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Antithesis

Started by limetom, June 30, 2006, 11:52:24 PM

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limetom

June 30, 2006, 11:52:24 PM Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Luminous Crayon
I've got a serious case of writers block, and I cannot think of a setting.  This has been going on for a few months now, and I need to get out of this rut.  To this end, I have a few ideas as to what I would like to do for a campaign setting, but I need your help.  I would like this setting to truly differentiate itself from most other settings.  I would like everyone else's help in determining what the antithesis of a standard fantasy setting, especially ones found at this site, is.  Throw anything and everything that you can come up with out there.  Thanks.

Just as a first one, monotheism seems to break away from most fantasy settings.

Xathan

#1
June 30, 2006, 11:59:48 PM
The problem is, the settings on this site tend to deviate from the norm as is. However, here are my thoughts:

Low magic. Much as I hate to say it (and I really, really do) Low magic goes against most fantasy settings out there. I personally think that's because low magic is boring. But still, it is a deviation.

No elves, dwarves, or any other mythological creature. The exception are creatures drawn from biblical mythology, and a setting based on Biblical mythology is one i've been toying with for awhile (new setting ho!!!) That would fit with the monotheism as well.
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Modern System Reference Doument Copyright 2002, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Charles Ryan, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Richard Baker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell, John Tynes, Andy Collins, and JD Walker.

Unearthed Arcana Copyright 2004, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Andy Collins, Jesse Decker, David Noonan, Rich Redman.

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Xathan's forum posts at http://www.thecbg.org Copyright 2006-2011, J.A. Raizman.
[/spoiler]

CYMRO

#2
July 01, 2006, 12:01:09 AM
Human PCs only is probably a big departure from most.

Ishmayl-Retired

#3
July 01, 2006, 07:03:44 AM
I agree with Cymro, something along the lines of Robert Jordan's, where each human culture/kingdom is (in game terms) divided into sub-races, would be a fascinating route.  This is the way that many people on the WotC boards tried to convince me of going back when I was first developing the seeds of Shadowfell.
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For finite types, like human beings, getting the mind around the concept of infinity is tough going.  Apparently, the same is true for cows.

Túrin

#4
July 01, 2006, 09:27:20 AM
On the other hand, using non-human races only would also be a deviation from the norm. Going all-human is probably more interesting though.

Not doing d20 / D&D would also be a deviation.
Proud owner of a Golden Dorito Award
My setting Orden's Mysteries is no longer being updated


"Then shall the last battle be gathered on the fields of Valinor. In that day Tulkas shall strive with Melko, and on his right shall stand Fionwe and on his left Turin Turambar, son of Hurin, Conqueror of Fate; and it shall be the black sword of Turin that deals unto Melko his death and final end; and so shall the Children of Hurin and all men be avenged." - J.R.R. Tolkien, The Shaping of Middle-Earth

Numinous

#5
July 01, 2006, 01:55:20 PM
Actually, I'm currently doing that...  Hehe, six subraces with different game statistics, but looking largely human.  Choice with little fluff variation.  It actually is an interesting excercise in game design, if you'd like to discuss it over aim.
Previously: Natural 20, Critical Threat, Rose of Montague
- Currently working on: The Smoking Hills - A bottom-up, seat-of-my-pants, fairy tale adventure!

Xathan

#6
July 01, 2006, 02:01:16 PM
As someone helping him with the different "humans", it is a fun exercise...though I'm more of a fan of 1001 races, each wierder than the last.

One thing to think about: although being different is admirable, there is a limit. Some things are in fantasy that have become cliche, but you have to ask yourself why they are cliche. Sure, everyone is sick of elves (even I, and i'm using them), but not ever cliche or even semi-commonly used thing is something that should be discarded for the sake of being different. (Even the wheel of time has the Ogier.)
AnIndex of My Work

Quote from: Sparkletwist
It's llitul and the brain, llitul and the brain, one is a genius and the other's insane
Proud Receiver of a Golden Dorito
[spoiler=SRD AND OGC AND LEGAL JUNK]UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED IN THE POST, NONE OF THE ABOVE CONTENT IS CONSIDERED OGC, EXCEPT FOR MATERIALS ALREADY MADE OGC BY PRIOR PUBLISHERS
Appendix I: Open Game License Version 1.0a
The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc ("Wizards"). All Rights Reserved.
1. Definitions: (a)"Contributors" means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content; (b)"Derivative Material" means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) "Distribute" means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d)"Open Game Content" means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity. (e) "Product Identity" means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content; (f) "Trademark" means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) "Use", "Used" or "Using" means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) "You" or "Your" means the licensee in terms of this agreement.
2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License.
3. Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License.
4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content.
5. Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License.
6. Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder's name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute.
7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work containing Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any Product Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the ownership of that Product Identity. The owner of any Product Identity used in Open Game Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity.
8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.
9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License.
10 Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the Open Game Content You Distribute.
11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so.
12 Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected.
13 Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.
14 Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.
15 COPYRIGHT NOTICE
Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
Fudge 10th Anniversary Edition Copyright 2005, Grey Ghost Press, Inc.; Authors Steffan O'Sullivan and Ann Dupuis, with additional material by Jonathan Benn, Peter Bonney, Deird'Re Brooks, Reimer Behrends, Don Bisdorf, Carl Cravens, Shawn Garbett, Steven Hammond, Ed Heil, Bernard Hsiung, J.M. "Thijs" Krijger, Sedge Lewis, Shawn Lockard, Gordon McCormick, Kent Matthewson, Peter Mikelsons, Robb Neumann, Anthony Roberson, Andy Skinner, William Stoddard, Stephan Szabo, John Ughrin, Alex Weldon, Duke York, Dmitri Zagidulin
System Reference Document Copyright 2000-2003, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich Redman, Bruce R. Cordell, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

Modern System Reference Doument Copyright 2002, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Charles Ryan, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Richard Baker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell, John Tynes, Andy Collins, and JD Walker.

Unearthed Arcana Copyright 2004, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Andy Collins, Jesse Decker, David Noonan, Rich Redman.

Mutants and Masterminds Second Edition Copyright 2005, Green Ronin Publishing; Steve Kenson
Fate (Fantastic Adventures in Tabletop Entertainment) Copyright 2003 by Evil Hat Productions, LLC. Authors Robert Donoghue and Fred Hicks.
Spirit of the Century Copyright 2006 by Evil Hat Productions, LLC. Authors Robert Donoghue, Fred Hicks, and Leonard Balsera
Xathan's forum posts at http://www.thecbg.org Copyright 2006-2011, J.A. Raizman.
[/spoiler]

Hibou

#7
July 01, 2006, 02:37:43 PM
QuoteI've got a serious case of writers block, and I cannot think of a setting. This has been going on for a few months now, and I need to get out of this rut. To this end, I have a few ideas as to what I would like to do for a campaign setting, but I need your help. I would like this setting to truly differentiate itself from most other settings. I would like everyone else's help in determining what the antithesis of a standard fantasy setting, especially ones found at this site, is. Throw anything and everything that you can come up with out there. Thanks.

Ironically, your best bet at the moment is probably to do a truly standard campaign setting that uses a set of rulebooks exactly as they present their material. So few people do this anymore after they've played the game for a few months, and it's really disappearing.

QuoteJust as a first one, monotheism seems to break away from most fantasy settings.

Aye, but it's a little more difficult to pull off with alignments and outsiders and the like.

QuoteLow magic. Much as I hate to say it (and I really, really do) Low magic goes against most fantasy settings out there. I personally think that's because low magic is boring. But still, it is a deviation.

I have to disagree on this one. In the last few months I've seen little but low-magic and medium-magic settings, with one of the only high-magic ones that I can remember being my own temporarily halted setting Aath - The Dream (WotC).

QuoteNo elves, dwarves, or any other mythological creature. The exception are creatures drawn from biblical mythology, and a setting based on Biblical mythology is one i've been toying with for awhile (new setting ho!!!) That would fit with the monotheism as well.

Biblical would be great to see more of, though it's already been done and in my opinion done very well (Havilah, Land of the Covenant on WotC). It'd also be cool to see some settings done based on cultures from places like South America, Russia, Africa, and the South Pacific.

QuoteHuman PCs only is probably a big departure from most.

Vilydunn features this :)

QuoteOn the other hand, using non-human races only would also be a deviation from the norm. Going all-human is probably more interesting though.

Not doing d20 / D&D would also be a deviation.

I'd really like to see a world where the dwarf, gnome, or halfling is the primary PC race, or even one more radical where it's some other crazy race from any book.

Seeing someone pull a setting using White Wolf rules would be kickass.
[spoiler=GitHub]https://github.com/threexc[/spoiler]

Ishmayl-Retired

#8
July 01, 2006, 03:39:04 PM
Shadowfell's most recent incarnation (which you should see real updates on in the next few days) will have several human "sub-races."  I think it's the way of the future.
!turtle Ishmayl, Overlord of the CBG

- Proud Recipient of the Kishar Badge
- Proud Wearer of the \"Help Eldo Set up a Glossary\" Badge
- Proud Bearer of the Badge of the Jade Stage
- Part of the WikiCrew, striving to make the CBG Wiki the best wiki in the WORLD

For finite types, like human beings, getting the mind around the concept of infinity is tough going.  Apparently, the same is true for cows.

Lmns Crn

#9
July 01, 2006, 06:13:54 PM
Kingdoms of Kalamar made a big deal about human subraces. There were six or seven of them, if I recall, and nonhumans were pushed out to the fringe of the setting, so to speak.
QuoteI'd really like to see a world where the dwarf, gnome, or halfling is the primary PC race,
To an increasing extent, the Jade Stage fits this. Humans are the "hook" of the setting, but they're definitely about the least dominant of the races that are milling about.
I move quick: I'm gonna try my trick one last time--
you know it's possible to vaguely define my outline
when dust move in the sunshine

Hibou

#10
July 01, 2006, 07:05:37 PM
QuoteTo an increasing extent, the Jade Stage fits this. Humans are the "hook" of the setting, but they're definitely about the least dominant of the races that are milling about.

Aye, I like how you're doing things a bit differently. I was just thinking that maybe there'd be a world where humans have the same feel to dwarves and halflings and the like as faeries and demons do to humans in the real world. You might in some ways be going for that Luminous, in which case I have overlooked or not caught it  :halo:
[spoiler=GitHub]https://github.com/threexc[/spoiler]

Lmns Crn

#11
July 01, 2006, 07:47:19 PM
Quote...in which case I have overlooked or not caught it
In a way. A lot of the grittier stuff is still in my head only, and isn't put on "paper" yet. But I think we'll see a lot of the seedier underside of things soon... including more than a few human slum neighborhoods in the heart of dwarven lands. Could be fun.
I move quick: I'm gonna try my trick one last time--
you know it's possible to vaguely define my outline
when dust move in the sunshine
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