Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 anthonyj Aug 03, 2008 21:48:29	I'm playing around a monster concept (4e, though the concept works in 3e). The basic concept is this: Warforged Warcarrier A Warcarrier is construct that resembles a huge metal turtle. It doesn't have huge attack by itself, but five creatures can fit inside of it. One of them is the driver (though he can attack if he doesn't take a standard action to use the warcarrier's attacks); the other four are ranged attackers. There is a firing slit on each side, and in the middle of the body there is a turret (again, with a firing slit). The firing slits are suitable for wands or crossbows. I'm thinking that it works better for a small race (goblin, halfling, kobold), since then the warcarrier can be much smaller. Dwarf will do in a pinch. However, I'm not sure which groups would be likely to actually invent such an odd object.
#2 JohnLynch Aug 03, 2008 21:57:52	I'd say its a bit anachronistic, but we do have trains, planes and robots. So I'd say this would make a wonderful Dhakaani artifact (which has become less useful with most Dhakaani living in mountains). Alternatively a warlord goblin seeking to overthrow Darguun's ruler has created it. Or perhaps if you have the Valenar getting quite a bit more antagonistic in trying to invade the Talenta Plains, Karrnath has had this built in an attempt to try to arm the halflings to help them fight better. This of course creates the typical conundrum, encouraging a technologically primitive people to learn new technologies (despite not wanting to) just to survive. Some tribes might embrace these machines, others would think them the work of an evil god.
#3 anthonyj Aug 03, 2008 22:17:21	Or perhaps if you have the Valenar getting quite a bit more antagonistic in trying to invade the Talenta Plains, Karrnath has had this built in an attempt to try to arm the halflings to help them fight better. Ooh, I hadn't even considered the idea that the operators might not be the same as the inventors. Since I just had a plot point in the campaign where the PCs were involved with a quasi-covert arms sales of dwarven weapons into the Talenta Plains (with Karrnathi subsidies, and various side politics from factions in the Talenta Plains who would rather fight with Karrnath) that works nicely.
#4 snarky_monkey Aug 03, 2008 22:48:24	Da Vinci designed something very similar back in the late 1400s, a predecessor to the tank, so something like this in Eberron seems very plausible. Adding to JohnLynch's thoughts, perhaps the origin of this vehicle is actually mysterious as well. The designs could of been discovered in some ancient manuscript, similar to the Da Vinci codex for example. The existence of this codex could be an interesting point of intrigue as the forces that come across your Warcarrier would attempt to discover it's origins leading to a competition to perhaps steal this codex and reveal what other mysteries it might contain.
#5 osterweil_dup Aug 04, 2008 1:31:00	The Talenta Plains halflings could use a live dinosaur-turtle as a war mount or kill one and use the exoskeleton for building this machine.
#6 goblin_pride Aug 04, 2008 2:53:39	The Talenta Plains halflings could use a live dinosaur-turtle as a war mount or kill one and use the exoskeleton for building this machine. But with Karrnathi help, why would they build a machine? Definately a Cannith creation for wealthy Mror dwarves to make travelling and fighting easier. Gotta be.
#7 osterweil_dup Aug 04, 2008 3:27:19	But with Karrnathi help, why would they build a machine? Definately a Cannith creation for wealthy Mror dwarves to make travelling and fighting easier. Gotta be. I agree that a Cannith creation is the logical choice - but (and since Karrnath is involved) the fun choice is an intelligent zombie-dinosaur-turtle
#8 ieattrollsforbreakfast Aug 04, 2008 6:02:20	Why not step back from 'warforged' and have it be an earth-elemental bound vehicle instead? Thus making it a Zil gnome invention, or a collaborative work between the Twelve and Zilargo. That gives you a small race to drive the thing (gnomes), and a unique hook: one of the few weapons built for Zilargo, a nation that usually steers clear of military options.
#9 rekko Aug 04, 2008 10:43:16	I just have to say this: Mumakil siege tower on the top of a Dire Triceratops driven by savage halflings! As for something more like the Warcarrier, I'd go with Trolls' idea. However, I would like to see something like that in Droaam, maybe in the possession of the gnolls. Rekko
#10 anthonyj Aug 04, 2008 11:27:51	I just have to say this: Mumakil siege tower on the top of a Dire Triceratops driven by savage halflings! Heh. True, you could just put an armored howdah on top of a large beast.
#11 That_Blasted_Somoflange Aug 04, 2008 12:53:48	Heh. True, you could just put an armored howdah on top of a large beast. I've always thought that the word howdah came about by those seeing it on top of large beasts as being: "Howdah hell, we gonna to fight that?!"
#12 mystrich Aug 04, 2008 19:04:40	Makes me think of the siege crab found in the Monster Manual 3, which according to the Eberron adaption was used in the war for this purpose. (It's a crab with a trap door and people can live inside.
#13 Ashlock Aug 05, 2008 10:04:55	If this is to be a Karrnathi vehicle, take inspiration from Masters of the Universe. It's silly, but it's also kinda cool in concept. :P Battle Bones http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj_06pyARWg So think of some sort of necromantic-powered skeleton or zombie of something very big. Doesn't need to be intelligent; that would be expensive and complicated. Just need a necromancer riding as the "helmsman."
#14 ChaoticGood Aug 13, 2008 21:22:26	So think of some sort of necromantic-powered skeleton or zombie of something very big. Doesn't need to be intelligent; that would be expensive and complicated. Just need a necromancer riding as the "helmsman." I have a great image in my head of the necromancer having an armored "cockpit" inside the hollow of the beastie's skull (the braincase, not the mouth), accessible only by gaseous form or something of that nature.