Dragon Avenue Forums

Conjurer’s Chess Challenge: Discussion

2008-02-27T16:43:24-08:00

This is the thread for open discussion about Conjurer’s Chess Challenge. For the time being, it’ll likely revolve around discussios of the contest entries, since the rules thread is open to discussion, and the characters thread isn’t.

Player Seeks Game

2008-09-21T15:19:52-08:00

Hey, I just created a 1st-level centaur (with the monster class rules from Races of the Wild) and would like to find a game to play it in . . . are you currently running a D&D 3.5 game that could use a centaur? Thanks

Conjurer’s Chess Challenge: The Challenge Thread

2008-03-06T21:27:49-08:00

It is here that challenges are issued and accepted or refused, terms worked out, and the results announced.

This is considered a RP thread, and outside comment (by the summoners or the general public) is welcome.

Conjurer’s Chess Challenge: Challenge #7

2008-06-26T10:14:21-08:00

Challenge #7 is offered and accepted. Sulaus has challenged Teela to a match of Conjurer’s Chess. Teela has accepted, selecting the Inn of Many Things. Sulaus responded in turn by choosing a 10-round match.

The two summoners meet in the center of the board, as per tradition. Teela has the right to decide for the top or bottom of the board.

Conjurer’s Chess Challenge #2: Sulaus versus Teela. Guest judges: Hayvanlarla, Egbert, Savarath.

Please post your spells memorized (or available, as applicable). Teela, please choose the top or the bottom of the board.

The match will last for 10 rounds. Once you’ve both posted, I will roll for initiative and call for prep spells.

Remember, if you are called to judge this match, you are expected to follow it regularly. If any one of the three judges raises an objection, I will not post any further rounds until the other two judges either agree, or one disagrees, to raise a foul.

Summoners are expected to post once every 24 hours at a minimum (weekends excepted). If an objection is raised by a judge, the 24 hours doesn’t start until it is resolved. I will make every effort on my part to post at least once per 24.

Conjurer’s Chess Challenge: Challenge #8

2008-07-02T08:22:56-08:00

Challenge #8 is offered and accepted. Yleyr has challenged Xandos to a match of Conjurer’s Chess. Xandos has accepted, selecting Pirate Cove at day. Yleyr chose an 8-round match.

As is the nature of this board, north and south is determined beforehand by lot, and Yleyr has received the north starting position.

Conjurer’s Chess Challenge #8: Yleyr versus Xandos. Guest judges are Sulaus, Hayvanlarla and Teela.

Please post your spells memorized (or available, as applicable), and any non-obvious prep spells you have cast prior to getting on your rowboat.

The match will last for 8 rounds. Once you’ve both posted, I will roll for initiative and call for prep spells.

As a reminder, it is a DC 10 concentration check to cast while on your rowboat. You can step off of it onto the gameboard itself, but your safety is NO LONGER PROTECTED against enemy summons at that point.

As a further reminder, guest judges are asked to post their own spell list (including any precast effects), and are reminded to keep to the rather lax rules as put forth in the venues document. Please do so promptly so that I can start this match up.

Conjurer’s Chess Challenge: The Summoners

2008-02-27T08:32:18-08:00

NOTE: This is a CONTINUOUS, ONGOING challenge...there is no signup period nor limitation. Within the rules spelled out, anyone and everyone is welcome to create a summoner and enter him, her, or it into the competition.

Please post your full character sheet for your participate in Conjurer’s Chess here. Include any alternate summoning choices you have made.

For now, we will presume level 6 characters. We may decide to “level up” everyone down the line as interest grows.

Please only post your characters in this thread, and NOT any discussion of them...discussion of the summoners (or anything else) belongs in this thread:

http://www.dragonavenue.com/forums/viewthread/548/

Current Active Summoners:

Hayvanlarla Derwydd the Ice Druid by Black Plague (0/3 record)
Teela Norin, Favored of Ehlonna by Lord Twig (1/1 record)
Yleyr Q’sab the Unhinged by Cameron (1/1 record)
Queras the Illumian by Tashalar (4/0 record)
Xandos the Mysterious by Talae
Egbert the White by ObscureInfo (0/1 record)
Savarath Asimaar, Master of Elements by Roku
‘Professor’ Sulaus Vanuiel by Nonamazing

Retired Summoners:

History of the Challenges:

Hayvanlarla Derwydd has challenged Yleyr Q’sab. Yleyr Q’sab accepted, calling for an 8-round match, and Hayvanlarla Derwydd chose the Commons of the Inn of Many Things for the venue. Victory to Yleyr Q’sab by concession in round 8.

Queras the Illumian has challenged Teela Norin. Teela accepted, calling for an 8-round match, and Queras chose the Commons of the Inn of Many Things for the venue. Victory to Queras by a score of 10 to 3.

Queras the Illumian has challenged Egbert the White. Ebert accepted, calling for a 15-round match. Queras conceded the choice of location, so Egbert also selected the Commons of the Inn of Many Things for the venue. Victory to Queras by concession in round 13.

Teela Norin has challenged Hayvanlarla Derwydd. Hayvanlarla accepted, choosing the Hedge Maze of the Arboreal Society. Teela then chose a 7-round match. Victory to Teela by concession in round 6.

Queras has challenged Yleyr to a match. Yleyr accepted, and conceded decision of location to Yleyr, who subsequently chose the Civic Square at day. Yleyr responded by proposing a 9-round match, and Queras requested the northern part of the board, to which Yleyr agreed. Victory to Queras by concession in round 6.

Queras challenenged Hayvanlarla to a match, breaking with tradition to propose the Tundra at day as a venue. Hayvanlarla accepted, and chose a 6-round match. Victory to Queras by concession in round 6.

Sulaus challenged Teela to a match, and Teela accepted, choosing the Inn of Many Things. Sulaus responded by choosing a 10-round match. Results Pending.

Yleyr has challenged Xandos to a match of Conjurer’s Chess. Xandos has accepted, selecting Pirate Cove at day. Yleyr chose an 8-round match. Results Pending.

Conjurer’s Chess Challenge: Challenge #6

2008-06-09T05:47:41-08:00

The chill wind blew a drift of snow up, cutting visibility to a hundred feet at best. Making their way cautiously across the frozen field, dodging the slick ice in places, the two competitors met in the center, under the strange, disturbing gazes of the fur-wrapped natives, each wearing an odd set of goggles to protect vision from “snowblindness”.

A place by the fires was made ready for the guest judges.

Conjurer’s Chess Challenge #6: Hayvanlarla Derwydd versus Queras the Illumian. Guest judges: Yleyr, Teela, Xandos.

Please post your spells memorized (or available, as applicable). Hayvanlarla, please choose the top or the bottom of the board.

The match will last for 6 rounds. Once you’ve both posted, I will roll for initiative and call for prep spells.

Conjurer’s Chess Challenge: Venues

2008-03-24T10:21:20-08:00

This thread is reserved for me to post the different venues for Conjurer’s Chess. If you wish to discuss the venues, please do so in the general discussion thread.

The Inn of Many Things

The first venue for the challenge is the famous Inn of Many Things. The copper commons (neither the Silver nor the Gold had room enough) has been modified to make room for a Conjurer’s Chess board, and each competitor is given a table to stand upon (to better see, and be seen). The board is alternating worked flagstone and wood paneling. Near the board on all sides are numerous tables and chairs (and frequently, tavern-goers who are watching the match).

The ceiling is stone, 20’ above the floor with numerous hanging lanterns.

Summoned creatures are restricted to the board itself. They may go no higher than the ceiling. Summoned creatures capable of burrowing, moving incorporeally, or otherwise descending into the floor below may do so, to a depth of no more than 5’. Competitors will be responsible to damages to the grounds as a result of their summoned creatures’ actions.

The Inn of Many Things’ patrons are fairly tolerable, as long as they’re not put at risk of physical injury. The staff is courteous, friendly, and efficient and will seek to serve the needs of any patron, including the Summoners themselves.

The common room is usually of moderate temperature, day and night.

Conjurer’s Chess Challenge: The Rules

2008-02-27T08:30:28-08:00

A tournament of champions in the mystical arts, a battle for all to see. Those who command a deep and powerful understanding of the magics of summoning are called forth to take part in a duel of Conjurer’s Chess.

Conjurer’s Chess, Challenge Match is an ongoing competition between participants that allows one challenger to issue a challenge to another. It is designed to operate on an ongoing basis, with no specific deadline or conclusion.

In additional to the Arbitrator (the “DM” of the match, Andorax), matches will be informally judged by a panel of three other registered summoners. While the rules are structured as well as I can think of to bring fairness and balance, there still remains possible flaws…it is the role of the Panel to call out competitors who are responsible for underhanded tactics, low blows, and actions just plain not in the spirit of the game.

As such, any of the Panel may declare a foul based on a summoner’s actions. When a foul is declared the Arbitrator will call for a vote amongst the Panel, and if the Panel is unanimous, the summoner who receives the foul forfeits the match.

The rules are as follows:

1) The tournament will be run and moderated by me (Andorax). I will arrange the matches, adjucate them, roll all the dice, determine all the results...which will be made public within these boards. I am functioning as “DM” for the match, and adjucating all OOC matters, while a “panel of sages” will act as the IC judges of the IC rules.

2) Matches will take place on a play-by-post basis. From when the match starts, participants will have 48 hours to post their move, starting from when the moderator (myself) posts the beginning of the match, or the results of the opponent’s last move. Weekends are excepted from this rule, extending the timeframe to the same time on Monday that it *would* have been on Saturday. Of course, it is permissible to post on the weekend, and should I have a chance to post an update, the 24 hour rule starts first thing on Monday (granting the competitor all of Monday to reply).

Note that when a Foul is raised, countdown time is suspended in order for the Panel to vote…as such, the 48 hour countdown starts when the last member of the Panel has voted (assuming they haven’t disqualified one of the competitors).

3) Failing to post on time forefits your actions during that round. Victors in earlier rounds will have a full 48 in-game hours to rest, pray and rememorise (as needed) prior to the next day’s match. While each round of the Tournament will proceed simuntaneously, in reality they’re taking place over the course of an afternoon (or evening), one after another. Note that this timeframe is longer than past matches, to reflect the informal nature of this variation on Conjurer’s Chess. Future Tournaments may return to the 24 hour requirement.

4) Each Player (a board poster) will be allowed one Summoner (PCs) to compete in the tournament.

5) Any Summoner may challenge any other Summoner to a match. When the challenge is accepted, and a venue chosen (there is one initially, but new ones might be added down the line), the terms need to be decided. Note that part of the choice of venue is the time of day or night.

By tradition, the Summoner who issues the challenge only chooses his or her opponent. The challenged Summoner selects either the venue or the duration of the match, and the initial challenger chooses whichever his or her opponent did not (once there are actual choices to be made about the venue).

6) Summoners are to be 6th level (including LA), are created using 32 point buy, and may be drawn from the following sourcebooks:
Core 3
All “Complete” books and all “Races of” books
The “environment” books of Stormwrack, Frostburn and Sandstorm
The Planar Handbook
Libris Mortis, the Draconomicon, and Lords of Madness (note that the Pseudonatural Template for the Alienist (CA) will be drawn from Lords of Madness)
Magic of Incarnum
The Fiend Folio and the Monster Manual 3 and 4.

It is...requested...that Players create their Summoners as “whole characters”, and not simple caracatures who exist for the sole purpose of winning the tourney. If any “alternate” summons beyond the default list (as put forth under rule 11) are to be employed, the list of alternates must be submitted along with the Summoner.

Wizards (and similar casters) must include a copy of their spellbooks as part of their character submission. Use reasonable judgement as to the number of spells contained within (ie, do not list “every known spell of 0th through 4th level” or similar), but also give full credit to the fact that wizards of such level would have a fairly large spellbook.

It is strongly recommended that you take careful note of the languages spoken by your creatures. Celestial creatures speak Celestial, Fiendish creatures speak either Abyssal (if non-lawful) or Infernal (if non-chaotic)...yes NE creatures are considered to speak both). Elemental creatures speak the appropriate elemental tongue (Aquan, Auran, Ignan, Terran).

Animals have no specific language, so “Speak with Animal” is highly recommended.

Since Dispelling the enemy caster is a legal strategy, perhaps even multiple memorizations of these spells would be wise.

Due to there being creature substitutions that do not take the standard list of languages into account, please note the following additional language options:
Anarchic: Language common to Anarchic creatures.
Axiomatic: Language common to Axiomatic creatures.
Pos: Language common to Vivacious creatures and other beings of positive energy.
Neg: Language common to Entropic creatures and other beings of negative energy.
Beyond-Tongue: Language common to creatures of the Far Realms (Pseudonatural creatures).

Casters will be permitted a single “stat-boosting” item to grant them a +4 bonus to one ability score, or three such items granting +2 bonuses to separate ability scores. This is an exception to the standard “no magic item” rules.

As nobody is interested in seeing a bunch of fuddy-duddy elderly casters duke it out, all competitors will be restricted to Middle-Aged or younger.

7) For the purpose of this tournament, a variety of different “Summons” will be considered comparable, and equivalent, to the Summon Monster spells, including:
Summon Nature’s Ally spells
Summon Undead spells (Libris Mortis)
Conjure Ice Beast (Frostburn)
Summon Desert Ally (Sandstorm)
More details on permissible summons will be included further down.

Each competitor is permitted only their spell component pouch and any components needed to cast spells they have memorized, or known. No magical items will be permitted (save for the notation above in rule 6), nor any form of mundane weapon, armor, or piece of adventuring equipment. Exception is made for a Planar Touchstone, so long as it is used solely for that purpose and possesses no additional powers.

9) The rules for Conjurer’s Chess will be abided by, in accordance with how they are layed out (Complete Warrior, page 132-133) with the following specifications and exceptions:

A) The match starts with a roll for initiative. The summoner who wins initiative may opt to move first or last in that (and each subsequent) turn.

B) Summoned creatures are barred from holding/readying actions. All summoned creatures will act on their own turn (with the exception of attacks of opportunity).

Likewise, the summoners are barred from readying/holding action, with the exception of reading a (legal) counterspell attempt...see G1 below for more information. Summoners may order the actions they and their summons take on their own turn in any way desired.

C) Challenge play will consist of the agreed-upon total rounds, the last 2 are non-summoning rounds, and the designated summoning die shall be a D4 (with a 4 counted as a “free summons” allowing the casters to bring in whatever they wish to). Summoners are permitted a single prep spell prior to the tournament beginning, though such a spell must be personal in nature, target only the half of the board closest to the summoner, or have an area of effect that cannot extend beyond their half of the board.

D) If a summoner cannot summon a creature of the appropriate type, they forefit that summoning round, and may not summon anything else in its stead, although additional spellcasting is permitted (see G).

E) Creatures are allowed to move (no more than 1 board square per turn) and attack normally, or may choose to move 2 squares, but forefit the right to attack if they do so (they may still take attacks of opportunity as normal). No other means of moving your creatures may be employed, including bull-rushing your own creatures, throwing creatures, using extradimensional travel, etc. Creatures still have full freedom of movement within their own squares or the neighboring square that constitutes a legal single move, up to the limits of height and depth specified in each venue.

E1) Clarification: Bull-rushing (or using other movement-based effects) of opposing creatures is legal, but is subject so some provisions:

Enemy creatures can not be bull-rushed off of the game board, or out of bounds in any other manner (above or below).

Enemy creatures can not be bull-rushed into a hostile spell effect, although they can be bull-rushed into a natural board hazard.

F) The Summoners field of movement will be specific to each venue. The vertical row of squares adjacent to each Summoner’s platform is their own “Summoner’s Row”. Initial summonings (or equivalents thereof) must place at least 1 creature in the Summoner’s Row, and each following creature must thereafter be placed in either the same board square, or in a board square adjacent to one of the previously-summoned creatures, and on the summoner’s half of the board.

The highlighted areas, below, show where a second creature (1b) could be placed with 1a where it is, and where a third creature (1c) could be placed, given the locations of 1a and 1b.

G) Opposing Summoners are permitted to cast non-summoning spells during the tournament (both during summoning rounds and afterwards). However, these spells may not target, damage, or include in their area of effect opposing creatures, and (with the exception of dispels and counterspells) may not target, include in their area of effect, or deny access to nearest Summoner’s Row to the opposing Summoner. Summoned creatures are permitted to use any powers (spells, spell-like abilities, supernatural abilities and the like) that they possess against opposing creatures (but see H below), but are likewise bound by the rule to not target, include in their area of effect, or deny access to the gameboard the opposing Summoner.

G1) Clarification: At no time may a Summoning be dispelled or counterspelled. Targetting an opponent’s summoned creature with a targetted dispel with the intent of dispelling spell effects on said creature without dispelling the creature itself requires a DC 20 spellcraft check. A failed check subjects the creature to the dispel as well, and if successfully dispelled, results in the dispelling summoner being disqualified. Any other sort of spell that “unsummons” an enemy creature, be it dismissal, banishment, the various aligned words, etc. are likewise disallowed.

H) A summoned creature may use its attacks, or its abilities (or both, if able) against an opposing summoned creature (or creatures) within the range of its abilities or attacks. Abilities with an area of effect may include multiple opposing creatures, but such abilities that include the opposing summoner, or the guests of the establishment, in the area of effect subject the Summoner controlling said creature to disqualification (and possible imprisonment). Note that even though these abilities are generally allowed, the strictures specified in clarification G1 still apply to even the summoned creatures’ own abilities…no “unsummoning” spells or similar abilties may be used on enemy creatures.

I) On a board with only 5’x5’ squares, the summons are restricted to Medium or smaller creatures. On a board with 10’x10’ squares, Large or smaller creatures. On a board with 15’x15’ squares, Huge or smaller. On a board with 20’x20’ squares, Gargantuan or smaller.

J) Specific, named, or unique creatures (DMG variant pg. 37) will not be permitted. Only standard representative examples of the respective races are allowed.

K) For the purpose of scoring, any game board square that is occupied by one Summoner’s creature(s) solely is worth a point when the time has expired. The opposing Summoner’s “Summoner’s Row” spaces count double if occupied by the Summoner’s creatures.

L) The Summoner may not move from their designated areas during the competition.

M) The Summoner must participate alone. No other animal companions, familiars, cohorts, allies, dominated minions, homunculus, undead creatures or any such “other beings” are permitted to take part in the match, though they are welcome to watch the match from the available stands.

N) All full-round spells (such as summonings) must be begun with full-actions. Split-round actions (using a move from round 1 and a standard from round 2) will not be permitted, for the sake of efficient bookkeeping.

O) For the purpose of this tournament, the use of Sudden Metamagics, the Divine Metamagic feat, Contingencies, and other similar effects and abilities will not be permitted to be used in conjunction with, or in order to effect, any Summoning. Such feats, spells, effects, and class features may still be employed for other spell effects.

P) Summoned Creatures are required to remain within a single board square. A summoned creature cannot move in such a manner as to straddle multiple squares at the conclusion of its movement, and if placed in such a situation by the action of another creature (tripped during an attack of opportunity for example), must correct this on their next move.

If a summoned creature cannot physically move into an opposing creature’s square (due to that other creature’s presence), it is considered to have its reach extended to be able to reach the creature in the opposing square. Such extensions of reach ONLY exist to allow a creature to attack a creature in a neighboring square it would otherwise be unable to attack or approach. See the examples (below, at the end) for clarification.

10) Venues

The various permissable venues for challenging an opponent for Conjurer’s Chess are listed in a separate thread, here:

http://www.dragonavenue.com/forums/viewthread/635/

Conjurer’s Chess Challenge: Challenge #5

2008-05-30T05:45:06-08:00

The Mayor of Greenhaven quietly asks for some of the other summoners to keep an eye on things and make sure they don’t get out of hand. “There’s women and children here, after all,” he remarks.

As a fountain lies at the center of the board, the two summoners simply nod to one another from either side of the watery structure. By prior arrangement, Queras has chosen the top of the board.

Conjurer’s Chess Challenge #5: Queras the Illumian versus Yleyr Q’sab. Guest judges: Hayvanlarla, Teela, Xandos.

Please post your spells memorized.

The match will last for 9 rounds. Once you’ve both posted, I will roll for initiative and call for prep spells.