Vorsatz - Comments and Criticism welcomed

[Captain Obvious]

"This whole damn country is spiralling out of control. We've lost sight of our roots. No no, don't get me wrong, I would never try to incite a repeat of the mistake of the past. Those times are behind us and well they are. It's just that, even magic, if it did exist, and I'm not saying i believe the stories, even magic would be better than what they've been doing recently." - anonymous patron outside the Rusty Cog tavern.

"I assure you, the new models are working just as planned. We have the means to do things never before possible and - what's that? Well, not counting magic to be sure. I mean actually possible. Where was I? Oh yes, the new Luftschiffs. Once again, the savants have shown that technology, is truly something we can count on. You there. No sir, I have nothing to say to you about the Jaegers. We are done here, sir. Good day to you." - Erdwin von Erchatz, Speaker for the Brotherhood of Savants, in a statement to the Horenzeitung (newspaper) of St. Amikson.

"Jaegers! Dont talk to me about the damn Jaeger. They're what's wrong with this town, not us. I say we should string the lot of them up." - Mart Viertenhalle, a farmer, outside of Behrschlein.

"They try to blame us for their faults. Say we started the misery. Well ask yourself this. Who exactly created who?" - anonymous Jaegerkin laubourer, The barrows, St. Ansclecht.


Vorsatz is a land in flux. The Savants seek to drive progress forwards faster and faster. They extoll the virtues of their newest inventions, while all the time seeking to forget the mistakes of the past - many of which stare them in the face daily. Ordinary men and women exists alongside the Jaegerkin - products of now banned genetic manipulation studies. Zepplins and rudimentary engines are beginning to crisscross the land, while in rural areas, the wonders of science live in the long shadow of magic, remembered from stories of a past time when the spirits coexisted with men. Magic which is now outlawed by decree of the Church of Our Lord, and the ban is enforced by the secretive, yet ever-present order of the Inquisitors. Now, amid the bustle of everyday life, new forces, old and new, are coming into play. Sooner or later, it'll all come to a head.

 [spoiler=Type of Setting]This will be expanded on later, bt for now remains just some point-form thoughts.
  [spoiler=Elements of the World]
- Mid to High tech (there are now steam-powered engines, airships, gunpowder and many other advances including primitive genetic modification and gene-splicing)
- Predominantly low magic (mages are few and far between, and magic is illegal when found. There is magic hidden around though. Creatures from the fey/spirit realm. Some other aspects will be around. little to no magical healing and items. many new non-magical options)
- Low non-humans (main race by far is humans. in fact almost everyone is. Jaegerkin and Jaegermensch are the results of past genetic modification experiments.)
- Mid-to high mystery (plots, resurgence of magic, return of a race of god-like aliens from long ago, etc)
- More to come
[/spoiler]

 [spoiler=Heavily Modified D20 system]
Not yet sure how this will be implented, but i have many ideas to remove many elements of the standard game. Magic item, spells and healing will all not exist or perhaps have some non magical equivalent.
Level system to be likely replaced with a free-form skill level based system for advancement, but this will obviously take a lot of time since this is a massive undertaking. Classes will be abolished (there will be paths to help guide you, or you can make all your own choices). HD saves and skill points will be gained together, and skill points are then spent on everything from skills, to BAB (only with certain chosen weapons though), to certain class features, to spellcasting abbility. Feat like things will be gained in a variety of ways. Combat tricks will require combinations of certain values of skills levels and weapon levels to be able to use. The same with many other features and feats.
There is a likely chance that this will spiral out of control and be an entirely system, but if so, then so be it.)
[/spoiler]

 [spoiler=Influences]
A lot of stuff, but some main ones are
- Girl Genius
- A Song of Ice and Fire
- Many of Gaiman's works (American Gods, Neverwhere, Sandman, and others)

Much of the setting will be European based (much of germany and ireland feel). Other places in the world may be worked out later.
[/spoiler]  
[/spoiler]

[Captain Obvious]

"Oh, aye. There be lots more people around here than us humans, although there are those what say they shouldn't be called people. Well, some of 'em i agree 'bout. The faeris Lord only knows what they be, and there's rumors of other, stuff, but I din't know if'n I believe then. The Jaegers, though. That's just foolish. They're just as human as you or me. Well, maybe not as much, but they are still at least sorta human." - Fader Morden, retired school teacher

The People of Vorsatz

[spoiler=HUMANS]
On the mainland of Vorsatz and most of the surrounding lands, humans are the dominant species. Through their cleverness, they have climbed to the top of the food chain and are capable of taking on all of the natural predators with their knowledge of strategy and technology. There are actually a few different nationalies of humans in Vorsatz. ....[/spoiler]

[spoiler=JAEGERS]
[/spoiler]

[spoiler=FAERIS]
[/spoiler]

[Captain Obvious]

Reserved.

[Captain Obvious]

Still Reserved

[Captain Obvious]

and again

[Captain Obvious]

yet again

[Captain Obvious]

almost done

[Captain Obvious]

nearly

[Captain Obvious]

And we're done. feel free to comment.

[SA]

A world inspired by Girl Genius?  You sir, have my undivided attention.

[Epic Meepo]

My strange first impression relates entirely to the word "Jaeger:"

For readers of legal drinking age, "Jaeger" is going to look a lot like "Jager," as in shorthand for "Jagermeister." So when someone declares that Jaegers are what's wrong with the town, it sounds at first (at least to my strange mind) as though the town's problem is alcoholism.

[Matt Larkin (author)]

This sounds really interesting.

Actually, Jaeger reminds me of the German jäger (hunter).  That idea really appeals to me, as does the faded magic theme.

I look forward to seeing more.

You should look at the Shadowrun system.

[Captain Obvious]

My strange first impression relates entirely to the word "Jaeger:"

For readers of legal drinking age, "Jaeger" is going to look a lot like "Jager," as in shorthand for "Jagermeister." So when someone declares that Jaegers are what's wrong with the town, it sounds at first (at least to my strange mind) as though the town's problem is alcoholism.

This sounds really interesting.

Actually, Jaeger reminds me of the German jäger (hunter). That idea really appeals to me, as does the faded magic theme.

I look forward to seeing more.

You should look at the Shadowrun system.
[/quote]

I know very little of the Shadowrun system and have limited funds. Is there anything you could tell me to help convince me, or are there any on-line databases for it?

[Matt Larkin (author)]

I do not know of any on-line databases, but that does not mean there are not any.

As for Shadowrun, the game has gone through four editions, each one advancing time a little.  I kind of liked the 3e rules a little better than the 4e rules, but the 4e should still work pretty well for you (at least be easier to adapt than the D&D rules).

The most recent version of the game takes place in 2070, so you'd have to tone down technology.  However, cybernetic implants could easily have similar mechanical effects to your genetic enhancements.

The game is cyberpunk and blends technology and magic, which returned to Earth dramatically and disatrously in the near future.

The game system does not have classes (though archetypes give you ideas of what is possible) and is skill-based.  I am only passably familiar with the new rules, but I found the old system's success-based combat to be very well done (if not as cool as TRoS, but nothing is :cool:).

I think the dark blending of technology and magic fits well with your theme, and the fact it is already a skill-based advancement system should allow you to need far less tweaking than modifying d20.

My copy was about the same price as a D&D book, but you might be able to buy a cheaper PDF version on one of those on-line sites like DriveThruRPG.