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General Tabletop Discussion
*TTRPGs General
Implied setting elements made concrete
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<blockquote data-quote="buzz" data-source="post: 1089006" data-attributes="member: 6777"><p>We often talk about the "implied" setting of D&D, i.e., those assumpitons made by the rules that reflect corresponding assumptions in the game world.</p><p></p><p>What published settings, if any, actually directly address the various "implied" elements of D&D? Is there a setting that provides an explanation for, say, why the alignment system exists? Or why wizards prepare spells the way they do? Or why there is such a prolific variety of monster species? Or why paladins are all lawful good?</p><p></p><p>I mean, the PHB does a lot of explaining *how* things work, but not a lot of *why*.</p><p></p><p>I've been thinking about this as I read through the 3.5e PHB and think about the attempts at world-building that I've made in the past. I'll often come up with various ideas or cool elements that I want to incorporate, and maybe some background on the various standard races... but I don't think I've ever made an attempt to incorporate explanations for why the D&D universe works the way it does.</p><p></p><p>Ergo, I thought it would be fun to try, and I was trying to think if any published settings had already done it, at least overtly. The only one I can think of is The Diamond Throne from <em>Arcana Unearthed</em>, but we know that Monte was being very purposeful in creating new "implied" setting elements as part of the concept for AU.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="buzz, post: 1089006, member: 6777"] We often talk about the "implied" setting of D&D, i.e., those assumpitons made by the rules that reflect corresponding assumptions in the game world. What published settings, if any, actually directly address the various "implied" elements of D&D? Is there a setting that provides an explanation for, say, why the alignment system exists? Or why wizards prepare spells the way they do? Or why there is such a prolific variety of monster species? Or why paladins are all lawful good? I mean, the PHB does a lot of explaining *how* things work, but not a lot of *why*. I've been thinking about this as I read through the 3.5e PHB and think about the attempts at world-building that I've made in the past. I'll often come up with various ideas or cool elements that I want to incorporate, and maybe some background on the various standard races... but I don't think I've ever made an attempt to incorporate explanations for why the D&D universe works the way it does. Ergo, I thought it would be fun to try, and I was trying to think if any published settings had already done it, at least overtly. The only one I can think of is The Diamond Throne from [i]Arcana Unearthed[/i], but we know that Monte was being very purposeful in creating new "implied" setting elements as part of the concept for AU. [/QUOTE]
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