How to do Grim & Gritty in standard (medium magic) D&D and/or high magic

[Jürgen Hubert]

Check out Urbis - while the world is definietly high-magic, it also works really well for a "gritty" style of play at lower levels.

Basically, someone discovered a way of building towers that can draw a small amount of life force from all who live nearby and convert it into magical energies - and use that energy to create magic items or cast epic spells (even for non-epic spellcasters!). A magical arms race ensued - every city-state wants to use these "nexus towers" to defend itself - and also as many people as possible behind its city walls.

Now imagine what life is like for the lower classes, who are only valued for their cheap labor - and their life force...

 

[Bendris Noulg]

Basically, someone discovered a way of building towers that can draw a small amount of life force from all who live nearby and convert it into magical energies - and use that energy to create magic items or cast epic spells (even for non-epic spellcasters!). A magical arms race ensued - every city-state wants to use these "nexus towers" to defend itself - and also as many people as possible behind its city walls.

Y'know, I've read a few snippets here and there (on these boards) about Urbis, but this is the first description of it that made me do that one-eyebrow-up-like-Spock thingy...

Gonna check it out now.

 

[Altalazar]

Y'know, I've read a few snippets here and there (on these boards) about Urbis, but this is the first description of it that made me do that one-eyebrow-up-like-Spock thingy...

Gonna check it out now.

I've never heard of it til now. It does sound interesting. Grim and high magic.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

I've never heard of it til now. It does sound interesting. Grim and high magic.

What, you never heard of it? I guess I haven't plugged the setting often enough recently...

Seriously, take a look at it and tell me what you think at jhubert@gmx.de[email]. I eventually plan to publish Urbis at RPGNow (50,000 words written, 50,000 words to go) - and before that I need lots of feedback to make it better...

 

[Bendris Noulg]

What, you never heard of it? I guess I haven't plugged the setting often enough recently...

Tell me about it... You're almost as bad as Nightfall...

Almost.

At any rate, this is an interesting concept. I've still got some reading to do (how often you check your message boards?), but some neat stuff in here (Hobgoblins as a "core" Race... Love it...).

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Tell me about it... You're almost as bad as Nightfall...

Almost.

Glad that there is some threshold I haven't crossed yet.

At any rate, this is an interesting concept. I've still got some reading to do (how often you check your message boards?),

Usually every day.

but some neat stuff in here (Hobgoblins as a "core" Race... Love it...).

Wait until you get to the "New Monsters" section...