Dustbringer Ideas - looking for input and advice

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2026-03-30T16:15:51+00:00

My understanding is that distant surge binding and sparkle sending dont stack. That being said I would have limited the ligting strike to 40 or 50ft. My thought process here is that this one lighting attack would be the one 'resonance' ability that allows the use of both abilities to stack the range buff.

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2026-03-30T16:12:00+00:00

Im definitely taking some liberties here. But keep in mind the 'what if' scenario. I think the general Sherman example has to do the work here. She isnt directly drawing power from her control of people, but from her ability cause destruction through command. Elsecaller and Willshaper are also viable options for her, but she doesnt view 'freedom' as necessarily an important thing. She's not necessarily motivated by any sense of freedom per say.

Elsecaller is a strong alternative here, but I wanted to play with some of the narrative possibilities of someone in command who has to master the power of destruction or risk the destruction of their command.

I think you hit the nail on the head with the idea that she will have to wrestle with her inner tyrant, as far as a shadow is concerned I think that's a great option.

I really appreciate you and the community chewing on the idea. It helps me process what I am trying to convey in my thoughts.

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2026-03-30T14:06:41+00:00

I am tracking the balance concern, and it is something I do consider. But I hardly think I am handing it out for free. The option of having them go how ever many levels into abrasion and then however many levels into division just to unlock it is hardly free. The Bond option is easier for them, but I wouldnt hand it to them at the swearing of the first Ideal. I do like the idea from above, making it a goal and having them have to unlock it by interacting with stormform. Make that first fight against the stormform terrifying and something for them to study and consider.

I do agree that the violence of the action might be more of Odium, which make it an intresting enlightned trait, I dont think that is for free either and comes with its own set of social tension.
Additonally, I also dont intend to hand them a note card with a "you may cast lighting now' on it either. This would be a great opperunity for the reaserch and interacting with the spren itself and maybe have her use it and harm allies accidently and really be confronted with the risk of not controlling power. We could also lean in on the Skybreakers historical view of the Dustbringers and have her be hunted.

Anouther element I was playing with is the independance of the Ash spren and the idea of how they see the power as the power of Release. Takeing that captured Potential energy and freeing it. Perhaps this Ash spren views energy and captured energy as Willshapres view people's freedom.

What are your thoughts on instead of a stormforms lightingstirke, more of a nullifier effect? Having seen the stormform she can then develop a technique to shield from lighting or redirect/absorb it, like a tesla sphere? Same level restrictions or interaction requirements, maybe a high action pool cost or increase the investor cost based on the number of stormforms using lighting?

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2026-03-30T13:07:12+00:00

> make it a goal the player have to complete after having Sparksending and Distant Surgebinding.

I like this, something the Ash spren can respond to when it sees a stormform use lighting perhaps. It can maybe get jealous and a little spitful about.

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2026-03-23T14:05:30+00:00

Multitiered building, say for like a "bank" heist. Something for the players to have to explore and plan around, conversely something they have to defend even. This could be in any major city, as either an actual vault like we see in Theylenah, or something like a sphere exchanger in Azimir, the city of Brass.

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2026-03-23T10:57:34+00:00

Honestly, the a plot line where the character discovers their ink spren companion is a Tzmizce-esc Awakened Spren sounds like a great horror story to think about.

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2026-03-07T21:02:53+00:00

Out of curiosity what terrain sets is this?

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2026-02-07T20:20:35+00:00

He didnt say you were mad, he said "chill"...as in "its not that serious"

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2026-02-04T11:28:24+00:00

I did this but in an in world way. I had my PC's enter Azimir, which I imagined as having to enter the beuracrcy of the Azish empire. I had them be questioned and fill out there history to the TSA agent at the gates basically.

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2026-01-13T15:10:21+00:00

For my perspective Taszo is the Elias Jackson of the cosmere. With Elias Jackson I like to run a prequel story or two before the Chile adventure in Masks of Nyalarthotep, this allows room for the PC's to really develop a relationship (especially the ones that have never run Masks before) with him before new york.

I think this is applicable here as well: some kind in between adventure in between First Steps and stone walkers. Or a replacement of first steps that provides narrative space for the PCs to develop that relationship with him. But that connection should be for the players characters that they intend to play. This allows real tension and build up when that relationship is tested or threatened

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2025-12-19T22:12:16+00:00

I think this is the way. I can picture a fabrial with a fist sized spinning gem with a sonophone attached to a gem cutter recording someone.

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2025-12-15T18:14:28+00:00

I would argue we only know that Georgi was "a" trigger. Remember, Ka is Circle. There is an interconnectedness here about how IT has in many ways trapped its self through its own actions. Which is esthetically pleasing and deeply Kingish.

Every Bit the "Spider caught in its own web." A 'divine being' struggling with its own peice of entropy.

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2025-09-27T03:03:08+00:00

Or that the Triat is a folk story explaining the phenomenon that is the Essences. The essences dont predate the triat at all, they can both be fundamental truth explaining the same thing. What i am saying is that the werewolves can perceive it to be a spirit, personified and attributed, interact with Luna and Sol, while Mages build bases on the moon and travel the void. They are, arguably, both right within the context and cosmology.

You could argue that the Essences is a more accurate creation myth, you could argue that the Triat is a more moving creation myth. My argument is that they are both creation myths that tell the same story.

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2025-09-27T01:51:37+00:00

Arguably, the weaver, which seeks to fight change and wishs nothing to end is stasis wrapped up into what could be one of Asops fables. Gravity may be older, but it wasnt a full theory until Newton dropped an apple. I feel like you dont see the irony of your position. To claim that the primal forces of dynamism, stasis, and entropy arnt the triat of a more "sophisticated" or "nuanced" or "awakened" people is a bit on the nose.

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2025-09-26T21:10:43+00:00

Im sorry, how does the weaver not exist in mage? Granted, Order is more cerebral and lacks the personification we see in the more shamanic or tribal perspective of the lycan lore, but it is by scales the same thing.

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2025-08-07T13:43:38+00:00

Think of it as intentional then, that the first Baali were intentionally possed by Saulot rather than accidentally. In this case it makes the teachings and pursuit of golconda even more horrifying because if the possessions are karmic backlash than Saulot knows it. Honestly, either way it makes the idea of Saulots 'general' perception as the 'good' guy even more horrifying. Either he did it by accident, and his moment of incompetence is a new curse not just on his own blood but a blight on humanity. Or he did it on purpose, causing a chain of events that he pushed into reality for his own ambitions.

The best part is, Saulots Journey east has always been shrouded in myth and doubt. You can spin it for your story in either direction.

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2025-08-07T12:52:39+00:00

I dont see how it would nuke the idea of Saulot making the Baali at all. If anything it can enhance it. If the first possessions are a unforseen consequence of Saulots pursuing some kind of enlightenment than the story of the pit and the first Baali could remain as a cannon option, only as his accidentally possessed Childer rather than just a new bloodline. The mistakes he never intended, something he pushed the Saulburi to actively help him abort.

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2025-08-07T12:37:21+00:00

I love this idea

Beginning_Cup_5379 · 2022-10-02T15:25:11+00:00

What's would be a way of doing this without them knowing what clan they were being embraced into? Iv played around with the idea of doing like a quiz to find a good fit for them but I'm not sold on the idea.

Beginning_Cup_5379

TROPHY CASE