World At War - A Pathfinder-Based Homebrew Campaign Journal

[DarkKnightCuron]

Curon Traylo Hifor - Captain of the Westwind Military Academy

Curon Hifor's eyes narrow as he looked across the auditorium, sweeping his dark blue cloak aside as he paced across the main stage, glancing at each of the individual soldiers arrayed in front of him. His Full Plate armor, more of a dress uniform than something really designed for battle, seemed to reflect the torchlight within the room elegantly, a sharp contrast to the serious look on his face.

"Fall in, cadets. This will be your first lesson!"

Contained within this journal will be the developmental stages of a homebrew I am slowly working on. I ask that you PLEASE do not post comments or suggestions within this thread, but rather, email them to me at [e-mail].

The world players will find themselves in--Wrinhope. Originally, or so historians tell, the world was crafted by the Ever-Goddess, whose name has long since been forgotten by mortal beings. Unlike some pantheons of other RPG games, Wrinhope has a single over-deity, and while she oversees her creations and children with benevolence and protection, she does not directly interfere with the lives of mortals. Rather, she has tasked her three sons to such tasks. The names of her children have also been obscured by history, but their symbols remain: The Star, The Shield, and The Sword. Their originating symbols are unknown, their current symbols merely an interpretation of the Clerics of the Divine Faith. Each child of the Ever-Goddess leads a "Court" if you will, each Court housing a number of Saints. Each Saint represents a single domain, so while there are many churches and temples devoted to many of the Saints, all worshipers revere the Three and the Ever-Goddess, while following the teachings of a particular Saint.

Wrinhope is the home of many diverse and interesting races. Unless otherwise noted, each race will be based off of the Races seen in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook and Bestiary.

Drow
Duergar
Draco - As Described Here, Credit to WoTC/Hasbro for original idea, and David Fryer for conversion.
Elves
Gnomes
Goblins
Half-Elves
Half-Orcs
Halflings
Hobgoblins
Humans
Kobolds
Merfolk
Orcs
Rakshasasa
Tengu

Humans, Hobgoblins, and Kobolds make up the vast majority of the population in Wrinhope, each one representing a differing faction with goals and ideals. Of the different races, Draco, Elves (as a whole), Dwarves (as a whole), and Orcs make up a close second of the total population, with the rest of the races forming minorities.

As some may have already inquired, this once peaceful world designed by the Ever-Goddess has erupted in full-scale warfare. It is said by many Druids and Priests devoted to the Divine Faith that one can hear the weeping of the Ever-Goddess in their dreams, especially when near death.

Some would say that the world is involved in a large Holy War. A Crusade, if you will. The main contenders of the world would be Humanity and the Hobgoblins, each race believing with their full hearts that theirs was the first to be created and favored by the Ever-Goddess, and each side attempts to claim particular Holy sites in the name of their country, and in the name of their Faith. With so much time distorting what teachings there are of the Divine Faith, many interpretations exist, not the least of which is the assumption that to fight for one's religion is the greatest of honors. The most important site of all, however, is the Divine Tower, a huge, monolithic structure that had appeared after a great storm swept across Wrinhope. The tower rests in the middle of a vast desert, with giant doors that are said to hold the true teachings of the Divine Faith and the key to true immortality.

The war ensuing the lands also have a very political and racial impact. It is no secret that Mankind and Hobgoblins have never seen eye to eye, seeing each other as rivals and competitors, yet each side is not overtly evil, just overtly cautious.

The Kobolds are seen as the only unified threat to both sides of the conflict. The Kobold Clans are numerous, so much more than many other races combined, and they are the rulers of the Mid-Eastern Mountains, constantly at war with the distant Dwarves and Duergar. The Kobolds are said to worship the long-dead Dragons of the world, and seek to control the Tower in order to bring back the Chromatic Dragons. What such plans would unfold is not known, but word of the Kobolds intentions has only recently been discovered.

((TO BE CONTINUED.))

[DarkKnightCuron]

Curon Traylo Hifor - Captain of the Westwind Military Academy

"You are the newest generation of warriors and wizards. Never forget that the future of our race and honor rests upon your shoulders. Never fail your heritage, and never let your courage fail you!"

The Battlefield has become the premiere workplace for many of the civilizations of Wrinhope. Mercenary companies rise and fall fluidly throughout the many months of year, and the factions across the world are constantly mourning the fall of units while raising new ones. Certain races (Humans, Kobolds) are forced to conscript masses of peasants and workers into their militaries just to keep up with the tides of war. Other races (Hobgoblins, Rakshasa, Draco, Orcs) are warrior-like by their very nature, the fires of conflict coming easily to their spirits and minds.

As an individual dwelling in Wrinhope, you take the role of a minor commander in either one of the factions, temples, or mercenary companies. Even minor adventurers group together for mutual support, as traveling solo can often prove fatal. As a minor commander, your 'avatar' or 'character' begins play at 5th Level, with a total influence of 1. Your commander also leads a number of 1st Level characters equal to your starting level. As you progress through your military campaign, this number can rise and fall, depending upon casualties and recruitments. The experience of those underneath your command can also increase as they win battles and missions.

Note: You do not necessarily have to begin play as such. Players can still form parties with 1st level (or higher) characters like 'standard' games of Pathfinder. However, they need to be aware of the surrounding circumstances of their environment: It is a world at war. They are either warriors bound for the front lines, mercenaries working for one of the particular factions, or they are nobles working behind the scenes.

Your 'avatar' and the five individuals that follow him/her can be created using any method outlined by the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook. Which means, they can be any base race and base class normally available to 1st level characters.

((TO BE CONTINUED))

[DarkKnightCuron]

Curon Traylo Hifor, Captain of the Westwind Military Academy

Looking around the room, Curon inspects each of the cadets' gear and weaponry, his face taking on various forms of reserved approval or suppressed disappointment. After finishing, he resumes his position up on the podium.

"Your equipment is a vital resource. In the field of battle, you won't have time to visit your uncle's smithy in order to acquire a new blade. It falls to you to maintain your equipment as necessary!

Equipment works much the same way as managing your supplies and items with a regular character, except now you're keeping track of equipment for not only individual soldiers in your unit, but managing a 'pool' of provisions as well. As the leader, it falls to you to manage equipment, issue gear to your various soldiers, and make sure they are fed. Depending upon your allegiences, provisions may come regularly from supply shipments, or you will have to purchase a large quanitity of such items from regularly visiting population centers. Such villages and cities almost exclusively rely on soldiers and mercenaries buying quantities of food, water, and equipment in order to keep their fledgling economy running.

Such equipment and provisions can be bought from merchants and farmers from really any location. Your reputation (or infamy) in a particular region will have an impact on the costs of such goods, as well as their availability. You can effect your reputation in various ways, such as securing areas from attacks, performing local aide, and other such activities.

Note that when you first hire (or create level 1) characters, their initial starting gear is theirs, and you cannot take that away form them at any point. This takes the form of their personal possessions or initial issue gear. However, you can give them additional equipment from your pool of resources, and eventually reassign such equipment to different individuals.

After character creation, each character starts off with a personal wealth to buy their own gear proportionate with their character level. Note that weapons and armor above a +2 bonus are exceptionally rare and can never be purchase; Weapons and armor with a cumulative bonus of +3 or higher can only be found/discovered. After this initial gear purchasing, your commanders pool of equipment and provisions begins play with 500gp, with which he can recruit more individuals and/or buy more equipment and provisions. Rations and water supplies are constantly tracked, as these two resources directly effect the individual readiness and morale of your troops. Keep this in mind as you manage your forces! Hunger and thirst rules apply to all individuals that normally have to take such tests.

Individuals that have NPC classes are easy to recruit, whereas individuals with PC classes can be much more difficult and expensive. A simple, level 1 warrior (NPC Class) costs only 5sp on initial recruitment and 1sp per week. It is assumed that your avatar has a ready reserve of level 1 (+1/2 the average level of your unit) warriors equal to his/her level, ready to support your movements at any time. As a full-round action, your avatar can call upon these reinforcements, which arrive in 1d4 rounds.

Recruiting PC individuals can be more expensive. Such individuals cost 30sp at the initial recruitment (unless you are strongly affiliated with a particular faction, and have an upkeep cost of silver equal to their effective character level. It suddenly becomes extremely important to perform jobs for various factions and population centers in order to make money, so that you can properly maintain and equip such individuals.