The Forgotten Races (Alpha Released, Download Available)

[Malkeus]

@Noctifer That is very interesting to know, I’ll have to dissect that mod to learn it’s secrets. I’d like to make goblins and kobold behave like the ants, that would be really cool.

[Malkeus]

Preliminary version released, I’m not happy with it but I am unable to put more time into right now. Better to get feedback on it now so I can address problems when I am able, rather than leave it languishing on my harddrive.

I am asking for feedback on monster strengths, group sizes and suggestions on equipment and drops. The current locations are not final.

Download available in the OP.

[Litppunk]

[spoiler=massive monologue about various races and applying science to them]
I have been working on a story that works on a similar premise and I see room for overlap so…

Basically I am building how universe not like our own might work and building laws around them and stuff and it breaks down like this.

There are Three Universal “foci” that universes function on, some only function on one, other use two or three to various degrees. The “foci” are Natural, Magical, and Technological (like Earth).

“Natural” based realities/physics being like Starwars “The Force” and general Gaia type worlds/natural laws Creatures having heightened sensitivity to the world around them and good “sixth sense” seeing auras, and telepathy and such generally fall into this reality. Most natural based worlds have a big focus on unity/hivemind and or balance of living and/or nonliving things.

While

“Magical” : based realities/ohysics being very Eragon or “The Name of the Wind” transfer of energy. Every “spell” and manipulation having a cost however finite it may be. Pulling the heat/light/motion/chemical/mass energy out of an object or being and using that to power a spell that creates or changes energy. Making/ increasing heat, light, fire, chemical and/or mass energy. Note that alchemy would fall under the magical umbrella.

and of coarse “Technological” realities are very orientated around the magnetic and electric properties that form them from the highly reactive nature of electrons in “Tech” universes.
Tech based races focus on the use the increased reactivity of electrons to create both high reactive explosives, nuclear weapons/energy, as well as highly UN-reactive stable multi-bonds between atoms to create alloys and strong material.

So for Cata purposes… you could…

The other “Nature” and “Magical” Races are from other dimensions and the focus of the DDA Universe has been thrown into flux making the ‘return’ of the races practical as they rely less on technology than we humans do, preferring more nature and magic based realities where they can be more comfortable and ultimately stronger (like a fish in water as opposed to out) Due to the new flux they have all begun exploring, trading, and some even establishing forward bases, and outposts on the ‘renewed’ Earth ‘Frontier’

Not so much “they went into hiding” as our world simply became an impractical place for them to be as our world shifted into a “realm” of technology, and so they left or waned in ability until the “natural” and “magical” physics returned.

Then mix and match realities/universal properties based on what the race demands. So Kobolds, probably mostly natural with some magical as well. Elves? Very high in Natural and Magical, not much tech. The locations they come from follow the same rules/outlines. Makes for a universe multiverse that can quickly be grown to epic proportions with very little effort. I look forward to having my characters run through an odyssey rivaling homer, using the laws/ physics I have laid out.

First place main character visits is Technological planet that has lost all technology in a matter of months due to a universal focus shift in their realm and is now a planet filled with overgrown ruins from a society that tore itself apart when the Technological laws that were holding up their world fell out from under them.[/spoiler]

[Random_dragon]

That’s some very…curious ideas there. o.o

[Litppunk]

curious? is that supposed to be code for “you either need to take more or less medication, not sure which?”

[Noctifer]

curious? is that supposed to be code for “you either need to take more or less medication, not sure which?”

Both

Anyway, I would still like to see spirits/ghosts and shadows.
They really wouldn’t be “spirits” but remnant information from conciseness*.

*Everything can be considered information including conciseness (citation needed.)

[Litppunk]

^ the most scientific approach to ghosts. Mandatory.

[Chezzo]

Malkeus was on IRC making this when I started doing tiles for mods, so I did his first:

http://chezzo.com/cdda/ChestHole32TilesetFantasy.zip

Just 32 for now, I will pr them as soon as I make mags.

[Litppunk]

whats IRC in that context?

[Malkeus]

[quote=“Litppunk, post:19, topic:11223”]
[/quote]

I like that, it reminds me very much of Shadowrun’s tides of magic. And I smell some Lord of the Isles in there as well. It’s a unique take on the interaction between the 3 primal forces.

[quote=“Noctifer, post:22, topic:11223”]
Anyway, I would still like to see spirits/ghosts and shadows.
They really wouldn’t be “spirits” but remnant information from conciseness*.
*Everything can be considered information including conciseness (citation needed.)[/quote]

I have ghosts on the list of additions I’ll make once the current crop of races feels like a part of the world, I’m thinking some kind of ethereal being which doesn’t interact directly with the player, instead it will add a creepy vibe to certain areas. I want to shift to overmap specials as spawn points for all races, the monster_groups are to inflexible and prevalent. Ghosts could get placed in cloned versions of existing tiles, making hidden ‘haunted’ houses with very rare spawns elsewhere.

[quote=“Chezzo, post:24, topic:11223”]Malkeus was on IRC making this when I started doing tiles for mods, so I did his first:

http://chezzo.com/cdda/ChestHole32TilesetFantasy.zip

Just 32 for now, I will pr them as soon as I make mags.[/quote]
Awesome! Thank you so much for this Chezzo, it really makes the monsters feel like part of the world. You are great

whats IRC in that context?

IRC stands for internet relay chat, Cataclysmdda has a server available to talk in real time to other players about whatever you like: http://webchat.freenode.net/?channels=#CataclysmDDA This is the address for the web client, just type in any name you like and join in.

[hr]

I will be on very rarely for the next couple of weeks, issues at home require my attention. Thank you for your ideas and I look forward to your feedback. I’ll be around

[Random_dragon]

curious? is that supposed to be code for “you either need to take more or less medication, not sure which?”

It’s code for “you overthought this idea even more than I thought the lore for Arcana mod” actually.

And aw, we now have a Chesthole tileset for unofficial mods, but still no support for existing mods? o3o

[Teyar]

Yeah, to follow up on what you asked, Malk, my impression of fantasy critter encounters was that their incredibly powerful - Mind you I only went a few rounds with them, but the goblins and the elves especially seemed quite capable of ruining my day in no time flat - The brutes certainly do so if/when they land their smash, but I occasionally have a guy manage to take them down without being completely wrecked at character creation. In the three characters I ran, elves flat out owned me entirely, and the goblins were just a step below that. Orcs felt about right - Just a step below brutes, painful but not particularly fast or dodgy, and halflings were similarly appropriate, like tuned towards middle kreks, accurate and dodgy but not super high numbers on them.

Didnt have anyone get in long enough to see the rest. I’d say you probably want the elves to be archers to differentiate them, but no entry level character had a remote chance of surviving an encounter with them.

[WIndburns]

Stone gargoyles guarding churches and graveyard, troll merchants and their caravans go town to town, minotaur farmers.

[Litppunk]

seems like elves should be largely friendly if not attacked, due largely to the fact that they have almost nothing to gain from attacking humans outright, and are smart enough to recognize that. At worst Elves should want to enslave what is left of humanity for cheap labor and cannon fodder for their archers, mages, warriors etc…

If the Elves are friendly it gives starter characters viable bases of operations (if they are given villages) and a great way to be introduced to the rest of the Races at a manageable pace, and told about them from a people that it makes sense to know about the other races.

[WIndburns]

Out of the forgotten races, which value gold more so to join you. I usually play low intelligence convict builds so I have no use for diamonds or gold aside from trading with npcs.

Edit: That could be a questline for the fantasy races is to plunder the riches in each town and city, because they don’t want to go toe to toe with brutes, etc. Maybe the same race trades with itself. Become fantasy Indiana Jones or Patches from FromSoftware.

[WIndburns]

(if it’s possible) win favor over certain races by warding off attacks through an npc dialogue. “Oh no! Kabolds everywhere, battle stations men!”

[Litppunk]

(if it’s possible) win favor over certain races by warding off attacks through an npc dialogue. “Oh no! Kabolds everywhere, battle stations men!”

I had been thinking along similar lines.

(this thread definitely needs reviving if noctifier has taken over resurrecting it.

[Rot]

I love the fantasy genre so much, and immerse myself with it a lot. But I’d first like to say that I like litppunk’s ideas and views. It actually gives a good insight or base to work with.

Anyway, a lore explanation of ghosts, spirits, phantoms, etc. could be that the “natural” ‘flow’ of this world (a disturbance in the force, lol) meaning, time and space not to mention reality has convoluted so that things that were dead with a strong will could disrupt the “natural” of the world and anchor themselves as a “force”. This being said, it technically could also mean that the dead aka ghosts are pretty much in a state of “semi-reality” where they don’t exist but at the same time they do exist.

But that being said, I don’t think that spirits should all be hostile, hell, maybe you could form a “contract” with them in exchange for supernatural powers on par with mages.

Also, I think those with an inclination to magic would drain their “mana” from different sources, and have a limited amount of uses. Normal mages draw from the atmosphere, but those with a more darker inclination would draw from living things. I’m thinking you could even have those who are more inclined to a certain element, dark, light, fire, water, etc.

Some are blessed to be able to use all elements, some have a massive mana pool, while those who can only use one type excel in that, or those with a low mana pool learn to use their mana more efficiently. However, those with no inclination towards magic can’t use magic that can be projected outward of their bodies, but maybe they can enhance their own physical and mental abilities instead.

I like to think of a “gate” those with gates, one can use mana to project magic through their gate outward into the world. However, those who lack a gate cannot project mana outwards, but can only manifest it inward. So those with a massive mana pool but no gate could simply be a great warrior. However, here’s where spirits come in. Those who are in a contract with spirits can use THEIR gates, or simply themselves as a medium to project their powers. Of course, those with no magical inclination or mana capacity whatsoever could still use the spirits powers instead.

I’m thinking of more stuff to add, but it’s 3:48 am and texting all this out is tiring.

[Litppunk]

hmm, that would probably mean that ghosts and spirits fall into a natural (anti natural?) and magic category.

Edit: btw, Ive been told my idea was similar to shadowrun. Anyone have an opinion on the best way to devour shadowrun lore for thought? Ive been told to read the rulebooks. Anything else?

[Rot]

Most likely, yeah. I took a quick look at shadowrun but your ideas look really similar to the tabletop game, minus the fact that this is pretty much a mod.

I hope with all the fantasy stuff we can get dragons in caves or even more HP lovecraft stuff.