| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Channel_Dunlap |
Posted - 14 Nov 2002 : 23:54:46
I've been browsing here and I've noticed that most of you seem to run games based on books you've read or games you've played, I'm wondering if any of you run completely origional campagns at all. In my game, all the NPCs, cities, adventures, etc. are made up by yours trully, and most every other game I've played has been that way, so I was a bit surprised to see everyone refrencing books and games here. |
| 7 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Mumadar Ibn Huzal |
Posted - 15 Nov 2002 : 17:23:58
In your example (for a local gaming group) it could depend on when your game is set, ie. in which year.
Let's say you have imagined the spot currently occupied by Hillsfar and your campaign is set in the current year. You could use the foundations of Hillsfar for your own city. Have a ruler who wants nothing to do with Hillsfar have the city renamed into what you want. Then develop the story from there. Even the history of Hillsfar doesn't have to be identical to the one published.
Especially in the 2e products, the style of writing was often from the perspective of a Realms personage. You could very easily have that 'official TSR/WotC' work be an outright lie and falsification of the truth. This could turn into a nice plot element even.
It often helps to try and look at things from a different angle, you might be surprised how much new ideas that can provide.
Anyway, once you start DM-ing, it becomes YOUR version of the Realms, and you decide how strict you want to stick to canon. Don't worry too much about putting your own creations in the game. |
| Kitira Gildragon |
Posted - 15 Nov 2002 : 17:14:19
What you say is true, my friend. Not every place is detailed, but if I were to put a city on the Moonsea, don't you think it would be take over by the forces from Zhentil Keep? Cities don't just pop up, if you know what I mean. Also, sometimes there are cities already in the spot you'd like to use. (I am trying to go for the adventuring group.) What would happen if I created a city over another one that I didn't know about? I think it would look like ignorance and be not worthy of the legacy of FR. Just my opinion -Kitira |
| Mumadar Ibn Huzal |
Posted - 15 Nov 2002 : 16:14:44
I know what you mean, and trust me there are many others that have run into the same issue.
The question you have to ask yourself is for who the custom made addition is intended. Is it only for the group of players who are adventuring in your version of the FR? Or is it intended for a broader public?
In the first case, there is no-one to tell you that you can't place another city in the Moonsea area. It's your version of the world, and you can do whatever you want.
In the second case, you can still do whatever you want, but might want to try and weave it carefully into the existing fabric that is the Forgotten Realms. Not every square inch of the Realms has been detailed, and there is room for more.
Personaly I stay away from adding large features like cities to the Realms in my campaigns, however the numerous thorps, hamlets and villages which dot the landscape and about which nothing has been published or even writtem, can be purely of your imagination. And I tend to make use of that 'freedom'.
I think Voronica and Thomas might be able to shed some light here on this topic, as both are writers of excellent FR stories. <hint  > |
| Kitira Gildragon |
Posted - 15 Nov 2002 : 15:38:59
Do you know how much dedication and time it takes to do research on FR? I hope to become a FR writer and since I didn't create the world (I wish...$_$[j/k]) I have to look up every little flipping nuance about it. Trust me, it's a labor of love, but you can't just place a city around the Moonsea, call it Temra's Hold (Note: this is mine. I am planning to use the name, so any who use it w/o my permission will find me chasing them with two swords in hand and a friend or two!) and start an adventure. Can the city exist there? Will it have history? Everything has its own niche in this world and you have certain rules to play by, so to speak. Since none of us created the world, we have to see what was created (and what wasn't) and go on from there. -KG |
| Mumadar Ibn Huzal |
Posted - 15 Nov 2002 : 15:01:50
quote:
Originally posted by Kitira Gildragon
quote:
originally posted by Mumadar
...the dark recesses of my mind
How accurate...
<puts on evil DM-hat>
Mwuahahaha  you ain't seen nothing yet...
<takes of evil DM-hat>
I agree with Kiti's comment in that there is indeed nothing wrong with using published adventures. Even if one gives two groups of different players the same adventure (even with the same DM) one will end up with two completely different stories.
A complete original campaign/story requires a lot of time and dedication, and not everyone can bring that up. Newbie or veteran. |
| Kitira Gildragon |
Posted - 15 Nov 2002 : 14:48:56
IMO, I think that you have to have the basics of cities, towns and history. If you make all of that up, it takes alot of time to explain the world and it's diversity to the players. I think using FR for that is great, but the *events* you make up are what really count. Yeah, I think people use the books, but just to use the setting for their own original campaign. Someone can use one city several different ways for different adventures. I admire your creativity, but for some of us it is easier to use cities, ect. that we already know (or are just beginning to know, for us newies)! Don't knock the people who use portions of other works because it helps to add flavor, color and life to the adventure!!! -KG
quote:
originally posted by Mumadar
...the dark recesses of my mind
How accurate... |
| Mumadar Ibn Huzal |
Posted - 15 Nov 2002 : 09:59:31
My two PbeM games are set in the Realms and make use of the locales and some of the NPCs, however the story/campaign itself is completely original and sprouts from the dark recesses of my mind.
To be truly honest... I can't claim all the original credit, the players in the game provide (unwittingly) excellent ideas and subplots on which I build more of the campaign, surrounding a main thread/goal.
Though influenced by novels and other game products, the 'adventure' is truly original. |
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