Morningstar or Dawnforge?

[Monster Manuel]

Which of the two is more "epic" and "heroic"? Does anyone actually know anything about these settings?

I'm sorry for the two successive posts, but I just realized that I hadn't quite answered about Morningstar's Epic nature...


Two new core classes are introduced.

The Eidolon replaces and expands the paladin in a world that has never known feudalism... akin to heroes like Hercules, Rama, and Jason. He is a hero of the people- mythic by his very nature.

The artificer creates magical items and fantastic constructs ... these constructs are less machines than matter imbued with spirit. His real world and mythic analogs include Pygmalion, the dwarves of Norse mythology, Hero of Alexandria, or Leonardo Da Vinci.

There are nine empire in the known world, and each is at the peak of civilization. Primary inspiriation is the ancient world, with cultures that emulate Rome, China/Cambodia, Mesoamerica, India, and some, like Ijamvhul, that don't match up directly.

As for Mythic cultures, there is an Empire of warring Dragons, one of Dwarves (perhaps a bit like Moria, yet not quite), and one of Elves (like any of the mythic Fairy realms).

The world is set up to allow globe-spanning adventure, with plenty to see along the way. In Brendir are immense aqueducts. These are man-made rivers, set atop pillars. They are called the Canali- and are places where ships and even towns float gracefully, hundreds of feet above the ground.

Within the same empire are numerous sites of interest, such as Trodos, where the cyclopean collosus of an ancient hero kneels to cup the city in his hands... his head in the clouds. Or Pastosi-a city built in pillared levels, to escape the violent tidal flows that are caused by Arril- The massive terraqueous moon that takes up a huge portion of the sky, night or day.

Hopefully, you now get a feel for the style of Morningstar's approach to Heroic/Epic fantasy.

 

[Mark Chance]

As far as I know it's coming out in November, but a better way to look at it would be that it's coming out as soon as it's the best project it can be.

Hear, hear!

For example, I know for a fact that at least one of the authors working on the geography, history, et cetera, of Dawnforge is putting in some time researching comparative real world geography and climate in order to create that delightful contradiction: a believable fantasy.

 

[Wombat]

Hmm, finally looked them both up

Neither floats my boat in the slightest. As far as I can see, this just adds two more FR-type uber-magic, uber-level campaigns to the mix.

Oh well.

I'm just not the target audience.

I hope the rest of you have fun with one or both of them.

 

[Nifelhein]

Hmm, finally looked them both up

Neither floats my boat in the slightest. As far as I can see, this just adds two more FR-type uber-magic, uber-level campaigns to the mix.

Oh well.

I'm just not the target audience.

I hope the rest of you have fun with one or both of them.

I actually seem to agree with you, but don't see them as ubber or FR, just not my kind of fantasy, I have read the whole preview on Morningstar and deefined it would not be for me, too much epic, amazing and the like on its own creation for me to enjoy, but the setting seems great anyway, for those who tend to like that kind of fantasy.

As for dawnforge, the info on it is prety scarce, so i know not what to expect and if I am actually gonna buy it, but I wish they post a preview and that they also make it as good a setting as they did midnight, are you on it too Wil?

As I am at it, I am surprised that no one posted links to previews or the like for each of them so....

Morningstar: the preview <http://www.goodman-games.com/MorningstarPreview.pdf>

Dawnforge: this thread has info on it-> <http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=63993>

 

[d20Dwarf]

As for dawnforge, the info on it is prety scarce, so i know not what to expect and if I am actually gonna buy it, but I wish they post a preview and that they also make it as good a setting as they did midnight, are you on it too Wil?

Yep, I'm on it. I can tell you that the art is simply amazing, better on average I think than Midnight (which I thought had awesome art). It's a whole different type of fantasy than Midnight, but I think the rules and play style are excellent and will bring fans of epic adventuring many good games.

 

[Nifelhein]

Yep, I'm on it. I can tell you that the art is simply amazing, better on average I think than Midnight (which I thought had awesome art). It's a whole different type of fantasy than Midnight, but I think the rules and play style are excellent and will bring fans of epic adventuring many good games.

This is what I hoping for and also knowing you are on it makes me even more excited, I am not a great fan of golden epic age, but i am a fan of FFG and also a fan of Wil Upchurch!

 

[KingOfChaos]

Argh!

More stuff to spend money I don't have on ^_^

 

[Nifelhein]

Argh!

More stuff to spend money I don't have on ^_^

Money???? What on earth is that????

Does it attack children at night??? Does it bites??? I know I know! It is a new setting coming around, right???

 

[shadow]

I'm sorry for the two successive posts, but I just realized that I hadn't quite answered about Morningstar's Epic nature...


Two new core classes are introduced.

The Eidolon replaces and expands the paladin in a world that has never known feudalism... akin to heroes like Hercules, Rama, and Jason. He is a hero of the people- mythic by his very nature.

The artificer creates magical items and fantastic constructs ... these constructs are less machines than matter imbued with spirit. His real world and mythic analogs include Pygmalion, the dwarves of Norse mythology, Hero of Alexandria, or Leonardo Da Vinci.

There are nine empire in the known world, and each is at the peak of civilization. Primary inspiriation is the ancient world, with cultures that emulate Rome, China/Cambodia, Mesoamerica, India, and some, like Ijamvhul, that don't match up directly.

As for Mythic cultures, there is an Empire of warring Dragons, one of Dwarves (perhaps a bit like Moria, yet not quite), and one of Elves (like any of the mythic Fairy realms).

The world is set up to allow globe-spanning adventure, with plenty to see along the way. In Brendir are immense aqueducts. These are man-made rivers, set atop pillars. They are called the Canali- and are places where ships and even towns float gracefully, hundreds of feet above the ground.

Within the same empire are numerous sites of interest, such as Trodos, where the cyclopean collosus of an ancient hero kneels to cup the city in his hands... his head in the clouds. Or Pastosi-a city built in pillared levels, to escape the violent tidal flows that are caused by Arril- The massive terraqueous moon that takes up a huge portion of the sky, night or day.

Hopefully, you now get a feel for the style of Morningstar's approach to Heroic/Epic fantasy.

Darn it, you sold me on it! Now I'm going to have to buy it!

My only concern is the idea of a meta-plot. If a large amount of the setting revovles around the mystery of the canticle, will I have to buy a lot of supplements and adventures to further reveal the meta-plot?

 

[Monster Manuel]

Darn it, you sold me on it! Now I'm going to have to buy it!

My only concern is the idea of a meta-plot. If a large amount of the setting revovles around the mystery of the canticle, will I have to buy a lot of supplements and adventures to further reveal the meta-plot?

Ah- so there it is...


Peer closely at the beats between,
The words that are revealed,
Beseech your gods the wit to glean,
For I shall never yield.
-Final Verse of the Canticle

The Key to the whole shebang is inherent in the first book. The whole thing is a big puzzle/riddle- and an intuitive leap of logic could unfold the whole thing in front of you.

The successive books will give further clues, tons of adventure hooks, and fuller details on various parts of the world. While I certainly think that they will be indespensible, you can run a solid campaign with the core book and web enhancements... but hopefully you'll find that the rest of the books reveal a greater depth, and give limitless options for play in this world. The first book is like the 'Cliffs Notes' version of Morningstar, but even that has a lot of depth.