{"id":187,"date":"2018-04-24T14:42:50","date_gmt":"2018-04-24T19:42:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/?p=187"},"modified":"2018-04-24T14:42:50","modified_gmt":"2018-04-24T19:42:50","slug":"pitching-your-own-tent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/2018\/04\/24\/pitching-your-own-tent\/","title":{"rendered":"Pitching Your Own Tent"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><strong>The Ease of Making Your Own Campaign Setting<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">I wanted to address a misunderstanding I see among people running fantasy roleplaying games.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Many people, especially people new to game mastering, have this idea that creating their own world for the games they want to run is difficult.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>They look at published settings and see countless maps of professional quality, hundreds of pages of information, great art work, etc.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Then they go online and see blogs and videos by experienced hands talking about the worlds they created that have sustained years of gaming.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>I have seen myself the YouTube videos giving advice on creating worlds for fantasy RPGs.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>They warn the viewer about how much time and dedication is required for \u201cworld building.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s enough to chase anyone away.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>I\u2019m here to say it isn\u2019t hard.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>It isn\u2019t something that only experienced and dedicated people can do.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>This post will describe the simple steps required to get started with your own fantasy world.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Devise a name<\/li>\n<li>Make a map<\/li>\n<li>Make some gods<\/li>\n<li>Choose races\/classes to include\/exclude<\/li>\n<li>You&#8217;re done<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Choosing A Name<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Give your world a name.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>It can be a fantastical name like Glorantha (RuneQuest RPG) or more of a title like Forgotten Realms (D&amp;D).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>It shouldn\u2019t take you long to come up with something you can stand behind.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>When a world has a name it can start to have an identity.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>John\u2019s Setting or Jill\u2019s Homebrew World get old fast.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Map<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">A world needs a map to seem \u201creal\u201d to players.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>As soon as you start describing your world many players are fishing for images to connect it to and those images will all be different.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>When you have a map to point to everything is more concrete.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>This is the step that is most daunting to beginner game masters.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>People think making a map is impossible because 1) they aren\u2019t an artist or cartographer and 2) any map they make won\u2019t look like the ones in the latest Wizards of the Coast D&amp;D adventure supplement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Stop hesitating.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>First, get a proper perspective on RPG maps.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Second, be aware of 21st century resources.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Your map doesn\u2019t have to look like the work of a professional graphic artist because you aren\u2019t trying to sell a $50 book.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>To be honest, many gamers don\u2019t like the slick, modern maps from WotC because they look cluttered.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The detail distracts from the map\u2019s intended purpose: seeing where stuff is.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>JRR Tolkien made a splash in the fantasy scene with his map of Middle Earth inside the cover of Lord of the Rings.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>It was a simple map of black lines on a plain white background.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>It\u2019s also worth pointing out that the map of Middle Earth had only one coastline, less than 5 forests, a few mountain ranges and a few rivers.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>It was simple.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>It worked so well it\u2019s been studied by generations of gamers.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>TSR\u2019s D&amp;D modules from the late 70s and early 80s had very simple maps and those things were used by countless gamers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">So if you want to put pencil to paper and make your own map you have nothing to fear (it worked for <a href=\"https:\/\/rpgcharacters.wordpress.com\/\">Dyson<\/a>).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Personally, I recommend against it.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>A map on paper is difficult to extend and difficult to change.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>I think the digital route is better.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>There\u2019s lots of software now for making maps for imaginary worlds.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Most of them aren\u2019t expensive, several are free and they aren\u2019t hard to use.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>I use Fractal Terrains 3 by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.profantasy.com\/\">ProFantasy<\/a>.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>It generates an entire globe at once.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>I can export files to Google Earth and see it as a globe I can rotate in realtime.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>A person can crank out dozens of worlds for players in a science-fiction RPG to explore (or carpet bomb, if you have players like mine).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>I can export a Fractal Terrains globe to Campaign Cartographer 3 (also by ProFantasy) and make a more detailed map of the region the players are in.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>There are dozens of software options.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Just do a Web search for \u201cmap making software\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Honestly, you don\u2019t even have to make your own.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>There are many cool maps for worlds, continents and regions online.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Just grab one and use Photoshop or some other graphics program to place your own labels over the map to make it your own.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Gods<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Most player groups in fantasy RPGs will have a cleric or similar class.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>One of the player\u2019s first questions is \u201cWhere\u2019s the list of gods I choose from?\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>You need to have something for the players.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Some people get intimidated by the thought of coming up with a complete pantheon of gods.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Again, it doesn\u2019t need to be as hard as some people say it is.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>One god of light and one of darkness is all you need to get rolling.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Dungeons &amp; Dragons 5th edition has cleric domains but each domain doesn\u2019t have to be a different god.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>One god can cover all of them if you want.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>A campaign world can start simple and add more gods later if you decide you want them.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>A short list of 3 or 4 gods is fine to start.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>One or two evil gods is enough to start but keep in mind you don\u2019t need evil gods.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The forces of evil in your world who want to rebel against the gods can ally themselves with lesser beings.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Demons, elemental forces, The Abyss, etc.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">When you come to putting your short list of gods to paper (or screen) get started with a Web search of Greek gods, Norse gods, Egyptian gods and (maybe) Hindu gods.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>A few minutes of looking at summaries should be enough to start some ideas.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>It is highly unlikely your players will criticize your world\u2019s god\u2019s.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Most players just want a name to jot down on their character sheet and a short description.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Any more than that gets boring when they want to start an adventure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>Races &amp; Classes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">This step is optional but worth consideration.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Now that you\u2019re starting your own world you can look through your game\u2019s list of character races and classes and decide which you want and which you don\u2019t.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Modern fantasy roleplaying games are stuffed so full of playable races that a village square can look more like a zoo than a community.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>This is your chance to tailor your setting more to your liking.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>If a player really wants a race you\u2019ve excluded, let them make the only one of their kind or just let them take the stat modifications and apply them to another race.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Many players making half orc fighters just want the stat modifications.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Applying those stats to a human character is enough to make them happy.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>My fantasy world has northern barbarian tribes that use half orc stats from the D&amp;D books.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">Excluding character classes is an option you should consider carefully.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>If a class just doesn\u2019t work in your world then cut it.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>However, take your players\u2019 feelings into consideration.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>If you remove the class they\u2019re really wanting to play that will make it less fun for them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><strong>That\u2019s All, Folks!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\">That\u2019s what you actually need to start running games in your own fantasy world.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Detailed back story, intricate pantheons, fancy maps, etc. just aren\u2019t needed.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>One thing to keep in mind is many of the things devised for fantasy worlds never show up in play.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>If you start small you can only invent what you need when you need it.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Your world may grow in small pieces as you prep for game sessions with your players or it may never grow larger than what you start with.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>There\u2019s no need to be intimidated at the thought of breathing life into a fantasy world of your own.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Ease of Making Your Own Campaign Setting I wanted to address a misunderstanding I see among people running fantasy roleplaying games.\u00a0 Many people, especially people new to game mastering, have this idea that creating their own world for the games they want to run is difficult.\u00a0 They look at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,6,7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":188,"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions\/188"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.gearsonline.net\/fantasy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}