Home Brew Changes

Mallic or Pernician for evil? Dissos/Dissan, Dissonos/Dissonan, Tumultuan for chaos?

My GM, I think, didn't quite grasp the concept of loopholes, but gamely laid down some research rules. They don't close after use, but a Guvner can only get three of them in his lifetime. So I decided that a hard limit means the three loopholes you find must say something about you. I was also under the impression that loopholes were related to a particular plane, which is incorrect, but gave the idea form.

So my djinn-descended air genasi wizard has researched the laws of three planes surrounding Air: a vacuum ability (vacuum welding; sticks metal together), a lightning ability which is actually healing (we call it Bioelectricity), and an ice ability that is a little bit like Simulacrum (an extra body, basically). The theme for all of them has been balancing his mortal and elemental heritage. His goal now is to figure out how to work all three of them simultaneously: to arrange them in the proper manner to form a "loophole" in the laws of the Multiverse big enough to inhabit, at least for a moment, in order to transcend.

I also introduced more languages, alignment languages for lawful (Logos), Chaotic (Anarchic), Good (Empyrean) and Evil (Fiendish). Still looking for better names for the chaotic and evil languages, though.
Ah, that's right, so did I. The languages I introduced are:

Anarchic- chaotic planes
Axiomatic- lawful planes
Entropian- Negative energy plane
Vivacian- Positive energy plane
Fiendish- opposite of Celestial
Arborean- CG planes
Caelian- LG planes
By these rules, Axiomatic is what the Modron and Inevitables speak *though the Modrons also have their separate language that is still used for mathmatic and esoteric purposes*, while the Slaadi and Githyanki *or was it githzerai? I can never remember which is which* speak Anarchic. Eladrin now speak Arborean, while Archons speak Caelian. The yugoloths and nighthags of course speak fiendish. The Lumi of course now speak Vivacian as their default language.
I may also give a unique language to creatures of the ethereal, but not to creatures of the Astral.

In addition, I added the rule of Creole languages. A creole is a mixture between two or more languages. This is used primarily on the Paraelemental and Quasielemental Planes, and in order to speak a creole language, a speaker must be proficient in both parent languages. For instance, the official language of Paraelemental Ice is Glacian-- a creole between auran and aquan. The official language of Quasielemental Lightning is Fulguran-- a creole between auran and vivacian.
Thus far the creole language rule only applies to the inner planes.

I'm also working on adapting the 2E Inner Planes elemental rules to 3x, but this is difficult. Inner Planes basically stated that elementals are more intelligent when on their home plane *or one adjacent to it*, but lose intelligence *to the default level shown in the 2E non Planescape monster books*. Going by the Planescape monstrous compendiums, an elemental can have up to double the normal intelligence on its home plane *non-PS books list elemental intelligence as 7, while PS monster books list it as varying from 7 to 14).
In the home rules I intend to implement *which will eventually be posted here*, this would be combined with a "job system" for elementals that gives them innate spell-like abilities and ability score arrays *alternate ones from normal and elite*, which could be used for elemental NPCs instead of class levels *most of the classes as written don't really fit elementals all that well, and many are largely redundant-- such as a druid's venom immunity*. My idea thus far is to give them 3 spell-like abilities of 0-3rd level, though it's possible some spell-like abilities from higher levels may be needed. The main classes I've thought up so far would be smithy/artisan, warlord, healer, and scholar. With a few exceptions *mainly the warlord and healer*, the spell-like abilities would be more of the utility and roleplaying type-- having to do with item creation and divination *another of my houserules is that mephits, genies, and elementals can use *element* shape spells to create items from special materials-- for instance, ice mephits/paraelementals/qorrash genies can use Ice Shape to make things from any type of eternal ice-- including encasing a faceted brightice gem in a thin layer of clear eternal ice. For most types of eternal ice, Ice Shape + skill ranks of Craft are needed to make any fine items-- on Paraelemental Ice it's nigh impossible to use fire or traditional forges, anyway, so indigenous creatures would also use this ability to forge items of blue ice, while glacier dwarves probably build settlements near or inside elemental bubbles-- particularly near the ultra-rare fire and magma bubbles.*

I also made it so that too-good-to-be-true-spells (mainly Attune Form and Planar Tolerance) are non-mortal NPC, only-- the players cannot learn them, but some of their cohorts can. The cohort has to be indigenous to an outer, inner, or transitive plane, however, and of the outsider or elemental type. Attune Form *or some variation* in particular would be a perfect spell for planar guides, along with the Planar Sheperd class from Faiths of Eberron (I posted some rules in the Inner Planes topic to reduce their brokenness, but nonetheless it might be best to make them a monstrous PrC or something)

In addition, I prefer to use the 2E Planescape rules as opposed to the 3x Manual of the Planes rules for magic on the planes-- thus there are 6 instead of 3-4 default effects on spells-- doubled, enhanced, no change, diminished, blocked, and "see text". I might allow for a very high Spellcraft check for "blocked", but it'll certainly be higher than 20 *probably more like 30 or 35-- or maybe 20 + (spell/psionic/maneuver level x2) +1*, but generally one will need a spell, psy, or power key *power keys apply to all supernatural abilities derived from divine power, including spells, psionics, and maneuvers.*

I've also homebrewed all manner of powerful rules when it comes to Cryonax and Frigidora-- ones that wouldn't be available to PCs. Her divine tattooes don't even require a feat, though I may change that eventually. Of course, the bond between these two is unlikely to be found among other archomentals and their champions due to how submissive they are on Frigidora's side-- the powers she and Cryonax possess over one another costs Frigidora her privacy *including private thought* and, if Cryonax so chooses, her free will. The upside is that they share a powerful telepathic link and Cryonax can easily teleport Frigidora out of danger. While Asgeroth may well be loyal (as Dragon 347 states), he is nowhere near the fanatic or submissive that Frigidora is-- in Frigidora's mind, her entire existence revolves around serving her master, a result of a combination of factors, including her lawful alignment *thus feelings of obligation because Cryonax gave her a chance at life*, her love *combination love for a father, reverent love of a fanatical priestess for her god, platonic love, and sexual love*, and the incredible level of indoctrination she has received since the day she learned to speak *not many minions of the evil archomentals begin such an intense level of indoctrination from birth. The Efreet come close, but not many, if any efreet receive a professional education and indoctrination from Imix's own elite servants.*
One of the homebrew rules I made (tailored for the archomentals using the Planewalker Denizens of the Inner Planes rules) was in regards to knowledge skills. Knowledge: Planes can do nearly everything any other knowledge skill can, but it only applies to the planes. This includes using the skill for monster lore normally assigned to another skill, so long as the creature in question is a common or uncommon inhabitant of the planes (e.g. chromatic dragons, giants, white puddings, unicorns, etc.) The only downside is that the DC is about 5 points higher for uncommon creatures. All Outer, Inner, and Transitive planar outsiders and elementals can use this rule. They still require the normal knowledge skill for anything pertaining to the Prime.

Though not specifically Planescape, I also intend to write up rules for using coldflow *coldfire from Frostburn* as a power component. (I've done quite a bit of work on coldflow, both rule-wise and esp. fluff-wise.)

So, small things first:
Starting from the 2ed version of the Planescape cosmology, I made a few minor planar rearrangements for sake of my own internal logic that mostly had no plot impact.

Ooze rather than Steam is now between Positive and Water - the water becomes charged with life energy, until every bit of water is filled with life.

Ice rather than Ooze is now between Water and Earth - the water becomes thicker, colder, and filled with slush, until it forms into ice. Ice has a surface, with Water being in the direction of an infinite ocean on one side, and Earth being in the direction of deep down within the ice.

Steam rather than Ice is now between Air and Water, and appears as a giant cloudbank that becomes denser with approach.

Big things:
I ran the campaign in another system (modified version of the 7th Sea rules), which meant that I redefined a lot of D&D-isms away. Generally mortals could not actually become as strong as many creatures - even the best human in the setting loses when trying to arm-wrestle a titan. The PCs still defeated such threats, but it was usually more trickery-based, which is what I was going for.

I stripped out almost all commonplace magical items and made two categories: folk charms and 'dweomercraft'. Dweomercraft items are basically minor artifacts - they're the work of powerful mages or beings that sacrificed permanently of themselves in a major fashion to create them. Mechanically, you could buy access to a dweomercraft item at character creation by expending a significant portion of your starting XP. Examples: the Resounding Horn of Eogthath, which if played skillfully enough can cause cities to crumble; the Burning Wheel of Nezha (a chinese demigod) that can change size, fly, and spit fire.

Folkcharms on the other hand are things like the little charms you get in Planescape: Torment. A bit of colored string tied into a knot that if you and another untie, you know where the other one is and their condition for a day; a candle whose wick is made from the hair of a horse that was ridden from one spot of moonlight to another all night during a full moon without entering shade, that causes you to speed up for a brief time; a series of fingerbones that you hang on the hilt of your weapon that each let you make one true strike against a ghost. These were all limited use items, and could be made by anyone with the knowledge of their trick. There were also a number of exotic planar goods available - non-magical, but potent simply because of what they were. Things like the egg of a sympathetic, which causes you to go up one planar layer when you eat it.

(As part of this item revision I also reworked the economy and divided most item prices by a factor from 10 to 50, so one gold piece was a big deal).

I reworked magic significantly, making genasi capable of controlling their element in a far more freeform way that could be invested in to increase its potency. As a result a lot of players played genasi - we had an Air, Radiance, Ice, Earth, and Mineral genasi across two campaigns. Arcane magic became more specific, and could be used as often as desired. Divine magic was drastically reconfigured into a set of rituals (each taking significant time) and new ways to expend 'belief dice' to temporarily gain aspects of the deity's strength.

I think broadly speaking that these changes made the game feel a bit more fairy tale, more about exploring the unknown and interacting with things using story logic. Its hard to say though since the entire system was different and had a very different feel altogether.

For me, it's mostly about adding unofficial planes. I like a number of the planes from Malhavoc Press's sourcebook Beyond Countless Doorways, and I've become convinced that the Feywild and Shadowfell are good additions to the cosmology.
The alternate material planes - including alternate timelines where things happened differently, parallel universes where people have different alignments or genders, and cosmologies completely alien to the Great Wheel - are important to me, though Planescape mostly sidelined that concept.

Thankfully-- it opens up too great a can of worms.
I just made most of the Malhavoc Press planes Demiplanes. For instance, I decided that there are demiplanes within the Dream Curtains including Dal Quor and The Shallows (IIRC Ravenloft is surrounded by dream curtains as well)
The "alternate material plane" thing became too confusing (and mostly obsolete) once Spelljammer came along.
My view of the Farrealm is that it's an entire separate cosmology using the "Cluster Cosmology" from MotP. The Amoebic Sea is just one such plane, along with the one that the Luminas (from Violet Dawn) belong to. This allows exponentially more innovation on the part of the DM since now he is no longer restricted to "the Far Realm consists of an amboebic sea, with many layers like the abyss. Each one being a different layer of an ooze-like ocean" like we find in the canon.
Another major facet is the timeline which I'm still working on-- for the most part I never intended for it to be information that the players would ever glean-- it's solely a DM's aid to mark historic points and thus motives and adventure seeds.

Major plot points covered by the timeline thus far include:

--the rise and fall of the aboleth empires (essentially, it's like the history of Egypt-- more than one empire and more than one collapse, but the final collapse was ultimately brought about when the Aboleth created the amniote egg, thus creating the first creatures able to escape their influence into the interior of Pangaea, and of course, being amniotes, they had minds much like ours-- meaning they discovered divine magic and psionics.)

--Permian-Triassic extinction analogue (the buildup was a result of several factors, but the extinction event was caused when Imix went nuts and annexed most of magma and smoke in retaliation for Brista Pel's murder. For some reason, rather than causing magma and smoke to disappear, they and adjacent planes were simply pushed over so that Air, Water, and Ice were consumed.)
I also added some interesting drama between Imix and Zaaman Rul that explains their intense hatred of one another-- despite everything, neither one ORIGINALLY had it in them to kill the other. This despite that Zaaman Rul opposed Imix, and despite all the oppression and cruelty Zaaman Rul witnessed first hand against his own people by his father-- despite being a victim of Imix's physical abuse and ultimately exiled for failure of alignment change under Imix's evil aura and training. It wasn't until Zaaman Rul was erroneously informed (and convinced) that Imix was Brista Pel's murderer that things got violent, and his intent to kill (not to mention the offensiveness of his false accusation) was more than even Imix could tolerate from his own son (not to mention that half the reason Imix had no interest in killing Zaaman Rul before was as much a middle finger as it was out of sentiment-- Imix before that point viewed Zaaman Rul as far too much of a weak-kneed, sentimental goody-goody to ever be a direct physical threat. Sure, he actively defied Imix, killed his loyal minions, and sabotaged his plans, but there was a huge difference between a disobedient child doing that and a disobedient child actually attempting patricide. The story is also meant to suggest that despite being good-aligned, part of Zaaman Rul's animosity towards Imix is out of bitterness of his father's rejection-- the recent war between them in the canon is more proof of this-- according to Dragons 347 and 353, Imix was nowhere to be found, and he has instead entrusted his champion Asgeroth to death with his son-- an act that could be seen as one of fatherly rejection-- that his own son is unworthy to die by his hand. Sentimentality on Imix's end may play a minor role, as well)

--The Protogenoi and the Draeden (the protogenoi are from Greek myth, although the term, translating as "first generation", is generic enough for all pantheons. The protogenoi were quasi to greater powers born near the beginning of the creation cycle, and include Ptah, Gaea, and the Elemental Lords. The Draeden are from the end of the previous creation cycle, and the two groups went to war with one another at a certain point.)

--The prior to current inner planar cosmology (I have not worked all the bugs out of this one either-- I still do not know what all caused it realign in the way that it did, except that the initial causative factor was clearly the result of the positive and negative energy planes becoming coterminous with the elemental planes, because Gygax's first draft inner cosmology in which the whole thing is based off of had the energy and elemental planes separate much in the way that the outer planes are.
I do not know, however, why Elemental Fire and Elemental Earth switched places.)

--The KT event analogue, and its tie ins with the Battle of Pesh

OK, inspired by the references to the Protogenoi above, I have a general question concerning how people deal with divine beings
Do you use them like uber-powerful NPCs that the PCs could actually meet (although not often)? Do you view the avatars as just the "right-hand men" of these gods?
I mostly use avatars, proxies, etc, yes. The majority of the protogenoi are either dead or have passed on to some other incarnation, anyway (the Elemental Lords, Gaea, Erebus, and Nyx are among the few remaining protogenoi that have not been killed or evolved into another deity. I cannot say that for certain in regards to Selune, Chauntea, and Shar, even though all three are Protogenai *oh, if you're confused, protogenai is merely the feminine form of protogenoi*). If archfiends and archomentals can have aspects, then I see no reason why protogenoi and far-realm powers with divine levels would not have avatars and proxies just like the powers referred to as gods/deities.

What do you feel a god would need to accomplish to break free from Carceri or to regain pre-eminence as a "true" god?
There is more than one method of attaining apotheosis, and most methods are described in the 3E Deities & Demigods-- gain enough worshippers, slay a divine being, slay enough quasidivine beings, or absorb the divine powers of divine/quasidivine beings. As for breaking free from Carceri, it would take a lot more if the being was truly imprisoned there-- most often an artifact or the absorption of a deity/aspect not subject to Carceri's imprisonment.

How do you deal with weakened or deposed gods? E.g. if gods are forces without concrete bodies, are the deposed gods also bodiless entities?
Deposed deities usually end up physically on the Astral, including their deposed aspects. They may also end up as vestiges, but there has to be some remnant of their soul and/or divine spark for this to occur. Some deities end up physically on a prime world, outer plane, etc. Examples include the protogenos Tartarus *though there is dispute over whether he is truly dead, a vestige, or merely asleep*, Ulutiu *Ulutiu initially went into slumber on Faerun, but he is now on the Astral because he has slumbered for so long that he is slowly dying*, and Hleid *whose divine essence was sundered into pieces-- each becoming a rimefire eidolon, with the hope that a powerful rimefire witch will absorb the shards and become the new Hleid*

Also, just so you know, I would not mark the Ribcage or Khin-Oin as coming from protogenoi, as, if we go by the Greek etc. interpretations, they would be elemental beings rather than beings of flesh. I would also envison Chauntea, Selune, and Shar as being this way, even though I do not think they are depicted as such in Faiths & Pantheons and Faiths & Avatars *that is to say, Chauntea would resemble an earth elemental while Shar would be a mass of amorphous blackness in the shape of a humanoid woman.* The Faerunian sun god which predated Amaunator would also have been a Protogenos resembling a fire elemental.

You may ask "why elementals?", well the answer is that the Greek protogenoi are mostly abstractions rather than (or in addition to) anthromoporphic beings. Most of the Greek protogenoi are water bodies, light, mountains, etc. personified-- Uranus, Nyx, and Gaea rank among the more anthropomorphized protogenoi. Though also anthropomorphic, the lunar, solar, and earth deities of Abeir Toril and Dragonlance also follow this rule, hence why I placed them among the Protogenoi.

I tend to have gods be uber-powerful but flawed in some particular way. For example, in one of my campaigns a PC promised herself to the Sea Dragon King of the East as a child when fleeing an arranged marriage, and later fled from his domain, stealing an artifact (the wheel of Nezha, the Dragon King's enemy) as she fled. The Dragon King was miffed but also curious as to what she would do, and especially whether or not his enemy would try to get his artifact back from her. As such, he didn't immediately go all out in force to hunt her down, but showed up every so often to make her sweat or to try to ambush Nezha whenever he was lured out by news of the young girl bearing his artifact.

One encounter with the Sea Dragon King involved a waterworld where he threatened to flood the world if Yue (the PC) would not come back with him. He manifested as a gigantic dragon radiating power and exhibiting complete control over the waters of the world. He clearly outclassed the PCs in raw power. However, enter his weakness: he was both highly prone to being oblivious while giving speeches so long as people appeared to be grovelling and listening to him, and was highly susceptible to praise.

So the PCs argued well that Yue was improving her value as his wife by journeying around making legends for herself and thwarting Nezha at every turn, and was thus heaping honors upon the Sea Dragon King. Furthermore, she was being nobly self-sacrificing by giving up the treasures of the Sea Dragon King's palace and the company of her husband in order to help bring honors to his name. Meanwhile another PC was telekinetically nabbing loose scales from the god for later use in powerful rituals and item crafting, and the Sea Dragon King did not notice a thing due to all of the praise being heaped upon him.

The party also dealt directly with Blibdolpoolp, the mad goddess of the Sahuagin. However, when they found her, they discovered that she was busy trying to escape a doom she had forseen, and that one of the party members had something she needed towards that end. And so they were able to basically get the information they needed and not be killed in exchange for giving her the thing needed to ensure her own continuance, even if the experience was manifestly unpleasant (it involved a bit of a brush with the Far Realms). Dealing with her was mostly confusing - she tended to speak in strange ways, e.g. she only spoke every third thought she had and assumed that those she was dealing with could read the other two. Her power was never really directly tested by the party.

In these cases, the party actually met directly with the deity, and not their avatar or proxy. The main thing I do to make the encounter feel significant is to give the deity a bit of alien psychology. Even former mortals, good deities, etc will look at things from a different perspective than a mortal whose life is limited and who must constantly strive to change the world (as opposed to a deity, whose smallest actions cannot help but change the world). Furthermore, deities will tend to take the long view. Getting that across helps make the gods feel different than, say, a big dragon or something. Greek-style deities are a lot easier to run than deities that are supposed to be infinitely wise, knowledgeable, perfect, etc, since they don't have to all be geniuses, they just have to be larger than life.