The Campaign Builder's Guild

Well I figured I'd provide a link to the devolping world of Sulos, so that I could foster some healthy responses from this fine community. The world is very new; I only started building her on the fifth, but she's rapidly coming along. I would greatly appreciate any and all feedback, suggestions, and comments, particularly any that could help breathe life into the various nations as they grow. While a simple thumbs up and thumbs down will be fine, I really hope for some insightful responses that will fuel my imagination. Any revisions to the setting will be made temporarily in red, so that those who choose to keep up on the setting can watch it unfold and see their suggestions implimented. A preemtive thanks to all who help.  :p

-Nasty-

P.S. I updated Sulos in a completely ne thread. Here's the new link.    
http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=602997

Alright I think Hazra'Ghalduur is fairly complete for now, so let's shift focus a bit shall we?
L'Landra, a capitolist nation ruled by a merchant syndicate, is my current focus. I would really like to add several things to her description. I think I'd like to add blurbs about her privateers, her diplomats, and perhaps a much more in-depth description of the Syndicate themselves. I also am wondering if anybody has any other suggestions that could help bring this economic super-power to life.

I have yet to really think much about the religions of the world either, but given that I do want clerics in my campaign I think I may have to soon. I'd prefer that the religion of my world not be focused on pantheonic deities, but upon ideals and philosophies. I see religion not as the tool of the gods, but as the faith of the people. I envision the faith of the world in decline relative to the rise of industrialization. So the more advanced nations are far less devoted to their faiths, than those in less civilized lands.

And as always if something catches your eye, a gaping hole, or a question that needs answering, feel free to mention it. I will do my best to answer any and all questions pertaining to Sulos. As always keep your eyes open for new stuff, which will be in red type, so you don't have to re-read everything you've already seen to find the recent additions.

-Peace-

So do you want the privateers to be legally sponsored by the L'Landra government?

Will deities be involved at all in your religions?

I read the new bits on L'Landra and it's still looking good. I'll try to keep up.

;) Túrin

QuoteSo do you want the privateers to be legally sponsored by the L'Landra government?

Legally? Well no they legally step beyond their bounds, but the syndicate doesn't mind so much because it cannot be traced back to them. Who's to say the Syndicate hired them? Who's to say missing ship and crew weren't just lost at sea?

QuoteWill deities be involved at all in your religions?

maybe. I know the Kashra is like hippy commune that worships a spiritual force, and even though you folks haven't seen it yet, in Kesh the people worship their immortal kings. I don't know what I'm going to do with Rhoenheim though...other than those three faiths, I don't plan on adding anything else.

The faith of Rhoenheim is the common faith of the whole world (and I know nothing about it yet LOL!). I suppose it makes sense for the pantheonic approach so that it can appeal to all people. I don't think I'm going to even allow the option of worshipping a specific deity above all others. When a cleric needs to lift a boulder he prays to the god of strength, when he has a long sea voyage he parys to the god of storms for safe passage, etc. I just don't like the idea of domains tied to alignments. I want gods to be primal forces, not people from different worlds.

QuoteI read the new bits on L'Landra and it's still looking good. I'll try to keep up.

Wow I just added those. Any suggestions about what I can add to L'Landra. I really want it to mirror Hazra'Ghalduur in size and scope, as it will be the focal point of the entire world when all is said and done. I was thinking of adding changelings, who I think could be of immense value to the syndicate, and yet be a completely unkown species of people living right among the common folk. However I would really prefer they were a crossbreed of humans and dopplegangers rather than true breeding race, so I can contol the population of them better.

I'll check back soon.

Expanding on the Syndicate might be interesting. Just a little bit more info could make them even more mysterious than they are now.

I'm also interested in the nobles. Are they merchants/traders or something like that as well, or are they more like "normal" nobility. If the latter, what role do they have to play in this new society?

I've never liked changelings or doppelgangers in society much, because I feel they present more trouble than they are worth in the (pseudo-)realism area. Just my opinion though. Perhaps in a very limited way, such as the Syndicate secretly being an association of the changelings of L'Landra.

Other stuff of interest I usually like to see with nations: specific organizations, locations, cities and NPCs. Also, does L'Landra have any military?

As for the Rhoenheim pantheon, will you be using PHB deities or creating your own?

;) Túrin

QuoteExpanding on the Syndicate might be interesting. Just a little bit more info could make them even more mysterious than they are now.

That's the thing I have to expand without revealing too much. I think I'm going to add a paragraph about the numerous rumors, and ideas people have been circulating about the Syndicate. I also want to really dig their claws into L'Landra, so that their removal from power would utterly destroy the nation. Hmmm...how does one go about that?

QuoteI'm also interested in the nobles. Are they merchants/traders or something like that as well, or are they more like "normal" nobility. If the latter, what role do they have to play in this new society?

Clearly this was not a very detailed break down of all the social classes, just a brief summary, but none the less, I can answer these questions. The nobles are very much like merchant sponsers. They foot the bill, and the guilds to make all the arangements for the boats, merchandise, crew, etc. Then when the profits roll in they split them "evenly" with the guilds. Obviously people skim off the top whenever they can. The nobles are like pampered wealthy elite who were born with money, and spend most of their time living like Paris Hilton.:D

QuoteI've never liked changelings or doppelgangers in society much, because I feel they present more trouble than they are worth in the (pseudo-)realism area. Just my opinion though. Perhaps in a very limited way, such as the Syndicate secretly being an association of the changelings of L'Landra.

Like the Mahk'Talaa of Hazra Ghalduur? See my problem is I don't want them in huge numbers, nor do I want people to know about them, but dopplegangers are really too powerful to build an international intelligence agancy around (too many uber powerful NPCs if you ask me)They weren't a perfect fit, but you get the idea what I was looking for, the syndicate is very shady. I'll try to think of something better.

QuoteOther stuff of interest I usually like to see with nations: specific organizations, locations, cities and NPCs. Also, does L'Landra have any military?

Specific organizations are right up my ally, so expect more of those. locations and cities, I'm sort of avoiding only because the image hosting sight I used for my map can't support any more detail. I will eventually get into that stuff and share it here, but it won't really work too well with the WotC boards. L'Landra does not have any known military, but she may have something hidden up her sleeve. Usually however L'Landra can just convince somebody else to fight for them, or divert battle away with threats of economic sanctions and embargos. They don't need a military.

QuoteAs for the Rhoenheim pantheon, will you be using PHB deities or creating your own?

No way I'm using the Greyhawk pantheon! I used them when I was ten years old...they are waay to played out for me. I'll come up with my own (no alignments, and no domains, just aspects, and influences).

Very good work so far, nice rich detailing.

QuoteLegally? Well no they legally step beyond their bounds, but the syndicate doesn't mind so much because it cannot be traced back to them. Who's to say the Syndicate hired them? Who's to say missing ship and crew weren't just lost at sea?

Just to pick this niy, though, to be a privateer, one mustbe legally sponsored by a government(see the U.S. Constitution), otherwise you are just a pirate.

QuoteJust to pick this niy, though, to be a privateer, one mustbe legally sponsored by a government(see the U.S. Constitution), otherwise you are just a pirate.

The privateers are supposed to patrol the seas and regulate trade. They are responsible for stopping smugglers and pirates. They indeed paid to do so.

That said, most of the privateers go a few steps beyond their authority. They cannot burn ships, or execute criminals legally, but they do...

P.S. I didn't think you were nit picking. I thought that was a very valid question.

House Jundora seems like they are a little crazy. I can see why as their job is almost worthless and they might as well be gone. Anyway, u condradict yourself saying... "No crime is more heinous in L'Landra than trade violations,". However, you also say that... "The punishments are lenient enough that they not only fail to stop the smugglers, but they actually encourage them."
So, which is it?

QuoteHouse Jundora seems like they are a little crazy. I can see why as their job is almost worthless and they might as well be gone. Anyway, u condradict yourself saying... "No crime is more heinous in L'Landra than trade violations,". However, you also say that... "The punishments are lenient enough that they not only fail to stop the smugglers, but they actually encourage them."
So, which is it?

The idea behind them is that they are heavily invested in the shipping industry, so smuggling and piracy really hit them them in the wallet more than any other house. They've taken it upon themselves to enforce the laws as they see fit, because the current laws don't protect their interests well enough. The laws as they are written are fine for almost everyone else. Smuggelers lose their cargo, pay some hefty fines, and theoretically learn their lesson. They're suposedly better off just paying the taxes, submitting to inspections, and conducting legit buisiness transactions.

I also don't see that as a contradiction. I see it as a loophole in the legal system.

The truth of the matter is if they only get caught one out of ten times, they still turn a profit, so they keep doing it. The smugglers aren't really hurting the other houses too much, because they just a little nuisance. However House Jundora makes their money in shipping, so some extremists among them have deciding to take matters into their own hands. It's the old if you can beat em'...join em' thing.

Does that make more sense to you now? Should I add more detail?

P.S. They are not useless. If L'landra had no control over the shiping industry they couldn't tax the cargo, and regulate the trade, which keeps the global economy within their ability to manipulate. If other nations could control their own trade, they could cut L'Landra out as the middle-man, and where would they be then?

P.S.S. I hope my minor tweaks reflect what I had originally tried, and apparently failed to portray in my first go at it. Let me know what you think now. Maybe I'm the crazy one, not House Jundora

You guys are pretty quick. I had comments on House Jundora like ten minutes after I posted it. I didn't have a chance to post anything here stating that I added any updates. That rocks!

That said, check out House Vylunn in the very last part of the Syndicate entry. I wanna know how it comes across, because if it's anywhere near as misleading as Jundora was, I'm gonna have my work cut out for me. They should come across as a guild in a very risky position with potential for both huge gain and huge loss.

Are there any requests about what you folks would like to see next. More about L'Landra, something yet unexplored, revisions to anything already written?

I have some really cool ideas about Kesh and the Blazing Sands of Ilsen, but they are particularly foreign concepts in relation to what I already have. I think that I should wait on them until I get the more European flavored nations out of the way.

Do you have any suggestions about Rhoenheim? This nation has me sort of stumped. I know that they are going to be the center of the most widely accepted religion, and that they have a particularly strong military, but beyond that...

What about Kashra? This nation seems so one dimensional too me so far. I know they aren't that important to the world as a whole, but Kashra just feels like it's missing something.

Sylescnia is also pretty shallow thus far, but I do have some interesting ideas about how to liven her up.

Does anyone even care about the elves and dwarves? I haven't even really thought about them (Tair'Shola & Thoth) yet, and nobody seems to be clammering for it.

Point me in a direction, give me a suggestion, and I'll attempt to deliver.  !alien

One thing to remember about a rich country like L'Landra:  it always has enemies.  greedy ones, that seek a piece of the action.
If you are following the Dutch model, trading does not stop with a nation just because they are attacking you.  The French found more than once, to their embarrasment, that their best supply lines came from the nation they were attacking.  

And trade is but one leg of the power triangle.  Industry and finance are the other two.  L'Landra goods need to be the desire of all right thinking people.  And they should be in the business of loaning money.  Lots of it.  All of that trade profit needs to be reinvested in friend and foe alike.  Such investment keeps everyone in check.

If religious intolerance is to be a factor in your campaign world, L'Landra should be the sanctuary from such madness.  

QuoteOne thing to remember about a rich country like L'Landra: it always has enemies. greedy ones, that seek a piece of the action.
If you are following the Dutch model, trading does not stop with a nation just because they are attacking you. The French found more than once, to their embarrasment, that their best supply lines came from the nation they were attacking.

Ideally I'm setting up Kesh as both L'Landra's most profitable business partner and her greatest potential enemy (economically). Also Hazra'Ghalduur is certainly a threat. Their whole nation is facing a cultural identity crisis, and their status as the world power is clearly threatened by L'Landra. So yep enemies are there, just not open threats.

QuoteAnd trade is but one leg of the power triangle. Industry and finance are the other two. L'Landra goods need to be the desire of all right thinking people. And they should be in the business of loaning money. Lots of it. All of that trade profit needs to be reinvested in friend and foe alike. Such investment keeps everyone in check.

Did you check out House Tsalir? Banking, coin minting, currency exchange...I got that covered  :D

QuoteIf religious intolerance is to be a factor in your campaign world, L'Landra should be the sanctuary from such madness.

I haven't really explored relion yet, but I'll keep this option in mind.

Any specific comments on the material thus I've written thus far?

maybe L'landra could be a patron of house Tsalir?  sorry if that doesn't make sense, i've only read the CBG thread.