Non-magical Campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Non-magical Campaign [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Masuro
11-19-06, 06:49 PM In the odd spare moment I have been working on a new campaign. I have a rough map of the continent drawn and before I start adding nations and descriptions of areas I need to decide if I want magic in the campaign or not. I like the idea of a non-magical campaign but I've seen it written by someone that D&D without magic is boring. I beg to differ, but I would like to have some other opinions. Some classes like sorceror would disappear, of course, and there would be no clerics. Healing would be accomplished by things such as ointments and herbal remedies and I have written rough notes on a herbalist NPC class. Rangers would gain some extra abilities to make up for the loss of their clerical spell-casting abilities. Naturally, there would be no magic monsters such as undead but creatures like dragons would stay with their magical bits stripped away. No magical items but weapons made of Damascus steel or fantasy substances would add attack and damage bonuses. As a player, would you be interested in playing in such a campaign?
SilvercatMoonpaw
11-20-06, 09:10 AM Be warned, you did ask for this:

Are we still talking unrealistic medievil level of technology and society here? Then no. You'd have to at least give me the Renaissance and black powder pistols so I could be a swashbuckling pirate before I'd play a no-magic campaign.
Masuro
11-20-06, 09:25 AM Thank you for your feedback. The campaign would be mediaeval or perhaps even an earlier period where bronze weapons are the norm and iron would be special. But I am still thinking about that.
Draegun Fury
11-20-06, 02:41 PM I think that a non-Magic World/Campaign would be great to play in. However, I think you'd probably find that we are the minority (indeed I now only know of the two of us), perhaps you'd be better off making an extremely low-level World.

Kind of like Pirtes of the Carribean, level magic. That is to say, 60% of the World believe there's no such thing, 30% of the world believe there is, but they've never encountered it (they are simply superstitious (SP?), 9% have encountered magic on the rare occasion, and 1% have actually used it (whether casting a spell, or wielding a magic item).

Now, magic items in such a world are low-key (No flaming swords), but they can be powerful in their own rite. Take Captain Jack Sparrow's Compass, in D&D Terms I'd almost class it as a lesser artifact. Seriously, it points to whatever your heart desires the most. Now, no-one knows it does this, they just think it's broken "A Compass that doesn't point North".

I like the Damascus Steel Idea, and I'd keep Mithril and Adamantine (probably named something else though).

As a time frame I'd suggest early Renaisance, (That's when Knights actually wore "Shining Armor") or late Medieval.
These are the times when you get Greatswords and Bastard Sword-sized swords. You get your Fullplates, and a few firearms. Horses are strting to decline in their use (Which makes successful horse charges all the more Heroic). Piracy is starting to pick up (in its more modern sense). And a new geneation of Adventurers are being born.

Now, if you choose to use any of the advice I'm giving you, I beg of you use this. The StarWars WP/VP System, along with its Defense System, and Armor as DR system, and its Healing System!

It adds a level of realism to a low/no magic game (that you'll) need, and actually adds to help the PC's survive (They effectivly gain a few extra Hit Points, and DR, and they'll heal faster, an absolute must in a world without clerics).

Anyways, I hope I've helped in whatever way one can.

Cheers.
Masuro
11-21-06, 08:40 AM Thank you for your ideas. I don't like firearms and I'd rather keep the D&D combat system instead of getting involved with other games' systems. Plus, I don't have those books. :)
Drindin
11-22-06, 02:03 AM This thread sounds like it would be better fitted for Here (http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=295)
Masuro
11-22-06, 05:50 AM Thank you for the link. :)
Eberik
12-20-06, 05:13 PM I am working on a similar idea to this one myself. It's in the homebrew and fantasy sections called (working title, long post). I was going for a low level but slowly growing one for magic, but now I am reworking all of that into a idea that maybe there is no magic at all and go from there.
Take a look, and if interested, lets bounce some ideas back and forth.

Jym
Erilev
12-21-06, 10:25 AM I don't think they post here any more Eberik. lol I havn't seen an actual post in like a month.
Masuro
12-21-06, 05:29 PM I was going to respond but I was away for a few days.
Despite the somewhat negative response here about a non-magical campaign, I started a pre-game setup post over at the Real Fantasy forum. There was a lot of interest and the five slots were filled within a day. I will visit your thread soon and mention a few ideas I have for my campaign.
Thanks for posting.
Wastelander75
12-23-06, 06:48 PM Well I would love to play in a non-magic game,I am currently running one as a low-magic wear steel wopuld give you a bouns on attack and damage rools,the normal weapons I have is Iron but you can get soem bronze weapons as well.And healing is fun in my game as well,salves sem to be a god send you find the right herbs :-).If you need any help with some of this let me know and I can give you what knowlegde I have on it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Masuro 11-19-06, 06:49 PM	In the odd spare moment I have been working on a new campaign. I have a rough map of the continent drawn and before I start adding nations and descriptions of areas I need to decide if I want magic in the campaign or not. I like the idea of a non-magical campaign but I've seen it written by someone that D&D without magic is boring. I beg to differ, but I would like to have some other opinions. Some classes like sorceror would disappear, of course, and there would be no clerics. Healing would be accomplished by things such as ointments and herbal remedies and I have written rough notes on a herbalist NPC class. Rangers would gain some extra abilities to make up for the loss of their clerical spell-casting abilities. Naturally, there would be no magic monsters such as undead but creatures like dragons would stay with their magical bits stripped away. No magical items but weapons made of Damascus steel or fantasy substances would add attack and damage bonuses. As a player, would you be interested in playing in such a campaign?
SilvercatMoonpaw 11-20-06, 09:10 AM	Be warned, you did ask for this: Are we still talking unrealistic medievil level of technology and society here? Then no. You'd have to at least give me the Renaissance and black powder pistols so I could be a swashbuckling pirate before I'd play a no-magic campaign.
Masuro 11-20-06, 09:25 AM	Thank you for your feedback. The campaign would be mediaeval or perhaps even an earlier period where bronze weapons are the norm and iron would be special. But I am still thinking about that.
Draegun Fury 11-20-06, 02:41 PM	I think that a non-Magic World/Campaign would be great to play in. However, I think you'd probably find that we are the minority (indeed I now only know of the two of us), perhaps you'd be better off making an extremely low-level World. Kind of like Pirtes of the Carribean, level magic. That is to say, 60% of the World believe there's no such thing, 30% of the world believe there is, but they've never encountered it (they are simply superstitious (SP?), 9% have encountered magic on the rare occasion, and 1% have actually used it (whether casting a spell, or wielding a magic item). Now, magic items in such a world are low-key (No flaming swords), but they can be powerful in their own rite. Take Captain Jack Sparrow's Compass, in D&D Terms I'd almost class it as a lesser artifact. Seriously, it points to whatever your heart desires the most. Now, no-one knows it does this, they just think it's broken "A Compass that doesn't point North". I like the Damascus Steel Idea, and I'd keep Mithril and Adamantine (probably named something else though). As a time frame I'd suggest early Renaisance, (That's when Knights actually wore "Shining Armor") or late Medieval. These are the times when you get Greatswords and Bastard Sword-sized swords. You get your Fullplates, and a few firearms. Horses are strting to decline in their use (Which makes successful horse charges all the more Heroic). Piracy is starting to pick up (in its more modern sense). And a new geneation of Adventurers are being born. Now, if you choose to use any of the advice I'm giving you, I beg of you use this. The StarWars WP/VP System, along with its Defense System, and Armor as DR system, and its Healing System! It adds a level of realism to a low/no magic game (that you'll) need, and actually adds to help the PC's survive (They effectivly gain a few extra Hit Points, and DR, and they'll heal faster, an absolute must in a world without clerics). Anyways, I hope I've helped in whatever way one can. Cheers.
Masuro 11-21-06, 08:40 AM	Thank you for your ideas. I don't like firearms and I'd rather keep the D&D combat system instead of getting involved with other games' systems. Plus, I don't have those books. :)
Drindin 11-22-06, 02:03 AM	This thread sounds like it would be better fitted for Here (http://boards1.wizards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=295)
Masuro 11-22-06, 05:50 AM	Thank you for the link. :)
Eberik 12-20-06, 05:13 PM	I am working on a similar idea to this one myself. It's in the homebrew and fantasy sections called (working title, long post). I was going for a low level but slowly growing one for magic, but now I am reworking all of that into a idea that maybe there is no magic at all and go from there. Take a look, and if interested, lets bounce some ideas back and forth. Jym
Erilev 12-21-06, 10:25 AM	I don't think they post here any more Eberik. lol I havn't seen an actual post in like a month.
Masuro 12-21-06, 05:29 PM	I was going to respond but I was away for a few days. Despite the somewhat negative response here about a non-magical campaign, I started a pre-game setup post over at the Real Fantasy forum. There was a lot of interest and the five slots were filled within a day. I will visit your thread soon and mention a few ideas I have for my campaign. Thanks for posting.
Wastelander75 12-23-06, 06:48 PM	Well I would love to play in a non-magic game,I am currently running one as a low-magic wear steel wopuld give you a bouns on attack and damage rools,the normal weapons I have is Iron but you can get soem bronze weapons as well.And healing is fun in my game as well,salves sem to be a god send you find the right herbs :-).If you need any help with some of this let me know and I can give you what knowlegde I have on it.