Random Acts: Technology 1

Common Marvels
Super-advanced gadgets are everyday sights in alot of regions of Strange Eons, albeit often out of the hands of most folks. Some worlds, like Dione, Tethys and Themis (to name a few) require at least some measure of artificial regulation of the environment, though this sort of thing is maintained by ancient robotic constructs.
Most folk who live near or in sight of these ancient devices dont even notice them anymore, and often have elaborate folklore about them when asked.

A Word About Relic Technology
It needs to be stressed that relic technology is potentially very dangerous. The technologies used by the Ancients was so arcane as to render it indistinguishable from magic in many cases. Because of this, and relic device that has been recently discovered has a chance of having some dreadful malfunction. This is handled the same as a Cursed Magic Item, and should be handled in the same way.

Relic Vehicles
Beyond the common animal-drawn vehicles (or just riding animals), there are purely mechanical vehicles to carry a person about. These range from small one-person vehicles to vast starships designed to carry great numbers. This does NOT include things like the many riverboats and sea-going vessels, which are handled differently.
All relic vehicles are of immense complexity, designed to do their job pretty much on their own. As-such all such machines are considered specialized robots, capable of at least a small amount of self-governance, though they are generally subservient to a "pilot" using the Ride skill to control.
I will post information concerning robots and robot vehicles in a future post.

Relic Weapons
Relic technology is quite advanced, with some devices and advancement far beyond human skill and knowledge (so far). Use of Relic Weapons requires the specific Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Antimatter Rifle, Laser Pistol etc); otherwise a –4 penalty is assessed against all attack rolls.

Antimatter Rife: A devastating short-range weapon that can be fired no more than once per round. Those slain by an antimatter rifle are completely destroyed, with no chance at resurrection. The imprisoned energy cell is drained after two shots. Reloading is a standard action. Large Rifle, Damage: 6d10, Crit: x2, Range Increment: 10ft, Type: Special, Market Price: 4,450gp.

Energy Cell: Used to supply charges for relic devices. Cost: 4gp each.

Laser Pistol: Laser pistols can be fired fifty times before the energy cell is drained and have a rate of fire equal to the users number of attacks. Reloading is a standard action. Small Pistol, Damage: 2d10, Crit: x2, Range Increment: 100ft, Type: Special, Market Price: 1,200gp.

Laser Rifle: Laser Riles can be fired fifty times before the encased energy cell is drained and have a rate of fire equal to the users number of attacks. Reloading is a standard action. Large Rifle, Damage: 3d10, Crit: x2, Range Increment: 200ft, Type: Special, Market Price: 2,550gp.

Flamer: The flamer can only be fired once per round and drains the energy cell after ten uses. Reloading is a standard action. The gout of flame deals damage in a 5ft wide stream extending to the maximum range.
Damage: 3d6, Crit: x2, Range Increment: 20ft, Type: Special, Market Price:14,000gp.

Relic Melee Weapons
As with ranged weapons, these require a specific Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Sun Sword, Shiver Knife etc); otherwise a –4 penalty is assessed against all attack rolls.

Sun Sword (Whoosh-Hummmmm)
When inactive, a sun sword appears as an ornate weapon hilt. When activated, a hissing "blade" of energy issues from the hilt, to the length of a long sword blade. This energy blade is so destructive, that it completely ignored Hardness when used to damage objects also these wepons cannot be parried without another energy blade. These devices require a special self-recharging energy cell that costs 500gp (sold separately) that is completely drained after the sword has been activated ten times.
Medium Melee Weapon, Damage: 3d8, Crit: 19-20 x2, Type: Special, Market Price: 3,000gp,

The next Technology post will be about ROBOTS!

Below is a brief film of "kinetic sculptor" Theo Jansen. Perhaps some of the more subtle (or not so subtle) robotic beings of Strange Eons will have grown from the eerie designs of this brilliant man.

Tethys: The Inceran

INCERAN
Small Humanoid
Hit Dice: 2d8 (9)
Initiative: +3 (Dex)
Speed: 20 ft., swim 30 ft.
Armor Class: 16 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +2 natural)
Attacks: Mace, light +2 melee, Sling +4 ranged
Damage: Mace, light 1d6+1, Sling 1d4+1
Face/Reach: 5 ft. by 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Qualities: Low-Light Vision, Ink cloud, jet
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +1
Abilities: Str 12, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 3
Skills: Hide +6, Listen +3, Spot +3
Feats: Alertness, Simple Weapon Proficiency.
Climate/Terrain: Tethys coasts or floating archipelagos.
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: By character class

Level Adjustment: 0

"Go make thyself like a nymph o' the sea: be subject
To no sight but thine and mine, invisible
To every eyeball else. Go take this shape
And hither come in't: go, hence with diligence!"
-Prospero, The Tempest

The Inceran are an aquatic race of creature descended from octopi, elevated to humanoid status through the use of ancient magic. Such "animal men" were created for use as laborers and as test subjects, but now live wild in many places.
Inceran stand roughly 31/2 feet tall, and have rubbery flesh and a distincly octopus-like head. Color ranges considerably and changes with the creatures mood or whims. All inceran have a liking for brightly colored objects and jewelry.
Inceran speak their own tongue and common.

Combat
Inceran are intelligent, though cautious fighters, always having an escape route available.
Amphibious (Ex): Inceran can survive out of the water for 1 hour per 2 points of Constitution.
Ink Cloud (Ex): While in the water, an inceran can emit a cloud of jet-black ink 10 feet high by 10 feet wide by 10 feet long once a minute as a free action. The cloud provides total concealment, which the inceran normally uses to escape a losing fight. Creatures within the cloud suffer the effects of total darkness.
Jet (Ex): An inceran in the water can jet backward once a round as a double move action, at a speed of 200 feet.
Illiterate: Inceran are illiterate as a Barbarian, though in the incerans case, this cannot be bought off by taking a literate class. Because of this, inceran cannot take levels as a wizard, though other spellcasting classes are possible.
Skills: An inceran can change colors, giving it a +4 racial bonus to Hide checks.

Society
The inceran keep away from humanity for the most part, trading with fishermen or treasure seekers on occasion. Inceran druids or clerics are sometimes sought as healers and wisemen, but more often than not are feared. As inceran holy men, are less inclined to side with a human against the cruel sea than are human clerics.During the long day, Inceran are solitary and avoid each other except in crisis. During the long night however, inceran gather in large underwater caves heated by geothermal heat to dwell together. While there, they exhage in long debates and musical competitions. It is in this time that mates are chosen.

Inceran Characters
Inceran characters prefer the Cleric or Druid class. Inceran clerics typically choose the Water and Magic domains, and revere the Titan Oceanus, a male aspect of Tethys.

Strange Eons: Religion

Religion
Religion (as always) is complex in Strange Eons. For though there is powerful proof of the supernatural, past marvels of mankind have created a cynicism in the common man. Many see religion as an alliance with powerful forces rather than an awe-inspiring experience. Magic, whether arcane or divine is visible, and so requires little or no faith to believe in.
It is because of this that very few people are capable of opening themselves up to the divine enough to become clerics, as a considerable amount of awe is required.
The setting of Strange Eons has many religions, from ancestor worship, reverence of powerful alien intelligences, machines or more abstract concepts. Each has many faces and foci, but only a handful actually produce clerics capable of drawing energy enough to cast spells. They are as follows:

Planetary Oracles (Clerics)
Planetary Oracles are those clerics who revere the power and majesty of their planetary life force, seeking to gain knowledge and power from this massive life-field, and to act as its spokespersons in the world of men. Whether seen as an intelligent being, or an unthinking organism, a planets homeostatic life force is slow to react and communicate, and thus it requires spokesmen and protectors.
Individual planetary cults exist all over the known worlds, communicating the demands of their world to their people, and attempting to guide their people to surviving the fickle and cruel demands of nature. Depending upon the world or region, Planetary Oracles might be found living as a village wise-person, a crazy hermit or adviser to kings.
Cleric Alignment: Any.
Domains: Any two desired, but can only select an alignment domain (such as Good) if the clerics alignment is the same.
Preferred Weapon: Dependant upon region and world. An oracle of Tethys for instance; might choose the net or trident, or perhaps a weapon made from coral or teeth.

Xenogen Cults (Alien Entities)
The alien xenogen sometimes gather cults around themselves, doling out magical energies to their followers for unknown reasons. Such clerics, though powerful, are playing with fire, as these alien beings are impossible to truly understand.
Enormous temples dedicated to one or more Xenogen have been erected, in which dwell at least one major Xenogen being. Within these temples all manner of horror take place, from human sacrifice to vast cross-species orgies of sex and mutilation. Xenogens do not often lay down rules, but rather the clerics must take careful notes to ensure how best to interpret the needs of these alien monsters.
Cleric Alignments: Any Non-Good.
Domains: Chaos, Evil, Magic.
Preferred Weapon: Tentacle (Unarmed Strike).

Machine Cults (Robot Cults)
The machines of the ancients are many, some of whom continue to maintain the artificially maintained conditions of terraformed worlds. As many such robots are busy with maintaining and protecting planetary life forces, Planetary Oracles are often drawn to work with them, becoming half-mechanics in their own right. Such specialized clerics are created as standard Clerics (or other primary divine spellcaster), but are always Lawful and called to gain proficiency in Craft (Mechanism) and Knowledge (Technology) or Knowledge (Architecture/Engineering). Some become so proficient, that they gain skill with the building and attaching or Robotic Construct Limbs (see below).

Construct limbs: One or more of the subject's limbs are replaced with artificial limbs. There are two types of construct limbs: robotic construct limb. Each type is described below.Robotic construct limb: These are wonders of magical engineering that approximate the form of the lost limb and grant the subject increased strength and/or speed. They are more often used to replace lost or irreparably damaged limbs than living ones. These limbs grant a +2 enhancement bonus to Strength (for arms) or +10 feet to base speed (for legs). If both arms or legs are replaced, the bonus is doubled. The limb is constructed of magically enhanced steel, mithral, or some combination thereof, but is rendered impervious to rust as a byproduct of its manufacture. It has hardness 15 and can withstand up to 50 hit points before being destroyed; these hit points are exclusive of the subject's normal total.Gaining mechanical limbs has a learning curve – it takes time to adjust to the new prosthetic limbs and exactly how far they can go. If the character has a new arm, he suffers a -4 penalty to all skills that require fine manipulation (Open Locks, Sleight of Hand, etc.) for a number of weeks equal to 15 minus his Int score (minimum 1 week). If the new limb is a leg, he suffers a -2 penalty to Dex-related checks and Reflex saves. A second limb of the same type also requires a time of adjustment, but it is halved (minimum 1 week).

Creation: Crafting mechanical limbs requires a DC 20 Craft (Mechanism) check and a DC 15 Knowledge (Technology) check. An arm or leg for a Medium creature costs 10,000 gp; decrease the cost by 1,000 per size below Medium, or increase it by 2,500 per size above Medium.

STRANGE EONS: Society

The thing to remember about Strange Eons, is that its a world at the end of a truly enormous history. Reminders of mans space-faring accomplishments and technological achievements are everywhere. Ruins of ancient cities and grounded starships litter the landscape in many regions, and in some cases comprise all available living space.
Mankind lives beneath the shadow of so much history that he feels overwhelmed at times. There is so much history to slog through, that most people don't care to bother, leaving the cataloging of history to archivist robots.

Population
Long past are the days of enormous cities filled to bursting with human life. Now mankind lives in far flung city states and remote villages and tribes. As the years pass, there are less and less true humans being born, as this once mighty race comes to a slow end.
Some planetary Oracles (clerics) claim that mankind's vitality is linked with the life-force of her mother world Gaia, and as she drifts into a final sleep so shall mankind dwindle. It is postulated that mankind must either seek to revitalize her (a daunting task), or bind themselves more fully with another world spirit. Most prefer to do nothing, and so mankind dwindles.
Certain "breeds" of human are more populous than others, as their livelihoods and numbers are a subject of resources and are force-bred. Other breeds, living wild and untamed lives have recaptured some of mans ancient zest for life, but are brutal versions of mankind, more animal than anything else.

Morality
The "civilized" people of Strange Eons have given in to a sort of decadent apathy, lacking strong enough feelings about grisly acts of depravity. Dreadful acts such as slavery, torture, public bloodsport and even occasional cannibalism (of "lesser" breeds of humanoid of course), are not readily rejected.
Amongst wizards and sorcerers, this apathy often takes the form of a "scientific" detachment. This allows them to take part in the most obscene despoiling of a person or creature out of mere curiosity.
Strangely enough, it is the barbarian who most often rejects such acts as evil, going out of his way to destroy would-be practitioners of such acts. Many barbarian tribes see this apathy as a sure sign of the evils of civilization.
Strong alignment is rare in regards to Good or Evil, though the more seriously apathetic could be considered Evil. Rather most "civilized" folk tend towards Lawful Neutrality, or even true Neutrality.

Government
Large empires are a thing of the past for most folks, with city-states the most often seen governmental system, though some will be quite large. All such city-states will be ruled by one or more predominant families, who themselves are beholding to powerful wizards in some way.
Conflict and rivalry between city-states is common, with raids, sabotage and outright war fairly common. The reasons for this can be virtually anything, from bloodlust and vengeance to a real or imagined insult. Life is cheap in this era.
Some traveling cultures exist, living their entire lives in motion up and down the rivers or coastline, or between worlds in spacecraft. These will be handled in later postings.

Nobles
Quite different from the petty kings of savage regions (who are little more than peasants), the "true" nobles of Strange Eons are the result of many generations of careful breeding and culture. These rulers of men, are the aristocratic elite, who exist in splendor and decadence amidst the fruits of their ancestors labors, while the common man drudges on.
Nobles rule through force of might, often coupled with technological and/or magical support. The greatest of rulers are those with magical abilities, either Wizards or Sorcerers or perhaps Clerics (though the last is rare). Access to some ancient tech is also a plus, though having such a device will likely result in a powerful spellcaster coming to take it for himself.


The Common Man
The common man of Strange Eons is surprisingly skeptical, despite being quasi-medieval in culture. Even magic is often assumed to be some marvel of forgotten technology than a supernatural force. Despite this skepticism, commoners rarely know more than the simplest versions about the past,
This doesn't mean that the common folk lack a sense of wonder, its just that they posses a sort of stiff-necked practicality that makes them haughty in the face of "superstition".
The common folk of different regions and worlds are very different in many ways, but all live simple, short, hard lives of toil. Dangerous creatures both wild and domestic haunt their world, but they trudge on regardless. Technology is between that of 14th-16th century Europe, but can be considerably more primitive.

Guilds
Powerful organizations of common craftsmen, the guilds hold tremendous power. Within city-states, the guilds control all craftsmen, meting out harsh justice on "freelance" craftsmen. Individual guilds all control their own specialized lore and maintain histories of their craft. Often, it is guildsmen who are the best equipped to maintain ancient technology, and in some cases beild new versions of old designs.
Some guilds are: Alchemists, Apothecaries, Beast Handlers, Blacksmith and Metal-workers, Brewers, Coachmen, Cobblers, Furriers, Guardsmen, Leather Workers, Librarians, Machinists, Navigators, Shipwrights, Slavers and many others.
Obviously, hunter-gathering cultures have no need for guilds, and thus Barbarian types don't know what to make of the guilds.

Barbarians
Far from the cultural centers and city states, savage tribes of humans and other beings hold to different lays and customs. Few barbarian peoples know anything about mans past achievements, living for the now in violent splendour. It should come as no surprise that barbarians are far more vital and prone to strong populations than "civilized" peoples, though their exuberant lives are far shorter.
Barbarians are particularly prevelent upon Dione (Mars) and Tethys (Venus) though they differ greatly in physical makeup. Barbarian religion often denounces all arcane magic as evil, and a few advocate orders of wizard slayers.

Strange Eons: Classes and Skills

Many of the classes originally presented in the Players Handbook are perfectly appropriate, though there will be some changes. I personally like the Generic Classes approach to D20 games, as it allows personal versatility, and for a more individualistic character selection.
In the shattered remnants of a once mighty people, mankind has been brought back to the basics of survival, though with constant reminders of what has been lost all around him.
STRANGE EONS CLASSES

Below are the PHB player character classes of the Strange Eons setting:

Barbarian: No changes necessary in a Strange Eons campaign. As the worlds have plunged into untamed and often alien savagery, man has needed to learn to fight hard to survive. In such a world, the barbarian often reigns supreme.
Bard: No changes necessary in a Strange Eons campaign. Aristocratic magicians of no small reputation, bards are considered to be the only "good" spellcasters by the common folk of Strange Eons. Many bards can be found operating as cult leaders and advisors as well as adventurers.
Cleric: No changes necessary in a Strange Eons campaign. Though all Clerics will either follow Planetary Cults, Machine Cults, or Xenogen (alien) demon cults. See Strange Eons Religion for more details.
Druid: No changes necessary in a Strange Eons campaign. Same as Clerics, though without large religious structures. These spellcasters tend to only be found in the most remote of locales.
Fighter: No changes necessary in a Strange Eons campaign. This is the most common PC class for a Strange Eons campaign.
Monk: No changes necessary in a Strange Eons campaign. Monks are often religious leaders of various cults and philosophies. Cults dedicated to powerful wizards often sport many monk orders, acting as "witch hunters" sent out to cut down on the number of up-and-coming wizards.
Paladin: Inappropriate to a Strange Eons campaign. The gods of the Strange Eons setting are either more force than person, amoral or terribly evil, this class doent fit well.
Ranger: No changes necessary in a Strange Eons campaign. Rangers exist along all of the fringes. Undead hunting rangers are common in the many half-ruined cities.

Rogue: No changes necessary in a Strange Eons campaign. This would also be a common PC class in Strange Eons.
Sorcerer: No changes necessary in a Strange Eons campaign. These peasant sorcerers are the most commonly encountered practitioners of the higher magics, though often ignorant of its deeper principles. Many sorcerers were granted their powers from the bizarre processes of the Xenogen aliens.
Wizard: No changes necessary in a Strange Eons campaign. The top magical power in the setting and thus the most feared of creatures. The most powerful wizards are ancient beings some of whom remember earlier ages of mans might.
Prestige Classes

Forester: Wilderness warriors that seek to maintain the natural order, and eliminate unnatural creatures. Replace the Requirements as follows:
Base Attack Bonus: +4.
Skills: Wilderness Lore 9 ranks, Knowledge (nature) 5 ranks.
Feats: Ambidexterity, Track.
Special: Must have been accepted and trained by Gardener Robotic Constructs or another Forester.
Gypsy: Traveling mystics and diviners, gypsy's can be found on any world.

Serpent Archer: Worshipers of serpents and serpent monsters, these mystics are greatly feared. Most often found on the world Tethys, where they are known as Ufions Children.
Scorpion Scion: Worshipers of poisonous vermin, these mystics are greatly feared. Most often found on the world Tethys and are most active at night.

Knowledge (Technology) (Int)
You can make a Knowledge (technology) check to correctly identify airships as well as identify unfamiliar technological devices.
Check: The DCs for identifying technological items vary depending on the type of information required:

• Identifying an airship by its type: DC 10.
• Determining the function or purpose of a particular mechanical system: DC 15.
• Determining the function or purpose of a particular mechanical or electrical system: DC 15.
• Recalling the standard, factory-model design specs of a particular type or class of airship: DC 20.

When confronted with an unfamiliar piece of technology or artifact, you can make a Knowledge (technology) check to correctly surmise the primary (if not singular) purpose of the device. A successful check result does not enable you to activate the item, nor does it make you proficient with the item. The DC of the Knowledge (technology) check depends on the item being identified:

Unfamiliar Item	DC
Basic tool or instrument	10
Vehicular component	15
Airship component	20
Ancient weapon or biotechnology	25

Pilot (Dex)
You can use the Pilot skill to fly any kind of airship.
Check: Unless you have the appropriate Airship Operation feat, you take a −4 penalty on Pilot checks made to pilot an airship.

Repair (Int)
You can use this skill to repair machines.
Check: Repairing damage to a device or construct takes 1 hour of work, a mechanical tool kit and a proper facility such as a workshop or hangar bay. (Without a tool kit, you take a −4 penalty on your Repair check.) At the end of the hour, make a Repair check (DC 20). Success repairs 2d6 points of damage. If damage remains, you may continue to make repairs for as many hours as it takes to restore the vehicle to full hit points.
Special: A construct, device or vehicle that is reduced to 0 hp cannot be repaired. It can be salvaged for parts, however.

STRANGE EONS: Tethys Tidbits

"Thee gliding through the sea of form,
Like the lightning through the storm,
Somewhat not to be possessed,
Somewhat not to be caressed,
No feet so fleet could ever find,
No perfect form could ever bind.
-Ode To Beauty, R.W. Emerson

I will be posting additional information of the Strange Eons campaign setting soon. Focusing upon the world of Tethys (our Venus), its people, faiths, creatures and oddities. Discussing this one world of the far future is a big task, so I will be giving it in parts. Below are some tidbits about Tethys and a human racial variant that is fairly numerous in the forested interior of many of Tethys islands.
ConditionsTethys is a hot world, averaging 90 degrees in the daytime, with 80-100% humidity with nights dropping to an average of 40 degrees. A day (and night) on Tethys is 243 Gaian (Earth) days in length. Fog and storms are frequent in the long evening hours as temperature and pressure drops quickly, creating severe to hurricane level winds, and thunderstorms (see Environmental dangers in the DMG or here).A large civilization of nomads exist on Tethys, following seagoing animals and harvesting edible plants during the long day and moving to island settlements during the night. Few of these travelling folk dwell permanently in the nightime communities though those who do must maintains these seasonal cities for the tribes return. All of these communities must be defensible, as many dread predators stalk the nightime forests and shorelines of Tethys.There are two jungle-covered continents on Tethys, both of whom sport civilizations to be detailed soon. Life in these lands is harsh, as there are many warring cultures and dangerous beasts.

Singers of Barnumbirr (Spellcaster Tradition)
Ancestor worshippers, who hold a (Gaian) week long festival in the long hours before the Tethys dawn, with the aid of a richly decorated "Morning Star Pole", the singers claim to be able to communicate with their dead loved ones, showing that they still love and remember them.

Cities of Glass and Air (Aerostat Habitats)
Orbiting Tethys every four Gaian days, these massive floating fortresses are now all but abandoned by human life. It is said that these flying cities were originally made to act as heat shields and atmospheric processors for the planet. They appear as though made of glass, and operated by ancient robots.
Sometimes a caretaker robot from one of the cities will come down to the surface for unknown reasons. Mostly these robotic beings avoid human contact, but sometimes they seek out humans to batter with strange questions or even to take away to their sky homes.

Greenfolk (Template)

These plant people were originally bred for labor and pleasure slaves, but now can be found living wild in many forested regions. Greenfolk appear as standard humans, though quite beautiful, with green skin, and white, green, yellow, or blue hair. Though possessing decidedly male and female forms, all greenfolk are Hermaphrodites, possessing both male and female reproductive organs. Green folk young spend their infant years as immobile plants called a homuncili root, arising as young adults after only four Gaian years.
The greenfolk of Tethys are called Oceanids, or Dryads, while on Gaia they are known as Nymphs or Nereids. Greenfolk are virtually unknown on other worlds.
Greenfolk are a friendly people, though given to strange flights of fancy. Though appearing to have the same emotional extremes as humans, greenfolk view sex and relationships in terms of “play” rather than long-standing bonds. This has fueled the prose of many tragic romances amongst love-besotted humans. Game-wise, greenfolk are the same as humans in every way save as follows:

• Attributes: +2 Constitution, -2 Intelligence.
• Plant Type: Plants are immune to poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, and polymorphing. They are not subject to critical hits or mind-influencing effects.
• Low-light Vision: Greenfolk can see twice as far as a human in starlight, moonlight, torchlight, and similar conditions of poor illumination. They retain the ability to distinguish color and detail under these conditions.
• Photosynthesis: Greenfolk require 1/2 the daily requirement of food as determined by their size if the character spends at least one hour in sunlight.
• Skills: Greenfolk receive a +2 racial bonus to Hide, Listen, Move Silently, and Spot checks.
• Level Adjustment: +2.

Creatures of Tethys
The following creatures from the Monstrous Manual are fairly common on Tethys:Ankheg, Animal (aquatic and jungle types), Assasin Vine, Athach, Dinosaur (Any), Dire Animal (Any), Fungus, and all forms of Monstrous Vermin (including the Giant Dragonfly and Firefriend). Many other monsters do exist, particularly Elementals and the more nature or elementally-oriented Outsiders such as the Arrowhawk, Couatl, Leomarh, Lillend and Mudmen.In addition to the varieties mentioned in the Monstrous Manual, many other species of Dinosaurs and Dire Animals are common, and even domesticated on occasion.

STRANGE EONS: Basic Setting.

Far in the future, mankind journeys to the stars and unlocks wonders rarely even dreamt of in previous eras. A vast interstellar empire rose, was torn down, rose and was torn down in again an ever escalating series of genocidal wars. Now, mans empire long decimated, with the remnants of humanity and her kin scattered across many worlds, on the brink of extinction.

This setting will be set far in the future, in a time when everything has been done. Marvels of technology have been created, and the interstellar utopia envisioned by transhumanists came crashing down. Now mankind waits in the shadows of his own hubris, degenerated into nigh-savagery, and ruled over by wizards and dread intelligences.

Worlds

Earth herself was very nearly mined out in mans hunger for fuel and building materials, and he ecology very nearly destroyed. Most animals on Earth now are either alien in origin, mutations or the products of ancient labs seeking to re-seed mans home, with mixed results. Now with so much ancient lore inaccessible to the common person, that this "new earth" is a very hostile place for mankind (and womankind too).
In mankind's push to the stars many worlds were sought out and colonized. Massive terraforming took place ages ago by the efforts of the impressive Gardener robots (to be detailed later). Some worlds that were thus transformed are as follows:

Dione (Mars): The first world transformed by the hungry Earth. Now dotted with warring tribes and a few cities dominated by powerful wizards, most notably Crius of The Burning Word, a spellcaster of considerable might.

Gaia (Earth): A world that in past ages was so horribly despoiled as to very nearly render her inert. Now she is a cool, almost barren world, dotted here and there with civilization but on the whole a savage place. Though life is still here (albeit cruel and often alien), ages of cruel misuse and mans apathy towards its mother have left the mother world in a downward spiral. In many regions, the soil is inert and lifeless, and strange creatures haunt her wastes and cities.

Tethys (Venus): A tropical world dominated by shallow seas and many islands. A very humid and storm-ridden world, with tribes of nomads journeying across her monster-haunted waters. Vast ancient cities that drift through the skies though ancient sorceries.
Themis (Europa): A cold world though with vibrant life.
Phoebe (Moon): A strange world of strange silvery forests and bizarre life, living in terraformed domes and cavern complexes. Humans of any description are not welcome here.

Magic

Arcane magic is the most powerful magic known in the setting, representing the product of dread mathematics used to access the energies of White and Black holes (with some technology accessing the same sources of power). Wizards are the absolute rulers wherever one of their number gains true power (Lvl 10+), while even Bards are considered magicians of note (and objects of awe).

Divine magic, such as that used by Clerics and Druids, will be considered a lesser and weaker magic by the Arcane elite. Divine magic accesses lesser and more subtle energies than does arcane magic. All divine spellcasters access the living biospheres of awakened worlds, though individual views on this practice will vary greatly.
Religion and gods is a big subject, which will be handled in greater detail in future postings. Though I should say that most "gods" will in fact be alien entities rather than purely supernatural forces, more in line with Chthulian beings. Super-powerful A.I.'s, lost intelligences from hyperspace, and the like. Some divine spellcasters will instead draw power from the living biospheres of a given world.
Summoning spells: Celestial and Infernal creatures are unknown, with Pseudonatural creatures being used in their stead. Planar Ally and Contact other Plane spells also access the far realm, or other alien beings.
Planar Travel: Faster than light travel is not possible through physical means. Exploration into traversing the dread gulfs of time and distance gave rise to sub-dimensions, where distance and time sre different and meaningless. In D&D terms, these dimensions are the Astral and the Far Realm, with no other known planes existing.

Technology

The devices of the ancients are true wonders of engineering and a testament of their marvelous skills. That said, these machines are all but unknowable to people of the present era, as mankind long ago left the knowledge and further development in the hands and minds of servitor robots. Now technology is as arcane to the common man as is magic, and met with much the same fear.
True construction of new machines are handled the same as with magic items, as well as the appropriate skills. Most repair or alter existing devices, rather than even attempt to build new ones. The Use Magic Device skill works on machines the same way as it does magic items.

Races

Rather than relying upon the standard fall-backs of fantasy such as Dwarves and Elves, I want this setting to be a human one. Humans, withe startling variety, are the available player characters. This has the benifit of being (hopefully) familiar to players, as well as allowing a roleplaying foil to underline just how far man has come and fallen.

Human

Humans typically live in squalor in the shadows of the sorcerer-kings, but some hold positions of power. Many humans lead short-lived lives, but a rare few achieve greatness.

Human Species Traits:

• Medium-Size.
• Humans have a base speed of 30ft.
• Humans gain 4 extra skill points at first level and also gain an additional 1-skill point per additional level gained. These points are not multiplied at first level, they are added after starting skill points have been calculated.
• Humans gain 1 free bonus feat at 1^st level. This is due to the facts are quick to be masters of their chosen specialized tasks, and also the fact that humans are a species with a variety of talent.
• Automatic Language: Common

Hyper cephalic (Template)

Hyper cephalic is a template can be added to any human. These beings are the “higher” caste of ancients, existing as leaders of the lore of the ancients. As the name indicates, hyper cephalic have enormous, hairless heads.

• Attributes: -2 Strength, +6 Intelligence, +4 Charisma.
• Mindspeech (Su): Hyper cephalics can communicate telepathically with any creature with whom it shares a language. Few hyper cephalics bother communicating verbally.
• Greater Knowledge: All knowledge skills are class skills for a hyper-cephalic.
• Automatic Languages: As base creature plus any Three.
• Level Adjustment: +1

Android (Template)

The Android template can be added to any human. These beings are the result of the ancient’s exhaustive efforts to create a slave race through their technology. They resemble robotic or mannequin-like humans with bland features. Game-wise, they (from now on referred to as the “base creature”) are the same as unaltered humans in every way save as follows:

• Attributes: +2 Strength, +2 Intelligence, -2 Wisdom, -2 Charisma.
• Living Construct Subtype (Ex): Immune to poison, disease, sleep effects, paralysis, nausea, fatigue, exhaustion, or any effect that causes a sickened condition, and energy drain. Living Constructs does not need to eat, sleep, or breath, but can still benefit from the effects of consumable spells, and potions. Constructs cannot heal naturally, but must be repaired with healing spells or successful Repair checks (DC 30), with a successful roll representing 1 hour of work and healing 1d10 points of damage.
• Natural Armor +4
• Rust Vulnerability (Ex): An androids half-metallic body is affected normally by rust attacks, such as that of a rust monster or a rusting grasp effect. All such rust attacks deal 3d6 points of damage +1 per caster level (maximum +15) per successful attack.
• Favored class: Fighter.
• Level Adjustment: +2

More to come, namely more races, settiing tidbits, gadgets, magic and more!

Campaign Setting Design 1

Creating a campaign world for a role playing game is very involved. But it can also be very rewarding for the GM (DM, Storyteller, etc). I prefer creating my own worlds because I am a creative person, and gain enthusiasm for the game the more of a "feel" I have for the setting.

So, I shall be posting my design notes here regarding a campaign setting. The basic premise will be a far-future of our own universe, where mankind has achieved, and lost a great many wonders. Think of it as a "Post-Historic" setting.

I will be calling it; STRANGE EONS

...But what system to use? I have a long fondness for D20 systems, and being as I intend this campaign setting to be largely fantasy, it will be some sort of D20 system. Perhaps a Dungeons and Dragons 3rd edition, with numerous tweaks to the system.

I was contemplating using the Basic Fantasy system, which I talked about in a previous post. This would take only a few system tweaks, and would be a good opportunity to take the system out for a ride so-to-speak.

What do you think?