Describe a Nation in Your Campaign - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Describe a Nation in Your Campaign

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Guiltl3ss
May 16, 2010 14:27:49
Hi everyone. I am currently trying to create information for my Campaign World. Currently, I have the nations and the ideas...just not sure how I'd like to put it down. Why not show me how you all do it? I'm basically trying have an overview desribing what the nation is, it's values, cities, views on subjects, relations with other nations, etc. Any help would be appreciated!
#2
mieorabloodsong
May 17, 2010 9:46:22 Here is what I do for nations, they each take 2 pages in my notebook.

The first page contains:
Dominant Race, Language, Ruler, Capital, Religion, Stance on Slavery, Problems (like X country wants to invade, or Leader Y is corrupt, citizens are being watched by thought police and getting pissed off), Exports (mainly so I know what kind of farm they are passing), and currency (because I dont like just using pieces, but each currency is worth the exact same so no exchange rate.)

On the next page I have a map with numbers on it, the numbers are the important places. I start with 3-6 and then add more as my players travel. Then each number gets a page in my notebook, describing its population, government, defense, commerce, important organizations, and religions. This is actually for cities, towns, and villages. Fantastic locations get Location, Description, History, Residents, and Size.

I may add more to these later but thats what I use for my world building. And people may tell you to start small and just build a tiny village, then build out, but do what ever interests you more. You will have to plan a starting village eventually, but if you prefer to build the whole world and then fit in the village rather than fit the world around the village, have fun.
#3
Bamboo
May 18, 2010 3:24:31 pandamanslair.blogspot.com/
This is my website and it has my DnD stuff, among other things.

Moonsilver is the current center of my game world. Also you can see I have listed a grip of NPCs that inhabit the city. NPCs I feel make the world come alive.

Moonsilver
Moonsilver is a bustling, cosmopolitan port city. They have a small arcane college, and a bardic school.
Population: 35000 with as many as half who live with in 50 miles
Government: Moonsilver is for all purposes a theocracy devoted to Sehanine. The mayor is Lord Severn (human male), a devout worshiper of Sehanine. The High Priestess is Lady Kometsu (elf female), and she practically runs everything... if it wasn’t for Lady Suli Bryghton (tiefling female). She is the real power behind the prosperity of Moonsilver.
Defense: Moonsilver possess a variety of different troop types. They have a small navy, a few airships and an army made up of not just warriors but heavily peppered with arcane casters and Sehenine acolytes. The Knights of the Moon are champions known far and wide.
Inns: **** ‘n Dagger, Sehanine’s Rest are two of the most common inns
Taverns: the Bard Stop, the Flying Swallow, the Dancing Maiden are some of the more popular taverns
Supplies: Darvan Coaster, Vorkaan Trade House are the two major trading coasters
Trade: trade simply flourishes in Moonsilver.
Temples
• The Spires of the Moon: Sehanine. It resides on the largest earthmote in Moonsilver. It hovers some four-hundred feet in the air and has a commanding view.
• Halls of Knowledge: Ioun with Corellon, Erathis and Moradin
• House of Change: Avandra with Melora
• The Rookery: Raven Queen

Important People
• Suli Bryghton (tiefling female; cleric [Sehanine]): the secret power behind Moonsilver. While she is not the church lead, she has considerable power as she controls the Umbral Order, a secret society of Sehanine worshipers.
• Kometsu of the Moonhair (elf female; cleric [Sehanine]): the high priestess of the Spires of the Moon.
• Elsair Skysilver (eladrin male; avenger [Sehanine]): a member of the Umbral Order
• Severn Thunderhand (human male): a large man at 6'6" and a devout worshiper of Sehanine
• Left (human female; fighter): a giantess standing at 13' tall. Mean and she takes no guff. Suli’s bodyguard
• Margo Trapman (human female; rogue): a woman who has been with Suli since her teen age years. Though she is not a devout Sehanine worshiper she is one of the Umbral Order’s greatest agents
• Elomyria (elder silver dragon female): old beyond her years, Elomyria worships Sehanine and is a living repository of lore
• Adeni Vorkaan (adult steel dragon male): no one knows that there is a dragon in their midst. Adeni is a merchant prince
• Akelnan Ullar (human male): the leader of the armed forces of Moonsilver. He is an older man with years of experience. He is looking to retire soon
• Bokendur Ironhammer (dwarf male): Akelnan’s well chosen second in command
• Naikel of the Moonsword (half-elf female): the newly formed head of the Knights of the Moon
• Chavie Dren (human female): captain of the airship the Autumn Raptor, a small skiff mainly used in smuggling
• Borta (minotaur male): a mercenary down on his luck
• Tessi (human female): a smiple bathmaid who works at the ****'n'Dagger
• Nardenalf Golem-master (human male): master of the arcane college of Moonsilver. Master maker of golems. Always has at least one in attendance.
• Ea-lai of the Song (teifling female): the master of the bardic college of Moonsilver
#4
mieorabloodsong
May 18, 2010 11:24:02 ooo I like the idea of having taverns.

And I forgot to mention the NPCs, I write them down once they are associated with a place.
#5
fuka
May 21, 2010 14:16:21 Forgive the length please, but..

Here's a long entry from our campaign wiki:

The Edimithion Republic
History
The Edimithion Republic was founded in 1517 at the height of the Anarsi Civil War by the inclusion of the refugee Houses Fain and Matokka into the government of the occupied Kingdom Of Edimithion.

The first Arkale (High Kale) was Tam Ulber, who served a single ten-year term from 1517 to 1527. He was succeeded by Salmun Zornek.

Geography and Demographics
Edimithion has nine internal provinces: Salona, Shenna, Koptos, Kessel, Tuena, Mithionas, Sarkandias, Matokenna and Deodus.

Edimithion has as its northern and western border the DeodusMountains; with its eastern and southern borders being The Vassath. The Koptos Mountains form the Koptos Province which separates Kessel Province from Shenna (northern) and Salona (south coast) Provinces.

Edimithion has approximately 1.5 million citizens, broken down physically as follows:

65% Mithalo

20% Zais

4% Hier

3% Chotaka

3% Vani Human

2% Dzorvekh Krong (Minotaur)

2% Norvekh Krong (Centaur)

1% Khorvekh Krong (Canoid) and others

And culturally as follows:

70% culturally Mithie

28% culturally Kessel

2% other (Khorvekh, Dzorvekh and Nah Vani)

Mithie culture and Kessel culture exist side by side and are not exclusive.

Worship
Edimithions worship as follows by primary church of worship:

20% Multidenominational (Light, Chaos, Balance, Order)

50% Light religions - An Gia dominant

15% Chaos religions - evenly split between the three

10% Order religions - Nomotheos dominant

3% Other - Dark, Balance, Nature.

2% Monotheistic

Politics

The Constitution Of Edimithion was penned by Laoren Zornek, Salmun Zornek, Decator Matokka, Tam Ulber, Micall Tanosse, Onar Wren, Vida Wren, and Nakkar Fain. It creates a Unicameral Legislature called the Moot based upon the Imperial Krong Moot, the office of the Arkale (a chief executive, Prime Minister and head of government), a monarchic head of state (Imperial Princess Tiranne Tomarus, the Fire Lady), and a semi-independent Judiciary (the Praetors).

It is important to note that the head of state of the Edimithion Republic (the Fire Lady) is also the Rani-Designate of the Anarsi Empire as well as being apparently immortal. The Fire Lady has a rarely-used veto of the Moot, the right to form into treaties with other nations, the right to appoint ambassadors, the right to ask for a declaration of war and the right to appoint a successor. Her duties include overseeing the swearing-in of the Arkale, overseeing the defense of the Republic (she bears the title of Defender of the Republic) and may function as a tie-breaker in the case of a tied vote in the Moot. Historically, the defender role has been the only duty that the Fire Lady has taken seriously.

The Edimithion Republic has had over time several score political parties, but five have remained prominent since 1517:
The Shenna River Conservative Party (Rural, Conservative)
The Edimithion Social Justice Coalition (Urban, Liberal)
The Mithal River Mining Guild (Both, Moderate)
The Athonika Electoral League (Both, Moderate)
The Temple Coalition (Urban, Conservative)

Conservative politics has traditionally revolved around limiting the influence of dedicated (persons who are avowed to a specific diety) individuals on politics as well as increasing the power of the culturally Mithalo Major Houses.
Moderate politics is involved with increasing the stability of the Republic's middle class as well as keeping peace with the Republic's neighbors.
Liberal politics has normally been associated with increasing public morality and increasing the standards of living for poor Edimithions.

Culture
The Edimithion Republic has over the course of several centuries adopted a near nation-wide macroculture, with a number of subcultural elements dependent upon which branch of humanity one belongs to.
Food
Edimithions have a very noticeable cultural diet, consisting of rice, garlic, peppers, lizard, fish and shellfish. Fish or shellfish is cooked (normally braised or pan-fried) with spices (garlic, pepperseed, and pepper oil)and wine or ale and served over rice in a bowl. Lizard ("gillaos" or food-lizard or alligator) is broiled or fried, then chopped up and prepared as fish would be. In Mithionas, some fowl are used in place of lizard. This dish is called peppers and rice (One doesn't order the meat when purchasing it from a vendor or at a tavern, it is implied) and is normally eaten as both lunch and dinner each day.
Various regions add vegetables and spices to peppers and rice. In Shenna it is common to see chopped potatoes, carrots and greens. In Tuena, honey and fruit are frequently added; In Mithionas, onions and beans are added.
Peppers and rice is considered by most folks even inside the Republic to be an 'acquired taste' and many visitors subsist on rice and local cheese and omit the peppers. Many Vani notably find the dish to be difficult to eat.
One major contribution to world cuisine from Edimition is the kunkel. Kunkels are fried oblate balls of rice-and-flour dough. The cooked kunkels are frequently dipped or rolled in a confection - sugar, cocoa, cinnamon. Kunkels are now prepared in most civilized areas.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Guiltl3ss May 16, 2010 14:27:49	Hi everyone. I am currently trying to create information for my Campaign World. Currently, I have the nations and the ideas...just not sure how I'd like to put it down. Why not show me how you all do it? I'm basically trying have an overview desribing what the nation is, it's values, cities, views on subjects, relations with other nations, etc. Any help would be appreciated!
#2 mieorabloodsong May 17, 2010 9:46:22	Here is what I do for nations, they each take 2 pages in my notebook. The first page contains: Dominant Race, Language, Ruler, Capital, Religion, Stance on Slavery, Problems (like X country wants to invade, or Leader Y is corrupt, citizens are being watched by thought police and getting pissed off), Exports (mainly so I know what kind of farm they are passing), and currency (because I dont like just using pieces, but each currency is worth the exact same so no exchange rate.) On the next page I have a map with numbers on it, the numbers are the important places. I start with 3-6 and then add more as my players travel. Then each number gets a page in my notebook, describing its population, government, defense, commerce, important organizations, and religions. This is actually for cities, towns, and villages. Fantastic locations get Location, Description, History, Residents, and Size. I may add more to these later but thats what I use for my world building. And people may tell you to start small and just build a tiny village, then build out, but do what ever interests you more. You will have to plan a starting village eventually, but if you prefer to build the whole world and then fit in the village rather than fit the world around the village, have fun.
#3 Bamboo May 18, 2010 3:24:31	pandamanslair.blogspot.com/ This is my website and it has my DnD stuff, among other things. Moonsilver is the current center of my game world. Also you can see I have listed a grip of NPCs that inhabit the city. NPCs I feel make the world come alive. Moonsilver Moonsilver is a bustling, cosmopolitan port city. They have a small arcane college, and a bardic school. Population: 35000 with as many as half who live with in 50 miles Government: Moonsilver is for all purposes a theocracy devoted to Sehanine. The mayor is Lord Severn (human male), a devout worshiper of Sehanine. The High Priestess is Lady Kometsu (elf female), and she practically runs everything... if it wasn’t for Lady Suli Bryghton (tiefling female). She is the real power behind the prosperity of Moonsilver. Defense: Moonsilver possess a variety of different troop types. They have a small navy, a few airships and an army made up of not just warriors but heavily peppered with arcane casters and Sehenine acolytes. The Knights of the Moon are champions known far and wide. Inns: ** ‘n Dagger, Sehanine’s Rest are two of the most common inns Taverns: the Bard Stop, the Flying Swallow, the Dancing Maiden are some of the more popular taverns Supplies: Darvan Coaster, Vorkaan Trade House are the two major trading coasters Trade: trade simply flourishes in Moonsilver. Temples • The Spires of the Moon: Sehanine. It resides on the largest earthmote in Moonsilver. It hovers some four-hundred feet in the air and has a commanding view. • Halls of Knowledge: Ioun with Corellon, Erathis and Moradin • House of Change: Avandra with Melora • The Rookery: Raven Queen Important People • Suli Bryghton (tiefling female; cleric [Sehanine]): the secret power behind Moonsilver. While she is not the church lead, she has considerable power as she controls the Umbral Order, a secret society of Sehanine worshipers. • Kometsu of the Moonhair (elf female; cleric [Sehanine]): the high priestess of the Spires of the Moon. • Elsair Skysilver (eladrin male; avenger [Sehanine]): a member of the Umbral Order • Severn Thunderhand (human male): a large man at 6'6" and a devout worshiper of Sehanine • Left (human female; fighter): a giantess standing at 13' tall. Mean and she takes no guff. Suli’s bodyguard • Margo Trapman (human female; rogue): a woman who has been with Suli since her teen age years. Though she is not a devout Sehanine worshiper she is one of the Umbral Order’s greatest agents • Elomyria (elder silver dragon female): old beyond her years, Elomyria worships Sehanine and is a living repository of lore • Adeni Vorkaan (adult steel dragon male): no one knows that there is a dragon in their midst. Adeni is a merchant prince • Akelnan Ullar (human male): the leader of the armed forces of Moonsilver. He is an older man with years of experience. He is looking to retire soon • Bokendur Ironhammer (dwarf male): Akelnan’s well chosen second in command • Naikel of the Moonsword (half-elf female): the newly formed head of the Knights of the Moon • Chavie Dren (human female): captain of the airship the Autumn Raptor, a small skiff mainly used in smuggling • Borta (minotaur male): a mercenary down on his luck • Tessi (human female): a smiple bathmaid who works at the **'n'Dagger • Nardenalf Golem-master (human male): master of the arcane college of Moonsilver. Master maker of golems. Always has at least one in attendance. • Ea-lai of the Song (teifling female): the master of the bardic college of Moonsilver
#4 mieorabloodsong May 18, 2010 11:24:02	ooo I like the idea of having taverns. And I forgot to mention the NPCs, I write them down once they are associated with a place.
#5 fuka May 21, 2010 14:16:21	Forgive the length please, but.. Here's a long entry from our campaign wiki: The Edimithion Republic History The Edimithion Republic was founded in 1517 at the height of the Anarsi Civil War by the inclusion of the refugee Houses Fain and Matokka into the government of the occupied Kingdom Of Edimithion. The first Arkale (High Kale) was Tam Ulber, who served a single ten-year term from 1517 to 1527. He was succeeded by Salmun Zornek. Geography and Demographics Edimithion has nine internal provinces: Salona, Shenna, Koptos, Kessel, Tuena, Mithionas, Sarkandias, Matokenna and Deodus. Edimithion has as its northern and western border the DeodusMountains; with its eastern and southern borders being The Vassath. The Koptos Mountains form the Koptos Province which separates Kessel Province from Shenna (northern) and Salona (south coast) Provinces. Edimithion has approximately 1.5 million citizens, broken down physically as follows: 65% Mithalo 20% Zais 4% Hier 3% Chotaka 3% Vani Human 2% Dzorvekh Krong (Minotaur) 2% Norvekh Krong (Centaur) 1% Khorvekh Krong (Canoid) and others And culturally as follows: 70% culturally Mithie 28% culturally Kessel 2% other (Khorvekh, Dzorvekh and Nah Vani) Mithie culture and Kessel culture exist side by side and are not exclusive. Worship Edimithions worship as follows by primary church of worship: 20% Multidenominational (Light, Chaos, Balance, Order) 50% Light religions - An Gia dominant 15% Chaos religions - evenly split between the three 10% Order religions - Nomotheos dominant 3% Other - Dark, Balance, Nature. 2% Monotheistic Politics The Constitution Of Edimithion was penned by Laoren Zornek, Salmun Zornek, Decator Matokka, Tam Ulber, Micall Tanosse, Onar Wren, Vida Wren, and Nakkar Fain. It creates a Unicameral Legislature called the Moot based upon the Imperial Krong Moot, the office of the Arkale (a chief executive, Prime Minister and head of government), a monarchic head of state (Imperial Princess Tiranne Tomarus, the Fire Lady), and a semi-independent Judiciary (the Praetors). It is important to note that the head of state of the Edimithion Republic (the Fire Lady) is also the Rani-Designate of the Anarsi Empire as well as being apparently immortal. The Fire Lady has a rarely-used veto of the Moot, the right to form into treaties with other nations, the right to appoint ambassadors, the right to ask for a declaration of war and the right to appoint a successor. Her duties include overseeing the swearing-in of the Arkale, overseeing the defense of the Republic (she bears the title of Defender of the Republic) and may function as a tie-breaker in the case of a tied vote in the Moot. Historically, the defender role has been the only duty that the Fire Lady has taken seriously. The Edimithion Republic has had over time several score political parties, but five have remained prominent since 1517: The Shenna River Conservative Party (Rural, Conservative) The Edimithion Social Justice Coalition (Urban, Liberal) The Mithal River Mining Guild (Both, Moderate) The Athonika Electoral League (Both, Moderate) The Temple Coalition (Urban, Conservative) Conservative politics has traditionally revolved around limiting the influence of dedicated (persons who are avowed to a specific diety) individuals on politics as well as increasing the power of the culturally Mithalo Major Houses. Moderate politics is involved with increasing the stability of the Republic's middle class as well as keeping peace with the Republic's neighbors. Liberal politics has normally been associated with increasing public morality and increasing the standards of living for poor Edimithions. Culture The Edimithion Republic has over the course of several centuries adopted a near nation-wide macroculture, with a number of subcultural elements dependent upon which branch of humanity one belongs to. Food Edimithions have a very noticeable cultural diet, consisting of rice, garlic, peppers, lizard, fish and shellfish. Fish or shellfish is cooked (normally braised or pan-fried) with spices (garlic, pepperseed, and pepper oil)and wine or ale and served over rice in a bowl. Lizard ("gillaos" or food-lizard or alligator) is broiled or fried, then chopped up and prepared as fish would be. In Mithionas, some fowl are used in place of lizard. This dish is called peppers and rice (One doesn't order the meat when purchasing it from a vendor or at a tavern, it is implied) and is normally eaten as both lunch and dinner each day. Various regions add vegetables and spices to peppers and rice. In Shenna it is common to see chopped potatoes, carrots and greens. In Tuena, honey and fruit are frequently added; In Mithionas, onions and beans are added. Peppers and rice is considered by most folks even inside the Republic to be an 'acquired taste' and many visitors subsist on rice and local cheese and omit the peppers. Many Vani notably find the dish to be difficult to eat. One major contribution to world cuisine from Edimition is the kunkel. Kunkels are fried oblate balls of rice-and-flour dough. The cooked kunkels are frequently dipped or rolled in a confection - sugar, cocoa, cinnamon. Kunkels are now prepared in most civilized areas.