Ok, we've been on a huge 4e kick lately (here and in my Real World (tm), what with the 4e game I'm playing on Sundays now). I've been re-reading the core books (however useful that is/isn't) and I'm also trying to get back into the writing habit (starting to feel motivated again, so I can at least thank 4e for that!).

I have these nuggets I've thrown out here before for a setting, but now I just need some opinions to get me started.  Bearing in mind the 4e "more fantastical fantasy" default power settings. I'm thinking of starting a 1st level and working towards "x" level, so this will be a quest/long adventure (as defined in the DMG) possibly leading to a campaign.

Of the following places, which do YOU think would be more interesting to visit,  

The Wall - huge, wide, ancient wall stretching for miles across valleys and, seemingly, through mountains, it was built eons ago for unknown reasons by a lost civilization. Crumbled in many areas, it is inhabited by numerous fell creatures, while in other areas towns use it as part of their defense, and one section even forms a dam creating a huge lake.

The Hydra Maze – miles of parallel natural, open-air stone dikes, the purported location of a mythical battle in the past where the forces of the last unified Hydra kingdom were defeated. The stories say that their warriors become lost or stuck in the narrow natural corridors and were slaughtered by the forbearers of modern human civilization. These walls are covered with ancient, primitive paintings.

The Azure Marshes – low-lying swamps filled with gnarled trees and half-sunken ruins. A pale blue mist hangs over the area at all times. Filled with monsters and lizard-men, it is the source of dozens of plants and animals useful in alchemy and sorcery.  

The Pits of the Taer'c – seemingly bottomless holes in the depths of the southern jungles, some hundreds of yards across. Filled with the sounds of strange creatures, they are home to millions of bats.

The Steel Tower – mysterious tower made of metal, with no known entrance, standing on the windswept moors of the west. Gives off strange lights and sounds at certain times of the year.

The Baleful Reefs – dangerous, jagged reefs off the western shore that have claimed scores of ships over the years. Said to be home to an underwater civilization by the superstitious, while others say it swarms with aquatic zombies and skeletal sailors.

The Mouths of the Gods – raging, multiple-tiered waterfalls located in the Howling Mountains of the East. Some say there are huge gems tossed and polished in the waters at their base, protected by the most foul water elementals known. Others report strange cliff-side ruins in the deep canyons cut by the rushing waters.

The Canyon of the Titans – a series of twisting box-canyons lined by massive 100' tall stone statues of skeletal warriors, lifelike in every detail, stand at attention - faded over the centuries. They are said to be the guardians of the tombs of the rulers of a long-dead civilization, and stories abound of the treasures hidden in the miles of catacombs hidden beneath them. Strangely, nobody who tells these stories has been there themselves.  

The Parched Bowl – a perfectly circular crater 100 miles across, filled by an arid desert despite being located in a rather blustery region. There is a spire of rock a thousand feet tall at the center of the Bowl.


Not necessarily related to one of the above places, which of the following "relics" would be a more interesting goal for a quest/series of adventures? I know a lot of it would depend on the party makeup and such, but just in general, what might get the party out of the tavern and on the road? Bear in mind, of course, their powers might be exaggerated over the centuries they have been lost.

The Banner of the Lost Legion – standard of the most powerful legion in the ancient army of Emperor Faldren II. It was lost when the legion was dispatched to face Gar, the ancient Hydra King of the far northern wastes. Said to grant amazing leadership and prowess in combat.

Dannica's Rod – a slender mace of amazing power wielded by the fabled Priestess Dannica the Fair, who used it to strike down the Demon Lord Piz at the Weeping Fields. In addition to being a powerful weapon, It is said to be able to do everything from purify food to raise the dead.

Malefactor – a long-sword of dark power wielded by Arch-General Galed, leader of the Massed Armies of the East, in the Ruby War that raged a thousand years ago. Said to have last been seen at the Battle of Dunzel Pass where Galed's final major offensive was crushed.

Bili's Shards – ten varicolored throwing spikes crafted for the scoundrel Bili Baden, fabled father of the Thieves' Guilds. Each spike has a different effect, ranging from simple poison to flaming strikes or freezing cold. Bili gave 1 shard to each of the Chief's of the Five Houses, where they are now used as badges of office. The whereabouts of the remaining spikes is unknown.

The Blue Hat – appears in many stories, songs, and artwork - some of them handed down for hundreds of years - but its origin, creator, and powers are unknown. Some even believe the Hat never really existed, or is a composite of many other tales and traditions. Still, most stories say it was last in the vicinity of the Mouths of the Gods, probably lost forever when the last owner was swept over the raging rapids.

Gadaric – the Bow that Never Misses, carried by the ranger Talc Greenleap on his journey to the Tree of the World. He gave it to his dwarven traveling companion Stonesmite Haggelund, before merging with the Tree in fulfillment of the Erin-Stol Prophecies. Stonesmite is said to have brought it back to his mountain fastness where it held a place of honor in his Hall of Feasting.

Scale – a shield made of a single ancient Hydra scale, embossed and decorated over so many centuries that the original type of scale is unknown (the wildest rumors say it might be from Tiamat herself). Last carried by the paladin Samuel of La on his quest to locate and dismantle the Demon Forge at the root of Mount Slay.

Earthsplitter– also known as the Staff that Broke the World; carried for decades by the wizard Faben the Weary, it had power over the dirt and rocks, and all earth-based entities. It is also said to have smashed Bloodharvest Peak, a massive orc lair centuries ago, into the crumbled ruins known today in one mighty blast. It is thought to have been lost in the very act of destruction, along with its creator.

Armor of Shadows – said to be formed of powerful undead shadows, it was worn by the Grand Lich Velt during his Reign of Terror two centuries ago. It protected him from all but the most potent magic and weapons, and wielded terrible powers of its own. It was only fully dispersed once, by the Blaine, Archbishop of Golmer at the end of the Reign of Terror. The armor still reformed three days later, but without its master it faded into nothingness, lost forever. Others say it roams the world looking for another worthy master, or has become an independent entity in its own right.



Feel free to get as far off topic as you wish, or to throw out other ideas, ask questions (really, I don't mind), etc.

Quote from: Werekoala;389489I have these nuggets I've thrown out here before for a setting, but now I just need some opinions to get me started.  Bearing in mind the 4e "more fantastical fantasy" default power settings. I'm thinking of starting a 1st level and working towards "x" level, so this will be a quest/long adventure (as defined in the DMG) possibly leading to a campaign.

Of the following places, which do YOU think would be more interesting to visit,

There are some very cool ideas here.  Also, this world is chock full of my very favorite thing in a D&D campaign...ancient mysteries waiting to be uncovered.

Quote from: Werekoala;389489The Wall - huge, wide, ancient wall stretching for miles across valleys and, seemingly, through mountains, it was built eons ago for unknown reasons by a lost civilization. Crumbled in many areas, it is inhabited by numerous fell creatures, while in other areas towns use it as part of their defense, and one section even forms a dam creating a huge lake.

I like this idea.

Another thing to think about here is the possibility that no one actually knows for certain where the wall begins and where it ends. Goes along with the whole "Points of Light" theme.

Quote from: Werekoala;389489The Hydra Maze – miles of parallel natural, open-air stone dikes, the purported location of a mythical battle in the past where the forces of the last unified Hydra kingdom were defeated. The stories say that their warriors become lost or stuck in the narrow natural corridors and were slaughtered by the forbearers of modern human civilization. These walls are covered with ancient, primitive paintings.

I know that you envision these as a natural formation...but what I picture is a series of winding tunnels, all leading away from a central point. Something to consider.

Quote from: Werekoala;389489The Azure Marshes – low-lying swamps filled with gnarled trees and half-sunken ruins. A pale blue mist hangs over the area at all times. Filled with monsters and lizard-men, it is the source of dozens of plants and animals useful in alchemy and sorcery.  

Nicely atmospheric.

Quote from: Werekoala;389489The Pits of the Taer’c – seemingly bottomless holes in the depths of the southern jungles, some hundreds of yards across. Filled with the sounds of strange creatures, they are home to millions of bats.

And possibly vermin the size of pachyderms?

Quote from: Werekoala;389489The Steel Tower – mysterious tower made of metal, with no known entrance, standing on the windswept moors of the west. Gives off strange lights and sounds at certain times of the year.

This one is the most interesting to me.

I can't help but picture an adventure hook involving rumors of robed cultists seen around the area...but no one has any idea how they are getting in and out of the tower.

Quote from: Werekoala;389489The Baleful Reefs – dangerous, jagged reefs off the western shore that have claimed scores of ships over the years. Said to be home to an underwater civilization by the superstitious, while others say it swarms with aquatic zombies and skeletal sailors.

Also a nice atmospheric picture. I also can't help but imagine ghostly sirens heard singing at night over the crashing tide.

Quote from: Werekoala;389489The Mouths of the Gods – raging, multiple-tiered waterfalls located in the Howling Mountains of the East. Some say there are huge gems tossed and polished in the waters at their base, protected by the most foul water elementals known. Others report strange cliff-side ruins in the deep canyons cut by the rushing waters.

I picture an extended trek through deep-rooted crystalline caverns, that are like a kaleidoscope of color. Could mean naturally occurring radiant energy hazards.

Quote from: Werekoala;389489The Canyon of the Titans – a series of twisting box-canyons lined by massive 100’ tall stone statues of skeletal warriors, lifelike in every detail, stand at attention - faded over the centuries. They are said to be the guardians of the tombs of the rulers of a long-dead civilization, and stories abound of the treasures hidden in the miles of catacombs hidden beneath them. Strangely, nobody who tells these stories has been there themselves.  

I also think that this idea is very cool.

I can't help but imagine a dusty necropolis of a long dead...but not ALL dead empire. This makes me think of a huge version of the Chinese Terracotta Army for some reason.

I'm not trying to influence your design here...I'm making mental notes because I plan on stealing a lot of your ideas and shamelessly passing them off as my own when I start running again : )

Quote from: Werekoala;389489The Parched Bowl – a perfectly circular crater 100 miles across, filled by an arid desert despite being located in a rather blustery region. There is a spire of rock a thousand feet tall at the center of the Bowl.

Another very cool idea and a very evocative description. Leads me to wonder at what mysteries the spire hints at.

The relics that you listed are very flavorful. I particularly like the Blue Hat...but I really couldn't say which you should use as the macguffin.

Fuck, dude, you want to pile about three or four dozen more ideas into one post?  There is just enough here to keep my occupied for the rest of the day and keep me from doing my stuff.  

Quote from: Werekoala;389489The Wall - huge, wide, ancient wall stretching for miles across valleys and, seemingly, through mountains, it was built eons ago for unknown reasons by a lost civilization. Crumbled in many areas, it is inhabited by numerous fell creatures, while in other areas towns use it as part of their defense, and one section even forms a dam creating a huge lake.

Hadrian's Wall writ large, or the northern wall in A Game of Thrones.  Excellent narrative device to separate civilization from wilderness.

QuoteThe Azure Marshes– low-lying swamps filled with gnarled trees and half-sunken ruins. A pale blue mist hangs over the area at all times. Filled with monsters and lizard-men, it is the source of dozens of plants and animals useful in alchemy and sorcery.  

Swamps are good for creepy/horror locations.  Rather like an open air dungeon with bogs and quicksand instead of walls.

QuoteThe Pits of the Taer’c – seemingly bottomless holes in the depths of the southern jungles, some hundreds of yards across. Filled with the sounds of strange creatures, they are home to millions of bats.

Vertical dungeons.  Short-ish levels around the perimeter for short sessions, but possibly hundreds of levels down to the dragon, demon or devil at the bottom.  Several shorter levels combine into one 'level'.  Very Dante's Inferno.

QuoteThe Baleful Reefs – dangerous, jagged reefs off the western shore that have claimed scores of ships over the years. Said to be home to an underwater civilization by the superstitious, while others say it swarms with aquatic zombies and skeletal sailors.

My only negative impression.  I don't care for underwater stuff.

QuoteThe Mouths of the Gods – raging, multiple-tiered waterfalls located in the Howling Mountains of the East. Some say there are huge gems tossed and polished in the waters at their base, protected by the most foul water elementals known. Others report strange cliff-side ruins in the deep canyons cut by the rushing waters.

Seems like more of a location for a larger adventure, but I like the concept.

QuoteThe Canyon of the Titans – a series of twisting box-canyons lined by massive 100’ tall stone statues of skeletal warriors, lifelike in every detail, stand at attention - faded over the centuries. They are said to be the guardians of the tombs of the rulers of a long-dead civilization, and stories abound of the treasures hidden in the miles of catacombs hidden beneath them. Strangely, nobody who tells these stories has been there themselves.  

As Shazbot said, excellent necropolis feel.  Undead abound, and Egyptian myth is rife with all manner of such dangers.

QuoteThe Parched Bowl – a perfectly circular crater 100 miles across, filled by an arid desert despite being located in a rather blustery region. There is a spire of rock a thousand feet tall at the center of the Bowl.

What would this have beyond what a normal desert has?  Cthulhulian creatures from beyond space?  Portals to other dimensions/planes?  A gateway for devils/demons?

QuoteMalefactor – a long-sword of dark power wielded by Arch-General Galed, leader of the Massed Armies of the East, in the Ruby War that raged a thousand years ago. Said to have last been seen at the Battle of Dunzel Pass where Galed’s final major offensive was crushed.

Obviously, swords.  

The good thing about weapons is that they could be anything, really.  Perhaps this wasn't a sword at all, but a metaphor for some plan to stop Galed, aided by a turn-coat within his own inner circle.  The killing blow by this traitor's dagger cursed it for all time.  Over the years, the stories began to confuse Malefactor with the sword wielded by the general, and now the story of the dagger is all but lost.  Perhaps the dagger and the sword are inert if they are in close proximity, and the general's sword is something else altogether.  Something that has been found by another individual, and is gathering forces and victories to the east; echoes of Arch-General Galed's original conquests.

Watch me utterly fail to try to quote this in parts like everyone else did.  But, dammit, I want to help.

Quote from: Werekoala;389489Of the following places, which do YOU think would be more interesting to visit,  

The Wall - huge, wide, ancient wall stretching for miles across valleys and, seemingly, through mountains, it was built eons ago for unknown reasons by a lost civilization. Crumbled in many areas, it is inhabited by numerous fell creatures, while in other areas towns use it as part of their defense, and one section even forms a dam creating a huge lake.

I like this one the most, so bravo for listing it first.  Out of all of your options, this one seems to me to have the most opportunities for exploring your campaign history and/or go play Indiana Jones.  This is my favorite "flavor" for adventure sites, so there you have it.

QuoteThe Hydra Maze – miles of parallel natural, open-air stone dikes, the purported location of a mythical battle in the past where the forces of the last unified Hydra kingdom were defeated. The stories say that their warriors become lost or stuck in the narrow natural corridors and were slaughtered by the forbearers of modern human civilization. These walls are covered with ancient, primitive paintings.

Pretty cool for the ability to share history, but nothing here screams EXCITEMENT that I think of when I think 4e.  Throw in a bunch of undead in the fashion of ancient American Indian burial ground and maybe

QuoteThe Azure Marshes – low-lying swamps filled with gnarled trees and half-sunken ruins. A pale blue mist hangs over the area at all times. Filled with monsters and lizard-men, it is the source of dozens of plants and animals useful in alchemy and sorcery.  

To me, this sounds more like something you have to survive through, rather than a highlighted site-based adventure.

QuoteThe Pits of the Taer'c – seemingly bottomless holes in the depths of the southern jungles, some hundreds of yards across. Filled with the sounds of strange creatures, they are home to millions of bats.

I really like the idea.  It's different.  Might be a bit challenging to preset to the players.  I recommend visual aids aplenty.  Who/whatever used to live almost certainly had to believe in human sacrifice and toss em down.  It's begging to happen.

QuoteThe Steel Tower – mysterious tower made of metal, with no known entrance, standing on the windswept moors of the west. Gives off strange lights and sounds at certain times of the year.

I have a similar feature in one of my campaign worlds, so I obviously like the idea.  I tied it to my mythology.  Maybe you could do something similar.  The trick with this sort of dungeon is answering why/how the party can actually access the thing.  

QuoteThe Baleful Reefs – dangerous, jagged reefs off the western shore that have claimed scores of ships over the years. Said to be home to an underwater civilization by the superstitious, while others say it swarms with aquatic zombies and skeletal sailors.

Like your marsh, I feel this is something you go through rather than to.  I think I would put this en route during one adventure, then create a specific shipwreck or mythological ghost ship for a later adventure here.

QuoteThe Mouths of the Gods – raging, multiple-tiered waterfalls located in the Howling Mountains of the East. Some say there are huge gems tossed and polished in the waters at their base, protected by the most foul water elementals known. Others report strange cliff-side ruins in the deep canyons cut by the rushing waters.

Nothing here grabs me except for the ruins.  Personal preference only.  Water elemental infestation doesn't sound particularly exciting to me until you add a wicked wizard specialized in electricity or a cracked inventor trying to reinvent the waterwheel.

QuoteThe Canyon of the Titans – a series of twisting box-canyons lined by massive 100' tall stone statues of skeletal warriors, lifelike in every detail, stand at attention - faded over the centuries. They are said to be the guardians of the tombs of the rulers of a long-dead civilization, and stories abound of the treasures hidden in the miles of catacombs hidden beneath them. Strangely, nobody who tells these stories has been there themselves.

I like this but don't have anything creative to add.  I might consider tossing in mirages or illusions to make the site even more difficult to find.

QuoteThe Parched Bowl – a perfectly circular crater 100 miles across, filled by an arid desert despite being located in a rather blustery region. There is a spire of rock a thousand feet tall at the center of the Bowl.

The spire is actually a hive of humanoid insects (thri-kreen, formians or whatever is the equivalent in 4e).  This could be fun if the rumors/PC expectations were completely different.  Maybe legends say it was the source of life (like manna, actually royal jelly) of a past desert culture, haunted (people disappear when they get too close) or something like that.

Quote...which of the following "relics" would be a more interesting goal for a quest/series of adventures? ...

The Banner of the Lost Legion – standard of the most powerful legion in the ancient army of Emperor Faldren II. It was lost when the legion was dispatched to face Gar, the ancient Hydra King of the far northern wastes. Said to grant amazing leadership and prowess in combat.  

The Blue Hat – appears in many stories, songs, and artwork - some of them handed down for hundreds of years - but its origin, creator, and powers are unknown. Some even believe the Hat never really existed, or is a composite of many other tales and traditions. Still, most stories say it was last in the vicinity of the Mouths of the Gods, probably lost forever when the last owner was swept over the raging rapids.

Earthsplitter– also known as the Staff that Broke the World; carried for decades by the wizard Faben the Weary, it had power over the dirt and rocks, and all earth-based entities. It is also said to have smashed Bloodharvest Peak, a massive orc lair centuries ago, into the crumbled ruins known today in one mighty blast. It is thought to have been lost in the very act of destruction, along with its creator.

I only left my favorites in the quote.

I like the Banner.  More history opportunities.  I would draw inspiration from the Spear of Destiny.

The hat...not immediately compelling, but give this a thought: First of all, it is a musical instrument, not a hat (I can't get excited about a magic hat).  Second, it actually has an active memory for important events recorded in song.  Effects of use will vary.

I like Earthsplitter as is.  Pretty badass.  One could imagine how lots of folks would not only want it, but learn how to use it without causing a cataclysmic earthquake.  Sounds like a plot device to me!

Thanks for the input so far, guys - it helps to see what, if anything, other people find interesting. Of course *I* like all my ideas...

Quote from: Werekoala;389932Thanks for the input so far, guys - it helps to see what, if anything, other people find interesting. Of course *I* like all my ideas...

They're all pretty cool. Can't you include all of them?

Seanchai

Well, sure. They all exist in my "world", but I was just trying to get a handle on where to start, and I figured getting some input for the local experts would help. My problem is, I'm really good (and modest, as you can tell) at coming up with "snapshots" (like the above) or short scenes, and not so good at fleshing them out all the way. I'm trying to break that habit with this little project, so I want to make sure to get off on the right foot.

Quote from: Werekoala;390026My problem is, I'm really good (and modest, as you can tell) at coming up with "snapshots" (like the above) or short scenes, and not so good at fleshing them out all the way.

Well, when you've picked out one or two, let us know.  I imagine many of us would be happy to throw out a lot of potential details.

So far, it looks like the Wall, Canyon, and Pits are the top three for potential settings/adventuring areas.

The Wall is big enough to be its own setting, the way I have it envisioned. Picture the Great Wall of China, about twice as wide and tall, maybe even with sub-levels in places. Of course it goes on for hundreds of miles, so it could be everything from a simple looming presence in the background for an adventure in the surrounding countryside, to the heart of an entire campaign.

The Canyon was inspired by a piece of art (I'll post it when I get home) - can't remember the guy who painted it, but he seems to specialize in painting wierd/creepy stuff. You've seen his work before. Lots of undead and constructs in an arid environment is what I was thinking here, along with tombs to loot of course.

The Pits were inspired by the cinotes of Central and South America - giant sinkholes, usually filled with water near the bottom. Some of them are so deep people skydive INTO them. So, yeah, no telling what kind of trouble people could get into in those kind of places.

Quote from: Werekoala;390026Well, sure. They all exist in my "world", but I was just trying to get a handle on where to start, and I figured getting some input for the local experts would help.

I like the Mouths of the Gods as a starting point. It's very visual and there's a lot of room for athleticism and exploration.

Seanchai

Quote from: Seanchai;390114I like the Mouths of the Gods as a starting point. It's very visual and there's a lot of room for athleticism and exploration.

Seanchai

Thanks (that's secretly my favorite too, just because I can't remember any adventures in such a place).

Ok, so - Canyon of the Titans inspiration:



Examples of Cenotes (the Pits):





Mouths of the gods (except I picture them quite a bit taller with mountains behind them instead of a flat-topped mesa):

Quote from: Werekoala;390118Thanks (that's [Mouths of the gods] secretly my favorite too, just because I can't remember any adventures in such a place).

Bold, emph mine to put the comment back in context...

Cool picture, I can see why you like it.

I'm not sure why, but I generally shy away from tropical settings.  Probably my own lack of real-world experience warning me to stay away.

Here is what I would put in this place to make it match my style:

• Meso-American-like ruins behind the waterfalls.


• Some astrological or visual puzzle associated with the layout of the structures, sort of like how the Temple of the Sun creates that illusion at certain times of year.  Maybe a bit where lighting torches in a certain order behind the waterfalls unlocks a secret temple, etc.


• A "lost world" theme for the monsters.  Giant bugs (especially tarantula) or dinosaurs.


• An underwater tunnel in the volcanic rock.


• Some kind of sweet "throne room" for the ancient ruler.

Hope something clicks.  Let us know how the game goes.