tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904133056957353312.post9147804883872750779..comments2024-03-01T11:52:44.729-05:00Comments on Bat in the Attic: More on Tolkien's LegacyRobert Conleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03863009007381185340noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904133056957353312.post-28302028682304944952010-01-05T14:33:19.674-05:002010-01-05T14:33:19.674-05:00I dunno; I think I could probably get through 30 y...I dunno; I think I could probably get through 30 years of a campaign without ever knowing who was king 500 years ago.<br /><br />But on the topic of generating this sort of content:<br /><br />Principles, not details.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904133056957353312.post-32614112280322838112010-01-04T17:55:38.774-05:002010-01-04T17:55:38.774-05:00I don't think you can jump start the process. ...I don't think you can jump start the process. It's a function of the amount of time spent thinking about and developing a world or setting. Tolkien took years, and several campaigns (and associated thinking) will do something similar. But it's not a process that's possible to short-cut, I think (and I've been at it for 20 years).Jeremy Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17072164588443858336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904133056957353312.post-80336038893563444662010-01-04T17:04:44.207-05:002010-01-04T17:04:44.207-05:00Kings list, timelines, some regions very details w...Kings list, timelines, some regions very details with a broad overview of everything elseRobert Conleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03863009007381185340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904133056957353312.post-20387365218922593372010-01-04T15:04:08.649-05:002010-01-04T15:04:08.649-05:00When you say they'll be similar to Middle Eart...When you say they'll be similar to Middle Earth in <i>organization</i>, what do you mean by that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904133056957353312.post-79018005726061264602010-01-04T13:45:56.809-05:002010-01-04T13:45:56.809-05:00I would say if you want it to grow organically, ha...I would say if you want it to grow organically, have a "virtual playtest" (equivalent to a "thought experiment") to expand the setting. <br /><br />I might start with a large ruined town with a castle nearby, and a village of people trying to resettle the area. <br /><br />Then we need to ask where they get their food. So we place some farms nearby. <br /><br />Where do they get immigrants from? We place a trade route out through a mountain pass to a medium sized frontier town at the confluence of a couple rivers. <br /><br />Where do they get timber? Let's put forests around the ruined city and the frontier town. <br /><br />Where do they get stone? Let's add a quarry in the mountains. <br /><br />Where do they get metal? A mine in the mountains looks good to me. <br /><br />Now the river has to come from a glacier or else it drains a large swath of land. Let's pick both. Extend the river upland through hills and then mountains, adding a glacier at the top. <br /><br />The river has to extend downhill, too, so let's do that and let the forest give way to plains. <br /><br />Maybe a river delta where it pours into the ocean, which is a nice place for either a really bit city or a broad scattering of small villages. I'd like the latter, for a change of pace. Lots of farming here. <br /><br />Add inns and small villages along the way upriver and along the coast. Probably another inn in the mountain pass. <br /><br />Back to the ruin and the castle, remember that the city used to need water. So let's add an aqueduct going to the mountains where it feeds off a spring there. Maybe it's damaged and the water doesn't reach the city anymore. <br /><br />At this point it looks good to me. Continue asking the question "what does this place need" to expand on the needs of the ruined city / castle and of the civilization of the river delta.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5904133056957353312.post-58864097315706934342010-01-04T11:59:54.950-05:002010-01-04T11:59:54.950-05:00I've always started out with small area, say a...I've always started out with small area, say a Barony or something as small as a village detailed and a rough scetch of a map and guidelines of the surrounding area. This way if the campaign develops there is a consistancy.<br /><br />Word Verification is Suckiest. Hmm, that seems rude.Gothridge Manorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11371740532802642972noreply@blogger.com