Hey guys,

so I had this idea for a game I might run when my current one shot on here finishes, and I thought I'd jump start on the planning. So, the idea is that the players can add lore to the game and I base the game completely around the lore they make and the characters they make with that lore. But, first, I need to establish the general facts of the word, which is what I'm asking you guys to do. Vote in the polls above, and if you have any comments, put 'em in the replies. Once the recruitment thread goes up, I'll link it here for those interested.

Now, for info on the different categories:

-Flavors of the Game: Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy game, but that broad category encompasses a lot of variety. Many different flavors of fantasy exist in fiction and film. Do you want a horrific campaign inspired by the works of H. P. Lovecraft or Clark Ashton Smith? Or do you envision a world of muscled barbarians and nimble thieves, along the lines of the classic sword-and-sorcery books by Robert E. Howard and Fritz Leiber? Your choice can have a impact on the flavor of your campaign.

A note on Wuxia: since I literally stole these flavors from the DMG, you may notice one is missing: Wuxia, the flavor of asian-inspired elements. While this is a very fun genre, and I would love to run a game like this, the amount of effort required to make this game both accurate to the stories of the culture while not making the game culturally-appropriated in any way (I'm white and I grew up in a very conservative christian environment that wasn't always the most culturally sensitive, and I care a lot about not being even accidentally racist)

1. Heroic fantasy: the baseline assumed by the D&D rules. The Player’s Handbook describes this baseline: a multitude of humanoid races coexist with humans in fantastic worlds. Adventurers bring magical powers to bear against the monstrous threats they face. These characters typically come from ordinary backgrounds, but something impels them into an adventuring life. The adventurers are the “heroes” of the campaign, but they might not be truly heroic, instead pursuing this life for selfish reasons. Technology and society are based on medieval norms, though the culture isn’t necessarily European. Campaigns often revolve around delving into ancient dungeons in search of treasure or in an effort to destroy monsters or villains. This genre is also common in fantasy fiction. Most novels set in the Forgotten Realms are best described as heroic fantasy, following in the footsteps of many of the authors listed in the Appendices of the Player’s Handbook.
2. Sword and Sorcery: A grim, hulking fighter disembowels the high priest of the serpent god on his own altar. A laughing rogue spends ill-gotten gains on cheap wine in filthy taverns. Hardy adventurers venture into the unexplored jungle in search of the fabled City of Golden Masks.

   A sword-and-sorcery campaign emulates some of the classic works of fantasy fiction, a tradition that goes back to the roots of the game. Here you’ll find a dark, gritty world of evil sorcerers and decadent cities, where the protagonists are motivated more by greed and self-interest than by altruistic virtue. Fighter, rogue, and barbarian characters tend to be far more common than wizards, clerics, or paladins. In such a pulp fantasy setting, those who wield magic often symbolize the decadence and corruption of civilization, and wizards are the classic villains of these settings. Magic items are therefore rare and often dangerous. Certain Dungeons & Dragons novels follow in the footsteps of classic sword-and-sorcery novels. The world of Athas (as featured in numerous Dark Sun novels and game products), with its heroic gladiators and tyrannical sorcerer-kings, belongs squarely in this genre.

3. Epic Fantasy: A devout paladin in gleaming plate armor braces her lance as she charges a dragon. Bidding farewell to his dear love, a noble wizard sets forth on a quest to close the gate to the Nine Hells that has opened in the remote wilderness. A close-knit band of loyal friends strives to overcome the forces of a tyrannical overlord. An epic-fantasy campaign emphasizes the conflict between good and evil as a prominent element of the game, with the adventurers more or less squarely on the side of good. These characters are heroes in the best sense, driven by a higher purpose than selfish gain or ambition, and facing incredible dangers without blinking. Characters might struggle with moral quandaries, fighting the evil tendencies within themselves as well as the evil that threatens the world. And the stories of these campaigns often include an element of romance: tragic affairs between star-crossed lovers, passion that transcends even death, and chaste adoration between devout knights and the monarchs and nobles they serve. The novels of the Dragonlance saga exemplify the tradition of epic fantasy in D&D.

4. Mythic Fantasy: While an angry god tries time and again to destroy him, a clever rogue makes the long journey home from war. Braving the terrifying guardians of the underworld, a noble warrior ventures into the darkness to retrieve the soul of her lost love. Calling on their divine parentage, a group of demigods undertake twelve labors to win the gods’ blessings for other mortals. A mythic-fantasy campaign draws on the themes and stories of ancient myth and legend, from Gilgamesh to Cú Chulainn. Adventurers attempt mighty feats of legend, aided or hindered by the gods or their agents — and they might have divine blood themselves. The monsters and villains they face probably have a similar origin. The minotaur in the dungeon isn’t just another bull-headed humanoid, but the Minotaur — misbegotten offspring of a philandering god. Adventures might lead the heroes through a series of trials to the realms of the gods in search of a gift or favor. Such a campaign can draw on the myths and legends of any culture, not just the familiar Greek tales.

5. Dark Fantasy: Vampires brood on the battlements of their accursed castles. Necromancers toil in dark dungeons to create horrid servants made of dead flesh. Devils corrupt the innocent, and werewolves prowl the night. All of these elements evoke horrific aspects of the fantasy genre. If you want to put a horror spin on your campaign, you have plenty of material to work with. The Monster Manual is full of creatures that perfectly suit a storyline of supernatural horror. The most important element of such a campaign, though, isn’t covered by the rules. A dark-fantasy setting requires an atmosphere of building dread, created through careful pacing and evocative description. Your players contribute too; they have to be willing to embrace the mood you’re trying to evoke. Whether you want to run a full-fledged dark-fantasy campaign or a single creepy adventure, you should discuss your plans with the players ahead of time to make sure they’re on board. Horror can be intense and personal, and not everyone is comfortable with such a game. Novels and game products set in Ravenloft, the Demiplane of Dread, explore dark-fantasy elements in a D&D context.
6. Intrigue: The corrupt vizier schemes with the baron’s oldest daughter to assassinate the baron. A hobgoblin army sends doppelganger spies to infiltrate the city before the invasion. At the embassy ball, the spy in the royal court makes contact with his employer. Political intrigue, espionage, sabotage, and similar cloak-and-dagger activities can provide the basis for an exciting D&D campaign. In this kind of game, the characters might care more about skill training and making contacts than about attack spells and magic weapons. Roleplaying and social interaction take on greater importance than combat, and the party might go for several sessions without seeing a monster. Again, make sure your players know ahead of time that you want to run this kind of campaign. Otherwise, a player might create a defense-focused dwarf paladin, only to find he is out of place among elf diplomats and tiefling spies.The Brimstone Angels novels by Erin M. Evans focus on intrigue in the Forgotten Realms setting, from the backstabbing politics of the Nine Hells to the contested succession of Cormyrean royalty.
7. Mystery: Who stole three legendary magic weapons and hid them away in a remote dungeon, leaving a cryptic clue to their location? Who placed the duke into a magical slumber, and what can be done to awaken him? Who murdered the guildmaster, and how did the killer get into the guild’s locked vault? A mystery-themed campaign puts the characters in the role of investigators, perhaps traveling from town to town to crack tough cases the local authorities can’t handle. Such a campaign emphasizes puzzles and problem-solving in addition to combat prowess. A larger mystery might even set the stage for the whole campaign. Why did someone kill the characters’ mentor, setting them on the path of adventure? Who really controls the Cult of the Red Hand? In this case, the characters might uncover clues to the greater mystery only once in a while; individual adventures might be at best tangentially related to that theme. A diet of nothing but puzzles can become frustrating, so be sure to mix up the kinds of encounters you present. Novels in various D&D settings have explored the mystery genre with a fantasy twist. In particular, Murder in Cormyr (by Chet Williamson), Murder in Halruaa (by Richard S. Meyers), and Spellstorm (by Ed Greenwood) are mysteries set in the Forgotten Realms. Murder in Tarsis (by John Maddox Roberts) takes the same approach in the Dragonlance setting.
8. Swashbuckling: Rapier-wielding sailors fight off boarding sahuagin. Ghouls lurk in derelict ships, waiting to devour treasure hunters. Dashing rogues and charming paladins weave their way through palace intrigues and leap from balconies onto waiting horses below. The swashbuckling adventures of pirates and musketeers suggest opportunities for a dynamic campaign. The characters typically spend more time in cities, royal courts, and seafaring vessels than in dungeon delves, making interaction skills important (though not to the extent of a pure intrigue campaign). Nevertheless, the heroes might end up in classic dungeon situations, such as searching storm sewers beneath the palace to find the evil duke’s hidden chambers. A good example of a swashbuckling rogue in the Forgotten Realms is Jack Ravenwild, who appears in novels by Richard Baker (City of Ravens and Prince of Ravens).
9. War: A hobgoblin army marches toward the city, leading elephants and giants to batter down the stronghold’s walls and ramparts. Dragons wheel above an invading horde, scattering enemies as the raging warriors cut a swath through field and forest. Salamanders muster at an efreeti’s command, poised to assault an astral fortress. Warfare in a fantasy world is rife with opportunities for adventure. A war campaign isn’t generally concerned with the specifics of troop movements, but instead focuses on the heroes whose actions turn the tide of battle. The characters carry out specific missions: capture a magical standard that empowers undead armies, gather reinforcements to break a siege, or cut through the enemy’s flank to reach a demonic commander. In other situations, the party supports the larger army by holding a strategic location until reinforcements arrive, killing enemy scouts before they can report, or cutting off supply lines. Information gathering and diplomatic missions can supplement the more combat-oriented adventures. The War of the Lance in the Dragonlance Chronicles novels and the War of the Spider Queen in the novel series of the same name are prominent examples of wars in D&D novels.
10. Crossing the Streams: The renowned paladin Murlynd, from the world of Oerth (as featured in Greyhawk novels and game products), dresses in the traditional garb of Earth’s Old West and wears a pair of six-shooters strapped to his waist. The Mace of St. Cuthbert, a holy weapon belonging to Greyhawk’s god of justice, found its way to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 1985. Somewhere in the Barrier Peaks of Oerth, the wreckage of a spacefaring vessel is said to lie, with bizarre alien lifeforms and strange items of technology on board. And the famous wizard Elminster of the Forgotten Realms has been said to make occasional appearances in the kitchen of Canadian writer Ed Greenwood — where he is sometimes joined by wizards from the worlds of Oerth and Krynn (homeworld of the Dragonlance saga). Deep in D&D’s roots are elements of science fiction and science fantasy, and your campaign might draw on those sources as well. It’s okay to send your characters hurtling through a magic mirror to Lewis Carroll’s Wonderland, put them aboard a ship traveling between the stars, or set your campaign in a far-future world where laser blasters and magic missiles exist side by side. The possibilities are limitless.

-States of Magic: It's pretty self explanatory. 5 of them are like normal magic but with varying degrees of rarity similar to magic items. Others are more complex:

1. None: Obvious.
2. Dying: Magic is fading.
3. Secret: No one knows magic exists, and the characters or someone else discovers it
4. Reviled: Everyone hates magic. Think dark sun.
5. Banned: mortals abused their power so the gods took it away. Maybe the characters have to unlock it? Who knows...

If you have any other questions about this, lemme know!

~Raccoon_Master

Just wanted to say what an incredibly cool idea this is! Absolutely not able to take on a new game, so I'm not going to vote since I know I won't apply to the end result. Still, really interested to hear how this turns out!

To be clear, anyone can vote in the polls, you don’t need to plan to apply. Any and all input is appreciated!

Okay. In that case...

Love how no one can decide between renaissance vs mideival tech. Luckily, you guys finally started swaying the vote on the genre so at least we have that. Anyone and everyone who sees this and has not done so already, VOTE

*Me desperately trying to figure out how the world can be as old as possible while still having the suggested tech level: AHHH what do I do? Oh wait. A cataclysm is the world defining event. Hmmm*

Tech level is really tied...

With a cataclysm you can have two tech levels. One from before (relics left over) and one from 'now' 

Quote from Swiftgale >>

Tech level is really tied...

With a cataclysm you can have two tech levels. One from before (relics left over) and one from 'now' 

 With discovery as well, think on when the Old World met the New. 

Quote from Swiftgale >>

Tech level is really tied...

With a cataclysm you can have two tech levels. One from before (relics left over) and one from 'now' 

 I like this!

Firearms exist, but no one knows how to make and maintain the complicated components (springs etc) and gunpowder creation is a jealously guarded secret of a few alchemists/artificiers/wizards. Plate armours exist, but only as relics and heirlooms because no one knows how to produce such high quality steel. Ancient castles that are impenetrable because they were designed to withstand cannons. Etc.

Another poll might be about deities in the setting. Something like:

• Don't exist.
• It's unclear if they exist or not. (Like in Eberron)
• Actively involved on the material plane and with their followers. (Like in the Forgotten Realms)
• Don't exist but lesser powers do (so powerful angels, demon lords, etc.)
• Existed but don't anymore.

Quote from Masqueraider >>

Another poll might be about deities in the setting. Something like:

• Don't exist.
• It's unclear if they exist or not. (Like in Eberron)
• Actively involved on the material plane and with their followers. (Like in the Forgotten Realms)
• Don't exist but lesser powers do (so powerful angels, demon lords, etc.)
• Existed but don't anymore.

 Don't forget: Distant and aloof, holy power is derived from the faith itself and not the god (like dungeons of drakkenheim.)

Just wanted to say, I'd love to play this campaign when it starts up.
Also, for another poll idea, maybe what kind rulership there is, so to speak.

• Emperor
• Evil Emperor
• King with well controlled lands
• King, with his lands fighting each other

There are just some vague ideas. I would just pull them from the DMG for the most part. But you get the idea.

Also, maybe something like some kinda of world, or empire sized threat. i.e. Maybe an invading army, who possibly is equipped with spell casters and magic weapons. This would certainly provide a challenge, since as it is  right now, the defenders wouldn't be as equipped with magic. Or some ancient evil dragon is trying to become a god, and has actually found out how, and there for has to be stopped. I guess these are a little specific,  but yeah. I think it would be fun if the players could not only help shape the lore, but a bit of the future.

This sounds awesome! Super interested in joining once it starts up; dark fantasy is my favorite. Some other poll ideas: Prevalence level/diversity of religion, how much of the world is unexplored/wilderness and why.

Same as mentioned above, I don't currently have capacity for anymore games but I like the idea and I've voted :)

When you say prevalence of religion, do you mean how seriously it's taken, so to speak? like, is it just you 'worship' this particular god, but it's more tradition. or on the other side, entire kingdoms might have one or two religions, and what they believe that god(s) want, that is law. Are talking about something kinda like that?

Quote from Kirby121 >>

When you say prevalence of religion, do you mean how seriously it's taken, so to speak? like, is it just you 'worship' this particular god, but it's more tradition. or on the other side, entire kingdoms might have one or two religions, and what they believe that god(s) want, that is law. Are talking about something kinda like that?

 Yeah, I added diversity of religion too, as in: are many religions allowed, do kingdoms have state religions, does each race generally have their own, etc. For prevalence I mean like how religion is regarded by the majority of people. Is it widely accepted or are religious people looked at as strange, etc. 

I love this idea! I'd definitely be interested when you get it started up! Dark fantasy is always a blast, and you don't see too many uncommon magic campaigns on here.

This is such a fun idea. The "Crossing the Streams" option is literally the best way to describe the kind of campaigns I run and love. Sad it's such a small vote percentage but dark fantasy is super cool as well. 

No Wuxia/Japanese styled fantasy?

I think it was mentioned why those aren't an option in the original message.