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Creative Corner => Arhosa => Campaign Settings and World-Building => Homebrew and House Rules (D&D) => The Scrolls of Lost Magic => Topic started by: Stratovarius on October 13, 2015, 03:05:40 PM

Title: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on October 13, 2015, 03:05:40 PM

This system is based around the idea of playing with the reality of things, as the Shadow Conjuration spells can do. It is very much a work in progress at this point, with only a skeleton of ideas in existence.

Rules
Threshold (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=16544.0)

Base Classes
Thresholder (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=16552.0)

Prestige Classes
None

Thresholds (Spells)
Thresholds (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=16551.0)

Feats
Feats (http://www.minmaxboards.com/index.php?topic=16553.0)

Races
Duskscale Pybyr (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=19450.0)

Magic Items & Artefacts
None

Monsters & Templates
None

Other
None

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on October 14, 2015, 07:44:48 PM

Mostly a note to myself (and anyone who wants to take a stab at things):
Shadows - Summons and summon boosts
Gaps - Counters and strikes
Phantasms - Buffs, changes in the world, illusionary terrain, storms, etc. Most AoEs.

Goals:
5 Thresholds at each type/level combination - so 5 level 1 gaps, 5 level 1 shadows, etc.
1 Base Class
5 Prestige classes

Once the basics are in place, I'll see about turning it into a full 3 base system.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on October 26, 2015, 08:55:07 PM

Added a couple new shadow Thresholds, and ran the Shadowborn line out to IX.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on December 14, 2015, 11:02:31 AM

Added 5 new shadow thresholds (level 2)

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on February 19, 2016, 11:12:01 AM

Added 4 new shadow thresholds (level 3). 24 more to finish Thresholds. About 85 between Gaps and Phantasms. Blah.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on February 24, 2016, 07:18:32 PM

Added 12 more thresholds (4, 5, 6). 12 to go to finish Thresholds.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on July 29, 2016, 02:38:20 PM

New abilities for the Thresholder. And a new feat.

Beyond and Between (Su): A thresholder knows not only how to create magic from the interstices of the world, but also how to force himself into those cracks. Any of the following abilities can be activated as a move action, and cancelled as a move action. Duration is permanent until cancelled. See the table for which levels these are gained at.

• Of Two Minds: The thresholder splits himself into two parts, neither quite as capable as the whole. When entering combat, you roll initiative twice. Once you know the results of your initiative roll, you designate one roll for your standard action, and one for your move action. You take your standard action on the init designated for it, and your move action on the init designated for it. You may not take full round actions. When you enter this ability, you must designate whether your swift action is paired with your move or your standard action. You may only use it on that initiative. If you enter this ability during combat, roll a second initiative and follow the procedure above. If you end this ability during combat, you take your whole turn on the lower of your two initiatives. 
  
• Forked Life: Shifting some of his physical reality into a separate realm, the thresholder ignores much of the material world. He takes only 50% damage from any attacks, but can only use either a standard or a move action each turn.
  
• Thoughts Asunder: By splitting his mind, he shrugs off much of attacks that would otherwise plague him. All spells, abilities, and effects that target the Thresholder and require Will saves have a 50% chance of failure (before the save or spell resistance). However, all of his mental ability modifiers are reduced by 50%, and he loses all access to the highest level of thresholds he knows.
  
• Betwixt the Spells: Magic, too, can be put through the whims of the thresholder. All spells and spell-likes (and similar abilities like powers, necros, spellsong, etc.) have a 50% chance of not affecting the thresholder. However, all of his thresholds increase their casting action by one step (swift -> move, move -> standard, standard -> full round, etc.).
  
• Upon a Crowned Head: A threshold can, of course, twist reality in another diration. All thresholds decrease their casting action by one step (full round -> standard, standard -> move, move -> swift, etc.). However, the thresholder takes double damage from all attacks.
  

Reality Twist [Threshold]
Prerequisites: Able to use 2nd level thresholds
Benefit: When you create a threshold, all creatures within a 5 ft radius have their reality halved or reduced by 25%, whichever is less (creatures and objects are normally at 100% reality). You can target your space (it does not affect you), adjacent to you, or in the space of or adjacent to your target (if any). The effect lasts for 1 round. The reality twist takes effect in conjunction with the threshold taking effect (not before or after). Any creature you summon with the threshold is immune to the effect.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on November 16, 2020, 07:44:11 AM

Added four level 7 Shadow Thresholds, and two level 9 Shadow Thresholds.

Four level 8 and two level 9 thresholds to go to finish Shadows.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on November 16, 2020, 10:50:44 AM

Finished all Shadows. 45 of the little buggers done.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on November 16, 2020, 04:26:56 PM

Added 6 gaps.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on November 19, 2020, 03:55:09 PM

Added 5 gaps.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on December 21, 2020, 10:08:57 AM

Added 13 new Phantasms (finishing levels 1-3), and gave the Thresholder class features and threshold capacity limits. Everything's playable up until level 5 now (missing some feats, obv).

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on December 21, 2020, 02:59:20 PM

5 new feats added

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on December 21, 2020, 10:06:44 PM

A potential race for this system now added - Duskscale Pybyr (http://minmaxforum.com/index.php?topic=19450.0)

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on December 23, 2020, 12:43:47 PM

4 new feats added.

(click to show/hide)

Reality Wound [Threshold]
Prerequisites: Able to use at least two 2nd level gap thresholds, BAB +3
Benefit: On the first attack of each round, if you successfully strike an opponent, they must make a Fortitude save of 10 + 1/2 character level + Intelligence modifier or lose 10% of their reality for one hour. This stacks with itself and other reality penalties.

Reality Shatter [Threshold]
Prerequisites: Able to use at least two 3rd level gap thresholds, BAB +6, Reality Wound
Benefit: On the first attack of each round, if you successfully strike an opponent, they must make a Fortitude save of 10 + 1/2 character level + Intelligence modifier or lose 20% of their reality for one hour. This stacks with itself and other reality penalties. This replaces Reality Wound.

Empower Gap [Threshold]
Prerequisites: Able to use at least two 2nd level gap thresholds
Benefit: By applying two increases as part of casting the threshold, you can empower it, as per empower spell.

Chill of Reality [Threshold]
Prerequisites: Able to use gap thresholds
Benefit: Enemies dealt damage by a gap threshold must make a Fortitude save of 10 + 1/2 character level + Intelligence modifier or be slowed for one round. If the gap is 80% real or more, the save is against paralysis.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on April 06, 2021, 10:05:46 AM

More feats:

Enlarged Presence
Prerequisites: Able to use thresholds
Benefit: Reality is a funny thing, changeable at the whim of those who know it best. As an immediate action, you may increase your own reality by taking a penalty on your rolls. For every 10% you increase your reality, you take a -1 penalty to all dice rolls (including damage) and saving throw DCs of your thresholds and abilities. This benefit and reduction both remain until the end of your next round.

Upon a Whim
Prerequisites: Fade Away
Benefit: Whenever your personal reality is below 100%, you may choose to spend a move action to become incorporeal for one round.

Simply Not There
Prerequisites: Fade Away
Benefit: Whenever you are incorporeal, you can look through all natural walls and earth as if was transparent. Unnatural walls and obstacles, such as those created by magic, still prevent vision. This only provides line of sight, it does not grant line of effect.

Betwixt Worlds
Prerequisites: Able to use thresholds, Thresholder level 3rd
Benefit: Whenever your personal reality is below 100%, you gain concealment equal the amount it is below 100%. So a character with 80% reality would have 20% concealment.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on May 30, 2021, 10:58:35 AM

Idea to save for later - Trifold, a class that switches between the three different types of gap to gain benefits.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on June 01, 2021, 07:53:07 AM

Five new gaps -

Defense Abated
Level: Gap 4
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. level)
Effect: 20-ft.-radius spread
Effect Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None

Just because something is there one moment does not mean that it needs to be there the next. Affected creatures lose 5 damage resistance and spell resistance to all damage types for every 10% reality of this threshold. This does not affect immunities. This threshold is 30% real.

Destruction
Level: Gap 4
Casting Time: 1 move action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. level)
Target: One creature
Effect Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates, see text

What is there and not there become twisted and intertwined. Each round, the target loses access to one extraordinary, supernatural, or spell-like ability, chosen randomly. It remains lost for one round and is restored at the beginning of the next round. Spellcasting and similar abilities are considered a valid ability for this threshold. The target gets a Fortitude save to resist for that round. For every 20% reality of this threshold, the target loses another ability for the round. This threshold is 20% real.

There and Not
Level: Gap 4
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. level)
Effect: 20-ft.-radius spread
Effect Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex partial, see text

Solid ground becomes a quagmire as parts of it appear and disappear, shimmering in and out of existence. A creature unable to levitate, fly, or otherwise free itself from the warped ground sinks until hip- or chest-deep, reducing its speed to 5 feet and causing a -2 penalty on attack rolls and AC. At 60% real, all creatures trapped in the mire in the area take 1d3 fire, 1d3 cold, and 1d3 negative energy damage per caster level. At 100% real, creatures in the area must save against the unreality affecting them, destroying their person entirely. A Reflex save negates this. This threshold is 30% real.

Uncaring Gate
Level: Gap 4
Casting Time: 1 immediate action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. level)
Target: One creature
Effect Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None

To a thresholder, every point is connected to every other. It just takes knowledge of how to walk the path that connects them. The thresholder can move one creature anywhere 10 ft. of their starting location for every 10% reality of this threshold. They do not generate AoO for movement of this sort, and the creature does not need to arrive in a safe location. If this was used in response to an attack, the attack has a 50% chance of failing. This threshold is 20% real.

World Afire
Level: Gap 9
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Personal
Area: 1 mile-radius spread/level
Effect Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: Reflex half

The world tears, twisting and writhing as what is real and unreal merge and blend. All creatures in the area take 1d3 fire, 1d3 cold, and 1d3 negative energy damage per caster level. At 40% real, creatures that failed their save catch fire. At 70% real, creatures that failed their save are slowed for one round. At 100% real, creatures that failed their save take a -6 penalty to strength. This threshold is 20% real.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on June 01, 2021, 01:37:27 PM

Another five gaps -

Burning Shadow Shield
Level: Gap 5
Casting Time: 1 move action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. level)
Target: Self
Effect Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None

The nullity of the void surrounds the thresholder, promising unreality to those who would strike him. Any creature who strikes the thresholder in melee combat takes 1d4 fire, 1d4 cold, and 1d4 negative energy damage per caster level. At 40% real, the striking creature catches fire. At 70% real, the striking creature is slowed for one round. At 100% real, the striking creature takes a -6 penalty to strength. This threshold is 20% real.

Infusion of Burning Shadow
Level: Gap 5
Casting Time: 1 increase
Effects: Gap thresholds

Your gap threshold becomes 20% less real and any creature affected by the threshold takes 1d3 fire, 1d3 cold, and 1d3 negative energy damage per two caster levels.

Nothingness, Mass
Level: Gap 5
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. level)
Target: One creature/level, no two of which can be more than 60 ft. apart
Effect Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates

As per Nothingness, except as given above.

Nudge
Level: Gap 5
Casting Time: 1 increase
Effects: Gap thresholds

Any creature affected by the threshold is moved 5 ft for every 10% reality of the threshold in a direction of the thresholder's choice. This movement is considered a teleportation effect and does not generate attacks of opportunity.

Returned Message
Level: Gap 5
Casting Time: 1 immediate action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. level)
Target: One spell, threshold, or similar
Effect Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None

The spell unravels as it approaches the thresholder, becoming tattered and spent. Moments later, it reforms headed towards the one who cast it originally. When used in response to the thresholder being the target of a spell, threshold, or similar, the affected spell does not affect the thresholder and instead rebounds on its caster. This can affect a spell whose level is equal to the reality percentage divided by 10. At 100% real, it affects all spells, thresholds, and similar that target the thresholder for the next round. This threshold is 40% real.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on June 09, 2021, 11:13:10 PM

Moved Thresholder, Threshold Feats, and the Threshold Rules into the Magics of Arhosa (https://1drv.ms/b/s!AiRF2tz6n4u1l5AV5C4Blyb4J74Qbw) PDF. This included significant cleaning up and explaining of the thresholding rules (feats and the base class are untouched).

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on June 10, 2021, 11:28:47 AM

Moved all thresholds into the PDF. Cleaning up begun, as well as new development.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on June 10, 2021, 09:34:17 PM

Discorporation
Level: Gap 6
Casting Time: 1 immediate action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. level)
Target: One creature
Effect Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None

Being can become what the thresholder wants, stepping athwart the boundary for a time, then choosing to step back out as desired. Any damage that would reduce the target to 0 hit points or lower instead causes the affected creature to break apart into dozens of flitting tongues of burning shadows and vanish, along with all his gear and anything he is holding or carrying. A thresholder can target himself with this if he is the subject of an attack that would reduce his hit points to 0 or lower. The target returns one round later with his hit points at 1. For every 10% more real this threshold becomes, the target arrives one round later, up to a maximum of ten rounds later at 100% reality. This threshold is 10% real.

Remake
Level: Gap 6
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. level)
Area: Up to one 10-ft. cube per two levels (S)
Effect Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None, see text

The world twists about itself, losing all sense of what is up, what is down, what is left, and what is right. This threshold reverses gravity in an area, causing all unattached objects and creatures within that area to fall upward and reach the top of the area in 1 round. If some solid object (such as a ceiling) is encountered in this fall, falling objects and creatures strike it in the same manner as they would during a normal downward fall. If an object or creature reaches the top of the area without striking anything, it remains there, oscillating slightly, until the threshold ends. At the end of the threshold duration, affected objects and creatures fall downward.
Provided it has something to hold onto, a creature caught in the area can attempt a Reflex save to secure itself when the threshold strikes. Creatures who can fly or levitate can keep themselves from falling. At 50% real, creatures in the area must make a Fortitude save or be blinded by the flashing of lights and the imposition of sudden darkness. At 100% real, creatures in the area must make a Will save or be stunned constant batter of real and unreal twisting through one another. This threshold is 40% real.

Sublimation, Mass
Level: Gap 6
Casting Time: 1 move action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. level)
Target: One creature/level, no two of which can be more than 60 ft. apart
Effect Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates, see text

As per Sublimation, except as given above.

Uncertainty
Level: Gap 6
Casting Time: 1 increase
Effects: Gap thresholds

Gaps appear in the mind of the creature, places that once held knowledge and personality twisted away and replaced by things from somewhere else. Any creature affected by the threshold is confused for one round, and has its personal reality lowered by 20%.

Wall of Burning Shadow
Level: Gap 6
Casting Time: 1 swift action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. level)
Effect: Opaque sheet of blackened flame up to 20 ft. long/level or a ring of fire with a radius of up to 5 ft. per two levels; either form 20 ft. high
Effect Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: None

A void in the world springs into being, a crevasse ripped between what is and what could be. The wall sends forth waves of nullity, dealing 1d4 fire, 1d4 cold, and 1d4 negative energy damage per caster level to creatures within 10 feet. The wall deals this damage when it appears and on your turn each round to all creatures in the area. At 40% real, a creature damaged by the wall catches fire. At 70% real, a creature damaged by the wall is slowed for one round. At 100% real, a creature damaged by the wall takes a -6 penalty to strength. This threshold is 20% real.

Destruction, Mass
Level: Gap 7
Casting Time: 1 move action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. level)
Target: One creature/level, no two of which can be more than 60 ft. apart
Effect Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Fortitude negates, see text

As per Destruction, except as given above.

Become Multitudes
Level: Phantasm 4
Casting Time: 1 increase
Effects: Phantasm thresholds

Any creature affected by the threshold splits into many different parts, or seems to. For the next round, the creature is treated as if it also occupied every square adjacent to its normal space. If the movement of any of those spaces would cause an attack of opportunity, it does. Any combatant that threatens those spaces is treated as if it threatens the creature affected by the threshold. Affect creatures take 50% extra damage from area thresholds, spells, and other abilities.

Snap Back
Level: Phantasm 4
Casting Time: 1 move action
Range: Medium (100 ft. + 10 ft. level)
Target: One creature/level, no two of which can be more than 60 ft. apart
Effect Duration: 1 round/level
Saving Throw: Will negates

The thresholder locks creatures in the precipice of a choice, that moment before reality changes forever. At the end of their turn, affected creatures teleport back to their starting location. At 50% real, affected creatures also regain any hit points lost during the round when they teleport back to their starting location. At 100% real, affected creatures are staggered for one round whenever they teleport back to their starting location. This threshold is 40% real.

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on June 11, 2021, 11:55:59 AM

4 more gaps added to the PDF
Shadows - 45/45
Gaps - 42/45
Phantasms - 17/45

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on June 15, 2021, 10:18:23 PM

Got the numbers wrong last time (was at 37/45 gaps).

Added 3 gaps, 40/45

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on June 16, 2021, 11:46:18 AM

Gaps are done! Only Phantasms remain - 17/45

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on June 17, 2021, 05:22:33 PM

4 new phantasms, 21/45

Title: Re: Threshold Index & General Discussion
Post by: Stratovarius on July 03, 2021, 10:05:53 PM

5 new phantasms, 26/45