Engineering

[Head Moderator]

Ideas to add an engineering crafting area to our game are in the works, but I'd sure love to have your opinions as well as any suggestions for "schematics" as we are calling them.

Right now, the new skills that are being discussed are:

Engineering Knack : You have a knack for innovation in your craftsmanship, and are considered the most technologically advanced crafter in the community. This skill allows you to craft engineering feats and marvels of science with schematics. See our crafting rules for more information.
Prerequisite: Alchemy and Artisan Crafting (Clockwork)

Modified Engineering: You have taken the world of engineered crafting to new heights. You have now gained the ability to modify existing schematics to make them more powerful and stronger in their uses.
Prerequisite: Engineering Knack

Heavy Engineering: Simply modifying your existing schematics wasn't enough for you was it? You just had to push the scroll (instead of envelope, get it?) and amaze not only onlookers but yourself as well didn't you? Well now you have done it, you have created such complex pieces of art that they can only be proclaimed as heavy schematics.
Prerequisite: Modified Engineering

I was also considering a few extra skills that an Engineer could take, perhaps something that lets you sabotage existing schematics, and repair if someone has sabotaged your schematics. Or we could have repair kits for sell in the emporium.

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Here are a few examples of what schematics will do:

SCHEMATIC USAGE RULES

DEPLOYMENTS
Effect schematics have ONE DEPLOYMENT.
Straight damage schematics have FIVE DEPLOYMENTS.

Exploding Disk 1000gp | 250gp | 1CP
Type: Exploding
Effects: Damage
Small disks that when stepped on causes them to explode. Each Exploding Trap schematic creates 5 disks to deploy. 1d3 dmg.
DAMAGE - Five Deployments
Modified: 2d3 DMG
Heavy: 3d3 DMG

Seekers 1000gp | 250gp | 1CP
Type: Exploding
Effects: Damage
Similar to the Exploding Disks, seekers go forward in search of moving objects/creatures and when close detonate themselves. Each Seeker schematic creates five seekers to deploy. 1d3 dmg.
DAMAGE - Five Deployments
Modified: 2d3 DMG
Heavy: 3d3 DMG

Zapper 1000gp | 250gp | 1CP
Type: Electricity
Effects: Effect
A zapper, when activated, releases a charge of electricity through the target rendering them unable to move for 1 round.
DAMAGE - One Deployment
Modified: 2 Rounds
Heavy: 3 Rounds

Zapper 1000gp | 250gp | 1CP
Type: Electricity
Effects: Effect
A zapper, when activated, releases a charge of electricity through the target rendering them unable to move for 1 round.
DAMAGE - One Deployment
Modified: 2 Rounds
Heavy: 3 Rounds



Crawling Shield?
A crawling shield is a mobile construct about the size of a standard buckler shield. It detects motion and moves to protect its wearer, somehow moving by prescience to ward off true threats and ignoring false ones. The typical crawling shield is made of mithral, and has three or four hooked legs that it uses to swing, jump, or climb around the body of its owner. It rarely moves at all when not in a combat situation, but during combat it scuttles slowly from place to place like an aggressive turtle on its hooked legs.

Metal Pinwheel
Induces crippling vertigo that can instantly render a person unconscious. It spins very rapidly even if very little force is used to start it's movement.

Spectroscope
Projects a hologram. Perhaps something to confuse the enemy. A roll of 1d3 to see if they hit the right person.

Chameleon Mines
Land mines that blend into the environment.

Tesla Gun
Tesla Grenade - AoE

Antigravity Generator

Grappling Hook Gun

Ice Flower Fireworks - Mesmerize

Defensive Wrist Bond - absorbs damage

Spine of the Saracen - attaches to spine, boosts qck and str.

[Rhyldrin Ken'rae]

I'll put together more schematic ideas this evening, but I was also thinking we could add Strengthen/Boost to allow "exo-skeletons" or like something that creates an electrified field around the person and Defense Absorb to allow "drones/walls/dummies" schematics?

So....

Effect Types
Straight Damage
Effect
Strengthen/Boost
Defense Absorb

[Anala Moheed]

This sounds awfully futuristic for what I thought was a medieval fantasy game..

[badger]

reminds me of dungeons and dragons' tinker gnomes, or world of warcraft (their gnomes XD)! or even steampunk; like a victorian age with a mechanical twist ^.^ so long as people aren't suddenly driving flying cars, watching television and using hairdryers - i think its cool

i was tinkering with the idea of a bunch of non combat based schematics, but i'll put those up later

[Rhyldrin Ken'rae]

While I agree that gunpowder, firing mechanisms, bullets and combustion systems would straddle, if not leap over, the line between medieval fantasy and modern fantasy, I don't think we are at that point with this concept.

The clockwork artisan craftsman already exists and provides the foundation and concept for gears, moving parts and complex works. With Alchemy and/or Magic acting as the source of power I don't see this moving out of the realm of medieval fantasy, let alone futuristic. I actually, personally, see it as a nice compliment to the game in regard to using existing rules (clockwork, alchemy and/or magic) to design a game element that allows even creativity without breaking out of the core OH framework.

This is of course just my opinion  

[Anala Moheed]

I honestly don't see the point of another crafting ability. There is already so much that can be done, and if it's a mixture of "alchemy and magic" why not just use alchemy and magic skills to do it? Just add the ideas to that list, instead of creating a new one... which only a couple of people are going to use.

There are already overly bloated amounts of CP on the roster for most characters. That says something to me and that isn't "let's create another crafting ability".

[Kythin Steelfang]

By the looks of it in how its set up.. all this can be fairly well implemented through current means by way of magic. I believe some among us have already had the consideration to do such by bringing in Artificer characters as opposed to the traditional spellslinger sorts.

[Rhyldrin Ken'rae]

True, there are characters that have obscene amount of CP, of varying types. I think one reason there is so much is once everyone gets their armor and weapons/unarmed techs/etc. there isn't anything left to order/make. 

Poisons, as an example, and what the above Engineering rules were based off of, creates an item that is crafted and then used up, so at least as far as consumable crafted items (poisons, alchemy, engineering if it is created) CP hording wouldn't be viable unless you didn't use those items.

Of course more crafting options doesn't necessarily mean "epic goodness." Andy may well be sharpening a sword right now and getting ready to start rolling perception on people (AA joke, get it? lol).

I honestly don't know the details of "Artificers" - though I have heard the term! That's good right?

However, just to make sure we are all on the same page, these engineering rules were meant to supplement engineering characters (perhaps Artificers too if it is viable?) not define them. Mr. Boomsworth was designed to work with the existing magic rules and still be based on engineering attacks. Yes, to Tim's point, the current magic rules allow this - they are what I used to make Mr. Boomsworth's "BOOMS" lol.

But again, the engineering crafting rules were meant to add to the engineers, not define them. However I do agree that making crafting rules for the sake of making them, or for one character, is of course not beneficial. With that said though, it does seem that there are several characters either in the pipeline or getting ready to pop out that could use these rules. Unless I misunderstood something of course!

[Ophelia Harrington]

Well, my opinion is that it doesn't fit the feel of the game as a whole and isn't really something that's needed. That's my piece said.

[Head Moderator]

I think there is a way to tone this down from sounding so modern, using steampunk ideals instead of engineering / modern ideals which will allow folks to use things much like there are fireworks available now if anyone has ever been interested in locating that tome that gives you access to that. I truly believe there is a way of implementing this, without it being too modern, but it's going to take a little time. Thank you all for the input, feel free to keep giving your ideas, suggestions, input.

[badger]

didn't want to post my schematic suggestions earlier because i was concerned the idea was getting sacked and figured i'd just keep them for cogs' roleplay flavour if nothing else hehe

i played a gnome mage with the engineer profession for the last six years in warcraft so my ideas are heavily influenced by that. the world itself is varied across the board: there's a few areas that are influenced by engineering tech (gnomeregan is stuffed with it, and ironforge has its own tinkertown) but the rest are firm in the medieval/magic roots or the roots of whatever culture they appropriated for that race - i don't think it'd be hard to stop the skills flavour from taking over obsidian heart, i doubt it'd even start lol tinker gnomes don't breed that fast they're too busy tinkering and its not a concept everyone wants to play

seaforium charges: the fireworks reminded me that in warcraft, if you didn't have a rogue in your party you could purchase charges made by an engineer to blow locks off of doors or chests. there were different strengths of charge for harder locks. and in a roleplay environment, there could be a penalty for using them because honestly: blowing things up? not quiet, a rogue with a set of lockpicks is still superior

telescope/goggles: self explanatory, haven't seen them in game but could've just missed them. already have darkeye lenses (are those glasses or contacts? i always thought contacts) but could also include them here

parachute cloaks: for that awkward moment you don't have a mage in your group who can cast a group version of slow fall

invisibility cloaks/watch: the cloak part is more of a magic thing, but if you can weave an invisibility spell into thread then why not through the molecules of a stopwatch? click on, click off, can give a science-y explanation about the refraction of light created by a shield if necessary

shrink/growth ray: mages can already write spells like that if they wanted, and elixir of giant growth is a thing in dnd - but no harm in adjusting the pre-existing pistol (scarletta uses one if i recall) to shoot a shrinking spell instead of blackpowder. heck, there's an energy blaster on the weapons page at the moment - not sure how long its been there, but i saw scarletta's flintlock pistol months ago haha

arcane ammunition: enchant lumps of metal with various spells. deal fire damage to ice dragons, lightning damage to sirens. just look cool with glowing blasts coming from that metal tube

exploding sheep: use it to distract that enemy (doesn't have to be a sheep) when you or your party do not have any taunts or similar skills .. and then go boom

target dummies: for that day where you can't find someone to club to death yourself to improve your aim

harvest reaper: don't like people? don't have time to tend your own garden? there's a bot for that (do we even have gardens? i haven't checked out the home page in forever, probably because i can't afford a house .. )

x-ray goggles: when trueseeing goes that step too far. or can simply be a set of goggles enchanted with detect alignment haha

rocket boots: boots with a quick release cone of fire in the sole - like levitation only you can bring marshmallows .. and its not as quiet. who needs rope when you have innovation

improvements: go to an engineer to improve your weapon. that sword does more damage now that it has moving parts - and what's a game without a gunblade? (kidding, gunblades are overrated)

wormhole generator: had this in warcraft; was like a teleport only it took you to a random place in northrend, and also had this dodgy side effect of malfunctioning and changing your race appearance for thirty minutes XD

a lot of this is about roleplay flavour. that is clearly something important to the game, because why else have so many weapons on the emporium page that do exactly the same damage but with a different name? why there's psions and mages and spellborn where you can just rp doing it differently and keep all the skills under the same name. the same with a few of our skills and traits: we have some that allow us to substitute intelligence for strike, strength for strike, quick for physical damage, charisma for magic damage - we all know each character is roleplayed differently, and that's why there's so much that's different but still similar

i think i had more, but they were sillier and i've got cats to feed lol