broghammerj said:
I too am one of those people that see the SL bandwagon riding by but not sure if I should jump on. I find the FR setting really enjoyable, but I have a number of problems with the setting. The PCs aren't even blips on the radar in terms of functioning in the world. The FR is so vast, which makes for good variability in adventuring, but the PCs never seem to make a difference. Also there is too much meta gaming my the group. I "know" about the Underdark because you read about it on the billboards to WaterDeep even though I'm 1st level. Or of course I think he's a Zhent. My neighbor works for the Zhentirem (sp-?). The idea of pulling out all new material for a game which they have little background on is very intriguing.
That kind of stuff annoyed me too. The metagaming through novels. Fortunately while there ARE novels, you can always say as Dm/Gm for the Scarred Lands. "Well that's nice and all but not everyone see the Calastians as evil or cruel. The Lagenians for example, see them more as foppish and less caring about their religious duties." Etc.
broghammerj said:
I have a number of direct questions about the SL setting.
That's what I'm here for!
broghammerj said:
1. What is the land/adventuring area equivalent to the FR? Ghelspad appears to be roughly equivalent to Cormyr/Dalelands by my eye.
Well this is a yes and no answer. YES, Ghelspad is sort of the 'default' area of the world, in terms of THIS is where the gods and Titans clashed the most AND where the setting has it focus for now. BUT being that's its an ENTIRE continent roughly half the size of Faerun itself, you can hardly say "eqivilant" There are plenty of deserts, badlands crawling with titanspawn and monsters of all sorts. PLUS there are adventures to be had in the civilized lands as well.
broghammerj said:
2. Are the roles of the core races similar or does the setting really challenge the stereotypes? Dwarves -miners? Elves- wood dwelling, etc.
Again, a yes and no answer. See there are THREE subraces for dwarves as well as for elves. The "default dwarf" or mountain dwarf tend to be the most numerous. They are VERY much like the PHB dwarf BUT they have what's called a "runic" hertiage which grants them two spell like abilities useable one per day. "detect magic" and "arcane mark" PLUS they have fighter AND wizard as their favored class. (You choose WHICH one when you make your character). The other two are known but often not seen very much. The charduni are sort of the "favored" race of Chardun, the Slaver. They have less in common with their cousins BUT are still an orderly society AND do smithing as much as their cousins. Though they often use undead as their favored class is fighter AND cleric. The last are what known as forsaken dwarves. These are dwarves that are filled with hate towards everyone except their own race. Not a nice bunch. Wood elves, are more like the PHB elves, but they are less civilized than their cousin, the Forsaken elves which were originally HIGH elves corrupted by Chern's curse as well as the loss of their god TO Chern. (Chern is still a favorite of mine!
)Dark Elves are SIMILIAR to Drow, in skin tone, but temperment, they are MUCH different. They follow their own slightly dying god of their race, and are constantly warring with the mountain dwarves of Burok Torn. There are no native populations of gnomes, but halfling, next to dwarf and human population, are VERY numerous, especially in the south. Half orcs are known but aren't especially common.
broghammerj said:
3. Are the evil races still goblins, orcs, kobolds, gnolls, etc? Are there new core evil races? Can the old ones still be used?
Orcs and goblins DO exist on Ghelspad. Kobolds...well much like their draconic brethren, aren't very high numbers SINCE th other new and more powerful titanspawn races such as the Assathi, an intelligent and highly skilled race of Lizard men, the Slitheren/Ratmen, fecund and by far the most dangerous of all the titanspawn, and the High Gorgons, often control LARGE potions of the wilderness and surrounding areas. Gnolls have their own empire BUT it's off on Termana, along with the gnomes.
broghammerj said:
4. Are creatures from MM still used? Do they upset the flavor of the setting?
Some are. Some aren't. The MM titans aren't in much use for obvious reasons. High and Low gorgons are kind the default versions of gorgons. Harpies are now a more civilized race, though they are still evil and hold deeply to their creator, Belsameth, the Lady of Murder. Mantacores are now a race of catlike people that are devoted to Vangal, the Lord of Destruction and Bloodlust. They are also proud to say that one of their number ascended to be the Herald of Vangal. There's no mention or any hint of Beholders or Illithids, possible all killed or sent away when the Slacerians, a powerful race that dwelt underground and maybe had psionic ability, were destroyed by the Titans. Dragons, at least the metallic and Chromatic kinds, are pratically unheard of BUT do have larger populations in Termana, Asherak and their own homeland, the Dragon Lands.
broghammerj said:
5. What is the political structure of the land? By the supplements it appears to be city states rather than nationstates.
It's a mixed bag there. The Calastian Hegemony is the largest of all the countries, being an empire and looking to expand. There's also the tribes of Albadia, which do work as a nation, but aren't what you'd call a cohesive unit JUST yet. They function best when the Helliann, their sorcererous women who basically run the show from behinds the scenes, work together. There are a number of city states BUT there are also other countries. You should pick up the SLCS:Ghelspad to understand that.
broghammerj said:
6. Clerics are one of my favorite characters. Is there enough variety in the panthenon without creating my own gods.
I think so. There the Eight god that basically embody each of the 8 of the nine alignments. Then there are their children or those that come after them. 10 of them are more regional gods, but gods like Nemorga, the Grey King, is almost like Kelvemor only not as rigid about his dislike of undead. Drendari is a more whismical goddes of Shadow. Plus if you want to add more gods, you can but I'd recommend NOT making them on par with 8 Victors. THESE are the gods that fought the Titans, and survived. Not every god can make that claim.
broghammerj said:
7. The titans vs gods intrigues me. Do the denziens of the SL fight over the two? Is there a contingent of people who still worship the titans and those who support the gods?
Well one COULD make the argument that the Druids of Denev, being the most neutral of them all, support both, even though they dislike their titan brethren for the simple fact they didn't seem to care about things like "balance" or "nature's cycle." But often it's not as SIMPLE distinctions to make about who is titanspawn and who isn't. Some times, those races, called the divine races, actually WORK to bring back the Titans. Some times even those created BY the titans, will turn to Gods. It's not a simple matter of black and white BUT there are some cultural rules that help keep MOST of this for being generally true. Example of the divine race going to titanspawn, the fearsome Druids of Khet. They are druids who venerate the Lady of Venom, Mormo and Garuak, the Glutton. They are cannabals and savages. But they don't see themselves as such though. But that's just ONE of many things that goes on in the Scarred Lands.
broghammerj said:
8. I don't have the time to write my own homebrews and I'm generally like to stick to canon for a setting. Is this a packaged setting which is "ready to run."
Yep, especially if you get the SLCS:Ghelspad.
That's all the cannon you really need.
