What Do You Want For Yrth

[David Johansen]

So, we've asked why Yrth failed and I think determined that it's a bit too generic for some and a little too lightly detailed. We've also determined that most people want to do what they want and Yrth isn't what they want. There's some discussion as to whether anyone would want to brave SJG's writing and submissions policies. Which basically degenerated into criticism of SJG's approach to marketing.

So let's take a more proactive approach shall we?

I ask you Yrth fans, what do you want to see?

I'd like detailed baronies and even duchies in Megalos. We got Hark Wood for Caithness but Megalos tends to work differently due to the higher manna levels and more powerful state.

I'd like some detailed wizard's guilds. Chapterhouse maps, personalities, secret lore, stuff like that.

Adventures or perhaps more appropriately interesting events, people, and places for the PCs to interact with.

Detailed cities with maps are always appropriate.

A solitaire adventure or two would be sweet. Maybe a merchant caravan journey or a coastal merchant ship adventure. Though a good rational dungeon like the sewers of Megalos would be okay.

I'd really like a big poster map printed on canvas. I actually have the skills and access to the equipment (I've been screen printing professionally for 28 years) but I don't have the rights.

And I'm working on the novel again. It's a bit on and off but I'm thinking of serializing it here. Heck, where else would anyone even care? :D

[Phantasm]

China and India analogues on the other side of Muslim lands, along with a Silk Road passing through the latter to get to the former. Also some "dark" unexplored lands that they'd have to go around if trying to open a sea trade route. Tack that onto an unknown and unexplored western continent for attempts to Columbus a trade route west to the Far East.

Does Yrth have any Mongol/Golden Horde types? If not, I'd like to see some.

[David Johansen]

Interesting, I was a little less than impressed with the various cultural places in the Forgotten Realms setting though Al Quadim was neat as its own thing. It would have to be on another continent but I could totally see it fitting. An island with African, Native American, and Asian cultures all mashed up. Maybe with a bit more of a sword and sorcery vibe than Yrth's Tolkien meets King Arthur and Robin Hood vibe.

That's a big project. A whole new world really, and making it tie in and fit. Remember Talandis for Dragon Lance? Even so, if you wanted to put in such a place I think it would be a great fan project. Maybe the nomad lands reach up over Ytarria's north pole and there's a land bridge and a realm of Ice Elves and Frost Giants. You'd have to tone it down some or it would clash.

[SteamBub]

A update to the timeline would be neat. It has been over 10 and it would be cool to see the canon events that has happen.

[David Johansen]

Interesting notion but probably out of the fans hands if you see what I mean. Though, one might posit the discovery of another continent and some of the impact of that event over the ten years. That lets the setting remain as it is but allows the addition of the new material.

A silk road is hard to pull off without magically reshaping the map. But trade routes and seafaring would be an interesting direction that Yrth has largely ignored.

I would like to suggest that joke nations like Sahud be left out of the concept. One is probably enough if not too much.

[Refplace]

What I would like to see for the Yrth/Banestorm setting would be things that could be dropped in with little effort to other settings.
I have played in Yrth but I dont think I ever ran it. I recall Tredroy rather fondly.
Most locations and adventures could probably be ported over to other settings fairly easily. That would add visibility to the setting and satisfy those who want that kind of thing but the tinkerers and worldbuilders would still have somethign useful.
Market it for the setting and those wanting predone and ready to go stuff.
The setting is really good, I just like making my own worlds.

[mhd]

The thing that would get me to try Yrth would basically have to be an equivalent to Warhammer's "Enemy Within" campaign. An adventure or adventure "path" that contains a good setting introduction and takes you places.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by Phantasm

China and India analogues on the other side of Muslim lands, along with a Silk Road passing through the latter to get to the former. Also some "dark" unexplored lands that they'd have to go around if trying to open a sea trade route. Tack that onto an unknown and unexplored western continent for attempts to Columbus a trade route west to the Far East.

Does Yrth have any Mongol/Golden Horde types? If not, I'd like to see some.

Seconded, especially if they draw on several different versions of each. Just as Yttarria is a print the legend Europe, they should be larger than life too.

[Astromancer]

Originally Posted by David Johansen

I ask you Yrth fans, what do you want to see?

I'd like detailed baronies and even duchies in Megalos. We got Hark Wood for Caithness but Megalos tends to work differently due to the higher manna levels and more powerful state.

Agreed. Seeing how magic reworks the law and the power structure would be very interesting and widely useful in many sorts of fantasy games.

I'd like some detailed wizard's guilds. Chapterhouse maps, personalities, secret lore, stuff like that.

Again, good in itself and useful beyond Yrth.

Adventures or perhaps more appropriately interesting events, people, and places for the PCs to interact with.

Detailed cities with maps are always appropriate.

A solitaire adventure or two would be sweet. Maybe a merchant caravan journey or a coastal merchant ship adventure. Though a good rational dungeon like the sewers of Megalos would be okay.

Seconded.

I'd really like a big poster map printed on canvas. I actually have the skills and access to the equipment (I've been screen printing professionally for 28 years) but I don't have the rights.

Good idea. An Atlas sold as a Pdf but printed on order would also be good. Especially if you could print both labeled and unlabeled versions of the maps.

I'd like more details on each Kingdom/subsector. A solid pdf on each section.

Some information of continents beyond Yttarria would be pleasing. Maybe the Banestorm brought people from several different versions of Africa to a southern continent.

Some details on Yrth's moon and solar system with alternate population choices would also be grand.

[dds_ks]

Originally Posted by David Johansen

So, we've asked why Yrth failed and I think determined that it's a bit too generic for some and a little too lightly detailed. ...

I just started a campaign on Yrth using the Midgard RPG (only available in German). The characters are Banestorm victims and still try to find their ways back to their worlds of origin. Of course the players know that this will never work.
None of the players has ever heard any word about Yrth. They don't have any access to the book. So whatever they feel, it can only be influenced by the setting as their characters perceive it.

The main point that makes my players feeling somehow uncomfortable about Yrth is: How to live in a "political correct" real world, meet the other Players in real life on a "political correct" basis, but play in a "we or they" setting between Muslims and Christians? Maybe it's just "too close to a political real-life issue" - and if that's the point, then I don't see any easy solution.

My interim solution is: have the party move to Sahud - where they have to go anyway, as one character is a KiDoKa (Midgard Game Term, but I guess I don't have to explain this) and needs a teacher to improve his core abilities. Then I have time to come up with the perfect solution...
... or at least with a semi-perfect one...

I guess that maybe this semi-perfect solution could be to stress that it's not THE Christians against THE Muslims. Maybe I need some civil war with several Christians and Muslims on each side of the conflict, making it a conflict for power, not a religious conflict. I guess that Caithness could be a good starting point for that.