The City Beautiful - (Over)

Evilhalfling

Adventurer
A frequent posting game for 5 players. 1/day hopefully

RG: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?p=2283759#post2283759
In Character : http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=134207


Characters –
2nd level, point buy 33 pts – per DMG,
Books: Core, EXP, Complete Arcane.
Cash: maximum starting gold for 1st level.
Hit points – max the first level then .75 of max.
Dice rolling – post the modifiers and I’ll roll dice.
Feel free to make up neighborhoods, organizations, contacts, etc. Knowing other PCs before hand is encouraged, but not necessary.

Starting city: Avordel, “the Green City” on the southern sea.

Avordel est. 450 BHR current gov.682 HR, current date 983 HR

…A huge spoked metropolis of 300,000 ruled by the Astral elves. It is a tropical city of stately city planning, There are cobbled streets and a sewer system. The city center is a palace supported by 6 enormous trees, with an academy of magic built below it. Walled gardens extend outward from the center, connected to the palace by Dwarven built towers and unsupported bridges 80’ above the ground.
Over half the population is human, with dwarves, fair orcs, hairfeet, and humans from all lands. The elvish kings took power in 581 HR, but four human mayors and councilmen govern the city business, with a noble elf required on each council.
…The Academy is lit by blue dancing lights which have been seen to move. Spell casting is regulated through the university and there is a 20% extra charge on commissioned items. Offensive spell casting within the city is heavily prosecuted (at least in the better areas). The Academy specializes in divination, enchantment and transmutation. More violent mages are usually refugees from the strict controls of the Taueresci.
…Silk dresses and shirts are worn by the upper classes along with complex but stately hairstyles. Lower classes make do with cotton or loincloths.
…Elves – originally nocturnal, elves worshiped a plethora of gods each with a constellation. It is complex and confusing to non elves, as there are both summer and winter gods both with no set alignments. They do not restrict the religion of others, and
temples of every creed can be found here. The astral elves do not sweat and have difficulty exerting themselves, they are still semi- nocturnal, resting and reading during the heat of the day. The City has a siesta period from noon–4 pm and much of the activity occurs in the evening and early night hours.
…Outside the city is farmlands and small feeder communities and past them jungle.
Savage humans frequently visit the city, mostly barbarians, druids and rangers, from the tribes of Eagle, Ape, Jaguar and Snake. North of the jungles, and along the coast lie the human kingdoms and empires.
…Psionists are not well organized, they lack the formal training of the Academy, and have small splintered organizations with widely different goals. They can expect the same treatment as mages for blatant displays of power.

Each city resident may select 1 of the following as an additional class skill:
Skills –Craft (any) Spellcraft, Appraisal, Gather Information

Outside the city:
Tthe continent of Trevari – Humans are dominate, two major religions struggle for control. Decedent elves speak of the golden age where they controlled the world, and Orcs and Dwarves nurse ancient hatreds and remember the Ancient Ones who ruled before elves. Reptilliads dominate the desert, but some walk among men. Traders from other continents speak of Dragon gods, Hairfeet wander happily while Stouts speak of their parents being driven from the Green Isle abandoning it after five centuries of war with dragons. Dinosaurs domestic and wild still roam the hot southern lands and the drums of human savage’s sound from the deep jungle.

..To the north the Empire of Tauresci has ruled the heart of the land for two and a half centuries but has lost land due to invasions and revolts over the last fifty years. The God-Emperor is supported by the deacons and paladins of the god of Nobility, and has placed strict military controls on wizards.
..In the far north the religious zealots of the Maker challenge the Tauresci’s power
..To the east lies a former province, of the Tauresci, the Teuni Kingdom, its leading family renowned for their skill in conjuring, and ties to other planes is now fighting amongst themselves.
..To the west are jungles – and the ancient decaying cities.

Races – HR Changes. (dwarves & planetouched as written)

Astral Elves – Once used magic to travel the world, ruling large parts of it.
They live in great cities, a step removed from actual nature. They are proud and elitist
+2 dx,+2 int,-2 str,-2 con Familiarity rapier. (only)

Common elves – the less refined but more hearty– as printed in PHB, Familiarity Bow (only)
and Favored class Ranger.

Fair Orcs – human looking orcs that dwell alongside both orcs and men. They are not the brightest. They are also called ½ orcs, but most are the children of two fair orc parents. +2 str, -2 int, -2 chr, darkvision; Endurance as a free feat, and strong hands + 2 to grapple or resist disarm.

Hairfeet – Wanders or peaceful gardeners, affinity for illusions and burrowing mammals
Small size, lowlight vision + 1 DC with illusions, speak w/animals, dancing lights, prestigitation, ghost sound 1/day each if chr 10+, skill bonuses: + 2 to listen, move silently, +1 to hit with slings or thrown weapons +2 dex,-2 str. Favored classes: Rogue & Sorcerer
 
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excellent! i've been keeping my eye out for a good homebrew campaign, and this looks just right. i'll put up a character in the next day or two, but in the meantime i have a few questions:

how frequent do you expect the posts to be?

what kind of players are you hoping for?

and specifically about this campaign:

are dwarven characters allowed? you mention them in the intro, but not in the races descriptions. what about half-elves, gnomes, halflings, etc?

any alignment restrictions? do you prefer a particular type of hero?

33 pt buy? that's using the standard pt buy system from the dmg?

and just curious? why start at level 2? any specific reason?


as for me, i would be available to post 1-2 times a day during the week, off and on during the weekends. i prefer campaigns with strong stories and description and a well thought out plot and the chance to really develop interesting characters. it seems you've put a lot of thought into this world, so it has me quite intrigued. i'll put up a character soon, but i'm quite flexible, so i'm willing to adjust to make sure we have a well balanced party.

cheers,
lotuseater
 

G'day,

Sounds like fun. If it's first come first served count me in. If it's a case of submitting a concept first then I'll get something organised in the next day or so.

If you don't mind though I have a couple of 'administrative' items to bring up. When do you anticipate starting? How regularly are you likely to post (by fast paced do you mean lots of action (that's how I read it) or extremly regular postings)? What's the die roll situation? How do you want HP's calculated? Are they the only books you will consider or are you open to other WoTC related material if we provide you details? Alignment! Not only party restrictions, if any, but also how does alignment flavour the setting? Is there even alignment? Simple questions like that :-D>

I also have some 'game' related questions. Are the races that you listed the sum total sentient races in the world? Any clue as to where the campaign will be starting (Avordel? Trevari? Tauresci? etc - from the campaign title I'm guessing Avordel) and as to the flavour of the game (swashbuckling, low magic, tough n gritty, horror fantasy etc)? Reptlliads - any more info? What about domains for the clerics? Are there non LG Paladin type orders (I'm one of those that think every alignment/church should have their own knightly order). How about the connection between the material world and the Planes? Is it worth a ranger, for example, taking a planar 'race' as favoured enemy?

This is totally home brew yeah? Are you encouraging a shared world build here, within the confines of your original post of course? If so I am keen as mustard! If not I'm still very interested.

Love yer work

Cheers

Daz
 
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Clarifications:
Posting hopefully once a day during the week. But it depends on what time everyone has.
This world is still new, and I would welcome new ideas to shape it. Im running a hairfoot/stout game on a different continent (Dragonslayers)

As for Dming I specialize in plots, and cinematic fights, the rest I was going to base on who showed up. ie Alignment, character types, its not particularly low magic, but well below the magetech of Erberon. The heat of the city tends to discourage armored knights, but they are common in Tauresci.

As for 2nd level, I figure start low, w/ rapid advancement. Exceptional people, early in their careers.
As for starting – the day after memorial day. Or sooner, depends on when everyone finishes character generation.
Hit points – max the first level then .75 of max.
Dice rolling – post the modifiers and I’ll roll dice.
Point buy – per DMG, yes

Dwarves were originally a slave race of builders and craftsmen, while Orcs were the brute laborers of the same culture. Both revolted and the ancients are long gone. Feel free to make up whatever details of culture and society. I was thinking they would have two subraces-Gray (craftsmen) and Bronze (warriors), they were originally monotheists but have many hero-gods added to pantheon.

Gnomes and Halflings have been rewritten as Hairfeet and Stouts – Im leaving stouts out this time.

Half-elves hmm. This city seems to cry out for them. If you have a good concept I can be flexible –

Reptilliads – never got them to work out right. Loosely based on firenewts.

Are they all the sentient races? – probably not, just the ones on this continent.
Religions – I have the Tauresci pantheon (6 gods) and the Duarchy, but neither has dominance in Avordel – making up your own is fine. The elven/dwarven/orcish pantheons are undeveloped.

Posting hopefully once a day during the week. But it depends on what time everyone has.

Other WotC Material – case by case. Some obvious improvements: Improved toughness, practiced spellcaster (clerical), If it fits in the setting, or you have a really good story for it its more likely. Powergamy things Monkey grip, Radient Servants - less likely.

Connections to planes – not that strong,
There are 5 Inner Planes, air, earth, fire, water, all surrounding Limbo, each bleeding into the others. They can be reached by the Ethereal.

1 Outer Planes:
Heaven – Realm of rewards for heros, home of the gods. Few souls gain entry
Paradise – the Afterlife of Elves and Dwarves, most worthy souls gain entry
Beast-Lands – World of animal sprirts
Hall of the Dead – the resting place of most souls, all inside a single building, there is no
natural world.
Battle Fields - Eternal War of Non-Human entities Demons & Yugoloths, varies widely
Hell – Realm of Punishment Home of devils, endless caverns of torment.
Forgotten Realm – who knows?

They can all be reached by the Astral and Shadow Planes

Did I miss anything?
 
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Evilhalfling said:
Clarifications:
Posting hopefully once a day during the week. But it depends on what time everyone has.
This world is still new, and I would welcome new ideas to shape it.

'During the week' I assume means Mon-Fri? If so, I'd be interested - probably as a psychic warrior (not decided on race yet).
 

yup m-f
as for race 1/2 gaints (ogre/orc features) and Elan are also possible, but both would be rare.

Oh Alignment- Everyone has them, but I see it as secondary to individual characteristics.
No one thinks they are going to hell, and some good warriors would prefer to eternity on the battlefields, rather than the monotony of the halls of the dead.
 

Evilhalfling said:
yup m-f
as for race 1/2 gaints (ogre/orc features) and Elan

What are Elans? I'm working from the SRD and they just look... odd? Aberrations with past lives? Anyone care to give me a brief description?
 

Elans :
humans that have given up there old lives to become something else- reforrged in the mindfires and wiped clean of experiance or memory. They have great mental powers, and some sort of organization that chooses who is given the chance to experiance this.
The text says they retain "basic memories" - I see it as speech, the general nature of the world, laws and cultures, plus motor skills. but the specifics of who they were? gone.
otherwise they should retain some skills of thier former life. Perhaps a multiclassed Elan could be imagined as remembering skills from a former life.
Of course reading this again shows this is not the only interrpritation, just the one that caught my imagination.
 

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