Land Cart [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Land Cart [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lord Splendor
05-04-07, 06:41 PM How much is a Land Cart? (Shadows of the last war module)
Nevarre
05-04-07, 07:16 PM How much is a Land Cart? (Shadows of the last war module)

18HP if you're prepared to thump Failin (and have the appropriate Dragonmark!) :D
Ryoden_Anariavas
05-07-07, 09:33 AM I think a land cart is statted out in the explorers handbook
Hellcow
05-07-07, 02:31 PM In my opinion, the land cart shouldn't exist at all.

When I wrote Shadows of the Last War, Failin didn't have an elemental land cart. He had a vehicle called a lightning runner - a stagecoach scale vehicle designed to travel on the lightning rail system (also requiring the Mark of Passage to control). The point was that Darguun included a rail system that was abandoned when Haruuc took over, as Orien couldn't guarantee the safety of travel. Failin made his business running these abandoned rails. There was a rail running out to Rose Quarry, because it WAS a major quarry. However, the glass breaks the line at Rose Quarry, so it's impossible for Failin to take you beyond that point.

So, a few points here:
The vehicle Failin originally possessed wasn't unique or innovative; it's a smaller, more limited version of the pre-existing lightning rail.
There's no real value in PCs stealing the runner from Failin, and they can't force him to go beyond Rose Quarry. The runner is extremely limited in the paths in can take, and there's only so many rails in Darguun.
Failin's an excoriate. He's not supposed to have something especially cool or innovative.
By comparison, the elemental land cart is something with far greater utility than the lightning rail, something rarely seen, and something that can easily circumvent Rose Quarry and be taken to the Mournland, breaking the intended flow of the game.

So: from a story perspective, the elemental land cart causes a number of logistical problems.

Beyond that, I'd personally treat the land cart as a rare prototype, not something that could be found for sale. It just represents an increase in the "tech level" of Eberron from what was originally designed.

With that said, I think it is described in Explorer's Handbook.
Nevarre
05-08-07, 10:45 AM I certainly prefer your explanation to that published. It's a shame I didn't know about this before as I would have changed it and not had to avoid the question as to how the land cart was gliding over/through the battlefield and not churning up all the 'fresh' bodies that were littered everywhere! (ew!)

Does the lightning runner have stats at all? Or should it be considered a single coach version of the lightning rail?

Of course, having Failin with a prototype land cart DOES open up the idea of House Orien wanting the PCs to track him down to get it back... ;)
Amaril
05-08-07, 10:55 AM In my opinion, the land cart shouldn't exist at all.

When I wrote Shadows of the Last War, Failin didn't have an elemental land cart. He had a vehicle called a lightning runner - a stagecoach scale vehicle designed to travel on the lightning rail system (also requiring the Mark of Passage to control). The point was that Darguun included a rail system that was abandoned when Haruuc took over, as Orien couldn't guarantee the safety of travel. Failin made his business running these abandoned rails. There was a rail running out to Rose Quarry, because it WAS a major quarry. However, the glass breaks the line at Rose Quarry, so it's impossible for Failin to take you beyond that point.

So, a few points here:
The vehicle Failin originally possessed wasn't unique or innovative; it's a smaller, more limited version of the pre-existing lightning rail.
There's no real value in PCs stealing the runner from Failin, and they can't force him to go beyond Rose Quarry. The runner is extremely limited in the paths in can take, and there's only so many rails in Darguun.
Failin's an excoriate. He's not supposed to have something especially cool or innovative.
By comparison, the elemental land cart is something with far greater utility than the lightning rail, something rarely seen, and something that can easily circumvent Rose Quarry and be taken to the Mournland, breaking the intended flow of the game.

So: from a story perspective, the elemental land cart causes a number of logistical problems.

Beyond that, I'd personally treat the land cart as a rare prototype, not something that could be found for sale. It just represents an increase in the "tech level" of Eberron from what was originally designed.

With that said, I think it is described in Explorer's Handbook.
That's an interesting take, Keith. I have to admit, I think the land cart really cheapened the players' experience with traveling through the Mournland. For example, there was no getting lost in the Gray Mists and all creatures and encounters were completely bypassed. If could go back in time, I'd use your idea instead.

I was tempted to have the PCs emerge from Whitehearth with Failin killed (by the Emerald Claw soldiers), the land cart destroyed, and the freed elemental attacking the PCs on sight, but as soon as I said, "You approach the cave entrance and see...", one of the players interrupted, "Failin dead." At that point, I realized it was too predictable, so I kept him alive. I figured the ambush would be just as surprising.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lord Splendor 05-04-07, 06:41 PM	How much is a Land Cart? (Shadows of the last war module)
Nevarre 05-04-07, 07:16 PM	How much is a Land Cart? (Shadows of the last war module) 18HP if you're prepared to thump Failin (and have the appropriate Dragonmark!) :D
Ryoden_Anariavas 05-07-07, 09:33 AM	I think a land cart is statted out in the explorers handbook
Hellcow 05-07-07, 02:31 PM	In my opinion, the land cart shouldn't exist at all. When I wrote Shadows of the Last War, Failin didn't have an elemental land cart. He had a vehicle called a lightning runner - a stagecoach scale vehicle designed to travel on the lightning rail system (also requiring the Mark of Passage to control). The point was that Darguun included a rail system that was abandoned when Haruuc took over, as Orien couldn't guarantee the safety of travel. Failin made his business running these abandoned rails. There was a rail running out to Rose Quarry, because it WAS a major quarry. However, the glass breaks the line at Rose Quarry, so it's impossible for Failin to take you beyond that point. So, a few points here: The vehicle Failin originally possessed wasn't unique or innovative; it's a smaller, more limited version of the pre-existing lightning rail. There's no real value in PCs stealing the runner from Failin, and they can't force him to go beyond Rose Quarry. The runner is extremely limited in the paths in can take, and there's only so many rails in Darguun. Failin's an excoriate. He's not supposed to have something especially cool or innovative. By comparison, the elemental land cart is something with far greater utility than the lightning rail, something rarely seen, and something that can easily circumvent Rose Quarry and be taken to the Mournland, breaking the intended flow of the game. So: from a story perspective, the elemental land cart causes a number of logistical problems. Beyond that, I'd personally treat the land cart as a rare prototype, not something that could be found for sale. It just represents an increase in the "tech level" of Eberron from what was originally designed. With that said, I think it is described in Explorer's Handbook.
Nevarre 05-08-07, 10:45 AM	I certainly prefer your explanation to that published. It's a shame I didn't know about this before as I would have changed it and not had to avoid the question as to how the land cart was gliding over/through the battlefield and not churning up all the 'fresh' bodies that were littered everywhere! (ew!) Does the lightning runner have stats at all? Or should it be considered a single coach version of the lightning rail? Of course, having Failin with a prototype land cart DOES open up the idea of House Orien wanting the PCs to track him down to get it back... ;)
Amaril 05-08-07, 10:55 AM	In my opinion, the land cart shouldn't exist at all. When I wrote Shadows of the Last War, Failin didn't have an elemental land cart. He had a vehicle called a lightning runner - a stagecoach scale vehicle designed to travel on the lightning rail system (also requiring the Mark of Passage to control). The point was that Darguun included a rail system that was abandoned when Haruuc took over, as Orien couldn't guarantee the safety of travel. Failin made his business running these abandoned rails. There was a rail running out to Rose Quarry, because it WAS a major quarry. However, the glass breaks the line at Rose Quarry, so it's impossible for Failin to take you beyond that point. So, a few points here: The vehicle Failin originally possessed wasn't unique or innovative; it's a smaller, more limited version of the pre-existing lightning rail. There's no real value in PCs stealing the runner from Failin, and they can't force him to go beyond Rose Quarry. The runner is extremely limited in the paths in can take, and there's only so many rails in Darguun. Failin's an excoriate. He's not supposed to have something especially cool or innovative. By comparison, the elemental land cart is something with far greater utility than the lightning rail, something rarely seen, and something that can easily circumvent Rose Quarry and be taken to the Mournland, breaking the intended flow of the game. So: from a story perspective, the elemental land cart causes a number of logistical problems. Beyond that, I'd personally treat the land cart as a rare prototype, not something that could be found for sale. It just represents an increase in the "tech level" of Eberron from what was originally designed. With that said, I think it is described in Explorer's Handbook. That's an interesting take, Keith. I have to admit, I think the land cart really cheapened the players' experience with traveling through the Mournland. For example, there was no getting lost in the Gray Mists and all creatures and encounters were completely bypassed. If could go back in time, I'd use your idea instead. I was tempted to have the PCs emerge from Whitehearth with Failin killed (by the Emerald Claw soldiers), the land cart destroyed, and the freed elemental attacking the PCs on sight, but as soon as I said, "You approach the cave entrance and see...", one of the players interrupted, "Failin dead." At that point, I realized it was too predictable, so I kept him alive. I figured the ambush would be just as surprising.