Ask Arkanis

[DM Arkanis]

Ok so NO there is no specific thread called, "Ask Arkanis" but yes, I am happy to talk about my interpretations of the finer points of lore or rules with anyone, anytime. The last series of PM's I got were all about non DnD related-stuff though, which is also ok too... If you have "character/player-altering-questions" or epic lore/plot related stuff, please send to the DM team as a whole so we all can see it. I'm having fun, and a good laugh too though so keep the weird, insane, specific, obscue, and just plain weird questions coming. If I answer with a 72pt font question mark it really only means that your comments have bypassed me all together and I will need futther clarification...

[Hoihe]

1) What's the meaning of life?

2) What's YOUR take on XP cost translated to IC?

3) Do you play SWG?

4) Fus... (Finish the sentence)

5) What is an Arkanis?

6) Planning on a coup on the new head DMs?

7) What real-life city/town (medieval or modern, or ancient) could you compare Baldur's Gate's size to?

8) Is it me, or is there really a chicken falling on that guy's head?

*Rolls bluff and runs*

[Blame The Rogue]

What... is the air-speed velocity of an unladen swallow?

[DM Arkanis]

1. 42
2. Internet Connection sharing in Windows XP?
3. Nope, I played SWTOR for a while as a Founder but the RP sucked so I left.
4. Fuses are a necessary component for your electrical panel.
5. Well if you play SWG you know that Arkanis was the sector capital of Arkanis sector. It was inhabited by Humans such as Devon Fuller. It was the throneworld of the Arkanis Regency, which included the ancient Empress Teeda. The planet was part of the Galactic Empire. It was the location of Vensenor Flight Academy. That said, I chose this as my DM handle because he was the Dwarven NPC used for tutorial in the BG series of games, and also found in Candlekeep Catacombs with another NPC called Deder.
6. Um, did the head DM’s not just retire and we have new head DM’s now...? *evil grin* No, no coup in sight – the DM team here is fantastic.
7. With a static population of roughly 42,000 inhabitants, Baldur’s Gate as a city has many interesting features: it is a walled fortress city that has a large port area on a large salt water ocean, large open marketplace, and many areas of interest such as the Hall of Wonders.
The city I think it is very similar to in many ways is Jerash located in northern Jordan. Although it is not on the Mediterranean Sea it is close to it. The ancient city boasted The Corinthian column, Hadrian's Arch, The circus/hippodrome, The two large temples (dedicated to Zeus and Artemis), The nearly unique oval Forum, which is surrounded by a fine colonnade,The long colonnaded street or cardo, Two theatres (the Large South Theatre and smaller North Theatre), Two baths, and a scattering of small temples An almost complete circuit of city walls. It is a little more Greco-Roman in its architecture, but considering its location vis a vis Baldur’s Gate, it would have been a thriving metropolis in its day. It still exists today and has expanded from a city of roughly 42,000 inhabitants to a municipality of roughly 150,000 people.
8. ?
Oh and Blame The Rogue... I need to know if the swallow is European or African.

[Tempist]

1. 42

Actually, that is the answer to a question which was never figured out. The Earth was blown up to make room for a intergalactic super highway just before the real questions was uncovered. Apart from that is was the answer to the Meaning of Life, the Universe and Everything, not just life.

*Ducks out before being smited by DM*

[DM Arkanis]

42 is indeed the answer to life the universe and everything, and the question was never discovered, you are correct An alternative answer to "what is the meaning of life?" is:

"Try and be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try and live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations."

[Akroma666]

I hear this brought up a lot..
Are we actually creating our own lore and world now based on the set in stone previous events of the forgotten realms, or are we still following the lore like a railroad?

[DM Arkanis]

I believe that Ed Greenwood's intent when he created the FR was to provide a framework for players and DM's alike to have cities, monsters, NPC's, plot lines, and other tools that come up with their own adventures. As the game was played, books were written, the calendar formed and information was added to FR lore. I don't believe that it is fully packed to the point where there is no wiggle room for more content, and there are definitely book-plots that included world-wide events that change and shape the direction of lore, and the city of Baldur's gate and surrounding areas where certain things happen, and certain well-known characters walk through, make their home, wage war, build castles, etc. I believe that our server has done a great job of putting all the relevant NPC's into the static game or available to DM's to use for RP during their events, and that we have added our own plot line to over-lap with the DR time-line of world events, and that as real time moves along, we move the DR calendar too and the server is constantly being updated with new content. Within this context we as players and DM's have a great deal of freedom to come up with our own lore, events, guild houses, conspiraies, and RP. Within the framework of the FR as a whole, our server has its own set of unique lore and activities that do not detract from or lay in conflict with Greenwood's initial outlay and subsequent additions of manuals, and novels. The staff here do a lot of back-ground work in terms of lore preparation as a new DR year approaches and we talk as a team about events big and small as they relate to that, and we try to incorporate the relevant lore into our RP as the need arises. DM Xzar is our Lore Curator and is an excellent source of server lore knowledge if you have a more specific question.

Ark

[Lockonnow]

why are we not havent more npc from the first baldur's gate game and from Baldur's gate dark alliance 1 and 2

[DM Nilbog]

why are there no whips in NWN2?

[Simian]

Why isn't this topic locked yet? All other topics of this kind have been... locked.

[DM Arkanis]

1. I think that we would be open to any NPC's played by DM's for events should the event or situation warrant or be requested. In terms of static NPC's, well we have to draw the line somewhere. Suggestions from players are always welcome - make sure to send the specifics to all DM's.

2. The whip you are looking for Nilbog is under Misc. Weapons of Kill Everything in the DM list... scroll down until you find it.

3. The intent of this thread is to be light-hearted. I hope that it never has to be locked for any reason.

[Jaden]

1. 42

Jackie Robinson!

1. How much wood could a wood chuck chuck if a wood chuck could chuck wood?
2. Sammy Haeger or David Roth?
3. Coke or Pepsi?

[Azmodeth]

Why isn't this topic locked yet? All other topics of this kind have been... locked.

actually enjoyed reading this thread, was surprised Arkanis actually awnsered all those questions hahah

[ArtOfLight]

"What is the meaning of life?"

Life is entirely math. We attempt to add to our income, subtract from our weight and divide our time. Some of us avoid multiplying while others do it willingly.