Points of Light

[Prince of Happiness]

Please just do not put a cave behind the waterfall. That is probably the cliche I hate most in all my experience. Every D&D waterfall I've seen or encountered has a cave system behind it and walking through the waterfall is the big 'secret' the players need to figure out.

So, if it's a caveless waterfall, that sounds like a nice start.

Even if, on hikes in the real world, you've seen plenty of them?

I've missed the original article. What is this "Points of Light" thing? Has a New World Order descended on D&D? Read my lips, no new treasure taxes?

 

[Henry]

My 4E campaign will take place within a place known only as "The Empire." Dwarves, Humans, and Halflings will mingle together more or less, with occasional Elven visitors showing up. Only a few major cities will be present, the rest of the world being vastly forested, with maybe a village every couple dozen miles. The wilds will be full of half-man, half-goat monsters, orcs, and goblins. There might be an occasional Troll, Giant, or Dragon that lairs, but the majority of evil will be comprised of those humanoids. Deep beneath the cities, horrific rat-men will plot the downfall of civilization to the praise of their dark horned masters.

I'm thinking of calling it "The Longsword Campaign."

 

[Reaper Steve]

My 4E campaign will take place within a place known only as "The Empire." Dwarves, Humans, and Halflings will mingle together more or less, with occasional Elven visitors showing up. Only a few major cities will be present, the rest of the world being vastly forested, with maybe a village every couple dozen miles. The wilds will be full of half-man, half-goat monsters, orcs, and goblins. There might be an occasional Troll, Giant, or Dragon that lairs, but the majority of evil will be comprised of those humanoids. Deep beneath the cities, horrific rat-men will plot the downfall of civilization to the praise of their dark horned masters.

I'm thinking of calling it "The Longsword Campaign."

But that game's called Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.'

And I'm sure your post is intentional, but I'm trying to figure out your motivation. Being funny, or serious? FWIW, WFRP was my game of choice for quite a while. My guess is that you like the flavor/world of WFRP but want to use D&D rules.

Inquiring minds want to know!

 

[Charwoman Gene]

That is probably the cliche I hate most in all my experience.

It's not a cliche. Waterfalls generally create caves due to natural erosion. They just don't need to hold a secret or be all that extensive.

 

[Henry]

But that game's called Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay.'

And I'm sure your post is intentional, but I'm trying to figure out your motivation. Being funny, or serious? FWIW, WFRP was my game of choice for quite a while. My guess is that you like the flavor/world of WFRP but want to use D&D rules.

Inquiring minds want to know!

I'm just being flippant. In all the craze of "points of light," I'm constantly reminded of one of the most popular Points of Light settings of all time. Some on various forums are acting like it's new - but it's more like WotC is cribbing from all the cool things out there because they recognize how great it is.

In the past, though, I've honestly considered more than once using Warhammer flavor for a 3E game, because my group don't really enjoy the rules much, but I love the setting itself after having been exposed to it last year. However, it really doesn't work well without either changing the flavor a bit, or changing the game rules a bit.

 

[Desdichado]

Sounds like it will be a fun campaign.

Edit: Nevermind, I had read it wrong.

So... you don't think it sounds fun?

I've actually done points of light to death. It's hardly a new idea. My latest campaign brainstorming has the game start off on a caravan stop between two big rival empires. Think of it as Kashgar or Turfan or Kucha on the Silk Road, nestled in the desolate wilderness nearly equidistant from China and Persia, trying to play the two off each other so neither comes in and militarily takes control of the area.

 

[Prince of Happiness]

No, really, what are these Points of Light? Good-ish strongholds that you base the PCs in while everywhere else is evil and darque and has loads of good loot and XP?

And how is that a feature? I thought that was just "PCs' hometown."

 

[Henry]

No, really, what are these Points of Light? Good-ish strongholds that you base the PCs in while everywhere else is evil and darque and has loads of good loot and XP?

And how is that a feature? I thought that was just "PCs' hometown."

Yeah, it's been around since Gygax and Arneson rolled to hit a Player Character, but it's one that has been getting de-emphasized somewhat over the years. First it was "back to the dungeon," now it's "Points of Light." In such a setting, places like Cormyr, Silverymoon, Thrane, and Breland wouldn't necessarily exist, and it would be more like small enclaves in a really bad overwhelming world, with no heroes to back you up.

 

[Prince of Happiness]

Yeah, it's been around since Gygax and Arneson rolled to hit a Player Character, but it's one that has been getting de-emphasized somewhat over the years. First it was "back to the dungeon," now it's "Points of Light." In such a setting, places like Cormyr, Silverymoon, Thrane, and Breland wouldn't necessarily exist, and it would be more like small enclaves in a really bad overwhelming world, with no heroes to back you up.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, funnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn! It was the perception that I had from the original FR boxed set, and really what I was given growing up: Grim tales of grim heroes grimly struggling against grim odds grimly set for a grim victory. It makes the need for heroes feel more...necessary. There certainly had been a trend for a long time with "Good adventurers, do what you must to make the happy merchants happy!"

 

[Reaper Steve]

I'm just being flippant.

Ah, OK then!

I really enjoyed WFRP for a while, but 1) it got pretty stale IMO (talk about a setting that hasn't changed in 30 years) and 2) the things that made it cool weren't as cool as the things that I liked about D&D.

While I think that 4E will lean (and just lean) in the direction of WFRP, I also think that the points of light concept will remain pretty distant from 'Fantasy Roleplaying in a World of Grim and Perilous Adventure.'