Author Topic: Arcane Space: CCC Ideas/Images/Inspiration  (Read 673 times)

Legacy_The Amethyst Dragon

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Arcane Space: CCC Ideas/Images/Inspiration
« on: September 01, 2013, 09:33:51 pm »


               Images and links for ideas and inspiration for the September 2013 CCC, which has an "arcane space" (aka, Spelljammer) theme, can go here...just to keep the original thread faster loading with images of what people are actually making.

Here's a brief start:

Ships:

The Spelljammer (the unique living ship with a small city on its back)
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Locations:

Rock of Bral (an asteroid settlement)
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Creatures:

Giant Space Hampster
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Arcane
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Legacy_Tarot Redhand

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« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2013, 10:49:07 pm »


               Sorry about that AD. I spent over an hour composing another thread on this subject consisting of pictures with comments. When I finished I found that you had also done the same thing, but it wasn't there when I started.

I have now managed to cut and paste the entire content of that thread into this one - please ignore the above link.

TR
               
               

               


                     Modifié par Tarot Redhand, 02 septembre 2013 - 09:12 .
                     
                  


            

Legacy_Bluebomber4evr

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« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2013, 11:18:23 pm »


                Beholderkin:

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left to right: Hive Mother (above), Examiner (below), Director (on giant centipede mount), Watcher, Lensman, Overseer

Hive Mothers are the pilots of beholder ships and are the coheseive bond that keeps the otherwise solitary beholders together in a social group.

An examiner is a 4-foot diameter sphere with no central eye and only four small eyes, each at the end of an antenna, mounted atop the sphere. They have one small, lamprey-like mouth on their ventral surface. The mouth is surrounded by four multi-jointed limbs ending in gripper pads. These limbs can pick up and manipulate tools, the chief strength of the examiner.
Examiners are scholars and clerks involved in spell and magical item enhancement, research, and creation. They can use any artifact or tool as well as humans, and they can wield up to four items at a time. 
Directors are a social, warrior-beholder, and breed specialized mounts. They mindlink with their mounts to better control them.

Watchers are 6-foot-diameter spheres with three central eyes arranged around the circumference of the sphere. These eyes are huge and unlidded. On the crown of the sphere is a compound eye and a ring of six eye spots that make it difficult to surprise a watcher. A large tentacle with a barbed prehensile pad extends from the ventral surface, right behind the small mouth with its rasp-like tongue. Watchers feed on carrion and stunned prey. They are information gatherers and are the least brave of all the eye tyrant races.

A lensman has one eye set in the chest of its five-limbed, starfish-shaped, simian body. Beneath the eye is a leering, toothy maw. Four of the five limbs end in three-fingered, two-thumbed, clawed hands. The fifth limb, atop the body, is a prehensile, whip-like tentacle. Its chitin is soft and there are many short, fly-like hairs. Lensmen are the only kin to wear any sort of garb – a webbing that is used to hold tools and weapons. Their preferred weapons are double-headed pole arms.
Lensmen are semi-mindless drones that don’t question their lot in life.

Overseers resemble fleshy trees. They have 13 limbs, each of which ends in a bud that conceals an eye; one of these limbs forms the top spine, and three yammering mouths surround the spine. There are eight thorny, vine-like limbs that are used to grasp tools and for physical defense, inflicting 1d10+2 points of damage each. Overseers sit on root-like bases and can inch along when movement is required. They cannot levitate.
Overseers are covered with a fungus which changes color as the overseers desire, commonly mottled green, gray, and brown.


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Astereater

In general, beholders and beholderkin are a very intelligent (and conceited) lot. Which is precisely why all of them deny any relation to the astereater. Though technically a beholder-kin, the astereater has none of the intelligence or magical abilities its cousins possess. In appearance, the astereater resembles a large beholder (minus the eye stalks) with one other major difference: The skin of the creature is virtually identical – in appearance and consistency – to rock. Like the beholder, astereaters have a large, central eye and a large mouth filled with pointed teeth.


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Argos
Argos are found in the same regions of wildspace as the baleful beholder nations. An argos resembles a giant amoeba. It has one large, central eye with a tripartite pupil, and a hundred lashless, inhuman eyes and many sharp-toothed mouths. An argos can extrude several pseudopods, each tipped with a fanged maw that functions as a hand to manipulate various tools.

Argos move by slithering; they can cling to walls and ceilings. They can levitate and fly at the very slow rate of 3.

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The orbus is either a genetically bred or a stunted and immature form of the standard beholder. It is only found in space aboard the tyrant ships of the beholder nations. It is chalk-white and lacks functioning smaller eyes. The central eye is huge and vulnerable, occupying most of the upper body above a small, toothless mouth. This eye has the normal anti-magic properties, but is milky white.

Despite their vulnerability, the orbi are the means by which the beholders travel through space. It is they that can funnel the magical energies of the other beholders into motive force – they are living spelljammer helms. There are 1-5 of them aboard any tyrant ship, and they are located closest to the hive mother, at the deepest point of the shell.

Bionoid:

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These humanoid insects were created as "Living Weapons" by the elves during the Unhuman Wars. (These are based on the Japanese manga "The Guyver")

Skullbird:

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Skullbirds are large carrion birds of wildspace. A bad reputation follows these birds. Sailors consider the sight of a skullbird a sign that someone aboard ship will die soon.

The birds are named for their gruesome heads, which appear to be bird skulls covered with a layer of shiny black skin stretched tight. Their glittering dark eyes are hidden deep in the recessed sockets, and their beaks are jet black and needle-sharp. Skullbirds are covered with oily black feathers and exude an oily, charnel odor. Their talons are like razors.

Hurwaeti (Wiggle):

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An ancient humanoid race related to both sahuagin and lizardfolk. A playable race in Spelljammer.

Hadozee ("Deck Ape"):

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These ape-men are a common sight on spelljamming ships. A playable race in Spelljammer.


Grommam:

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Gentle ape-men, they are a playable race in Spelljammer.


Rastipede:

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These centipede-men are the favored henchmen of the Arcane. A playable race in Spelljammer

Syllix:

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These salamander men are a fearsome threat to the spacelanes

Xixchil:
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These distant cousins of Thri-Kreen are arcane space's most gifted surgeons and craftsmen. A playable race in Spelljammer

Gammaroid:
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These gargantuan snapping turtles pretend to be asteroids to ambush ships, and can retract their heads and limbs and spin to pursue fleeing prey. (In case you can't tell, these are based on the Japanese movie monster Gamera)


Dohwar:
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The dohwar are short, pudgy, flightless birds bearing a passing resemblance to penguins. They are shameless merchants, always looking for an opportunity to turn a profit. Since the Arcane (otherwise knows as “Our Competitors”) are considered the greatest merchants of wildspace, the dohwar try harder to displace them.

Dracon:
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The dracons are a sentient race of dragon-centaurs that have recently appeared on the fringe of the Known Spheres. Dracon exploration ships have been spotted in the phlogiston and at the edges of known space. They are just beginning to appear at the smaller communities of space. A playable race in Spelljammer.

Clockwork Horrors:

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(from top to bottom: Adamantine horror, Electrum horror, Silver horror, Copper horror)
If one thinks of campaign worlds as single cells in the body of the cosmos, then one must certainly think of clockwork horrors as viruses that have come to destroy that body.

Clockwork horrors are a form of arcane apparatus. They look something like a mechanical spider (though they have only four legs). While the body of the horror is only about two feet in diameter, the legs give the creature an overall diameter of about four feet. In the front of the body is a crystal that enables the horror to see. Two depressions, one on each side of this lens, serve the horror as hearing organs. Two limbs, located roughly below the hearing dishes, serve a number of purposes.
               
               

               


                     Modifié par Bluebomber4evr, 01 septembre 2013 - 10:40 .
                     
                  


            

Legacy_The Amethyst Dragon

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« Reply #3 on: September 02, 2013, 05:36:04 am »


               A few more ideas, not necessarily limited in use to Spelljammer-using modules...

Firearms:

Some creatures in Spelljammer, notably the hippo-headed giff, are fond of things that go "boom".  Single-shot pistols, arquebus, and bombards (cannons) can be found on some ships.  They're often unreliable, slow to reload, and can be ineffective compared to spells or even multiple arrows, but the things are around.  The giff even have a type of ship designed around a giant cannon that runs about 3/4 the length of their ship (called a "great bombard").

Non-SJ use: Pirate adventures!

Dense gardens:

Compact, dense gardens are found on some ships, as they can replenish the fresh air the crew uses on long voyages.  They can, at the same time, serve as a food source.

Non-SJ use: Rooftop gardens or gardens in a small alley somewhere.

Illithids:

More mindflayer models.  Mindflayer prefabs.

Non-SJ use: Who doesn't need more brain-eater variety?

Alchemist's Fire Catapults:

"I want to set those people over there on fire.  I'm just not close enough to do it."

Models, prefabs, scripting, sounds...
Non-SJ use: Catapults that launch big jars of alchemist's fire. ':devil:'

Cargo Netting:

Stuff shifts around on space-going magical ships.  Nets hold crates and barrels in place.

Non-SJ use: Stuff shifts around on ships.  Nets hold crates and barrels in place.

Spelljamming Helms:

Typically ornate chairs or thrones, sometimes with arcane runes marking them, these chairs are secured to the deck of a spelljamming ship.  A spellcaster sits on the "helm", and the chair mystically converts the caster's available spells (or spell slots) into motive force for the ship.  Usually, the more powerful the spellcaster, the faster a spelljamming ship can move in restricted space (combat, near ports or other ships, or near planets).

Non-SJ uses: Generic "magic throne". How many D&D adventures have you had where the DM describes such a throne and some player says, "I sit on it. What happens?"
               
               

               
            

Legacy_Tarot Redhand

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« Reply #4 on: September 02, 2013, 01:52:08 pm »


               [cut and pasted from the thread I set up at the exact same time this one was being made]

 In the hope that someone will actually make some stuff for the September ccc I am posting some pictures here as inspirational materials. As there is an almost complete lack of Spelljammer creatures, the pictures I am posting are mostly monsters from this setting. So in case anyone is in any doubt what this thread is about...

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From the cover of the first (of 2) monstrous compendiums, we have (from left to right) an Illythid, a Neogi and a Giff.

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This is a Giff. A 7 foot tall humanoid with a Hippopotamus's head. Giff are extremely broad shouldered and very militaristic mostly prefering uniforms with lots of medals. Unlike later illustrations, this one's head is the right proportion for its body.

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While the head in this picture is too large, this is quite a good picture of an armoured Giff.

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This is an Arcane. They are very thin, blue skinned and 12 foot tall. They are the people who sell the motive power for spelljamming ships, called a helm. A helm is special kind of throne/seat/chair that draws magical power from a mage sitting in it, to provide propulsion for whatever it is attached (very firmly) to.

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A coloured picture of an Arcane.

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One of the nastier races of arcane space, the Neogi looks like a Giant Spider with half a Moray Eel grafted on where the spider's head should be. While they prefer to let their Umber Hulk slaves do any fighting for them, they have, amongst other things, a paralyzing poisonous bite.

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In this coloured view of a Neogi, the Moray Eel analogy is more apparent.

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Another unpleasant aspect of the Neogi is their reproductive cycle. When a Neogi reproduces it releases live young which burst out of the beasts abdomen (like in Alien) and devour their parent alive.

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This is a Giant Space Hamster. They are bred by colonies of gnomes mainly for food. While in arcane space there are ordinary gnomes (the type that have an affinity for illusion magic), the gnomes that breed Giant Space Hamsters are Krynnish gnomes that have ventured off world at the behest of Reorx. What this means is that there are several variations on a general theme, each progressively larger than the previous. And they do tend to escape. Fortuneately in almost all cases they are harmless. OK so being trodden by Tyranohamsterous Rex can leave you feeling a bit flat. As we all know there is always an exception to the rule and the not mostly harmless one here is a unique individual known as...

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Wooley Rupert. This is the legendary Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen that all young tinker gnomes are warned will come and get them if they do not go to bed on time. Distressingly recent reports suggest that Rupert might just be real...

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Not all gnomes are into breeding livestock. This is an Autognome. When given simple verbal instructions this construct is supposed to carry them out. Unfortuneately being built by tinker gnomes an Autognome follows its instructions in a literal manner. One example springs to mind of the time one of these was told to go out and bring back a rock sample. It met a gladiator called Roc...

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I came across this alternative picture of an Autognome that someone has obviously made a 3d model of.

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While we are on mechanical things, I thought I better mention Clockwork Horrors. These metalic creatures were originally created to keep someone safe, but something went wrong. In a manner similar to the replicators from the TV series Stargate SG1, these use any metal that they find to construct more of their kind.

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While this is not an official monster from any of the Spelljammer sourcebooks, I couldn't resist including it here as it seems so like something that the tinker gnomes of arcane space would make. And hey it's a cat ('^_^').

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This is a Dohwar. A race of intelligent penguin like birds that are merchants. Their prices are a little bit higher than that of the Arcane (or the competition as they refer to them). They keep winged pigs (called Space Swine, AD's flying pigs fit) as battle steeds.

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Evil magic users who die in fire just before they complete the ritual to turn themselves into liches are sometimes cursed to turn into a Firelich. They constantly scream in agony as they fly across the depths of space.

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Hailing from worlds much larger (3 times and above) than the earth, the Grav are a squat race of humanoids that have evolved to endure the gravitational forces placed upon them.

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Lakshu are green haired warrior women somewhat akin to Amazons.

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While the Lhee look like winged terrestrial dogs they are actually more (just) intelligent. They can be a nuisance playing tricks on the unwary. Due to their low intelligence this is a two way street however, due in no small part to their love of "fetch".

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The Rastipede is an intelligent insectoid creature.

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Finally, Scavvers can be deadly pests due to their habit of following a spelljamming ship and sweeping in to catch the unwary.

TR
 
               
               

               


                     Modifié par Tarot Redhand, 02 septembre 2013 - 12:55 .
                     
                  


            

Legacy_Shadooow

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« Reply #5 on: September 02, 2013, 03:08:00 pm »


                Not a SpellJammer but I think that Septerra Core's settings matches the theme as well.
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Septerra Core is an old RPG single player game with a special game mechanic based on cards. But All in all its a RPG set in environment very similar to SpellJammer. Space ships, rifle weapons, magic...
               
               

               
            

Legacy_kamal_

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« Reply #6 on: September 02, 2013, 04:18:24 pm »


               Goes off to track down Hellfire_RWS to tell him Arcane Space finally won.
               
               

               
            

Legacy_Wall3T

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« Reply #7 on: September 02, 2013, 07:15:00 pm »


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ive always wanted to know who made the nwn model and what this thing was, but no one ever told me ':huh:' i found out the internet never knew either but now i know! ':lol:'
               
               

               
            

Legacy_Tarot Redhand

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« Reply #8 on: September 02, 2013, 10:16:06 pm »


               You only had to ask ('^_^'). Tis a Giff holding what is supposed to be a wheel-lock pistol. That picture appeared in the Lorebook of the Void which was part of the original Spelljammer boxed set.

TR
               
               

               
            

Legacy_Tarot Redhand

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« Reply #9 on: September 09, 2013, 11:39:39 am »


               Just to correct one picture from above.

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This is a better impression of what Hurwaeti look like. They are reptillian and distantly related to Lizard Men. The picture previously submitted is small section of an illustration from page 15 of "The Complete Scaefarer's Handbook". It is a pity that the illustrator didn't actually read the description in the 1st Spelljammer Monstrous Compendium ->

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As can be seen from this description, they do not have body hair, being instead covered in small, dark, glossy scales.

TR 
               
               

               


                     Modifié par Tarot Redhand, 09 septembre 2013 - 01:14 .
                     
                  


            

Legacy_Tarot Redhand

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« Reply #10 on: September 22, 2013, 08:46:55 pm »


               Here is the trusty steed for a Dohwar -
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A Space Swine.

TR