Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 gnomemaster Jan 19, 2009 17:53:48	A bit ago, I was working on a Science Fiction Roleplaying setting, now I've decided to take some of that and instead create a more Science Fantasy setting. First of all, I am a fan of Soft Science Fiction, and this is going to be that way. Instead of technology this universe is built on magic. In fact, the very first stepping stone of this setting is one of Larry Niven's many laws: "Any sufficiently advanced magic is indistinguishable from technology." Once we begin with that very simple principle then it makes the setting a little easier. I understand that a Magical Science Fiction setting isn't for everyone, and to that I have nothing to say, the best thing I can do is take your advice and move on. I plan on posting this a bit on Obsidian Portal, and making myself a Wiki, but for now I'm just cooking up idea and listening to feedback. I'd also be interested in hearing suggestions or suggested readings. The first Trope that I wanted to work with was Space Travel and FTL travel. Travel between planets, solar systems and galaxies is accomplished with Portals. These Portals are 8 feet X 3 1/2 feet. Portals like roads, designed to only go to specific destinations. The Map of the Galaxy is not very accurate at all because it is based on the pathways of the Portals not an actual map of a galaxy. In fact the map will look a little something like this: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20070627/a1509_1198.1.jjr.fob.jpg Aliens: Lots of them, in fact I doubt there will be humans. There will probably be a pretty human race, but mostly alien. Sorcery and Swords: No ray guns, no guns (they are very shoddy of a renaissance level) No Starfleet: In my opinion, the big downside of Star Trek is the fact that it focuses in on the Para-Military Starfleet and not so much on civilians. Stories will focus on merchants, adventurers, and other private citizens. In fact, the players will more then likely be apart of the Arbogast Expeditions, a foundation dedicated to mapping the portals and discovering their origins. That's all for now... Still working on aliens and things like that. It's important that I don't rely too much made up words, although they will be included, all Alien languages are translated into Common. So one example are the Children of the Light, dedicated to their god and spreading the word and putting an end to heretics. (in their language they call themselves Dolari)
#2 sparkchaser Jan 19, 2009 19:58:57	Interesting ideas for portals. Why did you pick that size? What happens if you need to move an elephant from Caledonia to New Cairo 250 light years away? More importantly, how are new routes constructed? That's all for now... Still working on aliens and things like that. It's important that I don't rely too much made up words, although they will be included, all Alien languages are translated into Common. I suggest unabashedly using either the babelfish (Douglas Adams) or the translator microbes (Farscape).
#3 yellowdingo Jan 19, 2009 20:08:01	A Voyage to the Moon At the appointed time the Wizard came on deck and began a spell that opened a Gate to the elemental plane of Water. The Mammoth vortex opened before us. But instead of sailing into the Gate, the Helmsman at the Captain's instructions circled the whirlpool somehow travelling further out of the maelstrom eye than in. The journey took a week but before us was revealed a new land that the Wizard assured us was the Moon. The port ahead sat on powder white sand and protruded from the shadows of the Oldest Forest known to man. "Welcome to the Secret Land!" DM BRIEFING: The PCs are taken by Ship to the moon. A wizard uses a gate spell to grant them access to the Sea of Eternity.
#4 matthewswift Jan 19, 2009 20:08:57	Stargate meets Firefly meets DnD. glorious.
#5 gnomemaster Jan 19, 2009 20:31:52	Interesting ideas for portals. Why did you pick that size? What happens if you need to move an elephant from Caledonia to New Cairo 250 light years away? More importantly, how are new routes constructed? I picked that size because that's the size of all the doors in my house, and I have always felt that the doors in my house are huge. If you have to move an elephant through the portals, plain and simply... you don't. Ha, no. This is a world where science is ignored for Magic, so you would just shrink down the elephant to the size of a Chihuahua and carry him through the Portal. However, there won't be any Elephants, just weird monsters. As for the Language question, I like the idea of a translating Torque, a small enchanted piece of jewelry you wear around your neck that translates languages.
#6 gnomemaster Jan 19, 2009 20:36:33	A Voyage to the Moon At the appointed time the Wizard came on deck and began a spell that opened a Gate to the elemental plane of Water. The Mammoth vortex opened before us. But instead of sailing into the Gate, the Helmsman at the Captain's instructions circled the whirlpool somehow travelling further out of the maelstrom eye than in. The journey took a week but before us was revealed a new land that the Wizard assured us was the Moon. The port ahead sat on powder white sand and protruded from the shadows of the Oldest Forest known to man. "Welcome to the Secret Land!" DM BRIEFING: The PCs are taken by Ship to the moon. A wizard uses a gate spell to grant them access to the Sea of Eternity. Interesting ideas. I'm going to avoid Starships to keep this from becoming Spelljammer. Instead interplanetary travel happens with the Portals. There will definitely be traveling to moons... And wizards, priests, rogues, etc. I like the imagery that you illustrate and am glad to know that you "get it". The beautiful but alien landscapes are what I am shooting for. If the PCs are in a forest the trees are going to be thousands of feet tall! if the planet has moutains they make Everest look like a hill. Just to name a few.
#7 gnomemaster Jan 19, 2009 20:37:57	It's also important for me to answer the question: Where does the magic come from? Mystidium is the oil of this universe. It is the magical element that powers all the fantastic machines and portals in the universe.
#8 gnomemaster Jan 19, 2009 20:40:29	More importantly, how are new routes constructed? New Portals are discovered, not built. Most planets have somewhere around 20 routes. Although only a few of these routes are known. They were created by a mysterious Lovecraftian species known as Chakelops (one of the hidden antagonists of the campaign). The Chakelops created the portals eons ago and haven't been seen ever since.
#9 gnomemaster Jan 19, 2009 21:38:26	Planet names: Viscerma Meliara Olora Carnassus Tusteus Pelusane Phago Susarnus Golypide Iane Oesol Xyset Visane Visarot Itacal Odiatas Ustho Dostrovia Zere Amon Cethois Iaes Theope Dasi Nius Nothusta Than Kron Gonic Joreau And that's just the first few!
#10 gnomemaster Jan 20, 2009 0:15:49	Here's a drawing I did of an Alien, this is what I picture. Alien Warrior
#11 gnomemaster Jan 20, 2009 0:46:27	Another alien I drew in fifteen minutes Show
#12 sparkchaser Jan 20, 2009 7:26:44	New Portals are discovered, not built. Most planets have somewhere around 20 routes. Although only a few of these routes are known. They were created by a mysterious Lovecraftian species known as Chakelops (one of the hidden antagonists of the campaign). The Chakelops created the portals eons ago and haven't been seen ever since. I like that. It's kinda like Contact meets The More in God's Eye. Does use of portals require rituals?
#13 gnomemaster Jan 20, 2009 10:03:58	Well the portals are Plot Devices in my opinion. A lot like the Lightning Rail (trains) from Eberron. I wanted something unique for the universe. I want a serialized set of adventures with a circular structure to it. The PCs enter a new world through a portal, then they must go find the portal to the next planet. However, it's never that simple. For example, they walk through a freshly opened portal and find themselves caught in the middle of a World War between many factions. Or the portal they need is already turned on, and guarded by a religious sect that demand payment of some sort to enter the portal. a lot of the Portals the PCs use will already be turned on and owned by a large and powerful guild. The guild demands a small toll (only a few copper pieces) and you don't have to worry about walking into something dangerous. However, some of the portals will be dormant, or shut down. These dormant portals will require a ritual, a key component to running the portals is Mystidium. Mystidium is a made up element (of course it's made up) thats viscous and luminescent in it's raw form. In it's more refined form it is more watery and is the component that makes things glow (swords, runes, etc.) It is incredibly valuable, a little dab will do ya, and it's a Macguffin. It will probably have no real game rules to it (at least, not in my game) It's gold by any other name. Some planets may not be interested in gold coins (the currency of the more refined planets) but everyone uses Mystidium, it can be found on most planets. So as treasure, the player's may get a small vial of Mystidium worth 1,000 gold pieces.
#14 gnomemaster Jan 20, 2009 12:31:18	New World! Nius, Throneworld of the Children of the Light This is one of the many worlds that is a key part of the Alliance. The Alliance is a coalition of several societies that signed nonaggression pacts years ago. This is a very shaky Alliance. The Children of the Light (or Illumaratoriaas they call themselves) are a theocratic society focused on the worship of an entity known as "The Light". Their race spreads through out the known worlds as missionaries, dedicating their lives to converting the irreligious and building temples to The Light. The average Child of the Light stands about 5' to 6' tall. They have electric blue skin and white shocks of hair. Their eyes glow purple. They are a society based on religion, seeing themselves as guardians against the coming shadow. Nius is made up of three major continents, each one settled by it's native people. The first is Throne, a bustling city with Temples on every street, Throne is also the seat of power for the theocracy. It is the doorway to the many holy sites the World of Nius has to offer. The second is Sword, the military testing ground of the Theocracy. It is a land of desert where Paladins and the Warmages of the Light practice and refine weaponry. It is also the home to several tribes of barbarians. Little is known about the barbarian hordes as most information is squashed by the theocracy. The third and final continent is Shield, the holy land of The Church of the Light. It is a fabled land, filled with stories and is the setting of the Tome of Faith. Pilgrims from across the universe travel to Shield hoping to pray at one of the many holy sites. This pilgrimage is required for every faithful at least once in their lifetime.
#15 angorath Jan 25, 2009 15:59:16	Peter F. Hamilton's books Pandora's Star and sequel Judas Unchained have interstellar travel by wormholes that link planets - much like your portals - except that his wormholes are bigger. And people don't walk through the wormholes - they travel by train. The size of your portals makes mass transit through them somewhat difficult, but this might be what you want.
#16 space_dragon Jan 25, 2009 16:31:32	I had an idea for a setting like this, some time ago. A few questions: 1. Is this using the 4e rules? 2. If so, are you including any standard dnd races or monsters? Answer, and I'll happily contribute.
#17 angelofthenight Jan 25, 2009 19:46:43	The Dreaming Brethern Methods The Dreaming Brethern are devoted to spreading the Word of the Dreamer. They are ruled by the Church, and their home planet is Fanor. The Church cares nothing for what they preach, their only goal is the subversion and conquest of societies. They typically infiltrate a planet from the ground up. First, they spread the Word of the Dreamer among the common people, then, they force a conflict with the dominant faith. The conflict quickly turns bloody, and the Brethern acts with great savagery in an attempt to force the dominant faith to recognize them. Once this happens, the Church steps in and manufactures a crisis, at which point the Brethern requests permission to form a militia and makes huge loans to the government. Soon after that, the planet joins the Church. The Church The Church controls five major planets, with limited influence on countless others. The principle planets are Fanor, Vorakash, Novrimor, Karakan, and Kiun. Fanor is the capital planet, also called the Heart of the Church. It has no core, formed entirely of lacy red rock formations. The largest formations of rock have been hollowed out over centuries, now housing the secret archives of the Church. The other four planets are devoted to the manufacture of weapons, armor, and currency. Fanor collects taxes and ore from all planets of which they have the least influence on. Trade The Church will sell anyone, anything, for a price. The Church dose not deal in gold for their wares, however. They want information, contacts, and favors. If a general wants to launch a coup, then the Church will sell weapons, bribe officials, and supply soldiers. They will demand exorbitant amounts of taxes from the planet. The one thing that a being can be sure of in dealing with the Machiavellian Church is that any opening given to them will be exploited to the fullest. To the posters who will doubtlessly point this out, yes, this is based on Lazarus's cult in the Lords of Creation thread.