A specific published world with broad outlines of geography, population, culture, history, physics etc.
61
votes
10answers
6k views
How many people does it take to steal a Star Destroyer?
The stats for the Imperial class Star Destroyer in West End Games's Star Wars RPG list the skeleton crew for the vessel as 5,000 people. They define the skeleton crew as "the absolute minimum number ...
52
votes
18answers
3k views
I'm creating an original setting for D&D—where do I start?
Creating a new fantasy setting for D&D is daunting but I don't want to use one of the published settings. I have a blank piece of paper in front of me and a whole world to create. My friends want ...
43
votes
10answers
888 views
Medieval problems in a magical world
This is a bit of a broad question, but I will try to narrow it down to this:
When GMing a medieval fantasy, and conflicts arise between the medieval times and the magical world (mostly D&D and ...
32
votes
10answers
561 views
Helping new players learn a setting on the go
I started a new Eberron campaign last night, and I quickly ran into the problem of my players not knowing much of anything about the campaign setting.
What is the Mournland?
Where is the Eldeen ...
24
votes
4answers
2k views
Why do Sorcerers use Charisma?
Sorcerers use Charisma as their primary Ability Score for spell-casting in Dungeons and Dragons. Wizards use Intelligence to cast, and Clerics use Wisdom. Intelligence and Wisdom make sense for the ...
24
votes
10answers
725 views
What are some sources for in game puzzles for players?
I love to spice up campaign settings (dungeons in particular) with logic, mechanic or word-based puzzles. Can you propose valid resources for this ?
24
votes
5answers
325 views
Creating the setting with the players
As far as I'm aware, the two most common ways to choose a setting for your campaign are one of these:
The GM makes it up pre-game, or
the GM has some source book containing the desired setting.
...
21
votes
6answers
333 views
Techniques for communicating setting and campaign information to the PCs?
In the past, I've almost always had at least one NPC that would travel with the characters as a type of "lore master" to expand on the story. I've tried to make the character witty and, once the ...
19
votes
12answers
337 views
How can you add character to in-game religions?
I'm thinking mostly from a DnD3.5 background, but am open to input for any setting - even non-fantasy - but my focus is on fantasy settings.
How can you add character to religions so that they're ...
18
votes
10answers
545 views
What RPGs treat magic as being common?
Some fantasy RPGs treat magic as arcane and thus rare, possibly subject to suspicion by the masses. Other games treat magic as somewhat more prevelant but not ubiquitous.
At some point in this trend, ...
17
votes
6answers
441 views
Suggested System/Mechanics/Setting Choices for X-Files/Fringe Inspired Game?
Requesting system, specific mechanic, and published setting recommendations for a recurring game inspired by the X-Files and Fringe.
Here are my goals and details for the game that may provide ...
16
votes
3answers
273 views
What would the life of a child be like in a medieval setting?
The basis for an adventure I'm writing is a child. He is extremely intelligent and had a knack for magic at a very young age, but he has a mental disorder (something similar to Asperger's syndrome).
...
16
votes
2answers
565 views
What happened in the Forgotten Realms between 3.5 and 4e?
I don't remember where I heard or read this, but I seem to recall there being some sort of cataclysmic event between 3.5 and 4e.
A few (related) questions -
What exactly happened between 3.5 and ...
14
votes
10answers
319 views
How do you seamlessly blend inspiration into a campaign?
Often I have campaigns that are inspired by things that are outside of genre and easily recognizable.
Lets take Vikings in Space for example. I could have a race of blond haired people with helmets ...
14
votes
8answers
517 views
Should I read the Dresden Files fiction before I get the RPG?
Should I read the Dresden Files books before I get the RPG?
I want to have a look at the FATE system, and I'd be most interested in starting with Dresden Files (I think). I know there are books in ...
14
votes
4answers
223 views
Is there a method for sliding seamlessly from one system into another during a campaign?
Has anyone changed system/setting/genre but kept the characters during a campaign?
Players can become very attached to their characters, even when the campaign/setting/genre or system is getting ...
14
votes
3answers
393 views
Playing Dungeon World in an established setting
World creation in Dungeon World according to its principle is meant to be broad and keep some blanks for the players to fill.
But what about an established setting like Forgotten Realm or Greyhawk? ...
14
votes
9answers
779 views
What games have good treatments of sub-Saharan Africa, or fantasy analogues?
I'm aware of Atlas Games' Nyambe, and I read the Kindred of the Ebony Kingdom sourcebook that White Wolf released for Vampire some years back. Which other books treat the area well, or at least as a ...
13
votes
4answers
440 views
How late in history can I set a campaign based in the US without cars and telephones being widespread?
I'm deciding on my next campaign offering, and I'm dealing with this dilemma: although I prefer, and am best at, running games set in the near-present, one of my players has a mild antipathy toward ...
13
votes
11answers
387 views
In a game set “ten years into the future” what are some narrative techniques to explain away the lack of significant tech advances?
Mutant City Blues, an excellent setting for a GUMSHOE system, is set "ten years in the future" of whenever the game starts.
However, as I want the game to be about powers (the heightened) and not ...
13
votes
6answers
572 views
What is the full list of official Wizards of the Coast D&D settings?
The ones I know of off hand are the following, also would be good to know what rule edition they initially started in and if they are no longer updated as of what edition:
Forgotten Realms
...
12
votes
4answers
240 views
Generating a feeling of nostalgia in the players
I'm new to GMing and am in the process of creating my first world. It's going to be a far future scifi setting, where the civilisation to which the players will belong is a space faring one that is ...
12
votes
3answers
433 views
Are there any low-magic 4e home-brew settings?
This question is in a sense related to "What RPGs treat magic as being common?"
Aside from the WotC published setting of Dark Sun where magic is treated as something to be shunned, are there any ...
12
votes
2answers
130 views
Is there an RPG or RPG setting for Un Lun Dun, and if not, how and how easily would one go about making one?
I'm honestly a complete noob to tabletop RPGs, having only read the manuals for DnD 4th edition and never having played, but I'd like to know if an RPG or setting for one exists for China Miéville's ...
11
votes
8answers
493 views
GMing an unorthodox setting the players know NOTHING about
Just a while back, there has been a question concerning GMing a setting the players know better than the GM. Now, let me ask you sort of an inverse of that question. I.e. how to introduce and ...
11
votes
8answers
598 views
Inter-planar Merchants of D&D
What race best fills this role? I'm mostly looking for someone who does this in a Planescape-style setting. Neogi kinda do this, but they're a little too specialized for what I'm looking for. Ditto ...
11
votes
5answers
550 views
What stands out about an Iron Age setting?
High fantasy RPGs tend to be set in an era similar to the late Middle Ages. This seems to be the norm for D&D, and it seems to be what players of such games expect.
Let's say you have a group of ...
11
votes
11answers
653 views
Are there any good paleolithic rpgs? [closed]
I'm looking for an rpg that is basically about hunting/gathering, and surviving as a tribe. Mostly for mechanical ideas. Has anyone ever tried/heard of such a game? How does it work? Who makes it? Is ...
11
votes
7answers
630 views
Japanese mythology games?
Are there any good roleplaying games out there that draw heavily from Japanese mythology, or Japanese traditional religious beliefs?
Free and available online would be best, of course.
11
votes
5answers
350 views
I want to design and write a setting book. Where do I start?
I want to design and write a professional quality setting book for FATE 3.0, with the possibility of adding custom mechanics later and turning it into a full on game of it's own. I have the outline of ...
11
votes
8answers
2k views
Short ideas for the development of a Call of Cthulhu campaign or brief adventure
Community wiki post. Everyone can add an answer containing a short idea for a campaign, be it an event, a characteristic of the world, an artifact or object, or an NPC character. Fellow masters can ...
11
votes
3answers
172 views
Are there any games that have an ecological setting?
In Tales from the Wood you play woodland animals, seeing struggles against humans from an animal perspective. I was wondering if there were any games that used ecological/climate change as part of the ...
11
votes
5answers
497 views
How can I get a good background on the Warhammer 40K universe?
I have never played the Warhammer 40k minis game, but have come into tangential contact with it over the years. Now that there are 40k video games, I'm trying to get into it. But the problem is that ...
10
votes
11answers
301 views
Real World Mythic Setting Material
Can you recommend setting material for roleplaying games (books, websites, etc.) that presents places in the real world but with supernatural overtones based upon a locale's myths, fairytales, and ...
10
votes
6answers
281 views
Resources for a '30s Pulp Campaign set in the Caribbean
I am considering putting together a pulp campaign set in the '30s. It's sort of "Indiana Jones" in terms of world (i.e. with a chance of low-key paranormal, horror, and superscience elements, but ...
10
votes
4answers
306 views
Any canon Shadowrun material related to NY/PA/NJ areas?
I'm looking for specific, canon (i.e. official, published) references to material for the Shadowrun game-world setting. My game setting is based around the Philadelphia area; I've turned New Jersey ...
10
votes
2answers
713 views
What is the SURGE event in Shadowrun?
The Shadowrun 4E background material mentions an event called SURGE, which seems to be similar to UGE or Goblinization. SURGE is mentioned twice in SR4A, and at least once in the Sixth World Atlas. ...
10
votes
1answer
595 views
What's the big appeal to Majestic Wilderlands?
I've been seeing a lot about this setting lately, and although I've looked over some of the material, I don't feel like I "get" it. That is by no means a criticism--I'm pretty interested, but it ...
10
votes
2answers
686 views
Is there an RPG for Iain M Banks' setting of The Culture?
And if not, what would you recommend using? I've always thought it would make for some interesting gaming.
9
votes
3answers
246 views
Are human characters needed in a roleplay system?
I proposed, a long time ago a setting without humans in it. Instead I'd designed a series of fairly 'alien' creatures, and I was going to set it up as Science-Fantasy (set on the moon of a brown ...
9
votes
5answers
193 views
Are there any existing tabletop settings that emphasize multiple people working together, but each with their own objectives?
Take something like Paranoia -- where each player has separate missions from their secret society, but also wants to accomplish the mission, but ALSO wants to kill the fellow players as much as ...
9
votes
1answer
75 views
Would Silver Flame Templars have standing to take action in Breland or Aundair?
Would Silver Flame Templars have standing to take action in Breland or Aundair? By take action I mean particularly "martial" actions, such as capturing a person (as recognized by the treaty of ...
9
votes
2answers
135 views
How do I create locally focused play?
As a GM, I find using certain settings (such as the setting for Talislanta) to be somewhat challenging. These settings have a large assortment of eclectic characters that can be played and almost ...
8
votes
15answers
775 views
Occult modern world setting
Recently I have noticed I am a fan of RPGs set in dark occult versions of our own world, like World of Darkness or Dresden Files. While I have played other games, these simply suit me best. So maybe ...
8
votes
2answers
243 views
Dystopian sword & magic settings
Actually something that just came to my mind and something I've never encountered before. Are there any settings or systems centering about dystopian worlds, but without technology, nothing more ...
8
votes
2answers
222 views
The Free City of Greyhawk: War of the Archmages
Where can I find print or online information on the archmages and/or the War of the Archmages?
7
votes
3answers
332 views
Dealing with magic in Ravenloft
Ravenloft is my pet peeve when it comes to settings. I don't like it, it's too dark for my tastes, but occasionally I had to survive through it, although for a brief time.
Something I never got clear ...
7
votes
3answers
145 views
Introducing a complex game world to players unfamiliar with its fiction whilst still hitting the ground running with character creation?
I am preparing to start up a Hellfrost game using the Savage Worlds system. Although I've run Hellfrost before, it has always been for people who are already familiar with its fiction and fluff. In ...
7
votes
1answer
137 views
Are Red Court Vampires/Infected affected by the saliva of other Red Court Vampires/Infected?
In The Dresden Files RPG, Red Court Vampires(RCV)/Infected have the supernatural power Addictive Saliva (YW162). The power itself does not say anything about it conferring immunity to the saliva of ...
6
votes
9answers
1k views
Good RPG for pirate-oriented setting
What good, popular setting you have used for "Pirates of the Caribbean" types of adventures? What makes it good for running a pirate game?
