Mucknuggle said:
Personally, I love the epic feel of the DL campaign setting; the feeling that the PCs can actually make a difference in the world. While some may simplify the metaplot by calling it a battle amongst the Gods, to me its much more than that. The setting shows how determination can help you triumph against anything. The heroes in the novels are not FR powerhouses, they are pretty low in level, but in the novels (and in my sessions) their determination helps them save the world (or do whatever else they are doing).
Would it be possible to create that same sort of feel in the Kalamar setting?
For your first question, about the importance of the heroes, I think the best response comes from our website at the link I mentioned (above).
Here the specific text reprinted (w/o pictures) for your convenience. I've
bolded some of what it seems you might be looking for:
The Kingdoms of Kalamar setting describes the world of Tellene, a vibrant world alive with rich characters, imminent danger, complex intrigue and exciting adventure, all awaiting your shaping hand. This robust world consists of many detailed lands and cultures, both human and humanoid, that are rife with adventure possibilities. On Tellene, fantastic creatures roam the wilderness, evil clerics worship evil deities hell-bent on destruction and the dead rise again to spread terror throughout the world. Complex political alliances mix with marauding bands of humanoids and medieval technology and culture come face to face with magic and the fantastic. Tellene combines the best of a realistic medieval world with all the elements of fantasy you have come to enjoy. While nearly any campaign setting suffices for a single adventure, your characters will find the Kingdoms of Kalamar setting to be an engaging game world to explore long after the novelty of the "tourist bazaars" has worn thin.
The underlying strength of the Kingdoms of Kalamar setting comes from its geo-historical basis. The maps feel right because they are right, at least from a standpoint of verisimilitude. The continents, lakes, rivers, forests and other geographical features all follow examples from the real world. This attention to detail clearly shows a setting built from the ground up, from the direction of the prevailing winds to the plate tectonics. No glaciers lie in the middle of warm lakes nor huge jungles in temperate latitudes. The Kingdoms of Kalamar setting becomes the invisible backdrop for the real action: you.
The player character becomes the real hero of any D&D game. You rescue the princess and you recover the stolen Whatzit for Lord So-and-So. You shape the campaign world through your actions, not the other way around. Tellene, like few other campaign settings before it, offers you the opportunity to be a world-shaper. Life in Tellene grows from ordinary men and women with extraordinary courage and resolve. This setting gives you the information you need to allow your players to become one of those people. But fear not, for all the detail and background history that this setting provides add depth to your adventures without confining them. The Kingdoms of Kalamar setting allows you to be the author of your own destiny by providing the scenery but not the story.
Of course, player characters cannot be everywhere at once. The world continues moving even when they spend weeks exploring long forgotten ruins or dark forests somewhere. Evil cults spread their influence throughout a small town. A village succumbs to a mysterious disease. A band of humanoids halts merchant routes between two cities. Villains even kidnap princesses when heroes are not around to do anything about it. What happens then? Well, sometimes the princess escapes, but more often the Vicelord has his way with her. For the NPCs of Tellene are not inept, else they would not be worthy (or successful) villains. A world full of morons is no place to live. The good, the bad and even the so-so must transpire in the campaign in order to make the party's heroic deeds exceptional. After all, if every person on the block is a superhero, nobody stands out.
The Kingdoms of Kalamar setting is designed to enhance your D&D experience by providing a realistic backdrop for your character. Every type of person you could imagine lives somewhere on Tellene. In fact, that's one of the reasons the Kingdoms of Kalamar setting is such an enjoyable world to play in: it is tremendously versatile. No matter what type of character you choose to play, you should feel confident that he or she will have an important place in the world of Tellene.
The Kingdoms of Kalamar setting also provides a realistic, dynamic world for your character. Every sort of adventure can be found on the continent of Tellene. Whether you dream of finding great riches in the bellies of mountains or ridding the desert of undead abominations, the Kingdoms of Kalamar setting provides the where and the how, all the while maintaining a commitment to realism that lets you experience your character's adventures in the most satisfying ways.
In the Kingdoms of Kalamar setting, your character has a chance to stand out. In fact, you have a chance to be the greatest character in the campaign world. But greatness is different for every individual. While you may dream of conquering the continent and bringing peace and prosperity to its people, others may wish for the ultimate in scholarly or magical achievement. What sets the Kingdoms of Kalamar setting apart is its ability to give you the opportunity to do all this and more without sacrificing continuity or common sense. Here you are presented with the opportunity to become great. Realizing that opportunity, however, requires skill, effort and a little bit of luck.
Another question that I have, are there any established knighthoods in the setting? Dragonlance has the Knights of Solamnia (and their evil equivalent, the Knight of Neraka and also the Legion of Steel). I love playing knights and it would be a real help if the world has such an organization already (the DM doesn't like to create organizations).
While barons/dukes/kings/etc will have knights subservient to them, there is no "Round Table", if that's what you're looking for. Knights are simply mounted men-at-arms who serve a feudal superior, usually in return for the tenure of a tract of land, but sometimes for pay, as a mercenary.
Of course, there are small orders of knights that are tied to their liege's lands (such as the Knights of the Realm mentioned in the Pekal Gazetteer), but no large, continent-spanned organizations have yet been defined.
I suppose the sole exception would be the Order of the Slayer prestige class (found in the KoK Player's Guide and the Deathright module), though they don't quite fit the romantic ideal of knighthood. They don't wear matching armor, wave flags, or joust in tournaments, for example, though they do swear oaths and have rules (similar to the Templars). Their sole goal is to wipe out the undead.
===
Mark Plemmons
Kenzer and Company
www.kenzerco.com
===
