Blackstone Keep: Introduction and Guidelines

Information about the server.
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Blackstone Keep: Introduction and Guidelines

Post by ST_DM_Myle »

Welcome to Blackstone Keep

Driller and the DM Team invite you to enjoy Blackstone Keep.

Designed, built and supported by Driller, Blackstone Keep (BSK) is a persistent world (PW) created from the Aurora Toolset supplied with the game: Neverwinter Nights. BSK is available for multiplayer gameplay 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year with 64 available spots for players to log on.

As a multiplayer game which has been around since (Octobor, 2002) , a community of sorts has formed. Like any community, we have rules, guidelines, suggestions, tips and other information that may well be helpful or even mandatory to your experience.

BSK is first and foremost a game designed for people to come, enjoy and participate with others in a friendly fashion. Rather than cater to a single style of game play, we try to embrace each style and ask that players be respectful of others who might prefer to play another way.

There used to be a table of contents before the forum change. I will see if I can recreate it.
For now, just scroll through the listing. -Myle
Last edited by ST_DM_Myle on Sat Nov 24, 2007 8:17 am, edited 24 times in total.
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Post by ST_DM_Myle »

General Rules Overview

General Rules and Guidelines for the game:

* Exploitation of the server is forbidden.
Use of scripting errors, use of server tools, or any other manipulation of game mechanics for purposes other than intended to 'get around' game functions are examples of exploits. Exploitation can/may result in a Ban from the server. Please use the designated forum to report all bugs and errors.

* Treat others players fairly and politely.
This is not the place to take your personal issues out on others. If events in game are getting too intense and begin to create a feeling of unease, all parties are to stop and move away from each other. It is better to take a short breather than feed frustrations. You can always attempt the event later if the other participants are interested. If there is an issue, please arrange to get a DM to help mediate.

* This is an RP-Lite server.
This means nobody is required to participate in or even recognize, another players initiated RP unless they wish to. No single style of gameplay is the 'correct' style. Keep an open mind.

* NO Killing other players characters without consent.
If based on RP, at the conclusion of the event, slain characters should be raised OOC. If the character still 'dead' IC, use the emote wand to lie back down or just leave the area. No grief killing is permitted. No alignment based murder is permitted, "I'm evil there forth I will kill everyone."
Last edited by DM_eaze on Sun Nov 25, 2018 5:38 pm, edited 11 times in total.
Reason: Updated link to bugs and errors forum
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Post by ST_DM_Myle »

Styles of play

There are many styles of play and BSK is designed to promote each in a unique and generally balanced way.

Be your preferred style of play one of role-play, arena, hack-n-slash, solo-adventure, or a mixture of them set to your own taste, each has its own support and place on BSK.

The easiest to address is the solo-adventure style of play. The solo player will find a wide assortment of quests that will promote exploration of the world and somewhat one-sided relationships with various NPC's. The world is vast enough that individual exploration and challenge will be available, in many cases, long past the apex of reaching 40th level. In fact, the overall theme of the server is quest based, though, success against the 'end-threat' will require some teamwork.

The hack-n-slash (HnS) style of gamer will find the spawn rate, XP rewards, loot and changing challenges offered to be satisfactory. Regardless of a character's equipment, build, or level, it is fairly safe to say that an HnS gamer will always have a foe worthy of their effort. On your own or in groups, fun will always be just a portal jump away.

For the players who enjoy the sportsmanship of a good old fashion arena style match up, we got you covered. Right in the heart of the server, the actual structure of Blackstone Keep sports a gate in the western battlements that leads to ... you guessed it, an arena. An NPC announcer stands ready to broadcast to the entire server, your challenge for a duel. Of course, one will have to brave the vicious hordes in the wilds of the server to gain levels and gear, as we do not permit instant leveling. It is just as well, though. A bit of adventuring will give you an idea of what your opponents might have equipped or who your likely opponents might be.
Most of the server is set to PvP, so if the arena is too confining, you can search out a better local. We do ask, however, that you are careful not to let such conflict claim innocent victims. It is best to keep duels away from lowbie areas.

As for the role-players (RP'ers) out there, worry not. The main Keep and a handful of other areas are set to Non-PvP.
Last edited by ST_DM_Myle on Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:17 am, edited 4 times in total.
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Post by ST_DM_Myle »

Language

A little color to add emphasis to a comment now and again will usually draw little notice. We do ask that players refrain from slang or other terms if others find it offensive. After all, it is not difficult to select socially acceptable words to express oneself and we do have many younger players. Some of our players are less than 10 years old.

Frequent use of strong language or a callus attack directed at an individual may well be grounds for DM intervention.

In general, please keep words mild. Cursing is better tolerated if limited to the literary style of Shakespeare and the similar.

We ask that all communication on the public channels conform to our standards to minimal adult content.

Should your fellow players request that language be toned down, please conform as requested.
driller wrote:If you discuss sexual conduct in public or use foul language you could be banned. Show some propriety.

-driller
Forum flaming
driller wrote:You all knew this was coming, every forum has to have this post sooner or later. Bannings will commence if it doesn't stop.

-driller
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Last edited by DM_eaze on Sun Nov 25, 2018 5:39 pm, edited 9 times in total.
Reason: Removed broken link
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Post by ST_DM_Myle »

Adult content

The staff here at BSK accepts certain facts about human nature. We do not, however, accept that anyone has the right to use this forum or this game as a platform for mature expression.

Use of this forum or play on BSK can/will be terminated if a player is found to breach our standard on this matter.

Overt or disruptive behavior that a member of the staff or the player base finds to be generally offensive is unacceptable.

Offensive slang/cursing, racial/gender/religious/etc insults, homosexuality, heterosexual congress beyond polite social exchanges, and any content that could be generally considered adult content, should never find its way into public broadcast on our forums or online in game. It is our expectation that any activity that might be considered inappropriate, be limited to the use of the Private Message/Tell option and take place behind one of the many closed doors provided on the server, out of sight and earshot of any potential passerby.

Many players here also let their children play. While we are not in the business of policing the game to assure a child-friendly environment, we will not tolerate participants creating an atmosphere of debauchery or delinquency.
driller wrote: First off, what two consenting "ADULTS" say to one another in a private message is something I am not concerned about.

But.

There will be no more profanity posted on the in game message board.
No public displays of sexual activity/talk of any kind.
No talk of illegal activities.
You could be subjected to a ban.

This post is not open for debate.

There are plenty of other servers out there that will let you do this, go there instead.

Thanks,
-driller
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Post by ST_DM_Myle »

The rules of engagement

Guild/group combat can be a messy enterprise. To put everyone on the same page we have established this set of standards. In addition to these standards, you may choose to use all, use select portions, or disregard use of these entirely, provided *everyone* involved are in full agreement.

You can view these as a clarification of the General Rules Overview.

Mass/Guild Combat Standards:
  • Leaders, or authorized member of each group present should agree to the battle.
  • A player should not use more than one account in a PvP situation.
  • If at all possible, a DM should moderate.
  • If anyone respawns, they may not re-enter battle.
  • In duels: Nobody raised may re-enter battle.
  • In Mass Combat: All parties should agree to have or not have raises.
  • In RP: One may only re-enter battle if raised IC. If raised OOC, a character should use the Emote Wand to lie down until the end of the RP or until they are raise IC.
  • If searched and stripped of 'tactical items' ( Example: Keys, Portal Items, etc...) they should be turned over in good faith. Items should be returned once made harmless (Example: Reset the Recall Stone, return portal items in a neutral location). If a DM is present, the DM should handle this.
  • Players should only use one character per conflict battle. A new battle should not begin until a server reset and/or all sides agree.
    If there is to be a surprise attack, a DM should moderate unless the opposing leaders wave this clause.
  • If the battle is prolonged, the 'dead' should be raised, if possible by a moderating DM, and allowed to step out of the primary zone of combat.
  • If the situation changes and someone no longer wishes to participate, they should be allowed to leave. Those who participate are not required to admit others into their scenario.
  • If those involved cannot clearly identify a victorious party, the moderating DM will judge the victor or declare a draw.
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Last edited by DM_eaze on Sun Aug 19, 2018 8:35 am, edited 8 times in total.
Reason: Added. "A player should not use more than one account in a PvP situation."
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Post by ST_DM_Myle »

Griefing

Griefing or harrassing others is prohibited. Badgering other players or openly berating a person, people or belief is grounds for a Ban. If someone is offending you, take a screen shot and contact a DM. Becoming offensive yourself is unacceptable.

This extends to mundane harrassment also. Nobody is obligated to raise another character even if in the same party. Nobody is required to party with you, nor is it appropriate to harrass another for choosing to remain in a party which refuses you. Do not send tells to anyone who requests that you stop contacting them. Do not follow someone around. DM's know the difference between RP stalking and harrassment stalking.

Harrassment will not be tolerated.
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Post by ST_DM_Myle »

Mechanics: Armor Class


BLACKSTONE AC Stacking

Base AC (all stack) Armor AC Bonuses (do not stack) Shield AC Bonuses (do not stack)
- Armor (0 for none to 8 for full plate) - Armor (+10) - Shield (+10)
- Shield (1 small, 2 large, 3 tower) - Bracers (+10)
- Mage Armor (+10)


Deflection AC bonuses (do not stack) Natural AC Bonuses (do not stack)
- Cloak (+10) - Amulet (+10)
- Ring (+10) - Barkskin (+5)
- Helm (+10) - Mage Armor (+1)
- Gauntlets (+10) - Shadow Shield (+5)
- Belt (+10) - Tenser's Transformation (+4)
- Mage Armor (+1)

Dodge AC bonuses (stack up to 20 cap) Innate AC Bonuses (all stack)
- Boots (+10) - Bone Skin (+18 )
- Divine Shield (+20) - Draconic Armor (+8 )
- Bard Song (+7) - Monk Armor (+8 )
- Haste (+4) - Tumble (+8 )
- Mage Armor (+1) - Armor Skin (+2)
- Epic Mage Armor (+5)
- Dodge Feat (+1) *unless "flat-footed"
- Defensive Stance (+4)
- Battle Training v Giants (+4)

Situational bonuses (all stack)
- Expertise Feat (Normal +5 or Improved +10)
- Monk Wisdom (+20) *if not wearing armor or shield
- Dexterity (+20) *unless "flat-footed"

Indirect AC** (all stack)
- Bane (-1)
- Scare (-2) (only works if they have 2 hit dice or less)
- Prayer (-1)
- Bestow Curse (-1)
- Battletide (-2)
- Called Shot: Arms (-2)(cumulative)
- Poison (-1) -3 max. (affects strength based melee only)
- Crippling Strike (-1) (affects strength based melee only)
- Ray of Enfeeblement (-1) -6 max. (affects strength based melee only)
- Negative Energy Burst (-1) -5 max. (affects strength based melee only)
- Ghoul Touch (-2)
- Bigby's Interposing Hand (-10)
- Curse Song (-1) (max. -2 with 15 perform and level 8 bard)

Bone Skin, Draconic Armour, etc. are classified as "innate" because, although they are described as 'neutral'.
Last edited by ST_DM_Myle on Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:20 am, edited 3 times in total.
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Post by ST_DM_Myle »

Mechanics: Attack Bonus


BLACKSTONE AB Stacking

The following spells/feats/abilities DO count towards the +20 cap to attack bonus:

bless +1 counts towards +20 cap
aid +1 counts towards +20 cap
prayer +1 counts towards +20 cap
battletide +2 counts towards +20 cap
war cry +2 counts towards +20 cap
deafening clang +1 counts towards +20 cap
magic weapon +1 counts towards +20 cap(enh. bonus)
divine favor +5(max) counts towards +20 cap
bard song +2(max) counts towards +20 cap
greater magic weapon +5(max) counts towards +20 cap(enh. bonus)
blade thirst +3 counts towards +20 cap(enh. bonus)
divine wrath counts towards +20 cap( start from +3 ab bonus at lvl 5 and every 5 lvl gives +2 ab bonus)
true strike +20 counts towards +20 cap
domains if cleric domain gives attack bonus (like war domain) then it counts towards +20 cap. If the domain gives stat bonus it doesn't count

The following spells/feats/abilities DO NOT count towards the +20 cap:

weapon focus +1 does not count
epic weapon focus +2 does not count
epic prowess +1 does not count
superior weapon focus +1 does not count
bane of enemies +2 does not count
nature sense +2 does not count
small stature +1 vs. larger opponent does not count
good aim +1 does not count
smite evil & good does not count
epic superior weapon focus +1 (add +1 ab every 3 lvls after 10 ) does not count
point blank shot +1 does not count
enchant arrows Arcane Archer innate bonus does not count towards +20 cap.
attack vs. prone (knocked down) +4 with melee weapon, -4 with ranged weapon. does not count

You can indirectly raise your attack bonus by lowering your opponent's AC.

curse song +7 maximum for level 30 bard with 100 perform skill.
taunt +1 (max +6) for 5 rounds.
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Post by ST_DM_Myle »

Mechanics: Build Restrictions

Just about anything you can imagine is acceptable when it comes to character build and class selection with one exception: Alignment Specific Classes.

Lawful based classes, such as:
Paladin
Monk
Dwarven Defender

Should never be mixed with Chaos based classes, such as:
Bard
Barbarian
This was directed towards people who would use hacks to bypass the old ELC/It looks like Beamdog has more robust character checking in place. -driller

We realize that NWN labels Bard and Barbarian requirements as any Non-lawful alignment. Semantics aside, the above classes should not be used in any combination regardless of RP, changes in alignment or any other conceived reason.

Should a player be found to posses such a restricted class build, the character may/will be deleted without warning and the DM may adjudicate an appropriate administrative action.
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Post by ST_DM_Myle »

Mechanics: BSK customizations to Feats, Spells, Classes

Feats:
Devastating Critical feat is enabled, with the caveat that it has been modified to deal an additional amount of physical damage (35%) when you land a dev crit. So for example, if you land a dev crit and the damage is 100 points, you will do an additional 35.

Core Classes:
Paladin: Script in place to unequip Holy Avengers when used by non-Paladins. It is also altered to have a higher probability of stripping active spells on the target who is hit.

Prestige Classes:
The Palemaster class has been given a Subrace hide, and are burdened with Undead-like vulnerabilities: increased vulnerability to divine damage (50%), Positive Energy (50%), and Bludgeoning (25%).

Spells:

Timestop: Is not server-wide and only affects a radius close to the player who cast the spells. Party members will not be affected by timestop.

True seeing: Does not offer traditional true seeing. On BSK, True seeing offers See Invisible and a +50 modifier to the Spot skill to the target of the spell.

Mordenkainen's Disjunction has been altered to strip all active spells on the target.

Isaac's Lesser & Issacs Greater Missle Swarm has been lowered to launch half of the missiles. So a level 20 maximized IGMS will launch 10 missiles dealing 12 Damage each, for a total of 120 Damage (compared to the original 20x12 = 240 total).

Aid grants 2 temporary HP per caster level, as opposed to the original 1d8. So a level 20 Cleric’s Aid Will grants 40 temporary HP.

Epic summons:
Epic spell: Purple dragon knight has been altered to deal more damage and specializes in the Weapon Master class.
Epic spell: Mummy dust has been altered to deal more damage and specializes in the Weapon Master class.

Skills:
Use Magic Device: There is a script in place meant to prevent UMD from allowing non-paladins from using Holy Avengers. Efforts to overcome this script will be considered an exploitation and may/will result in DM action.

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Last edited by DM_eaze on Sat Jun 29, 2019 4:36 am, edited 13 times in total.
Reason: Updated damage vulnerability data for pale masters
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Post by ST_DM_Myle »

Mechanics: BSK subraces

Most of the subraces will not drop the subrace hide on the character until after level 5 for some or perhaps later for others. Be sure to follow the requirements fully as the only 'fix' will be to start over at first level.

Be aware. Feats possessed by subraces do not count towards level requirements. -driller

Blackstone has the following subraces:

Airlou:
Must be of neutral alignment
Ability Bonus: Intelligence +1
Decreased Ability Score: Strength -1
Spell Resistance 10

Alu:
Must be of evil alignment
AC Bonus +1
Damage Vulnerability: Cold 25% Damage Vulnerability
Saving Throw Bonus: Universal +1

Bladecaster:
Must be a neutral Elf with 3 levels of wizard/sorcerer and 2 levels of fighter.
You will receive an Elf Blade (A bastard sword which requires the Exotic Weapons Feat.) that levels on its own and enables the player to cast random magic.

Celestial:
Must be of good alignment
Damage Resistance: Cold Resist 5 / -
Damage Vulnerability: Fire 5% Damage Vulnerability
Saving Throw Bonus: Universal +1
Spell Resistance 10

Draco:
Must be of evil alignment
Damage Resistance: Fire Resist 10 / -
Damage Vulnerability: Cold 5% Damage Vulnerability
Skill Bonus: Discipline +6
Spell Resistance 10

Saban:
Ability Bonus: Strength +1
Bonus Feat: Power Attack
Decreased Ability Score: Dexterity -1

Scamp:
Ability Bonus: Dexterity +1
Decreased Ability Score: Constitution -1
Decreased Ability Score: Strength -1
Skill Bonus: Hide +2
Skill Bonus: Move Silently +3
Skill Bonus: Pick Pocket +3

Some of the subraces offer a variety of extras, such as, language tokens, wing or tail additions on reaching preset levels, etc...
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Post by ST_DM_Myle »

Last edited by DM_eaze on Sun Aug 19, 2018 8:50 am, edited 7 times in total.
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Post by ST_DM_Myle »

Glossary

AA = Arcane Archer
AB/BAB = Attack Bonus/Base Attack Bonus
AC = Armor Class
AoE = Area of Effect
CEP = Community Expansion Pack
CoT = Champion of Torm
CvC = Character vs Character
DC = Difficulty Class (sometimes used for Devastating Critical)
DR = Damage Reduction or Damage Resistance
DM = Dungeon Master
HD = Hit Die or Hit Dice
IIRC = If I Recall Correctly
IGMS = Isaac's Greater Missile Storm
NPC = Non Player Character
OC = Original Campaign or Official Campaign
PC = Player Character
PoC = Point of Contact
PoV = Point of view
PM = Pale Master or Private Message
PRC = Player's Resource Consortium
PvP = Player vs Player
PvM = Player vs Monster
PW = Persistent World
RP = Roleplay
SoU = Shadows of Undrentide
SR = Spell Resistance
TWF/ITWF = Two Weapon Fighting/ Improved TWF
HoU = Hordes of the Underdark
RDD = Red Dragon Disciple
UMD = Use Magic Device
WM = Weapon Master

Resourse thread
Contact me with suggestions.
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Post by ST_DM_Myle »

Rule Zero

As you already realize, I am Myle, one of many DM's here at BSK. As much effort as we have taken, niether myself or the others on the DM Team can supply answers to all possible questions or list out an absolute rule for every occassion.

The effort here has centered on addressing issues that present most often and give you, as a player, a basic set of guidelines.

The DM Team here knows that most of you are just here to have a good time and may never even run foul of the servers rules in any significant way. The few bad apples or unforunate episodes of the past, however, make the effort of establishing rules a standard necessity within the gaming community.

All else aside, there is a rule which gets its own space to shine in.

___

Rule Zero:
Driller may alter, change, disregard, whatever, whenever as he deams necessary to best serve the needs of the server as he defines those needs.

___


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