The Campaign Builder's Guild

Quote from: LlumJust throwing that out there. And here's a quote: "If knowledge is power, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, would absolute knowledge corrupt absolutely?" I think it's a question you should apply to this guild.

 Maybe that's the reason they are not all powerful, because rival factions are holding them back, fearing that they will gain control of all knoweledge and rule the world.

The "human google" idea could be brought much further by introducing telepathy (granted, that's crossing into the realm of magic). You could have telepaths acting as a portable "user interface" to the centralized library. Heck, you could basically replicate the functions of a modern telephone network via telepaths! If you ruled that there is a a maximum physical distance for telepathy to work over, there would have to be relay stations (with telepaths inside them) to link connections over longer distances - like the antennae masts of a mobile phone network.

Hmmm. Well, the "human google for hire" is totally getting worked in, but telepathy feels like it may be jumping the shark a bit.

here where some other ideas I had-
1. A city of unsurpassed warriors (ala sparta) that hire themselves out to other cities, kingdoms.
2. Some kind of pervasive, monotheistic religion.
3. Global merchant houses.
4. ugh writers block.

There is also a world map in the works. I feel like that could help a lot.

Ok, here is a refinement of the warrior-city. A city that mixes mercenaries for hire with genetic manipulation and breeding programs. This city would have the best military forces in the world, but would excel as conquerors, not rulers, hence them eventually hiring themselves out as the cities primary export.

[ic]The five Seljar mercenaries stood silently in the shadows of the prince's glass-columned arcade, their tanned, shaved scalps reflecting the candles fiery glow. They were dressed as most Seljar traditionally do, even when hired as "guests" in other cities: a short, thigh-length leather skirt, an airy white tunic - the left shield-arm sleeveless, the right long with red strips of silk woven in. Their great falajhar shields of molded bone and sap rose to their chins. No weapon rested in their free hand, but if the rumors were true, their tunics held innumerable glass-bladed knives, cudgels, and short-spears in addition to the barbed javelins hidden behind their falajhars.

They spoke only when spoken to, in a soft, effeminate voice that would be expected of eunuchs. It was hard for me to imagine how these Seljar were so feared, dressed as they were like boy-lovers, speaking in a child's tone.

That was until the doors crashed open. Dozens of men garbed in black and red stormed the arcade, their knives whistling in air besides blow-gun darts. The prince's lackeys and sycophants scampered in fear, their superfluous robes of silk and precious stones weighing them down against the first volley.

Yet as soon as the assassins feet touched the tiled floor, the Seljar acted. The five moved as one, a flurry of swirling shields, fluttering red ribbons, and the glint of glass blades. They cut through the intruders, like a flame cuts the night. They moved so smooth, so effortlessly, deflecting a hostile lunge, hamstringing a foe, throwing their javelins with pin-point accuracy - all within a breath.

And just like that it was over. Dozens of men lay dead or dying at the doors, a shiny pile of gore. And the five Seljar stood quietly, not even out of breath. They returned to their posts and stood, without a single drop of blood on their sun-white tunics.

-Account of the Seljar, Asal Yl Tlas[/ic]

You know, I'm just going to have to jump on this opportunity, but Leetz if you're interested in the Review Partnering would you consider swapping with me?

Nice. Your Seljar kind of remind me of the Unsullied from ASoIaF. I guess that's where you got some inspiration for them :)

Needs more info on the actual city though. How large is it, what kind of government is in place, is it wealthy or poor, etc.

Quote from: Leetz[ic]Their great falajhar shields of molded bone and sap rose to their chins. No weapon rested in their free hand, but if the rumors were true, their tunics held innumerable glass-bladed knives, cudgels, and short-spears in addition to the barbed javelins hidden behind their falajhars.[/ic]

Nice use of materials.  Do they use simple glass or do they decorate it with colors?

Silvercat, I'd like to, but I really can't guarantee that I'd be timely or consistent with any feedback. I will, on the other hand comment as much as I possibly can.

GM, definitely inspired by the Unsullied.

Ok, and since this one of this settings primarily themes/ideas is the lack of heavy metals, here is a list of materials that developed instead of things like steel, iron, etc.

Cured Leather/Hide Hands down the most common and inexpensive form of armor, leather or hide that has been cured and treated - sometimes even studded with pieces of bone or stone - is the default armor for most of the world. The city of ________ is famed for its particularly strong and light suits of leather armor, and are much sought after.

Chitsalah A mix of powdered bone, shells, and insect carapaces later mixed with a solution of tree sap, salt, and various alchemical compounds and pressed into various shapes - like shields, breastplates, grieves - chitsalah, while it may be called by different names and composed of slightly different ingredients, is a fairly common and widespread type of material. In its natural form, chitsalah is most commonly bone-yellow, but is frequently dyed and painted. The Seljar have developed a particularly strong chitsalah, and use it to make their famed falajhar shields.

Wood Wood that has been treated, shaped, cured, and lacquered is sometimes used as armor in the more verdant places of the world, where wood is not such a rarity. While not the most protective of armors, it is beautiful, it floats, and is extremely lightweight. Wood is also excessively used in weaponry - spears, blow-guns, bows, handles and hilt, and even on its own as sharpened javelins or stakes.

Tlau-weave Tlaulau is a type of mineral that grows in paper thin sheets, and when exposed to high heat, fuse together to form a strong a flexible material. Tlaulau on its own, despite its strength, can be brittle and shatter if struck in the right way, because of this, cut strip are woven into cloth tunics, creating a strong and flexible armor - called tlau-weave armor. ,  

Stone Various semi-precious gemstones are sometimes woven into tunics, creating beautiful scale armor that while usually very heavy, excels and turning and often shattering brittle glass or chipped-stone blades. Those of the Plumed Isles are famed for their shimmering armor of purple silk and jade, just as the mountain men of the Sarivya are renowned for their armor of obsidian, bone, and furs. Stone is also frequently used for axeheads, clubs, and maces, as well as being chipped and used for edged-weapons like spears, small knives, and projectile heads.

Glass Glass, both natural and man-made, is used for its sharp edges in many a blade, spear tip, and arrowhead. While razor-sharp, glass is obviously brittle, and weapons of this make frequently break. Behind wood and stone weapons, glass is the most commonly used material for edged-weapons.

Animal Parts Innumerable fangs, teeth, spines, and stingers are used as weapons. Quills are used as blow-gun darts, teeth as daggers, fangs are frequently soaked in poison and used as silent killers. The more barbaric use shoulder blades, femurs, and skulls as crude weapons. Animal hide in its raw form is used as well. Wild men wear crude skins, while their civilized brothers wear furs and pelts as shows of wealth, ceremony, and tradition.


Ok, that's all I have for now, but I'm open to ideas.

Quote from: LeetzSilvercat, I'd like to, but I really can't guarantee that I'd be timely or consistent with any feedback. I will, on the other hand comment as much as I possibly can.

That's good enough, really.

You've really outdone yourself with creating these materials.

thanks dude, and is there a thread for your setting yet, or is it still brainstorming?

I', trying to think of more things like chitsalah or tlau-weave, things that are specific to this setting. maybe some kind of armor that is made with reeds or wicker? Ancient Persian soldiers used wicker shields if I remember correctly. Maybe some kinda of Kevlar-esque cloth and sap material?

Quote from: LeetzWood Wood that has been treated, shaped, cured, and lacquered is sometimes used as armor in the more verdant places of the world, where wood is not such a rarity. While not the most protective of armors, it is beautiful, it floats, and is extremely lightweight. Wood is also excessively used in weaponry - spears, blow-guns, bows, handles and hilt, and even on its own as sharpened javelins or stakes.

Wooden armor lightweight? :huh: That's odd. Does the setting have fictional tree species that yield extremely light and durable wood? (Mind that such trees would be more difficult to cut down.) Strange too, that noone would use it for shields, when in real world most shields were wooden.

Perhaps you could come up with some processed, paper-like material to use for armors?

Quote from: Leetzis there a thread for your setting yet, or is it still brainstorming?

No, still working on it on the same thread.  It's getting close to setting territory, I just really don't want to write up an actual setting thread without a good idea of what I'm doing.

Quote from: LeetzI', trying to think of more things like chitsalah or tlau-weave, things that are specific to this setting. maybe some kind of armor that is made with reeds or wicker? Ancient Persian soldiers used wicker shields if I remember correctly. Maybe some kinda of Kevlar-esque cloth and sap material?

Materials produced by giant insects?  Giant beetle shells as shields, giant spider silk woven into cloth stronger than steel, giant termites trained to use their mixture of spit and dirt to form stone-hard armor.

Quote from: GhostmanWooden armor lightweight? :huh: That's odd. Does the setting have fictional tree species that yield extremely light and durable wood? (Mind that such trees would be more difficult to cut down.) Strange too, that noone would use it for shields, when in real world most shields were wooden.

I'd say wood would be light, once it's been dried and cured. It would at least be lighter than metal armor - pine, balsa, and cedar are all really lightweight, and that's just off the top of my  head. You may not want a full suit of the armor, but a breast plate and a pair of grieves or some pauldrons would be fine. and of course shields too, I just use armor as a catch-all term.

Quote from: SilvercatMoonpawGiant beetle shells as shields, giant spider silk woven into cloth stronger than steel, giant termites trained to use their mixture of spit and dirt to form stone-hard armor.

Well, as far as the giant bugs go, I feel like using generic giant versions wouldn't mesh well with the setting - some types of new animals on the other hand, may. The chitsalah I pondered up uses animal shells and carapaces, albeit in a different way, but I don't see why the less civilized cultures wouldn't use the cruder versions of raw, unprocessed shells in the whole.

Sea-barbarians who use crustacean carapaces or fish scales?

I'm sure I'm sending somewhat mixed signals with the vibe of the setting, but for most part, there are large swaths of extremely civilized lands who I feel would develop something better, more refined, and more advanced than using shell or carapace as is. Barbarians and tribes, on the other hand...