Gruntfuttock wrote:

Paul, 

In the World Building thread you say that your preference is to run a campaign in a prefab setting, but you can't really find a campaign setting that suits your taste. Pathfinder's Golarion was something you tried, but you found you had to change so much it felt self-defeating.
 
So, I thought that perhaps we can help.
 
If you post what your preferences are, perhaps someone here could come up with a setting they know about that fits your needs better than Golarion? We have a lot of experienced GMs here, and I know Sigulf likes to use commercial settings. Perhaps we can help you find what you need. So, what are your preferences?
 

It's hard to encapsulate exactly what I'm looking for. A continent with technology/weaponry similar to the Early Modern Era (17th Century?). Rival states, similar to the way France, England, and Spain were so often at odds. And, of course, the War of Religions between the Protestants and Catholics makes for a tumultuous milieu.

What I don't want: Dozens of non-human races. Pervasive magic. (D&D/Pathfinder are particularly egregious in this, where magic subs in for technology in many ways.)

I suppose, when all is said and done, I'm looking for something akin to 17th Century Europe with vampire, werewolves, goblins, trolls, witches, and the like. Dark forests. Dangerous mountains. Lots of mist and shadows. (I suppose those all add up to "atmospheric.") Sword & Sorcery type magic (difficult and dangerous).

Shadows of Esteren has the right tone, but is more medieval and, as I understand it, focuses on the struggle against things in the dark, neglecting struggles between various human groups. Symbaroum also has the sort of atmosphere I'm looking for, but seems constrained to a somewhat small, wilderness-heavy area. Not a lot decadent civilization going on.

One of the things I like about Golarion is the devil-worshipping Chelaxia sitting right near the fledgling democracy of Avastan. On the other hand, there are dozens of countries, lots of magic, tons of humanoid races, and so on. I settled on it (uneasily) because I have a bunch of the reference material from a special deal they did when 2e came out.

Settings I've looked at: Blue Rose by Green Ronin. Dragon Age/Thedas. Theah, the 7th Sea setting (which seems a little too blatant in it's emulation of 17th/18th Century Europe). I've also wondered about Warhammer's Old World, the world of Shadow of the Demon Lord, and the above-mentioned Shadows of Esteren and Symbaroum.Oh, and there was a setting called Age of Ambition that's got the right tech/social stuff, but for some reason didn't grab me.

I don't know that what I'm looking for is any clearer after that. Or that what I'm looking for exists as a prefab campaign setting.

-- Paul

Come on people - help Paul out here! Find him an acceptable setting!!

From a fantasy perspective, the Witcher setting sounds about appropriate with just the addition of firearms to get up to the 17th century from the more default 15th one it has.

Pit Fighter wrote:

From a fantasy perspective, the Witcher setting sounds about appropriate with just the addition of firearms to get up to the 17th century from the more default 15th one it has.

The Witcher is actually one of the inspirations for the campaign I'm planning. Specifically the idea of professional monster hunters. (As opposed to adventurers who kill monsters to steal their loot.)

I've read a few of the books. Not familiar with the video games. Have watched the TV series. Other than the non-human races (elves and dwarves), you may be right about it being a good fit with a bump of the timeline.

(Honestly, I keep forgetting there is a Witcher RPG!)

-- Paul