Re: LONG -- SJ+Planes / Drow Question / Ranting -- LONG

> > Has  anyone  even  considered  something  along  the  lines  of    a
> > phase-cloak  system  similar to the Romulans' phase cloaking device?
> > One  possibility  may  be that the ships could phase into the Border
> > Ethereal,  pass  through the surface without the need of any kind of
> > tunnel  or hangar and then phase back to the Prime. Mind you, severe
> > limitations  would  be  needed to prevent its use in battle and keep
> > its  use  limited to passing through the surface (maybe even an item
> > that  gives  them  the phase ability with a maximum of 2 charges and
> > can  only  be  charged in the Underdark). But, it would take care of
> > the security problem.
>
>BTW, did anyone ever thought WHY mixing SJ and planes is considered at
>least a bad taste? ;)

Actually, I think I will add some reasons WHY I submitted this idea in the
first place.

1)  Drow have a long history of interaction with planar magic.  They have
been known and documented to work with portals and extraplanar beings.  One
good example lies within the Dark Elf Trilogy, where Lloth priestesses
summon yochlol to fetch Drizzt.

2)  Drow, besides being liked by a good number of D&D gamers, are already
established as a spacefaring race!  They may not be large in number, but
they are there.  Check your WCC; they have at least 2 different ships of
their own design.  In addition, the Drow have set up starports on other
worlds.  Check out Kule, the nearest moon to Oerth in Greyspace.

3)  Drow are paranoid.  They don't trust anyone (or almost anyone).  The
idea of a shaft leading to the surface for ships (even one with twists,
turns and heavy fortifications) would unnerve most, if not all, drow that
know such a shaft exists (IMHO).  I would think that finding an alternative
would be in high order.

4)  It has been documented, in as recently as the 3e Manual of the Planes,
that ships travel on planes other than the PMP.  For example, the "citadel"
used by githyanki that has been hosted on WotC's own website recently is a
prime example.  It has not been established that they use spelljamming helms
at this time, but the fact that SJ-style ships are present is.  The idea
that having a ship travel on multiple planes is not a far stretch, and the
possible idea of having some sort of backup helm that can work on different
planes in case the first one fails could be possible if worked right.

5)  SJ beings have been found on other planes as well.  For example, the
creatures we know as the Arcane have already been converted into 3e and
renamed the mercane.  The pirates of Gith still have strong ties to the
Astral Plane and can planeshift (IIRC).

With these points in mind, I can feasibly see the drow devising some method
of launching ships from the underdark that lies within their means and
without having to sacrifice some measure of security.

Creating a tunnel from the Underdark to the surface creates a security risk
that I believe most drow would not dare to consider.  Erecting a teleport
pad on the surface creates another security risk that surface-dwellers
(heaven forbid surface elves) could locate it, learn to use it and invade
the Underdark.

Given their planar talents, I believe that the drow would come up with some
way to be able to launch ships (even one way!) from their cities into space
without compromising what they have spent years fortifying.

Plus, beings that travel to the Border Ethereal still have some sort of
connection to the Prime (IIRC).  If that connection exists and the ship does
not travel to the Deep Ethereal, it may be possible that the helm would
retain its magical properties and still operate.  Remember that helms are
near-artifact items.  That's nothing to sneeze at.

Why don't other races use ships that travel to other planes?

For most races, the sheer magical power required to perform such a feat is
out of their reach.  The only race that could even possibly come close to
accomplishing such a feat would be the elves with their magical nature and
longevity.

Why are the drow not stronger in numbers?

1)  Sunlight still exists in space.  That fact alone puts most drow on edge.
  At best, traveling in space is like pulling off a raid to the surface at
night.  Even the starlight makes drow uncomfortable.  Check "Homeland" in
the Dark Elf trilogy, when Drizzt travels with a raiding party to the
surface.

2)  Constructing ships is expensive.  Most matron mothers would rather
devote their wealth to the promotion of their house within drow society.
With Point #1 in mind, the idea of having an active SJ fleet is a gamble at
best.  (This point could apply to surface kingdoms as well.)

3)  The Elven Imperial Navy.  If drow were to suddenly show up with a fleet
to begin a conquering spree, the EIN would eradicate them faster than
Elminster could blow a bubble out of his pipe.

Does this answer your question?!

Patrick Stutzman (ICQ#:30560387)
starspeed@???????.com
http://www.geocities.com/starspeed_a
Netword:  *Hyrkulspace

The year is 2001.  The name of the place is The Internet.

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