11-20-2014, 10:40 PM
Havard Wrote:Sorry, I have no idea what that means. Google searches reveal Chris Aylott as an obscure RPG designer who has contributed to things like the 3.5E World of Warcraft RPG?
Yeah, to WoW, and to a couple of projects more. An unsung hero, and quite probably the most innovative D&D/d20 designer of his era. His writings, mainly those for the Penumbra d20 line by Atlas Games (which is really, the old crew from Mayfair Games) have had the most lasting impact on my games.
His concept was mainly that - difficult to explain in two or three sentences - Elves see Man as talking sheep, and themselves as the shepherders.
Quote:Maybe its the historian me, but calling a thousand years a small timeframe?hock:
Well, that, or two and a half generations of High Elves.
Quote:I have not done much work on the origins/nature of the Jewel, but I like your ideas. My Elder Elves are a little different from yours though in that they aren't actually elves, but rather the race of Oberon and Titania (Sidhe).
Yepp, my Elder Elves are essentially Starfaring Elves, like, say, in the Deathgate series by MW and TH. This is why those 1000 years also don't quite fit. Either we have a process of cultural degeneration, or we have *Lost Atlanteans*. No middle ground within my own narrative.
Quote:But that is so great about each of us being able to do what we wish in our own campaigns right?
My dear viking, whatever meal you cook in your Norwegian igloo, I don't smell it in my German hermit's hut.
Quote:In any case, how much would such elaborate back histories actually impact a small localized game session?
Oh, on every conceivable level. Races. Magic. Tech. Also, it directly influences human cultural tradition. In short, everything.
One reason why I always come back to WL, and also one reason why I still cling to Ravenloft, is that both settings depict fairly conventional, but unique human cultures. As I enjoy human-centric campaigns, I am very aware that most vanilla fantasy humans are 99% the same, but that extra edge, I personally gain from that connection. For example, with WL, the concept of *the forgotten gods* (humans wear religious items without knowing their exact purpose) is a pretty powerful narrative tool.
Anyway, raaah. 0430 AM, and I am already late. :evil: :wink: