Have you checked out the "Midnight" campaign by Fantasy Flight games?
Thanks for the tip. I've not seen that but will give it a look the next time I have a chance.
From an apocalyptic standpoint, does the campaign setting world stand a fighting chance to survive?
If it doesn't, then you're designing a game-world with a finite lifespan and the games run within it, while being quite interesting, will eventually be irrelevant due to the world ending. That will sort of take the wind out of some people's sails, as far as motivation to play...
If the world survives, it will be fundamentally altered and no longer resemble the world you originally created; while much more playable and still interesting, you will have to be prepared for the 'big re-write' a la Greyhawk, pre- and post- Greyhawk Wars.
Marc,
The world is going to come to an end. It's going to be messy and clever but in the end the world will come to an end.
That being said once things are over the survivors start off somewhere else. A new place to explore, rebuild, etc. That doesn't mean there might not be an occasional trip back to what's left or sidesteps to other places. Or some conflict with the locals once the "colonists" show up.
I suppose the easier answer is to say that you're right, one of the worlds has a finite lifespan / fate. The next one however...
You've been pretty vague, but I love the open-endedness of the what-can-we-save and how-do-we-rebuild-the-world-now-that-the-world-has-ended scenario.
Thanks Robert. I've some concerns about losing a good idea but I'll get a bit more comfortable as time goes by.
As far as good and evil and survival, good means, IMHO, that one is willing to die before taking the life of an innocent or committing any similarly evil act. If we are willing to do evil for the sake of our own survival, then I think our true colors have been exposed.
Of course, sometimes sacrifices must be made for the good of a larger group, and that's where it gets tricky. For example, should good people exile or even exterminate folks with the plague if it's the only way to prevent its spread? If so, who makes the decision?
The tricky part is where some of the issues come from. The nature of "the foe" leads to some startling reactions from people I've spoken to. (Including some "Oh. Yuck. Sheesh that's grim.") We're not talking about a virus or bug though. It's a malign intelligence and it's goal and the survival of the people of the world are not compatible.
And no, it's not Ethergaunts. (lol)
And I do think it's *very* Battlestar Galactica, but why is that bad? Do yourself a favor and let go of the notion that there is anything "original" to be said. Just find a fresh way to explore old themes (just like Battlestar Galactica is doing).
Ok! Duly noted!
That being said here's part of my background on one of the cities, Meridian, in the major polity of Sidri. The King of the Sidri plays a major role in things and he's going to face some hard choices. There are some references to one of the major events, The Campaign against the Black, that I hope will be easily understood.
Let me know what you think:
Meridian and the The Black.
Meridian is a city with three tales: A tale of trade, a tale of death and a tale of import.
Background:
Meridian began as a city whose birth came thousands of years ago as a trade center for western oceanic merchants and the peoples of lands beyond the mountains that separate the two. What began as a convenient way point grew to become one of the most active and thriving centers of population and commerce in all of the Sidrian lands. If an object was impossible to find the timeless joke was that two could always be found in Meridian.
It was five hundred years ago that Meridian and its surrounding lands became a part of the Sidrian kingdom. Gheros of Sidria, monarch at the time, won Meridian as a concession from the Brennan for the Sidrian campaign against the coastal pirates that at that time received tacit support from the Brennan. The ruling council of Brennan, recognizing their political and military liability after the campaign, were eager to draw the conflict to a close. When Gheros suggested that Meridian would be sufficient reparations for the cost of the conflict the Brennan eagerly complied. With the removal of Brennan garrisons, and an exceedingly light touch from the Sidri crown, Meridian flourished over the next 5 centuries.
The coming of the Black.
“Five were their number, all older than time,
They appeared with no warning and death with them came.
Serpents most foul, with skin almost grey,
They darkened the sky on that fair spring day.
Hold close to your loved ones and remember their names:
Rivistan, Ma’Rhauga, Um’Ghvon, Hi’Ridran and Mourn.”
The Death of Meridian
One the Sidrian calendar the Day of Mourning marks the death of Meridian. For the last 12 years ceremonies mark the day at every city, town, village and embassy within Sidrian lands. It marks the day that Meridian died.
On the 12th day of Landishlon Meridian woke to a beautiful day that seemed to portent a good harvest and an end to the winter. As farmers took to the field, caravans were readied for departure and the dew began to evaporate a handful of townsfolk noticed specks high in the sky, specks that seemed to grow larger as they came closer. Specks that became the sight of five black dragons sweeping down on the city.
Less than a handful of survivors survived the assault. Most of the city, still asleep at dawns break, only knew death in their last moments. The militia was destroyed almost instantly and what little resistance was mounted was quickly overwhelmed. The keep in the center of Meridian was one of the last buildings to fall and it was on a shattered wall the Five left their marks proclaiming to all who could read Draconic who it was that was responsible.
Within a day the silence coming from Meridian caught the attention of nearby towns. Within three days a merchant train that had arrived at the devastation had returned to the city it had departed from and brought word of what they had found. Riders were immediately dispatched.
As word arrived the Sidrian Monarch, King Bronnan dispatched the entirety of the Guardian’s Own of the Order of the Temple Knights via teleportation. Two additional Orders were mobilized from nearby towns on forced marches to arrive and provide additional force of arms. At the Crown’s request the Council of Mages dispatched an unprecedented half of the grand council to accompany the Guardian’s Own to Meridian. Emmisaries were sent to all of Sidri’s bordering nations with requests of aid and consultation.
What greeted all who arrived was a scene out of the worst of nightmares. Men and women, children and animals, all were slaughtered with no regard to age, race or sex. Farms whose fields were filled with crops but a day before now lay useless. Acid from the Five etched stone, rock and left the very soil itself as dead as Meridian’s inhabitants.
No incident or provocation has ever been recorded or discovered that explains the actions of that day. Of the Five dragons responsible only Mourn was captured alive and even then died from wounds inflicted during his capture before he was able to be questioned directly. If any injustice brought Meridian’s fate upon itself that slight will remain lost to time.
Homeland to a peoples and rebirth
In months following the death of Meridian the Sidri response was at first stunned shock. As time passed and the dead were mourned the Sidri Royal family visited nation after nation accepting the pro-offered grief of other peoples. Finally, a half a year after Meridian’s fall, the campaign of the War against the Black began.
For the next two years Sidri’s armies sought out every black dragon that could be found. One by one, nest by nest, the Black were systematically hunted into extinction. One by one the Five were found and made to pay the price for their butchery. It has now been almost 8 years since a reliable sighting of one of the Black.
For aid in their part against the Black the Elven peoples of Terenth were given Meridian and her surrounding lands as a seat for their nation. (The Terenth’s ancient ancestors had founded the original city that now lay beneath Meridian’s shattered foundations. Realizing the once lost dream of a born again homeland the Terenth have flocked to Meridian in droves, welcoming any Sidri who wish to once again populate the city.
The importance of Meridian to the trade of so many countries has already fuelled increases in size that many would have thought impossible. At current projections Meridian will reach it’s previous population within a generation.
As always I look forward to your comments. (In advance I'll beg forgiveness if it reads like bad fan fiction.)
Best,
Jim