An OGL Setting for Legend?
- Thread starter Hopeless
- Start date
alex_greene
Guest
I'd like to try out a few settings which are truly fantastic, and not falling for the old "Middle Earth" clone tropes. And not also falling into the other tropes of Sandals and Sorcery / Mediaeval Japan / other historical settings.
Mongoose has a world already, Nuera from Wraith Recon. Could that not be done as OGL and expanded to allow for various styles of play?
My ideal setting if starting from scratch would be a combination of Lankhmar, Elric & Cthulu Dark ages. I think the Legend, and D100 rule systems in general, really suit the Swords & Sorcery genre more so than Epic Fantasy, though of course they can be used for such. The setting would of course, be more focused on the geography, demographics and history of the world rather than introducing a slew of new or modified rules, though incorporating RQII Empires wouldn't be a bad thing. Obviously, adjustments would need to be made to allow for specific races (there will be a few additions in that area when I get my finger out and finish my Cities of Legend title) and unique fauna. The setting needs to be somewhere all the current and future releases of Legend books can find a home; a true sand box for GM's and writers to play in.
I wouldn't like to see a setting book with more variants to existing rules, particularly regarding magic, they are, in my opinion, best left to their own series, i.e. Arcania of Legend.
My ideal setting if starting from scratch would be a combination of Lankhmar, Elric & Cthulu Dark ages. I think the Legend, and D100 rule systems in general, really suit the Swords & Sorcery genre more so than Epic Fantasy, though of course they can be used for such. The setting would of course, be more focused on the geography, demographics and history of the world rather than introducing a slew of new or modified rules, though incorporating RQII Empires wouldn't be a bad thing. Obviously, adjustments would need to be made to allow for specific races (there will be a few additions in that area when I get my finger out and finish my Cities of Legend title) and unique fauna. The setting needs to be somewhere all the current and future releases of Legend books can find a home; a true sand box for GM's and writers to play in.
I wouldn't like to see a setting book with more variants to existing rules, particularly regarding magic, they are, in my opinion, best left to their own series, i.e. Arcania of Legend.
So a post-apocalyptic future setting where humanity is slowly recovering from a series of disasters and wars that have reduced them back to the bronze age for most.
Humanity mostly survived by hiding in shelters constructed in remote areas and for the most part most did not the survive the resulting generations but those left outside evolved into the various races from Monsters from Legend.
The elves evolved to their woodland habitat, the dwarves evolved from their subterranean habitats the mining they're famed for explaining their physique and so on.
Technology hasn't entirely been lost as certain forms have been retained where their resources allowed such as taking advantage of ruins with their own sewer system to base their settlements within, but new races have evolved (thanks to Historia Rodentia) where the human evolved races have become more magically attuned the "anima" the result of animal experimentation and the various biological and chemical weapons released during the cataclysms granted them intelligence and evolved eventually alongside the surviving humanity albeit they are more technologically adept explaining how some inventions have been retained when the former human race have devolved tech wise.
Oh and as for the really unusual creatures they still have mad scientists and some are able to cast magic too!
Not everything has to be set in the past to be fantasy!
Humanity mostly survived by hiding in shelters constructed in remote areas and for the most part most did not the survive the resulting generations but those left outside evolved into the various races from Monsters from Legend.
The elves evolved to their woodland habitat, the dwarves evolved from their subterranean habitats the mining they're famed for explaining their physique and so on.
Technology hasn't entirely been lost as certain forms have been retained where their resources allowed such as taking advantage of ruins with their own sewer system to base their settlements within, but new races have evolved (thanks to Historia Rodentia) where the human evolved races have become more magically attuned the "anima" the result of animal experimentation and the various biological and chemical weapons released during the cataclysms granted them intelligence and evolved eventually alongside the surviving humanity albeit they are more technologically adept explaining how some inventions have been retained when the former human race have devolved tech wise.
Oh and as for the really unusual creatures they still have mad scientists and some are able to cast magic too!
Not everything has to be set in the past to be fantasy!
-Daniel-
Emperor Mongoose
I would not buy such a setting as these kinds of settings inevitably end up introducing guns and higher tech items (computers, power shields etc) and, for me, these disrupt the Fantasy Setting feel. Not saying others couldn't enjoy it. Heck Pazio is selling the latest Pathfinder stuff just fine. But the robots, lasers, guns, cannons, cars, space ships, etc just don't do it for me when it comes to Fantasy.Hopeless said:
alex_greene
Guest
Options could include:-
- Alternate History, e.g. a year 2016 in a history where Greece never fell and we are at TL 10 and exploring near space, while still exploring strange worlds of magic and contending with Greek and other gods manifesting as extraordinary humans and interfering in human affairs, and where alien species we meet have brought their own weird gods, also manifesting in alien flesh and interfering with their affairs;
- Gaslamp Fantasy, a period drama set in a sort of Victorian or Edwardian era, where magic competes against science, and there is no steampunk because this is more like Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell than The Wild Wild West or Girl Genius;
- Swiftian Fantasy, where the protagonists explore strange countries along the lines of Lilliput, Brondingnag, even places that echo Oz, Narnia or Neverland;
- Court Intrigue Fantasy, set in a secondary world and more like the Borgias and Medicis than GRR Martin ... actually, I've sort of covered this one with one of my submitted books already;
- Flintlock Fantasy, but set in a secondary world with a complete alternate history;
We already have a magnificent Prehistoric Fantasy setting, and I would seriously love to set a game in and around North Wales at around the time the Mold Cape was made. I've got research material for a period 3,600 years ago, around the time Brymbo Man lived and the early Bronze Age was in full flow.
Also, I would love to do a Legend adaptation of the Chariot roleplaying game written by another White Wolf alumnus and fellow Welshman Howard "Wood" Ingham. Chariot was set in and around Atlantis before the Fall; the Atlantis of the Theosophical Society, with all its implied horrors like slavery and racism. Wood's story was themed around having responsibilities and making a difference that would outlast you, because you know beyond doubt that you had a Fate - you were doomed to die during the Flood, but before that time you could never die.
I have other ideas for fantasy genres which could be covered by Legend. Aren't you glad I could never get tired of writing books for this game?
- Alternate History, e.g. a year 2016 in a history where Greece never fell and we are at TL 10 and exploring near space, while still exploring strange worlds of magic and contending with Greek and other gods manifesting as extraordinary humans and interfering in human affairs, and where alien species we meet have brought their own weird gods, also manifesting in alien flesh and interfering with their affairs;
- Gaslamp Fantasy, a period drama set in a sort of Victorian or Edwardian era, where magic competes against science, and there is no steampunk because this is more like Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell than The Wild Wild West or Girl Genius;
- Swiftian Fantasy, where the protagonists explore strange countries along the lines of Lilliput, Brondingnag, even places that echo Oz, Narnia or Neverland;
- Court Intrigue Fantasy, set in a secondary world and more like the Borgias and Medicis than GRR Martin ... actually, I've sort of covered this one with one of my submitted books already;
- Flintlock Fantasy, but set in a secondary world with a complete alternate history;
We already have a magnificent Prehistoric Fantasy setting, and I would seriously love to set a game in and around North Wales at around the time the Mold Cape was made. I've got research material for a period 3,600 years ago, around the time Brymbo Man lived and the early Bronze Age was in full flow.
Also, I would love to do a Legend adaptation of the Chariot roleplaying game written by another White Wolf alumnus and fellow Welshman Howard "Wood" Ingham. Chariot was set in and around Atlantis before the Fall; the Atlantis of the Theosophical Society, with all its implied horrors like slavery and racism. Wood's story was themed around having responsibilities and making a difference that would outlast you, because you know beyond doubt that you had a Fate - you were doomed to die during the Flood, but before that time you could never die.
I have other ideas for fantasy genres which could be covered by Legend. Aren't you glad I could never get tired of writing books for this game?
Rikki Tikki Traveller
Cosmic Mongoose
auyl said:
Isn't this exactly what the Shanara books do?
Rikki Tikki Traveller
Cosmic Mongoose
alex_greene said:
I am interested in ALL of those.
My addition:
An alternate world (2 moons, orange sun whatever). This world is a locus within our galaxy (or is it in our galaxy??) that acts like a Sargasso. Ships crash here periodically from all over the galaxy (or alternate realities). Small surviving numbers with limited technology (no industrial base to maintain them...) they devolve to about Middle-Ages technology and stabilize. Some devolve further.
This alternate world has several unique features the first and foremost being that Magic works. Is it psychic or actual magic? Who knows. But it works. Blood Magic, Spirit Magic etc. all work.
Also, there appear to be actual Gods. Are they Super-Evolved Beings? Are they Super-Powered beings (ala Iron Man, X-Men, or Superman)? Who knows. But they are there.
Advanced science doesn't really exist, but there are legends and stories of flying between the stars in the bellies of Dragons, mechanical machines that can think (Golems?) etc.
The technology is firmly medieval fantasy, but with rumors and stories of an earlier age.
Take any alien or fantasy race and dump a couple hundred/thousand of them on a world and leave them alone for a thousand years (or more). Mix and shake and pour it out.
alex_greene
Guest
I would like to see high technology. I get frustrated by the insistence that fantasy technology has to be stuck at 1200AD, or 1200BC, and nothing else.Rikki Tikki Traveller said:
-Daniel-
Emperor Mongoose
Shadowrun for example, had modern tech and fantasy elements. Gama World did SciFi Fantasy as well. But to be honest, I have yet to play in a setting where it still felt like fantasy and had a lot of tech at the same time. Loved Shadowrun a lot just to be clear. But when I can shoot your knight off his hose with an RPG before he gets even close, it changes the feel. Now I am not saying folks can't have fun either. Just that the feel is different.alex_greene said:
alex_greene
Guest
That depends entirely on what the setting considers "advanced science," and also I hate it when the first thing people do is turn straight to the combat and battle rules. That's the one thing about roleplaying games that makes me swear.-Daniel- said:
-Daniel-
Emperor Mongoose
Ok, sorry to make you unhappy. I will change my example to: "When I can drive my Grav-Limo faster than your knight can gallop." or "When my Radio can transmit a message so much faster than your knight can deliver his parchment letter" or maybe "When I can carry 6 months worth of food with my meal replacement pills and your poor knight has such a hard time with packing even 2 weeks worth of food".alex_greene said:
I went to combat because it was easy. Sorry to have pushed that button on you. My point was the high tech can't help but change the feel of the game. Now that is not always a bad thing, variety can be a good thing. But I dislike when someone says it is a fantasy setting then has their character pull out their GPS to remember where the camp is or their hand held radar to locate the dragon and yes, when they pull out their handy dandy pocket plasma pistol and dust the dragon in one shot. :|
But like I said, I am not saying other settings can't be fun. I had a blast with both my Shadowrun and 40k RPG games. I just had a hard time calling those fantasy settings just because they had Elves, Orcs, and Magic.
alex_greene
Guest
I'm thinking that if I ever do something like Arms of Legend 2, and focused on magic and mundane items, I'd put med tech first and foremost, food after that, musical instruments next, clothing and cosmetics next, the equivalent of multigyms next (ways to buff up your characteristics and save your Improvement Rolls), books after that, fine arts and unique items following that and - if I had my druthers - a short chapter devoted to the tools of war after that.
alex_greene
Guest
I've got three Legend books in the pipe.Hopeless said:
If I can get these current Traveller books I'm working on completed, proofed and sent, a new setting would be on the books for Four.
But I'm hoping that Two will satisfy your immediate needs for a new setting.
And AoL2 sounds like a fun option for Five.
Rikki Tikki Traveller
Cosmic Mongoose
alex_greene said:
What about something similar to Piers Anthony's "Incarnations of Immortality" series?
You had Flying Carpet dealers competing side-by-side with conventional car dealers for the same customers!
Flying Carpet: You can go anywhere and don't need a parking space!
Car Dealer: You can carry a lot of stuff with you and don't get rained on!
That was a good mix of modern technology and high fantasy (gods).
Also, Glen Cook did a trilogy "The Dark War" I THINK - about a world where magic worked and different regions had different tech levels - At the end of the series, the main character joins the crew of a super Broomstick and flies off to the stars where they meet astronauts in a spaceship. The Astronauts are baffled by these people standing on a stick in the vacuum of space and the Fantasy people are baffled by the people living inside METAL in the vacuum of space. A very dark series, but showed how fantasy and science can blend.
Also, if you haven't read "A Daughters Curse" by Thaddeus Nowak - and the sequels, that is a good Scientific background to Magic (Energy flow control). The author has a degree in Chemistry and while the story has all the standard fantasy/magic abilities, he defines them with an understanding of mass/energy/quantum mechanics and genetics. It really works. I got to meet the author a couple of times. Available on Amazon.
And of course, Harry Turtledoves "Darkness" series about a magical world war (with magical equivalents of guns, grenades and atomic bombs). It is a retelling of WW2 in a fantasy setting.
Obviously you couldn't steal them directly, but they might give inspiration for a high-tech fantasy setting.
Elevators that work via levitation spells, Trains that work the same way.
Wands of Magic Missiles that are essentially pistols etc.
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