Creature types - Whats What?

[Talan Va'lash]

I have been wondering about this recently as I've been making arrows that are good against specific types of creatures, but this is also important to rangers.

What exactly fits into the type "Magical Beasts"?  I believe its animals with an intellegence above 3 or 4 and maybe some magical powers, like a unicorn.  But, what creatures that I would run into in Layo fit into this category?

Animals - I'm a bit confused about these two types (animals, magical beasts) since I seem to remember a category called just "Beasts" that was any animal that wasnt a real life animal but wasnt magical (intellegent.)  Griffons, Manticores and such were in the beasts category I believe... are they just animals now?

A lot of the other types are more straight forward... I think these were the only ones I was confused about...

Oh, would drakes count as magical beasts?  Or are they of the dragon type?

[IceDragonDuvessa]

Would Talan feasably know this without trial and error? Wouldn't answering this here be somewhat akin to metagaming in something you know but your character probably wouldn't?

[Lalaith Va'lash]

Talan could look it up in a book in a libaray, if the information was available. 
  He has even been role playing creating a libary in his and Lalaith's house.  So if there was a place to seek the information then I don't see it as medagaming.   

[Qui_Z]

Seems more like an OOC question to me, one he could find out if he took the time to search the web. I don't see how answering an extremely broad question can hurt anything.

[IDii]

Yeah, with a good lore (doesn't even have to be a high one) he could easily know this... even without really. It's pretty much common knowledge for a lvl10+ adventurer to know that stuff.

Not sure about the split though. I think animals are stuff like dogs, birds, snakes, griffons and things without special abilities. Magical beasts tend to have higher intellingence and special abilities. Drakes I'm not sure about... I think they're magical beasts but I'm not sure about it.

I wouldn't count on a rough generalization like this anyway. Some things are animals, some things are magical beasts, some things are commoners, some things are whatever they are. Just the way NWN kinda works, unless you pay a lot of attention to splitting them into the correct categories. Though I think that has been done quite well on Layonara, I'm sure there are some things lacking still. Will have to check the creator and I can say more.

[Talan Va'lash]

1.)  If Talan makes platinum arrows, he would not know that they are good against magical beasts.  I figure he just casts identify on new stuff he makes to figure out what it does.  Knowing the properties of the arrows is what could be slightly metagamey.  But since you cant really identify things by experimentation in NWN (w/o a dm present that is) I use the identify spell to reconcile this point.  2.)  He would however know what creatuers are considered what types.  The whole "type" system is a somewhat arbitrary method of categorization (

[IceDragonDuvessa]

All the creatures I have made for Layo have been per d&d rules and just for the records... griffons are most definately magical beasts not regular animals.

[IDii]

They are? Hrm, yeah you're right. Confused it with the ability to use animal empathy on them.

Guess you could say then that whatever you can find in the real world is probably in the animal category and the rest in the magical beasts. Would make sense at least.

[IceDragonDuvessa]

Also there are over 1300 custom creatures in layo... .it would take forever to list off what type is what.  And.. Drakes are dragon subtypes

[Frendh]

Give rangers and druids a nice wand to show them what's what by pointing.

[Etinfall]

So when will the list be finished Ice?

On the same kind of question, where can someone like me find info on dnd rules? Wizards of the coast web? And do I have to read ALL that As a mater of fact, other than Talan and Vyris where can I learn about dnd rules? (I just mentioned those 2 cause that is usually who I ask). I noticed the more you know about the rule set the more you know about Layonara rules.

A few questions I would look for:

How would I find out what dice roll would be used in certain situations?
What is an OZY?
Is Orth human or machine?

those and more:)

Etinfall

[ZeroVega]

Etinfall - 5/27/2005 11:05 PM Is Orth human or machine? Etinfall

  He's Borg. Pffft! Everyone knows that. Pretty harmless too, just have to watch him every once in a while so he doesn't assimmilate you.

[IceDragonDuvessa]

*smiles* I assure you orth is all real.

[Talan Va'lash]

Yeah, a real borg.

Anyway, as for DnD rules... I dont think Wizards posts the rules on their website, since, if they did, they wouldnt sell as many books.  My suggestion is for basic rules go to your local dork (ready hobby) store and pick up the DnD player handbook.  It covers all the classes, combat, skills (to address you what to roll when conundrum) and stuff like that.  The second half of the book is spells.  The latest on is version 3.5 it'll cost something like 25-35 bucks.

If you want more in depth rules on the same stuff plus other stuff get the DM Handbook, which will be about the same price.

For monster questions (like the one I was asking) you'll want the Monster Manual.  Same deal with this one.

They're all big where's waldo sized hardcovers a little over 300 pages long.  So, 90 bucks and about 1000 pages later, you'll have a good idea of the basic DnD rules. heh

[Pankoki]

http://opengamingfoundation.org/

[Marius Falconhand]

If you're looking for a book for NWN to reference, use the 3.0 manual. NWN wasn't updated to 3.5 I don't think