DragonRealms - Revision history

VANKRASN39: bts fix

2017-10-30T18:29:43Z

bts fix

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:29, 30 October 2017
Line 1:		Line 1:
	'''DragonRealms''' is an immersive online roleplaying game set on [[Elanthia]], thousands of years further into the future than [[GemStone]] IV. It is set after a cataclysmic event does drastic damage to world geography, spoken of as a "world dragon" hatching out of (supposedly) [[Makiri]] that almost destroys the world. They refer to the [[Arkati]] as "the thirteen immortals" who battled the dragon and are trying to keep it asleep in the center of the world. (This is curiously similar and possibly [[Makiri#Behind ~~The~~ Scenes\|related]] to [[Muylari#Behind ~~The~~ Scenes\|the theme]] of [[Shadow Valley]].) It is not clear where the setting is relative to the continent of [[Elanith]].		'''DragonRealms''' is an immersive online roleplaying game set on [[Elanthia]], thousands of years further into the future than [[GemStone]] IV. It is set after a cataclysmic event does drastic damage to world geography, spoken of as a "world dragon" hatching out of (supposedly) [[Makiri]] that almost destroys the world. They refer to the [[Arkati]] as "the thirteen immortals" who battled the dragon and are trying to keep it asleep in the center of the world. (This is curiously similar and possibly [[Makiri#Behind the Scenes\|related]] to [[Muylari#Behind the Scenes\|the theme]] of [[Shadow Valley]].) It is not clear where the setting is relative to the continent of [[Elanith]].

	The game has several races in common with GemStone, as well as others which have not been encountered yet. These include [[Humans]], [[Elves]], [[Halflings]], [[Dwarves]], [[Gnomes]], and Elotheans ([[Erithians]].) The Kaldar are reminiscent of Giantmen. The Gor'Tog are larger than them and colored green. However, the S'Kra Mur are lizard people, the Prydaen are cat people, and Rakash are shapeshifters.		The game has several races in common with GemStone, as well as others which have not been encountered yet. These include [[Humans]], [[Elves]], [[Halflings]], [[Dwarves]], [[Gnomes]], and Elotheans ([[Erithians]].) The Kaldar are reminiscent of Giantmen. The Gor'Tog are larger than them and colored green. However, the S'Kra Mur are lizard people, the Prydaen are cat people, and Rakash are shapeshifters.
Line 192:		Line 192:
	\|?		\|?
	\|bgcolor = green\|Pearlescent white		\|bgcolor = green\|Pearlescent white
	\|Former smallest moon in DragonRealms. Destroyed supposedly by [[Makiri#Behind ~~The~~ Scenes\|World Dragon]].		\|Former smallest moon in DragonRealms. Destroyed supposedly by [[Makiri#Behind the Scenes\|World Dragon]].
	\|}		\|}
	Yavash is permanently colored red, while Charon and Lornon only appear that way periodically. The word "zenith" for Lornon is misused by implying that is simultaneously defined at every location, and it is [[Lornon's Eve\|synchronous]] with the solar orbit for no reason. In the Shadow World history Charon has a polar orbit and the world population lives only on the western hemisphere, so Charon is invisible at night for half of its rotation. The "Night of the Third Moon" is wherever Charon happens to be full ''and'' zenith, once every 149 days, glowing reddish and only occurring near the equatorial latitudes. Once every 10.2 years it is at perigee ''and'' zenith near the equator, which is the situation where it is huge and red. These times correspond to essence disturbances, cult worship, and malevolent presences for Charon and Lornon.		Yavash is permanently colored red, while Charon and Lornon only appear that way periodically. The word "zenith" for Lornon is misused by implying that is simultaneously defined at every location, and it is [[Lornon's Eve\|synchronous]] with the solar orbit for no reason. In the Shadow World history Charon has a polar orbit and the world population lives only on the western hemisphere, so Charon is invisible at night for half of its rotation. The "Night of the Third Moon" is wherever Charon happens to be full ''and'' zenith, once every 149 days, glowing reddish and only occurring near the equatorial latitudes. Once every 10.2 years it is at perigee ''and'' zenith near the equator, which is the situation where it is huge and red. These times correspond to essence disturbances, cult worship, and malevolent presences for Charon and Lornon.
Line 1,067:		Line 1,067:
	In the GemStone IV and DragonRealms settings "mana" is portrayed as somehow natural to the world, neither created nor destroyed, merely manipulated by will into other "patterns." Rolemaster in itself is generic enough to allow multiple implementations. The Shadow World setting in contrast has a cosmology where the material universe is purely physical, and any "magical" energy is a bleed through from other universes. Similar concepts such as the Elemental Planes exist in GemStone and DragonRealms. In the case of Shadow World and consequently I.C.E. Age GemStone III, this means that "magic" is temporary violations of physical law, and that magic becomes impossible whenever one is cut off from the power sources. Worshippers of a [[Sphere of emanation\|local god]], for example, best not travel far (much less to other planes.) Consequently, magic does not exist outside the solar system, and the gods cannot travel from it. The [[Lords of Essaence]] failed to make it possible elsewhere, and gate magic will not work.		In the GemStone IV and DragonRealms settings "mana" is portrayed as somehow natural to the world, neither created nor destroyed, merely manipulated by will into other "patterns." Rolemaster in itself is generic enough to allow multiple implementations. The Shadow World setting in contrast has a cosmology where the material universe is purely physical, and any "magical" energy is a bleed through from other universes. Similar concepts such as the Elemental Planes exist in GemStone and DragonRealms. In the case of Shadow World and consequently I.C.E. Age GemStone III, this means that "magic" is temporary violations of physical law, and that magic becomes impossible whenever one is cut off from the power sources. Worshippers of a [[Sphere of emanation\|local god]], for example, best not travel far (much less to other planes.) Consequently, magic does not exist outside the solar system, and the gods cannot travel from it. The [[Lords of Essaence]] failed to make it possible elsewhere, and gate magic will not work.

	==Behind ~~The~~ Scenes==		==Behind the Scenes==
	It is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DragonRealms#Game usually] assumed that DragonRealms is set in the future relative to GemStone IV. However, the "smallest" moon that shattered was "pearly-white" in the DragonRealms lore, whereas Makiri is dark in the present of GemStone. It is worth considering that the moon lore has changed over the years. In the [[ICE age\|I.C.E. Age]] history Tlilok ([[Tilaok]]) was the smallest "moon", and Mikori ([[Makiri]]) did ''not'' orbit Orhan ([[Liabo]]). Mikori was the smallest and farthest moon orbiting the planet, Orhan was the largest, and the closest was the second-largest fifth moon called [[Varin]]. In the contemporary GemStone IV history Lornon is the furthest, Liabo is the closest, with Makiri and Tlilok orbiting Liabo. In DragonRealms Yavash is the most distant and perpetually red colored, Katamba is the largest and blackened, while the '''''blue''''' Xibar is the closest and does ''not'' orbit Katamba. While Yavash and Katamba could be taken to be Lornon and Liabo, Xibar does not resemble Tilaok, and Katamba has ''no'' satellite moons at all.		It is [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DragonRealms#Game usually] assumed that DragonRealms is set in the future relative to GemStone IV. However, the "smallest" moon that shattered was "pearly-white" in the DragonRealms lore, whereas Makiri is dark in the present of GemStone. It is worth considering that the moon lore has changed over the years. In the [[ICE age\|I.C.E. Age]] history Tlilok ([[Tilaok]]) was the smallest "moon", and Mikori ([[Makiri]]) did ''not'' orbit Orhan ([[Liabo]]). Mikori was the smallest and farthest moon orbiting the planet, Orhan was the largest, and the closest was the second-largest fifth moon called [[Varin]]. In the contemporary GemStone IV history Lornon is the furthest, Liabo is the closest, with Makiri and Tlilok orbiting Liabo. In DragonRealms Yavash is the most distant and perpetually red colored, Katamba is the largest and blackened, while the '''''blue''''' Xibar is the closest and does ''not'' orbit Katamba. While Yavash and Katamba could be taken to be Lornon and Liabo, Xibar does not resemble Tilaok, and Katamba has ''no'' satellite moons at all.

INIQUITY: /* Time */ add known moon diameters

2017-08-05T19:29:28Z

Time: add known moon diameters

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:29, 5 August 2017
Line 365:		Line 365:
	\|Prograde? (+)		\|Prograde? (+)
	\|Yes		\|Yes
			\|Forests, oceans, clouds. Tlilok is only satellite. Diameter 3,500 miles. Earth's moon is 2,100 miles and distance 240,000 miles. Orhan is much larger in the sky with stronger tides. Orbital period is very wrong, Kulthea would need to be 1/5th Earth mass.
	\|Forests, oceans, clouds. Tlilok is only satellite.
	\|-		\|-
	\|bgcolor=red\|'''Lornon'''		\|bgcolor=red\|'''Lornon'''
Line 389:		Line 389:
	\|Polar Orbit		\|Polar Orbit
	\|?		\|?
	\|149 days per blood moon at location. Perigee/Zenith blood moon coincide 10.2 years.		\|149 days per blood moon at location. Perigee/Zenith blood moon coincide 10.2 years. Diameter is 350 miles.
	\|-		\|-
	\|'''Makiri'''		\|'''Makiri'''
Line 413:		Line 413:
	\|Prograde? (+)		\|Prograde? (+)
	\|?		\|?
	\|Volcanic from tidal forces.		\|Volcanic from tidal forces. Diameter is 600 miles. Roughly same size as Ceres, largest asteroid / dwarf planet.
	\|-		\|-
	\|'''Xibar'''		\|'''Xibar'''
Line 437:		Line 437:
	\|?		\|?
	\|?		\|?
	\|Conjuncts with Orhan over a [[A Popular History of Melgorehn's Reach\|given spot]] once per several thousand years.		\|Conjuncts with Orhan over a [[A Popular History of Melgorehn's Reach\|given spot]] once per several thousand years. Diameter is 40 miles. 5 to 7 times larger than what killed the dinosaurs on Earth.
	\|-		\|-
	\|'''Grazhir'''		\|'''Grazhir'''

INIQUITY: clarify weaknesses of Rolemaster hybrid spells

2017-07-17T08:02:04Z

clarify weaknesses of Rolemaster hybrid spells

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:02, 17 July 2017
Line 994:		Line 994:
	\|'''Hybrid'''		\|'''Hybrid'''
	\|Rolemaster		\|Rolemaster
	\|Full spell-caster that uses spells from two given realms of power. Base list largely a mix and match of other base spells of pure professions. Flexibility of choosing from the "open" and "closed" lists of both realms, higher training cost than pures for spell research for the more powerful spells. No premise of "fusing" the realms of power in the base lists. (Note: There are pure and semi Arcane professions, but no hybrid Arcane professions. Pure Arcanists have pure training costs for all realms of magic.)		\|Full spell-caster that uses spells from two given realms of power. Base list largely a mix and match of other base spells of pure professions. Flexibility of choosing from the "open" and "closed" lists of both realms, higher training cost than pures for spell research for the more powerful spells. No premise of "fusing" the realms of power in the base lists. (Note: There are pure and semi Arcane professions, but no hybrid Arcane professions. Pure Arcanists have pure training costs for all realms of magic.) While it does not say two realms are ''fused'' into something more fundamental or violent, it does say a hybrid base list spell uses power from ''both'' realms, which means the ''weaknesses'' of each realm are applied. The warding roll is chosen to be the realm that favors the target, and if the target uses either of those realms, they get an extra bonus resisting it. This means that while a hybrid spell might be a clone of an equivalent pure spell in another base list, in effect the hybrid version is always weaker all else being equal.
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
Line 1,002:		Line 1,002:
	\|		\|
	\|I.C.E. Age GSIII		\|I.C.E. Age GSIII
	\|Sorcerers only class that are hybrid. Only class capable of channeling magical power (i.e. converting) between realms. No access to "closed" spell lists. Healers are treated as pure Channeling when they are Channeling/Mentalist hybrids in Rolemaster. However, that means they channel wounds, and heal themselves with mentalism.		\|Sorcerers only class that are hybrid. Only class capable of channeling magical power (i.e. converting) between realms. No access to "closed" spell lists. Healers are treated as pure Channeling when they are Channeling/Mentalist hybrids in Rolemaster. However, that means they channel wounds, and heal themselves with mentalism. ("Lay Healers" are pure Mentalists.) Warding worked mainly by relative caster/target levels and racial modifiers, seemingly without the hybrid rules for Rolemaster.
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
	\|Post-I.C.E. GSIII		\|Post-I.C.E. GSIII
	\|Sorcerers only class that are hybrid. Effectively treated as "pures." No access to "major" spell lists. Meaning of "hybrid power" largely undefined. Restriction on transferring between realms of power removed. Empaths still treated as pure Spiritual users. Bards are semi-arms Elemental users.		\|Sorcerers only class that are hybrid. Effectively treated as "pures." No access to "major" spell lists. Meaning of "hybrid power" largely undefined. Restriction on transferring between realms of power removed. Empaths still treated as pure Spiritual users. Bards are semi-arms Elemental users. Sorcerers have their own category for TD (warding.)
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
	\|GemStone IV		\|GemStone IV
	\|Hybrid refers to access to spells from more than one sphere of power. Bards and Empaths are (sort of) turned into hybrids. Meaning of "hybrid power" largely undefined. Some sense that sorcery is an unnatural ''fusion'' of incompatible powers, as opposed to merely accessing more than one sphere of magic.		\|Hybrid refers to access to spells from more than one sphere of power. Bards and Empaths are (sort of) turned into hybrids. Meaning of "hybrid power" largely undefined. Some sense that sorcery is an unnatural ''fusion'' of incompatible powers, as opposed to merely accessing more than one sphere of magic. Hybrid circles have their own TD.
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|

INIQUITY: minor elaboration

2017-07-17T01:07:44Z

minor elaboration

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:07, 16 July 2017
Line 1,018:		Line 1,018:
	\|'''Sorcery'''		\|'''Sorcery'''
	\|Rolemaster		\|Rolemaster
	\|Hybrid spell profession. Spells overlap heavily with Evil Mage, Evil Cleric, and Evil Mentalist base lists. Focus is ''immediate'' destruction of animate and inanimate matter. Essence/Channeling hybrid, but a third of its base spells are mental effects, targeting the mind or soul. Spells targeting bodies are sadistic. Except for "demonic possession", has nothing to do with demonic summoning, or necromancy. Does have curses. Its inherent orientation toward annihilation is profession thematic.		\|Hybrid spell profession. Spells overlap heavily with Evil Mage, Evil Cleric, and Evil Mentalist base lists. Focus is ''immediate'' destruction of animate and inanimate matter. Essence/Channeling hybrid, but a third of its base spells are mental effects, targeting the mind or soul. Spells targeting bodies are sadistic. Except for "demonic possession", has nothing to do with demonic summoning, or necromancy. Does have curses. Its inherent orientation toward annihilation is profession thematic rather than theoretically motivated. There is no explicit statement of Sorcerer spells being "Evil." There is no premise of being a ''fusion'' of pure realms of power or closer to Arcane magic.
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
Line 1,042:		Line 1,042:
	\|'''Evil'''		\|'''Evil'''
	\|Rolemaster		\|Rolemaster
	\|Evil spell lists belong to pure spell-casters in each of the given realms of power (i.e. Evil Mage, Evil Cleric, Evil Mentalist, Evil Arcanist.) Spells specifiying "of light/good" or "of darkness/evil" mean whether the thing is of good/evil origin regardless of current state. Evil vaguely refers to "causes intentional suffering and destruction", though oddly the Sorcerer class is not explicitly defined as Evil. It is the "dark side" of these realms and not a separate form of power. GM discretion whether it involves corrupt power sources / evil gods or if it is merely moral disapproval by "superstitious peasants." Options for the GM include allowing only spell lists from a single Evil realm, or a mixture of lists from a single Evil realm and lists from some other class. (Evil Sorcerers should not be an option because ~~the~~ ~~Sorcerer~~ ~~class~~ is ~~hybrid~~.)		\|Evil spell lists belong to pure spell-casters in each of the given realms of power (i.e. Evil Mage, Evil Cleric, Evil Mentalist, Evil Arcanist.) Spells specifiying "of light/good" or "of darkness/evil" mean whether the thing is of good/evil origin regardless of current state. Evil vaguely refers to "causes intentional suffering and destruction", though oddly the Sorcerer class is not explicitly defined as Evil. It is the "dark side" of these realms and not a separate form of power. GM discretion whether it involves corrupt power sources / evil gods or if it is merely moral disapproval by "superstitious peasants." Options for the GM include allowing only spell lists from a single Evil realm, or a mixture of lists from a single Evil realm and lists from some other class. (Evil Sorcerers should not be an option because they are hybrid, but some Shadow World NPC Sorcerers had Evil lists.)
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
Line 1,050:		Line 1,050:
	\|		\|
	\|I.C.E. Age GSIII		\|I.C.E. Age GSIII
	\|The Sorcerer profession contains spells from the Rolemaster Evil spell lists, effectively being an "Evil Sorcerer" profession, but there is no corruption mechanic or separate power points. In contrast, the [[Council of Light]] has the [[Sign of Wracking]], and a corruption mechanic. Phrases like "dark essence" appear in spell descriptions. These are the same spells that existed until GSIV, and are largely still the same spells. The Cleric profession contains holy spells but no unholy spells, meaning mechanically a Cleric cannot be a worshipper of a dark god. The undead are classified in spell descriptions by the relative power of demons, sometimes created by demons. Demons are evil.		\|The Sorcerer profession contains spells from the Rolemaster Evil spell lists, effectively being an "Evil Sorcerer" profession, but there is no corruption mechanic or separate power points. In contrast, the [[Council of Light]] has the [[Sign of Wracking]], and a basic corruption mechanic. Phrases like "dark essence" appear in spell descriptions. These are the same spells that existed until GSIV, and are largely still the same spells. The Cleric profession contains holy spells but no unholy spells, meaning mechanically a Cleric cannot be a worshipper of a dark god. The undead are classified in spell descriptions by the relative power of demons, sometimes created by demons. Demons are evil.
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|

INIQUITY: add to magic comparison chart for meaning of evil/dark/corrupt magic

2017-07-15T01:53:02Z

add to magic comparison chart for meaning of evil/dark/corrupt magic

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:53, 14 July 2017
Line 690:		Line 690:
	\|?		\|?
	\|?		\|?
	\|Reddish-brown. Home of fallen spirits of warriors. "The Stalwart Defender". Orbital period so similar to Elanthia's that it seems to constantly be shielding and protecting it.		\|Reddish-brown. Home of fallen spirits of warriors. "The Stalwart Defender". Orbital period so similar to Elanthia's that it seems to constantly be shielding and protecting it. If this was actually true the opposite would happen, they would collide or get ejected.
	\|-		\|-
	\|'''6th'''		\|'''6th'''
Line 744:		Line 744:
	\|?		\|?
	\|?		\|?
	\|Crystalline blue. "The Pellucid Font". Completely covered in liquid water. Too small/distant for unaided eye.		\|Crystalline blue. "The Pellucid Font". Completely covered in liquid water. Too small/distant for unaided eye. This suggests the DR sun is F class because the habitable zone of the star must be large, but is probably just something that makes no sense.
	\|-		\|-
	\|'''9th'''		\|'''9th'''
Line 887:		Line 887:
	\|Spiritual		\|Spiritual
	\|Spiritual		\|Spiritual
	\|Holy / Lunar		\|Holy / Lunar?
	\|-		\|-
	\|bgcolor = grey \|'''Inner'''		\|bgcolor = grey \|'''Inner'''
Line 970:		Line 970:
	\|'''Arcane'''		\|'''Arcane'''
	\|Rolemaster		\|Rolemaster
	\|The primal form of magic before the three realms were formed. Less intricate spell effects, more power and less control. Very rare. Chaotic, risky, dangerous to surroundings.		\|The primal form of magic before the three realms were formed. Less intricate but deeper spell effects, more power and less control. Very rare. Chaotic, risky, dangerous to surroundings. Whether Arcane magic should incur "corruption" penalties or is more robust or fragile to single-realm dispelling is GM / world setting discretion.
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
Line 1,039:		Line 1,039:
	\|DragonRealms		\|DragonRealms
	\|Sorcery is any mixture of two ''or more'' kinds of mana, forming many different categories of sorcery. Sorcery is inherently violent and backlash prone from crossing incompatible forms of energy. Corruption is inherent to more "arcane" magic, especially necromancy, not the result of extraplanar [[anti-mana]] or [[Unlife]] power.		\|Sorcery is any mixture of two ''or more'' kinds of mana, forming many different categories of sorcery. Sorcery is inherently violent and backlash prone from crossing incompatible forms of energy. Corruption is inherent to more "arcane" magic, especially necromancy, not the result of extraplanar [[anti-mana]] or [[Unlife]] power.
			\|-
			\|'''Evil'''
			\|Rolemaster
			\|Evil spell lists belong to pure spell-casters in each of the given realms of power (i.e. Evil Mage, Evil Cleric, Evil Mentalist, Evil Arcanist.) Spells specifiying "of light/good" or "of darkness/evil" mean whether the thing is of good/evil origin regardless of current state. Evil vaguely refers to "causes intentional suffering and destruction", though oddly the Sorcerer class is not explicitly defined as Evil. It is the "dark side" of these realms and not a separate form of power. GM discretion whether it involves corrupt power sources / evil gods or if it is merely moral disapproval by "superstitious peasants." Options for the GM include allowing only spell lists from a single Evil realm, or a mixture of lists from a single Evil realm and lists from some other class. (Evil Sorcerers should not be an option because the Sorcerer class is hybrid.)
			\|-
			\|
			\|Shadow World
			\|Evil spells are powered by "dark essence" corrupted by [[The Unlife]]. It is a fundamentally separate form of energy from ordinary spells, being perceived as a "new source of power" by spell-casters, who have a separate set of power points for those lists. Casting these spells incurs corruption, counting down against the character's "essaence soul", until they necessarily become evil in alignment. Evil spell-users are considered "hybrids" because the magic they cast is a corrupted form of the essence with more chaotic energy. There are demons that are merely "chaotic" like in Rolemaster, or purely alien but inherently destructive. Might inherently manifest of dark/chaotic/corrupted essence.
			\|-
			\|
			\|I.C.E. Age GSIII
			\|The Sorcerer profession contains spells from the Rolemaster Evil spell lists, effectively being an "Evil Sorcerer" profession, but there is no corruption mechanic or separate power points. In contrast, the [[Council of Light]] has the [[Sign of Wracking]], and a corruption mechanic. Phrases like "dark essence" appear in spell descriptions. These are the same spells that existed until GSIV, and are largely still the same spells. The Cleric profession contains holy spells but no unholy spells, meaning mechanically a Cleric cannot be a worshipper of a dark god. The undead are classified in spell descriptions by the relative power of demons, sometimes created by demons. Demons are evil.
			\|-
			\|
			\|Post-I.C.E. Age GSIII
			\|Corruption by "dark essence" is replaced with the equivalent concept of "[[anti-mana]]", but this concept is never developed further and the corruption tie-in is largely forgotten. Vvrael warlocks cast sorcerer spells, and the Vvrael had undead hordes using anti-mana, but the inherent relation of sorcery and the undead and the demonic are left ill-defined. The Dark Gods were changed to have the same origin as the Light Gods, so their relationship with unholy power (e.g. necessity of blessed weapons to harm target) becomes ambiguous. The Vvrael are immune to magic because of anti-mana corruption, but do not require blessed weapons to be hit. Demons assumed to be evil.
			\|-
			\|
			\|GemStone IV
			\|There are many adjectives such as "black essence", "evil essence", "necrotic energy" and so on, and balefire is defined as originating in another valence, but the ultimate nature of evil magic is very ill-defined. Several creatures now exist that are mechanically treated as demons, and they can only be hit by magic holy weapons with a high enchantment. (In GSIII there were a handful of Rolemaster demonic creatures that were treated as either living or undead.) Inherent evilness of demons is ambiguous. The [[Enchiridion Valentia]] portrays demons that are merely extra-planar entities without necessarily being unholy, but Faendryl documentation refers to the demonic energies as corrupting, elementals document says "intense hatred of life", and the more powerful demons that do actual combat designed later are unholy and extremely malevolent.
			\|-
			\|
			\|DragonRealms
			\|The only magic that is considered forbidden by the gods is necromancy, a special sub-set of sorcery that is explicitly related to the demonic. Corruption is inherent to the unnatural fusion of some kinds of mana with each other and not some inherently foreign power like "dark essence" or "anti-mana." This is analogous to Rolemaster Arcane magic with corruption mechanics implemented due to its primal chaotic nature, except in Rolemaster the pure realms are merely specializations along easier scopes.
	\|}		\|}

INIQUITY: minor tweak, kulthea is 98 million miles, earth is only 93 million miles with same year.

2017-07-11T02:24:34Z

minor tweak, kulthea is 98 million miles, earth is only 93 million miles with same year.

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:24, 10 July 2017
Line 455:		Line 455:
	'''(B) Time Acceleration Ignored As Unreal'''		'''(B) Time Acceleration Ignored As Unreal'''

	The preceding was assuming that seconds and minutes ("roisan") are to be taken on face value as corresponding to Earth time, but that the larger units of time are different for natural reasons. If the time is supposed to instead just be accelerated by a factor of four for gameplay purposes so that a roisan is really "supposed" to represent four minutes on Elanthia, it would seem that their month is based on the lunar cycle of Yavash or Katamba, with weeks and years defined by powers of ten from the days in a sidereal month. The Kermorian and Gorbesh calendars have the same weeks, months, and days in a year, but different multi-year cycles. It might make sense to use a 400 day calendar if the moon impact cataclysm changed the tilt of Elanthia and so throwing the seasons slightly out of synch with the solar year. It would take trillions of years for the solar orbit of Elanthia to change by enough distance to actually gain 35 days. This is assuming the absence of enormous outside intervention.		The preceding was assuming that seconds and minutes ("roisan") are to be taken on face value as corresponding to Earth time, but that the larger units of time are different for natural reasons. If the time is supposed to instead just be accelerated by a factor of four for gameplay purposes so that a roisan is really "supposed" to represent four minutes on Elanthia, it would seem that their month is based on the lunar cycle of Yavash or Katamba, with weeks and years defined by powers of ten from the days in a sidereal month. The Kermorian and Gorbesh calendars have the same weeks, months, and days in a year, but different multi-year cycles. It might make sense to use a 400 day calendar if the moon impact cataclysm changed the tilt of Elanthia and so throwing the seasons slightly out of synch with the solar year. It would take trillions of years for the solar orbit of Elanthia to change by enough distance to actually gain 35 days. This is assuming the absence of enormous outside intervention on the moons.
	{\| {{prettytable}}		{\| {{prettytable}}
	\|bgcolor=grey\|'''Moon'''		\|bgcolor=grey\|'''Moon'''
Line 488:		Line 488:
	\|}		\|}

	If the time compression in DragonRealms is interpreted as a purely [[out of character]] mechanic, such that an hour is really 60 minutes within the game in spite of being 15 minutes in real life, the orbital periods would literally be the given values and the distances would be very different. The trouble with calculation is that the multiplier is discontinuous. The orbits must be four times faster, or the planet rotates four times faster, or the multiplier has to be uniform. In the last case the orbits are much more distant. This falsifies the in-universe 24 hour day because Elanthia would spin much slower.		If the time compression in DragonRealms is interpreted as a purely [[out of character]] mechanic, such that an hour is really 60 minutes within the game in spite of being 15 minutes in real life, the orbital periods would literally be the given values and the distances would be very different. The trouble with calculation is that the multiplier is discontinuous. The orbits must be four times faster, or the planet rotates four times faster, or the multiplier has to be uniform. In the last case the orbits are much more distant. This falsifies the in-universe 24 hour day because Elanthia would spin much slower from tidal forces.

	===Solar System===		===Solar System===
Line 600:		Line 600:
	\|0 miles		\|0 miles
	\|N/A		\|N/A
	\|G-Class Star. Necessarily close to 1 solar mass, otherwise the sky would look different.		\|G-Class Star. Necessarily close to 1 solar mass, otherwise the sky would look different. F class is possible but unlikely. Calculating the solar mass from the Shadow World planetary orbits is pointless because the numbers are inconsistent.
	\|-		\|-
	\|'''1st'''		\|'''1st'''
Line 706:		Line 706:
	\|Rock		\|Rock
	\|?		\|?
	\|~~104~~ million miles		\|98 million miles
	\|400 days		\|400 days
	\|"The Withstander". Assuming 1 day ~~equals~~ 1 Earth day for calculating solar orbit. In contrast, if it has the same solar orbit as GemStone IV Elanthia, it is rotating 1.1 times faster on its axis with shorter days than 24 GS Elanthia hours.		\|"The Withstander". Assuming 1 day = 1 Earth day, 1 solar mass for calculating solar orbit, using Newtonian gravity / Kepler's laws. In contrast, if it has the same solar orbit as GemStone IV Elanthia, it is rotating 1.1 times faster on its axis with shorter days than 24 GS Elanthia hours. If the sun has the same solar mass as implied by Kulthea's orbit, the orbital distance is 104 million miles.
	\|-		\|-
	\|'''7th'''		\|'''7th'''
Line 717:		Line 717:
	\|98 million miles		\|98 million miles
	\|350 days (365 Earth days)		\|350 days (365 Earth days)
	\|Same ~~distance and~~ year as Earth. Earth diameter is 7,900 miles. GemStone IV Elanthia has the same solar orbit.		\|Same year as Earth, 5 million miles more distant. Earth diameter is 7,900 miles, unknown relative densities. GemStone IV Elanthia has the same solar orbit. This distance and orbital period combination would mean the Sun has 1.17 solar mass.
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
Line 960:		Line 960:
	\|}		\|}

	In the Rolemaster based spell systems, such as GemStone III and IV, the spell cost and power is mostly fixed by its position on a list. In the Rolemaster Spell Law this is offset by having multiple spells of the same kind with increasing ranges or magnitudes of effect at higher cost. These redundancies were gradually removed from GemStone spell lists to open up the spell slots, but the mana costs and spell powers are still mostly fixed or only marginally altered by training. In DragonRealms there is flexibility in how much power is to be infused in a given preparation of a spell, with correspondingly greater hazards. There is also an overt dependence on [https://elanthipedia.play.net/Magical_theory#Confounds "confounds"], such as supernatural links to deities for Clerics or attunement to the Elemental Planes, which are more or less implicit in GemStone spell casting.		In the Rolemaster based spell systems, such as GemStone III and IV, the spell cost and power is mostly fixed by its position on a list. In the Rolemaster Spell Law this is offset by having multiple spells of the same kind with increasing ranges or magnitudes of effect at higher cost. These redundancies were gradually removed from GemStone spell lists to open up the spell slots, but the mana costs and spell powers are still mostly fixed or only marginally altered by training. In DragonRealms there is flexibility in how much power is to be infused in a given preparation of a spell, with correspondingly greater hazards. There is also an overt dependence on [https://elanthipedia.play.net/Magical_theory#Confounds "confounds"], such as supernatural links to deities for Clerics or mage attunement to the Elemental Planes, which are more or less implicit in GemStone spell casting.

	{\| {{prettytable}}		{\| {{prettytable}}
Line 1,018:		Line 1,018:
	\|'''Sorcery'''		\|'''Sorcery'''
	\|Rolemaster		\|Rolemaster
	\|Hybrid spell profession. Spells overlap heavily with Evil ~~Magic~~, Evil Cleric, and Evil Mentalist base lists. Focus is ''immediate'' destruction of animate and inanimate matter. Essence/Channeling hybrid, but a third of its base spells are mental effects, targeting the mind or soul. Spells targeting bodies are sadistic. Except for "demonic possession", has nothing to do with demonic summoning, or necromancy. Does have curses. Its inherent orientation toward annihilation is profession thematic.		\|Hybrid spell profession. Spells overlap heavily with Evil Mage, Evil Cleric, and Evil Mentalist base lists. Focus is ''immediate'' destruction of animate and inanimate matter. Essence/Channeling hybrid, but a third of its base spells are mental effects, targeting the mind or soul. Spells targeting bodies are sadistic. Except for "demonic possession", has nothing to do with demonic summoning, or necromancy. Does have curses. Its inherent orientation toward annihilation is profession thematic.
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|

INIQUITY: add paragraph about whether mana is native or not in a given setting

2017-07-10T08:20:18Z

add paragraph about whether mana is native or not in a given setting

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:20, 10 July 2017
Line 1,006:		Line 1,006:
	\|		\|
	\|Post-I.C.E. GSIII		\|Post-I.C.E. GSIII
	\|Sorcerers only class that are hybrid. Effectively treated as "pures." No access to "major" spell lists. Meaning of "hybrid power" largely undefined. Restriction on transferring between realms of power removed. Empaths still treated as pure Spiritual users.		\|Sorcerers only class that are hybrid. Effectively treated as "pures." No access to "major" spell lists. Meaning of "hybrid power" largely undefined. Restriction on transferring between realms of power removed. Empaths still treated as pure Spiritual users. Bards are semi-arms Elemental users.
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
Line 1,018:		Line 1,018:
	\|'''Sorcery'''		\|'''Sorcery'''
	\|Rolemaster		\|Rolemaster
	\|Hybrid spell profession. Spells overlap heavily with Evil Magic, Evil Cleric, and Evil Mentalist base lists. Focus is ''immediate'' destruction of animate and inanimate matter. Essence/Channeling hybrid, but a third of its base spells are mental effects, targeting the mind or soul. Spells targeting bodies are sadistic. Except for "demonic possession", has nothing to do with demonic summoning, or necromancy. Does have curses.		\|Hybrid spell profession. Spells overlap heavily with Evil Magic, Evil Cleric, and Evil Mentalist base lists. Focus is ''immediate'' destruction of animate and inanimate matter. Essence/Channeling hybrid, but a third of its base spells are mental effects, targeting the mind or soul. Spells targeting bodies are sadistic. Except for "demonic possession", has nothing to do with demonic summoning, or necromancy. Does have curses. Its inherent orientation toward annihilation is profession thematic.
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
	\|Shadow World		\|Shadow World
	\|Same as Rolemaster. Not considered inherently "evil" or corruptive because it does not involve "dark essence" and the [[Unlife]]. Considered an older form of magic that is closer to Arcane power.		\|Same as Rolemaster. Not considered inherently "evil" or corruptive because it does not involve "dark essence" and the [[Unlife]]. Considered an older form of magic that is closer to Arcane power. Its inherently violent nature is not because it is hybrid magic, "sorcery" is merely defined as a narrow range of purely destructive effects.
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
	\|I.C.E. Age GSIII		\|I.C.E. Age GSIII
	\|Sorcerer lists always included spells from Evil pure lists of Rolemaster. Included demonic spells, wicked spirits. No necromancy spells. Sorcerers only class that can transfer power points between realms of power. Does not actually have access to "closed" spell lists.		\|Sorcerer lists always included spells from Evil pure lists of Rolemaster. Included demonic spells, wicked spirits. No necromancy spells. Sorcerers only class that can transfer power points between realms of power. Does not actually have access to "closed" spell lists. Does not suffer from "corruption" effects like [[Council of Light]].
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|
Line 1,041:		Line 1,041:
	\|}		\|}

			In the GemStone IV and DragonRealms settings "mana" is portrayed as somehow natural to the world, neither created nor destroyed, merely manipulated by will into other "patterns." Rolemaster in itself is generic enough to allow multiple implementations. The Shadow World setting in contrast has a cosmology where the material universe is purely physical, and any "magical" energy is a bleed through from other universes. Similar concepts such as the Elemental Planes exist in GemStone and DragonRealms. In the case of Shadow World and consequently I.C.E. Age GemStone III, this means that "magic" is temporary violations of physical law, and that magic becomes impossible whenever one is cut off from the power sources. Worshippers of a [[Sphere of emanation\|local god]], for example, best not travel far (much less to other planes.) Consequently, magic does not exist outside the solar system, and the gods cannot travel from it. The [[Lords of Essaence]] failed to make it possible elsewhere, and gate magic will not work.

	==Behind The Scenes==		==Behind The Scenes==

INIQUITY: miscellaneous

2017-07-10T07:56:57Z

miscellaneous

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:56, 10 July 2017
Line 40:		Line 40:
	\|}		\|}

	Lornon is regarded as fairly large but distant in the modern lore for GemStone IV, whereas Charon was tiny and closer than Orhan in Shadow World. In the [[Red Forest]] release it was [[Brieson discusses the history of the Ilvari (log)\|established]] that Lornon and Liabo rarely [[The Red Forest returns in rare lunar alignment (log)\|conjunct]], which was true in the Shadow World setting because Charon was on a polar orbit. Varin was larger than Charon, but still only the size of a very large asteroid. When the history for DragonRealms was being developed GemStone III was transitioning out of the [[ICE age\|I.C.E. Age]], where in contrast to the current lore Mikori was larger than Tlilok. Grazhir was the smallest moon.		Lornon is regarded as fairly large but distant in the modern lore for GemStone IV, whereas Charon was tiny and closer than Orhan in Shadow World. In the [[Red Forest]] release it was [[Brieson discusses the history of the Ilvari (log)\|established]] that Lornon and Liabo rarely [[The Red Forest returns in rare lunar alignment (log)\|conjunct]] in a spot, which was true in the Shadow World setting because Charon was on a polar orbit. Varin was larger than Charon, but still only the size of a very large asteroid. When the history for DragonRealms was being developed GemStone III was transitioning out of the [[ICE age\|I.C.E. Age]], where in contrast to the current lore Mikori was larger than Tlilok. Grazhir was the smallest moon.
	{\| {{prettytable}}		{\| {{prettytable}}
	\|-		\|-
Line 373:		Line 373:
	\|bgcolor=lightgrey\|Retrograde? (-)		\|bgcolor=lightgrey\|Retrograde? (-)
	\|?		\|?
	\|Blood moon 1x/year. Rarely conjuncts with Liabo. Assumed to not be polar orbit.		\|Blood moon 1x/year. Rarely conjuncts with Liabo in a given spot, causes a [[Red Forest\|curtain of light]] effect, at least over [[Glatoph]]. Assumed to not be polar orbit. Implied to not be small, but smaller than Liabo.
	\|-		\|-
	\|bgcolor=red\|'''Yavash'''		\|bgcolor=red\|'''Yavash'''
Line 437:		Line 437:
	\|?		\|?
	\|?		\|?
	\|Conjuncts with Orhan in over a [[A Popular History of Melgorehn's Reach\|given spot]] once per several thousand years.		\|Conjuncts with Orhan over a [[A Popular History of Melgorehn's Reach\|given spot]] once per several thousand years.
	\|-		\|-
	\|'''Grazhir'''		\|'''Grazhir'''
Line 879:		Line 879:
	\|Elemental		\|Elemental
	\|Elemental		\|Elemental
	\|Elemental ~~/ Lunar~~ / Life		\|Elemental / Life
	\|-		\|-
	\|bgcolor = grey \|'''Borrowed'''		\|bgcolor = grey \|'''Borrowed'''
Line 887:		Line 887:
	\|Spiritual		\|Spiritual
	\|Spiritual		\|Spiritual
	\|Holy		\|Holy / Lunar
	\|-		\|-
	\|bgcolor = grey \|'''Inner'''		\|bgcolor = grey \|'''Inner'''
Line 895:		Line 895:
	\|N/A		\|N/A
	\|Mentalism		\|Mentalism
			\|Lunar?
	\|N/A
	\|-		\|-
	\|bgcolor = grey \|'''Mixed'''		\|bgcolor = grey \|'''Mixed'''
Line 913:		Line 913:
	\|Feral		\|Feral
	\|}		\|}
	''* (The DragonRealms ~~analogs~~ ~~are~~ very imperfect. Sorcery is any mixture of two or more mana types, some more violent than others.)''		''* (The DragonRealms fitting is very imperfect. Sorcery is any mixture of two or more mana types, some more violent than others.)''

	In terms of the game mechanics GemStone III and IV are relatively similar to Rolemaster. While DragonRealms is fairly similar to Shadow World in terms of its lore for magical phenomena, its actual game mechanics for spellcraft are significantly different, and it has a complicated philosophy of magical theory. The magic lore for GemStone sometimes deviates and sometimes draws closer to its roots.		In terms of the game mechanics GemStone III and IV are relatively similar to Rolemaster. While DragonRealms is fairly similar to Shadow World in terms of its lore for magical phenomena, its actual game mechanics for spellcraft are significantly different, and it has a complicated philosophy of magical theory. The magic lore for GemStone sometimes deviates and sometimes draws closer to its roots. The Moon Mage profession and "lunar mana" have no analog in GemStone, though the moons certainly affect things, but they are very similar to the Channeling/Mentalist hybrid Astrologer profession of Rolemaster.

	{\| {{prettytable}}		{\| {{prettytable}}
Line 942:		Line 942:
	\|Flow of essence?		\|Flow of essence?
	\|Mana stream		\|Mana stream
			\|-
			\|bgcolor = grey \|'''Concentrated Energy'''
			\|Earthnode
			\|Focii/Node
			\|Focii/Node
			\|Node
			\|Node
			\|Situational
	\|-		\|-
	\|bgcolor = grey \|'''Magical Weather'''		\|bgcolor = grey \|'''Magical Weather'''
Line 990:		Line 998:
	\|		\|
	\|Shadow World		\|Shadow World
	\|Precursor to specialization of three pure realms of magic. Implied to be a more raw power type closer to Arcane magic. Sorcerers are Essence/Channeling, Mystics are Essence/Mentalist, ~~Healers~~ are Channeling/Mentalist. Rolemaster "Evil" professions treated as hybrids (instead of pures) using power from the [[Unlife]].		\|Precursor to specialization of three pure realms of magic. Implied to be a more raw power type closer to Arcane magic. Sorcerers are Essence/Channeling, Mystics are Essence/Mentalist, Astrologers are Channeling/Mentalist. Rolemaster "Evil" professions treated as hybrids (instead of pures) using power from the [[Unlife]].
	\|-		\|-
	\|		\|

INIQUITY: add more magic comparison tables

2017-07-10T05:40:28Z

add more magic comparison tables

Show changes

INIQUITY: very first pass at comparative magic lore. This will be complicated

2017-07-09T21:07:52Z

very first pass at comparative magic lore. This will be complicated

@@ Line 592: / Line 592: @@
 |bgcolor = grey |'''Year'''
 |bgcolor = grey |'''Other Information'''
 |-
 |'''1st'''
@@ Line 847: / Line 856: @@
 ''(The information for the appearance times of the DragonRealms planets, if compiled, will be used to calculate the orbital distances and periods. Merewalda through Er'qutra require a telescope to be seen.)''
-Bre'Naere is known to have significantly less mass than Elanthia because the Aelotoi are unable to fly. While Kulthea has a slightly larger diameter and circumference than Earth, it might still have Earth gravity from having lower density. Kulthea has a lot of seismic and volcanic activity because of the moons, which should be true for Elanthia as well but is never mentioned. The axial tilt of Kulthea is about 25 degrees, where Earth's cycles between 22 and 24.5, causing similar seasons. However, the magnetic field situation is drastically different, since it interacts with the [[flows of essence]]. While the magnetic declination varies locally on Earth, the magnetic field lines warp by as much as 20 degrees from north-south, and the magnetic poles routinely fluctuate from the geographical by as much as 15 degrees.
+Bre'Naere is known to have significantly less mass than Elanthia because the Aelotoi are unable to fly. While Kulthea has a slightly larger diameter and circumference than Earth, it might still have Earth gravity from having lower density. Kulthea has a lot of seismic and volcanic activity and tides because of the moons, which should be true for Elanthia as well but is never mentioned. The axial tilt of Kulthea is about 25 degrees, where Earth's cycles between 22 and 24.5, causing similar seasons. However, the magnetic field situation is drastically different, since it interacts with the [[flows of essence]]. While the magnetic declination varies locally on Earth, the magnetic field lines warp by as much as 20 degrees from north-south, and the magnetic poles routinely fluctuate from the geographical by as much as 15 degrees.
 Constellations are arbitrary patterns drawn out of stars by various cultures. In the Shadow World Master Atlas it asserts that the Elves of the northern hemisphere have named some after the Lords of Orhan, but otherwise it is up to the GameMaster to define constellations for cultures. In GemStone IV there are 25 [[Constellations of the Northern Sky|constellations]] of the northern sky that are agreed upon by most societies. In DragonRealms there are [https://elanthipedia.play.net/Star_chart 52 constellations], which have defined rise and set days. The continent that DragonRealms is centered upon is in the southern hemisphere, while the continents of GemStone were always northern.
 ==Behind The Scenes==