2 things I don't understand (again): Epic Handbook [Archive] - Wizards Community

2 things I don't understand (again): Epic Handbook [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
JudgeDeadd
12-20-06, 02:20 PM 1. What are the Legendary animals doing in here if their CRs are 9 and 10? And what about Mercanes, whose CR is a whopping 5?
2. What exactly does the illustration for an Umbral Blot (Blackball) show? To the right, you can see the ball, but wht is this thing in the center?
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/EPIC_Gallery/Gallery5a/44183_C5_umbralblot.jpg
Talisman
12-20-06, 03:27 PM (1) I have no clue. I guess someone saw the word "legendary" and decided to throw 'em in. As for the mercane, I never really got those big blue Ferengi anyway...

(2) The thing in the center is a rock formation with a perfectly circular hole through it, where the blackball just passed. Behind it is a shorn-off tree stump.
Shemeska the Marauder
12-20-06, 05:15 PM And what about Mercanes, whose CR is a whopping 5?

Mercanes are in there because the ELH was still under the 3e design restrictions that typically didn't allow for the use or reference of things in a book there weren't "core" if they weren't also included in that book itself. The city of Union in the ELH was founded and operated by a group of Mercane, and so the ELH had to include mercane stats in the book because otherwise they wouldn't have been able to talk about or use them due to those restrictions. Yes it's a waste of space, and yes we're thankfully past that point and books are now able to cross reference one another when appropriate rather than reprinting material or just omitting material.
RLRapp
12-20-06, 08:06 PM The legendary animals were included as high-level animal companions for Epic druids.
Minister_for_Moral_Truth
12-20-06, 08:30 PM 1. Mercanes are, as stated, there because they're part of Union. If they are anywhere else (which I don't think they are), it's still unlikely the DM will have the relevant book to hand, so they are included.

2. It's a rock formation with a hole "cut" into it by the Unbral Blot.
Shemeska the Marauder
12-20-06, 09:23 PM 1. Mercanes are, as stated, there because they're part of Union. If they are anywhere else (which I don't think they are), it's still unlikely the DM will have the relevant book to hand, so they are included.

They're in the 3e Manual of the Planes.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
JudgeDeadd 12-20-06, 02:20 PM	1. What are the Legendary animals doing in here if their CRs are 9 and 10? And what about Mercanes, whose CR is a whopping 5? 2. What exactly does the illustration for an Umbral Blot (Blackball) show? To the right, you can see the ball, but wht is this thing in the center? http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/EPIC_Gallery/Gallery5a/44183_C5_umbralblot.jpg
Talisman 12-20-06, 03:27 PM	(1) I have no clue. I guess someone saw the word "legendary" and decided to throw 'em in. As for the mercane, I never really got those big blue Ferengi anyway... (2) The thing in the center is a rock formation with a perfectly circular hole through it, where the blackball just passed. Behind it is a shorn-off tree stump.
Shemeska the Marauder 12-20-06, 05:15 PM	And what about Mercanes, whose CR is a whopping 5? Mercanes are in there because the ELH was still under the 3e design restrictions that typically didn't allow for the use or reference of things in a book there weren't "core" if they weren't also included in that book itself. The city of Union in the ELH was founded and operated by a group of Mercane, and so the ELH had to include mercane stats in the book because otherwise they wouldn't have been able to talk about or use them due to those restrictions. Yes it's a waste of space, and yes we're thankfully past that point and books are now able to cross reference one another when appropriate rather than reprinting material or just omitting material.
RLRapp 12-20-06, 08:06 PM	The legendary animals were included as high-level animal companions for Epic druids.
Minister_for_Moral_Truth 12-20-06, 08:30 PM	1. Mercanes are, as stated, there because they're part of Union. If they are anywhere else (which I don't think they are), it's still unlikely the DM will have the relevant book to hand, so they are included. 2. It's a rock formation with a hole "cut" into it by the Unbral Blot.
Shemeska the Marauder 12-20-06, 09:23 PM	1. Mercanes are, as stated, there because they're part of Union. If they are anywhere else (which I don't think they are), it's still unlikely the DM will have the relevant book to hand, so they are included. They're in the 3e Manual of the Planes.