RPG Superstar 2013 Top 32
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Anyone out there played much with this setting? How different is it from Ravenloft? I'm a big fan of gothic/horror fantasy and I've been thinking about picking it up for several months now. Is there anything that really makes this setting 'unique' besides just being 'spooky D&D'? Ravenloft had a lot of interesting things going for it (domains, darklords, the Mists, etc.) and I'm curious to hear what this setting offers.
Looking over the suppliments for it, I noticed that EVERY SINGLE BOOK has the word 'Shadow' in the title. This is a sign that they may be trying a little TOO hard. Fantasy Flight has done some great stuff in the past though (notably Dragonstar) so I won't let that observation alone dissuade me. Feedback is much appreciated.
Anyone out there played much with this setting? How different is it from Ravenloft? I'm a big fan of gothic/horror fantasy and I've been thinking about picking it up for several months now. Is there anything that really makes this setting 'unique' besides just being 'spooky D&D'? Ravenloft had a lot of interesting things going for it (domains, darklords, the Mists, etc.) and I'm curious to hear what this setting offers.
Looking over the suppliments for it, I noticed that EVERY SINGLE BOOK has the word 'Shadow' in the title. This is a sign that they may be trying a little TOO hard. Fantasy Flight has done some great stuff in the past though (notably Dragonstar) so I won't let that observation alone dissuade me. Feedback is much appreciated.
It's basically Lord of the Ring, if the good guys lost. I think it feels a lot different from Ravenloft since that was more of a Horror setting, this is more "oppressive" evil sort of thing. It's done well. But generally I like Ravenloft more.
Things I like that are intrinsic to the setting:
1) Magic is rare. Spellcasters are therefore unique and even minor magic items are cherised. Magic is also illegal, so said spellcasters have to tread carefully.
2) No clerics. The pantheon consists of exactly one god, and he's the evil one in charge of the bad guys. The world was cut off from all other gods long ago. If you want a party healer, it's possible to create one, but they also become rare and hunted beings. This has the side effect of making PCs cautious about entering combat; makes for more role playing and creative problem solving.
3) Rich racial histories, with built-in prejudices, conflicts, angst, etc., which includes 3 distinct human heritages. Couple that with the Heroic Paths, and I find Midnight characters have a very satisfying depth to play from.
Your satisfaction would probably depend on what aspect of gothic appeals to you. For me, it doesn't feel so much like 'spooky D&D' as it does 'gritty post-apocalyptic D&D.' In other words, imagine everything that makes Greyhawk a shiny, happy place...then obliterate it and replace it with a sense of never-ending oppression and despair, where mere survival is a triumph against the odds. If what you like about Ravenloft is the feeling of being trapped in an unending nightmare, yet still struggling on, then you might like Midnight. That's just my take, though; I'm sure others have a different spin. Hope that helps!
Chief Technical Officer
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Anyone know if this will be available as a PDF anytime?If it is not available here yet in PDF, it is available at Other locations online in PDF, like DriveThruRPG
We don't have a deal with Fantasy Flight to sell their PDFs. (I can't recall if they're exclusive with DriveThru or not, but I suspect they are, or we'd probably have them by now.)
I played it and i liked it alot. the history is good and i had alot of fun trying to learn magic and create magic items for me and my friends. then being chased by the Legates (bad guys, kinda like dark paladins) both the fighters and the magic users have alot to do.
2 things i had alot of fun with and took to other games were the Charm rules. weak little magic like trinkets that bound nature magic into weak bonus items. and the herbalism rules from one of the companion books "Against the Shadow" they are alot of fun i highly recommend the game
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Anyone out there played much with this setting? How different is it from Ravenloft? I'm a big fan of gothic/horror fantasy
Fate, I can't really add a lot more than what everyone has already said. I did run a Midnight Campaign for about 3.5 years ranging from level 1 to 14 when we ended, and during such time I purchased every single accessory/supplement support book for it. The reading alone is rife with great depth and story even if you don't play it. And if you're a fan of "forlorn" oppressed sentiments that really suck you in to the misery, then you'll love it.
It is not Ravenloft in gothic horror, as they've said, but is does have that "world is against you" vibe.
Other aspects that make it unique:
NO economy. Character/players must come up with creative bartering in order to get what they want. Money is worthless. How can a famer/commoner feed his family or clothe themselves against the winter with gold coins? No, bartering for sustainable services and goods is all that matters.
The heroes are hated by the same people they save. Being "fey" (dwarf and elf) are punishable by immediate death on site. Halflings are 'cows' for the orcs to feed their armies. Having weapons/armor is punishable by death. So heroes could save a town from a rampaging beasts with their steel arms and armor - but the townsfolk will turn in the heroes to "The Shadow" for a warm meal!
The Fell. I love the Fell. Since the outer planes are cut off - there's no where for souls to go when one dies. Many people upon death become "zombies" but they're less like zombies and more like the crazy blood-lust creatures from 28 days or remake of Day of the Dead. At first however, most don't even realize they're dead - until they start getting HUNGRY. In the meantime they remember who they were and can function pretty normally. Then they feed on their loved ones. If they dont' feed their brains begin to decay and finally they get crazier and crazier as their memory fades and they turn into just blood-lust driven hunger and are mindless predators.
The Legates: the dark clerics of the one god of the world, Izrador; they are bad ass and mean (think the Empire Sith Lords). And their invisible spirit - like companions, the Astirax - that can sniff magic being cast miles away and the hunt is on, while the PCs run for their lives.
I think Paizo is the only company that gives as good and vivid details of the world, story and people as Midnight does. Magic is very rare - items can only be created at a magical "nexus" which is usually some sort of geographical location with a major historical event, leaving some sort of psychic impression on the landscape - and some have affinities based on what happened to the area; like necromancy powers can be bestowed into an item where a mass-death occured during a battle. Since magic and magic items are so rare - most such items all have a back-story; where it was crafted (what nexus), by whom, who it was carried by etc.
All in all, I miss running it - but it did get very intense, and the players and I all agreed to try something more cheery and a little more freedom almost two years ago. So we started Shackled City about a year and a half ago, and we're loving that - the party is now just shy of 13th level - in chapter 7. Cant wait till this Saturday's game.
Robert
I'm a great fan of this setting, and it seems that FFG has given up on it. Is there any possibility, no mather how remote for Paizo to take it over? Please?
I very much doubt that'll happen, for a number of reasons.
1. Although FFG does not give Midnight the love it really should be getting, they also have a lot of money tied to the name. Its kinda like Paizo licensing the pathfinder name, when they are about to come out with a Movie, Boardgame and toy line based on it.
2. FFG is stuck in an odd position. I don't think they want to put in the effort of making their own system for Midnight, (which could take its place with Pathfinder, Conan, True 20 and C&C as the legacy of 3.x) but to go 4e would almost mean the same thing, and then their is the whole GSL thing.
3. I think Paizo has their hands full with Pathfinder right now, which is still a very young setting. Yes they are putting out a lot of stuff, but if they take on Midnight, they would have to slow down some Pathfinder production for it. Never mind the fact they would also have to have a development team for the variant rules system of Midnight (all this before Pathfinder RPG comes out).
What it gets down to Nightflier is that you want FFG to come out with books on par as Paizo does. I'd love that as I think Midnight is/was the best setting in the 3.x years but I don't think FFG knows what they want to do with it yet.
On the other hand even though they only come out with maybe a book or two a year, they have yet to make a mistake. Every book for Midnight so far (knock on wood) has been damn good. Heck I sometimes think Paizo took a que from them as they come out with smaller more focused books that are simply great.
Anyways sorry I couldn't give you some hope on the subject this is just my gut feelings.
TTFN DRE
P.S. Actually thinking about it some people at Paizo have said that we, the gamers, would be surpirsed at who was intersted in making products under the Piazo SRD, Maybe a Midnight 3rd is on the horizon ehhh on the twilight.
I know, but man can hope, right? I have almost all of Midnight products. Fury of Shadow it to expensive for me right now, and I haven't had an opportunity to order Destiny and Shadow, but I'm ordering Honor and Shadow from Canada as a part of my next shipment of books.
Don't have Honor but I got Destiny, your in for a treat.
TTFN DRE