tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187456240123838399.post3751461772165441435..comments2023-10-24T09:00:29.029-07:00Comments on The 25 Mile Hex: Prospecting for MetalsThe Hex Masterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08687756788484550789noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187456240123838399.post-81881804650937336352010-11-22T16:19:54.429-08:002010-11-22T16:19:54.429-08:00"Orichalcum is a magical alloy of copper, gol...<i>"Orichalcum is a magical alloy of copper, gold, silver, and mercury, a metallurgical nightmare that cannot even exist without magic. It is a rich yellow-orange color, and legend has it that it was discovered in Atlantis.</i>C'nor (Outermost_Toe)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01580315916281876117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187456240123838399.post-18233167962508610872010-11-22T16:05:49.318-08:002010-11-22T16:05:49.318-08:00Maybe. I'll post a more detailed description o...Maybe. I'll post a more detailed description of what Orichalcum does once I've looked it up. I don't think I've seen Black Orichalcum anywhere either.C'nor (Outermost_Toe)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01580315916281876117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187456240123838399.post-20186427447397811032010-11-22T15:59:54.098-08:002010-11-22T15:59:54.098-08:00As far as I know, Bob Bledsaw of Judges' Guild...As far as I know, Bob Bledsaw of Judges' Guild made up black orichalcum himself as I've never seen it referenced anywhere else. I'm sure he took the idea of it's sentient from similar existing rules in D&D. It's been ages since I've looked at Shadowrun book and I don't recall any of the bits about fantastic materials from there. Maybe they got it from Bledsaw?The Hex Masterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08687756788484550789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187456240123838399.post-50667023204116761052010-11-22T15:52:46.608-08:002010-11-22T15:52:46.608-08:00Sounds similar as far as properties. :D I wonder i...Sounds similar as far as properties. :D I wonder if Vesna's Sword was made of Black Orichalcum?C'nor (Outermost_Toe)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01580315916281876117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187456240123838399.post-76825665752451934732010-11-22T15:39:51.218-08:002010-11-22T15:39:51.218-08:00My source for orichalcum is from Plato who describ...My source for orichalcum is from Plato who described it as a metal orginating from Atlantis. Later, the Romans believed it was an alloy due to a mistranslation from Greek to Latin and thereafter all and any comers debated its "real" composition. Which is all fairly moot as it's a mythical substance and it can therefor be whatever you'd like it to be in your game. <br /><br />As for its properities, I use the Judges' Guild Wilderlands stats which I don't have handy to quote from right now. Easy to enchant as I recall and I added that it's particularly useful in creating items with a force effect keyword. (I cribbed that from the world of Indiana Jones, where the Atlanteans used it as an energy source.) I do remember that the especially rare black orichalcum was a sentient and protean metal than could take the shape desired by its wielder assuming the metal could be bested in a battle of egos. It's probably useful in creating constructs as well. The largest blob of black orichalcum is a primortal in my campaign world and is worshipped as a living god by a clan of dwarves.The Hex Masterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08687756788484550789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187456240123838399.post-55875656204315546182010-11-22T14:57:17.314-08:002010-11-22T14:57:17.314-08:00I'm probably being overly nitpicking but, at l...I'm probably being overly nitpicking but, at least in my Shadowrun book (I don't <i>have</i> any D&D book that talks about it) Orichalcum is an alloy. Is this included in the prospecting tables because: A. It's not in this setting, B. All the metals needed to create it are there, or C. The area is naturally high in magic and the elements combined naturally?C'nor (Outermost_Toe)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01580315916281876117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187456240123838399.post-30156036017165570272010-10-08T14:05:08.897-07:002010-10-08T14:05:08.897-07:00@theorder
I thought about it but for simplicity&...@theorder <br /><br />I thought about it but for simplicity's sake and to avoid burdening game play with a series of d1000 and d10000 rolls I chose a single, exploding roll. Other than iron, the metals listed above are pretty rare. Even on a successful skill challenge, the players are probably going to wind up empty handed so I'd rather have them rip that band aid off quick. This is just per 5 mile hex so missing out on an extra metal or two isn't a big deal. A 25 mile hex has even more chances at potential mines and a province of several 25 mile hexes has even more.<br /><br />Balancing easy game play verses a higher fidelity to realism has been the trickiest part of this endeavor. It's a fine line.<br /><br />Thanks for your comment!The Hex Masterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08687756788484550789noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187456240123838399.post-41592797188519053002010-10-08T05:27:27.529-07:002010-10-08T05:27:27.529-07:00You could set % for each metal and roll separately...You could set % for each metal and roll separately for each. Then a territory might have none, one or several metals.Kasparhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04865107617119042759noreply@blogger.com