Dungeon Fantasy needs a bare-bones setting

[Lupo]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

At the very least, Dungeon Fantasy needs a list of the languages within the setting, both living culture languages, special languages (Elemental Language, e.t.c.) and ancient languages. It's the kind of thing that some players will demand to be told about up front before they create their characters, and the kind of thing that an inexperienced GM will be unable to deliver.

I don't think Dungeon Fantasy needs a setting, it's intended to be "generic hack & slash", isn't it?
Plus, there are DOZENS of hack & slash fantasy settings...

About languages: I think DF assumes that everybody speaks Common, and that every race (including magical races such as Elementals, Spirits and so on) has its own "silly" language: Elven, Dwarven, Orcish...

I'm thinking the best solution would be a pseudo-European setting with a few major countries analogous to England, France, Germany, Spain and Italy, each with their own language, and a few common ancient languages (analogous to Latin, Greek and Arabic)

Simply buy GURPS Banestorm!

[TJA]

I would LOVE to see a DF setting!!!
Cannot emphasize this enough.

BUT PLEASE,don´t make it Yrth-like.
Real religions, real languages and real cultures have NOTHING to do in a Fantasy setting, IMHO!

Call it different: Blackcoasters, Firelanders, Kingdom of Ilyarrah, Cult of the Bloodgod, whatever - just FANTASY!

I realy hate to read about christians, islam, german, english, whatever ...
That´s not FANTASY!

:)

[mlangsdorf]

Below is the entirety of the world background I'm using for my DF game, which has had 12 experienced (and inexperienced) players game in it to date. No one has complained about the lack of information or needed to know more about ancient languages.

Background

In the history of the world, there have been many kingdoms, empires, republics, city-states, trade leagues, and other governments. Many have fallen.

The town of Polisberg sits on the shore of the Antillan Sea. To the east lies much of civilization. To the west, the unclaimed and wild lands of the Westmarch.

Delvers often come to Polisberg, seeking the wealth that can be violently recovered from the ruins and caves of the Westmarch.

The Westmarch is the mostly unclaimed ground between civilization and hostile realms. It has been fought over, conquered, lost, razed, and rebuilt over the years, but is currently mostly unoccupied. Various monsters, beasts, demons, undead, oozes, and things haunt the wilderness of the Westmarch, along with a few hardy (and often mad) souls.

The Westmarch is mostly rolling hills covered with forest and divided by rivers, though there are some swamps, plains, and mountain chains in the land. Scholars snidely point out that the Westmarch proper is only the central plains, and that the other territories commonly called the Westmarch have other, proper names. Most people ignore them.

A few caravan tracks and trade-roads cross through Westmarch, delivering rare goods at high prices.


If SJ Games wants to put out a default setting for DF that includes languages and hidden lores and whatnot, they certainly can. But I really don't see the point, as there are hundreds of DF style settings out there already and creating a new one takes less than an hour's effort.

[Highland_Piper]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

Where have I said that there should be a specific setting for DF?

Even having a "Bare-bones setting" is still creating a specific setting even if it is vague and undeveloped. It starts to create boundaries of what you can and can not do.

It is just my opinion, please don't get upset.

I was suggesting pre-made settings that would easily fit in with DF, that's all.

[Crispythemighty]

I disagree with the "bare-bones" part but a setting book could be cool. Maybe a setting book with a series of adventures too. Its a campaign setting for DF but it is not the "official" setting. GURPS material is usually generic guides to the kind of "flavor" of game you want to play. A few specific books of pre-made adventures in a pre-made world could be cool.

[Gavynn]

Originally Posted by Lupo

I don't think Dungeon Fantasy needs a setting

Well I don't think that is true. Every game requires a setting of some kind. But as with most GURPS products, the settings are largely left to the GM.

[nik1979]

Why not just use GURPS Myth: The Fallen Lords! The Game is a Hall of Fame'r and the setting is awesome, works great with DF, complete, and not to mention it is at default dark.

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

At the very least, Dungeon Fantasy needs a list of the languages within the setting, ...

I think this is the issue. DF isn't a setting, it's a method or style.

Edit to amplify: now, a posited setting or even multiple settings with certain ground rules, would be fertile ground for people to compose and submit adventures using the adventure template. Your hypothetical European style one, or another that's middle earth with the numbers filed off (or the land of Paksennarion) would work, as would all sorts of others.

Since each adventure will likely be, you know, a dungeon or at least a fixed locale, GMs could place them in appropriate context and move them around as needed for their campaigns.

[Dav]

Was I the only one slightly annoyed by calling Greek and Arabic "ancient" languages? They're still around! Latin is just a liturgical and classical language now, but c'mon, Arabic? Still alive and kickin'. :)

[DouglasCole]

Originally Posted by Peter Knutsen

Where have I said that there should be a specific setting for DF?

The thread title? "...needs a bare-bones setting." As in ONE bare bones setting. A list of languages makes it specific, as does the requested list of Hidden Lore specialties.