Alternate Earth setting [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alternate Earth setting [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Light_Colonel
06-04-07, 01:08 PM For a long while now I have been working on my own campaign setting, which seemed pretty cool, but now I have had an idea that seems a little more interesting to me: An alternate Earth.

The basic premise is our own Earth, with the addition of monsters, magic and other D&D mainstays.

I am thinking that it should more or less work itself out as far as where various monsters come from, simply go back to the source legend in most cases.

I have been doing a lot of historical research lately and 1000 BC seems like a nice place to kick things off. Plenty of established civilizations, plenty of war and intrigue.

I am going to try and follow literal history as much as possible, post 1000 BC though, once the PCs become involved in things, I think history will start to diverge.

I am hoping to use this as something of an experiment also. I think it will be interesting to formulate the changes to history, and as it diverges, change the future.

I would like, eventually, to run a series of campaigns using this concept with each campaign progressing many centuries after the other, tracking the changes that each one makes, eventually culminating in a d20 Modern game with a completely altered history.

The idea excites me so much in fact that I am thinking of using the pool of players I have to set up multiple adventuring groups within the same time frames to create even more variability.

As for my basic campaign overview and plans for characters, the ground rules would have to be:

No Common (replaced by Egyptian, Latin, Greek etc.)
Character classes would be limited to certain regions. (I am thinking of specifically Monk, Wu-Jen, Samurai* and Shugenja others may be restricted as well - Barbarian for example)
I would most likely want to restrict literacy in many regions to certain classes. (Others could become literate as a Barbarian could, though I am thinking that it would still cost 2 for a Barbarian but only 1 for other classes so that the Barb pentalty still remains)

I am wondering if others have done anything similar, if so how were the results?

I would also like some spitballing of ideas. Just say anyhting that pops into your head on this topic.:D

*=Yes, I am aware that Samurai did not exist in 1000 BC, at least in a technical term. In this campaign they would be the Oriental version of Paladin basically.
Ishmayl
06-04-07, 01:17 PM Sounds neat. Just for curiosity's sake, what kinds of references were you planning on using for your histories? I notice you mentioned 1000 BC as a starting point for the divergence of real history to your own. What in particular happened then that made you decide that was a good date? Also, what do you plan on doing about religion?
Light_Colonel
06-04-07, 01:44 PM Well, 1000 BC was just an arbitrary number. Truthfully it would be closer to 850 BC. I want a time when there is a lot going on, with enough divergant civilizations to allow everyone to play whatever character they would like to play. At 1000 BC though I am going to begin calculating possible historical divergance based upon magical interactions. There is nothing special about it, which is why it is a good round number to start with..

As for references, right now just wikipedia (as a base point, not primary source) and various historical websites.

Religion will be Deities and Demigods (or whatever they call it these days) or I will wing it on Religions that are not covered.
Light_Colonel
06-05-07, 03:10 PM Any ideas out there at all? Thoughts? Suggestions? Insults? Jokes?
Gemini_the_Mage
06-05-07, 05:29 PM I have often thought about doing something similar but never got around to actually doing anything. Best of luck to you in the creative aspect.

Are you planning on only focusing on a few cultures or is this going to be a worldwide venture? Around 1000 BC, the only MAJOR civilizations were the Egyptians, India, China, Japan and the Greeks. Much of Europe and what would become Russia was covered with barbarian tribes. Of course, the Native Americans of North and South America were also active but lacked a single powerful government. (And no, I am not a student of history so I am sure there are other cultures active at that time but this is just for the sake of argument. So there.)

My other thought is about the monster placement. A lot of the monsters from our folklore have Greek/Roman influence and so would be generally found only there. Perhaps you can adapt such creatures to fit in other environments. It might be cool to encounter a sphinx in the Viking lands or a troll in sub-saharan Africa.
Grond
06-17-07, 11:09 AM My friend TerraDave (don't know if he's here, he's on ENWorld) and I built something that might be the feel you are looking for. You can find it here - Terra Viejo (http://www.terra-viejo.net)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Light_Colonel 06-04-07, 01:08 PM	For a long while now I have been working on my own campaign setting, which seemed pretty cool, but now I have had an idea that seems a little more interesting to me: An alternate Earth. The basic premise is our own Earth, with the addition of monsters, magic and other D&D mainstays. I am thinking that it should more or less work itself out as far as where various monsters come from, simply go back to the source legend in most cases. I have been doing a lot of historical research lately and 1000 BC seems like a nice place to kick things off. Plenty of established civilizations, plenty of war and intrigue. I am going to try and follow literal history as much as possible, post 1000 BC though, once the PCs become involved in things, I think history will start to diverge. I am hoping to use this as something of an experiment also. I think it will be interesting to formulate the changes to history, and as it diverges, change the future. I would like, eventually, to run a series of campaigns using this concept with each campaign progressing many centuries after the other, tracking the changes that each one makes, eventually culminating in a d20 Modern game with a completely altered history. The idea excites me so much in fact that I am thinking of using the pool of players I have to set up multiple adventuring groups within the same time frames to create even more variability. As for my basic campaign overview and plans for characters, the ground rules would have to be: No Common (replaced by Egyptian, Latin, Greek etc.) Character classes would be limited to certain regions. (I am thinking of specifically Monk, Wu-Jen, Samurai* and Shugenja others may be restricted as well - Barbarian for example) I would most likely want to restrict literacy in many regions to certain classes. (Others could become literate as a Barbarian could, though I am thinking that it would still cost 2 for a Barbarian but only 1 for other classes so that the Barb pentalty still remains) I am wondering if others have done anything similar, if so how were the results? I would also like some spitballing of ideas. Just say anyhting that pops into your head on this topic.:D *=Yes, I am aware that Samurai did not exist in 1000 BC, at least in a technical term. In this campaign they would be the Oriental version of Paladin basically.
Ishmayl 06-04-07, 01:17 PM	Sounds neat. Just for curiosity's sake, what kinds of references were you planning on using for your histories? I notice you mentioned 1000 BC as a starting point for the divergence of real history to your own. What in particular happened then that made you decide that was a good date? Also, what do you plan on doing about religion?
Light_Colonel 06-04-07, 01:44 PM	Well, 1000 BC was just an arbitrary number. Truthfully it would be closer to 850 BC. I want a time when there is a lot going on, with enough divergant civilizations to allow everyone to play whatever character they would like to play. At 1000 BC though I am going to begin calculating possible historical divergance based upon magical interactions. There is nothing special about it, which is why it is a good round number to start with.. As for references, right now just wikipedia (as a base point, not primary source) and various historical websites. Religion will be Deities and Demigods (or whatever they call it these days) or I will wing it on Religions that are not covered.
Light_Colonel 06-05-07, 03:10 PM	Any ideas out there at all? Thoughts? Suggestions? Insults? Jokes?
Gemini_the_Mage 06-05-07, 05:29 PM	I have often thought about doing something similar but never got around to actually doing anything. Best of luck to you in the creative aspect. Are you planning on only focusing on a few cultures or is this going to be a worldwide venture? Around 1000 BC, the only MAJOR civilizations were the Egyptians, India, China, Japan and the Greeks. Much of Europe and what would become Russia was covered with barbarian tribes. Of course, the Native Americans of North and South America were also active but lacked a single powerful government. (And no, I am not a student of history so I am sure there are other cultures active at that time but this is just for the sake of argument. So there.) My other thought is about the monster placement. A lot of the monsters from our folklore have Greek/Roman influence and so would be generally found only there. Perhaps you can adapt such creatures to fit in other environments. It might be cool to encounter a sphinx in the Viking lands or a troll in sub-saharan Africa.
Grond 06-17-07, 11:09 AM	My friend TerraDave (don't know if he's here, he's on ENWorld) and I built something that might be the feel you are looking for. You can find it here - Terra Viejo (http://www.terra-viejo.net)