Dark Sun: Templars that become Dragons? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Dark Sun: Templars that become Dragons?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
friendlyfish
Jun 06, 2010 21:50:01 It's interesting that in 4e Dark Sun, templars become warlock with a sorcerer-king pact. From the D&D encounters templar on display, it looks like what was kind of a pariah class in 2e becomes something quite cool in 4e.

I've heard that a sorcerer-king ED will be available. How would a templar become a dragon/Sorcerer-king?

I mean, you draw your magic from another sorcerer-king.

In fact, I noticed that in Ampersand there was stats for Nibenay as an Elite 29 controller monster. So, as a templar of Nibenay that's reached 30th level, I can easily use Nibenay's magic to whoop his scaly rear!

How does that work, metaphysically?
#2
MalakLightfoot
Jun 06, 2010 22:09:41
It's interesting that in 4e Dark Sun, templars become warlock with a sorcerer-king pact. From the D&D encounters templar on display, it looks like what was kind of a pariah class in 2e becomes something quite cool in 4e.

I've heard that a sorcerer-king ED will be available. How would a templar become a dragon/Sorcerer-king?

I mean, you draw your magic from another sorcerer-king.

In fact, I noticed that in Ampersand there was stats for Nibenay as an Elite 29 controller monster. So, as a templar of Nibenay that's reached 30th level, I can easily use Nibenay's magic to whoop his scaly rear!

How does that work, metaphysically?

Well, if you look at the background stories for each of the Templars we have seen, all of them are from City State X, operating secretly in City State Y. The appeal of having the Templar theme will be for those players who like having a secret they shouldn't be sharing with anyone.

I think that a lot of the success behind any Dark Sun campaign will be how well the players can separate their knowledge from their character's knowledge. How well everyone can enjoy being "surprised" when it is revealed that one of the Psions in their midst is actually a Wizard, or that the the "slave who escaped the pits through the powers of Sorcery laying dormant in his blood" that they have been working with is actually a Templar of Balic using them to bring down the Queen of Gulg.

I dare say that in a one on one duel, Nibenay at level 29 should give your level 30 Dragon King wannabe a run for his money. Add the rest of the party, and Nibenay will probably go down hard. However, if I recall correctly, in 2E, Nibenay was only a level 25 Dragon, so he won't be the most powerful of the Sorcerer Kings they might have to face at level 30.

As far as the metaphysical part goes, part of the Epic Quest of becoming a Sorcerer King will likely be to obtain an Obsidian Orb or your own to fuel your metamophosis. Once you have your own Orb, you won't be drawing power from Nibenay any more, and he will know it (or he will sense your Orb and cut you off). Since none of the Dragon Kings want any new players in their game, you can also bet that Nibenay will start sending people to kill you long before you are powerful enough to challenge him

#3
ascottbay
Jun 07, 2010 1:19:31 One of Rich Baker's blog posts seemed to suggest that the warlock pact would be a kind of "fire-and-forget" event (likely a secret ritual) where some initial power is imparted and the sorcerer-king doesn't have to worry about it after that.

I don't know if templars will be changed to work the same way, or if they'll need their SK to be alive to continue using their templar powers. (It would be a big retcon if they did that, though, but it might help to prevent Tithian from immediately seeking out a way to become a dragon if he's not powerless.)

I think all the sorcerer-kings would be aware of someone on the cusp of becoming a dragon, though. I seem to recall something where they ganged up on an SK that was about to make the transformation, because they were afraid of him rampaging like the first dragon. And they're generally described as being wary of powerful characters in their world.
#4
friendlyfish
Jun 07, 2010 2:46:41
One of Rich Baker's blog posts seemed to suggest that the warlock pact would be a kind of "fire-and-forget" event (likely a secret ritual) where some initial power is imparted and the sorcerer-king doesn't have to worry about it after that.

I don't know if templars will be changed to work the same way, or if they'll need their SK to be alive to continue using their templar powers. (It would be a big retcon if they did that, though, but it might help to prevent Tithian from immediately seeking out a way to become a dragon if he's not powerless.)

I think all the sorcerer-kings would be aware of someone on the cusp of becoming a dragon, though. I seem to recall something where they ganged up on an SK that was about to make the transformation, because they were afraid of him rampaging like the first dragon. And they're generally described as being wary of powerful characters in their world.

After reading said blog post, I find that it clears the question up quite nicely.

So in effect, the sorcerer king-pact warlock is just a guy who the SK invested with enough ability to wield magic, but actually wields that magic independently of the SK. So the metaphysics are equable; the warlock/templar can eventually accrue enough skill to bust the SK's head if desired without fearing the loss of powers.
#5
Duke5150
Jun 07, 2010 4:34:07 But chances are that when a templar nears a level of power a sorcerer king finds threatening, the sorcerer king will simply destroy the templar. That's what used to happen in 2e. In 4e, it would open up some very nice personal subplots and quests. Like staying alive, fighting your old allies and being forced to either run far away or confront your old master.

Sort of like a government spy who knows too much.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 friendlyfish Jun 06, 2010 21:50:01	It's interesting that in 4e Dark Sun, templars become warlock with a sorcerer-king pact. From the D&D encounters templar on display, it looks like what was kind of a pariah class in 2e becomes something quite cool in 4e. I've heard that a sorcerer-king ED will be available. How would a templar become a dragon/Sorcerer-king? I mean, you draw your magic from another sorcerer-king. In fact, I noticed that in Ampersand there was stats for Nibenay as an Elite 29 controller monster. So, as a templar of Nibenay that's reached 30th level, I can easily use Nibenay's magic to whoop his scaly rear! How does that work, metaphysically?
#2 MalakLightfoot Jun 06, 2010 22:09:41	It's interesting that in 4e Dark Sun, templars become warlock with a sorcerer-king pact. From the D&D encounters templar on display, it looks like what was kind of a pariah class in 2e becomes something quite cool in 4e. I've heard that a sorcerer-king ED will be available. How would a templar become a dragon/Sorcerer-king? I mean, you draw your magic from another sorcerer-king. In fact, I noticed that in Ampersand there was stats for Nibenay as an Elite 29 controller monster. So, as a templar of Nibenay that's reached 30th level, I can easily use Nibenay's magic to whoop his scaly rear! How does that work, metaphysically? Well, if you look at the background stories for each of the Templars we have seen, all of them are from City State X, operating secretly in City State Y. The appeal of having the Templar theme will be for those players who like having a secret they shouldn't be sharing with anyone. I think that a lot of the success behind any Dark Sun campaign will be how well the players can separate their knowledge from their character's knowledge. How well everyone can enjoy being "surprised" when it is revealed that one of the Psions in their midst is actually a Wizard, or that the the "slave who escaped the pits through the powers of Sorcery laying dormant in his blood" that they have been working with is actually a Templar of Balic using them to bring down the Queen of Gulg. I dare say that in a one on one duel, Nibenay at level 29 should give your level 30 Dragon King wannabe a run for his money. Add the rest of the party, and Nibenay will probably go down hard. However, if I recall correctly, in 2E, Nibenay was only a level 25 Dragon, so he won't be the most powerful of the Sorcerer Kings they might have to face at level 30. As far as the metaphysical part goes, part of the Epic Quest of becoming a Sorcerer King will likely be to obtain an Obsidian Orb or your own to fuel your metamophosis. Once you have your own Orb, you won't be drawing power from Nibenay any more, and he will know it (or he will sense your Orb and cut you off). Since none of the Dragon Kings want any new players in their game, you can also bet that Nibenay will start sending people to kill you long before you are powerful enough to challenge him
#3 ascottbay Jun 07, 2010 1:19:31	One of Rich Baker's blog posts seemed to suggest that the warlock pact would be a kind of "fire-and-forget" event (likely a secret ritual) where some initial power is imparted and the sorcerer-king doesn't have to worry about it after that. I don't know if templars will be changed to work the same way, or if they'll need their SK to be alive to continue using their templar powers. (It would be a big retcon if they did that, though, but it might help to prevent Tithian from immediately seeking out a way to become a dragon if he's not powerless.) I think all the sorcerer-kings would be aware of someone on the cusp of becoming a dragon, though. I seem to recall something where they ganged up on an SK that was about to make the transformation, because they were afraid of him rampaging like the first dragon. And they're generally described as being wary of powerful characters in their world.
#4 friendlyfish Jun 07, 2010 2:46:41	One of Rich Baker's blog posts seemed to suggest that the warlock pact would be a kind of "fire-and-forget" event (likely a secret ritual) where some initial power is imparted and the sorcerer-king doesn't have to worry about it after that. I don't know if templars will be changed to work the same way, or if they'll need their SK to be alive to continue using their templar powers. (It would be a big retcon if they did that, though, but it might help to prevent Tithian from immediately seeking out a way to become a dragon if he's not powerless.) I think all the sorcerer-kings would be aware of someone on the cusp of becoming a dragon, though. I seem to recall something where they ganged up on an SK that was about to make the transformation, because they were afraid of him rampaging like the first dragon. And they're generally described as being wary of powerful characters in their world. After reading said blog post, I find that it clears the question up quite nicely. So in effect, the sorcerer king-pact warlock is just a guy who the SK invested with enough ability to wield magic, but actually wields that magic independently of the SK. So the metaphysics are equable; the warlock/templar can eventually accrue enough skill to bust the SK's head if desired without fearing the loss of powers.
#5 Duke5150 Jun 07, 2010 4:34:07	But chances are that when a templar nears a level of power a sorcerer king finds threatening, the sorcerer king will simply destroy the templar. That's what used to happen in 2e. In 4e, it would open up some very nice personal subplots and quests. Like staying alive, fighting your old allies and being forced to either run far away or confront your old master. Sort of like a government spy who knows too much.