Topic: Shards, where they come from? (plus, shards stories from your games)

[Arioch]

I mean, in which module/manual they appeared for the first time? Are they featured in any official adventure?
Also, have you ever used them or encounterd them in one of your games? My players are about to explore a shard-infested area (hello players! If you're reading this it's too late, sorry! ) and I'd like to hear your stories about them

[yammahoper]

I want to say Shadow World, but I seem to recall seeing them first as "Tree Demons" in a module...It is not coming to me just now, but I will let it simmer in the hind brain for a while.

[arakish]

Like yamma, the first I ever heard/read of them was in one of the Shadow World things (the first editions out back in the early? 1990s).  I know they are in the RMFRP Creatures and Monsters.  Can't remember if they were in C&T2 or not.

However, I have never used them.  I have enough nastier "forest protectors" to need shards.

rmfr

[rdanhenry]

Shards were in C&T, the first one without a number on it. Stock # RM 1400, pp. 33-34 in section 2.34, "Elementals and Artificial Beings".

Copyright date is listed as 1985, if it comes down to comparing dates.

[GrumpyOldFart]

I knew I'd seen them somewhere, but I wasn't willing to dig through a couple dozen books in a storage bin to find out.

[Temujin]

Mentalism Companion details their creation.  You might want to place an insane alchemist in your shard-infested region somewhere (tho he may be dead :p)

[yammahoper]

Arcane Companion covers their creation too.

[rdanhenry]

The RM2 Spell User's Companion included Shard creation as well.

[Arioch]

And the Construct Companion too, IIRC.
They're also covered on Shadow World atlas, so I thought they first appeared on some SW module and then included in C&T, since their description is quite long and detailed...

You might want to place an insane alchemist in your shard-infested region somewhere (tho he may be dead :p)

That's basically what's gonna happen 
Anyway, anyone else ever used them?

[providence13]

Never found a use for them myself. The DB (100 x Pace) is hilarious.
I do like constructs and amalgams (still working out the kinks on a beholder) but don't have a use for Shards.

[Arioch]

I just found this old topic about shards, where Terry says they were a Pete Fenlon creation:

Pete F., who created the original Shards

[yammahoper]

I have used them.  Once as a primary villian the campaign was wrapped around, and several times as random encounters or short adventures.

Area affect spells work wonders against them.  I had a friend use them in a Space Master game once (they were terrifying to say the least).  We ran out of grenades and had to manufacture our own.  They are fast, but they can't outrun a radio transmissions or lasers (guns aint bad either).

[Dax]

I never used shards,

but I imagine them like the vampires of the "newer" TV-shows
(there are many, like th one with the radio moderator who as a vampire helps people - name ?)

The vampire moves at incredible speed from one point to the other ...

Maybe Pete F. should sue due to plagiarism ... oh, would be to late.

[Arioch]

I see them basically as ninja cyborgs.
Just look at them: they wear a mask that conceal their faces, they're incredibly fast & nimble, and they kill you by throwing poisoned, sharp things at you...

[Vince]

If i remember correctly there is an encounter with Shards in The Great Campaign (Shadow world) , well the shards are too powerful for this levels, so basically is an encounter to force you to go to a temple, a Jaysek temple if a remember well.

[Dax]

The DB (100 x Pace) is hilarious.

If shards attack they are standing next to you,
doesn't this mean their pace equals '0' ?

[providence13]

If shards attack they are standing next to you,
doesn't this mean their pace equals '0' ?

Generally, you don't have to stand still to attack.
IIRC, the RMFRP creatures book says they attack by standing motionless and slinging their "poison waste matter arm disks". But they have to spend the previous round running to build up momentum. So, you're right. But if you attack while they're moving, they get the crazy DB.

[Arioch]

The DB (100 x Pace) is hilarious.

If shards attack they are standing next to you,
doesn't this mean their pace equals '0' ?

If they aren't moving they use a natural DB of 50.
Problem is, their base movement is a crazy 1000 feet/rnd, so first you have to catch them 

[Dax]

Hmm, I have to take a closer look at them ( or a look at all )

In the fight good vs "unlife" they might be a challenge.

I hope I can use shards for the good boys, cuz my players are lured to the dark side.
(they don't draw the right conclusions from all the hints they got, they need some more.
I really want to take a picture of their faces when everything snap into place ...)

[Arioch]

Yesterday my players had their first encounter with them: 2 shards vs a party of 3 PCs, one NPC and their 5(!) dogs.
They were caught totally unprepared: the shards killed one of the PCs (the magician) on the spot with their first assault. The party then started to fight back, but in 2 rounds the monk lost a hand and teleported away to heal himself nad the NPC rogue died shortly thereafter. The dogs met a similar fate and either died or few from the battle (therefore proving themselves smarter than most of the PCs  ).
In the end, the only PC still standing was the troll fighter: he managed to spot the shards, stun/entagle them with his bolas, then went berserk and beat them to a bloody pulp just before falling unconscious.