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ShortQuests -- Pocket Sized Adventures! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed for 1-2 game sessions.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="jester47" data-source="post: 1922209" data-attributes="member: 2238">And let's take this moment to clear up the definitions of the thread.People are getting confused with the terms anachronism and non-sequitur.An anachronism is somthing that is in the wrong place in a given timeline.  The knight in shining full plate armor in King Arthur's court is an anachronism because full plate would not exist for a long time.  And King Arthur is often portrayed in a 1200's style, which again is an anachronism.  A cleric in Krynn casting spells post cataclysm and pre war of the lance is an anachronism.  These are things that are not out of place in their world but simply in the wrong period.  A non-sequitur is somthing that is out of place given certain conditions.  An SUV in greyhawk is a non-sequitur because it does not make sense given the assumptions given about greyhawk.  That does not mean that it cannot be there, it just comes off as weird.  The battleship presto pulls out of his hat in the D&D cartoon is a non-sequitur, completely unexpected because of the show ussually sticks to standard fantasy tropes (until presto pulls somthing out of his hat).These can be used together well and fairly.  Lets look at Blackmoor.  The energy swords and laser guns and such are non-sequitur to a point, however they have an explanation in the world.  Now they are not so much non-sequitur because one can understand that there is a source of technology somewhere else.  But showing up with an energy sword before the guy with the frogs appears would be an anachronism.  To answer the original question:  Lone Wolf - Non-sequiturs and Anachronisms can work if done right and carefully.  If you are going for Bizzare, don't explain anything.  However, if you say that there is a world where the bazzar is inside and illusions are sent to crystals that people can watch in their homes, you would curb the non-sequitur factor a bit.  Anacronisms are easy to avoid because you are building the timeline to the world.  So in short the way to do it is:  If you are not using this world, don't worry about anachronisms but give some explanation to the non-sequiturs. Aaron.</blockquote>

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