Shade Questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Shade Questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Zargain
06-15-06, 12:37 AM From what I have learned from the FR book and a few other sources I know that only 500 of the people of empire of shadows are shades while the rest are humans. My question concerns what would the other humans be like? I mean since they're remants of the old Netheril I'd think they'd be a little more than 1st level.
GothicDan
06-15-06, 12:40 AM They're normal humans. The commoners of Netheril were pretty much like the commoners of modern times, other than the fact that some were able to cast a few cantrips. But that was High Netheril specifically... Other than that, they are just like normal humans, which the typical Netherese was.
The Simbul
06-15-06, 02:42 AM From what I have learned from the FR book and a few other sources I know that only 500 of the people of empire of shadows are shades while the rest are humans. My question concerns what would the other humans be like? I mean since they're remants of the old Netheril I'd think they'd be a little more than 1st level.Time passes normally on the plane of shadow, thus the ordinary citizens who were remnants of netheril died when their time was up, unless they were part of the elite upper class that became Shades, or if they happened to use longevity magic. The ordinary citizens of Shade today know nothing of Netheril, other than what history/Shar-influenced propaganda trickles down to them.

For the record, the level/class for the typical citizens of Shade are quite inflated when compared to any other city in Faerun of equal (or even those of a greater) size. The average peasant is a level 2 commoner vs level 1, and while the typical soldier in a normal city is a War1, the typical soldier in Shade is a Ftr1/Sor1.The commoners of Netheril were pretty much like the commoners of modern times, other than the fact that some were able to cast a few cantrips. But that was High Netheril specifically... I guess the Shades didnt keep alive the tradition of teaching magic to everyone (as represented by the Magical Training regional feat). Instead, the Determinists decide on the future of every citizen when they reach the age of 13, which includes whether or not rescources would be wasted on instructing them in the Art.

The end result of this is that Magical Training is not a regional feat option for characters from the Shade region, while it is for Halruaans and those from Nimbral.
GothicDan
06-15-06, 03:37 AM I always thought that EVERY commoner of Netheril could cast cantra was ridiculous anyway.
Green Elven Vampire
06-15-06, 04:42 AM Can good aligned humans/demi-humans become shades through a mishap or a sheer case of wrong place, wrong time? Or if they transformed themselves by some rite would they turn to evil? Can you have a good aligned shade at all?
Red_Wizard
06-15-06, 08:02 AM It's true that they are just normal humans, so aside from the fact they live in one of the most magic rich places in the realms, they really shouldn't be much more special than they are already. IMO they are perfectly placed power wise, and i think a good job was done with the city of shade on a whole.

Also, all the people are tested for magical talent, and any that don't cut it have their jobs chosen for them. To me it seems almost like shade is a communisticly styled society, that still manages to opperate in tiers of power. Few if any ever move between tiers, and there isn't any cases of the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. They all work in harmony together, to do what they need. So Despite the obvious power amongst them, it is feasible in a city with no chance of improvement, one can only become the best in his feild, and only at the pace of the societies demands. So perhaps this in turn means a level 2 commoner is simply the pinicle of his profession.

IMO ofcourse ;):)
GothicDan
06-15-06, 10:16 AM Few if any ever move between tiers, and there isn't any cases of the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

That's because the rich can't get any richer. The High Prince is an effectively authoritarian ruler.

This is called a magocracy, and we see it happening in both Thay and Halruaa... The latter of which much more peacably, I might add. Halruaa also screens all of its population for magical talent in the same way.
Red_Wizard
06-15-06, 01:01 PM That's because the rich can't get any richer. The High Prince is an effectively authoritarian ruler.

This is called a magocracy, and we see it happening in both Thay and Halruaa... The latter of which much more peacably, I might add. Halruaa also screens all of its population for magical talent in the same way.

In Thay though you have the chance to move upwards in title with both money, and power. Also being born a pure Mulani almost always makes you a noble of sorts. But in the city of shade, once you are screen and assigned a job, there is no turning things around, you are what they say you are. Also i believe there is some talk of the currency there, and how i means almost nothing within the city. It is basically the physical representation for the work they've done. With this method i believe there are no beggars, as everyone always has the minumum of what they need for survival.
GothicDan
06-15-06, 10:29 PM There are slaves, however.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zargain 06-15-06, 12:37 AM	From what I have learned from the FR book and a few other sources I know that only 500 of the people of empire of shadows are shades while the rest are humans. My question concerns what would the other humans be like? I mean since they're remants of the old Netheril I'd think they'd be a little more than 1st level.
GothicDan 06-15-06, 12:40 AM	They're normal humans. The commoners of Netheril were pretty much like the commoners of modern times, other than the fact that some were able to cast a few cantrips. But that was High Netheril specifically... Other than that, they are just like normal humans, which the typical Netherese was.
The Simbul 06-15-06, 02:42 AM	From what I have learned from the FR book and a few other sources I know that only 500 of the people of empire of shadows are shades while the rest are humans. My question concerns what would the other humans be like? I mean since they're remants of the old Netheril I'd think they'd be a little more than 1st level.Time passes normally on the plane of shadow, thus the ordinary citizens who were remnants of netheril died when their time was up, unless they were part of the elite upper class that became Shades, or if they happened to use longevity magic. The ordinary citizens of Shade today know nothing of Netheril, other than what history/Shar-influenced propaganda trickles down to them. For the record, the level/class for the typical citizens of Shade are quite inflated when compared to any other city in Faerun of equal (or even those of a greater) size. The average peasant is a level 2 commoner vs level 1, and while the typical soldier in a normal city is a War1, the typical soldier in Shade is a Ftr1/Sor1.The commoners of Netheril were pretty much like the commoners of modern times, other than the fact that some were able to cast a few cantrips. But that was High Netheril specifically... I guess the Shades didnt keep alive the tradition of teaching magic to everyone (as represented by the Magical Training regional feat). Instead, the Determinists decide on the future of every citizen when they reach the age of 13, which includes whether or not rescources would be wasted on instructing them in the Art. The end result of this is that Magical Training is not a regional feat option for characters from the Shade region, while it is for Halruaans and those from Nimbral.
GothicDan 06-15-06, 03:37 AM	I always thought that EVERY commoner of Netheril could cast cantra was ridiculous anyway.
Green Elven Vampire 06-15-06, 04:42 AM	Can good aligned humans/demi-humans become shades through a mishap or a sheer case of wrong place, wrong time? Or if they transformed themselves by some rite would they turn to evil? Can you have a good aligned shade at all?
Red_Wizard 06-15-06, 08:02 AM	It's true that they are just normal humans, so aside from the fact they live in one of the most magic rich places in the realms, they really shouldn't be much more special than they are already. IMO they are perfectly placed power wise, and i think a good job was done with the city of shade on a whole. Also, all the people are tested for magical talent, and any that don't cut it have their jobs chosen for them. To me it seems almost like shade is a communisticly styled society, that still manages to opperate in tiers of power. Few if any ever move between tiers, and there isn't any cases of the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. They all work in harmony together, to do what they need. So Despite the obvious power amongst them, it is feasible in a city with no chance of improvement, one can only become the best in his feild, and only at the pace of the societies demands. So perhaps this in turn means a level 2 commoner is simply the pinicle of his profession. IMO ofcourse ;):)
GothicDan 06-15-06, 10:16 AM	Few if any ever move between tiers, and there isn't any cases of the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. That's because the rich can't get any richer. The High Prince is an effectively authoritarian ruler. This is called a magocracy, and we see it happening in both Thay and Halruaa... The latter of which much more peacably, I might add. Halruaa also screens all of its population for magical talent in the same way.
Red_Wizard 06-15-06, 01:01 PM	That's because the rich can't get any richer. The High Prince is an effectively authoritarian ruler. This is called a magocracy, and we see it happening in both Thay and Halruaa... The latter of which much more peacably, I might add. Halruaa also screens all of its population for magical talent in the same way. In Thay though you have the chance to move upwards in title with both money, and power. Also being born a pure Mulani almost always makes you a noble of sorts. But in the city of shade, once you are screen and assigned a job, there is no turning things around, you are what they say you are. Also i believe there is some talk of the currency there, and how i means almost nothing within the city. It is basically the physical representation for the work they've done. With this method i believe there are no beggars, as everyone always has the minumum of what they need for survival.
GothicDan 06-15-06, 10:29 PM	There are slaves, however.