LOW FANTASY settings/adventures: WHERE? WHEN?

[Crothian]

KK, see if you can find the Sanctuary box set and the few modules that they put out for it. It's all generic role playing, no specific system so it fits into anything. Read the thieves world books, and they give you the perfect feel for this place. There is magic, but only the most powerful (epic level) people have it. there are no low level mages and the few clerics weld little power. The magic is all rare and unique.

 

[Darklance]

I'd love that type of setting.
I'm all for a world where:

1. Magic is virtually unheard of except for tales and myths. If it is real at all then it is extremely rare and the price for its use is high (COC magic might work here)

2. Monsters are rare and those that exist are truly things to be feared.

3. Combat is realistic and deadly. A person may be a master swordsman with the ability to out duel anyone but when it comes down to it, one slip up and an amateur and leave you gutted on the sidewalk.

4. Gods exist in a pantheon like system.. Perhaps they make their will known to their priests but they never directly intervene. Their priests are usually powerless but may be given powers to perform special miracles on very rare occasions. Perhaps oracles are present.

 

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

KK, see if you can find the Sanctuary box set and the few modules that they put out for it. It's all generic role playing, no specific system so it fits into anything. Read the thieves world books...

Read nearly all the Thieve's World books in 7th grade. Sanctuary is almost impossible to find; I did have one book (a section on several businesses possibly from the box set) for it once, but can't find it now.

 

[Crothian]

Read nearly all the Thieve's World books in 7th grade. Sanctuary is almost impossible to find; I did have one book (a section on several businesses possibly from the box set) for it once, but can't find it now.

I got everything off of ebay for a really good price. No one else bid on any of it, so I got it all at the starting price. There are also some great graphic novels (6, 1 in color). I'm slowly trying to get all the novels, books that were written about the Thieves World characters by the authors. If you, or anyone else is interested in the THieves World setting and the city of Sanctuary I suggest the following website:

http://www.geocities.com/jillari1/menu.htm

It's a fan site about everything thieves world, not just the RPG suppliments. Heck thewre';s even a board game that's pretty fun. I got that on e-bay, too. It was brand new 3$. Sure, e0-bay can be expensive, but the trick is to collect the things either people don't want, or have forgotten about.

 

[Psion]

Didn't like it. Nope. Didn't like it at all. Boring.

In all honesty, the setting you describe sounds boring too.

That said, I imagine another reason is that it is easier to drop something than add it.

 

[Nightfall]

I tend to agree with you Psion but then you and I have similiar styles.

But for Kap here's what you do:

Take a map of the Realms:

eliminate the following core classes: paladin, ranger, cleric
No Pr-classes even. In fact no pr-classes PERIOD.

Magic is strickly limited, meaning no mage, sorcerer or bard can cast above a 4th level spell.

Each time they cast a spell, must expend XP. 1st level spells, 100 XP, 2nd 200, 3rd 500, 4th, 1,000 THAT ALL arcane spells.

Summon spells work but only summon Outsiders, not magical beasts.

Druid can cast any spells but healing. They also keep their healing/alchemy proficency.

There is no divine magics what so ever.

No monsters. In fact there's not even a rumor of one. Monsters are no more. Demons, Devils, Undead and Loths are the only monsters that exist if at all. Damage reduction doesn't need to apply SINCE they need a host/phyalcrphy to exist in this world. Thus possessions are common.

Magic weapons don't exist or else are on other planes of existance.

The Outer planes don't exist but the inner and transitive planes do exist.

Oh and the only other race beside human, Centaurs. And they are RARE.

 

[Harrowtoe]

Harn is the setting you're seeking if it's low fantasy you're looking for. Placed in a neo-Europe (England, I suppose, but there are also Nordic expansions, and hints of a fallen neo-Rome on the southern main continent), it features a well-realized feudal setting with plenty of political intrigue (in both church and state), thieves guilds, Viking raids, etc. with a smattering of magic from arcane and divine sources. Non-humans consist of orcs, dragons, undead, dwarves, elves... and that's about it! (Except for the spawn of a god named Iivir, whence come all the fell beasts of legend--but all are unique.)

Aaanyway, Harn was originally developed as a systemless setting, so it is easy to adapt to a d20 campaign -- especially now that publisher Columbia Games (www.columbiagames.com) is putting d20 stats in its new releases (and see www.dndharnguide.addr.com for a lengthy fan-produced d20 conversion pdf). There are many sourcebooks and adventures to be had, and all are high-quality (especially the maps).

Auran (at www.auran.com/d20/default.htm) is also worth checking out -- once a Harn sublicenser, they offer a free and very Harnish city adventure pdf entitled "Shades of Gray" at their website).

For some astonishingly high-caliber Harn fan modules (settings, mostly), surf to www.swordsandshields.org and sample some of the pdfs on the downloads page.

Harn is an excellent setting -- very much in the tradition of Tolkien -- and sounds just the thing for you. The various monsters and non-human races are rare, and easily regulated by the GM.


Cheers,

Paul Sudlow

 

[Darrell]

I'd buy that product.

But I'd prefer to write it.

--Erik

Erik--

PLEASE tell me this is a broad hint toward something you have planned; either for a future Polyhedron or as a WotC (or 3rd party) release. That would just make my frickin' YEAR. ('Course, even if it were, you probably hadda sign somethin' saying ya wouldn't be able to talk about it. Grrrrrr.....)

Regards,
Darrell King

 

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

Thanks for the links. I had the d20 Harn guide but forgot about it, the free Harnic adventures page was one I wasn't aware of! DLed Shades of Grey from Auran and will give it a look as well.

Just dug out my old copies of the Thieves' World anthologies and started rereading them. Good stuff!

How good was the Chaosium RPG version of Thieves' World? It's friggin' expensive to get a used copy, like $40 on one site. I hate to buy things sight unseen.

 

[Eristophenes]

And what about Ravenloft? This is my favourite low-magic campaign. There's no obligation for you that each of your Ravenloft adventures must be a Gothic horror. There are bandits, thieves wild animals etc. who waits to be included in your adventures... And there are no silly good clerics who only wait to ressurrect your players...