Dark/Low-Fantasy with a Witcher-esque Feel
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So I've been considering developing a game set in a Dark or Low-Fantasy world. The focus would be on a smallish city on the edge of civilization with characters being pulled from all walks of (commoner) life, such as artisans, soldiers, guards, bureaucrats, and laborers.
Magic is a thing, and while not wildly common, is also not extremely rare either. Most people probably know two or three people who know a spell or two, but for the most part magic isn't big fireballs and calling lightning storms. It's minor things like alchemy and spirit magic. Only the true masters who live in the heart of the empire and work for Kings and Nobles know proper D&D style magic, and they're incredibly rare. Further, while everyone generally trusts and appreciates their local alchemist or shaman or thaumaturge who work minor wonders like getting rid of pests or brewing curatives or reinforcing your wagon's axle, there are those who go dark side. Witches and Warlocks who dabble in hexes and the Evil Eye and maybe even necromancy if they're nasty.
If only that were the worst of it, for this world is also populated by things that go bump in the night. These would be heavily inspired if not straight stolen from folk tales and legends. Monsters and creatures like the cockatrice, griffins, black dogs, manticores, and yes even vampires and werewolves. They're known threats, though. While your average farmer might not know that salt along the doorway doesn't protect you from a black dog, a professional will, and even better they'll know what CAN stop one.
Which of course means that there will be playable Witch hunters and Monster hunters, specialists trained to find and kill those magic users who have lost their way and the creepy crawlies that go bump in the night.
I'm still debating stuff like blackpowder and its prevelance or introducing minor nobles into the mix.
Influences include, but are not limited to: The Witcher (Obviously), Kingkiller Chronicles, Spook's Apprentice, Folklore, and maybe just a smidge of Arthurian legend.
Setting aside, I'm still shopping around for RPG systems, staff, and feedback so suggestions for any of the three are more than welcome! Thanks!
Edit to clarify: Players would be able to make commoners, but also any of the other more exciting professions. I meant to specify that this isn't a Lords and Ladies game. High nobility and their games and politics wouldn't be the focus. Minor nobility? Maybe. Still unsure. Would have to be pretty limited if so.
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Besides the Witcher RPG from R Talsorian Games...
There's an award-winning French RPG from a decade or so back called Shadows of Esteren that has a similar feel of a haunted wilderness and monsters prowling the forests. There's also the conflict with an older Empire on the main continent and an established religion vs. native spirituality. And, techno-magic vs. nature. The game is currently in a new editoin being backed by Kickstarter projects. Might be worth it to check it out.
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@MarsGrad said in Dark/Low-Fantasy with a Witcher-esque Feel:
The focus would be on a smallish city on the edge of civilization with characters being pulled from all walks of (commoner) life, such as artisans, soldiers, guards, bureaucrats, and laborers
So the focus wouldn't be on Witcher's or monster hunters or anyone with talent/etc?
What do you envision PCs doing? How would they react o the very real threats and monsters other than hiring an npc?
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@WildBaboons said in Dark/Low-Fantasy with a Witcher-esque Feel:
@MarsGrad said in Dark/Low-Fantasy with a Witcher-esque Feel:
The focus would be on a smallish city on the edge of civilization with characters being pulled from all walks of (commoner) life, such as artisans, soldiers, guards, bureaucrats, and laborers
So the focus wouldn't be on Witcher's or monster hunters or anyone with talent/etc?
What do you envision PCs doing? How would they react o the very real threats and monsters other than hiring an npc?
I didn't make that super clear, but they could be any of those things, or the witch hunters, or the monster hunters, or the witches, or the alchemists, etc.
Rather than lords or ladies, specifically.
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@MarsGrad said in Dark/Low-Fantasy with a Witcher-esque Feel:
Setting aside, I'm still shopping around for RPG systems, staff, and feedback so suggestions for any of the three are more than welcome! Thanks!
I'll provide the usual pieces of feedback which apply to most settings.
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Pick the mechanics and world that excites and drives you the most. Until the project is well underway it will live and die on your interest level, after all. If your momentum dies, so will it, but staff and players will look twice at a creative, energetic game creator with vision and energy.
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Keep answering the question "what will players actually do in this game once they log on?". An idea that looks amazing on paper but doesn't somehow end up translating to players having stuff to do may be a flawed one. For example is there stuff to do when no plots exist to throw monsters at PCs? Is there room for stuff to do for non-combat PCs? And so on.
Good luck!
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