Re: Why is it 'Grey' and 'Realm' space?

In <URL:news:local.spelljam> on Wed 02 Mar, David Shepheard wrote:
> From: "Dreamer" <dreamer@??????.?????.??.uk>
> Subject: [SPELLJAMMER] Why is it 'Grey' and 'Realm' space?
>
>
> > I wondered whether trying to answer the question as to why they
> > are are called 'Greyspace' and 'Realmspace' might help make use
> > of the 'big three' spheres, without touching the groundling
> > worlds.
> >
> > The basic idea is: put settings into each sphere which match
> > these names.
>
> I think it is best to keep the reasons behind the names of spheres the
> same, for continuity reasons.
[snip]

OK. I will put them on the "think about it" list.


> > Grey: named after the wizard of the same name, and due to the
> > colour of the sky when on the world. The Wizard Grey got so upset
> > with all the troubles of living on Oerth that he constructed a
> > Brass Head, to give him answers as to where else he could live.
> > This lead him to the world of Grey, and he set up his home there,
> > tended by his many automatons. Unfortunately, he found that he
> > got lonely, so he first arranged for an innkeep, and a trader, to
> > set up at the other side of Grey, near a well he created, and a
> > magic wood that provided as much air renewal as desired. Later a
> > trading town grew up, quite normal, except the local guards are
> > his incorruptable automatons, and when he gets a bit lonely,
> > there is always somewhere for him to go.
>
> I like this character, but not the idea of renaming Greyspace
> after a wizard called Grey. Maybe you can modify it and use it
> somewhere else. For example the wizard could have a different
> name and could come from the city of Greyhawk. If he moved off of
> his home planet he could name another location after his home
> city. Maybe there could be an asteroid in The Grinder called New
> Greyhawk or something similar.

"New Greyhawk" sounds interesting. But, I'd probably have to read
the campaign book, then! [grin]


> The Brass Head is fun. I'd be interested to see what these devices can
> do. Does it connect to the mind of a god or outer plane creature?

The idea is from the real world character, Roger Bacon, who
allegedly made a Brass Head that would answer questions. Some
sort of advanced Contact Higher Planes would be the easy way to
make it, maybe connecting to some extra-universal principle of
Knowledge would be more interesting, with some major ritual
required. Like you having to construct a new library, of a
variety not known on that world, and bringing knowledge together
in a new way.

The original Brass Head (from probably faulty memory) could
answer three questions, I think one about the past, one the
present, and one the (possible?) future. But, if you say that you
can get elaborate answers, and the Head will expand on things it
has already said, it's a lot more worthwhile using than something
like Legend Lore.


> The problem with putting a wizard on an empty rock and then adding
> a trader and an inn is that the inn would not have enough trade to
> keep it going.

It depends whether this provides a good place for spelljammers,
where there is a lack of one. The groundling equivalent being an
inn at the crossroads of two major trade roads, where people
previously have thought it too dangerous to create a business. If
so, the place is likely to grow.


> Perhaps it would be best for the wizard to find a small spelljamming
> community with an area of land that they will let him use. Maybe this
> could be some sort of symbiotic relationship.
[snip]

The reason I didn't do this, was that the wizard thought he
wanted solitude, and would avoid communities.

Good ideas, though.


> > Realm: is so called because it is the home of a long-fallen liche
> > king. His spirit still protects the place, though it is said that
> > he long ago lost his physical body. Those knowledgable suggest
> > that by mighty enchantments he made the whole world into his
> > Magic Jar, and his spirit still reaches out, and listens in on
> > those living there, looking through their eyes, but not
> > possessing them or controlling their actions. It is said, that,
> > often least once a year, someone who is in a drunken stupor,
> > stands up, with a strange gleam in their eyes, and shouts "This
> > is my Realm!", and then falls over again.
>
> Again I like this general idea, but not the suggestion of renaming
> Realmspace.
>
> I think you have the beginning of a good idea for a liveworld here. If
> you forget about calling it Realm and make the locals forget about the
> lich, then you could possibly upgrade his powers and let him actually
> take over the bodies of people from time to time.
[snip]

I thought it was more interesting to have a semi-benevolent
liche. One as a secret killer just gives a short-term campaign
idea. Now, if there was some sort of _other_ killer, like a
demonically possessed Doppleganger, and the PCs had to wake up
the liche, and persuade him to be interested enough to help
them...


> I think you've thrown the baby out with the bathwater here. However,
> I also think that your ideas would be great if used elsewhere and
> would be keen to see you do more with them.

I was hoping to provide a few leads to solving a problem. These
will go on the backburner unless there is some reason otherwise.
Which, with Dysonspace to work on, seems unlikely at the moment.


> > Might we claim that places like these are iconic enough that the
> > whole sphere is named after them, rather than the main world?
>
> In my opinion the problem is not the *names* of Krynnspace, Realmspace
> and Greyspace. It is the lack of a place that would have as much trade
> as Bral.
>
> If we can pick things like Dragon Rock, that are already named, but not
> well documented by TSR, then we can create three Brallike places that
> seem to maintain continuity with the 2e version of Spelljammer. I'll
> have to look through those SJML archives of Dragon Rock as it sounds
> like a good choice.

The idea was that these could have the name, and maybe be
developed to be as good for trade as Bral, killing two birds with
one stone.


> Ideally I'd like to see all three spheres work (from a SJ point of view)
> without the groundling nations. But I'd also like to see the groundling
> worlds kept there so that people that want to do crossover games can also
> use these spheres as a way to do that.
[snip]

That's what I was proposing!

I thought.

...

I'm not currently ref'ing or playing in any SJ campaigns, and any
of the space stuff I'm involved in is SF or using World Gates, so
I've limited motivation to do SJ stuff at the moment. My ideas
tend to spark off from actual play.

Given a long-running interest in space travel, I'd like to see SJ
work, as I think it is an important addition to fantasy gaming,
but...


> David "Big Mac" Shepheard
> Virtual Eclipse Role Playing Club
> http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/virtualeclipselrp/links/d20_system_001071937434/Spelljammer_001071430476
> http://virtualeclipse.aboho.com/

--
Dreamer
dreamer@??????.?????.??.uk
http://www.romsys.demon.co.uk/