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Forked Thread: What makes a setting exciting?
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<blockquote data-quote="Fallen Seraph" data-source="post: 4818491" data-attributes="member: 57894"><p>Some big ones for me I can think of off the top of my head are:</p><p></p><p><strong>A Theme or Focus:</strong> Something I can really get behind and explore. It needs something beyond just, "this is a fantasy world", some manner of overall hook for the setting. The theme or focus can be broad or specific but something needs to be there. <strong>Conflict</strong> could be seen as part of this too, in that the major conflict(s) in the setting could be the focus.</p><p></p><p><strong>PC's First:</strong> The setting isn't built around being a history or anthrpological report on a fantasy world. It is a building place for adventures and stories built around the PCs, as such the setting should put forward first and foremost what sort of things the PCs could get involved in and build the setting toward adventuring.</p><p></p><p><strong>Uniqueness:</strong> While this is obviously not a universal thing. If I am to use a setting either wholesale or take from it I like something beyond just medieval world with some fantasy trappings. Give me something like Sigil, Eberron, etc. In particular I like settings that adopt a <em>New Weird</em> feel. Two other specific aspects I like uniqueness wise in my settings are:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em>Technology:</em> From Steampunk to Dieselpunk and beyond I like them in my settings.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul"><em>Genre Mixing:</em> Matches above somewhat, but I like my fantasy mixed with Sci-Fi, Noir, Pulp, Steampunk, Cyberpunk, etc. I have actually noticed when designing settings fantasy sources are the last source I use for coming up with ideas for my fantasy settings.</li> </ul><p>Overall stuff like the <em>Bas-Lag</em> novels by China Miéville would be considered a prime example of what I like to see in a setting. It is also very quickly becoming a favourite novel series of mine, perhaps the favourite fantasy series of mine.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Fallen Seraph, post: 4818491, member: 57894"] Some big ones for me I can think of off the top of my head are: [B]A Theme or Focus:[/B] Something I can really get behind and explore. It needs something beyond just, "this is a fantasy world", some manner of overall hook for the setting. The theme or focus can be broad or specific but something needs to be there. [B]Conflict[/B] could be seen as part of this too, in that the major conflict(s) in the setting could be the focus. [B]PC's First:[/B] The setting isn't built around being a history or anthrpological report on a fantasy world. It is a building place for adventures and stories built around the PCs, as such the setting should put forward first and foremost what sort of things the PCs could get involved in and build the setting toward adventuring. [B]Uniqueness:[/B] While this is obviously not a universal thing. If I am to use a setting either wholesale or take from it I like something beyond just medieval world with some fantasy trappings. Give me something like Sigil, Eberron, etc. In particular I like settings that adopt a [I]New Weird[/I] feel. Two other specific aspects I like uniqueness wise in my settings are: [LIST] [*][I]Technology:[/I] From Steampunk to Dieselpunk and beyond I like them in my settings. [*][I]Genre Mixing:[/I] Matches above somewhat, but I like my fantasy mixed with Sci-Fi, Noir, Pulp, Steampunk, Cyberpunk, etc. I have actually noticed when designing settings fantasy sources are the last source I use for coming up with ideas for my fantasy settings. [/LIST] Overall stuff like the [I]Bas-Lag[/I] novels by China Miéville would be considered a prime example of what I like to see in a setting. It is also very quickly becoming a favourite novel series of mine, perhaps the favourite fantasy series of mine. [/QUOTE]
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