2 questions reposted....

[Soviet]

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Uhm...a short while ago I posted some questions, but noone never answered
them...
so I'm posting them again just in the slim chance that they didn't get through
the first time..
1) What exactly is the Shadow World? is it the standard demi-plane of shadow or
something completely different?

2) has anyone tried using the old D&D mass combat system CHAINMAIL instead of
warcards?


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Uhm...a short while ago I posted some questions, but noone never answered
them...
so I'm posting them again just in the slim chance that they didn't
get through the first time..
1) What exactly is the Shadow World? is it the standard demi-plane
of shadow or something completely different?
2) has anyone tried using the old D&D mass combat system CHAINMAIL
instead of warcards?
 

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[Pieter Sleijpen]

Soviet wrote:
>
>
> Uhm...a short while ago I posted some questions, but noone never
> answered them...
> so I'm posting them again just in the slim chance that they didn't get
> through the first time..
> 1) What exactly is the Shadow World? is it the standard demi-plane of
> shadow or something completely different?

It is a grimmer version of the real world. If you know White Wolves
darkworld it is comparable to the Penumbra in that setting. Meaning that
it is more or less a copy of the real world but with some differences.
New buildings or changes to the landscape have not shown themselves yet
in the Shadow World, while ruins on the real world might be completely
whole in the Shadow World. Personally i don't think human build things
show themselves on the Shadow World. As for its orientation in the
planar world: officially it is in stead of the border ethereal...

> 2) has anyone tried using the old D&D mass combat system CHAINMAIL
> instead of warcards?
>

Not me...I don't even know it rules (I am not playing that long :-) )To unsubscribe from this list send mail to majordomo@lists.imagiconline.com
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[Mark A Vandermeulen]

On Wed, 30 Jun 1999, Soviet wrote:

>
> Uhm...a short while ago I posted some questions, but noone never answered
> them...
> so I'm posting them again just in the slim chance that they didn't get through
> the first time..
> 1) What exactly is the Shadow World? is it the standard demi-plane of shadow or
> something completely different?

It is something different. In effect, in terms of game mechanics, it is a
corrupted version of the combined border etheral and border astral,
although in background and descriptions it seems much akin to the medieval
concept of the "Faerie Veil," a near-parrallel world where being of great
power and malice rule.

In my own version, the Shadow world is a sort of cross between the Spirit
World of shamanistic cultures and the conceptual world of platonic ideals,
although corrupted by the previous rule of (and in my case, the continuing
presence of) Azrai. I've developed a concept of a great cataclism that
split the plane of Aebrynnis in two long ago, dividing the physical from
the spiritual, some time long ago in the past (before even the rule of
elves--during the time of Giants and Dragons spoken of in KotGD).

In my case, the Shadow world is a place of spirit and idea, of great flux
and change. It is easily corrupted by Azrai, because it had no true form
or substance to lend it strength to resist. The Shadow world is seen with
the mind rather than with the physical eyes (but few besides the halflings
are well-enough trained to know that). Thus, though there are spiritual
beings that live in the shadow world, few have any true form, and visitors
to the shadow world see them differently, each based on his or her own
worst fears and what he or she EXPECTS to see. If you expect to see undead
armies, that's what you will see. If you have an overwhelming fear of
spiders, the place will be crawling with spiders of every concievable
description (an not a few inconceivable onces).

Shadow spirits/creatures can have immense power in the shadow world,
depending on how much of a true mind they possess. The stronger the mind,
the more that mind can forge the fluid material of the Shadow World into
what it desires. The Shadow world "near" the physical plane takes on a dim
reflection of Cerilia, a response to the very solidity of the physical,
but powerful Shadow Spirits can change them, or create their very own
domains, in proportion to the power of their minds. Most shadow spirits
are mindless, or have tiny minds that writhe with instinct and insanity.
They crave solidity, as that will allow them an "anchor" against which
they can grow in mental strength. Thus, when Shadow Spirits cross into the
physical, they typically seek a physical vessel to hold their
spirit--favored of which is, of course, a dead corpse, thus giving rise to
zombies and skeletons and others of the lesser undead.

Giving a shadow spirit a name and writing that name down also provides it
an "anchor" and knowledge of that name allows necromancers to command
those spirits, but the name also allows the spirit to grow in strength.
Some of the earliest of the named spirits are now so powerful that they
can defeat most of the necromancers who summon them.

In addition, the Shadow World cloaks and obscures any approach to the
physical plane of Aebrynnis, including both Astral and Etheral. Any one
wishing to walk the planes to or from Cerilia must pass the Shadow World
first. This explains why priests are so important in Cerilia. The fact
that shadow spirits can cross over and create undead emphasized the
importance of burial in hallowed ground, and last rites/burial ceremonies
are important because it creates a direct link from the priest to the
priest's god's Astral Kingdom which the deceased's soul can follow to its
final reward. Dead comrades who are left behind often become lost in the
Shadow World without that beacon, and may live on in unlife to haunt their
careless comrades, until the proper rituals are done to summon the soul
and send it on.

Just a few thoughts which you are free to use or disregard.

> 2) has anyone tried using the old D&D mass combat system CHAINMAIL instead of
> warcards?

Can't help you there. Never heard of it. Although lots of people do use
variant versions of one form or another. I believe a few of them are
detailed in the Netbook.

Mark VanderMeulen
vander+@pitt.edu
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[Bob Cauthron]

> snip some very good campaign material<

> Just a few thoughts which you are free to use or disregard.

> Mark VanderMeulen
> vander+@pitt.edu

This is quite close to how I handle the Shadow World IMC. Well put,
sir. I favor the spiritual element of the shadow world, emphasizing the
non-physical nature of the realm, if that makes sense. The major difference
IMC is that the shadow world is a realm unto itself, but influenced by the
realms "around" it, and by certain forces and/or beings. It has existed long
before Cerilia did, and my players over the years have theorized that it has
ties to Ravenloft in some way (this is untrue, but I do play this one up at
times), although the two have "interaction" possibilities.
Mr. VanderMeulen's description of the shadow world is something I
concur with. Not only is it a supernatural place, it evokes a disturbing
feel as well.

Bob
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