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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Dannyalcatraz" data-source="post: 2972158" data-attributes="member: 19675">Well, I've been burnt out on DMing for some time now, and even though I could come up with ideas about campaigns (some of which were posted here <a href="http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=102706&page=1&pp=40)" target="_blank">http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=102706&page=1&pp=40)</a>, but I couldn't progress beyond that initial idea.  Now an idea is bouncing around my head, and I'd like a little help to bring it to fruition.My Post #41 in that thread has possibly germinated.  In it, I posited a campaign centered around Anthropomorphic Animals and Awakened beings.  Unfortunately, as it was, it always struck me as too "Disney-esque" to be sustainable.Then it hit me...Set it in a fantasy realm gets hit by an ELE (Extinction Level Event)- lets say it was something natural, like a meteor impact or a supervolcano- whose affects were only slightly ameliorated by the best arcane and divine spellcasters on the planet.  Most of the surface life has been wiped out, leaving the subterranean races as the dominant ones.  Those that survive on the surface have been radically changed, either by magic or by environment.I'm trying to figure out WHAT those changes would be.Concepts I've considered:1) The surface was so decimated by the disaster that most big cities are abandoned- life is now centered around small agrarian communities- there are no real surface empires of note anymore.  Orcs and Humans (and possibly others) may be found living together in these small communities, held together out of desperation.  Mainly, however, they serve as food and slaves for the subterranean empires.(There will be no "half-" races.)2) The dominant political forces of the day are the subterranean empires of Drow, Duregar, Illithids, Aboleth, and Beholders.  Mountain Dwarves still survive as well, and are the major force for good in the world.  Other quasi-subterranean species, like Minotaurs also survived.3)  Surface Elves, in an effort to save themselves, used their magic to transform themselves to become closer to nature.  Now, they are all part plant- the ability to photosynthesize has helped them survive lean times.  (Game terms: All elves take the Woodling template or some such.)4)  Halflings semi-subterranean, agrarian lifestyles helped them survive, but they were relatively defenseless in the chaotic aftermath of the ELE.  The larger creatures overran and pillaged their settlments, regardless of political treaties and traditional alliances.  As a result, they have all gone feral (as per the template), and are seldom found in tribal groups larger than 20 or so.5) Anthropomorphic Animals, due to the magics expended in the last days of the ELE, are now a true species.  This means that an Anthro Ape can marry an Anthro Dog and they can produce an Anthro Cheetah...6) The Awakened (see the link above), like the dwarves, are a major force for good, and are trying to recover the magics of the past to improve the future.  (Roughly analagous to Terry Brooks' Druids from the Shannara books.)7) Of the races posted here on ENWorld, I'm considering some form of:Wolfen: <a href="http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=138099&page=1&pp=40" target="_blank">http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=138099&page=1&pp=40</a>Celirians: <a href="http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=134316&page=1&pp=40" target="_blank">http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=134316&page=1&pp=40</a>8) I was considering randomization of races during PC gen (like in Chaosium's Stormbringer game), but I don't think players would go for it.  How do I make the non-standard races more appealing?So, as you can see, I have a hodgepodge of sources: HG Wells' Time Machine, Terry Brooks' Shanarra books, David Brin's The Postman, Gamma World...even the "We 3" comic books.Can you guys help me refine this into something worth playing?</blockquote>

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