Messages

To clarify, there IS even a free rest point for the Syndicate, and has been there since the Archaeological Society days. There's just not a spawn point. The spot tagged as a rest area is right next to the camp-bed in the back room of the Syndicate. You just need to make sure you're close enough and are flagged as a faction member.

The Syndicate also is interesting as it's effectively a "retired" DM faction. The Library started off as the Archaological Society, a DM faction run by Sternhund. When Stern wasn't able to spare the time for a DM faction any more, he let it wind down to a PC faction with some nice perks and special areas, rather than end it totally. I think that's laudable, but it up to players to keep whatever holds the Library as an active and enjoyable faction.

With that in mind, I made David in order to spark the Syndicate back into action again. If you want more involvement, talk to me IC or OOC for ideas of plots or stuff to write about.

As a further aside, I've made this PC purely to kick the Syndicate up the arse so that it's not just wizards advancing the researchy plots. The big problem with that faction was it was so open to everyone that it was a secondary faction for every PC involved with it. It didn't have the same level of dedicated PCs the Library or Society did IMO. DM factions are clearly a primary focus for a PC, but where something is a PC faction, even a well-supported one, it can end up being a side goal for everyone involved, since they don't push as hard for something they didn't have to app for and doesn't provide clear rewards.

As far as "The DMs pulled the Conclave out of their collective ass" goes, that's been brewing for ages. I can tell just from gossip threads that something was building, as I haven't been on when any of the events occured. I do though agree with Thomas in a way. The highest level, most influential PCs should be on a par with the strongest NPCs on the isle. It gives players a feeling that the world is shaped *by* PC achievement, not *in spite* of it.

If a DM decides something needs to be stepped on, doing it with a squad of L8 Elite Stygians, Conclave Mages etc. seems a more elegant way of doing things than single NPCs that are higher level and better equipped than any player can aspire to. Representing power with numerous strong goons, rather than "Deus ex Machina" ubercharacters, lets player feel they can be powerful, while still accepting that the NPC population can also reach those heights and potentially outnumber them. Obviously Rubies are a special case, but even they should feel just out of reach of players by dint of superior gear and supplies, not totally outside the range of power available.

[Artisanal Netherese Banded Mail]

Artisanal Netherese Banded Mail
This finely crafted, ancient mail is made of a strange alloy that seems to sap the energy behind any blow striking it.

Banded Mail
6 AC, +1 Dex AC
5% Slashing Immunity
5% Piercing Immunity
5% Bludgeoning Immunity
+1 Persuade
+2 Discipline


I thought it would be interesting to have a set of banded mail or splint that is worth wearing as much as halfplate. It's the class of armor that unlike all others, no PC has a good reason to use, since although there are variants with fairly good bonuses, they never make up for the lost AC.

Mechanically, Mage Armor is indeed *better* than spellfail-less leathers and even Mithral Chains because it doesn't weigh anything, and doesn't have any max DEX penalty. This is, as some players figured, about the coolness value, not the mechanics. If I'm playing a combat mage or bard, I can use Mage Armor to give me AC, without burning a feat. If however I want to play something unusual, I can take Light Armor. That'll make me generally worse off with one less feat to spend on defence or firepower, but be cool. I almost went with it on a recent wizard, but then realised if I wanted to avoid spellfailure, I'd need to spend two feats to get Medium Armor, as well as hoping to acquire a rare item.

DM attention is never guaranteed, nor is loot that is what your PC desires. I once actually got a sweet set of DM loot leathers on a bard, that I eventually gave away because the spellfail annoyed me. One thing I like on EFU is the way in which there are powerful variants of sub-par weapons in order to eventually reward players who use them because it makes sense for the PC, without requiring DM intervention. There is however, not much of the sort for players who take less effective armors. This would be easily implemented, and like Alyssara said could give quests that "loot worth doing this for" that would breathe life back into stuff like Longest Night or Gem Mines that rarely gets done. In fact, considering the arcane theme of Gem Mines, it'd fit perfectly there alongside the arcanist-only shield as endchest loot.

[Nightriser Warlock Combat Suit:]

It's a bit more than ambient loot, so starting a new thread. I think that since there are Mithral Chainshirts as rare loot from some encounters, and one quest, adding a lower grade of spellfail-free armor as rare but not uber-rare loot would be cool. Something to bridge the gap between "woo mithril" and "dammit my spells keep frying", that would let bards wear light armor and cast like they are able to in DnD and in NWN2, or let you make a wild sorc in leathers, that kind of thing. I find it a little odd that you can get around spellfail in a chainshirt, but not lighter armors.

For example:
(on Longest Night)
Nightriser Warlock Combat Suit:
"This ornate black-and gold uniform has thick leather covering the chest for protection, but light silk sleeves that are easy to trace arcane spell formulae in, and  sections of mithril chainmail covering vulnerable areas."
2 AC 6 max DEX bonus
-10% Arcane Spellfailure
+1 Spellcraft
+1 Concentration
9 charges
Mage Armor (2) 2 charges/use
Only useable by Wizard, Sorc, Bard

(on Brood Hive)
Brood Guardian Shaman's Leathers.
Used by the sorcerers of the Brood Tribe in their spider-worship rituals, this leather suit has a small satchel of writhing spider eggs attached to its belt.
3 AC 4 max DEX bonus
-20% Arcane Spellfailure
+1 Tumble
+1 Saves vs Poison
9 charges
Summon Creature I (Spider theme) 1 charge/use
Summon Creature II (Spider theme)  2 charges/use.