Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

I think we should use generic currency.

0 (0%)

I think we should use original currencies the way Araph listed them.

4 (80%)

I think we should use original currencies, but with a conversion rate of 100:10:1

1 (20%)

I think we should use original currencies, but with a simpler conversion rate (post your ideas if you chose this).

0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 5

[Araph]

Have you started on the overall setting yet, or are you waiting until the core mechanics are done?

I've made an elaborate map of the landmass the game will be set on, and I'm currently making a bunch of names with that one fantasy name generator. That thing is brilliant; you can even make it generate similar names so they sound as if they came from the same language.

I'll let work know that I need Saturday afternoons off. I don't mean to rush you, but around when would this be starting?

The holidays will kill my availability for a few weeks, so I won't be able to guarantee my Saturdays until after Christmas. After that I can start booking Saturdays off.

I was planning on starting the Saturday after this coming Saturday.

I was thinking Saturdays at around 8:00 PM GMT (or noon PST). Does that time work for people?

Ugh, I hate weird time shit (in reality, anyway. WTS in webcomics is just fine :3). Figuring it out... That would be three in the afternoon for me, I think. Yeah, that should be fine. I don't think my local college has any weekend classes so I should be golden for next semester. ^^^

Yeah, weird time shit gets me miffed, too. Weird PUZZLE shit, on the other hand...

[Johnfalcon99977]

That translates to 3:00 PM over on the other side of the ocean here, so I'm cool with that time.

[Kashyyk]

I can't do this Saturday or next Saturday, but after that I'm free.

[Johnfalcon99977]

I relize that I kinda need to make my lore before Saturday, because most of it is kinda important if we decide to run with it. Fuuuuuck.

[Araph]

I realize that I kinda need to make my lore before Saturday, because most of it is kinda important if we decide to run with it. Fuuuuuck.

You don't have to write up that much lore for the races; that's my job. Everything has to fit together perfectly. Not only with the races, but with the entire world. As such, I'm preemptively stating that I'll do that part of creating races.

EDIT: I don't mean to rush you, but I've gotta know what you are thinking of for the races. If it doesn't get posted, I'll just make up new species on my own (not generic ones, though). If you'd prefer, you could give me a general idea of what you're thinking and I'll fill out the specifics.

[Johnfalcon99977]

I was going to say how they werent races, but now that I think about it, races does kinda fit the discripion. It fits better then the idea of Elves and Dwarves, their more like Species. But none the less, these races that I was making are kinda synonymous with humans. But, I had a general idea for 7 races in the game, 6 of which would've been common accepted Variations, one would be Pure Human, and the seventh would be the dumping pile for everything else.

[Araph]

I'd prefer for the races to have more differences from humans than what might be found from culture to culture. When you say they're kinda synonymous with humans, do you mean minor feature differences and a few social changes? 'To what extent are they different from vanilla humans' would be a clearer way to couch my question.

[Johnfalcon99977]

Trust me. They are far from "Just a little different". Were talking "An extra pair of Arms or having Wings" different. When I say that synonymous with Humans, I mean they are generally in the same Cultural and mental status as Humans in the same area. But Pure Humans mainly run the show, because of a little thing called the "Order of the Puritan". It doesn't sound very dangerous, but considering their unoffical nickname is the "Puritan Inquisition"...

[Araph]

Order of the Puritan

I don't mean to be rude, but I'd appreciate a lack of expectation for historical figures or organizations. I've started on the world's story already, have a plot in mind, and I feel bad if I don't include suggestions from people, so if suggestions throw a wrench into my plot, I have two options: accept the idea and try to mold the story around that difference, or ignore the idea and feel like a jerk until I forget about it. The Order of the Puritan would be potentially fitting in the social climate of the forming world, but its role would be reduced and its influence diminished. Also, there wouldn't be vanilla humans feeling superior to any of the other races any more than the others feel superior over the vanillas. As far as any species is concerned, they themselves are the original and best.

EDIT: I really need to get working on civilizations, civ leaders, and the political situation, but I can't do that unless I know what races to use. If nobody has anything to say on the matter (that is, a simple description of the races they have in mind) by tomorrow, I'm going to go with well known species. I really don't need much to work with; just type a couple of sentences on what they look like and what their mindset is tilted toward and I'll fit them into the world.

SECOND EDIT: Guess what? Social skills is what! I figured out how social skills will work: Charisma and Presence are the two attributes that govern the skills (except Detect Purpose, which uses Int). Presence has two categories, much like Knowledge () or Survival (); the categories are Calming Presence and Agitating Presence. They affect different checks in different ways. For example, the Persuasion skill is a soft skill, which means it has Charisma applied to it as a positive modifier, Calming Presence applied as a positive modifier, but Agitating Presence applied as a negative modifier. Race choice affects Presence the most (an orc would have a large penalty to Calming, but an equally large bonus to Agitating. A diplomatic elf, on the other hand, would be the opposite). Following that would be your attributes. In addition to those modifiers, your presentation and argument (as in, you, the player) will give circumstantial bonuses or penalties to the skill check. That is to say, you will not be able to Bluff a guard into thinking he's a yellow-footed rock wallaby; it would have far too large of a 'that's dumb' modifier to work.

[Johnfalcon99977]

Heh, well, perhaps you should hear my stuff then. Because the Order of the Puritan were extremely influencal and reaching. As I said before as well, Pure Humans are pretty much running the show, and any other races don't really have their own nations. And those that do have been pushed to the end of the world by the Puritan Inquisition's crusades.

But I need to get this shit down. So here is the lore I was planning in a Nutshell.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

For most of the beginning of Humanity the world was ruled over by Demons. The some dude comes out who was (According to Puritans) effectively Jesus multiplied 10. He told to GTFO and killed off those who didn't, freeing all the Humans. Then he went missing, for reasons unknown. The Order of the Puritan was formed out of the remains of the Military force he used to drive out the Demons. However, they quickly came to the issue where there a bunch of dudes that had extreme physical differences from them. While the real reason these people were "Different" is debatable, the Puritan Inquisition jumped to the explainion that they were tainted Demons and went on a Holy Genocide. However they quickly ran into a wall when they found out the hard way that these "Demons" Counted for over half the Human population. So, in order to cope with this, the Inquisition started marking some races as "Acceptable", which meant they were not quite tainted off the deep end. So far there are Five accepted races: Angelic, Charismatic winged Humans with Tan, Pale, or even slightly Golden skin; Elvic, beings that are slightly taller and live slightly longer then "Pure Humans", and have a rigid spiritual caste system; Gordivn, Very Large and strong Humans with an extra pair of Arms to boot, accepted so Purtians could use as slaves; Beastial, Humans with animalistic features and senses, not very intelligent and Agressive Tribalistic traditions; And Deamonic, only very recently accepted for questionable reasons, these fellows are horned devilish creatures that come in the wonderful flavors of Red, Maroon, Teal, and Purple. Not innately evil, but easier possessed by Dark Spirits. Mutually hate Angelics.
Everything else is unaccepted and brutally hunted by the Inquisition. And this is what has been going for the last, say, 2,000 years? I think thats a fine number.

I think the racial bonus for most of these should be some obvious (Angelics get Flight and Charisma bonus, Gordivns get Strength and Physical bonus, ect), it just comes down to if you like it or not.

[Araph]

While that in itself would be a great set of races and backstory for a different campaign, it just wouldn't fit into the world I've made. And I did hear your stuff; what I was saying was parts of it that wouldn't work in this game.

... the Order of the Puritan were extremely influencal and reaching.

That is the biggest problem. A big part of the plot hinges on religious organizations not being influential.

One other problem is with the melting pot of variants that the hunted group is; what caused them to be so random? Was it magic? Did some divinity intervene in the creation of all the different species? They couldn't have just evolved that way, otherwise their traits would be roughly the same from individual to individual.

About the Deamonic, their aren't just evil spirits floating around out there. Practically no non-mortals having influenced anything in a way greater than changing odds a bit since the Age of Legends.

[Johnfalcon99977]

Why can't religous organizations be influential? Besides, If you think about it, there not REALLY religous. There just horribly racist and powerful.

It would also be fine if you gave a reason instead of being so vague. Maybe I can afford to make some changes. But I can't do nothing unless you tell me what the plot you had in mind first without ripping straight through the one you had planned.

Anyway, about the other things you asked.

One other problem is with the melting pot of variants that the hunted group is; what caused them to be so random? Was it magic? Did some divinity intervene in the creation of all the different species? They couldn't have just evolved that way, otherwise their traits would be roughly the same from individual to individual.

About the Deamonic, their aren't just evil spirits floating around out there. Practically no non-mortals having influenced anything in a way greater than changing odds a bit since the Age of Legends.

1. Its generally unknown. But there arent so "Different ever time" random as you seem to think. Imagine them more as like Minority Groups.

2. It was just an idea I had floating around. They don't need to be more suceptible to possession. I just thought it would explain The Fool's Character story a bit better.

[Araph]

It would also be fine if you gave a reason instead of being so vague.

Okay... backstory time!

Spoiler: History (click to show/hide)

For hundreds of years, the gods have been inactive; ever since the Age of Legends, and the Divine War, miracles have ceased and a peace has fallen over the land. The abrupt end of conflict between the forces of the heavens and hells left the peoples of the world uncertain as to which path they should take. The cataclysm that heralded the end of the Age left a hole in the leadership of every race, as the military leaders had all traveled with their armies to fight for whichever side they supported; in the power vacuum, lesser rulers remade the political map and bought peace with blood.

After the end of the Age, the xenophobic western civilization was the only civilization left unscathed by the war. Deciding it would be a fine time for some aggressive expansion, they mobilized their armies and marched to a whole new war. While they were capable of taking one major city, Oken, they were divided by politics; some said they should continue ignoring the other races, others proclaimed that it was the time to conquer the land. In the exact opposite of what had happened to the attackers, the defending humans on both sides of the Divine War went to town on the fools who dared to instigate a fight. When some of the western nobles drew back for political reasons, the defenders routed the remainder. In a petty 'if I can't have it no one can', Oken was razed before the conquerors retreated. Over the years, the war has since ended, but Oken and the other northern cities retain the sense of injustice that compels them towards anti-nonhuman sentiments.

As order was restored, the land riven by the cataclysm was resettled. A massive body of water has since formed, a huge freshwater lake filled by run-off from the snowy peaks to it's east. The settlements destroyed were replaced by the mercantile city of Denierilc, founded by the survivors who had since fled. Fact has turned to story, and story to legend. What the truth is of the past, none can say. But, that is what you may find out; your adventure begins in this new setting, this godless land.

Spoiler: Religion and Racism (click to show/hide)

In larger cities, all races mingle with a relatively low amount of racism. While in smaller towns as well as most of the northern cities racism is alive and well, the eastern cities pride themselves on the level of acceptance present. In nearly all areas, you can find multiple races co-existing, but the far west has a xenophobic pro-[whatever race ends up living there] policy. The religious spectrum runs from the shamanistic element-worshiping of the northeastern swamp people and southeastern nomads to the fanatical spirit/ancestor worshiping of the western forestland. In all mid-western and eastern cities, you can find multiple religions existing in peace; the only real exceptions are the cult-like Order of Irydeu (I just changed the name due to Irydeu previously being the 'head god', so to speak), who believe that the old gods will return and smite the tainted and unbelievers. They consider other races impure, and walk the line between church and militants in their quest. They're pretty much the only organization not tolerated in the free east.

The common people tend to have derogatory terms for most any other species, and (despite the lack of overt displays) many people are disgruntled at what they perceive to be other races taking over their settlement. In the north and west, this is especially pronounced. Nearly no other races than the natives live in the western forests, and humans in the north repel other people with the presence of the Order of Irydeu.

The only area where racism is next to nonexistent is the eastern Free Cities. Patriotism and pride compel people to make life hard for racists, since the cities proclaim themselves to be friendly to all. Any people prone to having inappropriate reactions to other races quickly learns to either hide it or get over it.

Spoiler: Geography (click to show/hide)

In the central valley and western plains, a peaceful agrarian state has formed: within the same civilization, military force is concentrated in the north/northwest, particularly in the incontinent city of Oken. The eastern city of Denierilc is a prosperous trade center, due to its position between the bodies of water that separate most of the eastern and western cities. To the north-west, city states that are a part of the same civilization in name only make their home (Oken is one of these). Two major political factions are representative of these peoples; one believes that peace and trade will empower the nation, the other believes that military might will bring about prosperity. The government is technically a monarchy, though councils of nobles have far more power than the weak king.

In the east are two groups: the Free Cities of the coast and the southern desert's nomads. The Free Cities are independent city-states that are governed by a democratic system; everyone casts a vote to elect a council of the people that create laws and determine the city's policies. The nomads of the desert operate in a tribal system, with each group acting on it's own. Politics means little to these people, and no official governing body exists for them.

In the mountainous region splitting the east and west, two civilizations exist as well. The northern colony of Henudel survives through trade alone, due to the lack of arable soil. It produces it's trade goods through the extensive mines that churn out iron, coal, and valuable metals. The parent civilization is to the south; a heavily fortified set of large cities that attract trade and small hamlets that produce goods for the cities.

The far western forests are home to a xenophobic and imperialistic nation with a strict policy of isolation. They believe that theirs is the superior race, and, as a result, refuse to allow travelers and merchants to enter their lands except to visit a merchant city on the edge of the territory. While heavily militarized, the lack of metal and quarries along with the refusal to learn from other civilizations puts them at a distinct disadvantage when compared to practically any other military.

Around northeastern edge of the southern mountains, a (relatively) small nation makes it's home. Despite the harsh surrounding on one side, the fertile lands in the other direction and wealth of the land from mines supplies the cities and towns with all the necessities for life. Despite the caste system in place, nearly all the people are educated by the public school system (the only one anywhere on the continent).

Phew... Sorry if that's too vague in a few parts of the history; I'm trying to avoid actually giving away what you're going to find out in the campaign while still telling of the world's history. Hopefully that'll give you an idea of what the world is like, though.

[The Fool]

This is kind of what I was waiting for. I'll start writing up my race in a few hours. I'll try and present it how D&D presents feature races (Races of the Wild, etc.) and include general things like how they live, culture, local religion, and maybe some information on how they interact with others. They'll be isolationists, so don't worry about it interfering with other religions and races.

[Johnfalcon99977]

Well, tell me, when did you come up with this? After or before I told you that I was going to do some lore? Hmmm?