One-hundred and fifty years ago, something appeared in the Dhovainian sky. An object, tiny at first but over the years growing into a massive black orb larger than our own sun, or any of our three moons. It brought with it catastrophe that plagued us in many forms. The first catastrophe came as a rain of fire and rock that pelted our landscape and destroyed our cities. As the object grew, it began to influence the already dangerous creatures of our world, turning them into stronger, more bloodthirsty monsters that ravaged our lands and killed our people. They say that a third catastrophe is coming. They say that the black sun in our sky signals the waking of the Void.
And she is hungry.
THE GAME
I am very excited to announce the newest game I have been working on called Dhovaine. It is a science fantasy game set in a modern world with hints of futurism and steam punk. The game has a comprehensive rules system based on a 3d6 mechanic that prioritizes storytelling and legendary actions. If you're a fan of unique, never-before-seen systems, dig into comic books like Wayward, I Hate Fairyland and Locke & Key and also enjoy settings like Warhammer 40K, Final Fantasy, Malifaux and World Of Darkness then you're going to love Dhovaine.
Dhovaine is set in a possible alternate timeline to Earth. Much like Earth, civilizations have risen and fallen. Each, of them, having their own cultures, technology, faiths and traditions. Today, the people of Dhovaine possess an advanced level of technology similar to Earth's, if not a little further advanced. Even though mortals of Dhovaine live at this higher level of technology, there is still a great deal that they do not understand about the world. Technology exists from historically significant and technologically advanced cultures that modern people simply do not understand. Some of this mysterious technology is still in use today. Some of that forgone technology has been studied in order to assist in some of the most recent technological advances in weaponry, transportation and communication. Still other bits of this technology is unusable and completely foreign to the people of Dhovaine. Twisted, seemingly maleficent constructs sit completely unused in warehouses as well as old ruins, waiting to unleash heir power. This setting, called Dhovaine, is ready to provide players with all manner of story and challenge to those who would brave it.
The game system of Dhovaine is intended to be fast-paced and story driven, while still being involved and complex. It is intended to assist in driving the story that the group would like to create, and to help devise and design the imaginative places and events that the Fatemaster needs to describem as well as the actions and stories of the player characters as they join the Hunters and defend mortal civilizations against the legendary and dangerous monsters that inhabit the world. Everything about the system is devised with those things in mind.
THE SETTING
The world of Dhovaine is not Earth, even if it does share a vast number of similarities. If you placed the two planets next to each other, you might think that they were one in the same. It isn't until you look more closely that you begin to realize the differences between your world and the world of Dhovaine.
The first thing that one must realize when examining the world of Dhovaine is that magic has always been. It was a driving force in the creation of the world and the inhabitants that occupy it. It is just as much a force of nature as wind or water, and it helped to shape not only the inhabitants but the face of the world itself. Much like water and wind erode the surface of the Earth you know, so too does magic erode and change the face of Dhovaine. Just as evolution and natural selection determine which animals survive into the coming days, so too does magic have its hand in determining the biological fate of all living creatures of Dhovaine. Mortals have always known magic, and continually feel its presence in their lives. While not the only creatures in Dhovaine that can manipulate and shift the ebb and flow of its energies, mortals have perhaps been the most affected by its predations both directly and indirectly.
Magic has not only directed the biological flow of the creatures living in Dhovaine, but also the intellectual pursuits of the mortals that dwell there. Civilization as mortals know it would not have been possible without the advent of the technology that stemmed from magical knowledge. It was, in fact, magic that became mortals' earliest technology, and from it all modern science and technology was born. Due to the effect that magic has had on natural and biological events and forces in the world of Dhovaine, all sorts of strange and fantastic things exist that would cause it to become unrecognizable in comparison to our own world.
Current life in Dhovaine is not all that different from current life here on Earth. Electricity powers homes outfitted with lights and running water. Vehicles, aircraft and trains allow mortals to commute across long distances quickly. Artisans craft everything from jewelry and furniture to specialty bread and perfumes. Entertainment is had in the forms of home and portable technological devices and music. People read books, talk about politics and live lives much like you and I might.
Life inside the cities is protected and relatively safe compared to life outside. Great walls hundreds of feet high and dozens thick protect the citizens of the largest cities from all but the strongest monsters. Weather prediction can give enough warning to allow citizens to find safe places when solar storms and inclimate weather systems endanger them. Life inside the cities allows shelter and safety in numbers.
Life outside the large cities can be extremely dangerous. Still, even outside the cities, mortals tend to gather in small settlements along popular roadsides and resources. These settlements often have very little by way of defense against the elements and monsters that lurk within Dhovaine. These settlements usually thrive near resources. Some farm these areas, others mine or hunt. Settlements such as these are a hub for hunters due to the increased need for the protection they offer. Within the cities, hunters are often seen as rabble. An unneeded relic of a bygone era. Those outside the cities, however, know that they are a much-needed line of defense against creatures much higher on the food chain than themselves.
The Dhovaine – A new role-playing game from Higher Grounds is on Kickstarter until Saturday 15th April.
And she is hungry.
THE GAME
I am very excited to announce the newest game I have been working on called Dhovaine. It is a science fantasy game set in a modern world with hints of futurism and steam punk. The game has a comprehensive rules system based on a 3d6 mechanic that prioritizes storytelling and legendary actions. If you're a fan of unique, never-before-seen systems, dig into comic books like Wayward, I Hate Fairyland and Locke & Key and also enjoy settings like Warhammer 40K, Final Fantasy, Malifaux and World Of Darkness then you're going to love Dhovaine.
Dhovaine is set in a possible alternate timeline to Earth. Much like Earth, civilizations have risen and fallen. Each, of them, having their own cultures, technology, faiths and traditions. Today, the people of Dhovaine possess an advanced level of technology similar to Earth's, if not a little further advanced. Even though mortals of Dhovaine live at this higher level of technology, there is still a great deal that they do not understand about the world. Technology exists from historically significant and technologically advanced cultures that modern people simply do not understand. Some of this mysterious technology is still in use today. Some of that forgone technology has been studied in order to assist in some of the most recent technological advances in weaponry, transportation and communication. Still other bits of this technology is unusable and completely foreign to the people of Dhovaine. Twisted, seemingly maleficent constructs sit completely unused in warehouses as well as old ruins, waiting to unleash heir power. This setting, called Dhovaine, is ready to provide players with all manner of story and challenge to those who would brave it.
The game system of Dhovaine is intended to be fast-paced and story driven, while still being involved and complex. It is intended to assist in driving the story that the group would like to create, and to help devise and design the imaginative places and events that the Fatemaster needs to describem as well as the actions and stories of the player characters as they join the Hunters and defend mortal civilizations against the legendary and dangerous monsters that inhabit the world. Everything about the system is devised with those things in mind.
THE SETTING
The world of Dhovaine is not Earth, even if it does share a vast number of similarities. If you placed the two planets next to each other, you might think that they were one in the same. It isn't until you look more closely that you begin to realize the differences between your world and the world of Dhovaine.
The first thing that one must realize when examining the world of Dhovaine is that magic has always been. It was a driving force in the creation of the world and the inhabitants that occupy it. It is just as much a force of nature as wind or water, and it helped to shape not only the inhabitants but the face of the world itself. Much like water and wind erode the surface of the Earth you know, so too does magic erode and change the face of Dhovaine. Just as evolution and natural selection determine which animals survive into the coming days, so too does magic have its hand in determining the biological fate of all living creatures of Dhovaine. Mortals have always known magic, and continually feel its presence in their lives. While not the only creatures in Dhovaine that can manipulate and shift the ebb and flow of its energies, mortals have perhaps been the most affected by its predations both directly and indirectly.
Magic has not only directed the biological flow of the creatures living in Dhovaine, but also the intellectual pursuits of the mortals that dwell there. Civilization as mortals know it would not have been possible without the advent of the technology that stemmed from magical knowledge. It was, in fact, magic that became mortals' earliest technology, and from it all modern science and technology was born. Due to the effect that magic has had on natural and biological events and forces in the world of Dhovaine, all sorts of strange and fantastic things exist that would cause it to become unrecognizable in comparison to our own world.
Current life in Dhovaine is not all that different from current life here on Earth. Electricity powers homes outfitted with lights and running water. Vehicles, aircraft and trains allow mortals to commute across long distances quickly. Artisans craft everything from jewelry and furniture to specialty bread and perfumes. Entertainment is had in the forms of home and portable technological devices and music. People read books, talk about politics and live lives much like you and I might.
Life inside the cities is protected and relatively safe compared to life outside. Great walls hundreds of feet high and dozens thick protect the citizens of the largest cities from all but the strongest monsters. Weather prediction can give enough warning to allow citizens to find safe places when solar storms and inclimate weather systems endanger them. Life inside the cities allows shelter and safety in numbers.
Life outside the large cities can be extremely dangerous. Still, even outside the cities, mortals tend to gather in small settlements along popular roadsides and resources. These settlements often have very little by way of defense against the elements and monsters that lurk within Dhovaine. These settlements usually thrive near resources. Some farm these areas, others mine or hunt. Settlements such as these are a hub for hunters due to the increased need for the protection they offer. Within the cities, hunters are often seen as rabble. An unneeded relic of a bygone era. Those outside the cities, however, know that they are a much-needed line of defense against creatures much higher on the food chain than themselves.
The Dhovaine – A new role-playing game from Higher Grounds is on Kickstarter until Saturday 15th April.
