Re: Ecology of the Scro

 Paul Westermeyer  writes:
> Sorry for the delay

  Not even a concern. I know the life of a college professor leaves
little time for much beyond school projects and personal favorites time.
I am pleased you felt it necessary to take the time to review it fully.

> >        The scro are unique among most races in that we have only
> one god. We
> >are monotheistic,

> Actually, this would be 'hennotheism', <snip>  This is a pedantic
comment, I admit!:)

  Agreed. Partially of course I would expect a historian to have a more
precise
term for the idea. I was unfamiliar with the term 'hennotheistic' (but I
know it now!)
However in writing this for the list I probably still would have used
Mono- simply
because I am fairly certain that although not entirely correct it would
be more
readily recognizable to the bulk of the list. Who kniws? Perhaps I could
even
make a point of the Scro belief that all other gods are weak figures of
the other
races legends and myths (not just Gruumsh). Probably not.

> >        At a young age we each choose a Mohr Kraz- a Life Study.
>
> This is too similar to the 'Life Quest' of Tinker Gnomes for my
> taste.

   I had never paid much attention to tinker gnome culture but I do
remember
now that they had such a practice. If I recall correctly though it was
always in
pursuit of a certain type of invention that would accomplish a set task.
I viewed the
scro mohr kraz as a type of life vocation determined by blessings from
the Priests
of Dukagsh, all of which had applications toward the holy war. Thus one
might
focus on history of fallen empires, learning about secrets of techniques,
magic or
weapons that belonged to a vanished race that had destroyed their own
world.
Another might study firearms and their applications in battle, another
might
study mathematics and applications in engineering. I felt this gave the
scro a
deeper level that went beyond your standard muscle bound bloodthirsty
klingon-type warrior bad guy archetype.
  However if it reminds you of tinker gnomes I can understand your
revulsion.
Perhaps some tweaking in terms would separate them better. It just allows
for
more fascinating characters among the scro such as the black scromage
that
studies plants and flowers in his off time, much to the chagrin of his
goblinoid
allies. Meanwhile he uses that knowledge to crossbreed a poisonous or
carnivorous variety of an infinity vine for use agaisnt elven outposts.
  Just ideas, you get the picture. Instead of just giving them better
magic and
more +3 vorpal swords give them better and new ideas.

> Years later the gunsmiths built the first lever action
> rifles,
>
> Like others have pointed out, I think introducing 'modern' weapons
> is problamatic. First, it seriously affect the feel of the game.
> Second, there are several technologies that are required first for
> such weapons to  come into play.  There is a reason it took our
> world as long as it did to develop such weapons, and they
> weren't developed everywhere.  Third, such weapons haven't shown
> up in any official material, and they should  have.
> Their inclusion makes this an 'alternate' scro version (which is
> cool). I have advanced the scro to Reformation-era weapons
> instead, using  those from _A Mighty Fortress_. This gives them a
> significent technological  edge to counter elven magic, yet
> remains 'fantasy'.

  I agree it certainly can change the flavor of the game. However
firearms
were already included in SJ. The mechanisms involved in those weapons
varies but makes little difference overall. Without powder and bullets a
USMC
M91 .50 caliber sniper rifle is just an expensive (and heavy) rifle.
Likewise
a 5th level elven wizard with protection from normal missiles 10' radius
is
the ultimate bullet proof vest.
  I somewhat purposely went a little over the top with the scro weaponry
and
advancements. I used for my guide basic civil war era technologies. I
must admit
I couldn't resist the idea of scro manning gatlin gun type weapons
against
raiding flitters. Since this is a free exhange forum I fully expected
that anything
placed here for general review would become modifiied or scavenged over
by
those reading it. Thats fine by me.

> >        We scro saw a change within ten years that revitalized the
> empire. Webegan to use steam engines and Falchatz construction
> ideas on all  ourworlds.
>
> Steam engines would not be as much help in ship building as you
> might think. What they really need is a new style of forge, like the
> Catalan forge.
>

  I had envisioned steam engines as being useful only in transporting
large
volumes of heavy materials and parts. For construction i had not
determined
them to be of any immediate application at this time. I wanted to avoid
the
steam powered robotic assembly line just yet. ; )
  Now a new forge type aye  theres the ticket...

> Well, the rest basically follows the same lines.  It's a detailed
> write up, which makes sense within its own parameters.  It's far
> too modern  for my tastes (and I don't like the concept of the
> Morags) but as an  alternative version of the scro it has a lot to
> commend itself.
>
> I think it would work better in a 'future' version of Spelljammer,
> perhaps a combination of Spelljammer with _Masque of the Red
> Death_.  In  fact, your scro would make great 'invaders from beyond'
> in that campaign world.

  I am truly hurt that you didn't like my Morag... shucks. Nobody likes
me!! : >

  You know I actually thought that detailing the previous inhabitants of
the sphere and giving it some history and feasible explanations for its
current state would be well received.
  Unfortunately as Adam Miller pointed out the raised technology took
center
stage. Just out of curiosity was it difficult to accept because of the
technology
level that they granted or was it that a small group with some power was
tinkering with the entire balnce of power in SJ space?
  I always viewed the scro as innovators in their own right but also as
outright
copycats and thievs of any technology or magic they can find and
comprehend.
Much like the chinese military complex today they have their own programs
of
research and development but they utilize theft of research and actual
materials
in order to boost their own advancement. This would allow them in many
cases
to avoid the long periods between innovations and developments that we
encountered in our culture. In a wide SJ universe there would certainly
be many
different levels of advancement (magic or technical) among the races
present.
The scro would work therefore to beg borrow steal and duplicate whatever
they
could.

> It upsets me that so much of my comments are negative.:( The work is
> good, it is well written, and very detailed. It shows a great deal of
> imagination.  It just moves Spelljammer in a direction I personally
> don't like. For those who want a more 'sci-fi' feel though, this seems
> well designed.

  So I guess thats one thumb up and one thumb down. Not bad for a first
major
attempt.

  Thanks for responding in person and in detail.

                                     Ben

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