D&D Setting (The Meatloaf Setting)

[O Senhor Leetz]

They could possibly sell themselves out to petty kings and lords, but I think their strengths lies in the "special operations" realm of slaying monsters. They could also put themselves above the conflicts of men, or maybe many guilds have already become to involved, and through one manner or another, become obsolete, leaving only a few left.

I think the guilds would be strong enough to be able to venture into an ancient temple and slay a rogue dragon, but I don't see them being able to withstand a siege of 5,000 men-at-arms because they supported the wrong king or prince.

[Xathan]

Here's a thought pertaining to the uniqueness of adventurers as well as some of the other "inconsistencies" involved with the D&D setting.

-All the players are members of so-called "adventuring guilds" (they obviously wouldn't be called that, but that's what they do) where they have trained since childhood, either given to the guilds by their poor parents, found as orphans, or taken as payment for "quests". Different guilds could be famed for producing different Classes of adventurers, or combinations of them. That being said, there would not be many of these guilds at all, with each one consiting of only a few "parties" at any one time, so a dozen-odd members in each. The guilds would have a fairly dubious and dark reputation, as their prices are high and are usually only called upon the most dire circumstances (as mentioned, a small village being plagued by gnolls would not be able to afford the price in gold and silver, so they would pay with a child to be trained instead.)

I'm thinking that they would have been founded after the Elven Wars ended, some 1,400 years ago, which during that time, the "monsters" of the world thrived will the Great Kin warred with each other. For the most part, they did their job well, and most monsters keep to the fringes of the world, hidden in the deep corners of forests and mountains and ruins. There are less now then there were, and those that remain are mistrusted and maligned, until, of course, they are needed.
[SNIP]
Cons of this idea: It obviously takes away from the pure D&D feeling and makes for an awkward situation with good-aligned adventurers.

First of all, if you haven't read the Gentleman Bastard series, I'd give the two books a look over for something similar (although it's about con-men, not adventurers) that might spark inspiration.

Second of all, I love this idea - gives it a darker edge, as you said, and really, all your pros add up to a nice element and realistic adventurers. I might (will likely) steal this for Boundless.

As for good aligned characters, being part of a marginalized fringe group that is grudgingly needed at times in no way detracts from your ability to be a good person or righteous or all that. For example: a guild that trains adventurers but instead of a completely mercenary attitude, operates based on funds received from dealing with various threats, perhaps at some point in their history taking down a dangerous dragon with a massive horde that was well invested. Basically, a guild that operates under a slightly more mercenary attitude than the X-Men, but the basic principal applies. For good ones, I'd cut out the "child as payment" option, unless they restrict themselves to orphans.

[O Senhor Leetz]

I dunno, I'm really digging the dark, realistic vibe this has. I've always been on the fence about alignment, so I may just ax it in totality. I like that visceral, dangerous, violent Medieval feel where everyone is out for themselves.

[Xathan]

I dunno, I'm really digging the dark, realistic vibe this has. I've always been on the fence about alignment, so I may just ax it in totality. I like that visceral, dangerous, violent Medieval feel where everyone is out for themselves.

90% of homebrews back here in the day where d20 was the norm here axed alignment, and I'm probably doing the same in Boundless. Or you could operate under an alternate alignment system: Instead of Good-Evil and Law-Chaos, maybe Altruism-Ruthless and Obedient-Rebellious.

[O Senhor Leetz]

Hmmmm, now that you mention that, I think that the Reputation variant would work amazing. Or the Honor mechanic.

EDIT: Except, what to do with the Cleric class if the PCs come from these adventuring guilds? Remake Cleric into a Healer? I'm getting farther away from pure D&D, but I'm strangely OK with it.

[LordVreeg]

I dunno, I'm really digging the dark, realistic vibe this has. I've always been on the fence about alignment, so I may just ax it in totality. I like that visceral, dangerous, violent Medieval feel where everyone is out for themselves.

ALIGNMENT...
is a setting specific thing.  Makes some games better, some games worse.  Mine it made worse.

[Xathan]

Either of those variants would be great ways to handle it, and always feel much better than alignment. I'd go with Reputation, personally, since honor has a very Eastern feel (to me).

[O Senhor Leetz]

Reputation would work better. I also like the idea of the players having a homebase, where they can lay low between adventures, perhaps receive training from the few veterans that survived to old age, and to make items (not buy new things, that's a bit too computer-gamey). Plus, the guild has great potential for conflict and campaign story.

I'm also leaning towards a vaguely Germanic (Holy Roman Empire, to be more exact) setting, relateable to the 14th century, but with no gun-powder.

[Xathan]

Reputation would work better. I also like the idea of the players having a homebase, where they can lay low between adventures, perhaps receive training from the few veterans that survived to old age, and to make items (not buy new things, that's a bit too computer-gamey). Plus, the guild has great potential for conflict and campaign story.

Also, the guildhouse helps explain why they run around in dungeons and end up better at bluffing - they train there between adventures and all that - and allows for them to gain equipment from fighting wolves or outsiders or vermin or any creatures that wouldn't have treasure on them. All around, this is a great idea, and hope you don't mind me modifying it and stealing it for boundless.

[O Senhor Leetz]

No not at all, I think the settings are drastically different enough it won't even seem the same.

But I'm not sure about them gaining new, especially better, equipment. If there is a suit of +5 platemail at the citadel, there is no real reason why it wouldn't be given to an adventurer later rather than sooner (as they would want to keep their adventurers as well armed as possible, as they are expensive and rare.)

But as far as making potions, scrolls, or upgrading armor on their own, that would be awesome to have alchemy labs and forges.

[Xathan]

But I'm not sure about them gaining new, especially better, equipment. If there is a suit of +5 platemail at the citadel, there is no real reason why it wouldn't be given to an adventurer later rather than sooner (as they would want to keep their adventurers as well armed as possible, as they are expensive and rare.)

Thanks for the permission!

And one thing around that little problem - the suit of +5 platemail wasn't lying around the citadel, it was recently acquired by another group of adventurers on a different job who didn't have a need for it - either they already have better gear or none of them use plate. So, instead of selling it, it's given back to the guild and reassigned to someone else - in this case, the party. Which also allows for some interesting NPC interactions - "Hey, heard you were on the Litch of Hallith job. If you get his staff for me, I'll make sure it's worth your time."

[O Senhor Leetz]

I'm not sure, I think that coming to and from the citadel with leveled gear waiting for you is very video-gamey. I think it takes away from the realness and visceral nature of the world.

Also, the players maybe the only adventurers left within their guild, as they are not as needed now since they have done such a good job of killing their jobs. I like the visual of a massive, unkept, crumbling citadel, a dark reminder of darker days, full of empty halls and baracks, with the players only inhabiting the inner-most keep.

EDIT: Another cool approach would be to have the world at the cusp of it's own emergence from a long and dreary dark age (akin to the 14th century) when people are beginning to forget about the monsters and creatures of earlier centuries, seemingly diminishing the need for adventurers despite the fact that monsters still do exist: undead plague certain graveyards, trolls and gnolls lurk in the darker forests, dragons bide their time in remote caverns, and kobolds and goblins plague the sewers and underlevels of the greater cities. I think it would be cool to go with a dark fairy tale vibe.

[Superfluous Crow]

The guilds aren't a bad idea. Admittedly I am having more trouble getting into the mindset of this setting than Arga, but it seems reasonable and definitely a plausible explanation for where adventurers come from! I especially love the whole monastery-like deal of fostering small children. Do they accept girls? Would noble families consider sending their children there to cull the number of heirs? Do they have special rights and/or lack of the same?
Didn't somebody here on the boards mess around with a "Slayer" setting? Reminds me of that.
What it really reminds me of, though, is the the eponymous character of the Witcher who was also bred and raised with the help of preternatural means to hunt and kill monsters.

[O Senhor Leetz]

The guilds aren't a bad idea. Admittedly I am having more trouble getting into the mindset of this setting than Arga, but it seems reasonable and definitely a plausible explanation for where adventurers come from! I especially love the whole monastery-like deal of fostering small children. Do they accept girls? Would noble families consider sending their children there to cull the number of heirs? Do they have special rights and/or lack of the same?
Didn't somebody here on the boards mess around with a "Slayer" setting? Reminds me of that.
What it really reminds me of, though, is the the eponymous character of the Witcher who was also bred and raised with the help of preternatural means to hunt and kill monsters.

Thanks, I thought it was a reasonable way to have bad-ass adventurers make sense in the world. Girls would be accepted, as woman could have much easier access to certain places and things than a man could. But I don't think that nobles would give children away, as the Guilds are mostly maligned and looked down upon, so I think it would be taboo to willingly give your child to the Guilds - poor folk, on the other hand, often don't have much say in the matter.
claym
As for the Witcher, I'll admit it was an influence, but I've never played it, so I'm only aware of the main idea behind it.

EDIT: I think that a dark, Brothers Grimm faerie tale-style setting in a cruel, harsh world would be cool. Put the modernity level to around the 14th or 15th century and give the monsters a slightly scientific twist/history - I keep thinking about how they handled tooth faeries in Hellboy 2 - and have the players be these elite but maligned "monster hunters", but obviously develop the story line beyond just hash-n-slash adventuring.

Plus, it would be fun using all those strange and semi-forgotten weapons of the late Medieval age like side-swords, cinquedas, baselards, flamberges, backswords, arming swords, pikes, swordstaffs, arbalests, bills, horseman's picks, voulgiers, and warhammers (that aren't giant and Dwarven)

[Xathan]

Plus, it would be fun using all those strange and semi-forgotten weapons of the late Medieval age like side-swords, cinquedas, baselards, flamberges, backswords, arming swords, pikes, swordstaffs, arbalests, bills, horseman's picks, voulgiers, and warhammers (that aren't giant and Dwarven)

My overall opinion of the idea is "Awesome," and I don't have much to add beyond that right now. :P

I just want to say if you want help on the stats for some of these weapons (which could be really interested) I'd be happy to help, and I'd love to see them implemented more widespread than in normal fantasy/history.