Here’s an excerpt from the Referee’s section of Swords against the Shadows, coming to Kickstarter soon.
World Building
Here’s a quick list of things to consider when setting up a setting for Swords against the Shadows.
- Style. What’s the tone and feel of your setting?
- People. What are the major human nations and cultures?
- Nations. What important lands exist in the setting?
- Patrons, Lovers and Nemeses. These are larger than life non-player characters whose schemes frequently involve the characters.
- Level of Technology/Magic. Most S&S settings are low on magic, being the preserve of Sorcerers and generally considered a bad thing. Likewise, technology can vary from the Stone Age to the Renaissance and all points in between in a setting.
- Monsters and Mysteries. What enigmas and attendant threats will the characters uncover during their adventures?
- The State of the World. Overall, considering all of the above, at the beginning of play, what big events are rumbling under the surface, ready to erupt?
Style
This is shorthand for the general theme and tone of your setting.
Here’s a quick list of themes that you can either pick from or roll randomly on a d6 to choose.
1 Swords against Evil. Demons prey on everyday folk, only the swords can protect the innocent.
2 Swords Against the Skullduggery. The world is dominated by powerful factions run by patrons or hidden nemesis whose criminal enterprises are enacted by agents. It is up to the Swords to bring their schemes into the light of day and foil them.
3 Swords for Discovery. Much of the world is unexplored wilderness. Swords are explorers who open up the world, find treasure, and reveal ancient world-changing secrets.
4 The Swords who would be King. Either by design or more likely the characters are thrust into the leadership roles of their local city/kingdom.
5 Swords Against Sorcery. The characters are pitted against the schemes of either a solo Sorcerer or a Cabal who, for some reason, has it in for them.
6 Swords Against the Apocalypse. A great set of events is set in motion that will destroy the Swords’ world unless they get involved and drive the course of destiny.
This is only part of World Building chapter. In it the Jewelled Coast is presented as an example setting, which has been generated using the questions and answers method.
