Strategic Fantasy Crossover RPG

[Akhlut]

Okay, just wondering because I saw Sister Miriam buy population in the OOB.

[DarthShady]

So you guys are all going with Humans as the main race?

I'm going with Vampires(the dominant race) and a mixture of other evil and shadowy creatures that I think of, or steal from the Internet.

Also a few questions:

How powerful can our magic be? Since I am the Lord of Shadows, can I for example use my magical powers to create eternal night over my territory? It wouldn't have any effect on battles(except for the fact that there is no sunlight to hurt my vampires).

Also how advanced is our technology? Are airships and stuff like that the upper limit?

I have quite an interesting neighbourhood. I predict a time of peace and prosperity.

[Setzer]

That was because she wanted an armed populace that could be sent into battle at a moment's notice. You'll notice they only number in the tens of thousands, tiny even for our time, so it's clearly not her entire population.

[Karmic Knight]

Also a few questions:

How powerful can our magic be? Since I am the Lord of Shadows, can I for example use my magical powers to create eternal night over my territory? It wouldn't have any effect on battles(except for the fact that there is no sunlight to hurt my vampires).

Those would, using my spreadsheet, net you probably +10, +15, +20, depending on the severity, in the innate magic category to all of your provinces. And Vampire troops, if you chose to work that being a 'power' of vampires.

Also how advanced is our technology? Are airships and stuff like that the upper limit?

Middle Ages tech.

edit: PeZook's "The Fall" for reference. (aka, I'm getting tired of searching for it in the thread, so I'm posting it)

The Fall

In 1095, pope Urban II called for Europe to rise in defence of the faith. Infidels trampled the Holy Land, stopping pilgrims from their god-given right to visit Christendom's holy places.

There were many who thought the Pope had another goal altogether with his call for war: European knights rampaged across the countryside, trying to find glory, fame and wealth in constant wars with their neighbors. Giving them a unifying cause would help alleviate the problem.

Whatever the real reason for the Pope's call, thousands answered it. A huge army marched towards the Holy Land, to fight the infidels and - in many cases - find wealth and personal glory.

The crusaders fought well, and quickly took Antioch and laid siege to Jerusalem. In a huge orgy of blood, death and violence, they took the city, slaughtering its inhabitants to a man.

The Lord's work was not done, however. After Jerusalem fell, a group of knights led by Ulrich of Hamburg, set out on a pilgrimage to Christ's grave. Quickly, they found out the cave locals pointed out to them was unremarkable in almost every way. While his Knights seemed satisfied, Ulrich himself was shocked at the utter lack of any spiritual experiences he felt during his visit there, and concluded that what they saw was not the real grave of Christ.

Thus began his quest: for years, Ulrich searched through arcande records and forbidden Muslim knowledge. Eventually, having spent much time and money on his investigation, he was rewarded with success: the real location of the Grave Of Christ was not some random cave, he managed to ascertain, but a tomb near the Dead Sea.

He gathered a retinue and mounted an expedition to the inhospitable place. They set out of Jerusalem and disappeared.

Nobody knows what happened during Ulrich's expedition. What is known is that the knights returned to Jerusalem eventually, but changed somehow.

They lost their weapons and armor somewhere ; They returned one by one, wearing tattered robes, covered in horrible boils, and completely blind, babbling about horrors untold and the coming doom of Man. Most were comitted to asylums where such poor souls waited to die, some were taken into care of their families. Ulrich himself left Jerusalem altogether, heading towards Constantinopole.

Barely two months after their return, mysterious things begun to happen in Palestine. Men disappeared during the night ; Entire families were found dead inside their homes, with no apparent wounds ; Strange creatures were spotted skittering on the streets. Priests went mad without rhyme nor reason, and foul heretical prophets appeared in ever growing numbers.

A special ecumenical expedition sent from the Holy See disappeared a day after coming to Jerusalem, later showing up throughout Europe, completely insane - much like Ulrich's knights.

Six months after the ill-fated expedition, a plague descended upon Jerusalem.

It was no ordinary plague, however: the people afflicted by it did not die in the streets, withered and weak. They grew stronger and insane, and attacked others on sight. It spread like wildfire, with the city annihilating itself in an orgy of violence. Some survivors of this night claim they saw the Fallen Knights lead hordes of unholy monsters, wailing in the night in obscene tongues - tongues that made men go insane.

It only went worse from there. As the Fallen spread throughout Europe, death followed them. Strange creatures appeared in forests and fields ; entire town were devoured by man-eating beasts. Children were born with claws or ragged, sharp teeth, dead or otherwise malformed.

Order soon broke down, as a thousand insane cults sprung up everywhere. Constantinopole was almost destroyed in a manner similar to Jerusalem, when insane followers of the Fallen set fire to the city and begun murdering people in the streets ; plague followed, and horrendous monsters are said to have risen from the sea to claim the very souls of the people living there.

No place was spared ; insanity and death found its way to every corner of the world, and it seemed as if every fear, every legend which made people shiver at night and look out fearfully into the darkness, have come alive.

We are not sure how long ago this was ; But we learned to live in this world. While magic creeps the Earth, and strange beasts now live in our forests, our cities and even our rivers and seas, we've learned to live here with them, and in some places, they even dwell amongst men, treated as equals.

Yet the world remains a dangerous place, with horrors beyond imagination creeping in the dark.

[Master_Baerne]

We dont buy population, unless of course you can make them into militia at the drop of a hat. Also umm Baerne. How much do your soldiers cost per hundred? I dont think it's listed.

Oops. I'll just go and fix that now...

EDIT: Fixed.

And Shady, remember that dragons can see in the dark. And that vampires burn.

[Karmic Knight]

So, Baerne, what do you want to do with that little strip of land between us?

I was thinking of making it a dmz, with Baernish and Imperial citizens living peacefully within, but with the 10eme Armee and Ire Armee training on the border, and their equivalent on the other side.

[Setzer]

Shady, why don't you simply have puppet rulers in the daytime, like in VTM, with their ghouls.

[PeZook]

Having an all-vampire army has...interesting repercussions when trying to invade places where night follows astrophysics

[Setzer]

I think he was mainly saying Vampires were the dominant race.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Having an all-vampire army has...interesting repercussions when trying to invade places where night follows astrophysics

And it also means my Alchemists must fashion UV torches.

[Setzer]

I have some forbodings about the use of magic in this game. I don't want it to be like SDNworld, where magical powers replace technical toys. Ah well. I suppose having points limits on magic can curb that somewhat.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

I have some forbodings about the use of magic in this game. I don't want it to be like SDNworld, where magical powers replace technical toys. Ah well. I suppose having points limits on magic can curb that somewhat.

As I stated before, we must come up with a system in this game. Otherwise, weird stuff like flying meteors will come along.

[Setzer]

Hmm.....

I think little things, like enchanting an assassin's boots to be quiet, wouldn't cost anything.

Large magical expenditures, like a magical bridge across a strait or an artificial storm, should have a big onetime cost and a significant points cost for maintainance, like 5000 and 500 each year after that.

[Darkevilme]

Like i said. 1000 points of magic shouldnt be able to do more than, at the very upper limit twice, what a thousand points of troops can do or at least the equivalent. The twice would only be to compensate for the poof its gone element where you have to wait till next year though for now i think we'll leave it at 1-1 not twice and see if its underpowered during play.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

My magic is either the alchemy of the Fullmetal Alchemist manga sort. If someone wants me to cap the abilities of the average alchemist, say so.

[Darkevilme]

If it's a unit then its simply part of their cost. Epic magic is different cause it can do things that affect entire armies, battles and provinces.

[DarthShady]

Shady, why don't you simply have puppet rulers in the daytime, like in VTM, with their ghouls.

I was thinking of something like that...but I figured there would be no need for that if I can magically block out the sun.(Either by clouds or something else.)

Having an all-vampire army has...interesting repercussions when trying to invade places where night follows astrophysics

I thought of a solution for that too. My armies would carry a powerful demonic crystal with them, so wherever they go the darkness follows.

This wouldn't have any effect on battles except that any fight with me happens in the night, and my vampires can fight during the day(fake night). I'm thinking it wouldn't be a disadvantage to you guys because you can create some magical lights for your troops so they can see in the dark.

I'm still thinking if I should go with this...If it's too complicated and/or costly I'll drop it.

I think he was mainly saying Vampires were the dominant race.

Yes, they are the dominant race.

Anyway I'm working on my OOB and Kingdom Information. I should have a preliminary version up today so you guys can see where I'm going with it.

[PeZook]

I thought of a solution for that too. My armies would carry a powerful demonic crystal with them, so wherever they go the darkness follows.

This wouldn't have any effect on battles except that any fight with me happens in the night, and my vampires can fight during the day(fake night). I'm thinking it wouldn't be a disadvantage to you guys because you can create some magical lights for your troops so they can see in the dark.

Yes! Go with this, so that I can launch a special operation at noon, shatter the crystal and destroy your entire army in one, fell swoop!

Or you can just have humans/ghouls fight in the field

[DarthShady]

I thought of a solution for that too. My armies would carry a powerful demonic crystal with them, so wherever they go the darkness follows.

This wouldn't have any effect on battles except that any fight with me happens in the night, and my vampires can fight during the day(fake night). I'm thinking it wouldn't be a disadvantage to you guys because you can create some magical lights for your troops so they can see in the dark.

Yes! Go with this, so that I can launch a special operation at noon, shatter the crystal and destroy your entire army in one, fell swoop!

The crystal would be heavily guarded and protected by powerful magic(or perhaps indestructible). Or perhaps simply hidden somewhere, you would have to search( first kill) thousands of soldiers to find it.

Also: Vampires are only a part of my army. Some of the other creatures will make your guys piss themselves...

Or you can just have humans/ghouls fight in the field

Maybe. But the idea of eternal night and darkness is very appealing.

And yes I will have a number of humans fighting in my armies. They fight to prove themselves worthy of becoming vampires, some make it but most are simply cannon fodder.

[PeZook]

Also: Vampires are only a part of my army. Some of the other creatures will make your guys piss themselves...

We have brain-eating evil spirits and young women who turn into insane bloodthirsty monsters after they die.

There are also witches which snag little children and incorporate them into their homes, or curse people's babies so that they turn into flesh rending little critters which climb out of their creche and tear out their parents' throats!

And living forests. And nightmare-inducing fog. And crazy old druids who talk to trees and murder people who stray too much off the road.

Do better, I dare ya!

[DarthShady]

Oh I like a challenge.

[Siege]

Hmm, I finally managed to catch up (sort of) with this thread, and it certainly sounds interesting. Mind if I stake a claim on Egypt for the time being? I'll have to work out a sufficiently weird kingdom, but I'd like to participate...

[Master_Baerne]

So, Baerne, what do you want to do with that little strip of land between us?

I was thinking of making it a dmz, with Baernish and Imperial citizens living peacefully within, but with the 10eme Armee and Ire Armee training on the border, and their equivalent on the other side.

Sounds eminently reasonable. Wars over such a tiny strip of land would not be fun.

That said, I'm colonizing Spain.

[Setzer]

Egypt isn't occupied. I'll get right on it. And I don't think you really have to work hard for Egyptian wierdness. Brother/Sister marriages, animal headed gods, and gigantic tombs to dead kings are just the tip of the iceberg.

[DarthShady]

Preliminary Information on The Empire of Shadows(or Kraljevstvo Sjena in my strange language. ):

The Empire of Shadows

When darkness fell upon the world and all the worlds horrors became a reality, the gateways between dimensions opened and a terrible evil came through them. This evil was a powerful Demon known only as the Lord of Shadows( the nameless one, Lord of Darkness, the Shadow Lord). He manifested himself in the centre of the Barbarian city of Sarajevo, stepping through the portal his first words were, „Tremble and Despair Mortals for Doom has come to your world.“

Twelve Heroes, The Bravest and strongest warriors of the Barbarian tribes gathered to fight him, but they were no match for his power. They fought with courage but were quickly defeated and their dead bodies were transformed into the first of the Vampires. Bound by their blood to serve him forever. Soon the Shadow Lord unleashed his terrible power transforming day into night and creating eternal darkness. Within days most of the Barbarians were turned into vampires and became the first and favoured servants of the Dark Lord. The terrible power of the Shadow Lord opened portals to other dimensions and through them he summoned a multitude of evil creatures to serve him. Now his dark shadow has begun to spread itself through Eastern Europe, his armies slaughtering all those that oppose him, while his evil influence continues to seduce many to become his servants, with promises of power and eternal life.

Creatures of the Shadow Lord:

Vampires

The Dominant race in the Empire are Vampires, favoured creatures of the Lord of Shadows. They form the top hierarchy of the Empire and are the most numerous of all his servants. They serve as soldiers, commanders and administrators of the Empire. Although stronger than most humans they have a few weaknesses, such as extreme allergy to sunlight and certain holy objects. Their vulnerability to sunlight is counteracted by the fact that the demonic magic of the Shadow Lord creates eternal night upon his territories and when his armies are on the offensive they carry a powerful demonic crystal which causes the same effect, no matter where they go.

Goblins

Goblins are a very clever and innovative race. While vaguely mystical, they generally prefer the world of nuts and bolts, and are famous for the fantastic mechanical wonders they produce. Commonly selfish and obsessive, they have been known to destroy large forests and meadows in order to build factories where they produce their strange machines. Enslaved by the Lord of Shadows they now have only one purpose, to create powerful war machines for his armies.

Shadow Dragons

Many, many layers of oil-black evil coat this vilest of the living dragons. So baby-seal taunting evil is the shadow dragon that prancing do-gooders simply detonate in a shower of law-abiding fragments within 30 feet of this foul wyrm. If you thought your shiny sword and bulls-eye lantern would protect you from the monsters in the dark, think again. It's not the monsters in the dark you need to fear, it's the darkness itself.

Spider Demons(Bebilith)

Only the scratch of hard chitin on rock signals the approach of one of the most feared servants of the Shadow Lord. A set of glistening spikes and glittering mandibles continually click and scrape as this giant predator stalks its favoured prey- humans. These twisted and misshapen hunters are the size of an adult dragon and have been known to hunt in packs. A swarm of the mammoth Bebiliths cannot be stopped by anything known in this world…or any other.

Demilich(Wizards in the form of a flying skull)

I think we can all agree that no matter how powerful you are, how many magic items you have that can shoot death rays at your enemies, how many sheets of magically enhanced steel you wear, and how huge your holy sword is, when you see a floating skull with gems in its eyes, you know you're going to have to collect your spleen in tiny evidence bags at the end of the battle.

Human Slaves

Those that survive the onslaught of the Shadow Lords evil armies are soon taken as slaves. They are used as basic labour and to feed the Vampires. Sometimes they are seen fighting for him, but are lightly armed and mostly used as cannon fodder. Those that survive and prove their loyalty to the Lord of Darkness are turned into Vampires.

I'm still creating(or finding) creatures that will populate my realm. Once I'm done with that I will make my OOB. Figuring out how much a certain unit will cost...is going to be a problem. A fun problem.