Oki doki then...
I am still tinkering with HtHaD. Obsessively even...
The Ophidians are still under construction, as is the terrain types. Desert, Tropics, etc. I did manage to get most of the kinks worked out of the Ichthyoids. I've also worked out some monster races. These are more or less decided on the fly, just keeping in mind the ocean theme for this game.
Ichthyoid civilization [Picture the Fish monsters from the movie Leviathan]
Ichthyoids originate from the deepest darkest regions of the ocean.The bony armor covering them serves them well as a brutal martial race. While they prefer the deep ocean for their large cities, they will establish colonies nearer to the surface to prey on the air breathers.
Draw constructions of the Ichthyoids in dark blue. Ichthyoid constructions are rounded amorphous rooms all attached to a main corridor that being very twisted and convoluted. Ichthyoids start with 4 population, 2 loot and a Spawning pit. They prefer natural caverns open to the sea for the spawning pits, if you don't have one, add one now ensuring it is connected to the ocean. This is the map I used for my game.
The Ichthyoid year:
In Spring the ichthyoids raid the air breathers on the surface world. If there are at least 4 population, roll 1d4 and subtract that many. Add 1 loot. I had originally thought about using 3 population to start, but as you will see later it makes for a very short age of civilization.
In Summer they hunt and fill the spawning pit with their eggs the chum of their prey.
In Fall they build. Build the following structures. 1 per year.
Armory
Shark stables
Oyster beds
Temple of Snurglefurp the Sea God.
In Winter the ichthyoids tend the spawning pit. Roll 1d4 and add that number of population. Drawing new rooms as needed to accommodate them.
The End of the Ichthyans: When the population reaches 12, immediately build a Temple to Snurglefurp the Sea God if you do not have one. Trade in all loot and replace with the "Artifact". The Artifact grants a +1 to encounter rolls for and group possessing it. Roll a d6 on a 1-4 the Ichthyans harness the power of the sea god and abandon the colony to make war on the air breathers. On a 5 or 6 the Ichthyans anger the sea god and he sends Ginormasquid the Terrible to destroy them. Ginormasquid the Terrible possesses the Artifact and becomes a wandering monster in the age of monsters.
What follows is a play test for an ocean theme.
The Primordial Age
The dice gave me an underground river, Mithral deposits and Jorix the Sea Dragon (Ancient Wyrm)
The Age of Civilization
The Ichthyoids arrive. I was going to have them build a spawning pit first thing but....
The Spring. They went raiding. Lost 1
Need to replace losses built a spawning pit, then mining.
This version of the spawning pit just gives +1 pop per year.
This where it all went wrong. Much bummin, heavy sigh. The Age of Civilization is over. I put in all this work, so lets see where it goes.
The Great Disaster revealed 3 natural caverns. Now with intriguing Plague scent!
The Age of Monsters.
The Surface Kingdoms set up shop.
The Delving group shows up. Troglodyte flavored, but because of copyright concerns, I'll call them Trurgs. Trurgs are immune to plague and suffer no losses.
The Breeder group is here. Let's go with some akin to Kuo-Toa. But again those pesky copyright thingys, we'll call these guys Gill Men. They were shrewd about their choice of residence, the Ichthyoid loot is still there...
The Surface Kingdoms turn: They Get 1 for the castle and start a fishing camp to support the castle.
Trurgs: Expand their ZOC.
Gill Men: Scoop up all treasure in range and breed.
New year: A Wandering Monster wanders in to the dungeon. Water Wyrds are not immune to plague, and did not choose wisely. They die and leave loot behind.
Surface Kingdoms: +1 to the castle and add a farm.
Trurgs: Expand ZOC. Snatch up 1 loot from the doomed water wyrds and lose 1 to ghosts..
Gill Men: Someone got a bit uppity and tunneled into the wrong cavern. They bribed Jorix.
Jorix is now awake. And hungry. Ignoring the walking filet-o-fish, he'll buy some munchies.
New Year:Forgot to roll for new monster groups. Oooopppsss!
Surface Kingdoms: +1 to Castle, 2nd farm, added a dungeon level.
Trurgs: Expand ZOC, snag 2nd loot from water wyrds corpses.
Looking these now, I just realized I skipped the Gill Men. So Jorix goes a wandering. The Gill Men are really opposed to being eaten. The bribe him again. So he's off to eat a fishermen.
New Year:
Oh Look! In keeping with a general plague theme, a special feature is indicated. Natural Cavern with a virulent strain apparently, Plague 4. Ewww!
Surface Kingdoms: Send some unsuspecting peasant from the castle to learn how to fish. I'm pretty sure I got interrupted during their turn because that's all I did with them.
Let this be a lesson kids. Takes better notes... Don't remember what gakked the Trurgs, but they are gone.
Gill Men: PLEASE DON'T EAT US! They bribed him again.
Jorix: Good Nyborg Man... But now I got the munchies.
New Year: A special feature. Disaster! Earthquake! What happens when there is a big earthquake at the bottom of the ocean? Tsunami! Rolled a 5 on a 1d8 to see how many air breathers went bye-bye.
Surface Kingdoms: "WTAF!?!?" Add 1 pop and 1 loot.
Gill Men: With more population than treasure to support it, half of them split looking for greener kelp beds.
Jorix: Tired of fast food kibble. He's on his way to find something crunchier than sashimi.
Happy New Year! Have a special feature. Now appearing in an extended stay... A Haunting.
Surface Kingdoms: Do you know how hard it is to salt water out of a dungeon? We need more help. +1 pop.
Gill Men: The Sea dragon is distracted, right? They lost the bribe roll. Tied on the encounter roll. I am kinda rooting for the Gill Men. They pulled a Bilbo and looted 1 while he was eating the Gill guy in the tunnel.
Jorix: No need to looking for Nemo, he's on your porch. Bye Gill Guy.
New year: Hmmm... Alpha Predator. Make something up... I really like Ilithids. Ulitharid iz here to eat yur BRAINNNZZZZ.
Surface Kingdoms: We gonna need more guys. Bored? Dig a dungeon level. Whoa! A cave.
Had a brain fart here too. I think the Gill Men turn met with Jorix and he ate one. Then Jorix decided a change of scenery was in order. And started looking for new digs.
Ulitharid: Squiddy went looking for brains and found dead things. Squiddy lost. Bye Squiddy.
New Year: and what do I get? Gnomes... yay... fly a flag. They found some loot left in their new house by the previous tenants.
Surface Kingdom: Why don't you guys go a look around in the caves you found... Short dudes with big noses? Loot! I can finally get the subdivision I always wanted.
Gill Men: I ran out of black stones, used a d6. They breed. It's getting very late in the evening at this point and I'm starting to forget things.
Jorix: Still looking for a better living situation. He finds the gnomes... and their shineys. Gnomes taste better than fish. With a surprise in every box!
New Year: Someone... *cough - JORIX! - cough* left the front door to the dungeon open, and now we have Crabs. Giant Ones. Wandering Monsters.
Surface Kingdoms: Humans had no idea the remaining gnomes had become dragon chow. How could they? The entire expedition also became dragon chow. Jorix is within spitting distance of ending the age of monsters...
Crabs: K, let's split up. The Gill Guys are eating good tonight! They worked up a mighty hunger mining Mithral.
New Year: Yet another natural cavern... Those are rapidly becoming trite. How else can I get gems there? Shipwreck!
Surface Kingdoms: Dragons can really hold a grudge.
The Gill Men Oozzed out more tad poles, and scooped up the gems that someone careless left on their front doorstep. Jorix paid a visit to the castle and not finding any treasure to loot decides to sample to local street fare.
I forgot to move a population from a farm to the castle, and went straight to Gill Men. So sue me, it was close to 9:30pm. I'm old and I get tired easily. Gill Guys: Breed.
Crabs: Another one becomes fish food.
Jorix goes a wandering on the surface and demands tribute from the air breathers. They of course comply, not really wanting to become dragon chow. Thus begins the Age of Villany. I'll deal with that later. I had to sleep.
