and the Cleric and Paladin shouldn't be given that advantage.

Well, currently the setting doesn't even have Paladins anyway.  And barring a "Let's bring Catholicism to the Pagans!" analog adventure, I doubt there will be.  So that's not a big deal.

Fair enough, though I would love to see a "Let's bring Catholicism to the Pagans and get smote by the Old Gods'" analog :P

Really, it was more a wider comment on the fact I think that the alteration of classes and the Celticisation of their core concepts will probably require an adjustment of which classes go where on the table.

Quote from: HippopotamusDundee
Fair enough, though I would love to see a "Let's bring Catholicism to the Pagans and get smote by the Old Gods'" analog :P

THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW.

Quote from: HippopotamusDundeeReally, it was more a wider comment on the fact I think that the alteration of classes and the Celticisation of their core concepts will probably require an adjustment of which classes go where on the table.

Fair enough

Quote from: Seraphine_Harmonium

Quote from: HippopotamusDundee
Fair enough, though I would love to see a "Let's bring Catholicism to the Pagans and get smote by the Old Gods'" analog :P

THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW.

DO ITTT!

A write-up on a couple of the gods worshiped by fomorians.  These gods are considered to be of the fomorian race, but are the oldest and most powerful among them.  Their profiles are meant to be relatively objective, but the write-ups are written with an eye to what the fomorians think of these gods, rather than what humans think of them.  

Balor
Greater God
Alignment: Chaotic Evil
Profile: Death, Magic, Winter, Battle, The Otherworld, Secrets
Epithets: "The Evil Eye," "The Baleful Eye" "The Sleeper," "The Blind God."

With a head the height of a man, the King of the Fomhoire is an intimidating sight.  A creature with shaggy hair and beard, tusks, and horns sprouting from his temples, Balor's most distinctive feature is his single eye in the middle of his face.  This eye is pure poison, striking dead any it looks upon, and turning them to stone.  His own eyelid was petrified by it, and in Annwn he keeps a pair of servants on his shoulders to lift it for him.  

Having only one eye is no impediment to this Fomorian King, for he has such acute hearing and sense of smell that he can locate creatures, obstacles, and learn as much about his surroundings with them as anyone could learn with eyes.  Furthermore, having only one eye, it is said that he has an eye in each world.  He knows the secrets of this world and the next.  Those who seek this knowledge, if they are without fear, or scruples, may seek to bargain with Balor.  

Balor hates all Tuatha gods, but has a special enmity with Lugh Longfingers, his half-danaan, half-fomorian grandson.  Lugh killed him once on the plains of Magh Ruadh, and in his lives since then, Balor has not forgotten.  

Bres
Lesser God
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Profile: Agriculture, Stinginess, Tyranny, Vanity
Epithets: "The Beautiful," "The Cruel"

Called "The Beautiful," Bres is the image of physical perfection.  Unusually handsome for a fomor, he has chiseled features, golden hair, and a perpetual smirk upon his face.  At fifteen feet, he is not as tall as the mighty Balor, but easily towers over those around him.  A single horn sprouts from the center of his forehead.   He is seen wearing rich and luxurious apparel, usually layers of long, flowing robes.  

Fomorians might be inclined to call him "soft" for his prettiness and pomp, if not for his demonstrated cruelty and efficiency.  As a King he was an effective builder, and highly knowledgeable in agriculture, but inhumane and inhospitable.  As a god, he demands unquestioning service from his followers, and may give boons in return for performing cruelties upon his enemies (namely the Tuatha and the Sidhe).

Ethlenn
Lesser Goddess
Alignment: Lawful Neutral
Profile: Moon, Justice, Music, Sea

Silver haired maiden of the fomors, she is the daughter of Balor, and the sister of Bres.  She is much removed from her fomorian kindred.  Like her brother, she is beautiful, which is unusual for Fomorians.  Unlike her brother, however, she seeks out that which is just and fair, an alien concept for the Fomhoire.  She refused to aid Bres when he was exiled by the Tuatha from his seat of power.  She is often demonized in fomorian religion as a traitor to the community for this, and for sleeping with Elcmar of the Tuatha, a union which resulted in the birth of Lugh Longfingers, the villain who killed her father, King Balor.

She has associations with the moon's fickle inconstancy.  She was said to ride out on the sea in a silver boat in the dead of night, and mingle with the enemy.  Balor was required to imprison her in a doorless tower to keep her away from the Tuatha, especially after it was prophesied that she would bear the mongrel son Lugh.  

She is considered weak for indulging the dignity of other races, and her aversion to treachery and murder.  They therefore consider her to not truly be one of them.  In the second battle of Magh Ruadh, she guarded Dagda's stolen harp, and allowed it to be returned to him.


Morc and Conand
Intermediate Gods
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Profile: Revenge, Strength, Ferocity, Community, Brothers

Two brothers, always worshipped together, Morc and Conand represent the bond of brotherhood felt among fomorians.  They exemplify the belief in doing anything for your brothers, or brothers-in-arms.  These two were willing to break geasa for each other, and Morc slaughtered whole villages when Conand was killed.  It is this degree of passionate friendship, and the rage that springs from wild devotion, that fomorians love. It is right to fomors that a small slight should be avenged one hundredfold.

These two represent the power and strength of the community as a whole, and what can be accomplished by acting together.  Smaller than many others, these two only stand about ten feet high each.  Their heads are long and goatlike, with ram's horns and scruffy beards on their chins.  They are sometimes depicted as conjoined twins, or a single two-headed being, but this is generally considered "artistic license."  

And a bit more on Fomorians:

The Fomorians are a race of giants—a primal race prone to chaos.  The legends of the oldest times tell of the fomorians coming out from the seas, and they have been a constant menace to the people of Abred.  They are typically mean-spirited, clan-centered, and very firm in the notion that they have the right to do whatever they are capable of doing.  They are immensely loyal to their own clans in the face of outsiders, but have no compunctions against doing harm to one another in peace time, which is seen as nothing more than establishing the social hierarchy.

Fomorians as a race are prone to strange mutations, and always have some special power or ability to set them apart from their brothers and sisters.  In general, fomorians fall into one of three basic categories: Fachans, Álainns, and Gabhars.  Parentage seems to have no bearing on the category of the offspring.  Fachans as a type typically have one eye, one arm, and one leg, all in the center of their bodies.  Fachan's are highly talented magically, being able to move, see, and act in both worlds at once.  Álainns are the Beautiful fomorians.  They look much like humans, but are two or three times their size at least, and with features that look as though they were chiseled out of stone.  Gabhars are the "goat-heads."  Typically standing around ten feet tall, though sometimes much more, and occasionally less, these fomorians have long faces and horns.  Some may have goat legs as well, but this is not a universal trait.  Gabhars are swift enemies who focus on combat and physical might. 

It is possible that the immense variety among fomorians is caused by their intermingled bloodlines with other races and magical beings.  They are infamous for their willingness to mate with anything that they haven't killed yet, and this could be a factor in their high degree of mutations. 

The Fomhoire, the dark gods worshipped by the fomorians, are called upon most frequently when going into battle.  Though most fomorians worship all the Fomhoire as a group, fachans tend to be especially reverent to their chief god Balor, while Gabhars usually favor Morc and Conand, and Álainns give preference to Bres.  This is likely based on the personal vanity of the fomorians, who wish to worship the god that looks the most like they do. 

Minor update/addition

Fían: A 10 man war band of Fenian soldiers.  Though the literal meaning is quite specific, the term is often used colloquially to refer to any group of traveling, fighting, or adventuring companions.  This would include groups rallied to bring criminals to justice (like a posse) and a "party" of adventurers.

Found this DeviantArt Daily Deviation, and instantly thought of Wild-Shaped Druids.  The woad and the owl's necklace fit perfectly.

I am starting to think that as I bring more detail to specific locales of the setting, that I will need to bring a bit more variety into it.  While I absolutely want all of these places to feel "Celtic" in some way, I feel like Tulainn needs to feel different from Ceann Balor needs to feel different from Thiodonn.  I think to a certain extent I will have to vary some governing structures a bit more, as so far it's mostly various levels of "kings."