Mummy Dust!

[*Embersworn]

This isn't a generic feat, stop calling it this way just because you'd like it otherwise. Obviously it wasn't created with it being generic in mind, to begin with.


This is is a feat made for an RP server and clearly labeled as Necromantic. The flavor could not be made any more clear. And this spell is actually lifted from the PnP with an alteration to how many undead it's summoning at once.

If anything, game-design wise it calls for creating a similar working spell for a non-necromantic characters, not for changing the existing feat.

Or if a change to the feat was made this would call for changing it's naming too, because last time I've checked this still was an RP server.

[*Mr_Otyugh]

By name is a fairly solid argument though. Sure if we take only a singular isolated instance, then I can see where you are coming from. But lets take a large chunk of things that are represented by their name as to what they do, both spells and feats to give a fairly balanced perspective: Fireball, power attack, dash, ray of frost, ironbody, dodge, curse song, animate dead, turn undead, wail of banshee... the point is, if we at some point decide that names of abilities are moot, then every single ability in the game becomes subject to re-interpretation. Unless renaming it to represent the more neutral approach.

The feat also has no set alignment restriction, it only really has self-induced restrictions rather than mechanically formed. This isn't even the only epic spell that has similar issues, vampiric feast is quite clearly morally ambiguous at best. I've still not seen all that much issues on people picking it though. Whether or not people have plausible scenarios for utilising those, that's a matter of individual presentation, and interpretation.

I think the dragon knight variety likely sorts out the alignment related issue just fine. I personally think that it's fine if evil alignment has more options, it's kind of the one selling point of being evil. And considering most foes in the server are evil, they are already at a disadvantage compared to good aligned.

[*Ariella]

Additional Epic spells is a small side project i have been doing between larger projects. Almost all of them are limited to suit different classes and flavors. You will not be able to use all of them, either due to rp restrictions or mechanical ones. There are some like Greater Ruin that are a general feat designed for anyone to use. Then there are others such as Mummy Dust that are designed for only a set style.

By the time i am done everyone will have new options. However these options will all have different effects, benefits and bonuses. Will good have a 24 hour summon? I am not sure yet but it will have something unique.

[*TheShadowWithen]

Given that good has no classes with a good Summon they could use it IMHO

[*Itikar]

As a Allatum has noted there is a notable example of LG deity, Osiris, who is a coded patron on the server, and who employs mummies, skeletons and zombies as well as risen servants taken from his faithfuls.

It still penalizes the not so small amount of characters who still have issues with undead, regardless of alignment, but so do many of the vanilla spells. Actually mummy dust was an epic spell in vanilla nwn 1 if I recall correctly.

I just hope that in the future there will be also epic spells that accomodate as well characters less inclined to work with undead or to cause massive destruction. Given that we have already had some, as epic mage armor, there is no reason not to think there won't be more. I would personally look forward to epic dragon knight.

[*TheShadowWithen]

I love the Egyptian style gods personally but, If that's how you want to say its fine for good players to take the feats then can we please get an alignment based summon for them? as a If Good the summoned Mummy is not evil, Same for the mummy lord?

How about removing the non-good restriction from Pale Master and instead of a Vampire you get a Mummy Based summon?

[*Ariella]

Given that good has no classes with a good Summon they could use it IMHO

Golem Master Valorhammer. No stronger companion/summon for beating down evil foes! and it lasts forever if you take care of it.

[*Emanon]

Given that good has no classes with a good Summon they could use it IMHO

Pretty much seems the only option ATM.

"Hey guys, pay no attention to this guy, it's my cousin Carl. He's a mute who doesn't like baths."

Some of the arguments (well, "arguments") were amusing... Yes, it is a "generic" feat. It's literally a Generic Feat.

As far as the name argument goes, you'd literally be arguing that... non-evil characters are incapable of binding things for 24 hours? That's what you'd be arguing. Non-evil spellcasters lack the IQ to figure out how to summon something for 24 hours.

I don't think they even make a smiley to symbolize the solidity of that statement.

Making the argument that "Guy A should not kick ass as much as Guy B, simply because one guy put a word in his background despite they are exactly the same build... Well that sort of argument is the kind of argument that'd get you a loss of subscriptions in a pay-to-play game. No one would really consider that good game design or balance.

Ariella, I respect your response. Although I seriously doubt that anyone is going to be able to come up with a feat not-evil only that comes anywhere near the utility of a 24 hour bodyguard with stats rivaling a warrior PC...

[*Grendel]

Making the argument that "Guy A should not kick ass as much as Guy B, simply because one guy put a word in his background despite they are exactly the same build... Well that sort of argument is the kind of argument that'd get you a loss of subscriptions in a pay-to-play game. No one would really consider that good game design or balance.

Quality stuff. New content and we get vitriolic responses along these lines.

Mummy Dust is a feat pulled pretty much straight out of PnP; being that we're a Planescape RP server that goes off of the canon lore, we're beholden to keeping to such things; if we aren't keeping at least somewhat close to the original material then we lose the core feel of the setting and much is lost in translation. Thus; yes, it's alignment implications suggest you will be at least neutral or evil-leaning to make use of the summon which restricts who can ICly use the feat. Just the same as you're ICly restricted from selecting Celestial Heritage at chargen for statistical bonuses, or taking corpse crafter as a good character just because undead immunities make for better summons.

Likewise, evil characters are restricted from taking Paladin levels or similar PRCs, which impacts their builds also. Going onto the point made about binding something for 24 hours of similar power; Karella's made the suggestion that they might at some point create something that levels the playing field, or they may not. Our content creators contribute their own time freely on projects that they are interested in; if you're unappreciative of that fact and want to demand that they then double down and spend twice the amount of time making other content that matches it for your individual needs, I'd instead suggest learning the toolset and pitching in.

Finally; I've examined the Warrior in question. It might rival a warrior PC. At bare 20th level perhaps. Hardly a game-changing summon. It's biggest utility is being a constant companion for epic levelled casters that prefer playing the summoner lifestyle rather than blaster; at best you could combine it with a dedicated Henchman summon from a PRC and fuel both of them with a staggering amount of buff spells which might allow them to clear some of the higher end content; maybe even a little of Carceri.

In summation; a little less unhelpful griping about new content on the server and thinly veiled insults to our content creators, as well as either more patience while they produce more content to perhaps introduce what you're after or taking on the burden yourself.

[*Mick64]

I find it excessively ironic that you put the word argument in quotation marks then immediately proceed to form a strawman. But anyways...

It's common practice in many games to offer different options and strengths to different "Categories". The categories are most usually (In the case of RPGs) classes and races, but can be other things a well, such as Colors in Magic:The Gathering or.... alignments, in Dungeons and Dragons. Hunters might be better at dishing out damage then Warriors in WoW (I don't play WoW, don't hurt me if this isn't true), Black is better then Green at killing creatures in M:tG, and on SCOD (Currently) necromancers/evil are the best at employing minions. This is a thing because it makes your choice of category meaningful, and also gives incentives to try out multiple categories to get different gameplay experiences.

Role-Playing Games (As in, storytelling, with RP) have an additional layer that isn't really covered by game design however, which is flavor. Flavorful elements are important because they help present a character as a person, and not just as a stat block.