Yes, demiliches basically don't need the rest of their bodies anymore. So they become demiliches.
...But what kind of caster gives up his entire casting to be what? More powerful and durable? With no spells?
Thankfully they changed that in 3E and now demiliches are truly terrifying even for high level characters.
Actually, from both Monstrous Manual and Van Richten's Monster Hunter's Compendium (both 2E sourcebooks), when the lich enters demilich status, its spirit has already moved on to the outer planes. The "demilich monster" that we can fight is merely its old physical manifestation that has fallen apart, and this probably explains the lack of spells (no hands to make spellcasting gestures or manipulate spell components). Killing it does not seem to hurt the "lich spirit" any more than removing a way that it can manifest on the Prime Material Plane. Not that it cares anyway - it has greater concerns in the Outer Planes.
As for the lich spirit, the sourcebooks are vague on what its goals and powers are, but I believe it can be left to DM discretion.
I got another one from *drumroll* the Bridge District.
On the second floor of the Five Flagons, there's a thief called Ercias. According to NearInfinity, he has dialogue with Haer'Dalis, Yoshimo, Jaheira and Mazzy but it all seems very incongruous, as if he was referring to a past event the player should be aware of.
Does anyone know what he is for, or whether he's just residue from a quest that did not make it to the finished product?
When one of them dies, everyone moves up one rank, i.e. if the Meisarch dies, the Tessarch will become the new Meisarch, the Namarch will become the new Tessarch, etc. The most powerful noble houses of Amn will then elect a new Dahaunarch from among their ranks.
For BG, I think it is wiser to leave the Council of Six out of the picture, since they are generally in the business of making money (as with the rest of Amn) and have no interest in major conflicts unless it is profitable or disastrous for business. Their identities are also secret so that it is easier to maintain order - people will not know who to bribe, manipulate, assassinate, etc.
As a freebie bonus, here are their identities... hehe.
Meisarch: Eriranther Alibakkar (LE hm F11) - remember the Alibakkars in Trademeet? Tessarch: Phaan Colwyvv (CE hm T5) Namarch: Qar Jysstev (NE hm F0) - he should sound familiar too Iltarch: Rhinnom Dannihyr (CE hm dual W4/T20) Pommarch: Tyrda Q'Helvor (N hef W14) Dahaunarch: Pehllus Tanislove (CN hm C7 - Lliira) - this is another familiar name for BG veterans
You can see that none of them is good... and most of them are evil
The Monstrous Manual does not explicitly describe the movement rate. I will summarize the relevant powers for you, and you be the judge:
1. Enter demilich resting place. a. 25% of the time, demilich remains form a man-like shape and advance without attacking, unless attacked b. 75% of the time, demilich remains form a man-like shape with the powers of a wraith
2. If demilich remains as described in #1 is dealt 50 points of damage, it will assume a manifestation with the powers and abilities of a ghost
3. If anyone touches the skull, the skull will rise up and attack with howls and such (BG style). It will kill the most powerful member of the party, then sink back to the floor. If it continues to be challenged, it will repeat the howling attack.
So... how fast they move depends on the manifestation you are dealing with. Movement rate is measured in units, with each unit corresponding to 10 yards per round outdoors, and 10 feet per round indoors. I will assume that we are dealing with indoor movement rates since demiliches are more likely found in dungeons and ruins.
1a - Unspecified. My best guess is that it is movement rate 12 (to be the same as 1b) 1b - Since it has the powers of a wraith, I will use wraith stats - movement rate 12, flying movement rate 24 2 - Since it has the powers of a ghost, I will use ghost stats - movement rate 9 3 - Since it simply rises and sinks, I assume it will not move from its original location - movement rate 0
Other friends here who are knowledgeable in DnD lore, what do you think?
If you play as an elf at the beginning of BG, doesn't that make you little more than a child? And does that then imply Aerire and Viconia are paedophiles for romancing you?
It was retconned in 3.5E Races of the Wild sourcebook that elves mature at 110+ and that's the age they decide to leave and adventure.
They're not maturing physically at that age. Otherwise they would have been driven to extinction.
Drizzt, by the time you meet him in BG is around 73 years old.
It was not exactly retconned...
According to 2E Complete Book of Elves, elves are in childhood from age 1 through 49-74 (depends on subrace). Adolescence starts from the end of childhood through age 79-119 (depends on subrace again). Only at the end of adolescence does adulthood begin.
Drow mature the fastest. If you take out the drow, then the ranges become:
Childhood: Age 1 to age 59-79 Adolescence: Age 60-80 to age 100-120 Adulthood: Age 100-120+
At childhood (age 20), elves are not even 4 feet tall... most certainly shorter than the average adult elf like Aerie and Viconia - the romance interests are obviously pedophiles and cannot even be remotely considered hebephiles (pedophile equivalent for adolescents). But what if Aerie and Viconia are not adult elves too? Jaheira, as a half-elf and a nature priest, is likely aware of the life cycle of elves, so if she is hitting on an elven child... o.O
Note to self - do not play an elven protagonist and have a romance with anyone. Ewww.
Somewhere in first city of BG 2, i am pretty positive, i watched two men, named "Shank" and "Carbos", fight between themselves to the death. Just Who, were they? What is their connections, to those identically named loosers, we make short work of, in Candlekeep, beginning, BG 1...?
Somewhere in first city of BG 2, i am pretty positive, i watched two men, named "Shank" and "Carbos", fight between themselves to the death. Just Who, were they? What is their connections, to those identically named loosers, we make short work of, in Candlekeep, beginning, BG 1...?
I believe it is an easter egg cameo of sorts; I remember reading somewhere that Bioware put them in the sequel as a nod of recognition to all the long-time fans of the saga.
The whole "elves take 100 years to mature" makes no sense, to be honest. They should just live longer but mature at the same time. Didnt tolkien elves had it like that?
According to 2E Complete Book of Elves, elves are in childhood from age 1 through 49-74 (depends on subrace).
Well, I stand corrected. The Complete Book of Elves does say that. Though it was retconned in 3.5E Races of the Wild that this is not entirely correct and it makes far more sense to me.
You could RP that the Bhaalspawn essence made you mature and grow faster. That's divine blood after all and normal rules for the Bhaalspawn's race shouldn't necessarily apply.
That could explain the Elf and other demi-human characters that mature slower, normally.
What was Gorion's plan before the ambush by Zarevok. It seems to me that Jaheira/Khalid had already undertaken an interest in the Nashkel Mines in response to a plea from Berrun Ghastkill, probably through semi-obscure Harper connections.
The letter from Elminster prompting immediate departure could only have been written once J/K were already en route. Certainly it seems Berrun Ghastkill is expecting them. But he may also have been expecting Xzar and Montaron???
My question, however, is whether it was actually Gorion's intention that Charname was to become part of their Nashkel Mine commission as perhaps a way of beginning to make a name for himself within the Harper society. I think not, as Elminster's letter portrays J/K as knowing little about the real issue at hand. Clearing up the iron shortage just happens to be what J/K doing before Charname got involved with them. An important perspective IMHO for RP coloring.
Perhaps Gorion was simply planning to drop out of sight at the FAI for a few days, protected by Jaheira/Khalid, until some high-ranking Harper(?) could join them for a more distant journey of some kind.
I also note that Jaheira says that Gorion had already enlisted their promise to serve as Guardians for Charname, should an ill-fate befall himself, some several years earlier. But that makes me want to know who were Jaheira and Khalid 5 years before BG begins, to be accorded such honor and trust from Gorion. Do they, for instance, maintain a permanent residence somewhere.
I've always wondered why is raven like writing desk?
Because Poe wrote on both.
The question was originally written by Lewis Caroll in Alice in Wonderland, and had no answer, however over time readers came up with various different answers, the one about Poe being the favorite.
The stupid lich in ToB, who wanted the soul of the girl. Whose father had made a deal with it way back. I mean, HOW on earth did THIS lich, afford to live the grand life for all these years (even in undeath), with being such a poor sucker, and HOW the hell did it manage to gather such a collection of soulstones, when even a tiny, greedy, pathetic, coward, spineless worm of a human merchant, and a rug tag brigade of 6 happily dangerous suck... ahem, do-gooders, manage to rip him off big time like this???
Who, in all the Hells, thinks it's a good idea to build a city over so many liches' lairs?! Honestly, there might as well be an entrance to a 56-layer dungeon in the middle of Athkatla. Just, you know, stick it in the middle of the city. Right underneath Borinall's house. Also, whose bright idea was it to not seal the old tombs off?! Ward the graveyard district, dude. Ward it. "Well, gee, the people pulling the strings behind the city sure are dropping like flies!" Well, yeah, that's because some bootylicious elf vampire decided to set up shop in some crypts you guys left wide open. >:| Might as well put a sign on it. "UNDEAD GO HERE. No Rogues (except Bards)!".
According to the sourcebooks, Athkatla was founded around 100DR. BG was set in the year 1369DR. During the intervening 1200+ years, many liches could have moved in for one reason or another. 1200+ years is a long time even for undead - Szass Tam has only existed as a lich for 200+ years and Shangalar is only around 700+ years old.
As for the warding of the crypts, there could be reasons why they are not warded when the party ventures into them:
1. Monsters move in, monsters behave discreetly in order to avoid bands of adventurers sent after them, authorities leave them alone as long as things do not go out of hand 2. District was originally warded, but Irenicus broke the wards so that Bodhi could use it as a base. Should not be hard for a mage of his power 3. District was originally warded, but given that the city is so old, the wards could have weakened over time and were subsequently breached by powerful individuals
I usually ignore the elf thing. That never made any sense to me. How could someone be so thick as to live for 50 years and have the mental age of a child? @jacobtan@MacHurto@CrevsDaak Tolkien's elves are very different than dnd elves, as crevs said. The reason for this is copyright laws. Wizard deny that they took any inspiration from Tolkien. FR elves are short, Tolkien's are tall. FR elves die. Tolkien's do not. Tolkien's elves mentally, take just a few years to mature, being able to speak around their first birthday, but puberty does not start until they are about 50. FR elves are... Far more whimsical, or immature, than Tolkien's, I guess, Tolkien's are.... More mature.
Probably the most wondering thing for me is why the original developers eventually didn't give us a chance to save Yoshimo. They didn't have enough time (when SoA was released) and decided he should be killed. But they could change it with ToB. How good it would be to have Yoshimo in ToB!
The second thing for me is why beholder lairs in BG2 look like they are. I mean, these pulsating things and so on. Do beholders like such surroundings?
Also I've always wondered why female vampires in BG2 constantly move their bodies. I find it cool though;)
According to the 2E Monstrous Manual, beholders, gauths and hive mothers can be found in "any remote" terrain. If you have played Eye of the Beholder, Xanathar the Beholder ran his guild in a maze below Waterdeep. That BG2 beholder lairs look the same is probably a consequence of game design - reusing a map for a particular monster type.
As for vampires... well, from the Ravenloft sourcebook, vampires charm rather than dominate. You can imagine the body movement as a tactic to make themselves look more alluring (they do have high charisma scores of 14-19 depending on age) and appealing to the target
Can't offer any possible explanation for Yoshimo. Sorry ^_^
I usually ignore the elf thing. That never made any sense to me. How could someone be so thick as to live for 50 years and have the mental age of a child? @jacobtan@MacHurto@CrevsDaak Tolkien's elves are very different than dnd elves, as crevs said. The reason for this is copyright laws. Wizard deny that they took any inspiration from Tolkien. FR elves are short, Tolkien's are tall. FR elves die. Tolkien's do not. Tolkien's elves mentally, take just a few years to mature, being able to speak around their first birthday, but puberty does not start until they are about 50. FR elves are... Far more whimsical, or immature, than Tolkien's, I guess, Tolkien's are.... More mature.
Believe me, when you start working, you will encounter people who are 50 years old physically but are only 5 years old mentally, give and take a year or two. I suspect a typical teddy bear stuffed with fluff can beat some of these people in an IQ test.
I'm currently in Suldannessellar and with all the golems running around, I sort of started to wonder about their construction and design. To my knowledge, golems are little more than animated artifacts, arcanane robots, if you will, capable of performing only the duties assigned to them by their master. Yet, they all seem to be wearing loincloths.
Now, this is somewhat perplexing. What is the purpose of covering up if you don't have free will and thus the intellectual capacity for concepts such as shame and modesty? Or no, even this is taking it too far - they are objects, for Pete's sake! Why were they equipped with genitalia in the first place? I mean, what kind of mage would invest time and resources in his golem's nether regions? Why not just leave that space, like, blank?
It seems like Imoen never goes back to visit him. The poor guy is like a father to her (a creepy, inappropriate father that tells stories about trollops and plug tails) yet you never gett o learn more about him.
Where did Tamoko disappear to, and how on earth did she die (as you can read in sarevok's ToB ending), if you spared her life in 1 and let her go, damn it all?
How did Irenicus fall to a band of Kobolds? Kobolds! Now, wait a minute here...
How can Jaheira romance you, from the very first second we see Khalid dead, even...?
But what if Aerie and Viconia are not adult elves too? Jaheira, as a half-elf and a nature priest, is likely aware of the life cycle of elves, so if she is hitting on an elven child... o.O
Note to self - do not play an elven protagonist and have a romance with anyone. Ewww.
But if Aerie and Viconia are assumed not to be adults, and you romance as another race... Ugh.
Perhaps this is an alternate explanation of why Viconia refuses to romance elves, why Aerie's pregnancy is all kinds of messed up, and why Haer Dalis is such a creepy bugger.
I'm currently in Suldannessellar and with all the golems running around, I sort of started to wonder about their construction and design. To my knowledge, golems are little more than animated artifacts, arcanane robots, if you will, capable of performing only the duties assigned to them by their master. Yet, they all seem to be wearing loincloths.
Now, this is somewhat perplexing. What is the purpose of covering up if you don't have free will and thus the intellectual capacity for concepts such as shame and modesty? Or no, even this is taking it too far - they are objects, for Pete's sake! Why were they equipped with genitalia in the first place? I mean, what kind of mage would invest time and resources in his golem's nether regions? Why not just leave that space, like, blank?
In the 'Book of Erotic Fantasy' there are 2 pages dedicated entirely to the pleasure golem, which are as follow (under spoilers to keep children such as @CrevsDaak away from prying due to extremely explicit content):
Too explicit. Removed.
I think that is all - this took me about two hours to transcribe.
I'm currently in Suldannessellar and with all the golems running around, I sort of started to wonder about their construction and design. To my knowledge, golems are little more than animated artifacts, arcanane robots, if you will, capable of performing only the duties assigned to them by their master. Yet, they all seem to be wearing loincloths.
Now, this is somewhat perplexing. What is the purpose of covering up if you don't have free will and thus the intellectual capacity for concepts such as shame and modesty? Or no, even this is taking it too far - they are objects, for Pete's sake! Why were they equipped with genitalia in the first place? I mean, what kind of mage would invest time and resources in his golem's nether regions? Why not just leave that space, like, blank?
In the 'Book of Erotic Fantasy' there are 2 pages dedicated entirely to the pleasure golem, which are as follow (under spoilers to keep children such as @CrevsDaak away from prying due to extremely explicit content):
Too explicit. Removed.
I think that is all - this took me about two hours to transcribe.
..... And I thought we were done talking about porn... *disappointment*
I'm currently in Suldannessellar and with all the golems running around, I sort of started to wonder about their construction and design. To my knowledge, golems are little more than animated artifacts, arcanane robots, if you will, capable of performing only the duties assigned to them by their master. Yet, they all seem to be wearing loincloths.
Now, this is somewhat perplexing. What is the purpose of covering up if you don't have free will and thus the intellectual capacity for concepts such as shame and modesty? Or no, even this is taking it too far - they are objects, for Pete's sake! Why were they equipped with genitalia in the first place? I mean, what kind of mage would invest time and resources in his golem's nether regions? Why not just leave that space, like, blank?
In the 'Book of Erotic Fantasy' there are 2 pages dedicated entirely to the pleasure golem, which are as follow (under spoilers to keep children such as @CrevsDaak away from prying due to extremely explicit content):
Too explicit. Removed.
I think that is all - this took me about two hours to transcribe.
..... And I thought we were done talking about porn... *disappointment*
@Loub, wow - I'm speechless. I never actually expected anyone to provide such a detailed and factual answer to my whimsical question. Once again I leave this thread with an enlightened mind and an amended lore score.
Comments
As for the lich spirit, the sourcebooks are vague on what its goals and powers are, but I believe it can be left to DM discretion.
On the second floor of the Five Flagons, there's a thief called Ercias. According to NearInfinity, he has dialogue with Haer'Dalis, Yoshimo, Jaheira and Mazzy but it all seems very incongruous, as if he was referring to a past event the player should be aware of.
Does anyone know what he is for, or whether he's just residue from a quest that did not make it to the finished product?
Meisarch, Tessarch, Namarch, Iltarch, Pommarch, Dahaunarch
When one of them dies, everyone moves up one rank, i.e. if the Meisarch dies, the Tessarch will become the new Meisarch, the Namarch will become the new Tessarch, etc. The most powerful noble houses of Amn will then elect a new Dahaunarch from among their ranks.
For BG, I think it is wiser to leave the Council of Six out of the picture, since they are generally in the business of making money (as with the rest of Amn) and have no interest in major conflicts unless it is profitable or disastrous for business. Their identities are also secret so that it is easier to maintain order - people will not know who to bribe, manipulate, assassinate, etc.
As a freebie bonus, here are their identities... hehe.
Meisarch: Eriranther Alibakkar (LE hm F11) - remember the Alibakkars in Trademeet?
Tessarch: Phaan Colwyvv (CE hm T5)
Namarch: Qar Jysstev (NE hm F0) - he should sound familiar too
Iltarch: Rhinnom Dannihyr (CE hm dual W4/T20)
Pommarch: Tyrda Q'Helvor (N hef W14)
Dahaunarch: Pehllus Tanislove (CN hm C7 - Lliira) - this is another familiar name for BG veterans
You can see that none of them is good... and most of them are evil
Tessarch: Phaan Colwyvv (CE hm T5)
Namarch: Qar Jysstev (NE hm F0) - he should sound familiar too
Iltarch: Rhinnom Dannihyr (CE hm dual W4/T20)
Pommarch: Tyrda Q'Helvor (N hef W14)
Dahaunarch: Pehllus Tanislove (CN hm C7 - Lliira) - this is another familiar name for BG veterans
You can see that none of them is good... and most of them are evil
A little more info please!! Lol na well wasn't expecting that cheers jacobtan
Any advance on the stone face??
I have no information on the stone face. As for the Council of Six, what else do you want to know about the lords?
1. Enter demilich resting place.
a. 25% of the time, demilich remains form a man-like shape and advance without attacking, unless attacked
b. 75% of the time, demilich remains form a man-like shape with the powers of a wraith
2. If demilich remains as described in #1 is dealt 50 points of damage, it will assume a manifestation with the powers and abilities of a ghost
3. If anyone touches the skull, the skull will rise up and attack with howls and such (BG style). It will kill the most powerful member of the party, then sink back to the floor. If it continues to be challenged, it will repeat the howling attack.
So... how fast they move depends on the manifestation you are dealing with. Movement rate is measured in units, with each unit corresponding to 10 yards per round outdoors, and 10 feet per round indoors. I will assume that we are dealing with indoor movement rates since demiliches are more likely found in dungeons and ruins.
1a - Unspecified. My best guess is that it is movement rate 12 (to be the same as 1b)
1b - Since it has the powers of a wraith, I will use wraith stats - movement rate 12, flying movement rate 24
2 - Since it has the powers of a ghost, I will use ghost stats - movement rate 9
3 - Since it simply rises and sinks, I assume it will not move from its original location - movement rate 0
Other friends here who are knowledgeable in DnD lore, what do you think?
Regarding Samuel, when you return his body to Gellana Mirrorshade, she says that Lena persuaded him to desert the Fist.
According to 2E Complete Book of Elves, elves are in childhood from age 1 through 49-74 (depends on subrace). Adolescence starts from the end of childhood through age 79-119 (depends on subrace again). Only at the end of adolescence does adulthood begin.
Drow mature the fastest. If you take out the drow, then the ranges become:
Childhood: Age 1 to age 59-79
Adolescence: Age 60-80 to age 100-120
Adulthood: Age 100-120+
At childhood (age 20), elves are not even 4 feet tall... most certainly shorter than the average adult elf like Aerie and Viconia - the romance interests are obviously pedophiles and cannot even be remotely considered hebephiles (pedophile equivalent for adolescents). But what if Aerie and Viconia are not adult elves too? Jaheira, as a half-elf and a nature priest, is likely aware of the life cycle of elves, so if she is hitting on an elven child... o.O
Note to self - do not play an elven protagonist and have a romance with anyone. Ewww.
I like Tolkien's Elves much more, but at least FR's aren't Eragon's
EDIT: ok, seems like wizards has the same opinion as I do, at least on the physical side, since 2005
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elf_(Dungeons_&_Dragons)
You could RP that the Bhaalspawn essence made you mature and grow faster. That's divine blood after all and normal rules for the Bhaalspawn's race shouldn't necessarily apply.
That could explain the Elf and other demi-human characters that mature slower, normally.
The letter from Elminster prompting immediate departure could only have been written once J/K were already en route. Certainly it seems Berrun Ghastkill is expecting them. But he may also have been expecting Xzar and Montaron???
My question, however, is whether it was actually Gorion's intention that Charname was to become part of their Nashkel Mine commission as perhaps a way of beginning to make a name for himself within the Harper society. I think not, as Elminster's letter portrays J/K as knowing little about the real issue at hand. Clearing up the iron shortage just happens to be what J/K doing before Charname got involved with them. An important perspective IMHO for RP coloring.
Perhaps Gorion was simply planning to drop out of sight at the FAI for a few days, protected by Jaheira/Khalid, until some high-ranking Harper(?) could join them for a more distant journey of some kind.
I also note that Jaheira says that Gorion had already enlisted their promise to serve as Guardians for Charname, should an ill-fate befall himself, some several years earlier. But that makes me want to know who were Jaheira and Khalid 5 years before BG begins, to be accorded such honor and trust from Gorion. Do they, for instance, maintain a permanent residence somewhere.
The question was originally written by Lewis Caroll in Alice in Wonderland, and had no answer, however over time readers came up with various different answers, the one about Poe being the favorite.
-_-
As for the warding of the crypts, there could be reasons why they are not warded when the party ventures into them:
1. Monsters move in, monsters behave discreetly in order to avoid bands of adventurers sent after them, authorities leave them alone as long as things do not go out of hand
2. District was originally warded, but Irenicus broke the wards so that Bodhi could use it as a base. Should not be hard for a mage of his power
3. District was originally warded, but given that the city is so old, the wards could have weakened over time and were subsequently breached by powerful individuals
As for vampires... well, from the Ravenloft sourcebook, vampires charm rather than dominate. You can imagine the body movement as a tactic to make themselves look more alluring (they do have high charisma scores of 14-19 depending on age) and appealing to the target
Can't offer any possible explanation for Yoshimo. Sorry ^_^
Now, this is somewhat perplexing. What is the purpose of covering up if you don't have free will and thus the intellectual capacity for concepts such as shame and modesty? Or no, even this is taking it too far - they are objects, for Pete's sake! Why were they equipped with genitalia in the first place? I mean, what kind of mage would invest time and resources in his golem's nether regions? Why not just leave that space, like, blank?
It seems like Imoen never goes back to visit him. The poor guy is like a father to her (a creepy, inappropriate father that tells stories about trollops and plug tails) yet you never gett o learn more about him.
How did Irenicus fall to a band of Kobolds? Kobolds! Now, wait a minute here...
How can Jaheira romance you, from the very first second we see Khalid dead, even...?
Perhaps this is an alternate explanation of why Viconia refuses to romance elves, why Aerie's pregnancy is all kinds of messed up, and why Haer Dalis is such a creepy bugger.
I think that is all - this took me about two hours to transcribe.