A.D. 1000 - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

A.D. 1000

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Delazar78
Dec 15, 2009 6:15:35
I'm tinkering with the idea of running an heroic (level 1 to 10) campaign set in Real World Europe in the year 1000.

Basically, everything is exactly as it is in real hystory/geography, up until the year 1000, when the Apocalypse will happen. Or at least, start to happen.

Gates to/from Hell will open, and Lucifer and his legions will come through, to destroy Earth.

Now, at the moment the campaign starts, the only available Power Source will be Martial, and the only race available will be Human. Then, as the campaign progresses, I will introduce new Power Sources, tied to a specific new Race. This means that each race can only select a class belonging to its related Power Source.

Lucifer will send forth Devil legions, whose footsolfiers will be Tieflings, bringing with the the Arcane Power of Hell.

God will send Devas to Earth to help Humans fight, and with them the Divine Power source will be available.

Elves (or maybe all fey creatures), hiding for so long, will step forward to protect what is also their world, and Primal Power source will be available.

I would like to tie each Power Source to one specific race. I'm looking for a few suggestions as to what race tie to what power source.

So far, I'm planning the following:

Martial - All races
Divine - Devas
Arcane - Tieflings
Primal - Elves (maybe this should be all Fey)

Optional (not sure if I want to add these)
Shadow - Shadar-kai (but I'm not really sure how they would fit in real-world mythology)
Psionic - Human (something like, since Humans cannot access "magic", they find in themselves the ability to harness mental powers)

I know this will limit choice A LOT, but I'm just coming out of a campaign where we allowed EVERY SINGLE THING that is out, so now I'd like to give a bit (lot) more focus to the campaign.

Ideas? Suggestions?
#2
pluisjen
Dec 15, 2009 6:24:26 Make sure your players are OK with the idea of using real life religion in the game. Not everyone enjoys that.

Also, if you want to display realistic medieval life, make sure you read up... it's nothing at all like what you see in the movies & games made about them. Life back then basically sucked, big time.

Is your idea that players have to make new characters to use a newly available race/source? That can be fun, especially if the world and the story are gritty and death happens a lot.
(But in that case, make sure to have something that is continuous, so the story doesn't die when the last original character does)

I also see these as most basic power sources for the races:

Dragonborn - Martial
Human - any
Halfelf - any
Halfling - Martial
Elf - Primal
Dwarf - Divine
Tiefling - Arcane
Eladrin - Arcane
Gnome - Arcane
Shifter - Primal
Halforc - Martial or Primal
Deva - Divine
Goliath - Martial or Primal

Good luck with your campaign
#3
Delazar78
Dec 15, 2009 7:27:02 Make sure your players are OK with the idea of using real life religion in the game. Not everyone enjoys that.

good suggestion, knowing them I'm pretty sure they won't mind, thanks for the tip.

Also, if you want to display realistic medieval life, make sure you read up... it's nothing at all like what you see in the movies & games made about them. Life back then basically sucked, big time.

Yes, one of the main reason to use this setting is also that there's a lot of info on the internet (I mean, it's REAL history), so I'll try to keep it as near to reality as possible. At the same time, this is still DnD, so it's going to be leaning heavily on the movies/games side of things

Is your idea that players have to make new characters to use a newly available race/source? That can be fun, especially if the world and the story are gritty and death happens a lot.
(But in that case, make sure to have something that is continuous, so the story doesn't die when the last original character does)

Yes, since everyone will start as human, and they only have access to Martial Powers. So, once the Devas are in play, if they want to play one, they'll have to change character. The "glue" to keep all this togheter whould be the fact that Apocalypse is NOW, so this won't end until the end of the campaign (and maybe won't end at all, depending on how the heroes fare)

Good luck with your campaign

thx
#4
Sinasilver
Dec 15, 2009 8:07:39 Why not allow a character to multi-class into the new power sources as they appear? If demonic hoardes and divine legions tear holes in reality and start crawling out of the woodwork, I could see first a great many "exteme aligned" individuals siding accordingly.. And then later moving on to teach.

That might now really sound realistic I guess.. But.. Presumably this is replacing arms races. Instead of who has the best metal, the best technique for sword making etc, and trying to steal it.. They'd want to learn to harness these powers if at all possible.

In essence, each character must START in the aloted power source, But can multi-class into anything they can meet the requirements for and find a teacher for? It could also be a good source of quests for you. It's easy to become a warlock.. Pacts are a dime a dozen when the hoards start setting up camps.. But who teaches you to commune with forgotten spirits you can neither see or hear? Who teaches you the to summon fire and ice from the sky by communing with forgotten gods?

As for my votes on power sources to go where?

I think you might be going about it wrong. Power sources loosly collect similarly themed classes. But most classes have two "sub-sources" in my opinion, at least. Barbarians have spirit rages.. But when I think of dwarves, I think of axe-wielding, iron clad berserkers. When I think of elves.. I don't think of barbarians. I think of rangers and druids.

It's be more work, but you might consider grouping classes accordingly by race, instead of power sources? Power sources are in my opinion, just to broad to be epitomized by race.
#5
Delazar78
Dec 15, 2009 8:33:43 I was going more with the idea ONLY Devas can be DIVINE, (and only leves can be primal etc.)Humans simply won't be able to access these power sources (in the same way as Tieflings won't be able to access the Divine Power Source). It is VERY restrictive, I know, but that was the initial idea.

I like your suggestion of having Humans wanting to learn how to harness these new power sources, I may consider it. My initial idea was to play on the sense of alienation and real distance between the races, which simply can't do what other (races) can, but each of them has a special gift (the power source accessible to them).

And an Elven Whirling Barbarian seems quite allright (also thinking about Kagonesti Elves from Dragonlance)...
#6
Dreamstryder
Dec 16, 2009 1:00:37
Back to historical Europe's scriptures and ideas. The idea of people invoking the Devil and such may offer the Warlock class as the only Arcane class available to others. Prophets as divine representatives may mean invokers are available to other races, too. These classes may still be unavailable when their sources (gods and devils) are not yet manifest. These 2 classes have as part of their flavor a native connected to a foreign power. If you want to round things out, a shaman could be the Primal "exception class." Taken too far, and you'll just wind up with anything-for-anybody again; this is just an idea for thought.
#7
Delazar78
Dec 16, 2009 2:17:43
I was also thinking of allowing Humans with "heritage" feats to access the Power Source of their heritage.

This would explain several saints and "miracles" of legend. Humans with the "deva heritage" feat. And I would restrict Heritage feats only to humans.

I may have to include Half-elves as an EXTREMELY rare race.

PS: I just noticed there're no fiendish heritage feats... mh...
#8
guang
Dec 17, 2009 7:59:37 Isn't there an RP that did something like this? I forget the name though. Something about a storm, and a rift, and some people changing into elves and other fantasy creatures.

Anyway, might be a good resource to help flesh things out.

Sorry can't be more specific.
#9
Delazar78
Dec 26, 2009 3:53:03 I think Shadowrun had something similar to what you're describing.
#10
Delazar78
Dec 26, 2009 3:55:35
AD1000 – House Rules and Guidelines

The Campaign is set in Real World Europe in the year 999 Anno Domini, a year before the coming of the foreseen Apocalypse.

Allowed Races and Classes

At the start of the Campaign, the only available Race will be “Humans”, and the only available Power Source will be “Martial”. The Martial Power Source will be available to every Race.

As new Races are introduced, new Power sources will be available, as follows:

All Races – Martial (Fighter, Ranger, Rogue, Warlord)
Elves – Primal (Barbarian, Shaman, Warden, Druid)
Devas – Divine (Avenger, Cleric, Invoker, Paladin)
Tieflings – Arcane (Wizard, Warlock, Sorcerer, Bard)

The only allowed Classes are from PHB1 and PHB2. For Feats/Powers/Non Magical Equipment etc., all material in the DDI is allowed. Feat and Powers related to classes not allowed or not yet introduced in the game are not allowed.

Rituals

Rituals can only be performed by a character belonging to a class with a matching Power Source and trained skill, as follows:

Arcana – Arcane classes
Religion – Divine classes
Nature – Primal classes
Heal – Cleric and Shaman
Diplomacy - Bard

Raise Dead Ritual: This ritual does not exist.

Alchemy

Still undecided about this

Dying

Since the Raise Dead ritual does not exist, when a PC dies the first time, he’s not really dead, but simply out of combat for at least 8 hours. Once he recovers, he will suffer a -1 to all checks until he reaches 3 milestones, and a permanent loss of a Death Saving Throw slot (so, next time he will die when he fails TWO death saving throws, instead of 3). The second times he dies, he will suffer -2 to all checks until he eaches 3 milestoens, and a permanent loss of TWO Death Saving Throw slots. The third death is PERMANENT.

Inherent Enhancement

Since Magic Items will be extremely rare, this Campaign will use the “Inherent Enhancement” Rules for DMG2.

PS: this is still a work in progress, just toying with a few ideas.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Delazar78 Dec 15, 2009 6:15:35	I'm tinkering with the idea of running an heroic (level 1 to 10) campaign set in Real World Europe in the year 1000. Basically, everything is exactly as it is in real hystory/geography, up until the year 1000, when the Apocalypse will happen. Or at least, start to happen. Gates to/from Hell will open, and Lucifer and his legions will come through, to destroy Earth. Now, at the moment the campaign starts, the only available Power Source will be Martial, and the only race available will be Human. Then, as the campaign progresses, I will introduce new Power Sources, tied to a specific new Race. This means that each race can only select a class belonging to its related Power Source. Lucifer will send forth Devil legions, whose footsolfiers will be Tieflings, bringing with the the Arcane Power of Hell. God will send Devas to Earth to help Humans fight, and with them the Divine Power source will be available. Elves (or maybe all fey creatures), hiding for so long, will step forward to protect what is also their world, and Primal Power source will be available. I would like to tie each Power Source to one specific race. I'm looking for a few suggestions as to what race tie to what power source. So far, I'm planning the following: Martial - All races Divine - Devas Arcane - Tieflings Primal - Elves (maybe this should be all Fey) Optional (not sure if I want to add these) Shadow - Shadar-kai (but I'm not really sure how they would fit in real-world mythology) Psionic - Human (something like, since Humans cannot access "magic", they find in themselves the ability to harness mental powers) I know this will limit choice A LOT, but I'm just coming out of a campaign where we allowed EVERY SINGLE THING that is out, so now I'd like to give a bit (lot) more focus to the campaign. Ideas? Suggestions?
#2 pluisjen Dec 15, 2009 6:24:26	Make sure your players are OK with the idea of using real life religion in the game. Not everyone enjoys that. Also, if you want to display realistic medieval life, make sure you read up... it's nothing at all like what you see in the movies & games made about them. Life back then basically sucked, big time. Is your idea that players have to make new characters to use a newly available race/source? That can be fun, especially if the world and the story are gritty and death happens a lot. (But in that case, make sure to have something that is continuous, so the story doesn't die when the last original character does) I also see these as most basic power sources for the races: Dragonborn - Martial Human - any Halfelf - any Halfling - Martial Elf - Primal Dwarf - Divine Tiefling - Arcane Eladrin - Arcane Gnome - Arcane Shifter - Primal Halforc - Martial or Primal Deva - Divine Goliath - Martial or Primal Good luck with your campaign
#3 Delazar78 Dec 15, 2009 7:27:02	Make sure your players are OK with the idea of using real life religion in the game. Not everyone enjoys that. good suggestion, knowing them I'm pretty sure they won't mind, thanks for the tip. Also, if you want to display realistic medieval life, make sure you read up... it's nothing at all like what you see in the movies & games made about them. Life back then basically sucked, big time. Yes, one of the main reason to use this setting is also that there's a lot of info on the internet (I mean, it's REAL history), so I'll try to keep it as near to reality as possible. At the same time, this is still DnD, so it's going to be leaning heavily on the movies/games side of things Is your idea that players have to make new characters to use a newly available race/source? That can be fun, especially if the world and the story are gritty and death happens a lot. (But in that case, make sure to have something that is continuous, so the story doesn't die when the last original character does) Yes, since everyone will start as human, and they only have access to Martial Powers. So, once the Devas are in play, if they want to play one, they'll have to change character. The "glue" to keep all this togheter whould be the fact that Apocalypse is NOW, so this won't end until the end of the campaign (and maybe won't end at all, depending on how the heroes fare) Good luck with your campaign thx
#4 Sinasilver Dec 15, 2009 8:07:39	Why not allow a character to multi-class into the new power sources as they appear? If demonic hoardes and divine legions tear holes in reality and start crawling out of the woodwork, I could see first a great many "exteme aligned" individuals siding accordingly.. And then later moving on to teach. That might now really sound realistic I guess.. But.. Presumably this is replacing arms races. Instead of who has the best metal, the best technique for sword making etc, and trying to steal it.. They'd want to learn to harness these powers if at all possible. In essence, each character must START in the aloted power source, But can multi-class into anything they can meet the requirements for and find a teacher for? It could also be a good source of quests for you. It's easy to become a warlock.. Pacts are a dime a dozen when the hoards start setting up camps.. But who teaches you to commune with forgotten spirits you can neither see or hear? Who teaches you the to summon fire and ice from the sky by communing with forgotten gods? As for my votes on power sources to go where? I think you might be going about it wrong. Power sources loosly collect similarly themed classes. But most classes have two "sub-sources" in my opinion, at least. Barbarians have spirit rages.. But when I think of dwarves, I think of axe-wielding, iron clad berserkers. When I think of elves.. I don't think of barbarians. I think of rangers and druids. It's be more work, but you might consider grouping classes accordingly by race, instead of power sources? Power sources are in my opinion, just to broad to be epitomized by race.
#5 Delazar78 Dec 15, 2009 8:33:43	I was going more with the idea ONLY Devas can be DIVINE, (and only leves can be primal etc.)Humans simply won't be able to access these power sources (in the same way as Tieflings won't be able to access the Divine Power Source). It is VERY restrictive, I know, but that was the initial idea. I like your suggestion of having Humans wanting to learn how to harness these new power sources, I may consider it. My initial idea was to play on the sense of alienation and real distance between the races, which simply can't do what other (races) can, but each of them has a special gift (the power source accessible to them). And an Elven Whirling Barbarian seems quite allright (also thinking about Kagonesti Elves from Dragonlance)...
#6 Dreamstryder Dec 16, 2009 1:00:37	Back to historical Europe's scriptures and ideas. The idea of people invoking the Devil and such may offer the Warlock class as the only Arcane class available to others. Prophets as divine representatives may mean invokers are available to other races, too. These classes may still be unavailable when their sources (gods and devils) are not yet manifest. These 2 classes have as part of their flavor a native connected to a foreign power. If you want to round things out, a shaman could be the Primal "exception class." Taken too far, and you'll just wind up with anything-for-anybody again; this is just an idea for thought.
#7 Delazar78 Dec 16, 2009 2:17:43	I was also thinking of allowing Humans with "heritage" feats to access the Power Source of their heritage. This would explain several saints and "miracles" of legend. Humans with the "deva heritage" feat. And I would restrict Heritage feats only to humans. I may have to include Half-elves as an EXTREMELY rare race. PS: I just noticed there're no fiendish heritage feats... mh...
#8 guang Dec 17, 2009 7:59:37	Isn't there an RP that did something like this? I forget the name though. Something about a storm, and a rift, and some people changing into elves and other fantasy creatures. Anyway, might be a good resource to help flesh things out. Sorry can't be more specific.
#9 Delazar78 Dec 26, 2009 3:53:03	I think Shadowrun had something similar to what you're describing.
#10 Delazar78 Dec 26, 2009 3:55:35	AD1000 – House Rules and Guidelines The Campaign is set in Real World Europe in the year 999 Anno Domini, a year before the coming of the foreseen Apocalypse. Allowed Races and Classes At the start of the Campaign, the only available Race will be “Humans”, and the only available Power Source will be “Martial”. The Martial Power Source will be available to every Race. As new Races are introduced, new Power sources will be available, as follows: All Races – Martial (Fighter, Ranger, Rogue, Warlord) Elves – Primal (Barbarian, Shaman, Warden, Druid) Devas – Divine (Avenger, Cleric, Invoker, Paladin) Tieflings – Arcane (Wizard, Warlock, Sorcerer, Bard) The only allowed Classes are from PHB1 and PHB2. For Feats/Powers/Non Magical Equipment etc., all material in the DDI is allowed. Feat and Powers related to classes not allowed or not yet introduced in the game are not allowed. Rituals Rituals can only be performed by a character belonging to a class with a matching Power Source and trained skill, as follows: Arcana – Arcane classes Religion – Divine classes Nature – Primal classes Heal – Cleric and Shaman Diplomacy - Bard Raise Dead Ritual: This ritual does not exist. Alchemy Still undecided about this Dying Since the Raise Dead ritual does not exist, when a PC dies the first time, he’s not really dead, but simply out of combat for at least 8 hours. Once he recovers, he will suffer a -1 to all checks until he reaches 3 milestones, and a permanent loss of a Death Saving Throw slot (so, next time he will die when he fails TWO death saving throws, instead of 3). The second times he dies, he will suffer -2 to all checks until he eaches 3 milestoens, and a permanent loss of TWO Death Saving Throw slots. The third death is PERMANENT. Inherent Enhancement Since Magic Items will be extremely rare, this Campaign will use the “Inherent Enhancement” Rules for DMG2. PS: this is still a work in progress, just toying with a few ideas.