TES God-Killing Campaign (featuring the Blitzwing Diaries)

Aryxbez · Post by **Aryxbez** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:02 am

Shrapnel wrote:[joking]

You know, I used to think Aryxbez was the only one who read this thread, who shared any interest in Blitzwing's fun. Now, I don't believe anyone does anymore. I only visit it to remind myself of how lonely my life is.

What's the deal, Ary? I though we meant something to each other.

[/joking]

Hey man! I'm still here by Crom (Talos), just I seem to be running a blank on what to add in what is one of my favorite threads ever. Seriously, the idea behind this campaign makes me happy on so many levels, even my campaign back when was 14, was going to be about "Godslayers, and going on adventures which ye fight them". Blitzwing stands as a pinnacle example of a character concept most would find absurd, which only makes it all the better to make it work. Plus, he's pretty awesome character in the Transformer universe, all the more sad that he was such an obscure character (though I can't speak for Transformer fans, but doesn't exactly sound as well known). The Fun facts were interesting awhile back, I did spend a few minutes on reading about that, even read it a couple times.

(yes, I knew you were joking, but I responded to it in a fairly excited fan for this thread anyway). Speaking of Blitzwing, did his statblock ever get posted on the other thread, or here? I wonder what changes have been made, any new magic items, like maybe finding Numindium's armor plates to add to your own? Speaking of such, would Blitzwing consider him like Megatron or Optimus Prime in all his insanity?

Some point, I'll want to see the statblocks for the various characters and like in this game. Unless that's totally kosher when they're dead now, since I'm rather curious to how Talos was able to be built "super tough" considering 3rd edition = rocket tag (unless he just had BS blanket of immunities?)

Also you know what, a genuine wonder of mine, in the Elder Scrolls wiki, there's implication that some NPC's are still alive, since likely have long age spans or what have you. So I wonder, from Oblivion, and even currently in Skyrim, what these characters are up to, like you know, the last living confirmed member of the dwarves

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 2:21 pm

I feel loved.

Blitzwing's (initial) character sheet and stats are somewhere on page one, spoilered for all the lil' good boys and girls. But it's the sheet from when the game started. I'll try and upload the updated sheet soon.

Blitzwing is known about as much as other TF's, but probably more so to rabid Transfan's* like myself, or people who watched and grew up with the original cartoon. He's less well known than Optimus Prime, Megatron, or Soundwave, but more well known than Freedom Fighter, Discharge, or Jesus

You're right, though. It is a shame that he's not more popular outside the rabid fandom, otherwise his toy could get reissued, or even get an updated toy. I mean, the other Decepticon Triple Changers got reissues and/or updated toys, and Blitzwing got forgotten. Hmph.

Anyway.

As for Blitzwing's characterization... well, that's mostly a lot little bit of... creative license on my part. Blitzwing is, in fact, really, really violent and brutal, as well as a bit of a dick: he will often allow his allies to fall into traps that he's noticed, as long as it's amusing enough.

The insanity part is really just the way I play all my characters, but... yeah, Blitzwing's got some stuff going on in the insane department. Not to the level I do, but still. The biggest difference is that my characterization of Blitzwing is that he's a little on the incompetent side; Blitzwing in his actual canonical appearences is actually quite competent and (somewhat) levelheaded. For a Decepticon.

As for Numidium... he probably wouldn't think that it's Optimus or Megatron/Galvatron, but he might think that it's some sort of Autobot weapon. Especially since it bones the player if he/she tries to use it in Daggerfall.

As for the stat blocks of other characters/creatures, you'll have'ta ask DR for that stuff.

And finally, there are a lot of characters that have been shown to live for a ridiculously long time. For instance, there's a Telvanni (well, honorary at least) wizard named Divayth Fyr, who's said to be like over 4,000 years old by the point of Morrowind. Also, my personal favorite bit of lore regarding characters from previous games, is that the Champion of Cyrodiil, who in the vanilla game's is basically a lap dog who gets no credit, is all but outright stated to have become Sheogorath. Which is awesome.

I have no idea why this just struck me, but I think, for a future campaign (whenever that might be), I'll play a combiner.

That won't be hard to implement statistically, not at all...

But that's for a while yet.

Until next time, Blitzwingers!

*A term for a TF fan, not the other meaning.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Thu Oct 18, 2012 9:21 pm

Re: Talos (again)

Talos was essentially an evil version of the Tome Paladin, and had Heavy Fortification plate armor and a high SR.

He shared stacked buffs with a zombie T-Rex and charged on it with a vorpal lance.

If we had made his armor Ghost Touch, he'd have probably taken the rest of the session to beat.

Re: Really long lived characters:

Canonically the Nerevarine should be alive (corprus makes you immune to age and disease, and the Nerevarine, being a player character is crazy strong) and Divayth Fyr (who is probably alive circa Skyrim, since he is apparently immune to aging, and would almost certainly survive House Telvanni's demise since he's so powerful and distant from it) explicitly states that he only cured the negative effects of the disease.

No clue about Yagrum Bagarn surviving to Skyrim though.

Aryxbez · Post by **Aryxbez** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 10:42 am

I guess Blitzwing's fun facts were so over the top, they fear bringing him back in utter disappointment, perhaps his toy was/is just that good. As for the Combiner, maybe a bunch of lower level cohorts/followers part of Leadership feat, form to become the said major PC with Leadership feat? (so maybe he's 10th level, and he's formed from like 4-5 8-6th level NPCs)

Darth Rabbitt wrote:Re: Talos (again)
No clue about Yagrum Bagarn surviving to Skyrim though.

Hope not the "again" in that post implies distaste in talking about Talos some more, as pardon if I'm seeming rather repetitive. Noticed by the armor description, do you use Tome Armors at all? Though the Vorpal Lance does sound like a pretty cool idea (don't think there was much lore on Talo's weaponry). Any tips to making dudes like Talos, fights that can take awhile to beat? In this case, Paladin would provide the good saves, AC, and apparently SR to ensure to that. After all, wouldn't want to just create a "blanket immunity" character, that I've seen in Elder Evils, Deities & Demigods (for example purposes I guess), and Demon Codex supplements do, that seem rather artificial, making the fight itself rather boring.

As for Yagrum, he was moreso an example, to me wondering what these other NPC's could be doing from their respective games timeline to now. Hell, you mentioned the main PC from Morrowind, I'm surprised he isn't making huge waves in Skyrim's current timeline, for example.

Oh, and I came across this guy while looking through the wiki a little, perhaps would make for a good ally (exception to his rule) or free Divine Rank/or just bragging rights for the PCs, since everyone hates him?

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 1:04 pm

You're probably right about Blitzwing. His toy is the apex of toy technology, after all...

As for TES stuff...
The reason Nerevarine is not in Skyrim (or anywhere) is that it was stated in Oblivion that he went to Akavir and was never seen again. It's stupid, but unfortunately offical canon. It's a shame, because up until Skyrim, Nerevar was the only player character who wasn't a go-fer.

There's nothing to say that Yagrum Bagrum lived or died. Again, in Oblivion it's mentioned that the last living dwemer was found in Vvardenfell, but that's more a referance to the events of Morrowind, and not current events. But I like to think he lived, cause I'm all for a happy ending.

As for Ebonarm, pretty much everything known about him (which isn't much) comes from TESII: Daggerfall (which was a shitty game in my opinion, but that's a different matter), so there isn't really a whole lot to go off of. But, hell, I'm all for making obscure guy's more well known. (That's why I play character's like Blitzwing, or linked to Jesus and Freedom Fighter.) So, I'd be all for it. But, I'm just a player, so it'd ultimately be up to DR and/or the other guy DMing.

edit: I also wondered about being a combiner because I like making DR insane by asking him to make difficult character concepts. I know little to nothing about actual DnD, and what I do know comes from obsolete but hilarious 2E handbooks* that used I inherited from my brother at an early age (my wasn't much more than a casual player). Thus, my knowledge of game mechanics and stats and etcetera are really slim.
So, all my characters are made my Darth Rabbitt, and I get my jollies depending on how hard the character is to build.

Basically: I don't write 'em, I just does 'em.

*The plus side of this is that my brother had a lot of Dragonlance stuff, handbooks, modules, campaigns, etc. So, I got to see all the fun and absurdity of the setting from an early age.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 8:52 pm

Aryxbez wrote:
Darth Rabbitt wrote:Re: Talos (again)
No clue about Yagrum Bagarn surviving to Skyrim though.
Hope not the "again" in that post implies distaste in talking about Talos some more, as pardon if I'm seeming rather repetitive.

No, it's that I kept on putting Re: [insert topic here] in my posts and I'm making fun of myself.

Guess I was being frozen fast. [/mistborn]

Noticed by the armor description, do you use Tome Armors at all?

Yeah, and most, if not all, armors are just reskins of Tome Armors (i.e. Demon Armor is Daedric, Mechanus Armor is Dwemer, etc.) or just flat out taken from Tome (Leather, Chain Mail, Plate, etc.)

Any tips to making dudes like Talos, fights that can take awhile to beat? In this case, Paladin would provide the good saves, AC, and apparently SR to ensure to that.

Using Tome, Paladin and Barbarian make excellent tank characters, and I'd suggest one of the two.

Knight isn't quite as good (since it lacks the spellcasting of the former and the offensive power of the latter) but is still pretty good.

A Tome Monk that focuses on defensive Fighting Styles is OK at this, with Insightful Strike and/or Zen Archery for fun and profit, but I don't like it as much.

True Fiend is a decent dip for pretty much any non-magic-user who wants to tank (can get really nice resistances/immunities in a few levels, plus full BAB, all good saves, and 8 + Int skills.)

Finally, Swordwraith Paragon is good for fighting-types who want to tank.

Good feats for such characters are Elusive Target, Danger Sense, and the save bonus feats.

As for Yagrum, he was moreso an example, to me wondering what these other NPC's could be doing from their respective games timeline to now. Hell, you mentioned the main PC from Morrowind, I'm surprised he isn't making huge waves in Skyrim's current timeline, for example.

Shrapnel pretty much got it; they realized that they had a main character that wasn't a gofer and was basically an immortal that had killed the Tribunal, Dagoth Ur, and the avatar of one of the more badass Daedric Princes (Hircine.)

So they sent the Nerevarine to Mandyville Akavir.

Oh, and I came across this guy while looking through the wiki a little, perhaps would make for a good ally (exception to his rule) or free Divine Rank/or just bragging rights for the PCs, since everyone hates him?

I'll try, but Ebonarm may just be too much esoteric awesome for me to handle.

Aryxbez · Post by **Aryxbez** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:09 am

Sounds like you guys been playing the DLC more, than actually running a campaign! Nah, jokes aside, made me wonder if one was to describe a bit of "why" to do an Elder Scrolls game, Skyrim itself would provide already ton of reasons. Obviously boiling down to there, how Tabletop is lot less limiting on choice, and what can actually do.

Also the whole unexplored elements, a form of "did you know?..." (Were-crocs, Akavir, Manes-Khajit leaders, etc.)

So yes, did the campaign get canceled?, mentioned awhile back a session was to be run, did it just not get written down here??

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:59 pm

A "Why Elder Scrolls?" would take a bit to write up, and I might do it later.

As for the game, it's just on hiatus, because I had midterms and now finals to deal with, and that doesn't go well with running a big game.

So once I finish finals (in a week or so) I'm going to try and get another session up.

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Wed Jan 09, 2013 10:09 pm

Oh, how often I've heard that.

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Fri Mar 29, 2013 11:24 pm

Well, Blitzwingers, I am here with some sad news.

You may have been wondering why there haven't been that many updates. Well, the reason is that, unfortunately, the immense complexity involved in having two people (DarthRabbitt and another memeber of our gaming group) switching DM duties for the same campaign has proven to be too much for our merry gaming band to handle.

As such, the Blitzwing Diaries, and the further adventures of Ysmir, Blitzwing, and Co. are on an indefinite hold.

Thanks to those of you who followed our train-wreck of a campaign with interest.

Good-bye and good-night.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Fri Mar 29, 2013 11:52 pm

I'd have put it, "bad news, Aryxbez! Good news, Korgan0!" but otherwise Shrapnel is right; this campaign is probably done for as it falls apart way too easily.

I'll be using a map of Skyrim (and a number of blatant TES name/organization rips) for the next game I run, though, if that's any consolation.

Aryxbez · Post by **Aryxbez** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 3:35 am

By the Nine (Eight??) Divines!..Maaaaaaan , I was hoping "maybe" the summer would be all I'd have to wait (Shrapnel's smiley is an apt one I'd share as a reaction).

This thread gave me an excuse to talk about "Elder Scrolls, the D20 game", and get back into playing Skyrim, for when I just lazily delay in doing so. Although I could still do so, not sure how much interest there would be in that, now that context of a campaign to hold it all together, is gone.

Darth Rabbitt wrote:I'll be using a map of Skyrim (and a number of blatant TES name/organization rips) for the next game I run, though, if that's any consolation.

Why rips, and not a straight up Elder Scrolls campaign, if I may ask? Also, for Elder Scrolls, how come ye chose 3rd edition [Tome], as a fit for Elder Scrolls (given, there are similarities in the gameplay at times)?

Mayhaps in closing, could do some post-mortem, of direction the campaign would've turned, its events and all that? Either also/or, perhaps giving input on the value of "Why Elder Scrolls as Tabletop", the kind of interactions you've wanted to do in the games, and how Tabletop facilitates that. Basically, I guess I'm kinda asking idea document, people wanted to do in Elder Scrolls verse. An example of mine is rather simple, getting to buttstab major political figures (Jarls,Maven Blackbriar and duel her incompetent son), to defy those social orders, solidifying my roleplay of being an orsimer ranger that was be executed for horrible crime(s) he genuinely committed.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 4:06 am

Aryxbez wrote:This thread gave me an excuse to talk about "Elder Scrolls, the D20 game", and get back into playing Skyrim, for when I just lazily delay in doing so. Although I could still do so, not sure how much interest there would be in that, now that context of a campaign to hold it all together, is gone.

Why rips, and not a straight up Elder Scrolls campaign, if I may ask? Also, for Elder Scrolls, how come ye chose 3rd edition [Tome], as a fit for Elder Scrolls (given, there are similarities in the gameplay at times)?

About half of the players at our table haven't played Elder Scrolls, so a full-on campaign based off of it confused the shit out of half the group.

Hence why one of our players came with basically a different character every session, and another just didn't attend.

I thought it was kind of dickish to do that to our group.

For Elder Scrolls, it's because 3.X is the game system I know best, and could most easily write material for it.

And a Tome Gestalt E6 is a decent approximation for an Elder Scrolls game (excluding console commands, which make you wayyy higher level,) as characters can do a bit of everything, but be great at what they specifically build for, your high end effects are things like flight, Rogues are competitive with Wizards and martial characters are about as strong as magic users, possibly even better outside utility, while also giving more freedom than allowed by the confines of a video game.

Mayhaps in closing, could do some post-mortem, of direction the campaign would've turned, its events and all that? Either also/or, perhaps giving input on the value of "Why Elder Scrolls as Tabletop", the kind of interactions you've wanted to do in the games, and how Tabletop facilitates that. Basically, I guess I'm kinda asking idea document, people wanted to do in Elder Scrolls verse. An example of mine is rather simple, getting to buttstab major political figures (Jarls,Maven Blackbriar and duel her incompetent son), to defy those social orders, solidifying my roleplay of being an orsimer ranger that was be executed for horrible crime(s) he genuinely committed.

A retrospective on the campaign could be done, as could a "Roleplaying in the Elder Scrolls Campaign Setting" blurb.

I mean, I already wrote up the three races that would require the most work (Khajiit, Argonians, and Orismer; most other races would be fairly similar mechanically to other races to the point that we used stats from Grey Elves for Altmer, Fire Elves for Dunmer, Wild Elves for Bosmer, Tieflings for Dremora, Aasimar for Golden Saints, etc.)

But I'm too tired to write it up now, and content will probably have to wait until after I've finished up more of the game I'm just starting to run.

Setting stuff is much easier to write.

Shrapnel · Post by **Shrapnel** » Mon Apr 01, 2013 8:02 pm

Darth Rabbitt wrote:About half of the players at our table haven't played Elder Scrolls, so a full-on campaign based off of it confused the shit out of half the group.

Hence why one of our players came with basically a different character every session, and another just didn't attend.

I thought it was kind of dickish to do that to our group.

I, personally, didn't think that was much of a problem. But then, I've played most of the Elder Scrolls games.

And a Tome Gestalt E6 is a decent approximation for an Elder Scrolls game (excluding console commands, which make you wayyy higher level)

But, the Console Commands are pretty much the best part of the computer version of Oblivion! Well, that and downloading a shit-ton of mods to make the game become pornographic. Mmmm....

Aryxbez wrote:Mayhaps in closing, could do some post-mortem

I could give you a post-mortem from my perspective. It would have nothing to do with the game mechanics, and everything to do with Blitzwing and the BBB* mod (Better Bouncing Breasts. It makes boobies bounce.)

And I'm going to do it now, so sit down and shut up, because you don't have a choice.

Okay, so... I completely forget pretty much everything, so I'm just gonna make shit up.

So, here's the backstory:

Blitzwing had been sent by Megatron (or Galvatron. Or Devil Z. Or Deathsaurus. Or maybe even Scrash) through a trans-warp portal to Mundus to prepare Nirn for Decepticon invasion. After landing on top of the Roxey Inn, and crushing Baurion to death, Blitzwing headed out in search of some allies to help him destabalize the area. Along the way, he found a time-displaced Football Coach, whom he remember from an earlier escapade. Delighted to be reunited with his greatest military advisor, Blitzwing then met up with a party of adventurers: Ysmir, some other dude, and yet another dude who went mandyville, and a third dude who was played by the same person as the second dude, but was another character, and I think there may have been a fourth dude, but I can't remember. Anyway, they're not important, because only Blitzwing and Ysmir are central to the plot.

(I'll say that the others were eaten by grus).

Ysmir had a duel personality, one GOOD (TM), and one EBIL (R). Blitzwing didn't like the GOOD (TM) one, but he did like the EBIL (R) one.

Overtime, Ysmir's EBIL (R) personality took over, slowly driving him insane.

After some misadventures, Blitzwing finally amassed enough power to become a god. However, Ysmir's EBIL (R) agenda for Nirn conflicted with Blitzwings EVIL (C) plans for Nirn, and so they entered into a mighty battle. After all was said and done, Blitzwing was defeated by Ysmir, who did whatever the hell it was that he was going to do with Nirn.

Blitzwing, meanwhile, was cast by Ysmir into the waters of Oblivion, where he drifted for a really long time. Eventually he encountered a force so powerful, so mighty, that it could influence the very fabric of space/time and plot development: TO SELL TOYS.

His old, G1 Diaclone-based body was destroyed, and he was reformatted into a newer, sexier, more awesomer body that would be hitting shelves sometime this spring/summer.

And then Ahab bought the farm and the whale swam off into the sunset and Rosebud was his sled and everyone was crushed by GREAT, KNOBBED TAILs.

The ending of the words is ALMSIVI.

Darth Rabbitt · Post by **Darth Rabbitt** » Fri Jul 05, 2013 6:18 am

It's been over three months since the campaign ended (over six since it effectively ended) and since Aryx has mentioned this game once or twice and I'm out of school ATM I should actually write up a non-half-assed retrospective, but I'm tired and will do it later.