A method for Collaborative Setting in RPGs
[I found the notes for this yesterday and thought I'd share it here. I originally shared this idea in a Wave with my gaming group.]
How do we get the most out of a game with a big, rich setting?
Given our busy lives, big setting books aren’t the answer.
Weapons of the Gods monetized setting info in the form of Lore Sheets. But part of the problem is you still need to read through (or at least skim) all of them to decided which ones you want. Regardless it got me thinking about using Lore Sheets to deliver setting info.
There may still be a better way. Life Paths are certainly an option. As you create the Life Path, setting info is embedded in the various points along the way. There’s some cool ideas along these lines over at Conspiracy of Shadows (here, here, and here.)
With that in mind I though about using Lore Sheets as setting delivery and here’s what I’ve got so far.
* Each Lore Sheet has 3 ranks. Basic, Knowledge, Experience.
* Each Rank provides a bonus when applicable. Right now this is system independent.
* The info in each rank of a lore sheet is cumulative.
For purposes of the game I am envisioning, you would create Lore sheets for what you wanted, but only the rank which you had it at. I would then fill out the rest, then we could share them so anyone could take those created by someone else. You might have say 3 rank 1, 2 rank 3, and 1 rank 5. Then, after they were created, you could take one more of each rank.
Below are two examples.
Order of The Knights of Mitra
Basic [1] An order of noble warriors of Fortia who fight in the name of their god, Mitra. Their sysmbol is a golden sunburst.
Knowledge [3] Dedicated to The Chapters on Fidelity by Arabraxes the Elder, Knights of Mitra hold themselves to a strict code of honor. Rarely found outside of Fortia except as elite units within a larger Fortian military expedition. Within Fortia they keep the Church of Mitra “pure.” They consider their sword sacred.
Experience [5] The Chapters on Fidelity emphasizes personal honor as dedication to courage, benevolence, loyalty and purity. Knights of Mitra abstain from sex, wine and spirits, and all meat save fowl. The sword is a symbol of office and has a mystical connection to Mitra’s Sword. All oaths sworn on a Mitran sword are matters of life and death. The Order is organized into chapters with five ranks.
* Postulants are new applicants and act as servants in the chapter house.
* Novices act as squires and foot soldiers,
* Knights are the primary rank of most members,
* Knight-Commanders lead a platoon of Knights (usually 3 within a chapter), and
* Knight-Generals lead a chapter.
The entire order comes together in a conclave where the Knight-Generals hold council. Chapters are regional and root out heresy, defend the faithful, and usually have another chapter-specific duty (charity, hospital, care for widows and orphans). the Royal Chapter serves as one of the 3 main units of the Emperor’s Guard.
The Ishkai
Basic [1] The Ishkazi are a tribe of fierce horse nomads who range over the Iskun Steppe. They wear pointed hoods and are excellent archers.
Knowledge [3] Ability is the only requisite to be an Ishkazi warrior and their ranks include men and women. They keep herds of reindeer and nearly all their material culture is either reindeer or horse derived. They practically live on horseback and intermittently raid the lands that border the Ishkun Steppe. They sell slaves taken in raids and have a fascination for silver.
Experience [5] Three main tribes of Ishkazi are divided into clans. Clans are further dived into families. Arranged marriages are the norm, but they always between different clans or tribes.
Ishkazi worship the Horse Lord, Hazun, and his mate the Reindeer Queen, Azami.
Ishkazi society is divided into three castes: warriors, herders, and the helpless. Warriors tend the herds and herders fight to defend their territory, but only warriors raid other tribes or outsiders.
Technically children are included in the helpless until their 13th summer when they are tested. Adult helpless are either foreign captives, warriors or herders no longer able to ride, or elderly. Helpless are those unable to fight or herd. Unless they are elderly, they tend camp and gather wild food.
Outside the 3 castes are the Shamans. They live separately from the camps, but usually nearby.
