Designing an Essentials World

So you maybe a brand new Dungeon Master ready to start out running a game of your own, and you decided to start with the Essentials line before moving up to full blown Core 4E.

Without looking at all the books (since WotC is once again doing their idiotic staggered release program), we will have to look into the crystal ball and see what we think might be needed.

There will be 10 classes and 10 races and an optional 11^th class (Assassin), and race revenant (which I am already canning for my game); tieflings and dragon born are about as far as an old school DM like me is going to stretch.

I would start off with the classes. They are: Cleric (War Priest), Fighter (Knight and Slayer), Rogue (Thief), and Wizard (Mage) from the Heroes of the Fallen Lands source book. The other classes coming out are Druid, Ranger, Paladin, and Warlock.

The races from the first book are Human, Elven, Eladrin, Dwarf, and Halfling. The second book will introduce Dragon Born, Drow, Half Elf, Half Orc, and Tiefling.

It also seems that the designers are going to give the Dungeon Master some history meaning that Arkhosia, Bael Turath, and Nerath empires have happen in the past. This history has been pieced together here:

http://www.northerngamers.org/index.php?title=Nerath

There is also a map available here:

http://www.northerngamers.org/index.php?title=File:Nerath.jpg

Notice, like many good designs the map extends off the page on 3 sides leaving the DM room to create more space. If a DM wanted to start the adventurers in the town of Fallcrest in the Nentir vale, he could certainly do that with very little trouble.

Since I like world building, I am going to at least pencil my own world. I want to keep the history so I will need a place to put Arkhosia and Bael Turath that will be later over run by the Empire of Nerath. I also need a place for the Elven kingdoms and Dwarven lands (and a place for the Halflings too). Looking at the map, this place does not seem big enough for me.

Realistically, there needs to be a place where large armies could maneuver (the battles between Arkhosia and Bael Turath). Later, the human empire of Nerath will over come those places, so there might need to be 3 iterations of the map: The original “Arkhosian” Map, the Nerathian empire map, and the present map.

So where to start? I like to start with geology. I like an ocean on one side which allows me to incorporate seafaring adventures (arrrr). The two biggest natural dividers are water and mountains. I also have used and will use again woods (since this is an ideal place to plop down the elves and eladrin). This will be a political boundary.

Even using the points of light theory presented by the designers as the backdrop for the Dungeons and Dragons games, rivers and commerce are still the prime movers in the advancement of civilization. Where there are groups of people, there is conflict, and it is conflict that drives the story of Dungeons and Dragons. Two great conflicts have already taken place: The battle of Arkhosia and Bael Turath, and the fall of Nerath (allegedly to demons).

There is also the drow war (important since we have drow characters); Orc’s who bring conflict with them everywhere they go, and we need a place for halflings to move around in as well. The Halflings seem to prefer rivers per the designers of 4E.

So we need a place with plenty of space, rivers, and some mountains. We need woodlands to place the elves and eladrin. What place seems to be good for this? For me good old North America! Heavily forested (elves will be happy-eladrin too), plenty of rivers for halflings to sail upon, plains for humans, mountains for dwarves, a seaboard, great lakes, yep this will do just fine. Now to warp it since the good Lord does not like people plagiarizing his handy work. Dang, this is going to take at least one political map as well maybe more, but going into this much detail allows the dungeon master to later have copious material from which to draw on to tell his stories.

It is amazing how much information one can get by just placing in a favorite browser “topical map of North America circa 1700.” We now have geography and topology that can be made into a useful fantastic world with only some changes.

Fist important consideration, where to place Arkhosia and Bael Turath? This comes down to either north -south or east-west. The second is do I want them linked by a major river?

It time to take out a pencil and put some of my wandering thoughts on paper: this is what I came up with (see picture). I need to figure out my scanner!

As my mind rambled, I ended up putting Bael Turath and Arkhosia on the same river chain and ended up putting Nerath on the same waterway as well. I decided to put our town name Lakeside on the northern part of the river as well. (I need a name for the river). There is a major river running through the Elven lands all the way to the sea, and a place in the mountain for the Dwarves. Drow of course are in the under dark, so I have all of the major races covered as far as giving them a place to dwell. I also gave the Orcs and Goblins (and Kobolds) a place to reside as well. There are multiple places where I might place the Nentir Vale. So the first rough map is done.

It is now time to create a monster roster:

Kobolds have a rich roster of monsters up to level 6:

Goblins (and Hobgoblins) have a deep roster as well up to about level 5

Orcs go up to level 10-11(ish)

What do I mean by a deep roster? For me a deep roster is a large group of beings that cover all the major monster roles of the game: Artillery, Brute, Controller, Lurker, Minion, Skirmisher, and Soldier. Drow for example don’t really start covering all the roles until about level 10-14, so they are not a good choice for stories for beginning level adventurers. This covers only monsters that appear on the map and are humanoid; there many other types of monsters and monster rosters that do not fit into a civilization or society (of their own)-for example undead.

Now that there is a brief backdrop for the world, it is time to plan a small town where the beginning adventures can take place.

Excert from a found diary

By Senmonious of the Order of St. Uriel

Where did my life begin before the order? I can hardly remember it.
Now it does not seem to matter, my life has been the order. It was that way with everyone who entered. Ah, but the initiation, I remember that! Who could ever forget that? It seems like yesterday.

“Daren of Farmington, are ye able?” the old priest asked.
“Yes, reverend father, I am able,” I replied.
Reverend Father Daugherty looked at young Daren; a good deal of concern etched his craggy face. “You are sure?” He asked gently, quietly.
“Yes, father,” I replied.
“After the ceremony there is no going back, you understand this?” He stated.
Daren nodded. Reverend Father Daugherty sighed deeply.
“As you will then,” he answered.

“Tonight at the stroke of midnight you will be admitted into the order of St. Uriel. You realize that all who are members of the order pass through the initiation, none are exempted for any reason. It is an ordeal and it is not pleasant; it is life changing and life giving. You realize that when the time comes you must place your total trust in the order-no matter what?”

“Yes, Reverend Father Daugherty,” I replied.
“I suggest prayer then, and good nights sleep if you can manage it.”
“Is it difficult,” Reverend Father?
“It depends how you look at it,” he replied.
“Can you give me a hint of how to prepare?” I asked.
“No,” the old priest said flatly.
“It is forbidden to speak of it,” he added.
“Why,” I asked.

The old priest rose to leave my small bed chamber. He turned around and focused his gaze on a young man who had no idea of what was going to happen to him in a few short hours.

“Are ye able,” the old priest questioned again.
“Yes,” I answered.
“I guess we will see, wont we,” the old priest answered. He left quietly shutting the door behind him.

I never remembered being exempted from chores. I was brought a hearty meal and wine. I was not able to pray, I was too excited. I was not able to sleep either, but something in the Reverend Fathers visit convinced me to try to rest.

At midnight, a quiet knock came at my door. I answered it. A priest that I did not know broughtme a hooded black robe.

“Put this on and take everything else off.” He said.
“Daren of Farmington, Are ye able?” the priest asked.
“Yes,” I replied becoming a little agitated with the same question being asked over and over again.
“When you are ready open the door and come out.” He said.

The priest stepped out of his bed chamber. I quickly undressed and donned his robe and slipped on my sandals, and took a deep breath and opened the door.

The priest looked at me and spoke, “take off your sandals.”
“Why,” I protested.” The stone floors are cold.
“You were not born into this life with sandals nor will you be born into the order this way, leave them.” The priest commanded.

I slipped my sandals off and put them into my sleeping chamber and closed the door, probably too forcefully.

The priest led him into the ceremonial chamber. It was dark, lit by only a single candle. There were very many robed figures standing there, black shapes barely outlined by the light.

“Go up to the dais alter,” the priest commanded.

I walked up to the alter and was stopped by Bregen the head of the order.

“Daren of Farmington, you have stated that you wish to join the order of St. Uriel and are able to keep this trust even unto death.”
“Yes,” I said.
“Very well then, are ye able to offer your life as a sacrifice to the order?” Master Bregen replied.
“Yes,” I replied wondering what was about to happen to me.
“Take off your robe and lay upon the alter then,” Bregen commanded.
I did as he was told.

“As you know St. Uriel is the Angel of Death, true death; we of his order seek out those who seek to upset the proscribed order by entering into un-death. We are his soldiers here on earth whether Priest, Paladin, Invoker, or Avenger. All who enter Uriel’s service must understand death and what it is to die. You have said that you are able, Are ye?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“Then Daren of Farmington, die to this life and rise to be reborn into St. Uriel’s order.”

With the proclamation completed, Bregen swept out a large ceremonial dagger and plunged it into my heart. I died instantly.

Bregen started an invocation, “St. Uriel angel of Death, we beseech you to bring our new brother into new life. By your power raise him that he might live to serve you and your order.”


I awoke the next morning with a sharp pain in my chest with a large scar over my heart. Was it a dream? I found that answer in the next second when a disgustingly cheerful priest stood over me smiling and asked “rough night?”

I glared at the young priest and said “yeah, I thought I died.”

Celec the young priest said, “well welcome to the club. Ever get tired of the “Are ye able question?”

I answered smiling “only after the fifth time they asked it.”

“Well you better dress; when you are able you have to go off to training,“ Celec said.

“Training for what,” Daren asked?

“Why, your job in the order,” Celec replied.

“What jobs are there,” Daren replied.

“Priest (for the most devout like myself Celec said bowing his head in mock piety), Paladin for the most holy, Invoker for those who feel the call of the great Angel directly, and Avenger for those who want to seek out the great mysteries of our faith,” Celec answered.

“Which will I be,” Daren asked.

“Don’t know and it’s not up to me.” Celec replied.“ But if I would guess, I think it’s more about you,’’ he added. “I think It’s is up to the heads of the order,” he said thoughtfully, “ah, breakfast!” Celec added.

It was the first breakfast ever that I remembered sitting down to breakfast and being served. After a hearty meal, Daren was summoned to Revered Father Daugherty’s office.

“Daren, ye are able,” He said smiling.

“Yes, revered father,” I replied.

“Welcome to the service of the Great Angel, may his favor smile upon you,” The old priest added.

You are to be given a new name-seeing that you are of Deva heritage, I thought of a Deva name for you. From now on you shall be known as Semonius, and I shall have you assigned to a quatrane.

“A quatrane, Reverend Father?” What is a quatrane? Semonius asked.

“It is your new family.” You shall join Balasar, Theren, and Tolbold-the leader of your quatrane. You Semonius shall be their new Avenger, after you are trained of course.