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5 years ago ::
Feb 26, 2008 - 7:01AM
#11
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Date Joined:
Jun 20, 2006
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I've got an idea for how to translate this for you, Artifact.
The article seems to mostly be about a method for determining themes for your campaign. The themes are separated into Ages, which are time periods that can last for generations. Since this is a fantasy game, the Ages can have magical effects on the physical world, like making crops more bountiful or the stars dimmer. The Zeitgeist, whether it's an actual living spirit or more of a phenomenon (up to you), determines when an Age is up, and it choses who gets to pick the themes, atmosphere, and general physical effects for the next Age.
The "Threshold Era" is the transitional time between Ages. It's when an Age dies, and a new one hasn't been picked yet. It's when your PCs fight the BBEG (or fulfill the prophecy, or pass the trial, or whatever) and earn the right to determine the theme for the next Age. Maybe the BBEG wants the next Age to be about obedience and brutality, while the PCs want the next Age to be about freedom and kindness. Or maybe the PCs just want to stop the BBEG, only to discover after the fact that they've won new friends, followers and fans everywhere they go. How the PCs act after they win the Threshold Era helps determine the themes and atmosphere for that campaign world for generations, even after the PCs are dead.
I hope this was helpful.
That's a really good summation Taski.
(I still hope people read the article of course  )
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5 years ago ::
Feb 26, 2008 - 7:51AM
#12
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In the world today common zeitgeist seems to be based on selfishness. In Britain this age of selfish, consumer shallowness was championed by one woman. Her name was Margret Thatcher. She changed the social landscape forever.
Thatcher's Britain. Thatcher's bloody Britain! Look at me. I'm young, I'm pretty. I've got 5 O Levels. Bloomin' good grades as well, considering I didn't do a sod of work cause I'm so hard. And look at me now! Homeless, cold, and prostitute.
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5 years ago ::
Feb 26, 2008 - 8:19AM
#13
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Date Joined:
Dec 22, 2005
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Great article, Hal! This might be a bit of Planescape fanboyism coming through, but I couldn't help spotting alignments in the article's eight example ages. Here's what I figured: LG: (nothing!) NG: Age of Light CG: Age of Heroes LN: Age of Blood N: Age of Nature CN: Age of Chaos LE: Age of Tyranny NE: Age of Decay CE: Age of War Was this aspect planned, or just a coincidence? If it was planned, did I get the alignments right (and why was LG left out  )?
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5 years ago ::
Feb 26, 2008 - 8:50AM
#14
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Thank you, taski. That was indeed very helpful. I had translated some things from the article myself, but its still nice to have it summarized by someone who truly has a grasp of it . Your efforts will definitely help me get more real use out of the article, so again, thank you. To Hal Maclean: I just want to take a moment to let you know that I really enjoyed your article for Dragon Magazine #354, “Ancient PCs: Playing Elders in D&D”. Its became one of my favorite (and most useful) articles in the last few years. Its articles like these that make Dragon enjoyable for me. Thank you so much.
/\ Art
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5 years ago ::
Feb 26, 2008 - 9:48AM
#15
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Date Joined:
Aug 18, 2007
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Excellent article.
Very "Dm's guide" but with more than just the usual flavor. It really inspires one to create a solid homebrew (or even just tweak existing fluff to be more relevant to a different timeframe).
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5 years ago ::
Feb 26, 2008 - 11:06AM
#16
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Great article! I could really picture a lot of the ages... it gave me some ideas for campaigns. I like having a conceptual framework for stories. Sometimes it's tough to put together a campaign with a coherent feel. There are rules for so many things, but the game so far has not given us much in the way of concepts.
Ed_Warlord, on what it takes to make a thread work: I think for it to be really constructive, everyone would have to be honest with each other, and with themselves. Quotation of the moment
Show
Areleth: How does this help the problems we have with Fighters? Do you think that every time I thought I was playing D&D what I was actually doing was slamming my head in a car door and that if you just explain how to play without doing that then I'll finally enjoy the game?
Quotation of ALL moments
Show
TD: That's why they put me on the front of every book. This is the dungeon, and I am the dragon.
A word of warning though: I'm totally not a level appropriate encounter.
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5 years ago ::
Feb 26, 2008 - 2:24PM
#17
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Date Joined:
Apr 24, 2007
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I enjoyed the article plenty. To me, it'll be good for a PC and the background of any single campaign I may put together.
On ninjeff's missing age: LG- Age of Tyranny (redux)
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5 years ago ::
Feb 26, 2008 - 3:19PM
#18
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Loved it Hal. It was a very useful framework tool and an interesting conceptualization pov. I'll probably curse you later when I'm reading a book and start trying to pigeon-hole the plot line according to this article. Be forewarned.
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5 years ago ::
Feb 27, 2008 - 5:32AM
#19
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Date Joined:
Jun 20, 2006
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Great article, Hal!
This might be a bit of Planescape fanboyism coming through, but I couldn't help spotting alignments in the article's eight example ages. Here's what I figured:
LG: (nothing!)
NG: Age of Light
CG: Age of Heroes
LN: Age of Blood
N: Age of Nature
CN: Age of Chaos
LE: Age of Tyranny
NE: Age of Decay
CE: Age of War
Was this aspect planned, or just a coincidence? If it was planned, did I get the alignments right (and why was LG left out )?
Now that's what I call a first class idea! Wish I had thought of it. If I had I probably would have did up an age of Justice or something for the LG. I'm not sure if Age of Blood fits the LN description though. An age of bureaucracy seems more likely. Wow, the rest seem pretty much dead on though.
This is what's so great about feedback. People see stuff you never even imagined.
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5 years ago ::
Feb 27, 2008 - 5:34AM
#20
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Date Joined:
Jun 20, 2006
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To Hal Maclean: I just want to take a moment to let you know that I really enjoyed your article for Dragon Magazine #354, “Ancient PCs: Playing Elders in D&D”. Its became one of my favorite (and most useful) articles in the last few years. Its articles like these that make Dragon enjoyable for me. Thank you so much.
Thank you. It was one of my favorites to write too. Right up there with the one on cleric domains themed on the seven deadly sins.
(Must confess I enjoyed the astrology article a little bit more though )
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