Scope of setting

[Vance]

Okay, here's the deal. Consider this 'in stone' going forward.

Icebound, as the key Gazetter, will be it's own setting.

There will be a world presented (Aruz Varak), and given a brief overview. Each major continent, etc, will get a brief write-up. This also includes the crystal sphere write-up for the world for those would be Spelljammers.

The continent of Arukova will get the detailed treatment. It is the setting's cradle of current civilization. Consider this to be like Fae Run.

The continent of Haravok will get a slightly less detailed treatment as the main setting's fallen civilization. (A land of ruins, being rediscovered as people from Arukova expand out).

There will be a handful of 'city-state' kindgoms described in detail for Arukova, and a couple for Haravok. (Think like Neverwinter)

Hope this settles things.

Edit: I'm not trying to be a controlling jerk or anything about this. But, if this is going to go forward, and with me acting as writer/coordinator, something this basic really has to be laid down. So, no matter WHAT else is said here, this is the format I'm moving forward with.

[Ascendant]

I know English isn't my main language but I really tried to explain but clearly you misunderstood most of what I was trying to say.

Here's the bottom line: I'm 100% certain this setting/project will work alot better if it's made as a "regular" campaign setting (continent etc) than a whole planet. I really think the material for the Icebound setting, as written (with some minor changes), is great but would better on just one continent.

Cool. Because I'm 100% certain that it should be a world & setting that can be easily adapted to a GM's campaign. All the GM needs to do is disregard the idea that the whole world of the Icebound setting is ice OR make his party travel to/from Icebound via a dimensional portal. A continent is great, but a whole world is all that much better.

[Phoenix]

It's called deduction. We don't need to get into an argument about this, do we? I made an assumption based on an axiom. I believe I'm right whether the statement was made or not. It's nothing to argue over.

Not really a need for an argument.  Just pointing out that is your conclusion not what was actually said.

[Carnifex]

I know English isn't my main language but I really tried to explain but clearly you misunderstood most of what I was trying to say.

Here's the bottom line: I'm 100% certain this setting/project will work alot better if it's made as a "regular" campaign setting (continent etc) than a whole planet. I really think the material for the Icebound setting, as written (with some minor changes), is great but would better on just one continent.

Cool. Because I'm 100% certain that it should be a world & setting that can be easily adapted to a GM's campaign. All the GM needs to do is disregard the idea that the whole world of the Icebound setting is ice OR make his party travel to/from Icebound via a dimensional portal. A continent is great, but a whole world is all that much better.

Do you actually read what I write or do you just look at the words?

[Ascendant]

Do you actually read what I write or do you just look at the words?

Yes I do, that's why I parrot your statements in my paragraphs, and I'd swear you're supporting using a world over just a continent.

[Vance]

Lucy, Ethel, don't make me seperate you two!

[Phoenix]

Ok, both of you can go to seperate corners and take a timeout till you learn to get along.

[Ascendant]

He started it...literally. 

[Vance]

I don't care WHO started it, kids. I'll finish it!

*readies the belt*

[DarkSkrypter]

Point one I want to make: Building a world starts at a continent, defining its boundaries, its people, and its major locations should be first.  As the view of the world expands it will show more continents, more races/peoples and more 'Locations of Note'.

We can define that there are several continents, several races on those continents, most of which are frozen lands almost devoid of life.  We can define that there are spots within the glaciers and plains of ice that are tropical hotspots.   We can even define that certain races would live in those hotspots, even exotic races that rarely travel outside the boundaries of their tropical homes.

Which is a point I'm needing to bring up for the icebound races thread, and will likely put in there.

[Phoenix]

Point one I want to make: Building a world starts at a continent, defining its boundaries, its people, and its major locations should be first.  As the view of the world expands it will show more continents, more races/peoples and more 'Locations of Note'.

We can define that there are several continents, several races on those continents, most of which are frozen lands almost devoid of life.  We can define that there are spots within the glaciers and plains of ice that are tropical hotspots.   We can even define that certain races would live in those hotspots, even exotic races that rarely travel outside the boundaries of their tropical homes.

That's the plan.  Work on fleshing out one continent.

[PolletteIrieska]

Alright, so we've settled on detailing a continent first and then moving on to the next one. Now what?

Ideas for conflict within the continent (no adventure without risk and all that)

Political Intrigue- The balance is delicate for resources. If one country controls more than their share of resources, they could easily become an empire. More resource-starved nations hire adventurers under the table to keep that from happening.

Monster Invasion- The local critters have never seen anything worth taking before, and the land was their own. Now humanoids are moving in, taking the best lands and the best goods, and a charismatic, powerful creature has found a way to organize the lesser creatures to combat their power.

Buried Ruins- There has always been an unclaimed no-man's land, but recently, a party of adventurers from various lands has discovered a set of ruins filled with marvelous magical items and something else... Everyone is scrambling to get what they can, or perhaps claim the whole thing.

Exploration=Money- The world has just gotten to a point where some folks have leisure time/spare money. Not everyone has to work at a trade or farming to keep life going anymore, and folks are getting more curious about the world they inhabit. Settlements and nations are looking outside their immediate needs for more, and hiring adventurers to take the risks of exploration.

The Glaciers Are Creeping- As the glaciers continue to grow and move,  more coastal land is being revealed, and sometimes, settlements of creatures such as sahuagin and aquatic elves are revealed. As land-dwellers move in to claim these new lands, conflicts arise.

Add to the list, mix and match what you like, I'm just trying to provide a starting point.

[Phoenix]

Alternately could be more a collection of independant city states, with wild monster infested lands between them. Just getting from one city state to another could be an adventure in itself.  Trade could require well guarded caverns, perhaps some merchant might hire adventurers to clear out a particular nest of troublesome monsters that is disrupting their caverns.  Perhaps several of the city states band together to hire several groups to clear out an entire area.

[Phoenix_ArchMage]

Alright, so we've settled on detailing a continent first and then moving on to the next one. Now what?

Ideas for conflict within the continent (no adventure without risk and all that)

Political Intrigue- The balance is delicate for resources. If one country controls more than their share of resources, they could easily become an empire. More resource-starved nations hire adventurers under the table to keep that from happening.

Monster Invasion- The local critters have never seen anything worth taking before, and the land was their own. Now humanoids are moving in, taking the best lands and the best goods, and a charismatic, powerful creature has found a way to organize the lesser creatures to combat their power.

Buried Ruins- There has always been an unclaimed no-man's land, but recently, a party of adventurers from various lands has discovered a set of ruins filled with marvelous magical items and something else... Everyone is scrambling to get what they can, or perhaps claim the whole thing.

Exploration=Money- The world has just gotten to a point where some folks have leisure time/spare money. Not everyone has to work at a trade or farming to keep life going anymore, and folks are getting more curious about the world they inhabit. Settlements and nations are looking outside their immediate needs for more, and hiring adventurers to take the risks of exploration.

The Glaciers Are Creeping- As the glaciers continue to grow and move,  more coastal land is being revealed, and sometimes, settlements of creatures such as sahuagin and aquatic elves are revealed. As land-dwellers move in to claim these new lands, conflicts arise.

Add to the list, mix and match what you like, I'm just trying to provide a starting point.

I like these ideas.  I do think that we should aim to develop a couple of these for icebounds rebound.  Also since the story goes that human dwarves and elves left a world behind due to some cataclysm, perhaps the title of the setting should be something to the effect of:

ICE BOUND: the frozen exodus

I thought that sounded awesome enough to start playing an adventure in.  Comments?

[DarkSkrypter]

Actually that could be an entire campaign unto itself.  IceBound: Exodus; IceBound: New Beginning/Rebirth; IceBound: The wastes.  Or something to that effect.

Anyway, more to the topic of the Scope.  I do like the receding glacier and increasing coastline creating conflict as deep-races come to surface and lay claim to land that the land dwellers are also laying claim over.  Maybe even this receding glacier could even be revealing ancient war machines, frozen and rusted, siezed up from years of disuse.

Another thing I think might be good, would be the discovery of ancient mines and a confrontation with pre-existing inhabitants that live in the oldest part of the mines.

There was mention in the initial idea of two different Cults, one worshiping an ancient ice dragon, and the other worshiping an ancient gold/red dragon.  The one who worships the ancient ice dragon is blamed for the cold that has folded over the world, while the other is blamed for the infernal heat that preceded the cold. I don't know if this idea was even kept through the various changes.