The idea would be to work collectively for several weeks to build the basics of a setting, probably using a combination of discord and google docs, then run a play by post game in that created setting.
I would be looking for 4-6 players (or potentially more if others are willing to also run campaigns in the same setting. But I wouldn't want to go above 2 parties including a second GM worth of people to begin with).
A few key assumptions would need to be in place.
-magic level/ tech level of pathfinder
-at all core classes are common
-all core races are playable
-use pathfinder pantheon so significant time isn't spent building a different one
that is not to say that non-core races or classes couldn't exist just that at a minimum everything core will be available.
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so let me know if you are interested and throw out some 1-3 sentence descriptions of settings that think would be interesting to build.
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My potential setting idea:
The old world order is failing as sorcerer bloodlines weaken and inheritance of innate magic is no longer guaranteed within the nobility. Some dare to study and record magic in tomes and spellbooks in defiance of the ancient laws. As if sensing weakness, ancient evils begin to stir.
Here's my take.
Over a thousand years ago, the final battle between good and evil took place. It's unsure which side one, but one thing is for certain: the planet was near destroyed. The impacts brought dirt into the skies, turning them black, blotting out the sun, bringing the ravaged world into it's next Ice Age. But the snow is melting. And in the melted snow, plantlife, artifacts of the past age, and old evils awaken.
I'm interested.
My little blurb:
The glorious human Empire of Uthal has stood for a thousand years, yet, it has now begun to crumble away at the edges. Plagues, war, famine, and death spread across distant reaches of the empire, as the Four Daemonic Horsemen of the apocalypse sense that the time draws near to ride forth on the material plane once again. Meanwhile, rumors spread that in long forgotten lands, the last, twisted remains of the fallen Elvish empires are stirring once more, preparing to reclaim what was once theirs.
Definitely an interesting idea. I think this could work well with the sorcerer idea I suggested, the noble bloodlines at the fringes of Uthal are failing allowing for the Horsemen's acolytes and the elves to move again.
you could look into the dawn of worlds world creation rules, they are free online.
I have gone down that road in the past with play by post games, it didn't work out well. Some of the aspects of how dawn of worlds works don't translate well to play by post in my opinion.
Here's my take.
Over a thousand years ago, the final battle between good and evil took place. It's unsure which side one, but one thing is for certain: the planet was near destroyed. The impacts brought dirt into the skies, turning them black, blotting out the sun, bringing the ravaged world into it's next Ice Age. But the snow is melting. And in the melted snow, plantlife, artifacts of the past age, and old evils awaken.
An interesting concept, but how would you suggest maintaining the assumed late medieval (ish) tech level of pathfinder?
I don’t know that I’ll involve myself beyond this, but a nifty idea I’ve been considering for mapping is to play with a site like this one that’ll let you adjust global sea level. Sadly you can’t recreate ice age coastlines by going below 0 (current), but you can radically reshape the landscape by raising the sea level and have ready-made maps that just need new nations drawn in.
Would definitely be interested, especially if the world was built for the Spheres of Power and Spheres of Might systems (which are the best way of running Pathfinder that I have seen) from the ground up - just my 2 cents.
I don’t know that I’ll involve myself beyond this, but a nifty idea I’ve been considering for mapping is to play with a site like this one that’ll let you adjust global sea level. Sadly you can’t recreate ice age coastlines by going below 0 (current), but you can radically reshape the landscape by raising the sea level and have ready-made maps that just need new nations drawn in.
Thanks for the link.
Would definitely be interested, especially if the world was built for the Spheres of Power and Spheres of Might systems (which are the best way of running Pathfinder that I have seen) from the ground up - just my 2 cents.
Is there a legal way to access Spheres of Power and Might and an associated bestiary for free? convincing people to build a setting based off them will be difficult, likely impossible if they have to buy several books. I am willing to consider it, but don't have time to convert a pile of monsters, so a bestiary is essential if we go down this road.
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Here are a few ideas from me:
The World-City has existed for so long that no one remembers a time before it, not even the gods. Crossing the city takes weeks of travel, but it can be done if you want to reach the Masked Tribes that live on the High Wall. What exists outside of the Wall? Few know, but most believe it is a wasteland filled with dangers best left untouched. Below the city are catacombs that are home to the Death Cults, the Halfling Collectivists (they do so well in small spaces), as well are the dwarven Hanging Gardens that supply most of us with food.
This reminds me of another game I tried to get in that didn't quite come together. Here's the concept I had:
Long long ago (i.e. tens of thousands of years or maybe more), the world was dominated by reptilian races. Mammal-based humanoids were only prevalent in regions where the Reptilian races didn't like the climate (i.e. the colder regions near the poles).
The reptilian races were not particularly innovative or advanced (I envision them a lot like the ancient Aztec/Mayan technology level) but were strong and fertile. The mammalian races were more adaptable and longed for greater influence and power and hoped to overthrow the reptilians somehow.
So a variety of cults appeared among the mammalians where they tried to bargain for favors from dark powers. And eventually a bargain was struck with dark beings of immense power (I kind of envision Outer Gods and Great Old Ones here). But this bargain had a price, and eventually, the bill would come due and the dark powers would come to collect.
The mammalian races, with humans at the forefront, drove back the reptilian races and created glorious empires. Once the humans emerged into the warm temperate lands they forgot the old cults and turned their eyes towards cheerier deities to worship. The reptilian races were driven back into the jungles and swamps of the topics and never again challenged humans for mastery of the world. But unknown to most now living, the debt owed to the dark gods still had to be paid, ad the bill was coming due very soon.
Enter Izússavar a young officer of the Reptilian Imperial army. Besieged by a barbaric horde of humans, his unit fell back to the temple district to make their last stand. Atop a pyramid they fought to hold off the barbarians and make the enemy pay a dear price for their lives. but just as Izússavar was certain of his own death, he found himself in a far away place, inhabited by civilized humans (if there could be such a thing), and no one had even heard of the Reptilian empire. Izússavar had travelled forward in time through the Aeons to the present day. And the forces that brought him here intended for him to face the menace that the bargain of the dark gods had brought.
Izússavar would be an oracle of the Time mystery.
What do you think?
So the discord server is live, I can expand it as needed.
Here are a few ideas from me:
The World-City has existed for so long that no one remembers a time before it, not even the gods. Crossing the city takes weeks of travel, but it can be done if you want to reach the Masked Tribes that live on the High Wall. What exists outside of the Wall? Few know, but most believe it is a wasteland filled with dangers best left untouched. Below the city are catacombs that are home to the Death Cults, the Halfling Collectivists (they do so well in small spaces), as well are the dwarven Hanging Gardens that supply most of us with food.
A megacity is cool, though I don't know if we would want to limit ourselves to only that.
This reminds me of another game I tried to get in that didn't quite come together. Here's the concept I had:
Long long ago (i.e. tens of thousands of years or maybe more), the world was dominated by reptilian races. Mammal-based humanoids were only prevalent in regions where the Reptilian races didn't like the climate (i.e. the colder regions near the poles).
The reptilian races were not particularly innovative or advanced (I envision them a lot like the ancient Aztec/Mayan technology level) but were strong and fertile. The mammalian races were more adaptable and longed for greater influence and power and hoped to overthrow the reptilians somehow.
So a variety of cults appeared among the mammalians where they tried to bargain for favors from dark powers. And eventually a bargain was struck with dark beings of immense power (I kind of envision Outer Gods and Great Old Ones here). But this bargain had a price, and eventually, the bill would come due and the dark powers would come to collect.
The mammalian races, with humans at the forefront, drove back the reptilian races and created glorious empires. Once the humans emerged into the warm temperate lands they forgot the old cults and turned their eyes towards cheerier deities to worship. The reptilian races were driven back into the jungles and swamps of the topics and never again challenged humans for mastery of the world. But unknown to most now living, the debt owed to the dark gods still had to be paid, ad the bill was coming due very soon.
Enter Izússavar a young officer of the Reptilian Imperial army. Besieged by a barbaric horde of humans, his unit fell back to the temple district to make their last stand. Atop a pyramid they fought to hold off the barbarians and make the enemy pay a dear price for their lives. but just as Izússavar was certain of his own death, he found himself in a far away place, inhabited by civilized humans (if there could be such a thing), and no one had even...
This seems a bit too detailed for this stage of planning, but a fallen reptilian empire that left ruins (and loot) to explore seems cool.
Yeah all the Spheres info is available at the Wiki. Not so much of a beastiary tho, unfortunately.
Still, I haven't had anyone have a proper look at Spheres and not be super impressed, so make of that what you will.
Yeah all the Spheres info is available at the Wiki. Not so much of a beastiary tho, unfortunately.
Still, I haven't had anyone have a proper look at Spheres and not be super impressed, so make of that what you will.
From what I have seen of it is looks good, but PCs using Spheres and monsters/ NPCs using normal magic/ classes/ feats doesn't seem right. And I don't have time to do a huge number of monster conversions. Seems weird that you can't get a spheres beastiary
Breghor Dorac served as Magrave of Uthal for thirty years. Thirty years of trying to keep the South Border or the Empire of Uthal, and the Desert of Kar-Pha-Nu free from (Elfs/Undead Mommies/Scorpion Dudes?). All of that time he saw the Empire he loved once crumbling and slowly dying. No more. The time for Rebellion has come, and from the metropolis of Karn-Thur, Breghor is building a huge army of sell swords, veterans, deserts tribes and exotic war beasts. The new Duchy of Doracie is on its way to become a power that matters. There will be no corruption this time, for the citizens are warned, one crime and you either go to the desert, or join the army.
This project is fun!
Breghor Dorac served as Magrave of Uthal for thirty years. Thirty years of trying to keep the South Border or the Empire of Uthal, and the Desert of Kar-Pha-Nu free from (Elfs/Undead Mommies/Scorpion Dudes?). All of that time he saw the Empire he loved once crumbling and slowly dying. No more. The time for Rebellion has come, and from the metropolis of Karn-Thur, Breghor is building a huge army of sell swords, veterans, deserts tribes and exotic war beasts. The new Duchy of Doracie is on its way to become a power that matters. There will be no corruption this time, for the citizens are warned, one crime and you either go to the desert, or join the army.
This project is fun!
Sounds interesting, parts of this could certainly fit with the ideas we are throwing around on discord. I think the 3 of us that have started working together there have the very basics sorted out but it is very bare bones at this stage.
It would seem that the original link I gave for discord has expired. This One should not expire
This seems a bit too detailed for this stage of planning, but a fallen reptilian empire that left ruins (and loot) to explore seems cool.
There is that, and at the same time, also some ancient human temples to the dark gods in the high arctic.
This sounds interesting.
Would this then be the place to finally give halflings what they deserve: their own empire/metropolis.
The idea would be that this isn't the first time the human empire dwindled, though it was a different one back then. Back in those days the halflings were slaves to the humans, a practice the humans had adopted from the elves that once enslaved them (connects nicely to the elven idea posted before).
But when the old human empire crumbled the halflings broke out and away. Initially they settled back into their wandering life style, moving away from human lands. They quickly teamed up with other small wanderers: the ratfolk. Sticking together for protection in big(ger), hostile world they formed immense caravans.
Eventually the caravans became to large to properly move around so instead they settled. They ended up settling on the edge of a massive river that brought life to an otherwise arid shrubland.
There they ended up building what ended up as Thauchi, the ring-city. A city to went both over and under the river to end up completely encircling it. It is a city fully designed for those of small stature and larger folk need to adjust once they move past the city's foreign district.
The city would be ruled by an oracular council made up of both halflings and ratfolk. They are supported by large group of advisors made up of people from various races (including a few tall folk) and vocations.
This sounds interesting.
Would this then be the place to finally give halflings what they deserve: their own empire/metropolis.
The idea would be that this isn't the first time the human empire dwindled, though it was a different one back then. Back in those days the halflings were slaves to the humans, a practice the humans had adopted from the elves that once enslaved them (connects nicely to the elven idea posted before).
But when the old human empire crumbled the halflings broke out and away. Initially they settled back into their wandering life style, moving away from human lands. They quickly teamed up with other small wanderers: the ratfolk. Sticking together for protection in big(ger), hostile world they formed immense caravans.
Eventually the caravans became to large to properly move around so instead they settled. They ended up settling on the edge of a massive river that brought life to an otherwise arid shrubland.
There they ended up building what ended up as Thauchi, the ring-city. A city to went both over and under the river to end up completely encircling it. It is a city fully designed for those of small stature and larger folk need to adjust once they move past the city's foreign district.The city would be ruled by an oracular council made up of both halflings and ratfolk. They are supported by large group of advisors made up of people from various races (including a few tall folk) and vocations.
Having someone with ideas for halflings would be good.
If people want to contribute to the setting construction please head over to the discord group. We have started throwing some ideas around and while nothing is set in stone yet, the earlier you get involved the more impact your ideas will have.
So anyone who is interested can just jump over and join the talks? Because I am highly interested!
I would do a little post but I'm at work at the moment and long posts on my phone with the forums can be... problematic.
So anyone who is interested can just jump over and join the talks? Because I am highly interested!
That is correct, we have a general setting concept at this point but not a lot of detail. Probably the only thing set in stone at this point is that the dominant faction is a decaying human Empire that grew too big for centralized rule.
The Discord link no longer works. It says it has expired.
It would seem that the original link I gave for discord has expired. This One should not expire
The one in the quoted post should still work.
I currently have space for 2 more players unless another GM steps forward.
Alright, I'm interested. I've got some blurbs that may work.
Namely, a style of doing guilds. Perhaps within an empire, there are multiple guilds that perhaps hold actual sway in a city's politics? Like, the leaders of them hold a lot of share (whether through bribery or otherwise) in the city in question?
It could be an interesting angle.
I have all the players I need.
Just throwing an idea into the thread, people don't need to follow it if they don't want to.
As the innate magic of the nobility dies, more and more people are turning to the clergy of the gods. Previously marginalised and despised for their lack of agency and personal weakness, the clerics and servitors of divinity are suddenly seen as the people's best hope against the darkness.
The age of man's own power is over. The rush of blind faith begins, and where it ends... not even the Gods may know.
Ugh. With the 8 and the 18 That makes for a total of a 14 point-buy. Any chance you will allow a reroll?
Peet check the discord, we have switched to a different gen system.
Peet check the discord, we have switched to a different gen system.
Okay, thanks.
It seems like whenever I log into the Discord thing nobody else is on. It's not a great format for looking over old posts.