Oathbound: Domains of the Forge
Bastion Press has a setting where almost anything is possible, set in a nearly-empty Universe, with a single planet created by the seven rulers of the seven Domains of the Forge, who gate in residents of many different worlds, seeking to gain their freedom. The main book,
Oathbound: Domains of the Forge is currently available for $5, in hardback, although it is written for 3.0. Several of the modules are as well (
Wrack & Ruin,
Plains of Penance, and
Arena),
Wildwood is available in .PDF, only, at this time, and the other module on the Arena Domain (
Mysteries of Arena) is regular price. The other four Domains of the world have yet to be detailed (except in general). There is also a novel,
Forged, about an Elf who gets sucked into the Forge, available (supposed to be the first of a trilogy, but the other two were never published).
Anyway, in this world, magic, science, magical science, a veritable plethora of unusual races, "enchantments of the flesh" which can permanently change PCs, etc., etc., all coexist (and not always peacefully). When you run into a 20-story metal "monster", it could just as well be a robot or mecha as a magically-powered "Doom Strider" or Iron Golem. The protagonist of the
Forged novel begins in a Renaissance world of flintlocks & swords, where no one believes in magic, and gets transported to the Forge...
ALL PCs entering the Forge are endowed with a GM-chosen "arrival gift", which they have to learn to use. When they have a great success that changes things in the Forge, they can acquire an even better one. They can also pick up a Focus (one of those enchantments of the flesh), in certain places at certain times, and grow wings, fur, claws, a shell like a turtle's, become more Draconic, etc. In the Wildwood Domain, transplantation of organs is another possibility.
The seven rulers of the Domains each run their own "world", with the seven Domains comprising the Forge, which is (unknown to the PCs) the prison of a now-nameless god. The Seven suck in beings, hoping that, someday, one of them will become powerful enough to slay one of the seven, thus being bound in their place. Therefore; everything is pushed to become more and more powerful. (The idea, here, is that play could continue on into post-Epic levels - it would HAVE to, to allow the PCs a hope of slaying the Seven)!
Anyway, it is well worth the measly $5 they're now asking for it, and I would pick it, the novel (if you want it), and the two or three modules that are selling for $5, at their
Online Store. If you like those, you can get
Wildwood at the ENWorld Game Store, and the other Arena module elsewhere. Oathbound is certainly worth a look, ESPECIALLY if you want something "different".
The
Player's Guide to the Forge is supposed to be out (I don't know when), and updates the setting from 3.0 to 3.5e, if that's a concern for you. Most things aren't a problem, for me.
