Tera Discussion thread

[khyron1144]

1) If I had to guess I'd say it has a page number from a book of hex sheets.  Not sure I'd want a million bonus geek points even if that is the case.

2) I believe I have mentioned this in another thread, but I'd consider a different name.  It just doesn't impress.

3) I like the details about the emperor and him not being popular.  However, if this is the case, does he not have rivals to exploit this?  Whether it is a powerful senate, generals, or an aristocracy?  Speaking of which, I recommend adding a few details about the political structure.  It sounds like the emperorship is inherited, as some kind of imperial monarchy.  Is there an aristocracy or other government body?  Is it an autocratic regime?

4)Good details for the city.  I think you mean Halfingstown.  I have some reservations about the city being named the same as the planet, but it could work.  I would only say that makes it sound like it should be the Teran Empire.

5) Uh, whoa.  Interesting.


6) Some details on why this happened might be good.  Empires rarely give up territory unless forced to, and if they were forced, it's unlikely they will ally with the territory for a while.  In time, they may develop an alliance, but if they were on good enough terms to have one to begin with, revolt was unlikely.  Without revolt, why grant independence?

7) It sounds like Arcanum is primed for some great adventures.  Particularly the Temporal Palace.  That sounds really fun or really annoying, depending on your mood at the time.


8 ) What is a norker?  I'm relatively familiar with 2nd ed, but I don't recall this monster.

9) What is the Shadow Pantheon (maybe you answer this later and I've forgotten)?

10) Side note: bugbears were traditionally goblins in folklore, not just D&D (because they were basically the same thing, they are equivalent to boggles in my setting).


11) I think this idea can work well.  You've got a few names I don't recognize again.
What is a "Cay man"?  An Alaghi?
Do you mean Rakshasa by Rakasta?  Or is this some other monster.

12) Do the different inhabitants (that is the different species) get along with each other?  Do they constantly war?  Is mammals versus reptiles?


13) I like this section a lot.  My only suggestions right now would be to give an idea of the population numbers, and maybe a little more detail on the dwarven government.  Is it a monarchy?  Are their clans (and are they important)?  Is their an aristocracy?  Who is the king?


14) Do you mean the lands where the Human Empire will be?  Or have they really been around for 70,000 years?

Starting any civilization this far back raises some questions about why technology and science is not more advanced.  To some degree, I think you answer it with dark ages.  Though 30,000 years is an incredibly long time for something like that.


15) This demands some expounding.  It sounds too cool to explain what you mean.  Is it a direct version of the Norse myth?  Or more adapted to your own needs?


16) What I like about this, is that it sets your setting apart from others.  It's a nice addition, without radically altering your setting.


17) I like that you pull your deities from mythology.  As I expressed, I have misgivings about throwing in a handful of random Greyhawk deities.  They feel out of place.  However, it is your setting, so if you like them, you are entitled.


18) Your yakuza are halflings ?  Is halfling culture in general based on eastern culture?  I didn't get that impression so far, but this is a big sign in that direction.  Interesting choice.  I like the almost propaganda-like intro to them.

19) Another interesting guild: Children of the Star of the Morning.  I think you could do very well in adventures with these.

1) That's okay.  Not everyone wants the geek label.  Anyway I'd only give partial credit for that answer because I'm looking for a specific book title.

2) Work in progress, but I'll agree it's kind of lame.

3) Another thing I'm working on.  I have no idea how any of these governments work.  I have vague image of an Emperor and a Senate and Magistrates and Watchmen and Sheriffs, but don't know who does what and how.

4) Teran Empire might be a good way to put.  In a major city of this world that has a strongly ethnic neighborhood composed of people of Chinese extraction outside of China, does one call it Chinastown? Chinesetown? Chinatown?

5) I try to be interesting.

6) It's kind of mentioned at least passingly in Ancient History.  It might need reworking.

7)  One aspect of my setting that I think is kind of different and smart is that I try to have all or most of the "dungeons" on the map at the start of the campaign.  It strikes me as highly improbable for the temple of the evil overlord pop up overnight.

8 ) Norkers may be found in the 1st edition Fiend Folio and were updated to 3.5 in a relatively recent issue of Dragon.  In 1e, they are in essence hobgoblins that get a bite attack in addition to weapon attacks.  In 3e, they're pretty much just another Humanoid (Goblinoid) monster.

9) I'll explain it more thoroughly, but it's a pantheon that includes things like the old Archdevils and Demon Princes and some monster deities Kurtulmak and some things from real world religion/ mythology to fill in some gaps, like my version of Lucifer.

10) I needed another Beastlander race, so decided to emphasize bear aspects.

11) Cay Men are from the D&D game/ Mystara setting.  They'r little Lizard Men, who are surprisingly tough.  The same size as Kobolds, but with 2 hit dice in 2e.
Alaghi are a sasquatch/ ape-like humanoid race.
Rakasta and Rakshasa are very likely related by real world mythological roots.  Both are tiger-like and of humanoid body-type, but Rakasta are regular humanoids native to the Prime Material Plane rather than powerful things similar to Devils from another plane.

12) It's a bit of a mix, but I'm assuming a few things, like that reptiles (Scalyfolk) get along well with each other and that naturally evil races, like Gnolls and Bug Bears are not usually friendly.

13) I'm still working on it.  I'm assuming some kind of monarchy.  There's probably some kind of clan system, where every place that has been cleared of enemies is a clan stronghold and defending the homeland is the first duty of a loyal clan member.

14) This might sound like a lame excuse, but I think the combination of Dark Ages to impede progress as necessary and the idea that magical technology replaces science technology enough to make life about as comfortable as it is in the modern era without quite going Eberron.

15) I will be expanding it later.  It's obviously drawn from Norse mythology, but my twist is that in my world it might be winnable.

16) Glad you like it.  Oddly enough, it's kind of part of the default assumption for older versions of D&D.  I just emphasized it more.

17) My feeling is that, while it makes sense for the Dwarves to include worship of Odin in their religion, it doesn't make sense for them not to have a deity like Moradin who is a god of Dwarven-kind specifically.

18)  Yes they are.  I'm sorry I haven't conveyed that clearly enough yet.  I'm still working on the write up for the Halfling Khanate.  But wasn't mention of the Halfling Khan and the Daisho as part of the Halfling's set of artifacts good enough clues?

19)  I try.  I thought it was a good idea.



Thank you for the good long list of comments and questions.  Help yourself to a Tera badge.

[Epic Meepo]

By the way: a million bonus geek points to anyone who can tell me exactly why the number 124 appears at what was the bottom of the page until I tipped it sideways.

I'm looking for a specific book title.[/quote]Wilderness Survival Guide[/i].

It's even scarier that I knew this as soon as I read that there was a hex grid taken from page 124 of a book; I hadn't even seen the hex grid in question when I arrived at that conclusion. (Not that I still have about a dozen old photocopies of that hex grid sitting around or anything.)

[khyron1144]

It's a little bit scary that I know that hex grid is from the Wilderness Survival Guide.

It's even scarier that I knew this as soon as I read that there was a hex grid taken from page 124 of a book; I hadn't even seen the hex grid in question when I arrived at that conclusion. (Not that I still have about a dozen old photocopies of that hex grid sitting around or anything.)

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!  The 1,000,000 Geek Points are yours if you want them.


I just got my copy of Wilderness Survival Guide last year.  I haven't read it all the way through yet, but I had copies of the hex grids made the first week I had it and that's the first one I've really used.

While the map is basic, one thing I do like about it is that you have a scale.  By using hexes, you make it easy to see distance and scale.  Perhaps it is something I should have considered.  On the other hand, it means they have to be taken out for the final version (if you want the seemless look, anyway), so it's a trade-off.

I only trust maps I draw myself, but I am weak in areas like handwriting, manual dexterity, fine motor skills, and any actual aptitude in the visual arts.  That makes some kind of grid a necessity when I make my map.  Hex grids are also kind of traditional for world mapping too.

[Epic Meepo]

I'm just going to write a quick review covering some odds and ends, since it appears that Pheonix is has already made many of the points I would have made.

Firstly, I'm glad you mentioned gnomes. I had been wondering about them right up until I came across the gnome-related appendix. On a similar note, what about half-orcs? Do they exist? How are they treated by humans and orcs? Would they count as goblinoids?

Secondly, what have the (non-drow) elves been up to? The history of Tera seems to revolve around humans, usually humans fighting against someone. Dwarves and halflings are also mentioned fairly regularly. But what is the recent history of the elves and how are they involved in current events?

Thirdly, what religious organizations exist and how are they related to one another? Domains and specialty priests aside, are their any religious entities analogous to the various assassins' and theives' guilds you have described? Any orders of paladins? Any conniving high priests plotting to secretly control the Empire? Any cults of thugs murdering nonbelievers?

Also, what is the history of the God Pools? When did they form and how have they been used throughout history? Are they related to specific gods and pantheons? Are they stationary, or do they relocate from time to time just to be mysterious? Can the gods themselves make use of their namesake pools? Do the pools have any special significance to clerics or druids?

[Epic Meepo]

Let's see, at a 10 Geek Points to 1 eXperience Point exchange rate, that should put me at 14th-level gamer. Well on my way to earning my epic title. That's also more than enough levels of gamer to qualify me for the Craft Weighted Dice feat, which I will take. I'll then spend my remaining XP crafting a +1 d20 so I never have to see a natural "1" again.[/ic]

[khyron1144]

1) On a similar note, what about half-orcs? Do they exist? How are they treated by humans and orcs? Would they count as goblinoids?

2) Secondly, what have the (non-drow) elves been up to? The history of Tera seems to revolve around humans, usually humans fighting against someone. Dwarves and halflings are also mentioned fairly regularly. But what is the recent history of the elves and how are they involved in current events?

3) Thirdly, what religious organizations exist and how are they related to one another? Domains and specialty priests aside, are their any religious entities analogous to the various assassins' and theives' guilds you have described? Any orders of paladins? Any conniving high priests plotting to secretly control the Empire? Any cults of thugs murdering nonbelievers?

4) Also, what is the history of the God Pools? When did they form and how have they been used throughout history? Are they related to specific gods and pantheons? Are they stationary, or do they relocate from time to time just to be mysterious? Can the gods themselves make use of their namesake pools? 5) Do the pools have any special significance to clerics or druids?

Wow thanks.
1) Half-orcs and Half-ogres both exist and are relatively common.  One of the barbarian tribes in that J area of the map is actually a mix of orcs, ogres, humans, half-orcs, half-ogres, and ogrillons.  I've only just started my pencil draft on the barbarian lands write-up.  Half-orcs count as both goblinoids and humans.

2) I noticed that the history is a bit too centered on humans and the Empire specifically.

3) The Children of The Star of The Morning is intended to be primarily a religious group, albeit a very nonstandard one that probably engages in a good bit of "personnel removal" and "selective redistribution of property".  There are more conventional Temples, but the entries would read something like:  
Temple of Hecate: Worshippers of Hecate.  High Priestess is seeking to increase the temple's influence over The Empire.
Temple of Athena:  Worshippers of Athena.  High Priestess is seeking to increase the temple's influence over The Empire.
Temple of Zeus: Worshippers of Zeus.  High Priest is seeking to increase the temple's influence over The Empire.

4) All material in this area is something I'll have to give consideration to.  I really haven't developed any of these things.  It's currently an excuse for buffs that aren't possible under the actual rules.

5) I hadn't thought of this, but some kind of guardian order seems like a good idea.

Help yourself to a badge.

[Matt Larkin (author)]

I'm not sure if it was a question or not, but, IRL, rakshasa are from Indian mythology.  I've never heard of "raksta" before you mentioned them.

4) Teran Empire might be a good way to put. In a major city of this world that has a strongly ethnic neighborhood composed of people of Chinese extraction outside of China, does one call it Chinastown? Chinesetown? Chinatown?

Chinatown.  What I meant was to point out a spelling mistake.

Given the feel you are going for with halflings, you might give the race a new name for themselves (maybe humans call them halflings).  Much like Tolkien called them hobbits, and some, like JC have separate names for what races call themselves.  It would serve to set them apart more.

Also, such a name might sound more natual than Halflingtown.

[khyron1144]

Chinatown.  What I meant was to point out a spelling mistake.

Given the feel you are going for with halflings, you might give the race a new name for themselves (maybe humans call them halflings).  Much like Tolkien called them hobbits, and some, like JC have separate names for what races call themselves.  It would serve to set them apart more.

Sorry.  I hope I didn't give offense.  I thought you were pointing out a different percieved spelling error.  More specifically, I didn't notice that I had spelled halfling wrong in the word halflingtown.  I edited to fix that just now, but my current term is halflingtown and not halflingstown.

This is a little tangential, but one reason I haven't done my write up on Aelfheim yet is that I know that Aelfheim is a human name for it.  I decided that my elves speak Tolkien's Quenya Elvish Language and I don't have my copy of The Silmarillion handy to translate.  There could very well be a similar thing going on with the halflings, although I haven't decided on the language yet for them.

[Wensleydale]

All righty.

I've read through this now, and several things come to mind.

Uno: The halflings. I love the idea of the Yazuka, but as far as I can tell there is no information on the Khanate. I'm interested - they seem like a fusion of asian cultures at the moment.

Du... somethingo: the dwarves. I like the ideas you have for them, and it seems like an... interesting environment. Do the dwarves carve and dig out their own homes, or do they live in natural caves, or in caverns within which structures are built? How do they defend themselves, other than through war? How are they ruled?

French... is easier. Trois: Lucifer. His servants are interesting... they band together in chaotic groups with no organisation or hierarchy to, essentially, 'Stick it to the man'? That's great. :D Want to hear more about this.

La Fin: The Great University - is this a literal building, or just an organisation, or a meeting hall, or a group of separate colleges, or what? Also, who is the current 'headmaster'?

[khyron1144]

Sorry I've taken a bit of a vacation from these forums.  I recently went back to my dad's house after spending a whole week at my mom's.  She's got a cable modem; he's got a dial-up connection, so I try to limit my internet usage at my dad's.  I have got some more stuff in my idea notebook, though, which I'll type up and then post.

[khyron1144]

All righty.

I've read through this now, and several things come to mind.

1) Uno: The halflings. I love the idea of the Yazuka, but as far as I can tell there is no information on the Khanate. I'm interested - they seem like a fusion of asian cultures at the moment.

2) Du... somethingo: the dwarves. I like the ideas you have for them, and it seems like an... interesting environment. Do the dwarves carve and dig out their own homes, or do they live in natural caves, or in caverns within which structures are built? How do they defend themselves, other than through war? How are they ruled?

3) French... is easier. Trois: Lucifer. His servants are interesting... they band together in chaotic groups with no organisation or hierarchy to, essentially, 'Stick it to the man'? That's great. :D Want to hear more about this.

4) La Fin: The Great University - is this a literal building, or just an organisation, or a meeting hall, or a group of separate colleges, or what? Also, who is the current 'headmaster'?

1) I'm working on it right now.  I have a lot of good ideas, but getting them translated into a readable format is a challenge.
2) I'll work out that later.  Much of it is what I would consider finer details.  Right now I'm going for broad strokes so that the flavor of each nation and culture is known.
3) Glad you liked it.
4) One literal college with one literal campus with however may buildings are needed.  The current head of the college is Euclid Euler Pythagoras e pi i.  My terminiology may have been inconsistent, but he is the arch-chancellor for The University and the head of state for Arcanum as a whole.

[khyron1144]

I posted a few updates and would be delighted to hear comments.

I have decided to rename the Human Empire, the Teran Empire, but editing things that are already up will take time.

[Tybalt]

A few comments:

1. Generally a good solid adventure beginning. I like that you have different possible paths depending on the type of character is there or what their inclinations of the moment might be. It is also very descriptive and is incidentally a nice introduction to your setting.

2. I'd like to know a little more about the barbarians. Do they look norse? Do the spirit connections affect more than just spellcasters? What kind of weapons do they use?

[Tybalt]

Khyron: I think it's really neat that your pantheon is made up of published deities that you've put together in a sort of spiritual stew that nevertheless has versimilitude. So are your devils and demons 'devils and demons' in the proper sense or are they genuine deities?

[khyron1144]

Khyron: I think it's really neat that your pantheon is made up of published deities that you've put together in a sort of spiritual stew that nevertheless has versimilitude. So are your devils and demons 'devils and demons' in the proper sense or are they genuine deities?

Thanks.

The answer to the question is kinda both.  It's hard to distinguish between one kind of extremely powerful, immortal planar being and another.  To put it another way, there is no functional difference in Tera between the type of being that, say, Asmodeus is and the kind of being that, say, Odin is other than alignment of the deity and the race of typical worshippers.

I don't know if that's a useful answer or not.


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And again, thanks.