Campaign Settings

[Jered Taikith]

If electromagnetism doesn't work, how would the nervous system of the visitors to that universe work?

As I used to tell my brother: with sci-fi you have to start with obeying the laws of physics and writing a story that fits in that framework, with fantasy you start with what you want and make the universe fit your story.

To answer your question more reasonably, however, there are a number of solutions that could apply. Top one that comes to mind is that the nervous system becomes empowered by this "etheric / mana" in some way.

It boils down, though, to people having to have some willingness to go along with the author to some extent as long as it isn't too out of bounds (like the movie Wanted for instance - a guy who can make his bullet turn a complete circle and kill 20 some odd people with no good explanation of how that happens in our world? really?).

You make a good point and it shows that you were actually thinking through the scenario which is kind of flattering to me.

[Jered Taikith]

As we are on the subject of settings it occurred to me to ask: how much detail do you all, as gm's, go into when you make up a city? Do you have a whole city mapped out? How many shops do you describe? Do you provide a bit of history to go with it?
Colorful people about town? How much do you wing? Making a city can be a daunting task.

[black1blade]

I just almost totally winged stateholm the other day. The players ended up stealing a couple magic items from this douchey magic user using an invisibility potion from the magic shop.

[-1warrior]

I usually keep cities fairly vague, only adding in stuff when the PCs need it. (Within reason of course)

[konrad13]

The city I have most fleshed out in my setting, Newfort, I started with the fort and it's rulers. Then I started adding what any frontier fort would need, like smithies, miller, etc. Once I had those set, I expanded the number of homes by a third to account for general people being there to support those key industries. Then I wrapped it all in a wooden wall. To the east (somewhat nearer the river) I added a number of farms and an apiary. To the south, right up on the wall though, I added an expanded 'ward'. This accounts the boom population from when the marauding bands from the far east swept in and laid waste to most of the south, forcing a large number north. A fair number of them butted up next to the fort, adding to the population, and as Newfort soon found it's 'true independence' from it's liege lord to the south, it has since incorporated these folks into itself. It's in this new district that you'll find most of the entertainment, gambling, taverns, the two large (and competing) inns, etc.

Start small, add history.

[Jered Taikith]

Newfort sounds like an interesting place.

[-1warrior]

Like I said before, my type of campaign setting.

[konrad13]

Well, I have been elaborating on this setting for some time

So yeah, I may run a game in the setting in the near future. Depends on things (like if my life can handle running one at the time), but who knows.

[Jered Taikith]

I'm going to post this question here so as to not open yet another topic...if it's in the wrong place please forgive me or make my death quick and painless. Heh.

I read the rules on posting in The Workshop but...

Can it just be a text post like this post here or does it have to have some fancy html xml pearl doohickey before that sort of this is allowed?

What constitutes an "established writer"?

Can you put in a campaign setting or is The Workshop just for game mechanics stuff?

[-1warrior]

Just wanted to let you guys know. My gaming group is on (probably permanent) hiatus. It's really too bad, because we had played consistently for six years. Still, it wasn't going well, so it's probably for the best.