airwalkrr
Adventurer
Our Campaign Setting Has a Name: Shatterscape!
I have an idea and want to see if there would be any interest in a pbp campaign along these lines. Here it is. Using Open Content for the 3.5 system, a group of players and I would collaborate to design a campaign world in which to adventure. We would begin by detailing one region of the world, making maps and detailing a few communities in that area. Players would contribute details for communities in which their respective characters were raised, and could collaborate if, for example, two players both want to originate from the same city; the player of a rogue might detail the thieves' quarter while the player of a cleric might detail the temple district.
Adventure hooks would be provided by the players, each of who would also detail a few potential adventure sites in the region. Ancient ruins, infamous dungeons, or the tower of an evil wizard would be good examples. In this way, the players would have some input over what types of adventures they will have the opportunity to get involved in.
Next, and this is perhaps the best part, players may, if they wish, design and play their own character classes, with the caveat that the other players must approve of the class by a majority vote, with the DM having veto power. To design a class, the player should include how the class is viewed by society, what role it fills in the party, and the rules specifics for a 20-level progression for the class. Players could use a pre-published class from another source as inspiration or come up with an entirely original concept of their own.
As the campaign is expanded, the players will work with the DM to design new parts of the world to be explored. Players will provide broad schematics, while the DM would fill in the details and add a few surprises of his own. If you would like to see a community of elves who live with pixies as pets, write it into the world and maybe you will able to travel there someday.
I would like to run a game like this. Using the EN Wiki and other cool new functions of EN 2 we could track all this stuff. Tell me whether you would be interested in joining as a player.
Edit: Campaign rules and guidelines included in OP, below.
Edit (10/18/08): Retraining house rule added.
[sblock=Character Generation]Ability Scores:I have given character creation some thought, and this seems to be the best way to do this. Since the theme of this campaign is that the players get to have a hand in building the world, I figured they should get more control over their characters. So you may pick whatever ability scores you like, within reason. Now as to what I consider reasonable, think of a time you've had a pretty good roll of ability scores. It didn't include two 18s, and nothing below a 15, but it was solid. If it had a low number in it like a 6, you didn't mind because the other numbers were fairly high and you weren't playing a class with MAD. If nothing was below a 12, the rest were spread pretty evenly up to 17 or 18. In other words, I'm not talking about that once-in-a-lifetime roll you might have made, but a good one nonetheless. Now that might be different for different people, but that's fine. Pick something you would be happy to play. Me? I might take the following array: 18, 15, 14, 14, 12, 9.
Equipment: Select any combination of coins and equipment up to the maximum allowable for a 1st-level character of your class.
Height/Weight: Select any combination that falls within the normal range for your race.
Sources: You may only use the d20 SRD, including psionics, as well as any rules we work out here. The bestial champion class is available, as is the akolite, pending final approval. You may only play as the core races found in the Player's Handbook.
Background: This part is entirely up to you. Your background is going to be dependent upon how involved you wish to be with developing the world. If you want your character to come from a halfling burrow, give us a write up about it and what halflings in that community think about adventuring. If you want to be from the city, describe at least a small part of the city where you grew up, including a location or two there. If you just want to join in the campaign, then your character is assumed to be an orphan on the lam. You could even let everyone think you are an orphan on the lam until you come up with something good to place on the edge of the map at a later date. As an added incentive for good background write-ups, I will provide bonus magical equipment and/or XPs pertaining to your character depending on the quality of your write-up.
Other Incentives: As the campaign progresses, I will provide other incentives to those who continue to contribute to the world-building process. While not mandatory, this is a prime attribute of the campaign that I believe will help everyone enjoy and appreciate the world more. There is never a bad time to add a write-up or a bit of background for the campaign.[/sblock][sblock=Skill Spoilers]Whenever you see a spoiler block with a skill DC listed, you may roll that skill check. Special conditions may also be listed, such as "within 30 feet of the lantern" or "automatic for [character x]." If you succeed on the skill check and/or fulfill the special condition, you may read the skill spoiler. Use the honor system. If the skill is trained only, there will usually be a reminder to that effect with a parenthetical note.[/sblock][sblock=House Rules]Psionic Tattoos
A psionic tattoo does not fade when used, although they can be removed with certain methods. Rather, a psionic tattoo can be used once per day in the described method. You still have 20 tattoo slots on your body, however, higher-level psionic tattoos take up respectively higher-level slots. So a 2nd-level psionic tattoo is larger and more elaborate and takes up two slots. Only those with psionic power may actually use psionic tattoos however and they may not be transferred to another person. Psionic tattoos use the owner's manifester level, and they may not be augmented by the owner, although they may be augmented at the time of inking. Psionic characters without a psionic character class or the ability to manifest psionic powers have a manifester level equal to the lowest-level needed to activate the tattoo.
Experience and Level-Dependent Benefits
Replace Table: 3-2 Experience and Level-Dependent Benefits with the following table with regards to feats and ability score increases.
Retraining
You may retrain one of your feats at any time. Doing so costs 50 gp and takes one week. Feats may not be retrained in this manner more than once per level. So for instance, if you have the Toughness feat at 3rd level and decided to retrain to lose Toughness and gain Weapon Focus instead, you would not be able to retrain Weapon Focus until you attained 4th level.[/sblock]
I have an idea and want to see if there would be any interest in a pbp campaign along these lines. Here it is. Using Open Content for the 3.5 system, a group of players and I would collaborate to design a campaign world in which to adventure. We would begin by detailing one region of the world, making maps and detailing a few communities in that area. Players would contribute details for communities in which their respective characters were raised, and could collaborate if, for example, two players both want to originate from the same city; the player of a rogue might detail the thieves' quarter while the player of a cleric might detail the temple district.
Adventure hooks would be provided by the players, each of who would also detail a few potential adventure sites in the region. Ancient ruins, infamous dungeons, or the tower of an evil wizard would be good examples. In this way, the players would have some input over what types of adventures they will have the opportunity to get involved in.
Next, and this is perhaps the best part, players may, if they wish, design and play their own character classes, with the caveat that the other players must approve of the class by a majority vote, with the DM having veto power. To design a class, the player should include how the class is viewed by society, what role it fills in the party, and the rules specifics for a 20-level progression for the class. Players could use a pre-published class from another source as inspiration or come up with an entirely original concept of their own.
As the campaign is expanded, the players will work with the DM to design new parts of the world to be explored. Players will provide broad schematics, while the DM would fill in the details and add a few surprises of his own. If you would like to see a community of elves who live with pixies as pets, write it into the world and maybe you will able to travel there someday.
I would like to run a game like this. Using the EN Wiki and other cool new functions of EN 2 we could track all this stuff. Tell me whether you would be interested in joining as a player.
Edit: Campaign rules and guidelines included in OP, below.
Edit (10/18/08): Retraining house rule added.
[sblock=Character Generation]Ability Scores:I have given character creation some thought, and this seems to be the best way to do this. Since the theme of this campaign is that the players get to have a hand in building the world, I figured they should get more control over their characters. So you may pick whatever ability scores you like, within reason. Now as to what I consider reasonable, think of a time you've had a pretty good roll of ability scores. It didn't include two 18s, and nothing below a 15, but it was solid. If it had a low number in it like a 6, you didn't mind because the other numbers were fairly high and you weren't playing a class with MAD. If nothing was below a 12, the rest were spread pretty evenly up to 17 or 18. In other words, I'm not talking about that once-in-a-lifetime roll you might have made, but a good one nonetheless. Now that might be different for different people, but that's fine. Pick something you would be happy to play. Me? I might take the following array: 18, 15, 14, 14, 12, 9.
Equipment: Select any combination of coins and equipment up to the maximum allowable for a 1st-level character of your class.
Height/Weight: Select any combination that falls within the normal range for your race.
Sources: You may only use the d20 SRD, including psionics, as well as any rules we work out here. The bestial champion class is available, as is the akolite, pending final approval. You may only play as the core races found in the Player's Handbook.
Background: This part is entirely up to you. Your background is going to be dependent upon how involved you wish to be with developing the world. If you want your character to come from a halfling burrow, give us a write up about it and what halflings in that community think about adventuring. If you want to be from the city, describe at least a small part of the city where you grew up, including a location or two there. If you just want to join in the campaign, then your character is assumed to be an orphan on the lam. You could even let everyone think you are an orphan on the lam until you come up with something good to place on the edge of the map at a later date. As an added incentive for good background write-ups, I will provide bonus magical equipment and/or XPs pertaining to your character depending on the quality of your write-up.
Other Incentives: As the campaign progresses, I will provide other incentives to those who continue to contribute to the world-building process. While not mandatory, this is a prime attribute of the campaign that I believe will help everyone enjoy and appreciate the world more. There is never a bad time to add a write-up or a bit of background for the campaign.[/sblock][sblock=Skill Spoilers]Whenever you see a spoiler block with a skill DC listed, you may roll that skill check. Special conditions may also be listed, such as "within 30 feet of the lantern" or "automatic for [character x]." If you succeed on the skill check and/or fulfill the special condition, you may read the skill spoiler. Use the honor system. If the skill is trained only, there will usually be a reminder to that effect with a parenthetical note.[/sblock][sblock=House Rules]Psionic Tattoos
A psionic tattoo does not fade when used, although they can be removed with certain methods. Rather, a psionic tattoo can be used once per day in the described method. You still have 20 tattoo slots on your body, however, higher-level psionic tattoos take up respectively higher-level slots. So a 2nd-level psionic tattoo is larger and more elaborate and takes up two slots. Only those with psionic power may actually use psionic tattoos however and they may not be transferred to another person. Psionic tattoos use the owner's manifester level, and they may not be augmented by the owner, although they may be augmented at the time of inking. Psionic characters without a psionic character class or the ability to manifest psionic powers have a manifester level equal to the lowest-level needed to activate the tattoo.
Experience and Level-Dependent Benefits
Replace Table: 3-2 Experience and Level-Dependent Benefits with the following table with regards to feats and ability score increases.
Code:
Level Feats Ability Score Increases
1st 1st -
2nd - 1st
3rd 2nd -
4th - 2nd
5th 3rd -
6th - 3rd
7th 4th -
8th - 4th
9th 5th -
10th - 5th
etc.Retraining
You may retrain one of your feats at any time. Doing so costs 50 gp and takes one week. Feats may not be retrained in this manner more than once per level. So for instance, if you have the Toughness feat at 3rd level and decided to retrain to lose Toughness and gain Weapon Focus instead, you would not be able to retrain Weapon Focus until you attained 4th level.[/sblock]
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