Ask Arkanis

[Hidennka]

Hey Ark, do you think the DM team might ever consider opening up Fist Patrolmen as minimal numbered application only roles again? Curious to know what it was about, and what happened as I wasn't on the server at the time.

[Zanniej]

Hi Arkanis,

Got a question for you:
What would be the real life equivalents of the Baldurs Gate player classes?
I can imagine a cleric being a doctor, and a druid being a vet or something like that, but what do you think would be their equivalents?

[DM Arkanis]

Hey Ark, do you think the DM team might ever consider opening up Fist Patrolmen as minimal numbered application only roles again? Curious to know what it was about, and what happened as I wasn't on the server at the time.

Send us a PM about this and we'll discuss it and get back to you.

[DM Arkanis]

Hi Arkanis,

Got a question for you:
What would be the real life equivalents of the Baldurs Gate player classes?
I can imagine a cleric being a doctor, and a druid being a vet or something like that, but what do you think would be their equivalents?

That's a good question - classes can hold more than one function too:

1. Paladin - obviously the law makers/upholders/keepers of the peace (pain in the butt...)
2. Wizard/Sorcerer - scholar, teacher, also a warrior (thinking of a battle mage), also inventor, herbal medicine maker, and in an alternate universe, Smurf hunter
3. Rogue - thief, but also acrobat, circus performer, pick pocket, gangster/organized criminal, spy
4. Cleric - yes healer, but also clergy (i.e. reverend/minister/pastor of a church)
5. Druid - also could be a worshipper of nature (Pagan), environmentalist, yes, veteranarian for sure
6. Fighter - soldier, mercenary, thug (bar bouncer), body-guard, "professional" wrestler, one could also aruge athlete as well
7. Bard - musician, song writer, artist, my image of a modern-day Bard is someone who writes and performs their own music
8. Ranger - marksman, hunter, guide, outdoor survivalist, scout, maybe some military aspect
9. Barbarian - red necks, but smarter

[mireigi]

Hey Ark,

What is the reason for the IG description change of Greater Restoration? It's not consistent with lore in any way.

BG Description


Lore Description

This spell functions in the same manner as lesser restoration, except the spell dispels all negative energy levels afflicting the healed creature, restoring the creature to the highest level it had previously achieved. This reverses level drains by a force or creature. The drained levels are restored only if the time since the creature lost the level is no more than 1 week per caster level.

Greater restoration also dispels all magical effects penalizing the character's abilities, cures all temporary ability damage, and restores all points permanently drained from all ability scores. It also removes all forms of insanity, confusion, and similar mental effects. Greater restoration does not restore levels or Constitution points lost due to death.

Source: http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/G ... estoration

Are players allowed to RP the lore based description in full? That is, use it to remove negative mental effects (such as insanity/despair/depression caused by long imprisonment, illness and/or similar effects)

[DM Arkanis]

Hey Ark,

What is the reason for the IG description change of Greater Restoration? It's not consistent with lore in any way.

Lore Description

This spell functions in the same manner as lesser restoration, except the spell dispels all negative energy levels afflicting the healed creature, restoring the creature to the highest level it had previously achieved. This reverses level drains by a force or creature. The drained levels are restored only if the time since the creature lost the level is no more than 1 week per caster level.

Greater restoration also dispels all magical effects penalizing the character's abilities, cures all temporary ability damage, and restores all points permanently drained from all ability scores. It also removes all forms of insanity, confusion, and similar mental effects. Greater restoration does not restore levels or Constitution points lost due to death.

Source: http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/G ... estoration

Are players allowed to RP the lore based description in full? That is, use it to remove negative mental effects (such as insanity/despair/depression caused by long imprisonment, illness and/or similar effects)

At-a-glance I would say that the reason for the change has to do entirely with RP. A "mental" effect that is not magically caused, cannot be dispelled in NWN2 game semantics by casting restoration. I would say that any mental effect a character has that is not magically induced is an effect that is role played, i.e. low INT or WIS, background information detailing traumatic experiences, etc. The game ASSUMES you are healthy because there is no metric to remove/heal effects that are not magical in nature. Ergo we RP these kind of things.

My suggestion would be, that if you have a character who is suffering from a non-magically imposed mental effect you can do one of four things:

1. RP the character as-is with respect to their illness/situation.
2. Have Greater Restoration cast upon them and RP they get better
3. Visit one of the NPC clarics/priests and have them "heal" and RP feeling better, or if it doesn't work for your RP;
4. If the RP around the illness really requires a miraculous healing, above that of normal magic, pray a lot/ask for DM intervention/go on a quest or whatever else fits the bio, and RP removal.

A caveat to this would be that you really shouldn't roll up a low INT or WIS character then ask for a DM to miraculously make you smarter... If you are RPing that you got hit on the head and haven't been quite right and normal magic isn't returning you to normal, a willing DM might help you with your RP to get back to normal... or they may make it worse. Crap shoot really lol!

Ark

[Hitman Hard]

Though if a god decides he wants you to bear a wound, scar, or mental illness. . . your stuck with it. So there are credible ways around this obtrusive breach of role-play when someone happens upon and casts the moment-killing, gods awful restoration.

[DM Arkanis]

It is hard to believe but a year ago today I was invited to join the DM team here at BSTSCC. I must say that players and DMs alike have been great and I am still having a blast playing and DMing.

Here's to all of you who make being here so much fun!

Ark

[Jorel]

Hello Arkanis, some stupid questions:

When someone is paralyzed do they still sense the surroundings? Can they move their eyes and see whats in their sight and hear nearby sounds? Or it is like after being released from the paralysis they only remember that micro second earlier before being paralyzed?

If you are pretending to be someone else ICly to other characters, should ethics dictate you tell OOCly the person you are disguised as that you are doing it? Or for non metagaming sake it is better to not do it?

How does exactly the Baldur's gate political system work, at the time of the server? Have found some (or alot) info about it but want to make sure i get the one in the right time frame...

Does the word Anarchist/anarchism exists in game? Or are they too much modern....


Aaaaaaaaaaaand Han Solo DID shoot first!!! *raises fist*

Thanks mate!

[Darker_Thought]

It is hard to believe but a year ago today I was invited to join the DM team here at BSTSCC. I must say that players and DMs alike have been great and I am still having a blast playing and DMing.

Here's to all of you who make being here so much fun!

Ark

Keep up the amazing work

Ben a long time now and much have changed since the years 2007-2010. But we still got the same old Vicar ;p

[DM Arkanis]

Hello Arkanis, some stupid questions:

When someone is paralyzed do they still sense the surroundings? Can they move their eyes and see whats in their sight and hear nearby sounds? Or it is like after being released from the paralysis they only remember that micro second earlier before being paralyzed?

If you are pretending to be someone else ICly to other characters, should ethics dictate you tell OOCly the person you are disguised as that you are doing it? Or for non metagaming sake it is better to not do it?

How does exactly the Baldur's gate political system work, at the time of the server? Have found some (or alot) info about it but want to make sure i get the one in the right time frame...

Does the word Anarchist/anarchism exists in game? Or are they too much modern....


Aaaaaaaaaaaand Han Solo DID shoot first!!! *raises fist*

Thanks mate!

1. Paralysis means that your body can't move but your brain still functions. You can see, hear, feel, etc. but you just cannot move (even your eyeballs.) You will have complete memory of being paralyzed unless there are other factors that deprive your senses.

2. IC vs OOC has some grey areas with regards to this question. I know there are some current characters who have infiltrated guilds and have not informed the players in the guild OOC that they have; it is part of the role-play. Unless you as a character are metagaming, that is to say using OOC or other characters knowledge the character does not possess IC, or by using some illegal magic/items, I would say RP it out IC first. If questions arise OOC because there is a concern the rules are being broken, I would be up front with them at that point.

3. How does the political system work? LMAO! Good one! The Dukes rule in BG, they have the Fist as their police/soldiers. Other areas are wild, or ruled by other powers - such as Amn in Beregost, or they have some local authority of their own, such as the FAI. You'll have to get more specific on this one.

4. An anarchist seeks to bring about anarchy, that is, a state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority. There are many FR gods and those who follow them who are of a chaotic nature, that is to say they follow their own rules, and could be considered anarchists. In very lawful areas anarchists such as, say, worshippers of Talos, might not be too vocal about bringing down the government lest they get themselves thrown in jail. In other areas where their views are tolerated, they would have some voice/say in things with local authorities and might even have their own established organization/cult/guild. to answer your question directly, anarchism exists in game but we don't often use the word to describe it...

May the Schwatrz be with you... always...

Ark

[DM Arkanis]

It is hard to believe but a year ago today I was invited to join the DM team here at BSTSCC. I must say that players and DMs alike have been great and I am still having a blast playing and DMing.

Here's to all of you who make being here so much fun!

Ark

Keep up the amazing work

Ben a long time now and much have changed since the years 2007-2010. But we still got the same old Vicar ;p

Thank you for your kind words. It is always nice to run into players from the old TFR server.

Ark aka The Vicar

[Jorel]

3. How does the political system work? LMAO! Good one! The Dukes rule in BG, they have the Fist as their police/soldiers. Other areas are wild, or ruled by other powers - such as Amn in Beregost, or they have some local authority of their own, such as the FAI. You'll have to get more specific on this one.

Hah yes sorry about that. I know most of it but my doubt is that if there is any kind of popular election whatsoever. It says that the baldurian parliament elects the dukes, well is the members of the parliament elected by the population?

[DM Arkanis]

3. How does the political system work? LMAO! Good one! The Dukes rule in BG, they have the Fist as their police/soldiers. Other areas are wild, or ruled by other powers - such as Amn in Beregost, or they have some local authority of their own, such as the FAI. You'll have to get more specific on this one.

Hah yes sorry about that. I know most of it but my doubt is that if there is any kind of popular election whatsoever. It says that the baldurian parliament elects the dukes, well is the members of the parliament elected by the population?

I did some research and there has been an evolution over time as to the Duke's being elected to their positions. In the servers current DR 1350, they are appointed. It is not until DR 1370's that there are elections.

[grymhild]

Hi Arkanis,

I have some questions regarding Eilistraee.

I'm currently playing a half-elf Eilstraeen priestess, and I've been doing as much lore research as I can about The Dark Maiden.

I think our server timeline is currently 1350 (or some people have said 1349?), and although Eilistraeens currently guard and patrol the pit of Ghaunadaur, that offical construction of the Promenade near Skullport won't start until 1355, and of course the Time of Troubles hasn't happened yet, so I know that I have to be careful about looking at dates when reading lore.

Which led me to questions and answer by Ed Greenwood on candlekeep.com from about 2006, specifically questions about Eilistraeen and worship of the Dark Maiden.

http://forum.candlekeep.com/topic.asp?T ... ichpage=67

There is a lot of detailed information here about Eilistraeens, but I want to make sure that I can use it. Is it true that unless contradicted by source material put out by TSR/WotC, that statements that Ed Greenwood makes about The Forgotten realms is considered lore?

Now, I know what Ed says here about percentages of Eilstraeens among the drow (you have to scroll down a little ways or search for it), but there isn't a specific year tied to when that percentage applies, and I know it could be different now than it will be twenty years ahead in our timeline.

I would like to ask if I can get a rough estimate as to what general percentage of drow honor Eilistraee during our timeline?

And how different would the percentages be in Sshamath because of it's uniqueness among drow cities.?