| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Storyteller Hero |
Posted - 25 Apr 2017 : 22:51:30
So I'm currently working on a Realmspace project for DMsGuild.
I want to include an optional rule for calculating distances between planets, and that requires knowing having a point of reference to start with: a "zero point" in history that can be used to determine the positions of planets at any given point in time.
Does anyone know of a point in canon lore or the novels in which the worlds converged in a harmonic convergence (ALL lined up).
I'm otherwise planning to use the casting of Karsus' Avatar as a recommended point in history when the planets lined up.
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| 5 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Storyteller Hero |
Posted - 26 Apr 2017 : 23:28:33
quote:
Originally posted by Ayrik
I recommend consulting GMWestermeyer's A Spelljammer Timeline (Revised).
Our laws of gravitation and orbital/celestial mechanics do not necessarily apply within Realmspace (or in any other sphere). Especially since the "orbits" of Spelljammer's planets can be altered by elemental vortices, gods, wars, magics, monsters, storms, and even player characters. Perhaps altered in only the smallest degree, but altered nonetheless, and able to wobble the celestial clockwork right out of whack after the passage of enough time. It's hard to compute and predict things for naviation when your orrery is as much a mechanical construct as it is a game of soccer.
Thank you. The timeline looks really useful since it has citations. I'll try to sync up dates of whatever new fiction that I add to the previously published lore.
At the very least, I want to make sure that people who want the more complicated method don't have to come up with calculating distances all the way from scratch, by offering some optional stats in addition to the default simplified distances that will be given (expanded from TSR's Realmspace distance charts).
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| Ayrik |
Posted - 26 Apr 2017 : 07:54:08
I recommend consulting GMWestermeyer's A Spelljammer Timeline (Revised).
While the Fall of Netheril or the Day of Dale Reckoning might be immensely significant within the Realms, they're utterly uninteresting and insignificant to anyone else from anywhere else. Same for Krynn's Cataclysms. Or Oerth's Invoked Devastations. Or Spelljammer's First Unhuman War. Or the onset of the Blood War across half the planar cosmos (from the perspective of the other half of the planar cosmos). Each world (or plane) has an isolated history filled with local events, there really isn't any sort of global (cosmic) "zero point" correlation between them in published canon.
Although one could argue that while a fundamental astronomical (and astrological) convergence does occur every 184173 years, there are many "lesser" convergences and conjuctions and cycles wherein only some things get aligned (or misaligned) in critically important ways. Some convergences being "greater" than others, at least to anything in their proximity.
Our laws of gravitation and orbital/celestial mechanics do not necessarily apply within Realmspace (or in any other sphere). Especially since the "orbits" of Spelljammer's planets can be altered by elemental vortices, gods, wars, magics, monsters, storms, and even player characters. Perhaps altered in only the smallest degree, but altered nonetheless, and able to wobble the celestial clockwork right out of whack after the passage of enough time. It's hard to compute and predict things for naviation when your orrery is as much a mechanical construct as it is a game of soccer. |
| Storyteller Hero |
Posted - 26 Apr 2017 : 04:09:39
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
I'd set year 1 DR, when the Standing Stone was raised, as the date of convergence, myself... Why? Two reasons: the math is easier, and it adds further import to the event, perhaps even explaining why it was done in that year.
You're right. I'll write in both as recommended dates then for the optional system.
Thank you. |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 26 Apr 2017 : 03:41:26
quote:
Originally posted by Storyteller Hero
So I'm currently working on a Realmspace project for DMsGuild.
I want to include an optional rule for calculating distances between planets, and that requires knowing having a point of reference to start with: a "zero point" in history that can be used to determine the positions of planets at any given point in time.
Does anyone know of a point in canon lore or the novels in which the worlds converged in a harmonic convergence (ALL lined up).
I'm otherwise planning to use the casting of Karsus' Avatar as a recommended point in history when the planets lined up.
Anything past Toril's skies gets little mention in novels or setting material. Off the top of my head, I'm not recalling any mention of astronomicals other than Selūne and her Tears, the sun, and the King-Killer Star. (Excepting Spelljammer material, of course)
I'd set year 1 DR, when the Standing Stone was raised, as the date of convergence, myself... Why? Two reasons: the math is easier, and it adds further import to the event, perhaps even explaining why it was done in that year. |
| George Krashos |
Posted - 26 Apr 2017 : 03:38:37
There's no such canon reference so you are free to use whatever time you want.
-- George Krashos |
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