Fresh Campaign Setting Sought

[Grimstaff]

Let me add a vote for the Wilderlands (Judges Guild via Necromancer Games). Its hands down the best campaign setting I've ever used.

The new Goodman Games DCC campaign setting looks nice, btw. Plus it has the advantage of being all shiny and new so your players shouldn't be as overly familiar with the setting (as can sometimes happen with FR and GH) and its proabably a little easier to get ahold of than Wilderlands (but don't let that stop you from trying!).

 

[hopeless]

Reg: Low Magic Campaign & what campaign setting?

Just a thought but what if you used your Forgotten Realms setting?
No I don't mean as written but what if you used the recent novelisations that had the return of the Archlords from the shadow realm or even the time of trouble to wipe out magic for a while sort of like what they did to Dragonlance except it effected both arcane and divine spellcasters.
Move the timeline ahead by a suitable amount to allow for the listed campaign history to be changed to suit what you want to run and then have them start with access to only low level magic as "Midnight" the new Goddess of Magic has reestablished her domain but only after a rival deity has spawned her own shadow magic which currently holds sway.
Your campaign world has no high level npc's to save the day and the bad guys are not that much more powerful since even the priests aren't that much more powerful.
You wizards and sorcerors hve to search for new spells perhaps even as a means of fighting the new array of foes such as a Next Generation Zhentil Keep or the Yu'anti have forged a new empire with the sole bastions of light being drastically reduced realms like Cormyr and whoever you like since the loss of all magic and only recently restoring communications with the clerical deities.
Previous tomes of magic are all gone due to the catastrophe as a suggestion a long time ago i thought up an "ultimate" spell literally called "Niloc's Meltdown" that caused the combustion of magic in a target area something that literally burned out magic and turned them into a weapon against a foe.
Just imagine the Forgotten Realms struck down by something like that and then have you characters told its that world however all characters have to start as npc classes, Commoner, Expert, Warrior, Adept, Aristocrat, etc and once they reach 1st level can multi-class into whatever class they want to play although in return all favoured classes might have to be changed to mtch their first class unless you want all nonhumans except for half elves to be stuck at lower levels.
Wizards would have to carry whatever equipment they need with them unless they base themselves locally and magical items will have to be either taken off foes or created by themselves noting that such creations will have to be rediscovered.
That would allow you to avoid having to buy another campaign setting and allow you to ignore the FR's current continuity problems for your campaign concept.

Hope that wasn't too longwinded though!
Take care and all the best!

 

[The Lemon Merchant]

The campaign world I'm developing is somewhat related to what Hopeless is suggesting. I'm not using the Realms, I'm going with Greyhawk, but that's just a matter of taste. Instead of wiping out all magic (even for just a short period) I'm removing arcane magic, the reverse of Dragonlance. I'm going back to the Twin Cataclysms and from that point forward arcane magic will fade into obscurity. I haven't come up with the exact details, but I'm going on the assumption that something in the Cataclysms disrupted arcane magic. Divine magic will remain present and Bards will be divine casters - going back to their Druidic roots.

Divine magic items will still be present, but finding items that required the abilities of arcane casters would be true finds considering their antiquity.

I may consider making arcane magic present, just so lost in obscurity that anything about it has been all but forgotten. If I go this route I'll likely make the ability to cast arcane magic a feat. Even then anything and everything arcane will have to be "relearned" by the caster.

 

[Maester Luwin]

Hey Dark Seraph! Here is a sample of what magic is like in my AGoT campaign: between Jasson Snow (who is a child of 12), who does not know it but has some magical abilities- mostly in the form of dreams ... for now & Lady Sheria who is known to have some abilities of her own. I try to keep magic very low key. As if it could be logically be explained by other means. I hope this helps... it is a bit long. Thanks Maester Luwin

Jasson now faced this woman alone seperated by a small pond feeling quite small himself. “My Lady why do you need to speak to me & why here?” Jasson managed to say after finding the courage.
Lady Shiera only smiled & said “Jasson you are a special boy with special… abilities though you may be unaware of it as yet. This is a place of power. I know you sense it, don’t you?” The woman began to make her way around the pond & to Jasson. As she walked the shadows seem to grow. Jasson wished Little Willam or his mother were here.

Jasson said “I’ve always felt… something when visiting the Godswood at Karhold. And here too I guess.”

She stood almost before him now. She was a small woman. Slender in body & small of height but there was something of… power about this woman Jasson knew. She placed a slender hand upon his shoulder while looking down at him. Her eyes looked all aglow may haps from the lantern or the moon Jasson Snow thought. At once he seemed to relax. Her eyes like the eyes of the Wierwood tree seemed to peer right through him. In her eyes he could see himself running along with the great wolf & the great cat of his dreams. They ran on either side of him- he knew only he could keep the two apart. First one then the other tugged on him pulling him this way & that. He knew he must make a choice! He didn’t want to. He wanted both. They both needed him. Why do I have to choose? Suddenly, they were gone & an old, a very old, woman was there. Her face seemed to be looking at him thru Lady Shiera’s eyes. There was some concern in the old woman’s face. Was she trying to speak? Jasson felt she looked somewhat like mother! Then Shiera blinked & her eyes were normal again.

Lady Shiera face softened as she said “Your dreams trouble you do they not Jasson?”

Jasson grew defensive & said “I DO NOT DREAM!” He was surprised by the growing anger he felt. They are MY dreams he thought. She doesn’t need to know. Then he realized he was but a bastard boy & she a Lady of the King’s own court. He could hear Maester Quelion clicking his tongue in disappointment. “I’m sorry my Lady. I….”

Lady Shiera only smiled & removed her hand. “It is quite alright Jasson. That is why I wanted us to be alone. We all have dreams Jasson. You have power wither you will it or no. It is best to face it- control it lest it controls you!

Jasson was suddenly afraid “I said I was sorry. You don’t have to scare me!”

Lady Shiera smile widened as she said softly “It is not I who scares you Jasson. Face it boy, it is the choice you must make. Let me & Ser Brynden aid you. I could take you away from the choice Jasson & this paltry northern magic!”

Jasson must have looked as confused as he felt but Lady Shiera pressed on “Forget what your silly Maester has taught you Jasson! There is magic yet in the world. Why dragons yet breathe fire beyond the Shadow & something beyond our kin lies far to the North. Ice & cold is the way there. You may be the answer Jasson but only if you come with me. Jasson your choice could & should be greater than between cat & wolf.”

Jasson covered his ears & said “STOP! I want to go now. Please let me go. I don’t want to make choices & magic doesn’t exist! Maester Quelion said it died with the Children! Now take me back.”

Lady Shiera nodded her smile disappearing from her lips “Very well Jasson but know that you can run only so far. One day you must face your… gifts. When you are ready I will be there. You need only call upon me. Do you understand?”

Jasson only nodded as they walked from the grove. Jasson closed his eyes & began to count letting his mind focus on the numbers- seeing the numbers dance before his mind. The fear began to slip away. Tucked away deep inside his mind. Lady Shiera with the lantern in hand guided him through the gigantic trees. With his eyes closed Jasson didn’t notice the shadow that had covered the face of the Wierwood tree slowly fade away.

I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks Maester Luwin

 

[Nightfall]

Oh well. At least Psion defended the honor of Scarred Lands for me. Thanks Psion! 2,000 XP will be added to your next character!

 

[GrumpyOldMan]

I stuck with FR despite my growing discomfort with how widely prevalent and easily accessible magic is due to continued interest from my players who i have had for some good number of years. But due to career choices I no longer have contact with my original players, so thought it an opportune time to have a look around at settings that are closer to my liking….

However, in the mean time, I am on the look out for a ready campaign setting that I do not have to tweak too much, one that is rich in detail and depth but has low magic presence at best. I am still very keen to hear from anyone who would like to give me a lead or two to explore and perhaps a short description of what distinguishes it.

Thanks, again, in advance.

DS

As no-one has yet mentioned my beloved Hârn, I’ll plug HârnWorld again. Without a doubt it meets your requirement for a world that:
Is rich in detail and depth but has low magic presence at best

It isn’t DnD, d20, but the world write up is completely systemless and gives no stats.

Check out:

www.columbiagames.com for the basic HârnWorld boxed set

www.kelestia.com for ‘off Hârn’ locations and

www.lythia.com for free fan downloads

 

[Dark Seraph]

Hey Dark Seraph! Here is a sample of what magic is like in my AGoT campaign: between Jasson Snow (who is a child of 12), who does not know it but has some magical abilities- mostly in the form of dreams ... for now & Lady Sheria who is known to have some abilities of her own. I try to keep magic very low key. As if it could be logically be explained by other means. I hope this helps... it is a bit long. Thanks Maester Luwin.

A few words: Awesome! Thank You, ML.

DS.

 

[Dark Seraph]

As no-one has yet mentioned my beloved Hârn, I’ll plug HârnWorld again. Without a doubt it meets your requirement for a world that:
Is rich in detail and depth but has low magic presence at best

Cheers, Grumpy! Can the campaign setting for Harm be purchased as a PDF online?

Thanks.
DS.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Just a thought but what if you used your Forgotten Realms setting?

Well, it took until post 52, but sure enough, someone suggested it.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

For future reference...you might want to examine and mine:

1) The creativity of the populace of these boards as evidenced in this thread .

2) Interesting non-D20 fantasy settings, like Earthdawn; Space: 1889; For Faerie, Queen, &Country; Deadlands; WoD or even RIFTS (don't use the mechanics, use the setting or some of its elements). They are chock full of ideas...

3) Beyond the aformentioned D20 products, Malhavoc's Arcana Unearthed/Arcana Evolved; AEG's Swashbuckling Adventures; Privateer's Iron Kingdoms; and Atlas' Nyambe/Northern Crown settings all have their merits.