And here we go! The final element of F.E.I. is upon us, and I hope to get many, many of you to pitch in brief ideas right here.
The concept is that this scabbard is decorated with single-use magical doo-dads. So we need many little ideas for what effects those doo-dads will have! They can simulate a spell, either on the user or on the next target of the weapon. They certainly need not be solely combat oriented — anything that an adventurer might find it a boon to call upon is fair game!
Post your own ideas below, each as it's own comment. I will compile these and organize them for the F.E.I. zine. Let's keep them short, since plenty of what's in Holmes is more the suggestion or idea of a thing, than a highly mechanical 'system' for use (but then, you already know that).
I'm hoping we'll have multiple d10 charts, or even multiple d12 or d20 charts to roll on! ...Is a percentile chart in reach??
This will be credited to the Holmes Basic on G+ group.
Aaaaand GO!
When drawing the sword it can transform into any melee weapon the wielder desires. Need a battle axe or a whip? You choose. This lasts until it is about to be sheathed again.
ReplyDeleteI have an idea for this, forthcoming.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the sword art is by Tom Wham if that gives anyone any ideas.
ReplyDeleteJon Wilson You say final element, but what about the three pieces from the prints 1-3, deleted from later printings?
ReplyDelete"but what about the..."
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I'm working off a Dec '79 "Third Edition"... And I think everything has been covered from that one way or another (holding over the Sample Floor Plan and Sample Cross Section, a.k.a. Skull Mountain and the Sample Dungeon).
...What am I missing?
Take a look here (scroll down the page until you see the art): https://sites.google.com/site/zenopusarchives/home/rulebook-printing-info-and-trivia/list-of-changes-made-to-the-holmes-basic-rulebook
ReplyDeletePrintings 1-3 have three pieces later deleted: Purple worm versus Cleric/Fighter/MU; Gray Ooze (or Green Slime); another DCS treasure assortment.
ReplyDeleteSingle-use magical doo-dad: Pull off a gem and throw it, and it shoots extremely bright rays of light (in all the colors of the rainbow) in all directions and emits loud, ethereal music for 10 minutes straight, after which it disintegrates. It's like a flash grenade, except instead of exploding once it explodes continuously. The sparkly dust left behind after it disintegrates has an equal chance of being inert and valuable, irritating like tear gas, irritating like mustard gas, hypnotic and distracting, super slippery, or actual fairy dust that can make people fly.
ReplyDeleteThe fabled Scabbard of Many Toothaches is mainly a normal everyday sword. But the SCABBARD...
ReplyDeleteFrom the detattachable pinwheels at its non-pointy end to its container of minty waxed floss at the pointy end, the SMT (as its friends call it) is a miracle of chocolaty goodness. Towards the pommel are eight Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookies (four to a side) followed by 14 shoe buttons - because EVERY traveling swordsman needs to carry replacement buttons.
Zach H, I could greatly expand on the whys and wherefores (if anyone is interested) — but I think those will have to be held over for Volume Two...
ReplyDeleteJustin Stewart, I think I'll break those out into multiple entries — those are all fun ideas.
ReplyDeleteGrandpa Chet, this is more like an individual entry for the zine, so that's how I'll plonk it into the layout.
ReplyDeleteY'all, my first pass at putting in some powers for the this entry were like this:
ReplyDelete1 Sleep, as the spell, on the next creature struck with the weapon
2 Slow falling, as a feather, for 1d6 rounds
3 Cure Light Wounds
4 Purify Food and Drink
5 Water Walking for 6 turns
Not that you have to adhere to that approach, but just to illustrate the concept of this particular group entry... Jürgen nailed it, Justin packed multiple powers into one statement, these are the kinds of things I'll sort, spindle, and compile into one big chart or multiple charts for the zine.
That's what happens when you let allow me inside your world. I did mention how most of my 1976 characters were chaotic, didn't I?
ReplyDeleteYou did not --- but it's perfectly clear before now. ; )
ReplyDeletePS: "PLONK" is a wonderful name for an RPG zine.
ReplyDeleteThe four gemstones adorning the upper half of the scabbard of this blade are enchanted and may be plucked and thrown as a ranged attack. Upon impact with the target (or area) each gemstone generates differing spell-effects, as follows:
ReplyDelete1) Aquamarine - 1st level Cleric spell
2) Garnet - 1st level Magic-User spell
3) Sapphire - 2nd level Magic-user Spell
4) Emerald - 3rd level Magic-User or 2nd level Cleric spell
Specific spells (per gem) are randomly determined every 48 hours whether a stone has been cast or not and the character is aware of gems properties once established.
The sword is considered magical for "to hit" purposes, but applies no other bonuses. These gems are always flawed and have no real market value.
A character must be at least 3rd level to utilize this item.
Robert Fairbanks, as with Justin's above, I think I'll break that down into multiple chart entries...
ReplyDelete12 "spaces" left in the layout for more (short) powers! After that we're spilling over into the (hypothetical?) Volume Two.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to get a fairly current pdf of the layout to upload to share with the group, but Google Drive seems to think I shouldn't....
This scabbard magically transforms to accommodate any bladed weapon (dagger, long-sword, scimitar, etc.) Bestowing the following properties (based on alignment,) to the weapon in question :
ReplyDelete+1 Weapon; +2 vs. Chaotic (or) Lawful; Detect Chaotic (or) Lawful 1x/day
'Bout 40 wd# :-D
ReplyDeleteThe gemstones transform into any one creature from 1-1 hd to 1+1 hit die and fight for the owner of the scabbard until killed, or dispelled by magic.
ReplyDeleteJon Wilson No problem, two are lesser drawings anyway. The purple worm is awesome but shows an already described monster.
ReplyDeleteMy sword entry will be too long, will save. May post it on my blog
ReplyDeleteZach H, if I can get the latest "preview" to ever upload (Drive continues to taunt me), you may find that monsters already described can still be worthy of plenty of content...
ReplyDelete~gets back to bashing Drive over the head with a loaf of french bread~
Jon Wilson Good point, Jon
ReplyDeleteAlright, let's call this entry closed, since the layout for the zine is full-up, except for some space for new art...
ReplyDelete