What's the "Perfect" medieval setting?

[GrumpyOldMan]

You all die of the plague, make new characters.

Done? Great! *roll* They all die of the plague, too.

The Black death, at it's height, lasted about five years, and killed (estimates vary) between one third and two thirds the population.

The 'Medieval' period covers the fifth to the fifteenth century. So you're obviously talking nonsense!



As for useful advice, all I can do is agree with t'others. Mythic Europe (Ars Magica) is exactly what it claims to be. Personally, that's a little 'late medieval for me so I prefer Hârn.

 

[Teflon Billy]

I'd probably say that HARN is the perfect medieval setting. Just make sure that "Medieval" is what you really want.

Characters can die of infection/disease pretty easy.

Starving isn't out of the question.

Magic Users are likley to be burned on sight.

It's well-done...but it ain't like "Modern Fantasy Literature".

 

[greywulf]

I'd go for early Medieval with a heavy dash of Ars Magica and Ravenloft. Lots of political intrigue + superstition. Have people afraid to go out after dark because the goblins steal your children/werewolves will get you/the Devil is abroad*

*Delete where applicable

Have cloisters of Magi, Clerics following the One True God and druids are persecuted pagans.

Lovely stuff.

 

[Quartz]

For a setting, try a post-Arthurian Britain where the light did not fail.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I'd go for early Medieval with a heavy dash of Ars Magica and Ravenloft. Lots of political intrigue + superstition. Have people afraid to go out after dark because the goblins steal your children/werewolves will get you/the Devil is abroad*

*Delete where applicable

Have cloisters of Magi, Clerics following the One True God and druids are persecuted pagans.

Lovely stuff.

Soooo, Vampire: Dark Ages and the related books, then?

 

[greywulf]

Soooo, Vampire: Dark Ages and the related books, then?

Something like that yes, but without the teenage angst

 

[Danyael]

Looks like Harnmaster has captivated most of your attention. I'll be looking for it soon. Any other thing I should know? I'm starting to write, and I'd like to write something based on player's opinion. Thanks for all the info up to now!

 

[Ghendar]

The perfect Medieval setting for a fantasy game?

No gunpowder. No weird combination of magic and technology.

 

[Henry]

Warhammer FRP 2nd edition does a pretty good job of capturing the feel of "High Middle Ages / Early Renaissance" if that's a goal. In a nutshell, The Empire is a Holy Roman Empire analogue (but with Pantheism), and there are Italy, Spain, Arabia, Nordic/Viking, and Russia analogues, too. There's an inquisition against agents of "The Ruinous Powers", including Wizards who aren't sanctioned by the government, and Gunpowder weapons are just making the scene, but still unstable and expensive. The Black Library (BL Publishing) also makes a number of non-game stories, novels, and art-books to help someone capture this feel.

However, Harn probablt has the closest feel for the Earlier Middle Ages.

 

[Danyael]

I think that the transitive feel between high medieval > Modern Age could be a winner, but I don't think that's what I'm looking for. The transition to something else could be more interesting though. In my humble opinion, the "plain vanilla" setting will prove superior, if you go ahead and break genre clichés, stop writing analogues of existing cultures, etc. In other words, an "Europe" upside down. Placing magic as a mysterious feared power (yes, Ars Magica Fan here, as someone asked before). I don't know, that's me. Go ahead and "defend" your position; I'm all ears.