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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Voobaha" data-source="post: 247746" data-attributes="member: 2741">GROUND RULES EXAMPLEHere's a couple short examples of how you can use the GROUND RULES SHEET to make just about any fantasy campaign:#1 THE WORLD OF ANURIA1) GENERAL DESCRIPTION & GOALSWeird fairytale fantasy campaign:  The PCs are strange (sometimes grotesque) fey creatures in a highly magical kingdom ruled by the immortal Erl King.  The world is threatened by the sinister Clockmaster and his steam powered technological minions who are invading from another dimension.  The Erl King tasks his Moon Elven Daughter to gather a fey fellowship (the PCs) to infiltrate the Clockmaster's blasted "METAL LANDS" and find a way to assassinate him before his technology destroys the world.  The problem, he's immune to magic and the PCs are all magical creatures.  This shared UNIFIED GOAL has a definite time limit of 3 real months (our group's summer vacation time).2)  IMPORTANCE OF THE PCsThe PCs are ALL IMPORTANT: during this short campaign, the fate of the world rests on the PCs elite shoulders.  They are the heroes of the fey races.  3)  CAMPAIGN TONEMORALITY 4) Little distinction between Good & Evil:  In this fey and dangerous world, our heroes face many grim moral choices that you wouldn't expect in most fairy talesREALISM 3) Neutral:  Sometimes things work out, but the PCs can die.  Things get less light hearted as the game progressesOUTLOOK 4) More serious than light hearted:  Fairies aren't cute, they're kinda creepy.  Neil Gaiman would love this.  CONTINUITY 5) Entirely Serial -- everything must fit into the storyline, a short, focused campaign where the PCs save the world or die tryingPHYSICAL WORLD (DESCRIPTION)This is an UNFAMILIAR SETTING.  All sorts of weirdness exists in a sometimes nightmarish fantasy world.  The setting consists of one major continent with lots of enchanted lakes, vales, towns & forests.  Think the Neverending Story mixed with Arthurian Legend mixed with Time Bandits.  Everything is infused with magic, but the world is starting to break down due to the Clockmaster's influence.  CHARACTER STATS/REQUIREMENTSAll classes but sorcerer & wizard are allowed.  PCs start as 7th level heroes.  PCs may choose several magical items from a DM prepared list. (etc etc)HOUSE RULESNew Fey races have been specially created for this campaign.  All PCs are magical, and can cast spells as a 3rd Level Sorcerer for free at the start of the game.  Characters can't become sorcerers or Mages though, as magic is low powered (see below).MAGICOCCURRENCE OF MAGIC (Rate from 1-5):5) Campaign is steeped in magic, everything is magicalINFLUENCE OF MAGIC (Rate from 1-5):2) Magic useful, but not on a large scale:  Everything is magical on the world, but in a low powered fashion.  It's commonplace, but there are no great sorcerers, but everyone's a naturally low level sorcerer. SOURCE OF MAGICMagic is the force that binds the world together.  It infuses everthing.  Without it, the world would cease to exist.STATE OF RELIGIONThe Fey peoples pay homage to the Erl King, who they worship as a demigod.  The Erl King's health starts to fail as the world dies--he is a magical barometer reflecting the state of ANURIACIVILIZATION/TECH LEVELEarly medieval technology, though the Gnomes know how to make magical gadgetry reminiscient of early steam-era Victorian England.  They seek to use this forbidden technology against the Clockmaster.another example follows...</blockquote>

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