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Re: Dwarves of the Karlmark
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 4:10 pm
by shadowmane
Today's update adds a lot of historical information, as well as information on the Hammerthrall philosophy. I haven't worked on any other classes, though I definitely have a few in mind. I want to get the history up through the rise of the current leader of the Hammerthrall. I haven't decided if I should go with Nikita, which would equate it with the 50's and 60's era Soviet Union, or with Brisnef, which would equate it with the rule of Brezhnev from the mid-60's until the early 80's.
I've introduced the Truskites, and intend to flesh them out. They are the alternative philosophy to the Hammerthrall of the Karlmark, and are the heavy evangelistic wing of the philosophy. They are modeled after the Trotskyist Communists. I've been doing a lot of research into the formation of the Soviet Union for this supplement. Its interesting reading.
Re: Dwarves of the Karlmark
Posted: Mon Oct 14, 2013 11:46 pm
by shadowmane
I've been working on another class this evening that will be in the 5th draft once I finish work on some of the other stuff. This one is quickly approaching a release 1 version. Please check this class and tell me if you see any gaping holes, or over powered junk. I have a table with it in the file, but the text shows the same thing as the table. Enjoy.
- Truskite Revolutionary/Hammerthrall Checker
A Truskite Revolutionary (hereafter Revolutionary) is the evangelistic hand of the Truskist Hammerthrall.
A Hammerthrall Checker (hereafter Checker) is the thought police of the Karlmark. It is they who are the guardians of the revolution, and the hand of the Extraordinary Commission.
This class very similar to the Confessor Quasi-Class in Kevin Smoot's Quasi-Classes Supplement.
This class uses the Thief table from the rule book (p. 8), and levels up as a Thief. This class also uses all of the Thief abilities on page 9 of the rule book. This class acts more in the role of a spy and revolutionary organizer than a Thief, though it does have a lot of the same abilities as a Thief.
Since the majority of Hammerthralls are atheists, they have no Clerics. This class takes the place of the Cleric class. As such, they Turn Undead as a Cleric, using a War Hammer as their “holy symbol”.
They may use martial weapons, and any armor, though heavier armors effect their Thieving abilities. Usually, they carry a staff, or its more martial cousin, the spear. They will also always be equipped with a War Hammer.
Requirements: To become a Revolutionary/Checker, you must have a Charisma score of 12 or higher and a Dexterity score of 9 or higher.
Special Abilities: At first level, the Revolutionary/Checker gains the Check ability. This ability acts as the detect lie spell, but only on other Hammerthralls. This ability adds different creature types at levels 6 and 8.
At level 2, the Revolutionary/Checker gains the Incite Revolutionary Zeal ability. This ability acts as the bless spell, but only on Hammerthralls. At 6th level, this ability effects near-human type creatures, and at 12th level, it effects any creature.
Also at 2nd level, the Revolutionary/Checker gains the Great Hammer ability. This ability acts as the spell Spiritual Hammer. This can be called on once per day at 2nd level, five times per day at 10th level, and at will at 15th level.
At 10th level, the Revolutionary/Checker gains the Incite Loyalty ability. This ability is as the Charm Person spell, but only on Hammerthralls. At 14th level, it effects near-human type creatures, and at 18th level, it effects all creatures.
At 20th level, the Revolutionary/Checker gains the Hammerthrall ability. This ability is as the Clairvoyance spell, with the exception that he can only see through the eyes of all other Hammerthralls within a 60' range.
Restrictions: This class is restricted to Hammerthrall Dwarves, but the Truskite Revolutionary may be open to other races at the GM's discression.
Re: Dwarves of the Karlmark
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 6:35 am
by SmootRK
This is becoming quite a full campaign add-on!
I like that while you have explored these soviet style dwarves, you have not made them villainous (but the group/region could be a big overall antagonist source). They are just taking that Lawful demeanor to a larger ideal than a self-oriented sense of Lawfulness... it has progressed to a "Community before self" mentality.
I see these Dwarves filling a role that I have envisioned for some time, the northern mountain reaches of (or at least portions thereof) the Morgansfort setting. The way you are writing is akin to a Gazetteer (the Tah stuff too), only non-location-specific. Interesting method that is rather unique... a good thing. BFRPG needs such uniqueness... sets it apart from the others.
Re: Dwarves of the Karlmark
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2013 11:35 am
by shadowmane
Thanks. Its a Russian Ural Mountains type setting, but I think the Alaska Peninsula is more akin to what I have in mind, as far as what it looks like. I'm purposely trying to be setting agnostic in this thing, so that a GM can just drop the forest, mountain range and tundra onto a continent and go with it. Also, I AM trying to keep from making the Dwarves a "heavy". You could adventure as a Hammerthrall just as well as entering the region with no clue what you've just gotten yourself into.
I didn't realize it was looking like the Gazettes from Mystara. But that is kind of what I had in mind. I have ideas for the Tundra and a set of Cossacks (haven't decided if they are going to be human, dwarven, or some other race) that wander across it. There's also the "fascist Wood Elves" of the forest. It'll keep me occupied for a while, and that's not including trying to finish up the Church of Tah supplement.
Re: Dwarves of the Karlmark
Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2013 4:17 pm
by shadowmane
Okay, I've done some work for the 5th draft of this supplement. I've changed the names to reflect a more Russian ethos. I've also moved the setting onto a peninsula, though I've not edited the information in the text just yet. Its going to be kind of like North and South Korea, two countries on one peninsula. I formatted the document a little more to provide clear breaks in the sections. I added to the government of the Karlmark section, which is still pretty incomplete. I still have some history to add to the document to bring the Hammerthrall up to the present leader.
I edited the two classes that are included a little bit to give them more flavor. Someone please give them a look-over to make sure they're not too powerful or wanky.
I still have to add the stuff for the Southern Kingdom, but I wanted to get the Communist Dwarves closer to finished before I did that. I intend for the Soutern Kingdom to reflect a kind of Czarist Russia setting. Don't know if I can pull it off, but I'm going to try.
Enjoy.
Re: Dwarves of the Karlmark
Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 3:06 pm
by shadowmane
I've updated this one.
I changed the format to align it with the Standards for BFRPG. It now looks like the rest of the documents. I have finished the history of the People's Republic of the Karlmark, and brought it up to date. The present leader is Nikita, not Brisnef.
Next on the agenda is to start writing the Imperial Karlmark section, and to begin developing character classes for the Kurgyz and the Foresters, as well as a class or two for the Imperial Karlmark.
For all intents and purposes, the Hammerthralls are done. In fact, this could be said to be release 1 of this document, but I'm not ready just yet for that. I have a few more tweaks I want to do. This is, however, the last draft edition. The next release of this supplement will be release 1.
Enjoy!