The Campaign Builder's Guild

I've actually never run a game in my settings. I started Xiluh because world building seemed like a new medium for me to get a certain idea out of my head, and that gave me the perspective to look at a setting by itself. Fiendspawn was simply a case of me noticing a setting, and thinking something along the lines of "hey, this is really cool, but maybe it would be a bit cooler with this twist..". My cyberpunk stuff was just an overriding desire for the site to have some cyberpunk on here, but as far as I know, nobody had any up at the time.

That's pretty much the extent of my world building. All my games, save for my Vampire games, were either adventure modules, or they were in some sort of generic world.

Not running anything right now, but as I've been rambling about Greater Alvanenia is almost finished enough to begin playing... although until my homebrew system is also finished, it'll probably be played with 3.5 or 4e.

Quote from: Salacious AngelOur group is uses a sort of meta-setting dealing with all of the ideas that eventually end up in my other settings (principally Dystopia).  It's kind of a conceptual testing ground for the wacky crap I post on this site.

This sounds fun and somewhat unsatisfying at the same time.  But maybe I am just reflecting it off my own mirror.

Quote from: RaelifinThe CBG should have a map widget or something where we can put in our locations. I've seen map-and-pin stuff on other pages, but I forget where.

That would be awesome![/quote]I found mapping software.[/url]

If there was a thread to hijack, this might be it.

None of my 3 settings are anything even close to campaign ready,

I'm currently running a game in my setting of Wake.  The game started with the release of 4e and we're now 4 sessions in (meeting on Tuesday nights).

KERIGAL

QuoteKerigal is an island of roughly 6,000 square miles dominated by three mountains and an old-growth deciduous forest that blankets the interior.  There are three multi-racial settlements on the coast of the island; Adelsfield in the east, Pinebrook in the southwest and Middleton in the southeast.  There are dozens of outlying farmsteads, as well as a handful of small mining and logging operations outside of the village centers.  The populations of each are similar with somewhere between 1,800 and 2,000 residents.  Each is governed by an informally elected alder council.

The western and northern coasts are wild and, more importantly, so is the interior.  Despite a well-documented 500-year history no brave soul has successfully ventured into the forest to explore its depths.  The forest has a gloom about it that discourages dallying under its canopy and no birdsong or squirrel chatter issues from within.  In fact, even the bravest folks seem squeamish when tales of goblins, ghosts or similar fancies are passed around the hearth.

Gull eggs, fish and all fruits or vegetables that will grow are the usual fare.  The quarterstaff, club, sling and long knife (i.e. a light sword) are the only weapons known in practice and armor beyond a padded jerkin.  Clubs are used to keep the peace when drink makes folks a little rowdy.  Some small game can be hunted away from the forest, usually with a sling.  The quarterstaff and long knife serve as tournament weapons only, used to test the skill of would-be combatants during festivals.  There is no coin on the island, all trade is accomplished through barter.

Kerigal's inhabitants either pay their respects to God, Kaa by his proper name, or keep their own counsel.  Services are held in local chapels once every tenday.  Kaa is a stern god whose clergy encourages chastity and temperance in order to avoid a hellish afterlife, many a sermon promises fire and brimstone for those who drift too far from Kaa's teachings.  Most who possess magic are faithful to Kaa, though a few families are known to pass knowledge from generation to generation.  Regardless of its practice, most agree that magic is a gift from Kaa not to be used lightly.  Its practitioners are neither reviled nor worshiped but considered wielders of an extra tool in getting the job at hand done. No serious time has been given to its development or research.

Those who attempt to sail from the island turn back before Kerigal leaves the horizon or never return.  Similarly, those who venture more than a few miles into the forest disappear without a trace.

The players entered the forest this last session and everyone is very much enjoying the campaign so far.  Only one of the players is aware that the game is set in Wake. ;)

Neat, Eladris, you should update the wiki with your new information :)

I'm working on getting together a live campaign in the Triad area of NC - I have 2 dedicated players, am working on finding a couple more, but I'm always wary of going into live games with people I don't know - never know if they're turn out to be a wacko or something that I would rather not know where I live, you know? ;)

Quote from: IshmaylNeat, Eladris, you should update the wiki with your new information :)

I'm working on getting together a live campaign in the Triad area of NC - I have 2 dedicated players, am working on finding a couple more, but I'm always wary of going into live games with people I don't know - never know if they're turn out to be a wacko or something that I would rather not know where I live, you know? ;)

My group learned that leasson all too well. One of my players invited his friend to play with us... This friend was a wacko High Schooler who, we feel, hated role playing and only enjoyed killing monsters and taking their stuff. not to say that is an invalid way to play but, it just isn´t the way my group tends to play (or rather, the way I DM, lol). Anyways the 'friend' got angry when we booted him and apparently spamed my player's myspace with hate mail for a week!

At any rate, now we only try new people out at hobby shops or university and the´'re never any younger than 1st year College students (i.e. 18). I suppose this doesn't really have an consequence to your fear, directly speaking, but just sayin, always test people out in a public space, lol.

Eladris, how are the players doing?  I like the macro scope...have the pC's hit the forest yet?

Quote from: LordVreegEladris, how are the players doing?  I like the macro scope...have the pC's hit the forest yet?

They have!  The plot revolves around the entity that lives in the center of the island and was introduced by a shipwreck that deposited a lone survivor on the island.  The survivor, a member of the League of Explorers, lost her crew to The Mists and now recovers from serious injuries sustained during the wreck.  Shortly after her arrival on the island the village of Adelsfield was attacked by undead, the villagers blamed the stranger.  A torch-wielding mob was diffused by the players, who played a pivotal role in repelling the undead attack.

With her knowledge of the Spheres and -- without revealing too much -- the explorer has led the players to believe that some being living in the forest is responsible for the attack.  She's not certain what its motives are in attacking her, but she suspects that the creature is somehow feeding on the ignorance of the outside world and wants to dispose of the threat to its power source.

The players have been putting it together pretty well.  In actuality the island is a Reflection, its heart a necropolis and home of a shard of Macaba's personality.  I intend for the players to explore the interior a bit before they are tricked into leaving the Sphere via a one-way portal! Hopefully they'll piece together that the spirit is malign and responsible for keeping the villages ignorant of the outside world along the way.

As for 4e, I think the system is an improvement from previous systems.  We (my group) is a bit disappointed that they removed any form of real RP for the rules and its pure combat, but we just made most of that stuff up as we went along anyway.

Also, Ish, I intend to.  Work has been kicking my butt recently, though, so all of my free time has been preping for my Tuesday session!  (And well, summer means lots of camping and hiking for me!)

I'm just about to wrap up my 3.5 campaign that's been going on for some time now. Basic plot premise has been that a lich kidnapped a prince, possessed him, killed the king and took over the kingdom. Now he's using the nations army as well as a neighboring nation's army as giant blood sacrifices to release a potent demon. Players have enjoyed the game, but everybody's ready for a change.

Big highlight, last session I made a 4e solo encounter and converted in to 3.5 and put the PCs against it. It went really well.


Once we're done this game, a couple of my players are talking about running some Starwars, or running through the 4e modules that come out. I'm planning on putting together a bunch of short adventures (4 sessions or so) in a bunch of different game systems, to try to get a feel for running games besides DnD. Speaking of which, if anybody has a system that they want playtested, feel free to fire me a PM.

I'm also working on a homebrew, which is still in the initial design phase..

Quote from: LordVreeg[blockquote=THE cAP'N]One of the players in particular is really helping me. He's playing a Cleric and is helping to shape the world through his association within his church. [/blockquote]

Oh, that is priceless.  PLayers who get expand the world through their characters are worth their weight in gold.

Is this cleric still helping with his world shaping?

[blockquote=Eladris]With her knowledge of the Spheres and -- without revealing too much -- the explorer has led the players to believe that some being living in the forest is responsible for the attack. She's not certain what its motives are in attacking her, but she suspects that the creature is somehow feeding on the ignorance of the outside world and wants to dispose of the threat to its power source.

The players have been putting it together pretty well. In actuality the island is a Reflection, its heart a necropolis and home of a shard of Macaba's personality. I intend for the players to explore the interior a bit before they are tricked into leaving the Sphere via a one-way portal! Hopefully they'll piece together that the spirit is malign and responsible for keeping the villages ignorant of the outside world along the way.[/blockquote] how is this going?  How has this progressed.
Did they end up in the one-way portal?


Personally,
My Igbarians have been recovering in town after finding some constructs in a sub-tomb in the Northern Boneyard.  They have figured out that there is a current master of the tomb, someone in town who is actually using it as a base.  And probably an artificer, since they finally figured the glowing red pentegram they found a while a go was not for summoning, but an enhanced comforts of home spell (COH, Beacon).  These spells are cast by artificers in their sanctums, allowing them better spell ability in their own home turf
 Back in Igbar, whilst preparing for a well publicized bardic performance, Kiko (My Wife's assassin of the Karin Machination) found out that there were shadowy figures trying to put out contracts on the New Legion.  Then she went out by herself in the dockside on a trip to the Church of Lucky Ishma.  She never made it.  Ambushed.  So we ended with the rest of the New Legion attempting a scrying on her dagger that was identified by Padaluscious of the Green Flame.  Will she be found?  she was -2 HP, is she dead????  

Meanwhile, My online sessins are slowly going on and have started to be updated and posted online, though ugly right now.
  http://celtricia.pbwiki.com/Ocodig%20game%20page

So...how is everyone's game?  What is happenning right now with you and your players?  

I just started the fifth campaign set in Calisenthe.  The first was run 1995-1996.  The world was substantially different then, but recognizable.  It wasn't grounded in the world's history to any particular time, as the scope of history was still under development.

The second 1996-1997.  THat was the first one that had a sense of taking place in the world I now enjoy, and it was set way in the past -- during the Sethreki (then called just the Itarii) expansion into Cellefar.

The third was 1998-2002.  This was a really great one that was set at the time certain prophecies were being fulfilled.  It was very large-scoped and had an "epic" feel to it.

I had a brief campaign from 2004-2005. That was a pure Valdetha v. Valadim campaign that wasn't as successful as I had hoped.  

My old high school gaming group just started the new one this week with three players, six characters.  It's set about 20 years before the big 1998 campaign, and deals just with the Duchy of Aklar.  At least at first.

My players have been my primary source of inspiration.  The Feynar took their entire character as a race from the portrayal one of my college buddies pulled off with his assassin character.  My friend who played the main protagonist in the 1998 campaign has seriously shaped the structure of the Church of Elleleth and more or less defined how the Legion works.  Another friend who played a wizard in that campaign (an elementalist, actually) really helped me nail down my views of the Valdetha and their relation to magic.

I would, however, love to run a Halgladir-focused campaign.  Maybe later or concurrent with this one... I don't know.  Life's very busy after college, and it only gets busier.  Free time is at a premium these days.

Quote from: LordVreegSo...how is everyone's game?  What is happenning right now with you and your players?  

Actually, that game sort of flopped because I moved and schedules changed.  I'm having a character creation jam session with a few folks tomorrow night; it'll be a Wake game.  I was planning on running a game in Ashraead, centered around the mining operations in the eastern part of the Sphere, but I'm not sure what they'll want to play and I'd rather leave the motivations (epic adventurers, thief's guild, mercenaries, etc) of the group up to the players.

Which reminds me, if you're in the NYC area and are bored on Wednesday nights from 7->11 we could use another player.  *snicker*