Well, my 1E AD&D campaign seems to be on a summer break for now.
Haven't run B/X Nightshade & Cream for my wife since the first session. Bummer there.
Still jotting notes for my (non-OD&D) setting revision. For want of anything better, I thought I'd share some.
Here are my thoughts for the classic core PC races so far. Apologies for all the references that probably will make no sense.
Races and Culture
·
Dwarves: Possibly in control of the majority of
Grindinggap. Isolationists and guardians of Teloen. Scholars and travelers of
the planes. Still fearful of Erebus and other Outside incursion. PC dwarves are
often in search of knowledge and magic regarding other planes and early warning
signs of Outside incursion. They seek allies in their struggle and details of
the strengths and weaknesses of their alien foes. Dwarves do not hesitate to
destroy aberrations and threatening outsiders. After the Planewrack, many
dwarves are quick to leap to the attack, and ask questions later.
·
Elves: A race in dignified decline. Once
traveled the planes, but have recoiled in horror from some of their experiences
and now guard against incursion from Outside. Elves tend to favor the shore,
and islands. Do not like to be landlocked. In tune with elements of air and
water. Work with resins and corals. Because they know so much of the fae and of
Nature, the elves prefer not to interact much with either. Get along very well
with djinn and marids. Craft living ships and submersibles. Also airships and
gliders. Tend to favor amoral elemental deities. Elemental afterlife, with the
possibility of becoming bound genies if less-than-good in life. Many are
followers of Roji's "Rippling Path." Admire the water that ebbs and
flows, that shapes stone and gives life. Abhor stagnant water. Distrust still
water. Watercunning. Sand castles. Water elemental symbiosis. Ruled by elders
in symbiosis with ancient and powerful water elementals, known as Waterbearers.
Race name may be Lau'annyn. Still Water elves: Assassins and necromancers.
·
Gnomes: Sometimes feral and bestial. In tune
with nature. Nearly fae. Adaptive to environment. Get along well with animals,
especially with those represented by their particular Totem. Natural affinity
for shapechanging and elemental magic. Adapt very well to their environment.
Excellent druids and rangers. Standard gnomes will be an option, but not the
base.
·
Halflings: Thrillseekers and adventurers. Historians
and engineers. Skilled with devices, constructs, and languages. Their little
hands are very nimble and adept with mechanisms. Love to fly - enthusiastic
aviators. Monk-like reduction to falling damage. Like to set bullies up for a
fall. Enjoy using the apparent strength of foes against them. Speed, position,
initiative. Retain the concept of halfling drifttowns.
·
Hobgoblins: Still no orcs in the setting, so the
Yalkhoi remain the PC race option in place of the half-orc. Still a
semi-nomadic Mongol-like society. Leaning toward a samurai/bushido code of
honor and conduct. Fine paladins and monks. Possible lawful barbarian variant. Half-hobgoblin
will become a viable race for the first time - with a Volgate bloodline only.
Havenish humans still cannot breed with any other species.
·
Humans: Pulled themselves up from their
post-Harrowing circumstances. Begun building kingdoms again. Border skirmishes
and the occasional raid are not uncommon. Horses have returned to the setting.
Armigerial Courts even more influential. Heraldic Houses on the rise. Illegal
elemental bindings becoming more common.. The fae grow suspicious and
aggressive. Another Harrowing may be coming. Human clerics, paladins, and other
divine classes gaining in power and influence.
I found the works of Jack Vance through my love of Dungeons & Dragons. In the back of the Moldvay Basic Rules book, on page B62, there was a bibliography of "Inspirational Source Material." Jack Vance was one of many that caught my eye. The stories were wild, wondrous, and witty. Far from the typical sword-and-sorcery fare I was used to. They made me think. They made me re-read to see if I had missed anything.
