I thought Midnight was great...

[The Cardinal]

Cardinal, can you tell us what is was that got them so juiced? What was it that made it so appealing in comparison to Midnight (and other settings).

Well, besides the great crunchy bits for playing powerful races, legendary heroes, and the new classes?
Besides the freedom from metaplots and Elminster-style NPCs?
Besides the fact that there are no real gods yet - and that you might become one?

I believe IMHO that it is the deep innocence of all the elements of the setting:
Players who wouldn't be caught dead playing a drow, or a paladin, or a gnome - are suddenly climbing over each other to do so. This world is too young for cheesy stereotypes - is it up to you to create the icons and idols of this setting! YOU get to develop the really cool characters, the ones who did it FIRST.
There are no good or evil races or nations here - though some are on their way to become so.
There are no shining kingdoms who rule continents, no dark omnipresent empires - though some are on their way to become so.
There are no medusas or basilisks or hydras - only THE Medusa, THE Basilisk, and THE Hydra: powerful and enigmatic monsters, undefeated and feared.

The PLAYERS' characters will decide what will be the legends and religions of the future: there is plenty of room, even need, for those who want to carve out their own kingdoms, cults, and dynasties.
Dawnforge lets you see all the clichés of fantasy roleplaying with the untainted eyes of a child - it's all yours again!



The adventure? Well, as I've told the players, this will begin in the most classic of ways: in a tavern...

...where a nearly penniless group of seven, no eight adventures will be hired by some poor peasants who need protection for their small village...

[PCs: tiefling sorcerer (f), tiefling wizard of entropy (m), yuan-ti thinblood monk (f), human lowlander shaper [power/elemental] (m), night elf rogue (m), gnome shaman (m), minotaur fighter (m), ogre ranger (m)]

 

[Uruush]

[PCs: tiefling sorcerer (f), tiefling wizard of entropy (m), yuan-ti thinblood monk (f), human lowlander shaper [power/elemental] (m), night elf rogue (m), gnome shaman (m), minotaur fighter (m), ogre ranger (m)]

Diverse group... How is it they come to be in the same village?

I am surprised not to see a Spirit Adept - they are super cool.

 

[The Cardinal]

Diverse group... How is it they come to be in the same village?

I am surprised not to see a Spirit Adept - they are super cool.

well, they are in the same *city* when they first meet: River's End is a kind of grand central station for adventurers - but the market is flooded with low-level soldiers of fortune, the influx of treasure powers inflation, and so the PCs find themselves in a cheap and seedy inn at the edge of the city. Here the poor peasants - who follow the advice of an old seer from their village - will find them...
It's not really "The Seven Samurai", but to players it will certainly look like it


The player of the shaper first planned on playing a spirit adept but changed his mind during the character creation session.



P.S.: one of the PCs is a doppelgänger - but none of the other players know about this

 

[Zarrock God of Evil]

I read the previews for Dawnforge on the FFG and I have to say it looks intriguing: wonderful artwork and what seems to be a very well-executed concept. I'll seriously consider buying this.

-Zarrock

 

[Morpheus]

I'm in the process of getting a new campaign started and it looks like we'll be using Dawnforge. The mix of races looks to make it very interesting...

 

[Turjan]

This world is too young for cheesy stereotypes - is it up to you to create the icons and idols of this setting! YOU get to develop the really cool characters, the ones who did it FIRST.

Hmm... the power of promotional blurb . This world CONSISTS of cheesy stereotypes.

There are no good or evil races or nations here - though some are on their way to become so.

Right. What about Valhedar? Those must be non-evil demons and devils fighting for that country .
Okay, don't get me wrong. I don't say Dawnforge is a bad setting and it's not worth adventuring there. But just look at how it's advertised and how it comes across. Doesn't fit, somehow .

 

[Bendris Noulg]

Hmm... the power of promotional blurb . This world CONSISTS of cheesy stereotypes.

The more I read, the more Earthdawn comes to mind.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

I thought Midnight was great....

And you were right...

...until I saw Dawnforge.

Sacrilege!!! Blasphemer!!!


Seriously though, it's like saying:

I thought apples were great....until I ate pizza.

The settings are very different. Someone looking for high-fantasy and an abundance of magic should certainly not look to Midnight. But if you want a darker, grittier, setting, Midnight can't be beat.