Pretaeus: Age of Thunder

[Plague]

OK so I've come up with some idea's for my own world and I wanted to post them here to see what you all think of these ideas. Please feel free to critique and give me new idea's or idea's to change what I have. Any tips will be appreciated.
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Ok so the mainland is roughly 40% of the worlds land mass it has marshes, swamps, mountains, hills, forests, deserts, and "badlands" or barren lands.

To the SSW There is a Medium sized island with a chain of smaller islands attached to it. These islands make roughly about 5% land mass

To the SSE there is a medium island with jungle's on it which makes up another 5%.

The world is roughly 50/50 Land water. I would like to make this adventure as much on land as on water.

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The Following is a description of the Realms/Nations that I have divided the continent up into.

KHAZIR - [Quiet and Nuetral towards outsiders] A Shiek rules the region of KHAZIR. He rose to his pinnacle of power due to mass wealth. Years before he obtained rule he discovered a buried treasure within the desert. Over the next couple years he spent his time searching for more buried treasures while he searched for and hired a well trained and elite guard to place into hire at his new palace. The people of KHAZIR use Large lizards as a form of transportation due to their ability to survive in the desert. The people and culture also have adapted to live in the desert. Loose fitting clothing, fully clothed, and the avoidance of prolonged exposure to the sun.

MECHANUS - [Friendly, Merchantile] The Region of Mechanus is ruled by a band of leaders from 3 races. First The leader of the Dwarven clan God Forged. The second leader is the Gnomish Engineering guild (still developing a name and acronym for them). The last leader is the leader of a band of refugee scholars known as the "Sons of Khorrale". The Son's of Khorrale developed the fundamentals of marksmanship and firearm's. During the duration of my campaign this Region will develope its first Submarine craft.

CYRODE - [Defensive, Judgemental, short tempered, Fair] This region is ruled by a Magocracy. The Archmage of Cyrode is fair in judgement but once his mind is made there is hardly any change to it. The "Mage Guild" follows a code of conduct. Within their realm the seek out those who abuse magic, and use it to destroy. In extreme cases of abuse, something tampering with the Planes of existance/Time/Environment they will go seek out the person/group and deliver a quick and harsh punishment.

CATHEOS - [Secretive, Cautious] This region is ruled by a Monarchy. The followers of this region like the royal family very well. The Royal family has a huge secret though. Any who live or work strictly within the walls of the Castle bare this secret. The Royal family is the origin of all Lycanthropes. The royal family has hired a Mandman/High mage to find a way to bind the family to rooms at night so that they cannot leave and kill others. (Possible plot tie-in)

ARKSON - [Friendly, Peaceful] The Region of Arkson is ruled by a Monarchy. A King, Queen, and Daughter, but nothing special about this Region. Have to have a "Norm"

KILROTH - [Friendly, Peaceful] The Region of Kilroth is ruled by a council of Merchant's. The Leader of the Merchant guild starts taxing his fellow guildmates. The Collected tax funds is paid off to a group which discovered a ancient book describing the creation of an artifact which can clone a person. The guild leader begins to put together the artifact and make clones. (possible plot tie-in)

COURMOUNT - [Friendly, Peaceful] This region is ruled by a Monarchy. Typical monarchy. A lone king with no family. He doesn't know that his advisor is actually a Female Metallic Dragon. I am thinking a possible love interest of the king, and the introduction of Pretaeus' first hybrid race. Half dragon half man.

THIRHAN - [Warlike, Surpressed, Vengeful] This region is ruled by a Hero turn Warlord. Rumors are that the tragedy, Torture, and gore the hero was exposed to during the great Fire blood war, warped his mind into the demented and evil mind it is now. The truth is the Hero never has had his mind warped, a Mindflayer has him under his thrall. (possible plot tie-in. Dont know the Mindflayer agenda yet....might just make him enjoy slaughter, and have him make the soldiers take prisoners so he can feed on them)
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Well this is my idea for the Regions and the Realms/Kingdoms within them. I am still trying to develope a solid plot line for the players...I may make it a series of plots..like one going from range lvl 1 to 5 and the other to 10 and then the final to 20. Or something to that Idea. BUT PLEASE..input on these idea's is very appreciated

 

[aco175]

This seems like a great start to a well thought out world. I would pick one or two countries next to each other and focus on these areas, sort of zooming in on where you will be playing. It would depend on how much time you have to play with this, but focus most of your energy on where you will start playing.

I also like to focus on a few groups of non-ruler types. Maybe a merchant guild that spans countries, an assassin guild within one country that has ties to a monster guild, this way you can have reoccuring bad guys from the same group follow them as they go and I find that parties develop a strong disliking for these groups that will not go away.

 

[Plague]

This seems like a great start to a well thought out world. I would pick one or two countries next to each other and focus on these areas, sort of zooming in on where you will be playing. It would depend on how much time you have to play with this, but focus most of your energy on where you will start playing.

I also like to focus on a few groups of non-ruler types. Maybe a merchant guild that spans countries, an assassin guild within one country that has ties to a monster guild, this way you can have reoccuring bad guys from the same group follow them as they go and I find that parties develop a strong disliking for these groups that will not go away.

Thanks for the critique. I agree with your idea, I wanted a good basis to start with. I usually do the same as what you mentioned...I focus on the starting area I then map out an adventure with multiple directions of approach (depending on how characters act). I then begin to map the next area and so on. I am working to come up with the conflict to start their adventure off with. As you said it is going to be one in which they will be forced into choosing a side to be loyal with. From there on what they do affects their standing and where and who the interact with

 

[aco175]

I guess it would depend on which kingdom you are starting in, if the PC's are to side with the ruling class or the common man. Of course, if the rulers of the kingdom are good people and just the local lord or sherriff was corupt that would make the players want to oppose the local bad guys and may end up on the wrong side of the good rulers. Which leads them to try and defend their name and solve the problem that lead them to choose in the first place.