Discussion of Scotley's upcoming 4e Swashbuckler Game

[renau1g]

When we first discussed PC's Scotley mentioned they were like the Jewish ethnicity and I built my PC's backstory around that.

 

[Insight]

Another possibility for the drow, since they are allegedly related to the elves, is that they and the elves who went to Caledonia split at some point. This would make them Gauls, essentially, and living in Spain and France. They could be outcasts, of course, because the "Romans" already living in these places would probably take a dislike to them.

 

[Insight]

Drow could be turkish or morroccan, both areas were parts of the empire back in the day. Or even go old school egyptian

The Turks would be a good choice based on how the rest of Europe felt about them. The connection to our Caledonian elves would be questionable, though.

 

[Insight]

Insight, you are correct...but not entirely correct. Or rather, I think your interpretation makes our jobs harder than it absolutely has to.

To be fair, I did offer up the possibility of totally ignoring history

For one thing, we don't have to explain everything. For example, if the Human Empire didn't conquer Avalon, we don't have to know precisely why. Nor do we have to specify the ripples of that alteration in exhaustive detail up the timeline. That level of detail is 99% likely never to be needed in the game, and if it is, we can make something up on the spot.

My thought was that the Humans failed to conquer Avalon because when they crossed the channel to Caledoia, Avalon wasn't there. It was just a big misty patch of ocean. So they squabbled with the dwarves of Alba, installed some colonists and garrisons, and went on their merry. Then Avalon emerges from the mists of the Feywild, and eladrin cross to Calednia with fey magicks and gish swordmages and reconquer the island up to Alba...where the dwarves dig in and hold them off...just like they did against the humans. Then elves are just eladrin who were concieved and born away from Avalon, in Caledonia. Less magickal in nature, a tich more mortal...for better and worse.

This seems to make the most sense to me. If we leave the humans as "Romans", we can actually do pretty much as you outlined with little effect on the rest of the history. How much of Caledonia/Alba/Avalon the "Romans" held has little bearing on the rest of it. After all, that part of history really only affects the British Isles and since we really don't care about the fiddly bits, let's have it work as you outlined.

Possibly interesting note: Our half-elves could come from the "Romans" interbreeding with the Caledonian elves while both were together in Caledonia. That would also explain the lack of "half-eladrin", since our "Romans" never went there.

Now what about "half-drow" and "half-dwarves" for that matter

 

[Walking Dad]

When we first discussed PC's Scotley mentioned they were like the Jewish ethnicity and I built my PC's backstory around that.

I like this or the Gauls idea. But I want them to use swashbuckling weapons and hand cross bows

 

[renau1g]

As a group that is distrusted by large amounts of the population they created smaller weapons that would be easier concealed but they could still defend themselves. Thinner blades and smaller crossbows were more easily concealed than the axes or hammers of the dwarves, or the tall blades of the humans.

 

[Rhun]

As a group that is distrusted by large amounts of the population they created smaller weapons that would be easier concealed but they could still defend themselves. Thinner blades and smaller crossbows were more easily concealed than the axes or hammers of the dwarves, or the tall blades of the humans.

Ryan always has an answer for everything.

 

[Scotley]

So, hey- can us lurker types help out with the worldbuilding? It seems like 'Europe' is at least sketched out, but I had some ideas for the farther corners of the world...

And how are you handling languages, with racially-centric countries? Franzian would seem to be 'Common', especially as the center of the game-world. But would 'Avalonian' be Elven? Would there be two versions of Dwarven (one for Alba, and one for the 'Holy Dwarven Empire'), or do dwarves in both spots speak the same language (perhaps with lots of words borrowed from elven in Alba)?

Or am I asking too many questions, and should go back to lurking quietly?

I welcome your input. Feel free to toss out some ideas for the rest of the globe. I would like to leave much of the 'new world' as yet largely unknown. The Espanian's may know more than everyone else, but that's a state secret.

The language question should be addressed. I don't want to over-complicate things with too many languages. I believe we'll have to wave realism just a little bit in order to keep things functional. For game purposes Franzian is common. I agree with Leif that each character should be able to put their stamp on their place of origin. I have started a wiki to contain information for the game. I'll post a link to it soon. I really have any info ported over to it yet, it is just a place holder for now.

 

[Scotley]

I'll be very upset if THIS doesn't somehow come into play:

I'm pretty sure the Lupin is the national flower of Franzia...

 

[Scotley]

As a group that is distrusted by large amounts of the population they created smaller weapons that would be easier concealed but they could still defend themselves. Thinner blades and smaller crossbows were more easily concealed than the axes or hammers of the dwarves, or the tall blades of the humans.

Works for me.