My campaign primer

[Klaus]

And millenia later, when human rule the land, the descendants of the Arkhosi will found:

COBRAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!



EDIT: Dangit, I can't give Mouse any more XP!

Also, I'd SO want to play a kobold. And a dragonwrought one, at that!

 

[Mouseferatu]

Obviously, I'd never have proposed something like this if I thought my player wouldn't go for it. I've no interest in forcing people to play a campaign they won't enjoy. Fortunately, as I anticipated, they found the idea intriguing.

That said, I should point out that--as both a player and a DM--I'd much prefer a heavily restricted game with a tight thematic/story focus than an "everything goes" campaign where the DM has no real sense of the setting. (Not that I'm saying all "everything goes" campaigns are that slapdash, mind.) Now, restrictions just because the DM doesn't like a particular class or race? No, not crazy about that. But if it's because the DM is making a real effort to create a certain sort of aesthetic? Yeah, go for it.

 

[Klaus]

I always toy with the idea of letting the players come up with their characters, then take those characters and use them as archetypes for the setting. For instance, if a player makes a dragonborn barbarian, then dragonborn in the setting are barbaric, dragon-totem types, etc.

Anyone ever tried that?

 

[Infernal Teddy]

I always toy with the idea of letting the players come up with their characters, then take those characters and use them as archetypes for the setting. For instance, if a player makes a dragonborn barbarian, then dragonborn in the setting are barbaric, dragon-totem types, etc.

Anyone ever tried that?

Not yet, but it's a thought that does pop up every now and then...

 

[Mouseferatu]

I always toy with the idea of letting the players come up with their characters, then take those characters and use them as archetypes for the setting. For instance, if a player makes a dragonborn barbarian, then dragonborn in the setting are barbaric, dragon-totem types, etc.

Anyone ever tried that?

I've never built an entire campaign that way, but I've occasionally modified parts of a campaign setting based on character concepts. So I guess the answer is "Yes, I've tried it, but not extensively."

 

[Greg K]

While not a campaign in which I would play (I am not a fan of the dragonborn gith, or kobolds (as pcs), it is still an interesting idea and read. Hope it goes well.

 

[Mercurius]

Good stuff. Out of curiosity, do elves and dwarves not exist at all in this world? Or are you saving them for a fun little campaign twist at some point? Also, to what degree are you modeling this off the canonical Arkhosian Empire?

 

[Mouseferatu]

Good stuff. Out of curiosity, do elves and dwarves not exist at all in this world? Or are you saving them for a fun little campaign twist at some point?

At the moment, that's something the players/PCs don't know. So far as the dragonborn are concerned, all the mammalian humanoids are "human." Maybe the PCs will eventually learn that the "humans" actually include other races, or maybe not. I honestly haven't decided yet.

Also, to what degree are you modeling this off the canonical Arkhosian Empire?

Not very. I adapted the name ("Arkhos" from "Arkhosia"), but it's mostly my own creation. I may seed bits and pieces of canonical stuff, as we go, but only as and when they occur to me as perfect fits for what I'm doing.

 

[Orius]

And yes, those of you who know your D&D history will recognize that I've used a great many names from D&D's past--despite the fact that none of my players will ever pick up on it.

Didn't notice any name dropping except in the pantheon list. Recognized Falazure right off. Is Osterinian a variation of Aasterinian? Some of the other names look vaguely familiar (Astilavor, Gryx, Tchazzur, maybe Balinor), were they taken from the original Draconomicon? Some of those dragon gods were Realms-specific and I generally don't pay much attention to the camapign-specific stuff.

Not very. I adapted the name ("Arkhos" from "Arkhosia"), but it's mostly my own creation.

Arkhosia also looks vaguely familiar. Was that something Mystaran?

 

[catastrophic]

I feel like a setting primer should have more hooks. What is valuable in this world? What are the pcs likely to be after? Honor? Glory? Gold? Political power? Are there things a dragonborn would never value, that adventurers usually would? Or vice versa?

What about law and order? Are certain people untouchable, or outcats in society? What about the consequences of the law? Are there white collar slavers who operate scams to entrap indentured servants? How powerful are the churches?

What are the threats and changes that the empire is facing? Is it stagnating? Evolving? Is democracy on the wane, or on the rise? Are the govenors feuding, or uniting in a power block that opposes the senate? Are the empire's borders expanding or contracting?

Who are these indentured servants? Are they dragonborn? Why not humans, or dwarves? If not slaves, how are humans treated? Killed on sight? Are the dragonborn genocidal, or do they seek to spread their culture through new cities and settlements?

Where are the points of conflict or adventure in the setting? Is it as simple as the wilderness between the cities, in which case, what's there? The same old Ruins? Tribal lands? Ancient barrows and menhirs? Are there alternative adventure locales, like the ancient mausoleums, sewers, and old streets beneath the surface of the cities?