| Post/Author/DateTime | Post |
|---|---|
| Ashurian01-28-07, 02:43 PM | Iīm thinking of setting my next FR-campaign in the future, letīs say about 200-500 years from 1372. This is to be able to do some alterations in deities and politics, to get rid of the present metaplot and the "colourful" high-level NPCs Iīm a bit bored of, and to be able to add some new twists of my own. What do you think about that? What might have happened? Anyone already tried this? |
| Lord Karsus01-28-07, 11:29 PM | -Evermeet will still be Evermeet. Perhaps Myth Drannor will be enjoying a second "Golden Age"? The Zhentarim is no more, after having been destroyed from the inside out. The Harpers, an organization that was originally established for good, has taken their place, and the Harpers are the new Zhents. Sembia has been annexed into the Kingdom of Cormyr long ago, but revolutionaries are now sewing the seeds of discourse, and are plotting to free themselves from the rule of King Azoun XXIII. -Lathander has fully risen, and Amauntar (Sp?) is shining brightly. Selûne is now in her "new" phase, and is currently very weak. -Thay is a safehaven for Gnomes. Don't ask. -And, might I suggest that Mystra has been bumped out of the picture, and that yours truly is the current deity of magic? :D |
| Red_Wizard01-28-07, 11:41 PM | *Glares threateningly at Karsus* Take back the gnomes.... Also, I suggest Hulruaans have returned to the skies via small mountains. |
| Lord Karsus01-28-07, 11:44 PM | *Glares threateningly at Karsus* Take back the gnomes.... -I find this situation laughable. Red Wizard, though I like you, you are but a mortal. Should I simply wish it, your mind can be reduced to naught but scrambled eggs. Now, what were you saying? :P |
| Red_Wizard01-28-07, 11:48 PM | -I find this situation laughable. Red Wizard, though I like you, you are but a mortal. Should I simply wish it, your mind can be reduced to naught but scrambled eggs. Now, what were you saying? :P I believe I was off to cook some gnomes all on my won :angelhide |
| Lord Karsus01-28-07, 11:59 PM | I believe I was off to cook some gnomes all on my won :angelhide -Have fun with that. I never really liked those little guys. If it were up to me, they'd be enslaved again. But, hey, whaddaya gonna do? But, Savras gave me a glimpse of the future, and Thay is dominated by them. Sorry. |
| Red_Wizard01-29-07, 12:16 AM | Hmmm. Well, i'm thinking I take them all, and fling them via Trebuchet at all my old enemies. The only thing better to attack your enemies with than gnomes, is babies. But, since you have informed me of the obvious gnome threat, I suppose i'll have to settle for a close second best. To avoid to much thread hijacking though, I say shade has also been laid low, and much of anauroch and the area between there and Hulruaa (in a relativly straight line) is littered with the ruins many a fallen flying fortress. Both sides have clashed in the centuries passed, as Hulruaa was unwilling to be bent under the dominion of Shar, and shade could not convert back to the "Pure" weave had they even wanted to. So a war on a scale to which the gods feared would tear Faerun asunder began, and has only fallen silent in the last 50 years or so. Rumors say that the great city of Shade was at last brought to it's knees in a final battle, in which seven of Hulruaas flying fortresses marshaled for what was to be their last stand for the nation. To get an idea of this, think the attack on Anubis by the combined forces of the system lords, before Anubis gained complete superiority within our system. For those of you who watch Stargate :P |
| Ashurian01-29-07, 01:27 AM | Everything of this sound quite nice :D Have you tried it or? -And, might I suggest that Mystra has been bumped out of the picture, and that yours truly is the current deity of magic? :D About this... Actually I thought of Cyric having killed/disabled her and taken her portfolio. |
| Dark Wizard01-29-07, 01:46 AM | About this... Actually I thought of Cyric having killed/disabled her and taken her portfolio. Mad wild magic everywhere, nice. Free phantasmal killers for all. |
| MarkusTay6301-29-07, 02:17 AM | I picture Cyric becoming the new god of insanity. Lord of the Far Realms, perhaps. My campaign takes place 20 years into the future, I've talked about it before. Suffice it to say Ao had second thoughts about the ToT stupidity and bumped Kel, Cyric, and Midnight down to demigods and revived Myrkul and Bhaal, and brought back the original Mystrl because she was the only one that hadn't screwed up somehow. Also, as in Karsus's version the Harper leadership has been infiltrated and the whole group are on their way down hill (though most don't know this yet). Also, Sembia and Cormyr united under the Cambion Grandson of Azoun (and a Tiefling princess from sembia). They're a match made in hell. Had a short lived campaign set 200 years into the future. It was fantasy meets Old West. I had it set in Anchorome (but I called it Nacirema because I didn't know the real name then, read it backwards). The main town was called Headstone and had such notables as Doc Hobbiday and Wyatt Elf. I thought my players would love it, but they wanted back to normal FR so it only ran about 3 sessions. I don't know, I thought halfling gunslingers would be cool. Last time I ever base a campaign on one good movie. :rolleyes: (I really thought they would have loved the Orc train robbers, my bad) |
| BrianCritchley01-29-07, 04:28 AM | I predict that the divine landscape will actually look fairly differnt, and when people 200 years or so hense in faerunian history refer to the time of troubles they'll be reffering to more then a single year period when the gods where walking faerun. considering all the divine shifting going on it's proably safe to say the time of troubles by dr 1375 has not yet ended. |
| Red_Wizard01-29-07, 10:30 AM | Everything of this sound quite nice :D Have you tried it or? No, I just pulled it out of nowhere sitting here. Unfortunatly, my group with the exception of me and one other, are affraid of the Realms, saying it's to big for them, so no playing in the Realms for me anymore :(. An add on though to my analogy, since Anubis on that fight. Have shades fall be comparible to when the saucer section of 1701D fell from orbit During Star Trek: Generations. Maybe not as exciting, but the similar effect to go for. |
| MarkusTay6301-29-07, 11:51 AM | I'm also thinking the final battle in Independence day, where the massive ship is sticking up out of the desert. I was thinking as a 'possible future' scenario, if I really wanted to screw up the world - In my Realms, groundling nations have lost communication with spelljammers. The Elves and Shou do not bother sending ships out to investigate any more because they tend to disappear lately. Through dimensional travel, they have gotten word that other Prime Worlds are no longer in contact with space either. Originally, I just wanted to Nerf Spelljamming from my game 12 years ago (real time), but now I'm thinking something much more Diabolic. In one of the Spelljamming accessories, it listed a dark Elf ship type and said that they were fairly new to space. Unlike surface Elves, the Dark Elves are rather fond of artificial limbs, and use them every chance they get (canon). Now suppose, while investigating on a long-dead world they discovered the remains of an incredible civilization, and using magictech from there they advanced their own artificial limb technology to new heights. They also wind up concentrating HEAVILY on Necromantic magics to keep the rest of their bodies functioning alongside their add-ons. Eventually, the race is barely 'human' anymore, and they become hell-bent on converting the rest of the Universe in their own image. Star Trek meets the Chronicles of Ridick! These new Space Drow are a cross between the Borg and the Necromunger races. "We are the Drow, resistance is futile, prepare to be assimilated" "You keep what you take, it's the Drow way" One of these days if I get bored or my players do I'm going to warp a few of their city-sized ships into orbit and begin the Apocalypse of Faerun. :plotting: |
| Ashurian01-29-07, 12:55 PM | Itīs actually impressive how many non-serious replies one can get on a thread. Thanks for the "help" guys. |
| MarkusTay6301-29-07, 01:00 PM | Well, if you were serious, you should have just looked in the "How have you changed the Realms" thread instead of creating your own. This entire topic was just covered in that. Sorry if our answers did not conform to 'your vision'. And since your only contribution to your own thread has been to make Cyric the god of magic all I can say is.... WHY? :uh-huh: |
| Lord Karsus01-29-07, 01:05 PM | Itīs actually impressive how many non-serious replies one can get on a thread. Thanks for the "help" guys. -I'm hoping that there is not sarcasm in your voice. It's often difficult to read emotions in text. But, I am reading some sarcasm in there. You should be grateful that we all took time to answer your inquiry. |
| Ashurian01-29-07, 01:08 PM | Sorry, I havenīt seen that thread. And I thought maybe someone had tried a larger campaign in the future. And what was my "vision"? I only named one thing, the Mystra-Cyric-thing. My plan was to create a vision after reading your replies. Thanks to those of you who had some more subtle ideas than Star Trek, wild west and Star Gate. |
| Red_Wizard01-29-07, 01:21 PM | Curious as to whay you said Everything of this sound quite nice :D Have you tried it or? And then turn around and ragg on it. The Trek, StarGate, and I'm asusming Wild West references were put in place (at least by me) so as to give you an image of what I was talking about, so as to make your job easier. Often some of the best revelations can come from a single scene of something, and I had assumed you might like these refernce pointers for you campaign (both to build an idea around, and to help illustrate the happenings to your PC's). There's no need to be snarky on the matter. |
| MarkusTay6301-29-07, 01:29 PM | Often some of the best revelations can come from a single scene of something, and I had assumed you might like these refernce pointers for you campaign (both to build an idea around, and to help illustrate the happenings to your PC's). Exactly so. I was using Sci-Fi references to give you some picture of what a Dark and Evil race invading Faerun in the future may be like. It would make a great way to convert the Realms into something like the Midnight campaign setting, or world of darkness. We were just providing visuals. I really did have a wild west campaign, but obviously you don't see the current tech level ever evolving to a Steam Age? Considering some of the things the Gondsman are working on and the items from the Aurora's catalogue I didn't feel I was going that 'way-out' when applying 200 years to the current timeline. especially considering the discovery and settlement of maztica. but whatever.... I thought you at least would appreciate the Cormyr/Sembia merger, many DMs have gone that route. |
| Ashurian01-29-07, 02:28 PM | Exactly so. I was using Sci-Fi references to give you some picture of what a Dark and Evil race invading Faerun in the future may be like. It would make a great way to convert the Realms into something like the Midnight campaign setting, or world of darkness. We were just providing visuals. I really did have a wild west campaign, but obviously you don't see the current tech level ever evolving to a Steam Age? Considering some of the things the Gondsman are working on and the items from the Aurora's catalogue I didn't feel I was going that 'way-out' when applying 200 years to the current timeline. especially considering the discovery and settlement of maztica. but whatever.... I thought you at least would appreciate the Cormyr/Sembia merger, many DMs have gone that route. Ok. I guess you are right - I just donīt like your suggestions. I think sci-fi should be sci-fi while fantasy should stay fantasy. And the "Shades" in FRCS 3.0 is the most silly thing ever. And that Steam Age is booooring, no matter how many gamers seem to think itīs very cool. If the tech level of FR has been medieval since Netheril, I guess it stays so for some hundred years futher. And that a merge of Cormyr and Sembia isnīt the most creative thing to do. Sorry. |
| Red_Wizard01-29-07, 04:01 PM | What I was suggesting is not SciFi. I was using a SciFi example, to illustrate a Fantasy occurance. But, if you are unhappy with our suggestions, tell us what you are looking for. Asking for suggestions, with no basis for example to which we should base our offers, will get you many more things you don't like. |
| kelcimer01-29-07, 04:34 PM | The nature of this thread is somewhat different from "How have you changed the Realms". The query is about Future Realms speciffically. I think someone should have provided a ready link to "How have you changed the Realms" instead of asking why he hadn't already looked at it. http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=742181 Iīm thinking of setting my next FR-campaign in the future, letīs say about 200-500 years from 1372. This is to be able to do some alterations in deities and politics, to get rid of the present metaplot and the "colourful" high-level NPCs Iīm a bit bored of, and to be able to add some new twists of my own. What do you think about that? What might have happened? Anyone already tried this? Basically a good idea, but not sure you need to go that far into the future to achieve all that. My current year is about to flip over into 1376. Between the changes I have put in place and the changes my players achieved the groundwork has been laid for various future situations. I expect to start of my next campaign in either 1380 or 1399. The campaign after that would likely start in 1450 or 1501. Lots is up in the air. I'd discuss it further, but a) some of my players may visit this board, and b) I may have changed my mind about how certain elements will play. Suffice to say, I've put down some of the changes I've made thus far in "How have you changed the Realms". I think I started on page 4 near the bottom. |
| Ashurian01-29-07, 04:49 PM | What I was suggesting is not SciFi. I was using a SciFi example, to illustrate a Fantasy occurance. But, if you are unhappy with our suggestions, tell us what you are looking for. Asking for suggestions, with no basis for example to which we should base our offers, will get you many more things you don't like. More subtle changes that could happen the nearest 50, 100, 200 years or so. I still want it to be the Realms. |
| Ashurian01-29-07, 05:00 PM | Thanks! I read you post on that thread, and itīs almost a little spooky... Yesterday, before I fel asleep, I wrote down the destruction of Waterdeep on a piece of paper. Some gods would do battle there (or something similar), and after that the whole city would be engulfed in a big wave and drawn into the ocean. Only the large dungeon complex of Undermountain would remain, half filled with water and even more hazardous than before. Yep, I hate Waterdeep. I guess I have very mixed feelings of FR. One part of me loved it and knows it, especially the pantheon and the general geography. The other part of me want to play in a less high-magic, more grim world, with less lvl20+ NPCs moving around (yet accomplishing nothing!) and less weirdness (Shade-cities in Anarouch for example). |
| Red_Wizard01-29-07, 05:28 PM | Then perhaps the idea of Cyric supplanting Mystra could work. There was a great battle between them, unknown to the mortals of toril, until Cyric was able to at last win through (Have him temporarily take back his lost portfolios, so that his power is enough to vie for the weave in the first place). He was severly weakened in the battle however, and his mind has once more fallen deeply into the pits of insanity. Magic is wild, and unpredictable at best, few now wish to practise the art, or allow their children to work with any whom might use it. The back lash of Mystras fall sent a ripple through the weave, killing all those too mighty in the art. Those who where not destroyed outright by the wave of raw magic, were reduced to little less than blabbering children, damned to walk the realms unaware of all around them, yet in moments of crystal clarity they are once more capable of such power as was enjoyed when Mystra still held the weave. These few are known as the "Spawn of Cyric" or "Children of Madness" (play with the title). In game terms this has left all mages of 16th level or higher destroyed, simply consumed by the raw energy their distorted spells caused within their minds, and from 10th -16th they were rendered irreparibly mad. Any reattaining such levels of power must make a will save for every spell they try to use of those levels, or be rendered insane, as small ripples of raw magic are still leaking into the world via the spells of those levels. As you hate Shade, perhaps that sudden surge of pure energy from the weave in an instance whiped it from existence, though the resulting destruction tore the planes enough, that ones of goodness, and negitivity (perhaps many more) have sept into the weave, further corrupting it. Selune is the true beacon of light remaining, as she was one of the two original, little of her power was drained. Shar, for the first time in what could be all eternity is drained, weak, and perhaps even frightend. (probably not, but work with it if you want). These two things spell the end for the city, and once more the people know what it must have been like to witness the fall of ancient Netheril. Having created 3 smaller fortresses in the 500 or so years since their return, these too plummet into Chaunteas face, killing all those who dwelt there. The gods have been silent, granting spells, but not talking to their followers. The priests of power that once were common, have all been rendered comatose, as the weaves surge, was channeled less drastically through their gods, but enough to remove them from the setting. This diminishes many of the settings high NPC's, leaves challenges for the PC's to overcome, and brings the Realms into a very dark, frightening, and perhaps permanent state, to which there are not men of power who can see far enough into the future to offer an man, women or child even a fraction of hope. |
| Dark Wizard01-30-07, 12:18 AM | Go for a comfortable number of minor changes. RSEs by their true definition make the Realms un-Realms-like. Oddly, a number of the posters here had a discussion on the merits of Waterdeep, in the thread titled "What have you changed about the Realms" or something like that. I guess I have very mixed feelings of FR. One part of me loved it and knows it, especially the pantheon and the general geography. You'll find lots of people will agree and disagree with you. The gods and pantheon are constantly discussed. Geography (and geopolitical interactions) came up recently. The other part of me want to play in a less high-magic, more grim world, with less lvl20+ NPCs moving around (yet accomplishing nothing!) and less weirdness (Shade-cities in Anarouch for example). The Realms has a varying amount of magic, grimness, NPCs and weirdness. D&D isn't great for low-magic games. Many would argue the Realms is grim enough as is. If what you say is true that the NPCs don't accomplish anything, then they shouldn't matter to your games anyway. Shade is hardly as weird as Bedine in Anauroch. You can easily downplay certain aspects while emphasizing others to get at the feel you want, without making significant changes to the setting. Unless you're going for a certain effect, making big changes are more hassle than they're worth. |
| MarkusTay6301-30-07, 02:30 AM | If you do a grimmer darker version (as I was trying to explain how that might have happened) and Cyric is the God of magic then I would have people make 'dark powers' checks (a'la Ravenloft). If you are unfamiliar with that setting (which actually sounds like what you are after BTW) then you should at least check out the section entitiled 'Lingering Effects of Evil' on pg.35 of the BoVD. If magic comes from an evil god you will get tainted. Personally I don't like Mystra OR Cyric, but then I don't like Shade much either. Or Anauroch for that matter. :P I like the sound of 'the ruins of Waterdeep' though. I don't think I would completely submerge it, maybe just the ground floor of all the buildings, making it like a twisted fantasy venice (with monsters). Would make one hell of a mega-dungeon. |
| Ashurian01-30-07, 03:52 AM | [QUOTE=Red_Wizard;11325759]Then perhaps the idea of Cyric supplanting Mystra could work. There was a great battle between them, unknown to the mortals of toril, until Cyric was able to at last win through (Have him temporarily take back his lost portfolios... snip QUOTE] Very good, inspiring reply! Thanks. |
| redhase01-30-07, 08:44 AM | I could see the Lords Alliance becoming a greater power, maybe even destroying Luskin. Or leaving Luskin in some kind of lesser power or influnance. Because the Loeds Alliance would have thier own fleets of ships and through years of war with Luskin finaly destroying their fleet and attacking the city. Then They might even have some kind of queen or king for the humans, the dwarfs could even have some kind of untied High king over all the Halls in the north. The Lords Alliance could even have turned evil by then and all of the north could be under their rule. Who knows maybe? Or the drow underground cities could even be attacked by the united Dwarven halls and then destroyed by the dwarven forces. Could happen? Or the drow cities could unite and attack the north top side and have an kingdom like Dambrath. Think about that if Menzoberranzan could unite a all drow city attack on the serface world, could they make a kingdom like Dambrath. I could see this happening unless all the dwarf halls united under one High King and then destriyed every drow city. could happen either way. |
| Walls01-30-07, 10:04 AM | I toyed with an entire world like this... and actually posted some ideas on the board here. Basically it'd be a thousand years in the future or hundreds or what have you. Mighty armageddon strikes in one way or another. Landscapes are drastically altered and the names of the Realms are lost to antiquity. Lots of ruins in this world but things much, much different. I think the thread was purged or something as I can't find it. Here is som,e of it -Magic: Wizardry almost non existent, sorcery dominant. Due to accident hundreds of years before tinkering with technology and magic together... caused by gnomes. Big nuclear-esque wasteland full of weird monsters and creatures. Wizardry a non no! Almost taboo to do so. Most magic inward instead of taught and learned from books (priests, sorcery, etc) -Halfling Lands: Two. 1. Normal shire-esque 2. Pirates and sailors in coastal land, lots of islands. -Wood Elfs: live in plains ala plains Indians, tribes, etc. -No Underdark known, NO drow!! |
| _SIN_01-30-07, 02:37 PM | I toyed with an entire world like this... and actually posted some ideas on the board here. Basically it'd be a thousand years in the future or hundreds or what have you. Mighty armageddon strikes in one way or another. Landscapes are drastically altered and the names of the Realms are lost to antiquity. Lots of ruins in this world but things much, much different. I think the thread was purged or something as I can't find it. Here is som,e of it -Magic: Wizardry almost non existent, sorcery dominant. Due to accident hundreds of years before tinkering with technology and magic together... caused by gnomes. Big nuclear-esque wasteland full of weird monsters and creatures. Wizardry a non no! Almost taboo to do so. Most magic inward instead of taught and learned from books (priests, sorcery, etc) -Halfling Lands: Two. 1. Normal shire-esque 2. Pirates and sailors in coastal land, lots of islands. -Wood Elfs: live in plains ala plains Indians, tribes, etc. -No Underdark known, NO drow!! So you didn't base it in FR as such, but just used the maps?... And what sort of armageddon obliterates the Drow and the Underdark, yet the area effected seems to be contained within some sort of blast radius. What about humans, universally known (RPG wise) to be the most adaptable, versitile and dynamic of the races? Wood elves survive, albeit as something more akin to barbarians of the hordelands or north, AND halflings too? THE 2 most weedy races?... It sounds..... interesting at least. Barbaric hermaphrodites and midget sailors.... Intriguing!... |
| Lord Karsus01-30-07, 03:35 PM | And what sort of armageddon obliterates the Drow and the Underdark, yet the area effected seems to be contained within some sort of blast radius. -All of the caverns could have theoretically collapsed. Or, maybe someone plugged up all of the holes, and all the denizens of the Underdark sufficated to death, due to lack of air? |
| clevercommie01-30-07, 04:24 PM | -Evermeet will still be Evermeet. Perhaps Myth Drannor will be enjoying a second "Golden Age"? The Zhentarim is no more, after having been destroyed from the inside out. The Harpers, an organization that was originally established for good, has taken their place, and the Harpers are the new Zhents. Sembia has been annexed into the Kingdom of Cormyr long ago, but revolutionaries are now sewing the seeds of discourse, and are plotting to free themselves from the rule of King Azoun XXIII. -Lathander has fully risen, and Amauntar (Sp?) is shining brightly. Selûne is now in her "new" phase, and is currently very weak. -Thay is a safehaven for Gnomes. Don't ask. -And, might I suggest that Mystra has been bumped out of the picture, and that yours truly is the current deity of magic? :D Jumping back to Elves, should the new polar bound Elf Kingdom rear its head, or d'ya think its more of a realms secret thing. |
| _SIN_01-30-07, 04:47 PM | -All of the caverns could have theoretically collapsed. Or, maybe someone plugged up all of the holes, and all the denizens of the Underdark sufficated to death, due to lack of air? And the portals? As Faerun is absolutely covered in them, including ones in the UD which link direct to the plane of air to provide a constant flow of oxygen... As for the collapse of the underdark? What about the Mythal in Waterdeep that prevents its collapse. It probably would have made more sense for the surface dwellers to die, leaving it relatively clear (apart from the new monstrosities created by the armageddon) for the UD denziens to re-emerge from their holes to claim all of faerun for themselves. What of Evermeet? or of Thay for that matter? 2 extreeeemly powerful nations who's expertise is in powerful magic. Would they not survive? (Evermeet under protection from ancient mythals etc, and Thay being full of bad-asses) Your game sounds like Deadlands - just not wild, and not west,but rather lost and confused... I don't mean to bash your game, I do things that other DM's rip me over (The most recent being my 'Rage of Dragons' campaign - apparently I shouldn't feature another rage due to one that has just happened last year. On the flip side, IF wotc keep the realms/reality time-frame, do these DM's honestly expect me to sit and wait 999 more years for the next 'offical' one before allowing my players to take a part in it???......). I just think that you should have given it more thought, or even posted your idea up here to get help in developing an infalliable plot line. I also Commend you for the Gnome ref!! I missed it the first time when I read your post, but it got me this time. :rofl: (Anyone still confused - please see the 'Can Thay be Conquered' thread) |
| Walls01-30-07, 07:41 PM | My idea was set FAR in the future. I never said the Underdark collapsed. I just said there wasn't one. That could mean simply no one knows about it... or perhaps I am a tad annoyed with it's overuse :) There are other human lands. One is a total racist, humancentric land ruled by priests and paladins with ALL non priestly magic banned. RTacist and paladins? This is based on a philosophy (learned from my gf) that racism isn't inherently "evil". The other would be a more open land obviously. Also thinking of having a group of travelling "enforcers" of sort, basically a group who search the world for old magic etc to try and find out what happened, and at the same time enforce, police, protect and generally watch the use of any wizardry that might happen. I was thinking of a specific number which'd never change. One dies, they are replaced, etc, etc. Perhaps calling them Magisters or Inquisitors or something. It's a pretty fluid idea and I am certainly willing to take ideas. Still building. What I posted were just some. One thing I really wanted to do was not reveal every little detail about why everything is as is. Why not let DM's and Players come up with stories. Too much these days seems to be about events and history having to be exact. Why not foster more creativity. Plus, why give everything away. How could a guy ever sell more stuff if you did? |
| Lord Karsus01-30-07, 11:30 PM | And the portals? As Faerun is absolutely covered in them, including ones in the UD which link direct to the plane of air to provide a constant flow of oxygen... -Oh, I don't know. :P As for the collapse of the underdark? What about the Mythal in Waterdeep that prevents its collapse. -Waterdeep has no Mythal. True Mythal, anyway... Jumping back to Elves, should the new polar bound Elf Kingdom rear its head, or d'ya think its more of a realms secret thing. -Prince Lamuril's Realm? I'd think that him and his successor would be keeping that Elf haven a secret, even far into the future, simply because of the fact that the Tree of Souls is planted there. |
| MarkusTay6301-31-07, 01:40 AM | Actually, I'm pretty sure him and his party got lost going over the mountains and ate each other. :P The 'Horrible wasteland' thing sounds an awful lot like the Mournland from Eberron. In fact, it sounds like you just swapped out the Talenta halflings for wild Elves for your plains people. Then again, its nearly impossible to come up with a truly new idea. I think after the dark and terrible magic-war that laid waste to the land and blocked up all the hole to the Underdark, a race of intelligent simians evolved. Then you can have your party travel from the 'now' Realms through a portal into the far future. They will think they are on a different world, until they see the twisted wreckage of Candlekeep sticking up out of the sand... Oh... wait... that sounds eerily familiar.... :D ;) |
| Lord Karsus01-31-07, 01:42 AM | I think after the dark and terrible magic-war that laid waste to the land and blocked up all the hole to the Underdark, a race of intelligent simians evolved. -Eh, they already have those in Kara-Tur. -Those dirty apes... |
| ArnimThayer01-31-07, 04:41 AM | I did this awhile back in an effort to bru=ing certain "magic as tech" options from Eberron into the Realms. In short, it was not as well recieved as I had hoped. I might try again, sometime in the future, using D20 Modern as a base with Urban Arcana. Begin it with "Following the God's War, the Weave was weaked. The races of Faerun were forced to adapt, leading to a ne innovation... technology." |
| Walls01-31-07, 09:42 AM | Actually... I am not too overly familiar with Eberron. Maybe I'll read up and figure it out more. I am sure, though, that the halflings there are cannibals. The elves here are more like natives. The mournlands type area isn't full of weird magic. I am thinking the Gnomes basically set off a nuclear weapon-esque disasterey type thing. Make it a dead magic zone? Maybe only things like mindflayers and other psionic creatures can work here? But lordy, if I am THAT close to Ebersnore, I better do some reading and altering. |
| MarkusTay6301-31-07, 11:36 AM | I know the Halflings from Athas (Dark Sun setting) are cannibals, but the ones from Ebberron are just barbarians. Excerpt- "...halfling barabrians riding dinosaurs, performing heathen rituals, engaging in strange customs, and wearing strangs clothing." You must remember, since the human nations are technologically advanced (magitech) barbarians seem so much more bizarre to them then they would in the Realms. You could try using the tech from the Iron Kingdoms campaign setting, a cross between Steam and Magic. Although I tried steam tech in my FR and it wasn't well received either. I'd love to run a RL/Gothic Earth campaign, but I can't find anyone who's interested. I would use the original Gothic Earth supplemennt for RL, and incorporate things from Deadlands and Cthulu by Candlelight for a Victorian horror/fantasy mix. But I guess I was the only one who enjoyed The League of Extraodinary Gentlemen :( |
| clevercommie01-31-07, 04:18 PM | -Oh, I don't know. :P -Waterdeep has no Mythal. True Mythal, anyway... -Prince Lamuril's Realm? I'd think that him and his successor would be keeping that Elf haven a secret, even far into the future, simply because of the fact that the Tree of Souls is planted there. Inconsequential spoiler from the Last Mythal Point taken, but by that time, shouldn't it have grown a decent bit stronger, after all, they saw fit to risk a sapling in the new Cormanthyr realm... also with the whole self-replicating artifact aspect it isn't as important as the original canon made it, you know not being the Elves last hope... still I doubt it would have much practical interactions with it being have a world away from any near realms of note. |
| Lord Karsus01-31-07, 05:26 PM | I know the Halflings from Athas (Dark Sun setting) are cannibals, but the ones from Ebberron are just barbarians. Excerpt- "...halfling barabrians riding dinosaurs, performing heathen rituals, engaging in strange customs, and wearing strangs clothing." -The Book of Vile Darkness also had some barbarian Halflings, didn't it? The Jerren, or the Jeggereds, or something like that. Inconsequential spoiler from the Last Mythal Point taken, but by that time, shouldn't it have grown a decent bit stronger, after all, they saw fit to risk a sapling in the new Cormanthyr realm... also with the whole self-replicating artifact aspect it isn't as important as the original canon made it, you know not being the Elves last hope... still I doubt it would have much practical interactions with it being have a world away from any near realms of note. -Well, I'm sure you know about how the Last Mythal Trilogy messed up the Tree of Souls...I mean, the plant wasn't even at Evermeet, so Queen Amlauril really couldn't have provided the sapling to the Crusade. But, the damage is already done. But, either way, his realm probably wouldn't have much of a presence in the future, barring unforseen circumstances, such as the destruction of Evermeet, or something like that. |
| Stigger01-31-07, 05:50 PM | I liked The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen if it makes you feel any better Markus. Would probably work better as a WoD variation for me, but I can't stand HP Lovecraft's writing, so... |
| Old Sage01-31-07, 07:04 PM | -The Book of Vile Darkness also had some barbarian Halflings, didn't it? The Jerren, or the Jeggereds, or something like that.The Jerren, yes. |
| MerrikCale01-31-07, 09:15 PM | But I guess I was the only one who enjoyed The League of Extraodinary Gentlemen :( It was OK. Not great but fun. |
| see01-31-07, 09:24 PM | One thing I would do is end the Mulhorandi Pantheon. Anhur gets ripped down to demigodhood in portfolio conflict with both Talos and Tempus, then Hoar finishes him off. His worshipers largely turn to Lathander. Geb cedes his power to Nephthys and leaves the Realms Hathor cedes much of her power to the appropriate Faerunian deities (folk music to Milil, dance to Lliira, moon to Sune) and Isis (motherhood). She too leaves the Realms. Horus-Re assumes the name of Aumanator-Re and the appropriate portion of Lathander's following as the new god of the sun, kings, and rulership. He moves to the House of the Triad, and discards vengeance as no longer befitting his role and unnecessary now that Set has been laid low. (His name change and discarding of vengeance are seen by others as marking the final turn of the god away from his youth as Horus; in an appropriate turn, a significant number of his worshipers turn to Lathander.) Siamorphe's cult becomes a part of his church, viewing her as his Queen. Isis becomes the Faerunian goddess of marriage and motherhood, and takes up residence in the House of Nature near Chauntea. She peacefully cedes her magic portfolio to Mystra. Isis abandons the portfolio of rivers; her worshipers across Faerun don't associate rivers with lifegiving as intimately as the Mulhorandi do. Nephthys, protector of the tombs of the dead, expands with Geb's portfolio to become goddess of all buried wealth, whether tomb goods or veins of ore. Her portfolio is miners, mines, mineral resources, tombs, proper burial, and protection of the dead, and she joins Kelemvor in the Crystal Spire. Osiris dwindles to demigodhood, as Kelemvor, Tyr, and Chauntea leave him no room for any role. He remains in the Realms only to dwell with Isis, and is venerated only in her church as her husband. Sebek becomes a general Faerunian god of swamps and crocodiles. He serves Silvanus for protection from Malar's jealousy, and moves in as the only evil inhabitant of the House of Nature. He makes inroads among lizardfolk and other swamp-dwelling species. Set sees significant defection to Bane even before the formal consolidation, as his priests see Set as weak and a failure compared to Bane, whose church fought Mulhorand to a draw over northern Unther. Reduced to a lesser power, Set sees he has no chance on his own to contest the portfolios he shares with Bane (hate), Cyric (murder), Shar (night), Talos (destruction, drought), or Bane's ally Talona (poison). He cedes those portfolios and is reduced to demigodhood as god of deserts, snakes, ambition, and betrayal. Thoth faces a Faerunian Pantheon where all elements of his portfolio are controlled by Mystra (and her servant Azuth), Oghma (and his servants Deneir and Gond), and Shar. He withdraws from the Realms with Geb and Hathor, allowing Oghma to take over his church directly. Hoar, having had his vengeance on Anhur, rises in power, especially with Horus-Re discarding vengeance. |
| MarkusTay6302-01-07, 01:57 PM | It was OK. Not great but fun.As they say in PotC - "We have an accord" ;) I think the new (Elf) realm is like a patch. Originally, Evermeet was supposed to be this strange and exotic UNREACHABLE land that the Elves sailed off to in the west. Then fans wanted to know more, TSR did the 'greedy thing', and idiots clambered aboard boats and sailed for the UNREACHABLE island. Meh :yuck: I usually stick as close to canon as possible, but MY EVermeet is STILL inviolate, and the REAL tree is in Cormanthor now! Like I said earlier, the prince's party got lost in the snowy mountains and ate each other! (The party was, of course, led by the Archmage Donner, who was holding the map upside-down). :P Lamuril, the sole survivor, is now a Wendigo, BTW. :D |
| _SIN_02-01-07, 03:16 PM | Lamuril, the sole survivor, is now a Wendigo, BTW. :D What the hell's a wendigo? Sounds like another word for transvestite.... |
| Lord Karsus02-02-07, 12:25 AM | What the hell's a wendigo? Sounds like another word for transvestite.... -Close, but no cigar. A Wedingo it like a feral 'Canadian Yeti'. They are often confused with French-Canadian women who don't shave...:rimshot: -It was also the creature that the Hulk was fighting when Wolverine was first intorduced into comic books. Like I said earlier, the prince's party got lost in the snowy mountains and ate each other! (The party was, of course, led by the Archmage Donner, who was holding the map upside-down). :P -Well, Wizards are known to have high INT scores, but not the highest WIS scores...:nonono: |
| MarkusTay6302-02-07, 12:42 AM | -Close, but no cigar. A Wedingo it like a feral 'Canadian Yeti'. They are often confused with French-Canadian women who don't shave...:rimshot: -It was also the creature that the Hulk was fighting when Wolverine was first intorduced into comic books.Thats him alrighty, but you forgot the most important part - According to Canadian-Indian legend, a Wendigo is a human cursed into a monstrous form for having consumed human flesh. (it does sound kinda like a French woman) Hence, my reference. And he wasn't Wolverine, he was Weapon-X back then and wore the horrible bumble bee suit. I got quite a bit of money for that comic on E-bay a few years back. ;) Not nearly as much as my X-men annual #1 though...... (Hope you guys at least got the Donner party reference, what are they teaching kids these days?) :P |
| Lord Karsus02-02-07, 12:52 AM | Hence, my reference. And he wasn't Wolverine, he was Weapon-X back then and wore the horrible bumble bee suit. -No, he was Wolverine. Actually, he was "The Wolverine". That's how he introduces himself. I got quite a bit of money for that comic on E-bay a few years back. ;) Not nearly as much as my X-men annual #1 though...... -I can imagine... (Hope you guys at least got the Donner party reference, what are they teaching kids these days?) :P -What are they teaching us? That America is the source of all of the world's problems, and that we should hate our country, thanks to all those liberal, socialist-progressive college teachers! Ahem, excuse me...Ignore that little outbirst there. |
| Stigger02-02-07, 01:32 AM | Gnome hate, French hate... when does it stop... You people are just awful, evil haters, and I hate you all. :P |
| _SIN_02-02-07, 03:55 AM | What are they teaching us? That America is the source of all of the world's problems, and that we should hate our country, thanks to all those liberal, socialist-progressive college teachers! Ahem, excuse me...Ignore that little outbirst there. One slight edit, sir. *America IS the source of all the world problems...* Apparently....:incog: |
| Lord Karsus02-02-07, 12:09 PM | -Not even going to discuss it anymore. This kind of talking gets threads closed, and people warned/banned. I will say, though, that I find it sad that people fervently protest against their own country, and denounce it/bash it at every moment, yet these same people have never once said a word about, say Pakistani fundamentalists brutally beheading an innocent journalist by the name of Daniel Pearle...But, that's all about that, now. Back to the Realms...:) |
| MarkusTay6302-02-07, 01:09 PM | Thread repair commencing....... NOW! Lets say there was an WSE that pretty much nuked everyone back to the stoneage, wiped out nearly all traces of demi-humans and monsters, and caused the continents to shift once again. What would THAT world be like, say, 10,000 years later? We would have Earth, with all its crummy politicians, polution, and techno-garbage. So, everything that was said in the past few posts is DIRECTLY RELEVENT to the thread topic. :D You might be right about that LK, I don't own that comic anymore. I forgot that they changed him to Weapon-X retro-actively. There was at least one flashback to that earlier storyline where he was Weapon-X, but had just started to refer to himself as The Wolverine. I think it was in an Alpha-flight comic. |
| Stigger02-02-07, 02:00 PM | Good cover there Markus... I'm with you. Though as a quick aside, I don't think all that many people are referring to the country as a whole, more to the politicians in power and the special-interests they are beholden to and pander to. Looking back over things though, I'm a bit curious as to why you would ditch the Mulhorandi pantheon See? Always kinda liked them there myself, gave the area a very different and unique feel for me. |
| MarkusTay6302-02-07, 02:36 PM | I also had to go back, you confused me. Thanks for agreeing with me on the movie thing, too. :D How can anyone NOT love Sean Connery? Anyhow, it was See, not me, who killed the Mulhorandi. I just moved things around and had the Imaskari come from the area that is northern Mulhorand, rather then the Raurin desert. This way, Skuld was originally an Imaskari city, whom I pictured having Greco-Roman architecture. Murghom has the 'classic' Egyptian feel, whilst Southern mulhorand is like modern Egypt's Valley of kings. This gives me a little bit of the real-world feel in the area, with a Rome-like power contending with Egyptian and Persian-like powers. Also, the original Imaskari pantheon (Roman), whom the Imaskari abandoned early on, can still be found in certain backwater city-states but under different (Greek) names. I also use the Sumerian Pantheon from Deities and demigods 1e for Semphar, figuring they probably 'ported' those folks too. I never ditched the pantheons though. In fact, every God is alive in my Realms - the more the merrier. EDIT: Arrrgh! Just re-reading your post and realized you weren't even talking to me. The name 'See' is too easy to lose in a sentence, see? ;) |
| Lord Karsus02-02-07, 06:04 PM | Thread repair commencing....... NOW! -Nice work! |
| see02-03-07, 01:24 AM | First, because I am of the opinion that it's logical. The Mulhorandis cannot resist the same historical forces that merged all the other human pantheons. With the gods not living in Mulhorand any more, the resistance of Mulhorand as a polity to the cults of outside deities is weakened. At the same time, increased cultural contact as a result of the invasion of Unther is going to result in gods slipping over the borders both ways. The result is that the gods of Mulhorand are going to find themselves losing worshipers in their geographic sphere of influence to Faerunian gods. The choices will be to die, retrench, fight the gods of Faerun, or join the gods of Faerun. Choosing the first gets rid of the pantheon, of course. The second is just a slow suicide; with ports closed and borders guarded, the rest of the Realms will grow in wealth and power, and then Thay or somebody will come in and conquer them. The third is fast suicide; the Faerunian pantheon can smash the Mulhorandis in a fight, the churches of Faerun have vastly superior numbers than those of Mulhorand. The fourth lets the Mulhorandi gods not just survive, but extend their influence Realms-wide -- if they survive. Geb and Hathor are already considering leaving the Realms according to Faiths & Pantheons. Horus-Re, who leads the pantheon, would fade only minimal trouble in expanding Realms-wide. Sebek too, if in a minor role. Isis and Nephthys can adapt, especially with Geb and Hathor leaving. Anhur and Set aren't going to like the idea, but Horus-Re doesn't like either of them. That leaves Osiris and Thoth, who both stand to lose out, but have the wisdom to understand the lack of good alternatives and who have good relations with their Faerunian counterparts. Second, I think the cultural differences can be handled by just being cultural differences. Which deities are worshiped the most area-to-area can be changed without changing pantheons. Similarly, a church of the moon goddess can be different in Mulhorand than in Waterdeep because people in the two places have different cultures, not because the moon is embodied by different beings. And aliases allow them to worshipp the goddess by locally-appropriate names. I was never a fan of the Untheric and Mulhorandi pantheons. Third, because geographically divided portfolios don't make cosmological sense. With the current setup, let's say Selûne decides to reverse the direction the moon takes in orbit around Toril, so it starts rising in the west and setting in the east. Okay -- what happens if Hathor decides instead to move off at a 90-degree angle and rise from the south? Do we get the moon still rising in the east in Kara-Tur, in the west in most of the Realms, but in the south in Mulhorand? Wiping out an independent Mulhorandi pantheon helps the god of {thing} actually be the god of {thing}, not just have {thing} as symbol or an excuse to worship him. |
| MarkusTay6302-03-07, 01:47 AM | No, I think what we have is a WSE because the gawdamn moon is hoping all over the sky! The Tsunamis after that much tidal force would do more damage then the sundering (well, maybe not more). I agree though, I ignore the geographic maps and just say this god is popular here, and that one over there. The 'pantheon' thing is more like a local club in my opinion, it doesn't mean that they have to hang out with each other ALL the time. Especially at the yearly Heaven/Hell mixer. Now that parties a hoot!* * Shameless Little Nicky reference |
| Stigger02-04-07, 07:33 AM | Interesting ideas See... completely and utterly disagree from a cultural standpoint, as I see gods as embodiments of cultural values, hopes, and fears, and not as absolutes over a given sphere of influence. I can see where you're coming from given the Adama issue in the Shining South, but I like the idea of multiple pantheons personally, given the vast differences in cultural ideals between the Old Empires and Faerun. Makes the various religions of the Realms far too confrontational and crusading than I perceive them. Which is not to say that your point of view is wrong, just different from mine. :) |
| Markustay02-04-07, 03:41 PM | I agree though, I ignore the geographic maps and just say this god is popular here, and that one over there. The 'pantheon' thing is more like a local club in my opinion, it doesn't mean that they have to hang out with each other ALL the time. I must have been tired when I typed that - BAD other self! Actually Stigger, I DO use the maps. but not exactly the way they were intended. In the Spelljammer rules, as long as your god is active in a sphere you receive spells. If he's not, then your stuck casting spells of only level 3 or lower (unless YOUR god has a deal with a similar native god, or some such nonsense). I use that, and the whole 'Archtype' concept from 1e & 2e for not only the demi-human gods, but the humans as well. It works out mechanically the same, but by saying their is an Archtype Lightning god, then both Thor and Leir are his 'Avatars' (Powers are just Avatars of Archtypes). Therefore, as long as their is at least one 'Avatar' of your god within a sphere then your good to go. Anyhow, I digress. The point is that all gods can be worshipped in MY Realms, but the Pantheonic borders represented by the map represent spheres of power as well as influence. If you are within your gods Pantheonic sphere of influence, then you cast normally. If you are outside it, then you function at -1 caster level. In contested areas no-one gets the -1, which makes them interesting places for Interloper Gods or 'new' gods to make a name for themselves. I also have rules for shrines, temples, and cathedrals that tie into the whole 'power base' thing, you get +1 to your caster level when within it's sphere of influence - Shrines - +1 caster level when within 100' Temple/Church - This is your typical local place of worship, +1 caster level within one mile Cathedral - This is normally a MASSIVE structure, and most religions only have one, usually the main temple of a god. Smaller religions (less then intermidiate) are less likely to have even one, you get +1 caster level when within 100 miles of said structure. Also have bonuses for sevices taking place within a structure - If a temple or cathedral is having normal worship services (sermon, Marriage or funeral, monastic chanting), then you receive an addition +1 WHEN INSIDE. If you are present for a 'Greater Service' (A holy day sermon or perhaps a major sacrifice), then you receive a +2 to your caster level WHEN INSIDE. So if your a cleric of Lathander and your in Mulhorand you had best find at least a shrine to lathander somewhere nearby to offset the -1. You could always peform your own 'ceremony' (say prayers) at a shrine so you are covered for THAT day only. In this way, I have simulated how clerics are stronger when closer to their deity's 'power'. Also, you get +1 for touching a relic of your god, +2 caster level for actually possessing said relic. So if you are in the main cathedral of Deneir (Spirit Soaring?) during a holy day service and are touching the alter (which just so happens to be an artifact/relic dedicated to deneir), then you would be casting at +4 levels! (5 if you had a relic in your backpack) Priests are always more powerful when on their home turf. :D Just my house rules, take 'em for what they're worth. |
| Stigger02-04-07, 06:07 PM | I try to avoid a lot of mechanics from the divine personally, but I must admit, the stuff you're proposing there does make some sense to me Markus... gotta contemplate them a bit more to see if I can make some use of them later on. Already have too much of an established way of doing things to change stuff so far into a campaign, but could be useful for the next one. |
| MarkusTay6302-06-07, 01:45 PM | To be honest with you, it RARELY comes into play. My players so far have never left the zone of the Faerunian pantheon, and have never attempted magic in or around a shrine, church, etc... Those rules are really just a concept thing of mine, so if anyone does decide to say some preyers in church before an adventure, I know how it will affect things. I don't tell them, because then they would just do it for the mechanics, and I encourage RPing. It also makes all the small shrines to gods located throughout the Realms a little more meaningful, and 'standing stones' help druids cast as well. I try to create a set of 'background rules' so that the game sessions feel more like stories in a novel then just a bunch of dice rolling. |