S9 D14 C15 I18 W15 C16
In this we have a difficulty as far as the original 2nd edition rules went. We all agree, I presume, that Tithian reached 20th level in psionicist before he dual-classed over to defiler. Such a level of course is essential, as only a mighty master could access the energies of the Dark Lens (cf. OO, CS). Tithian might have been well on his way to becoming a 21st level dragon, but he has a problem with a rules technicality.
A wisdom of 16 is required to become a dragon. Tithian lacks this. Could Rajaat have made him into a 21st level dragon regardless?
This brings up a curious question. Are Rajaat's abilities at the Pristine Tower such that he can empower someone who doesn't even have the stats to become a dragon? Do the stats just default to the lowest required, if the prospective candidate does not naturally have what it takes?
I do not believe so, honestly. The power of the Lens is just that, magnification. It cannot improve the recipients of its powers stat wise in the fashion we are talking about.
Granted this is a technicality, but it helps emphasize the rather uncareful approach too my DS designers adopted. It would have been an easy thing to increase Tithian's wisdom by 1 point to make it work. In the designer's defense, at least we can argue that perhaps Tithian was doomed in his quest to begin with, in their eyes, as he was off from the bare minimum requirements by one point in one attribute.
Also, if anyone wishes to discuss the matter, I put Tithian, at the time of his final fate, at 20th level psionicist (telepath), dual-classed 10th-14th level defiler (the level is hard to gauge; I am toying with 12th). What do you fellows think? As a comparison, I place Agis at 20th level at the time of his death.
There was nothing short of his own shortsighted greed and unlikeability that prevented him from accomplishing his goals, although Rajaat tells Khidar in all honesty that as long as Tithian did what he wanted and followed his commands, he would get exactly what he asked for.
The statistics offered to us of Tithian in CSoT are as follows:
S9 D14 C15 I18 W15 C16
In this we have a difficulty as far as the original 2nd edition rules went. We all agree, I presume, that Tithian reached 20th level in psionicist before he dual-classed over to defiler. Such a level of course is essential, as only a mighty master could access the energies of the Dark Lens (cf. OO, CS). Tithian might have been well on his way to becoming a 21st level dragon, but he has a problem with a rules technicality.
A wisdom of 16 is required to become a dragon. Tithian lacks this. Could Rajaat have made him into a 21st level dragon regardless?
This brings up a curious question. Are Rajaat's abilities at the Pristine Tower such that he can empower someone who doesn't even have the stats to become a dragon? Do the stats just default to the lowest required, if the prospective candidate does not naturally have what it takes?
I do not believe so, honestly. The power of the Lens is just that, magnification. It cannot improve the recipients of its powers stat wise in the fashion we are talking about.
Granted this is a technicality, but it helps emphasize the rather uncareful approach too my DS designers adopted. It would have been an easy thing to increase Tithian's wisdom by 1 point to make it work. In the designer's defense, at least we can argue that perhaps Tithian was doomed in his quest to begin with, in their eyes, as he was off from the bare minimum requirements by one point in one attribute.
Also, if anyone wishes to discuss the matter, I put Tithian, at the time of his final fate, at 20th level psionicist (telepath), dual-classed 10th-14th level defiler (the level is hard to gauge; I am toying with 12th). What do you fellows think? As a comparison, I place Agis at 20th level at the time of his death.
I am going to be contrarian and say I am not sure he really was a 20th level psionicist. I note that in (I think) the cerulean storm that Tithian comments that with the Dark Lens he is a match for the Dragon in the way, but that the Dragon is also a master of sorcery and of physical combat. I think the Dark Lens massively augmented his psionic abilities, and made him a match for the strongest masters of the way in Athas. 500 psp per day plus the ability to manifest virtually any power he can think about or imagine. I would say in a clean fight, agis would beat Tithian in the way, hands down.
I would say Tithian was probably in his mid teens psionicist levels, and 8th or 9th defiler levels. I think he was still quite far from becoming a sorcerer-king on his own, and thus constantly sought a short cut.
In this optic, Rajaat, be he willing, could have turned Tithian into anything.
Generally I think it wiser, for myself at least, to understand things first in the context of 2nd edition, the edition in which DS was created and fashioned around, and only afterwards transfer things to later editions.
I'll have to see these tools you speak of though. It's just, even through the agency of wishes and the like, the creators of D&D meant for us players to be pretty strict about just raising character ability score willy nilly. Still, I imagine such a thing would be fairly simply for a SK, much less Rajaat... even the DMG says a jump from 15 to 16 requires only one wish.
Everyone seems to think Tithian could not have been 20th level. I sympathize. Agis was, as I recall, 16th level in CSoT, and we imagine he was probably even higher level by the time of his death. Certainly, one might expect Agis to be higher level than Tithian.
My point is that a certain bare minimum of levels is required to access the powers of the Dark Lens. In 2nd edition terms, I am looking for the level Denning had in mind. The defiling magic Tithian demonstrates in the OO is considerable... he nearly kills the giant king, and he is in general fairly impressive... he is not low level. The spell used to harm the giant king had to be at least 5th level, in my imagination, making Tithian at least 9th level. 9th through 12th level seems most likely to me. But whatever the level, Tithian was not strong enough in magic to use the Lens... as we recall from him getting burned and such from the Lens while trying to gather up energy. Too bad I don't have my book to quote some lines and pages. Therefore, Tithian would have to be a higher level psionicist than he is a wizard, for he certainly can access the psionic potential of the Lens.
The PP stresses that only a master practitioner of the Way or magic can properly use the Lens. The word used throughout, as I recall, is "master" specifically. I ask the forum, what level is this? What level of a user is required to use the Dark Lens. Some of you seem to be weighing in at 15th level or so, as this is the highest level you are willing to award Tithian. 15th level seems fairly arbitrary to me however.
Denning was familiar and supportive of the general framework of Dragon Kings. Tithian, aided for years by Borys and Sacha and Wyan, sought to become a SK. It always seemed to me he had a fairly good idea that he had to reach very high levels in order to have a chance at becoming an SK.
I, with little proof at the moment, contend that Denning meant for the level of Lens access to be 20th. This is, after all, the threshold level throughout DS. The earliest psionic enchantments are possible at this level, and this is the level required to change into a dragon, using obsidian balls to assist in the spell. Many things revolve around 20th level in the early renditions of DS. Dragon Kings insists 20th level is the level cap for wizards who do not attempt to become advanced beings. I could go on, but 20th level seems the logical level for attainment of "mastery." Honestly, I believe the poorly written BtPP, that offers Sadira's sun level as 18th, is off, and 20th again makes much more sense, in context of the kind of powers the Pristine Tower grants (turns people into 21st level dragons, etc.).
Yes, Agis could probably defeat Tithian straight up in mental combat, but this, first of all, because he is freakin cool, but also because he just has better stats, especially that all important wisdom score, which provided much in the way of PSPs in 2nd edition.
In any case, it would be nice to know what you fellows think the level requirement is for Lens access. One would assume it would be equal for both the wizardly and psionic aspect. I argue for 20th, as this seems less arbitrary, fits what Denning seemed to be getting at, and precedent in the DS universe. What do you fellows think (in terms of 2nd edition first please, and then transmute it over to 3rd or 4th or 15th or what have you).
By the way, Beyond the Prism Pentad, although coveted to me when I first bought it, is a terribly written book. Blah! They got almost everything wrong. Grumble. (Even the damned cover picture with Sadira holding a very small, very un-egglike Dark Lens...)
Here I was talking about epic spells, from the Epic Handbook. Those use spell seeds from which you create your epic spell. Far more complex than a wish, and with no special exploitation connotation attached to it to ruin the whole deal for the DM and players.
At least one new seed was created for 3e DS, which allows for permanent, non-dispellable changes to be wrought on a living body. Turning someone into a dragon is one such complex change, turning Dhojakt into a half-man, half-cilops is another, so is giving Sadira her sun-steeped body.
All of this is found in that fangoria-filled athas.org release called Legends of Athas.
Tithian was clearly far more clever than he was wise, whatever his stats that reflect that I doubt he could muster the requisite wisdom to figure out, or withstand the process of beginning dragon metamorphosis (keeping in mind the other SK's had it thrust on them and further were Champions).
Rajaat could certainly have turned Tithian into a 21st level Dragon... but given his vast intellect & power, the lessons learned from making other Dragons... would he?
Dragons have proven far too willful and the First Sorcerer I'd suggest has such creativity and power that it would be extremely disappointing to merely craft another iteration of a problematic creation.
I wouldn't, Tithian would make a woeful Dragon. Definitely not worth the investment unless you estimate Sacha and Wyan to have been worthy - his stats are somewhat irrelevant, its his character / personality that are the problem.
As to the letter of the question, I have no doubt that Rajaat could make a Dragon of anybody regardless of their stats.
Actual use of the Dark Lens is an interesting topic, it was a child priest (Rkard) who used it to banish Rajaat's shadow.
He wasn't necessarily using it as anybody else had used it though, focusing natural energy (sun light) through it rather than magic or psionics.
(this is taking some license with how spells & powers work though, but it was important for the story).
I was going to reference Psionic Artifacts of Athas but ... its junk.
In my estimation a Master is capable of casting 7th level spells, so I'm leaping in at ~15th level too.
Generally I see 5th level spells being the pinnacle that the majority of casters might hope to achieve (even allowing DS more generous initial stat allocations).
6th level and above spells (and powers) are generally a significant step up from previous levels.
Going purely by arcane spells there are several benchmarks (in my estimation & this is an oversimplification):
3rd: Fireball
4th: Dimension Door
5th: Teleport
6th: True Seeing
7th: Limited Wish
8th: Maze
9th: Wish & Meteor Swarm (in fact... just about all 9th level spells are benchmark)
It all depends on the power level & style of your games though, some gaming groups are easily contained even with very powerful characters.
There's a slippery slope with working out the power / level / abilities of somebody elses character.
Basically, the more fond people are of a character, the more power is ascribed.... which from a memetic point of view makes perfect sense.
It's important to remember that in 2nd Ed 18th level is the point at which wizards get their most powerful spells and is frequently regarded as their point of completion, becoming an easy and common point at which classes reach their pinnacle (unless you're a Druid). It's entirely likely that Denning had 18th level in mind, but then if you look at most 2e heroic NPC's they're invariably 18-20th level.
Tithian wasn't nearly a match for Agis (or any peer) in a straight-up fight, but Tithian's strength and the great thing about his character was his cunning and ability to be a real - he'd do his level best (and then some) to never end up in a fair fight and generally manipulate things so that he should appear innocent in the face of any potential reparisal.
I would even go as far to reverse engineer the ritual system into 3.5 to replace epic spellcasting.
As for respecting 2e stats when converting to 3e, or even 3e stats when converting to 4e, it's all moot. No one respects those, even the official WotC converters.
Wishing, in 1st edition, was, depending on the given campaign, an important part of the fabric of AD&D. It was the only way to get out of and bypass a great many things, and it was and is something players greatly covet. I play in 2nd edition, and my players always have their dream of getting a wish, which essentially has almost never happened. If used appropriately and sparingly, it is an excellent factor in the game.
The introduction of 10th level magic was warned against by Gary Gygax for years. Indeed, Gygax was, rather wisely in my estimation, against a great deal of what has cropped up in D&D over the years, such as feat systems, complicated skill tables, and much, much more. Dark Sun went against this long standing and long agreed with advice, but I for one do not mind it so much, given the radical nature of DS and what 10th level was intended for there in that favorite world of ours. 10th level spells of course challenged the important place the wish has in the AD&D game however, which led to a not inconsiderable number of difficulties. Happily, Dragon Kings dealt with this difficulty fairly well, offering a number of solutions, but even these do not sweep under the carpet a number of difficult issues. Such is what we deal with for ignoring good old Gygax.
My group and I attempted 3rd edition many years ago. Despite a genuine attempt, you can imagine my final verdict on this new D&D.
Wishes work just fine in 2nd edition, and I know this from hopefully not inconsiderable experience. Like you say Pennarin, they add "flexibility and potentiality" for DMs and players, especially players, and they are really rather essential to the game. Many forms of death, curses, types of escapes, and the destruction of many types of monsters, etc., can be dealt with only by the use of a wish. All this is confused however by DS injected 10th level spells into the campaign, as something needs to fill the void.
In game play, the feat system is eventually cumbersome and downright clumsy, especially at higher levels. The system offers enjoyable things to low-level PCs, but when dealing with high level characters, the system, to me, becomes too constraining and time-consuming. So many feats provides the opportunity for much debate between players and DMs, and the use of these, especially a great many of these, combined with normal spellcasting and attack moves makes for a very complicated gaming session, one which can easily get out of hand... Let me not speak too much more on it...
It suffices to say that, despite the laudable work done by athas.org, I must agree with Zardnaar that all these different feats and so forth are just a little much.
I am all for playing 3rd edition, but all respects Pennarin, but DS was designed for 2nd edition. Denning says its preferred system. 3rd and now 4th edition have been foisted upon DS. Care needs to be given in translating things that were designed specifically to 2nd edition to the later editions. Otherwise, we get illogical and clumsy situations both in game logic and game mechanics.
I don't like seeing DS being warped into something new. I like the old Dark Sun logo, all scary-like, not the benevolent sun logo of 2nd box!
Tithian works best as a dual class charatcer in 2nd ed or maybe 3.5 if you use the retraining rules in the PHB2. If he was a level 17 Templar in 3.5 he would have to take over 20 levels of Psion/Wizard to become a Dragon in the traditional way and odds are he would lose a fight to a single classed level 20 spellcaster or Psion despite being level 35+ and technically CR 28ish or something like that.
Like you say Pennarin, they add "flexibility and potentiality" for DMs and players, especially players, and they are really rather essential to the game.
I was refering to epic spells. Wishes, compared, are not flexible. They are arabian nights contraptions that have an inbuilt, mythos-based warning label attached to them that prevents you from moving mountains or draining lakes without dire consequences...exactly the kind of thing DS's "10th level spells" (i.e. psionic enchantments) allowed for without any consequences, and what 3e's epic spells allow as well, also without consequences.
Epic spellcasting is an art, a science. It's lego blocks: you put your toy together from basic blocks and obtain effects that work and that are superpowered compaired to 9th level spells, or even wishes. Without the crappy mess that can occur. The effect's power is only limited by your own ability to cast the spell. A spell may require level 21 to be cast, another level 40.
Wishes, compared, are plot devices purely under the control of the DM. He determines the extent to which they work as worded and how much side-effects they generate. Wishes' effects follow a one paragraph guideline, while epic spells' effects are codified in 10+ pages. Codification of the available seeds and how they combine to create effects - and their requirements for the spellcaster - allows for flexibility and potentiality in the creation of any particular spell.
And in answer to Zardnaar, yes, I too agree the epic spellcasting system is no perfect and is bloated (all facets of 3e are bloated, mind you). The intent behind it, though, was revolutionary.
I am all for playing 3rd edition, but all respects Pennarin, but DS was designed for 2nd edition. Denning says its preferred system. 3rd and now 4th edition have been foisted upon DS. Care needs to be given in translating things that were designed specifically to 2nd edition to the later editions. Otherwise, we get illogical and clumsy situations both in game logic and game mechanics.
The idea behind this opinion is of such a basic nature that I fear it can't be argued for or against by anyone but the person saying it. That 10 years of 3rd Edition - and their successful adaptations of various 2e settings and independent adventures - can be sweeped so completely under the rug baffles me.
The idea behind this opinion is of such a basic nature that I fear it can't be argued for or against by anyone but the person saying it. That 10 years of 3rd Edition - and their successful adaptations of various 2e settings and independent adventures - can be sweeped so completely under the rug baffles me.
Well if you consider success as monetary profit along with swapping older, more dedicated players for younger kids who played Magic the Gathering and are now able to make the transition to D&D because it no longer requires a whole lot of thought to understand the game and just any idiot can roll up a character and play and pretty much be and do whatever they want, well then yes. 3e is 'successful'.
...
As to the other, it depends on what you accept as "successful" Pennarin.
Just because Hitler's Struggle sold so much doesn't mean that it was good, or that it was practicable advice.
Tithian's stats are in the City State of Tyr book, he was nowhere near a 20th level psionicist.
As for your spiteful opinion of 3e, HubrisBalatharus, then you share it with a sizable portion of the fans. No shame in that, there's even some respect in it. On the other hand what I hope to make you realize is that the other portion of the fans who liked 3e, who like 4e, and will like other editions, keeps growing ever more and dwarfing your portion. An opinion's subjectivity allows for multiple people to be right at the same time despite opposing arguments, but opinions don't sell, and what sells is what people want. So when 3e sold, the conclusion one can make is that 3e was liked and people asked for more of it. To buy on hype creates a speculation bubble that collapses after a while...3e sales never collapsed and 4e sales are not currently collapsing. The OGL even allowed dozens of companies and particulars to publish their own books as well, indicating other companies wanted to financially and creatively cash into WotC's new treasure trove of a 3rd Edition. The conclusion of this train of thought is that 3e sales were not hype-based, and thus people bought the new edition because they liked it.
Same is going on for 4e as we type this. This in no way diminishes the love one can have for 2e, but the person who sticks to 2e exclusively becomes partly incomprehensible to the rest of us - the growing portion of fans - that keeps adapting to new editions and keeps finding new ways to do new stuff with it that they couldn't do before with the old edition. I sure did.
The game was radically changed, much more so than the change from 1st edition to 2nd. It was changed in such a way so as to add more fun little trinkets, such as feats, and whole host of other such items, as it was understood by higher-ups at the company that this was what a great many players wanted: they wanted access to low-level characters, with a great many class and level options, who had a great many flashy and entertaining new abilities. These characters are, on the surface, much more powerful and entertaining to the bulk of many players, and it was an excellent marketing move on the part of WotC.
3rd edition+ also used impressive artwork and presentation to entice buyers and excite imaginations, and they attempted to streamline and corporatize rules so as to make them more accessible, and so that someone could learn the basics of one set of rules and be able to play many RPGs.
All this did very well for WotC and Hasbro. They expanded the gaming population appreciably, I dare say. Many people buy those books.
It was discovered by WotC though that the vast majority of players do not play longer than for 6 months in a given campaign, before they move on. This is logical. In my mind, they also deduced that it would be advantageous for them to market their products in the way they did, because by being flashy and offering all these perks to characters that broke the old mode and limitations of 1st and 2nd edition, they would get more people, and who would have more fun playing such PCs for their limited campaign sessions.
Again, this had a certain sense of financial wisdom on their part.
There are reasons however that Gygax and his generation were leery of the types of changes WotC has enacted. Gygax constantly warned against the type of power based and "flashy" gaming that 3rd edition adopted, as such things could definitely stand a chance of ruining a truly good game. The reasons for this are many, and the effects are many.
D&D has been dumbed down and does does not seem to work properly in theory. I have hoped to hear stories about in depth, well-thought out DS campaigns out there on a forum such as this, but I have not heard about them. I have heard about hack-n-slashes and such that seem to be enjoyable if that's what you like, but that's one thing. I haven't heard of much else. I ascribe much of this to the fault in theory, and then the just plain sloppiness of 3rd edition (they had to come up with rules .5 for crying out loud).
1st and 2nd edition. probably especially 1st, were painstakingly designed for the possibility of long-term, in depth gaming campaigns. The rules were such that the game wouldn't fall apart on itself if you managed to advance to senior levels. Low level characters WERE weak and scared, and you didn't get much, but if you had a good DM and the right attitude, that was awesome in and of itself, and made getting levels all the sweeter. Much of that has been lost with these new, cleverly marketed editions. In my estimation, they have serious flaws in them that are inherent in their very theory. Now I bet I could make them work too, if I really wanted, and kudos to those who do and really do have a good time with it. I think that's awesome. But I fear the game has been hijacked by some faceless corporation that has now arranged the game to take away from more serious, thoughtful players, and to satiate the masses with flashy and temporarily entertaining but clumsy and unrefined "new" editions. It is economically sound for them, as you are right pennarin, that folks like me are in the very narrow minority, and so they don't worry about losing my cash.
The game suffers because of it though, I fear. I have heard of 3rd edition games falling apart because of the rules and such.
Such 2nd and 1st weren't perfect. They had their roughspots. But to me, 3rd edition is a minefield I'd rather not deal with just so I can have some whirl attack, or so I can embrace munchkinism wholeheartedly (happily I hear 4th edition is set up to try to curb that better).
The prestige classes, although enjoyable to read about, have cluttered the game, especially in DS. What a nightmare it would be to try and run it all as a DM! I couldn't imagine picking prestige classes, and feats, and everything else for all my NPCs. It would become intolerable....
Oh, I've had enough.
I'd love for future editions to work and such but... I'm tired of my rant.
The thing is, I think I'd try to play 3rd edition with you Penn, right in DS, if we had the chance, and see what we can do. It's all about having the most fun, and enjoying the aesthetics of an awesome campaign setting. I doubt you would even try 2nd to make a good comparison. Perhaps I'm wrong.
WotC=Hitler.
WotC=Hitler.
I'm glad SOMEBODY said it! :D
As for your spiteful opinion of 3e, HubrisBalatharus, then you share it with a sizable portion of the fans. No shame in that, there's even some respect in it. On the other hand what I hope to make you realize is that the other portion of the fans who liked 3e, who like 4e, and will like other editions, keeps growing ever more and dwarfing your portion.
Too true. Ron Paul also didn't get the nomination and Obama is President elect. I rest my case. I appreciate your respectful tone, however. ;)
...I'm tired of my rant.
You're not the only one. Please go away.
WotC=Hitler.
Really. Just go.
You're not the only one. Please go away.
What beef you got with glien?
What beef you got with glien?
Why do you care?
Curiosity. I'd like to know if you're just being a jerk and if I should thus deal with you accordingly, or maybe you have a good reason that would be useful for me to know about.
I'm sure phaaf_glien filled you in on his past conduct when he asked you to sign up to this forum. If not, his posts are there for all to see. Fact is, we're getting pretty sick of his bizarre rants and his latest Godwinised outburst is reason enough to ask him to pack his bags and **** off.
I'm sure phaaf_glien filled you in on his past conduct when he asked you to sign up to this forum. If not, his posts are there for all to see. Fact is, we're getting pretty sick of his bizarre rants and his latest Godwinised outburst is reason enough to ask him to pack his bags and **** off.
Godwinised? Why do you think he asked me to sign up to this forum? Is everyone in this forum close personal friends in real life or something? I am confused. How do you know how everyone on the forum feels? Please explain. I'm not going to read all his/her posts, but the ones I've read I have agreed with for the most part. Us 2e people stick together ;)
Godwinised?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin's_Law
Why do you think he asked me to sign up to this forum?
Are you saying that's not the case?
Is everyone in this forum close personal friends in real life or something?
Some are, yes.
I am confused. How do you know how everyone on the forum feels?
This forum is not the only place that DS fans communicate with each other, you know.
I'm not going to read all his/her posts, but the ones I've read I have agreed with for the most part. Us 2e people stick together ;)
2e is not the issue (a system for which I have a great deal of affection). Rude, ranting or snide posts and subsequent lack of apologies are the issue. Phaaf-glien should shape up or ship out.
If he said something rude to you, whatever, but no need to get upset with me just for asking. If you don't like how other people talk to you then ask them to apologize, don't cry about it to me. It's an internet forum man, don't take it too personally.
Yes I am saying that's not the case, obviously. I'm still unclear as to why you would assume that.
Right. Sure you are.
As far as being rude goes, I have done nothing rude to you yet you are already not being too polite with me. Posting links to wikipedia as opposed to just responding with a succinct answer is pretty rude.
No it isn't. Saves time typing, nothing more.
If he said something rude to you, whatever, but no need to get upset with me just for asking. If you don't like how other people talk to you then ask them to apologize, don't cry about it to me.
Umm, you stuck your nose in and asked first, remember? Twice, as I recall.
It's an internet forum man, don't take it too personally.
It's also a long-standing community of DS fans that is diminshed by behaviour like phaaf_glien's recent series of tirades. The place is better off without that kind of thing and there is no shame or harm in saying so.
Yes, it is rude to link people you don't know to wikipedia as an answer to a simple question. It's like saying 'Idiot, just look it up on wikipedia'
The prestige classes, although enjoyable to read about, have cluttered the game, especially in DS. What a nightmare it would be to try and run it all as a DM! I couldn't imagine picking prestige classes, and feats, and everything else for all my NPCs. It would become intolerable....
I finally got on board with 3E ironically just about the time that 4E was released. Before that I preferred 2E. You are right that in 3E the stat block can be a nightmare. You could create an NPC in a couple of minutes in 2E, while in 3E it can take quite a while. Then after creating the NPC, you have to check that the NPC is in compliance with the rules because there is a lot of potential to have overlooked things, there being so many factors involved.
As for the current conversation, I think all was said. So I'll go ahead and top it off with...Autobahn. There, I said it.
As to Kynesis's earlier comments:
Yes, one would think Tithian would make a poor dragonling. Yet, nonetheless, it seems that Rajaat was quite serious about making Tithian an SK. He says this quite clearly in the opening pages of CS, telling his chief shadow giant that yes, indeed, he was going to make Tithian an SK.
I'm still fascinated by this question: if stats don't matter for the Pristine Tower transformation, than could just any old beggar off the street be made a Champion of Rajaat? Are the stats just beefed up during the transformation, or does Rajaat modify their scores before they go underneath the Lens at Crystal Cathedral (I like the joke)?
Again, it seems to me that the basic stat requirements are essential for the transformation. I do not think the Tower just gives someone the bare minimum stat requirements.
Kynesis, as to the basic level required to use the Lens, you make an error in using Rkard as an example. Rkard does not draw the energy for his light spell from the Lens; he simply casts a light spell into it. That is fine and allowable. What is not is drawing energy from the Lens to fuel spells, and then casting a spell through the Lens that is at 10x or even, if you believe Sacha and Wyan, 100x the power of the spell normally. This requires a basic level, which Denning defines as "master." See the Obsidian Oracle, when Tithian, who is by that time an accomplished mage, attempts to draw energy from the Dark Lens to fuel his spells, but is badly burned because of the attempt. A considerable level is required to use the Lens, and I argue that that level is probably 20th, although there is no way to prove this without asking Denning.
I must say though Kynesis, one indeed would think Tithian would make a horrible new servant for Rajaat. The arch-schemer is totally untrustworthy and unsuitable to such a post. Nonetheless, Denning said Rajaat promises. So be it.