Peasent Campaign world building

[JmOz]

Ok, this is a thread only about the world of my peasent campaign, opposed to actual game building (Not sure what I mean by this myself, but lets just go with the flow)

First I see the group starting off in a small community on the outer edges of the kingdom. The Kings guard keeps the land fairly safe, but there are some dangers in the wilderness areas

The town is on a trade road, so it is not uncommon to see a wagon driving through town coming from other lands.

There are a group of King's guards stationed in the town (10-15 or so)

Prominent NPC's include
Master Arwyn: a mage who has chosen to live a "quiet" life teaching the kids of the town various basic academic skills like reading, he is reluctant to use his magic in any meaningful way, but does throw some illuisons (and fire) around on holidays. He will also be the master to any apprentice mage's the group may have

Master Roberts, the local blacksmith, big man with an easy laugh, totaly overdominated by his wife, Is also the town Mayor

Mistress Roberts, The town midwife, and healer, she knows a little bit of magic, mostly a couple healing spells, maybe a sleep spell of some kind

Lionell, the local innkeeper, Halfling, comes from outside the town, has a adopted half-orc daughter who works as a barmaid

Captain Donalds, in charge of the King's guards in the town (small regiment of 12-15 soldiers).

Local threats:

Wolves: The local forests have them, they come out at times to look for food

Darkbeasts: Subterrainan humanoids, covered in hair, avoid bright lights, near human intelegence

Old Scorch, Local myth of a dragon living in the woods, no real evidence, but people leave food at the edge of the woods in the hope to appease him...

[The Weapon]

Ok, this is a thread only about the world of my peasent campaign, opposed to actual game building (Not sure what I mean by this myself, but lets just go with the flow)

First I see the group starting off in a small community on the outer edges of the kingdom. The Kings guard keeps the land fairly safe, but there are some dangers in the wilderness areas

The town is on a trade road, so it is not uncommon to see a wagon driving through town coming from other lands.

There are a group of King's guards stationed in the town (10-15 or so)

Prominent NPC's include
Master Arwyn: a mage who has chosen to live a "quiet" life teaching the kids of the town various basic academic skills like reading, he is reluctant to use his magic in any meaningful way, but does throw some illuisons (and fire) around on holidays. He will also be the master to any apprentice mage's the group may have

Master Roberts, the local blacksmith, big man with an easy laugh, totaly overdominated by his wife, Is also the town Mayor

Mistress Roberts, The town midwife, and healer, she knows a little bit of magic, mostly a couple healing spells, maybe a sleep spell of some kind

Lionell, the local innkeeper, Halfling, comes from outside the town, has a adopted half-orc daughter who works as a barmaid

Captain Donalds, in charge of the King's guards in the town (small regiment of 12-15 soldiers).


12 -15 soldiers is an understrength platoon not a regiment. Oh wait, you said "Peasant Campaign", sorry I misheard:).



Local threats:

Wolves: The local forests have them, they come out at times to look for food

Darkbeasts: Subterrainan humanoids, covered in hair, avoid bright lights, near human intelegence

Old Scorch, Local myth of a dragon living in the woods, no real evidence, but people leave food at the edge of the woods in the hope to appease him...

So if there are soldiers, magic users and people in charge
in the town, what would the PCs do that would make a
difference? If you want a campaign with the PCs as peasants
make sure that everyone with power simply isn't there or isn't
interested. This is not hard since there are always lich-king
invasions, rebellions supported by devious foreign powers or
magicians, orc raids etc. elsewhere to keep adventurers
busy. They can't be expected to drop everything for a rumor
of kobold infestation in outer Blagalonia.

[Shadowsoul]

Are you using this thread to get your own thoughts in order or do you want commentary e.g. suggestions, advice, critiques?

[JmOz]

Are you using this thread to get your own thoughts in order or do you want commentary e.g. suggestions, advice, critiques?

SImple answer is both, while I am using it to get my thoughts down I definatly want commentary so that I can edit it, and get opinions to adjust it as I like ideas, also helps to answer questions I may not have thought of yet

For instance, The Weapon brought up a good point of what is it for the PC to do if there is a mage in town already. I feel he is needed because I want any mage PC to have a mentor in town, but have decided to add that it is common for him to both lock himself in his study, ignoring the world entirely, and to mysteriously leave town for days/weeks at a time.

The guard is also going to be reduced down to 10 guards, including the captain

[The Weapon]

SImple answer is both, while I am using it to get my thoughts down I definatly want commentary so that I can edit it, and get opinions to adjust it as I like ideas, also helps to answer questions I may not have thought of yet

For instance, The Weapon brought up a good point of what is it for the PC to do if there is a mage in town already. I feel he is needed because I want any mage PC to have a mentor in town, but have decided to add that it is common for him to both lock himself in his study, ignoring the world entirely, and to mysteriously leave town for days/weeks at a time.

The guard is also going to be reduced down to 10 guards, including the captain

That's so like a mage.

Ten guards is still a lot (most villages wouldn't see a soldier from one month to the next. Unless of course the captain is incompetent or cowardly and never manages to find the action.

[Curufea]

Suggestion-
Research actual historical society.
Then add magic to it.

A peasant campaign would benefit from this kind of "bottom-up" world design.

[JmOz]

That's so like a mage.

Ten guards is still a lot (most villages wouldn't see a soldier from one month to the next. Unless of course the captain is incompetent or cowardly and never manages to find the action.

On the guards, I see the town being on a road that gets a fair amount of trafic (There are always 3-5 rooms in the inn full for instance), the guards are assigned to to protect the town propper, outside of town they don't do much. I also don't see the guards as that much above the PC's (Actualy they will be built on lower points, but probably have better equipment and be on the specilised side of things, I figure 13 Str, 11 Dex, 13 Con, 11 Body, WF Common Melee & Missile, +1 CSL, Hard Leather Armor, short swords, Medium Bows, Shields, Halberd or Pike).

I do see this town as being on the border of the kingdom as well...