Dragonmech: Reconceptualization
Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 11:19 pm
I've started the year with some bad news professionally. So I'm just writing some of my gaming thoughts down here to take my mind off of other things.
The world of Dragonmech makes no sense. The world is presented as a normal D&D world prior to the Lunar invasion. After the Lunar invasion started, giant mechs became the tools that allowed civilizations to survive and fight Lunar monstrosities.
Obviously, this is retarded because mechs are just warrior classes with more HD and more damage--things that are completely useless against real monsters. Furthermore, if the world was truly a D&D world, then the spell slingers should suffice in kicking lunar dragon butt. New technology would not needed, nevermind mechs.
Since the Dragonmech world was created because people want to play with giant metal robots, the world needs to be modified so that it makes sense to have humanoid races build and operate giant metal robots against ugly dragons from the moon. And here are my thoughts on what the changes should be.
Prior to the Lunar invasion, the Dragonmech world is populated by humanoids who are level capped to level 6. Spellcasters can't cast anything more powerful than 3rd level spells. Terrestrial monsters more powerful than CR 6 rarely exist, and they're not that more powerful than CR 6.
The Lunar invasion introduced more powerful monsters that threaten the land. The different races had to come up with something completely new to deal with the threat. Conceptually, this means new rules and mechanics are invented. Since this is Dragonmech and we all want mechs, these rules allow the construction of mechs that are of appropriate power to opposition more powerful than CR 6. Effects that are equivalent or similar to spells or abilities of characters above level 6 in normal D&D can only be incorporated into mechs.
How's this for a new start for the setting? Now, we just need to design and flesh out what these new rules are and how they pertain to mechs. For example, the elves might have developed semi-permanent spells that animates trees and vines into Huge size or larger mechs from which they can cast more powerful spells, and etc.
The world of Dragonmech makes no sense. The world is presented as a normal D&D world prior to the Lunar invasion. After the Lunar invasion started, giant mechs became the tools that allowed civilizations to survive and fight Lunar monstrosities.
Obviously, this is retarded because mechs are just warrior classes with more HD and more damage--things that are completely useless against real monsters. Furthermore, if the world was truly a D&D world, then the spell slingers should suffice in kicking lunar dragon butt. New technology would not needed, nevermind mechs.
Since the Dragonmech world was created because people want to play with giant metal robots, the world needs to be modified so that it makes sense to have humanoid races build and operate giant metal robots against ugly dragons from the moon. And here are my thoughts on what the changes should be.
Prior to the Lunar invasion, the Dragonmech world is populated by humanoids who are level capped to level 6. Spellcasters can't cast anything more powerful than 3rd level spells. Terrestrial monsters more powerful than CR 6 rarely exist, and they're not that more powerful than CR 6.
The Lunar invasion introduced more powerful monsters that threaten the land. The different races had to come up with something completely new to deal with the threat. Conceptually, this means new rules and mechanics are invented. Since this is Dragonmech and we all want mechs, these rules allow the construction of mechs that are of appropriate power to opposition more powerful than CR 6. Effects that are equivalent or similar to spells or abilities of characters above level 6 in normal D&D can only be incorporated into mechs.
How's this for a new start for the setting? Now, we just need to design and flesh out what these new rules are and how they pertain to mechs. For example, the elves might have developed semi-permanent spells that animates trees and vines into Huge size or larger mechs from which they can cast more powerful spells, and etc.