Item In Progress: The Necromanicon

[Daniel_M]

Ok, I'm not sure if I shoud do this but here goes. I was looking back at my posts and I was reading the last custom item thread I made here now, this discussion went on about my item then CTRL+R and Y and SixofSpades Ring of doom [img]tongue.gif[/img] In any case I would like to post this here again if thats appropriate for everyone.

Here is where we actualy got to:

Breif History:
The 'Necronomicon', was written by the infamous Abdul Al Azred. He lived in 730 A.D. in Jemen. After a long journey to the ruins of Babylon and to the secret temple at Memphis he began to worship dark gods like 'Cthullu' and Yoxodo' and to practice black magic. It is alleged that for ten years he lived in Belet el Jin, the forbidden City of Devils. In the 'Necronomicon' Al Azred named it the City of the Damned. There he celebrated his rituals, made contact with evil spirits and discovered dark, horrible secrets of an ancient race, older then mankind itself.

In 738, Abdul Al Azred died a horrifying death. Eye-witnesses reported that on a hellish day in the center of Sannah he was torn apart by invisible claws.

Item:
The Necromanicon

This book you are now holding is the fabled book of the dead 'The Necromanicon' The rituals, incantations, formulae, of this work are of ancient origin, comprising some of the oldest written magickal workings in Western occult history. The deities and demons identified within probably have not been effectivly summoned in nearly six thousand years. As you turn the pages you come across a paragraph that sticks out at you.

" In time I learned of the names and properties of all the demons,
devils, fiends and monsters listed herein, in this Book of the Black Earth. I
learned of the powers in the astral Gods, and how to summon thier aid in times
of need. I learned, too, of the frightful beings who dwell beyond the astral
spirits, who guard the entrance to the Temple of the Lost, of the Ancient Days
the Ancient of the Ancient Ones, whose Name I connot write here."

Abilities:
+10 to lore
50 Charges Only, Each charge has the following effects:
20% chance that the user summons one Pit Fiend or two Bone Golems
25% chance that the user adds +2 to their STR, DEX and CON for 2 rounds
15% chance that the user summons a friendly zombie lord for 3 rounds
11% chance that the user will suffer a curse (-5 to CON and INT for 2 days)
10% chance that the book will fly up and attack the user (Insect Plague?)
10% chance that the user sufers 10d5 fire damage with save vs death for half damage
5% chance that the user will summon a hostile Glabrezu
4% chance that the user summons a hostile Demon Lord

Usable By:
Evil Mages (Single, Dual, Multi)
Must have 17 Intelligence

Now hit me with your best shots

[Lord]

Originally posted by Daniel_M: Abilities: +10 to lore 50 Charges Only, Each charge has the following effects: 20% chance that the user summons one Pit Fiend or two Bone Golems 25% chance that the user adds +2 to their STR, DEX and CON for 2 rounds 15% chance that the user summons a friendly zombie lord for 3 rounds 11% chance that the user will suffer a curse (-5 to CON and INT for 2 days) 10% chance that the book will fly up and attack the user (Insect Plague?) 10% chance that the user sufers 10d5 fire damage with save vs death for half damage 5% chance that the user will summon a hostile Glabrezu 4% chance that the user summons a hostile Demon Lord Usable By: Evil Mages (Single, Dual, Multi) Must have 17 Intelligence Now hit me with your best shots

Ah, I remember the thread you made way back when.

First of all, there is a 60% chance of something good happening and only a 40% chance of something bad happening. Also, the total of 9% (hostile Glabrezu and Demon Lord) is basically useless, reducing the chance of something bad happening that is actually bad to just 31%. Any decent level mage/sorceror or party can take out a Glabrezu or a Demon Lord.
The chance of getting the bonus to your stats is too high also.
My revions would be the following:

-10 to lore after each cast due to the strenous task of attempting to decipher the spells. Your lore returns to normal after your rest. This penalty isn't worth noting anyway...lore is no big deal at all.
50 Charges Only, Each charge has the following effects:
10% chance that the user summons one friendly Pit Fiend and 1 hostile Bone Golem.
10% chance that the user summons one friendly Bone Golem and 1 hostile Pit Fiend.
10% chance that the user adds +2 to their STR, DEX and CON for 3 rounds.
5% chance that the user casts time stop and a casting time of 6.
5% chance that the user casts Mass Heal.
5% chance that the user summons a hoard of neutral mice.
4% chance that the user loses all memorized spells (check the wish spell on how to implement this 1).
1% chance that the whole party gets a full night's rest without resting. Spells are re-memorized as well (check the wish spell again).
10% chance that the user will suffer a curse (-3 to CON, DEX, and STR for 1 day. It cannot be removed via a 'Remove Curse' spell).
10% chance that the book will fly up and attack the user by casting the spell Insect Plague. It can be removed with the spell Zone of Sweet Air.
10% chance that the user is level drained (2 levels).
10% chance that the user will summon a hostile Glabrezu
10% chance that the user summons a friendly 20 hit dice elemental (can be fire, air, or earth).

[Daniel_M]

Hmm... Instead of a loss to lore, the lore stays at 10 but you get a loss of EXP (Only a small amount like 1000 or so)

Any decent level mage/sorceror or party can take out a Glabrezu or a Demon Lord.

What if you make them stronger?(Remember, these things havent been summoned for six thousand years [img]tongue.gif[/img] )

I would realy like to keep the history in the item, for roleplaying purposes. Other then that those are good ideas.

[Lord]

Originally posted by Daniel_M: What if you make them stronger?(Remember, these things havent been summoned for six thousand years [img]tongue.gif[/img] ) I would realy like to keep the history in the item, for roleplaying purposes. Other then that those are good ideas.

Making the demons stronger is pointless; unless there are multiple codes for the demon (probably are a few, but who knows), then you will end up making all of the Glabrezus stronger...not just the ones that you summon from the book.

If you end up completely following the history of the book, you won't end up roleplaying as you stated; you will end up powergaming instead.

[Daniel_M]

I know you can create your own creatures from scratch using a TeamBG tool (Creature Maker I believe its called) which you can customize to the finest detail so you wont overide the existing ones in the game.

Anywho back to the item at hand:

+10 to Lore
With each cast the user has to sacrifice 1000XP (Should this be a casting effect rather than each time casted?)

50 Charges Only, Each charge has the following effects:
10% chance that the user summons one friendly Pit Fiend and 1 hostile Bone Golem.
10% chance that the user summons one friendly Bone Golem and 1 hostile Pit Fiend.
10% chance that the user adds +2 to their STR, DEX and CON for 3 rounds.
5% chance that the user casts time stop and a casting time of 6.
5% chance that the user casts Mass Heal.
5% chance that the user summons a hoard of neutral mice. (Or hostile rats prehaps?)
4% chance that the user loses all memorized spells
1% chance that the whole party gets a full night's rest without resting. Spells are re-memorized as well
10% chance that the user will suffer a curse (-3 to CON, DEX, and STR for 1 day. It cannot be removed via a 'Remove Curse' spell).
10% chance that the book will fly up and attack the user by casting the spell Insect Plague. It can be removed with the spell Zone of Sweet Air.
10% chance that the user is level drained (2 levels).
10% chance that the user will summon a hostile Glabrezu (An improved one, more like its PnP counterpart)
10% chance that the user summons a friendly 20 hit dice elemental (can be fire, air, or earth).

I'm just going to throw this into the frey...
Summons a Level 9 Human Fighter called Ash once per day, Ash has the ability to repulse undead x2 day. Ash carries his 'Boomstick' with him which would be a +3 Crossbow without need for ammo.

[ 08-30-2005, 06:22 AM: Message edited by: Daniel_M ]

[Lord]

The revisions are fine IMO.

But...Ash?? Where on earth did this come from. It has to be chosen as a separate spell to cast since it doesn't have a % chance of working. But if you really want it...
Make him have the ability to cast Negate Plane Protection 2x a Day as well as repulse undead 1x per day. He can't attack anyone, but his 'Broomstick' gives him an increased movement rate (as if he's flying on it or something...use your imagination [img]tongue.gif[/img] ). The movement rate is what you'd get if you mix 2 hastes together (example: grandmaster's armor and boots of speed).

[Daniel_M]

Originally posted by Lord: But...Ash?? Where on earth did this come from.

Here. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

Scroll down and read the full plot outline.

[ 08-30-2005, 06:49 PM: Message edited by: Daniel_M ]

[SixOfSpades]

Originally posted by Daniel_M: 10% chance that the user summons one friendly Pit Fiend and 1 hostile Bone Golem.

FYI, there's no such thing as a friendly Pit Fiend. All Demons will attack party members or allies first (if they can see any), and then turn on any other creatures they can see.

I'd have Ash be a Level 13 Undead Hunter, with a "Boomstick" special ability usable once every other round, dealing 2D8 damage and knocking the target back.

[Daniel_M]

I have decided on these changes:

The acutal monsters will all be hostile

Problems I have come up to when testing:

- Summons a pit fiend, bone golem and a Glabrezu all at once.
- Cant seem to get the resting to work.

Everything else is ok. But I need a few testers to help.

[ 08-31-2005, 08:36 AM: Message edited by: Daniel_M ]

[Azred]

Originally posted by Daniel_M: The 'Necronomicon', was written by the infamous Abdul Al Azred. He lived in 730 A.D. in Jemen. After a long journey to the ruins of Babylon and to the secret temple at Memphis he began to worship dark gods like 'Cthullu' and Yoxodo' and to practice black magic. It is alleged that for ten years he lived in Belet el Jin, the forbidden City of Devils. In the 'Necronomicon' Al Azred named it the City of the Damned. There he celebrated his rituals, made contact with evil spirits and discovered dark, horrible secrets of an ancient race, older then mankind itself.

Will I get full credit as the author? [img]graemlins/petard.gif[/img]

Originally posted by Daniel_M: In 738, Abdul Al Azred died a horrifying death. Eye-witnesses reported that on a hellish day in the center of Sannah he was torn apart by invisible claws.

Reports of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. [img]graemlins/beigesmilewinkgrin.gif[/img]

[ 09-02-2005, 10:07 PM: Message edited by: Azred ]