I've got a serious case of writers block, and I cannot think of a setting. This has been going on for a few months now, and I need to get out of this rut. To this end, I have a few ideas as to what I would like to do for a campaign setting, but I need your help. I would like this setting to truly differentiate itself from most other settings. I would like everyone else's help in determining what the antithesis of a standard fantasy setting, especially ones found at this site, is. Throw anything and everything that you can come up with out there. Thanks.
Just as a first one, monotheism seems to break away from most fantasy settings.
The problem is, the settings on this site tend to deviate from the norm as is. However, here are my thoughts:
Low magic. Much as I hate to say it (and I really, really do) Low magic goes against most fantasy settings out there. I personally think that's because low magic is boring. But still, it is a deviation.
No elves, dwarves, or any other mythological creature. The exception are creatures drawn from biblical mythology, and a setting based on Biblical mythology is one i've been toying with for awhile (new setting ho!!!) That would fit with the monotheism as well.
Human PCs only is probably a big departure from most.
I agree with Cymro, something along the lines of Robert Jordan's, where each human culture/kingdom is (in game terms) divided into sub-races, would be a fascinating route. This is the way that many people on the WotC boards tried to convince me of going back when I was first developing the seeds of Shadowfell.
On the other hand, using non-human races only would also be a deviation from the norm. Going all-human is probably more interesting though.
Not doing d20 / D&D would also be a deviation.
Actually, I'm currently doing that... Hehe, six subraces with different game statistics, but looking largely human. Choice with little fluff variation. It actually is an interesting excercise in game design, if you'd like to discuss it over aim.
As someone helping him with the different "humans", it is a fun exercise...though I'm more of a fan of 1001 races, each wierder than the last.
One thing to think about: although being different is admirable, there is a limit. Some things are in fantasy that have become cliche, but you have to ask yourself why they are cliche. Sure, everyone is sick of elves (even I, and i'm using them), but not ever cliche or even semi-commonly used thing is something that should be discarded for the sake of being different. (Even the wheel of time has the Ogier.)
QuoteI've got a serious case of writers block, and I cannot think of a setting. This has been going on for a few months now, and I need to get out of this rut. To this end, I have a few ideas as to what I would like to do for a campaign setting, but I need your help. I would like this setting to truly differentiate itself from most other settings. I would like everyone else's help in determining what the antithesis of a standard fantasy setting, especially ones found at this site, is. Throw anything and everything that you can come up with out there. Thanks.
Ironically, your best bet at the moment is probably to do a truly
standard campaign setting that uses a set of rulebooks exactly as they present their material. So few people do this anymore after they've played the game for a few months, and it's really disappearing.
QuoteJust as a first one, monotheism seems to break away from most fantasy settings.
Aye, but it's a little more difficult to pull off with alignments and outsiders and the like.
QuoteLow magic. Much as I hate to say it (and I really, really do) Low magic goes against most fantasy settings out there. I personally think that's because low magic is boring. But still, it is a deviation.
I have to disagree on this one. In the last few months I've seen little but low-magic and medium-magic settings, with one of the only high-magic ones that I can remember being my own temporarily halted setting Aath - The Dream (WotC).
QuoteNo elves, dwarves, or any other mythological creature. The exception are creatures drawn from biblical mythology, and a setting based on Biblical mythology is one i've been toying with for awhile (new setting ho!!!) That would fit with the monotheism as well.
Biblical would be great to see more of, though it's already been done and in my opinion done very well (Havilah, Land of the Covenant on WotC). It'd also be cool to see some settings done based on cultures from places like South America, Russia, Africa, and the South Pacific.
QuoteHuman PCs only is probably a big departure from most.
Vilydunn features this :)
QuoteOn the other hand, using non-human races only would also be a deviation from the norm. Going all-human is probably more interesting though.
Not doing d20 / D&D would also be a deviation.
I'd really like to see a world where the dwarf, gnome, or halfling is the primary PC race, or even one more radical where it's some other crazy race from any book.
Seeing someone pull a setting using White Wolf rules would be kickass.
Shadowfell's most recent incarnation (which you should see real updates on in the next few days) will have several human "sub-races." I think it's the way of the future.
Kingdoms of Kalamar made a big deal about human subraces. There were six or seven of them, if I recall, and nonhumans were pushed out to the fringe of the setting, so to speak.
QuoteI'd really like to see a world where the dwarf, gnome, or halfling is the primary PC race,
To an increasing extent, the Jade Stage fits this. Humans are the "hook" of the setting, but they're definitely about the least dominant of the races that are milling about.
QuoteTo an increasing extent, the Jade Stage fits this. Humans are the "hook" of the setting, but they're definitely about the least dominant of the races that are milling about.
Aye, I like how you're doing things a bit differently. I was just thinking that maybe there'd be a world where humans have the same feel to dwarves and halflings and the like as faeries and demons do to humans in the real world. You might in some ways be going for that Luminous, in which case I have overlooked or not caught it :halo:
Quote...in which case I have overlooked or not caught it
In a way. A lot of the grittier stuff is still in my head only, and isn't put on "paper" yet. But I think we'll see a lot of the seedier underside of things soon... including more than a few human slum neighborhoods in the heart of dwarven lands. Could be fun.