Aertica (Formerly Heart of Darkness)

[Kalos Mer]

One of my first questions, I guess, as I read is - what are your influences in creating this setting?  Are there particular authors or historical events that you are attempting to conjure?

Without going into specifics (yet) as I've only read about half the material so far, I really like the sense of gruesome, visceral conflict that your setting engenders.  There's also a real sense of historical depth in what I read , which I like a lot.

Some of the blurbs of fiction at the start of your nation descriptions confuse me - is there a narrative you're trying to get across, or is it merely intended to set the tone?  I guess I'm not seeing how the passages are illustrative of the particular nation being discussed.

Edit:  By the way, I hope I was supposed to post here.  I know that it's popular these days to have separate threads for posting original material and for posting discussions of said material - I looked for a discussion thread, but couldn't find one.

Also, what role do you see adventurers having in this particular world?  You mention that they are hated, but what do you think they are likely to do?

[Furor]

thank you, all good questions, and yes this is the place to post

My influences are in history (my major) and in any number of books and movies I happen across. I borrow a lot of ideas from sci fi, games and good old National Geographic (their Anthropological articles)

The Blurbs are intended to give you a general feel for the nation and just a glimpse as to whats happening in the thick of things rather than from a bird's eye.

Adventurers in my world are individuals caught up in the rush, I won't allow a player to simply be "a professional Adventurer", i feel its unrealistic. They start off as mercenaries, soldiers, outcasts, bodyguards scholars or just about anything. I've even allowed "rovers" from time to time. Pc's are encouraged to "go to war" be it on a recent bandit outfit or an organization. They work with skilled NPC's often and sometimes command small units or even regiments. Most of my campaigns are centered around war or calamity, giving the nearly RL reasons for doing what they're doing.

[Kalos Mer]

Are there particular historical events you're using as your inspiration?

Also, I wonder if you could talk a little bit about the role of non-human races.  You mention that the world is mostly human, but where exactly are the remnants of the 'eldritch' races located?

[Furor]

the "eldritch races" are located More in the wilderness and the fringe areas.

as to specific events, its more like a medley of various wars. A world war is forthcoming in Aertica, with prophets in the east, unification in the north, barbarian invasion in the south and imperialistic conquest in the islands.

P.S sorry about the amount of empty spoilers, working to translate thousands of scattered scribblings into a cohesive campaign setting.

[Kalos Mer]

No need to apologize - I myself am in a similar process, as most of my ideas are scattered across notebooks for various classes, etc.

I guess my major concern as a fellow student of history/culture (more ancient than modern, admittedly) is that I don't see a lot that distinguishes various nations from each other  culturally.  While each has different history and occasional other differences (ie, the Immortal ruler, the several nations which are the fragmentary remains of a larger empire), it is occasionally hard to tell them apart.

Unless this is a deliberate thematic element (ie, you are trying to illustrate the fundamental 'sameness' of the various governments/peoples), I recommend you try to diversify at least a little bit.

(That said, it may be that because of the state of poverty and war or near-war that your nations seem to be in, that things like 'culture' don't really matter as much.)

[Furor]

actually, thank you, you make an extremely valid point. Maybe I'll add a seperate culture section. Kind of got carried away with interweaving the political arena.

[Kalos Mer]

I think every world designer tends to get carried away with the parts that they care most about / are best at.  (I'd estimate that almost half of my various notes on my own settings deal with languages, for instance.) That's why communities like this are good - other perspectives help point out angles we hadn't considered.

As far as the political arena is set up - another thing that might help is a timeline.  How old was the Aurathian empire when it collapsed?  And how long as it been since the collapse?  Etc.

[Furor]

Thank you, I've got some work ahead of me.

Aurathian Empire is 940-50 years old, Its collapse roughly 30-40 years ago (Leading the Kaustriches to Claim a thousand year reign, they are currently only in "Exile")

[Kalos Mer]

Yes indeed, but it's usually pleasant work.

In a couple hours, I will put some more questions about the actual political situation and things you've already outlined, but I gotta run to dinner and a couple errands now.

[Kalos Mer]

I like the feeling of imminence that you manage to create in a lot of your material.  I get the definite sense that 'something' is about to happen as I read the description of your nations.

A few questions - if the Witch Knight clans are so primitive, how come they have plate armor and steel forging capabilities?  Seems a little counterintuitive to me.

Is the land which was formerly the Aurathian empire ethnically diverse (Austria-Hungary, Rome) or ethnically fairly coherent (Athens, [In theory] Germany's 'Third Reich')?  Such considerations may have some impact on future political developments.

A simple chart or table might help here... who is currently at war with who?  And who is close to hostility with who?  Or is it a simple free-for-all kind of thing?

[Furor]

ha, I guess i forgot (again) to elaborate on the Witch Clan/ Ausservia Interaction. As part of an age old pact the Witch clans take the children of their best warriors and train them for service to the Kaustriches and their allies. The Kaustriches take up the last portion of their training and the burden of equipping their newly crafted juggernauts. This includes their distinctive plate armor. The Witch clans are actually more "backward" than primitive, an analogy would be tribal rulers in the middle east. One would be hard pressed to call them "modern" but they can still send their sons and daughters to MIT to learn how to design microchips.

Each country is ethnically diverse, i have been contemplating doing a "Prominent Regions" section for each country to just to give info. on smaller regions and culture groups. I've started with the Causetian Alliance out of Necessity (each alliance state is so different i'd lose the interesting bits in an overview).

I was thinking of following the Ghelspad model, which includes enemies/allies/trade information etc. and simply hunkering down to finally fill in all the missing fluff.

Also, any comments on the new races? this is my first time homebrewing races. The Valheru...The descriptive text needs work but they're basically statted as Xeph minus Psionics. The kapaocinth on the other hand...they could be a real mess.

[Furor]

some small updates

[Furor]

New Format for Countries

Short Story "blurb" really
Name
Population:
Government:
Leader:
Capital:
Major Cities:
Language:
Religion:
Currency:
Resources :
Allies:
Enemies:
History
 [spoiler][/spoiler]
Geography
 [spoiler][/spoiler]
Ecology
 [spoiler][/spoiler]  
Culture
 [spoiler][/spoiler]
Key Ideas
 [spoiler][/spoiler]

[Kalos Mer]

Just a quick post to say that I really like the new format.

[Furor]

Thank you, i'll be adding a "Prominent Regions" too, and within that a "places of Interest"

Update on Current Events:Kalnya conflict