Ethergaunts and Other Sources of Super Tech

[unseenmage]

Was reminded recently that Ethergaunts have non-magical supertech.
Previously my only recourse to accessing Magic Item-like effects that would function in antimagic and be immune to dispelling was Lantan in Faerun (canonical but fluff only), Devices from Ravenloft (3rd party and well its freaking Ravenloft), and finding as way to PF's world of Golarion to learn technology in Numeria.

I like the idea of hurling handfulls of reinforced, wondrous item-like, wine bottles of non-magical Smoky Confinement at Faerunian wizards with a smirk and a wave.

Any other sources of non-magical magic I'm forgetting?

Thoughts of Ethergaunts and how they possibly avoid the very grim fate awaiting sapient atheists in Faerun and Golarion?

Are there rules for Lantanese mechanisms that I have forgotten or am unaware of?

[Venger]

well, since they've "rationalized divinity out of their racial philosophy" (makes perfect sense in a setting where anyone who gets a few hundred lousy worshippers together can call himself a god) who says they're subject to the wall at all?

in this thread (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?560284-How-Does-A-False-God-Grant-Spells) we discuss the notions of divinity touted as gospel in faerun may just be propaganda set forth by the gods, the church, and others who seek to profit from that narrative. Maybe if the ethergaunts really don't have any concept of divinity, afterlife, the wall, etc, then they are immune to being nailed to it for eternity the same way they're immune to weak arcane spells.

[unseenmage]

It's my understanding that they DO have the concept of divinity and that they hate it and actively seek its destruction.

[Eldan]

Yeah. I'm not sure if that was the fan article or their real fluff, but they never really die either, though. They get cloned upon death.

[Venger]

It's my understanding that they DO have the concept of divinity and that they hate it and actively seek its destruction.


They have no power over divine spells, having long ago rationalized divinity out of their racial philosophy.

I mean I'm extrapolating what the reason for that might be using my own common sense going off of the scant crumbs of fluff the book provides.

I don't think "no concept" means that they are ignorant of it, but that there is no place for it within their culture. Their writeup says the target divine casters first, so they know what it is.


Yeah. I'm not sure if that was the fan article or their real fluff, but they never really die either, though. They get cloned upon death.

That's interesting. It's not in the book. It does mention each one can reproduce asexually once in its lifetime, though. Is them never dying something unrelated?

[Kelb_Panthera]

The only source I know for Lantanese mechanisms is the Gnome (Lantan) Artificer from MoF. Those all mimic spell effects but are completely non-magical with a few noted exceptions. Some good stuff in there but they're a tad overpriced for the artificer himself and way over if you double the cost to create and let others buy them as with other magic items.

[Venger]

a bunch of great stuff here (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archeb/cw) including clockwork armor and the infamous magic roller skates.

[unseenmage]

a bunch of great stuff here (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/archeb/cw) including clockwork armor and the infamous magic roller skates.
One of my most favorite archives. But as is they're all Magic Items and Constructs IIRC.

[Eldan]

That's interesting. It's not in the book. It does mention each one can reproduce asexually once in its lifetime, though. Is them never dying something unrelated?

Someone on the net wrote a very detailed fluff article on the Ethergaunts a few years ago, which was really quite excellent. I've basically taken that into my personal headcanon, so I think that might be from there. Let me see if I can find it.

I think this is it, but this is a terribly archived and almost unreadably formatted version.
http://khen-zai.tripod.com

[ShurikVch]

The "Greyhawk 2000" article in Dragon #277 have DiM (mass accelerator) weaponry, and elven weapons there includes Shocker and Silvershot (works like a non-magical wand of magic missiles, except required ranged touch attacks)

Return to the Temple of the Frog (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/oa/20070223a): cyborgs, blasters, power armor

Return Expedition to the Barrier Peaks (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/d20m/20060505a)

[Venger]

Someone on the net wrote a very detailed fluff article on the Ethergaunts a few years ago, which was really quite excellent. I've basically taken that into my personal headcanon, so I think that might be from there. Let me see if I can find it.

I think this is it, but this is a terribly archived and almost unreadably formatted version.
http://khen-zai.tripod.com

Sweet.

(sees the last unindented paragraph)

Oh my god, my eyes. I just took 1d4 points of Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma damage.

I'll check it out. Thanks

[Eldan]

Yeah. I remember it originally being on some forum somewhere and very readable. Someone must have rescued it from a shutdown or something with a bad copy-paste.

[unseenmage]

The "Greyhawk 2000" article in Dragon #277 have DiM (mass accelerator) weaponry, and elven weapons there includes Shocker and Silvershot (works like a non-magical wand of magic missiles, except required ranged touch attacks)

Return to the Temple of the Frog (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/oa/20070223a): cyborgs, blasters, power armor

Return Expedition to the Barrier Peaks (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/d20m/20060505a)
These are precisely the kinds of things I'm after. Thanks!


Am away from computer at the moment, does anyone know what campaign setting if any these belong to?

[Eldan]

These are precisely the kinds of things I'm after. Thanks!


Am away from computer at the moment, does anyone know what campaign setting if any these belong to?

Barrier Peaks came out in 1980, ostensibly for Greyhawk, but really, most adventures from that time are fairly setting-agnostic.

[unseenmage]

Some interesting Planescape Ethergaunt fanon here (http://mimir.planewalker.com/forum/monstrous-races-living-sigil).

[frogglesmash]

D20 Modern's Urban Arcana, and Shadow Hunter settings both involve creatures coming into our world from the realm of shadow i.e. a place that is almost certainly one of the main d&d settings.