Looking For A Campaign Setting

[Mistwell]

Scarred Lands, again.

And the "Swords & Sorcery" *feel* is awesome.

Why doesn't one of the Scarred Lands fans (like yourself) take a stab at answering the guys questions about the settings being proposed. I'd do it, but I've never read Scarred Lands:

Is it a medium to low magic / power campaign setting by default, or would it instead take some tweaking to make it that?

Does it have several modules / adventures set in the world?

Does it have a serries of adventures linked to each other?

Does it have psionics included and not something the DM has to add in?

Does it change the rules much from the core books?

Does it have many source books?

 

[Nightfall]

Or you can let me answer.

It's a low magic item count world that while it can increase some aspects of magic, has no/little high level NPCs running around. Most of the creatures in the Scarred Lands are monstrous humaniods that live in large swarms and tend to enjoy congretating on the borders of civilization. It has places where magic a) might not work, b) divine magic is the only function use or c) it works but only for some. It also has NO druids as nature clerics.
Sorcery is based on bloodlines and not all of it has to be about dragons.

It has a set of three modules but modules aren't the only thing that sell a world. Just look at Midnight. It has, what, two modules? Yet it continues.


Psionics are indeed included and are more like mutancy than actual magic. Obviously that gives some advantages to non psionic users, but with Slacerians that also have both SR and PR, it's not as huge as you might think. Plus magical mind protections still work, just not anything else.

It changes some (arcane heat, druids that aren't nature clerics, low magic item count), but not enough that make it that difficult for the DM to run.

There are PLENTY of sourcebooks and plenty of stuff to use for anyone that wants it.

And no I'm not cute I just think it needs to be said more than once. I mean if Eberron fans can do so, why can't I?

Whiz,

Yeah and that's not low magic how? Just cause one has undead city of necromancers doesn't mean it can be low magic. It's a unique city, like Greyhawk or Palathanas.

The Golem hasn't moved much either.

 

[smilinggm]

I would humbly suggest Paradigm Concepts Arcanis Setting!


PCI is a 3rd party publisher but, dont let that scare you away. PCI won an ENnie in 2005 for "The Fans' Choice for Quality!" and that has to say something of their work.

I would describer Arcanis as a medium magic but somewhat of a high power campaing. PC's in the RPGA's Living Arcanis are given 32 points to build thier character.

Psionics are an intrigal part of the campaing and they do not have to be added as an afterthought.

If you are looking for published adventures, well there are currently about 45 or so free to download with many more in the pipeline from the RPGA. There are several good intro mods and there is an arc of modules that have been retired from the RPGA that are in the process of being reworked and rebublished. So that players new to Arcanis can get in at the begining of the story. And, Yes, Arcanis is story driven.


From the Players Guide to Arcanis
"Arcanis is a world of high fantasy, intrigue, and suspense. Diplomacy, skill,
and discretion will carry you as far or farther than skill at arms or in the
arts of magic. Heroes come in a myriad of forms. Some are fantastic beings
born with the blood of Valinor or the souls of elementals. Others are the
descendents of Celestial Giants who once roamed the stars as freely as a
fish swims the sea. Many of the greatest heroes of Arcanis are simple mortals
of mundane blood but lofty ideals. It is a world of heroes who stand
between the common folk and destruction. You can be that hero. The
power is in your hands; leave your mark upon the Shattered Empires!"


Check out my sig for more info on Arcanis.

(and as a bow to Nightfall, If you do not choose Arcanis Take a good hard look at the Scarred Lands setting. It is a Very, Very good setting. But I still say take a look at Arcanis 1st!)

 

[Nightfall]

Hey I got all the love I need from you guys. I never EVER denigrate a great setting like Arcanis, or any others. I just happen to love Scarred Lands.

Thanks and yes I say it loud and proud, Scarred Lands!

 

[smilinggm]

Hey I got all the love I need from you guys. I never EVER denigrate a great setting like Arcanis, or any others. I just happen to love Scarred Lands.

Thanks and yes I say it loud and proud, Scarred Lands!

Your love for Scarred Lands is well known! Scarred Lands is a Great Setting!

I just Love Arcanis!

The OP has two Great choces that he can choose from.

 

[stevelabny]

Sounds more like the haters of certain settings hating on the pimpers than the pimpers threadcrapping.

Let's look at the post.

Hey folks! I'm playing DnD in about the 3.25 version. Still getting the 3.5 books but I did download all that stuff from the SRD.

Ok, so he wants a 3.5 setting. Eberron is the main choice here. As most other settings are pre-3.5.

We were kinda dissapointed inthe FR setting. Very few adventures. -snip- I would like for modules / adventures set in the world (I just don't have the time). Serries of adventures would be even better.

Ok. Eberron only has 4 adventures with less than stellar reviews, and a 4 or 5 more in Dungeon magazine. Of course, what the poster doesn't seem to realize is that there really aren't any settings with lots of adventure support. FR and Eberron get semi-regular coverage in Dungeon. Greyhawk might too, but can hardly be considered a setting anymore. Most other settings don't have lots of adventure suport, Scarred Lands is dead. Kalamar has a decent sample of adventures, but I haven't heard much about them either way and to call the DCC adventures a setting is just silly. They have no connections. Plus, just about any of these settings will have most if not all of the adventures written under 3.0.

The other one everyone talks about is Eberron, which seems to be like FR on PCP.

Never having done PCP myself, I can only go by what I've read and that doesn't help me figure out this statement. Apparently other posters agree. Maybe if the OP went into more detail about how/why he thinks Eberron "seems" like that.

We usually try to stick to WotC products for consistency. Some of the third party stuff is just out there and unbalancing.

Asking for non-FR WotC once again leads squarely to Eberron's door.

We're looking for a medium to low magic / power campaign setting.

Available to PCs/NPCs Eberron has a high amount of low-level magic, but a lower amount of high-level magic. Sure there's Manifest Zones allowing magical areas like Sharn, and commerical devolpments such as Warforged and the Lightning Rail, but its supposed to be harder to find a caster who can cast 4th level spells or higher than other settings. Everyone has their own definition of low-magic.

The PC's would like a setting where psionics is included not something the DM has to add in.

Well, its still sorta tacked on to Eberron because Wotc needed to play it safe and make it removable, but a new player race and whole continent of Psionics is more than most other settings.

What do you think might meet our needs? Doesn't necessarily have to be WotC if it doesn't change the rules to much or require many source books to be purchased.
Thanx, we appreciate any suggestions you can give us.

Based on your wants, you really need to explain the Eberron seems like FR on PCP statement. What you're asking for is mostly impossible, but Eberron is a closer fit than any other setting I've read about. Some other settings might fit one of the criteria better, but then they will be worse in other aspects.

Admittedly I haven't played all of the settings mentioned, and I bet very few have. So of course that's why there are many responses pimping how their favorite settings fits the criteria.

 

[Mistwell]

There are PLENTY of sourcebooks and plenty of stuff to use for anyone that wants it.

Right.

You didn't get the point of that question I see

 

[Mistwell]

Hey I got all the love I need from you guys. I never EVER denigrate a great setting like Arcanis, or any others. I just happen to love Scarred Lands.

Thanks and yes I say it loud and proud, Scarred Lands!

That's the sixth post you've made essentially just saying that you love scarred lands.

I find your level of enthusiasm...disturbing.

And you might want to check out:

http://www.enworld.org/circvs/showthread.php?t=4173

I mean this mostly in jest by the way

 

[reanjr]

Another vote for Kingdoms of Kalamar. Great setting. Easily tailored to different play styles. Plenty of adventures.

Ok, so he wants a 3.5 setting. Eberron is the main choice here. As most other settings are pre-3.5.

The Kingdoms of Kalamar setting requires absolutely no changes for 3.5. Some of the adventures require some updates as well as some supplements. All of these changes are online at kenzerco.com

Of course, what the poster doesn't seem to realize is that there really aren't any settings with lots of adventure support. ... Kalamar has a decent sample of adventures, but I haven't heard much about them either way ... Plus, just about any of these settings will have most if not all of the adventures written under 3.0.

About a dozen adventures for KoK I believe. Plus really friendly for Dungeon adventures. Again, all updated on kenzerco.com.

Asking for non-FR WotC once again leads squarely to Eberron's door.

Kingdoms of Kalamar is as official as it gets outside of WotC, I'd like to point out. Even bears the D&D logo, something even Ravenloft and Dragonlance were unable to do.

Based on your wants, you really need to explain the Eberron seems like FR on PCP statement. What you're asking for is mostly impossible, but Eberron is a closer fit than any other setting I've read about. Some other settings might fit one of the criteria better, but then they will be worse in other aspects.

I think Kalamar actually fits all of his wants better than Eberron except for perhaps the non-WotC thing.

Admittedly I haven't played all of the settings mentioned, and I bet very few have. So of course that's why there are many responses pimping how their favorite settings fits the criteria.

I've played Scarred Lands, Midnight, Eberron, Forgotten Realms, Kingdoms of Kalamar, Dragonlance and some others probably mentioned. In my opinion, KoK fits your stated criteria the best.

 

[Mistwell]

Another vote for Kingdoms of Kalamar. Great setting. Easily tailored to different play styles. Plenty of adventures.

I agree that Kalamar would also be a fine choice. I found the modules pretty good, and fairly easily linked together. Level of power and magic seemed about medium to me as well. A few rules changes here and there, but nothing too big.

On a different note, I hear a lot of good things about Iron Heros, and it's low-power feel. I know it changes rules as well (to adjust to lower powering gaming). I have not played that setting so far, however, so this is third hand knowledge. I could point you to some threads about it however from folks I trust over at Circus Maximus.

I have not played Arcanis, but from what I know of it, it is high powered.

I have not played Eberron, but folks I trust seem to like it a lot. Seemed a bit higher powered and high magic to me when I read some of it, and it sure has a lot of supplements with more on the way, but I have not really read enough (or played at all) to offer a competent opinion.