Could someone point me in the direction of information? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Could someone point me in the direction of information? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Novacat
07-19-05, 02:38 AM I'm currently in the process of writing down details and hard numbers on my custom campaign world (which I've been working on for about 7 years before ever playing DnD). I was wondering if anyone knew of any resources for campaign world building that might be useful.

The campaign setting involves cutting out races (such as gnomes), adding races (such as moulges: 12-armed crazy monkey-men), modifying, removing and adding classes (Ranger, Cleric, and Alean Caster, respectively), of course, but the biggest change will be the complete re-design of the magic system. I would also like any info on map-making utilities, and advice on how to organize my efforts (quite frankly, I'm not sure where to start).
BladeDrinker
07-19-05, 03:10 AM They would probably be able to give you better help in the campaign workshop (http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=295) forum.

As far as your custom material goes, go to the relevant forum and post your ideas. Post your Moulge race in the classes, races and monsters forum.

Overhauling the magic system is going to be a lot of work, and not because it will be hard to think of a variant. The exausting part is playtesting it and balancing it. If you don't have something specific in mind and simply want something other than the standard DnD magic system, I would recommend Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed.
Kalanth
07-19-05, 03:35 AM I have been building my homebrew for about as long as you, here are some materials that I personally suggest, as they have aided me tons.

Gary Gygax's World Builder (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/193127522X/qid=1121757578/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-5675274-7537764?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

I used Arr-Kelaan's HexMapper (http://www.paonline.com/zaikoski/ak/tools.htm) to make the maps. Nothing to flashy, but as you said, they come out great.

And if you can find it, the old TSR World Builders Guidebook.

Also, check out the campaign workshop for some more ideas for the world. Not just a shameless plug, but if you check my signature, I posted what constitutes about 20+ pages of the 473 page manual I have written covering my homebrew world (those pages only cover the main continent, the others being unknown to those on that land).

Overall, I would not tackle to much in the way things are written unless you really want to. Its easier to just pull from other sorces instead of setting down to write your own PHB, and its easier on players. For example, to change the magic system, take the one from the Soveirgn Stone campaign setting (point buy and such) or create a modified version of the palladium system. I would not suggest redoing all that yourself.
cody5
07-19-05, 03:53 PM Same.
rbrt_Spade
07-19-05, 04:20 PM the dungeon masters guide-races classes-has rules for changing them
the other things-unearthed arcana-variant rules-lots-and a new magic system
Seeker95
07-19-05, 04:20 PM Same.You too have been building your own homebrew for about seven years?
SeidonVanDolf
07-20-05, 03:05 AM There is also a book out by the Mongoose folks called the Campaign Builder's Guide or World Builder's Guide or something to that effect. I am not certain what it is or what it contains exactly but it could be worth a look at least. From I understand it tells you how to build your own campaign setting but who knows, you might decide you can use it.

If that doesn't work for you there is also a book called Fudge It which tells you how to convert one system to another and so on and what have you. I don't know about those things other than that because I am pretty much happy with Forgotten Realms, DragonLance, Eberron, Raven Loft and Greyhawk. Hope it helps and good luck. Gotta a friend who made his own game. It is swell but it has little to nothing in common with D&D or the d20 system because it very much predates all but the originally published books.

Then there is also Unearthed Arcana for some variant rules for how to do the d20 magic system now that I think about it. It turns it into a point system like in most Final Fantasy games. Might try it too.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Novacat 07-19-05, 02:38 AM	I'm currently in the process of writing down details and hard numbers on my custom campaign world (which I've been working on for about 7 years before ever playing DnD). I was wondering if anyone knew of any resources for campaign world building that might be useful. The campaign setting involves cutting out races (such as gnomes), adding races (such as moulges: 12-armed crazy monkey-men), modifying, removing and adding classes (Ranger, Cleric, and Alean Caster, respectively), of course, but the biggest change will be the complete re-design of the magic system. I would also like any info on map-making utilities, and advice on how to organize my efforts (quite frankly, I'm not sure where to start).
BladeDrinker 07-19-05, 03:10 AM	They would probably be able to give you better help in the campaign workshop (http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=295) forum. As far as your custom material goes, go to the relevant forum and post your ideas. Post your Moulge race in the classes, races and monsters forum. Overhauling the magic system is going to be a lot of work, and not because it will be hard to think of a variant. The exausting part is playtesting it and balancing it. If you don't have something specific in mind and simply want something other than the standard DnD magic system, I would recommend Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed.
Kalanth 07-19-05, 03:35 AM	I have been building my homebrew for about as long as you, here are some materials that I personally suggest, as they have aided me tons. Gary Gygax's World Builder (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/193127522X/qid=1121757578/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-5675274-7537764?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) I used Arr-Kelaan's HexMapper (http://www.paonline.com/zaikoski/ak/tools.htm) to make the maps. Nothing to flashy, but as you said, they come out great. And if you can find it, the old TSR World Builders Guidebook. Also, check out the campaign workshop for some more ideas for the world. Not just a shameless plug, but if you check my signature, I posted what constitutes about 20+ pages of the 473 page manual I have written covering my homebrew world (those pages only cover the main continent, the others being unknown to those on that land). Overall, I would not tackle to much in the way things are written unless you really want to. Its easier to just pull from other sorces instead of setting down to write your own PHB, and its easier on players. For example, to change the magic system, take the one from the Soveirgn Stone campaign setting (point buy and such) or create a modified version of the palladium system. I would not suggest redoing all that yourself.
cody5 07-19-05, 03:53 PM	Same.
rbrt_Spade 07-19-05, 04:20 PM	the dungeon masters guide-races classes-has rules for changing them the other things-unearthed arcana-variant rules-lots-and a new magic system
Seeker95 07-19-05, 04:20 PM	Same.You too have been building your own homebrew for about seven years?
SeidonVanDolf 07-20-05, 03:05 AM	There is also a book out by the Mongoose folks called the Campaign Builder's Guide or World Builder's Guide or something to that effect. I am not certain what it is or what it contains exactly but it could be worth a look at least. From I understand it tells you how to build your own campaign setting but who knows, you might decide you can use it. If that doesn't work for you there is also a book called Fudge It which tells you how to convert one system to another and so on and what have you. I don't know about those things other than that because I am pretty much happy with Forgotten Realms, DragonLance, Eberron, Raven Loft and Greyhawk. Hope it helps and good luck. Gotta a friend who made his own game. It is swell but it has little to nothing in common with D&D or the d20 system because it very much predates all but the originally published books. Then there is also Unearthed Arcana for some variant rules for how to do the d20 magic system now that I think about it. It turns it into a point system like in most Final Fantasy games. Might try it too.