Giants article in Dragon 345 [Archive] - Wizards Community

Giants article in Dragon 345 [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tavish
08-11-06, 12:23 PM Has anyone read this article? Is there information outside of what we could find in Secrets of Xen'drick? I am just wondering if it is worth getting the magezine for the single article. Thanks!
DarkWarriorKarg
08-11-06, 01:42 PM Of course not. It's worth getting it for Nodwick!
DragonWatcher
08-11-06, 02:13 PM Don't foget about Order of the Stick!
ekomega
08-11-06, 02:29 PM The adventure in this issue focuses on an age old conflict between a tribe of stone giants and some drow. The stone giants are led by an old barbarian who doesn't want to change, but there is a secret movement by a younger tribesmen of deciphering the past and gaining power through an ancient artifact site that is in their tribe area.

The PCs pretty much get involved by joining the giants or the drow against the other. Or killing both and getting power for themselves. I think they both betray the PCs no matter what, so you have to kill everyone anyway.

It includes stat blocks for various characters, which have some Secrets of Xen'drik stuff. Although I think some got changed. It doesn't reveal the template of the one templated creature in the adventure -- you have to pick up SoX for that.

There's another issue of Dragon, maybe the same one, that has some new artifact spells for your game. Artifact spells were created in SoX.
Medesha
08-13-06, 03:36 AM Jason B. and I wrote the article building on the content we designed in SoX. The goal of the article was to add to SoX, while simultaneously being useful to those who hadn't bought or wouldn't buy the book. So it should enhance the SoX material for SoX purchasers, but still be a fun read for non-Soxians.
Kryptonian Scion
08-13-06, 11:50 AM There's another issue of Dragon, maybe the same one, that has some new artifact spells for your game. Artifact spells were created in SoX.

I am really, really hoping to see some more of these in Dragon or in a web enhancement. SoX had so few (five spells - three of which were different versions of the same spell) and Dragon added maybe four more. Really disappointing.

Artifact spells are a great idea, but there needs to be more options. I am not a game designer, thus I wouldn't know what the power level of such effects should be if I try to create them myself.
Thwyvylyn
08-13-06, 02:37 PM I didn't find that particular Dragon to be heavily useful simply because it didn't have much in the way of non-xen'drik eberron material. I may use something in there, one of these days.
Tavish
08-14-06, 08:20 AM Thanks everyone for the input! Looks like I'll have to check it out!

Did anyone verify if that is the same Dragon which includes additional Artifact spells?
Medesha
08-14-06, 11:20 PM Yes it is the same issue. The artifact spells were also written by Jason Bulmahn.
Tavish
08-15-06, 08:14 AM Thanks Medesha! Especially for your contribution to Eberron and continued presence on the boards!
IuztheEvil
08-16-06, 04:58 PM The Giants of Xen'drik article and Artifact Spells article are both in Dragon #345, along with a great article on 4 transports that might serve to get your PCs to Xen'drik, a trio of Sea Serpents that might plague the path to the forgotten continent, and a installment of the Demonomicon detailing Kostchtchie, the demon lord of frost giants.

As for the artifact spells, a pair of them got cut from the issue for space reasons. These have not been full through editting and should be no means be considered canon, but feel free to use them if you like.

Giant Step
Conjuration (Teleporation)
Level: Arcane 2
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Target: You
Duration: Instantaneous

With the casting of this spell, you instantly transfer yourself from your current location to any other spot within range. You must be able to see the spot that you plan to transport to and you cannot choose to arrive inside a solid object. Unlike dimension door you can act normally on a round that you cast this spell, but you cannot take any other creatures with you (aside from familiars or other such bonded creatures).

Thunderous Blow
Evocation [Earth]
Level: Arcane 4
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)
Target: One creature
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex partial
Spell Resistance: Yes

When you cast this spell, a thunderous force from above in the shape of a giant fist strikes one target that you designate. This blow deals 1d8 points of damage per caster level and causes the target to go permanently deaf. A successful Reflex save halves this damage and negates the deafness. In addition, the ground around the target in a 30 foot radius shakes violently for 1 round, causing all those in the area or who enter the area to make a DC 20 Balance check or fall prone. This shaking causes minor structural damage to building and caves, but not enough to cause a collapse.
The boom from this strike can be heard for 1 mile per caster level in every direction.

Enjoy

Jason Bulmahn
Managing Editor of Dragon
Tavish
08-17-06, 01:02 PM Thank you very much for the additional information and two artifact spells!
Kryptonian Scion
08-18-06, 04:19 PM As for the artifact spells, a pair of them got cut from the issue for space reasons. These have not been full through editting and should be no means be considered canon, but feel free to use them if you like.

I heart you, Mister Bulmahn.

If you happen to come up with any more of these that can't make it to Dragon, please post them here or (even better) put them in the Dragon web enhancements.

I'd really like to see more of these. I suck at game mechanics but love the concept of artifact spells.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tavish 08-11-06, 12:23 PM	Has anyone read this article? Is there information outside of what we could find in Secrets of Xen'drick? I am just wondering if it is worth getting the magezine for the single article. Thanks!
DarkWarriorKarg 08-11-06, 01:42 PM	Of course not. It's worth getting it for Nodwick!
DragonWatcher 08-11-06, 02:13 PM	Don't foget about Order of the Stick!
ekomega 08-11-06, 02:29 PM	The adventure in this issue focuses on an age old conflict between a tribe of stone giants and some drow. The stone giants are led by an old barbarian who doesn't want to change, but there is a secret movement by a younger tribesmen of deciphering the past and gaining power through an ancient artifact site that is in their tribe area. The PCs pretty much get involved by joining the giants or the drow against the other. Or killing both and getting power for themselves. I think they both betray the PCs no matter what, so you have to kill everyone anyway. It includes stat blocks for various characters, which have some Secrets of Xen'drik stuff. Although I think some got changed. It doesn't reveal the template of the one templated creature in the adventure -- you have to pick up SoX for that. There's another issue of Dragon, maybe the same one, that has some new artifact spells for your game. Artifact spells were created in SoX.
Medesha 08-13-06, 03:36 AM	Jason B. and I wrote the article building on the content we designed in SoX. The goal of the article was to add to SoX, while simultaneously being useful to those who hadn't bought or wouldn't buy the book. So it should enhance the SoX material for SoX purchasers, but still be a fun read for non-Soxians.
Kryptonian Scion 08-13-06, 11:50 AM	There's another issue of Dragon, maybe the same one, that has some new artifact spells for your game. Artifact spells were created in SoX. I am really, really hoping to see some more of these in Dragon or in a web enhancement. SoX had so few (five spells - three of which were different versions of the same spell) and Dragon added maybe four more. Really disappointing. Artifact spells are a great idea, but there needs to be more options. I am not a game designer, thus I wouldn't know what the power level of such effects should be if I try to create them myself.
Thwyvylyn 08-13-06, 02:37 PM	I didn't find that particular Dragon to be heavily useful simply because it didn't have much in the way of non-xen'drik eberron material. I may use something in there, one of these days.
Tavish 08-14-06, 08:20 AM	Thanks everyone for the input! Looks like I'll have to check it out! Did anyone verify if that is the same Dragon which includes additional Artifact spells?
Medesha 08-14-06, 11:20 PM	Yes it is the same issue. The artifact spells were also written by Jason Bulmahn.
Tavish 08-15-06, 08:14 AM	Thanks Medesha! Especially for your contribution to Eberron and continued presence on the boards!
IuztheEvil 08-16-06, 04:58 PM	The Giants of Xen'drik article and Artifact Spells article are both in Dragon #345, along with a great article on 4 transports that might serve to get your PCs to Xen'drik, a trio of Sea Serpents that might plague the path to the forgotten continent, and a installment of the Demonomicon detailing Kostchtchie, the demon lord of frost giants. As for the artifact spells, a pair of them got cut from the issue for space reasons. These have not been full through editting and should be no means be considered canon, but feel free to use them if you like. Giant Step Conjuration (Teleporation) Level: Arcane 2 Components: V Casting Time: 1 swift action Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) Target: You Duration: Instantaneous With the casting of this spell, you instantly transfer yourself from your current location to any other spot within range. You must be able to see the spot that you plan to transport to and you cannot choose to arrive inside a solid object. Unlike dimension door you can act normally on a round that you cast this spell, but you cannot take any other creatures with you (aside from familiars or other such bonded creatures). Thunderous Blow Evocation [Earth] Level: Arcane 4 Components: V, S Casting Time: 1 standard action Range: Long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level) Target: One creature Duration: Instantaneous Saving Throw: Reflex partial Spell Resistance: Yes When you cast this spell, a thunderous force from above in the shape of a giant fist strikes one target that you designate. This blow deals 1d8 points of damage per caster level and causes the target to go permanently deaf. A successful Reflex save halves this damage and negates the deafness. In addition, the ground around the target in a 30 foot radius shakes violently for 1 round, causing all those in the area or who enter the area to make a DC 20 Balance check or fall prone. This shaking causes minor structural damage to building and caves, but not enough to cause a collapse. The boom from this strike can be heard for 1 mile per caster level in every direction. Enjoy Jason Bulmahn Managing Editor of Dragon
Tavish 08-17-06, 01:02 PM	Thank you very much for the additional information and two artifact spells!
Kryptonian Scion 08-18-06, 04:19 PM	As for the artifact spells, a pair of them got cut from the issue for space reasons. These have not been full through editting and should be no means be considered canon, but feel free to use them if you like. I heart you, Mister Bulmahn. If you happen to come up with any more of these that can't make it to Dragon, please post them here or (even better) put them in the Dragon web enhancements. I'd really like to see more of these. I suck at game mechanics but love the concept of artifact spells.