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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 20, 2018 3:21:11 GMT -5
What are the inspirations for your campaign settings? Be it history, classical literature, film, comics/manga, art, music &/or novels.
Mine are varied depending on the type of campaign I want to run, be it Arcane Punk or Grim Dark Fantasy or Sword & sorcery or sci-fi.
For Arcanepunk it is: Comics/Manga like - 'Battle Chasers', 'Poison Elves', 'Darkewood', 'Is it wrong to pick up girls in a dungeon?' & elements of 'Attack on Titan'. Canned Campaign settings: Eberron & Iron kingdoms.
For Grim Dark Fantasy: the art of 'Darkest Dungeons' video game, Dark Fantasy art online, Warhammer Fantasy setting & novels, 'Bloodstone' by Karl E. Wagner, the 'Fafhrd & Grey Mouser' series by Fritz Leiber, 'Thieves' World' anthology series, the tales of H.P. Lovecraft; plus the 'Death Dealer' art & Verotik comics; Black Sails & Game of Thrones tv shows.
For Sword & Sorcery: the tales of Fritz Leiber,H.P. Lovecraft, R.E. Howard & the Rogue Roman novel, Rome & Sparticus tv series, Near Eastern history & religion & the Talislanta RPG setting; plus Sword & Sorcery art online.
For Sci-Fi:
For Cyberpunk: Bladerunner & Bladerunner 2049, Cyborg films, Battle Angel Alita manga/anime, Empty Zone comic, Akira anime/manga, the Marid Audran trilogy by George Alec Effinger, the Aubrey Knight trilogy by Steven Barnes, Hardwired by Walter J. Williams & Cyberpunk art online; plus Metal, Punk & Hip Hop music.
For Space Opera: Star Wars (all media), 5th Element, Dune (all media), Warhammer 40k (setting & novels, especially the Gaunt's Ghosts by Dan Abnett); the KillJoys, the Expanse & Battlestar Galactica series; plus sci-fi art online.
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Post by mao on Feb 20, 2018 11:09:46 GMT -5
Lovecraft, Serling ,Lovecraft, REH, oh and Lovecraft
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 20, 2018 15:56:11 GMT -5
Lovecraft, Serling ,Lovecraft, REH, oh and Lovecraft Nice, did you mean Sterling? Who is Serling? I am curious, I am open to finding new authors I have yet to have read. |
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Post by mao on Feb 20, 2018 16:04:30 GMT -5
Lovecraft, Serling ,Lovecraft, REH, oh and Lovecraft Nice, did you mean Sterling? Who is Serling? I am curious, I am open to finding new authors I have yet to have read. Rod Serling of Twilight Zone fame |
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 20, 2018 16:06:57 GMT -5
Oh okay, i never watched Twilight Zone. Thanks for the reply Mao.
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Post by mao on Feb 20, 2018 16:35:37 GMT -5
Oh okay, i never watched Twilight Zone. Thanks for the reply Mao. Your education is incomplete young Pad Wan |
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Post by mormonyoyoman on Feb 20, 2018 18:28:49 GMT -5
Oh okay, i never watched Twilight Zone. Thanks for the reply Mao. You sound so much like our youngest daughter - 20 years ago. "Black & white? That's SO 1980!" |
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2018 18:42:33 GMT -5
Oh okay, i never watched Twilight Zone. Thanks for the reply Mao. You sound so much like our youngest daughter - 20 years ago. "Black & white? That's SO 1980!" Man, I still remember the first time I saw a color television. I was amazed! |
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Post by ripx187 on Feb 20, 2018 19:07:11 GMT -5
When I was young I used to read a lot of horror novels, but as I get older I find that that stuff really bums me out. I don't mind living in that world for an hour or two, maybe even for a week, but that is pushing it. I'll read the odd short story, maybe a Stephen King, and I love horror movies! But finding those dark and depressing books that drive the reader mad . . . I'd rather not.
I read a lot of Non-Fiction and have interests in archeology, ancient myths, and history. I enjoy wilderness survival, true stories of exploration and adventure. I love reading about the days of the old Wooden Ships! War, crime & punishment, government. New York has a well-documented history that is a trip to read, it isn't just knowing that a city existed, I want to see how people lived their lives. New York was a unique animal, but I also studied more ancient cities. Culture fascinates me. I simply love building places that could exist. I want them to function. I love the art of research and I honestly believe that I get more out of my role as DM than anybody else at the table. I can show them brief glimpses, and paint with everyday life, but it is still just a picture.
Fiction, I didn't get into reading Fantasy until relatively recently. I didn't think that I would like it LOL but now, for pleasure reading, I eat them up. I enjoy pulp fiction and collect those old stories. I enjoy hard sci-fy, again Adventure & Survival, I have read more dime novels than I can count, mostly westerns. I like the way that they tell a story. Simple, masculine, full of violence and themes that leave the reader thinking after they put it down. That is what I aim for with my own games.
I enjoy professional wrestling, not that stuff on WWE, but the classic stuff and the Lucha especially! There are no words, the wrestlers play these timeless and classic characters and retell stories that have thrilled us since the dawn of man. It is simply amazing that we are still doing this. Mexican Wrestling, I feel, is the best. They don't make any bones about what they are doing. This wrestler represents this ancient tribe, and it is his turn to step into the temple and fight. They wear masks that grant occult powers, to let them channel the spirits or heroes of the past. Take away their masks and they die. They become one of us again, just a man.
How to tell a story. That is important. How to keep it simple and know when to add different elements. Allow the players to become the driving force, allow them to tell the story and the DM creates an outside force, while the dice add an element of their own. The stories that we tell during the game are a lot like wrestling stories. These aren't new ideas, these are ancient formulas, but instead of watching it, we are the ones who get to wear the masks and channel the heroes of yore.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 20, 2018 21:14:26 GMT -5
Besides the Tolkien books, which were apparently obligatory reading in the early 1970's? McCaffrey's EarthSea and Dragonriders of Pern books were a big influence. Andre Norton, Heinlein's "Glory Road," C. S. Lewis were also big influences. Burrough's Barsoom series, Moorcock ... basically, a lot of the Appendix N books to be frank. It's really hard to list specific influences because I read so many books before D&D was finally written and released to make its way into my hot little hands. |
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 20, 2018 23:51:31 GMT -5
Oh okay, i never watched Twilight Zone. Thanks for the reply Mao. You sound so much like our youngest daughter - 20 years ago. "Black & white? That's SO 1980!" , umm when did I mention "Black & White" & not liking it in is this tread? Just because I've never watched Twilight Zone doesn't mean I don't appreciate black & white film or TV shows. I've watched black & white films (mainly old Westerns & War films) and I enjoyed them; many of those I watched with my dad & grandfather. Some of my favorite TV series in my early teens to twenties were reruns of Perry Mason, the Munsters & Adam's Family; plus I watched a number of old B/W post war Japanese films (I can't remember their names, except Seven Samurai) during that period. I don’t know if you are just being your playful self I’ve seen in previous threads or you are making a baseless & prejudicial assumption of me as a person. I’ll go on the assumption it was a failed attempt to be sarcastic as you’ve been supportive since I joined the forum. |
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Post by mormonyoyoman on Feb 21, 2018 0:07:14 GMT -5
Ironic comparison, by which you were compared to an exaggerated extreme: my baby girl's aversion to "old stuff" - which Twilight Zone (and "Dezi Arnez Presents") definitely is. Probably best read in a Chico Marx voice.
PS: That baby girl, all grown up now, changed her attitude towards Old Stuff when she was 15 and caught Cherie (Mommy) and Chester (Daddy) watching an old Jimmy Stewart movie. She did the most perfect Freeze Double-take and shouted "Who is THAT guy? He's HOT!"
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 21, 2018 0:14:55 GMT -5
When I was young I used to read a lot of horror novels, but as I get older I find that that stuff really bums me out. I don't mind living in that world for an hour or two, maybe even for a week, but that is pushing it. I'll read the odd short story, maybe a Stephen King, and I love horror movies! But finding those dark and depressing books that drive the reader mad . . . I'd rather not. I read a lot of Non-Fiction and have interests in archeology, ancient myths, and history. I enjoy wilderness survival, true stories of exploration and adventure. I love reading about the days of the old Wooden Ships! War, crime & punishment, government. New York has a well-documented history that is a trip to read, it isn't just knowing that a city existed, I want to see how people lived their lives. New York was a unique animal, but I also studied more ancient cities. Culture fascinates me. I simply love building places that could exist. I want them to function. I love the art of research and I honestly believe that I get more out of my role as DM than anybody else at the table. I can show them brief glimpses, and paint with everyday life, but it is still just a picture. Fiction, I didn't get into reading Fantasy until relatively recently. I didn't think that I would like it LOL but now, for pleasure reading, I eat them up. I enjoy pulp fiction and collect those old stories. I enjoy hard sci-fy, again Adventure & Survival, I have read more dime novels than I can count, mostly westerns. I like the way that they tell a story. Simple, masculine, full of violence and themes that leave the reader thinking after they put it down. That is what I aim for with my own games. I enjoy professional wrestling, not that stuff on WWE, but the classic stuff and the Lucha especially! There are no words, the wrestlers play these timeless and classic characters and retell stories that have thrilled us since the dawn of man. It is simply amazing that we are still doing this. Mexican Wrestling, I feel, is the best. They don't make any bones about what they are doing. This wrestler represents this ancient tribe, and it is his turn to step into the temple and fight. They wear masks that grant occult powers, to let them channel the spirits or heroes of the past. Take away their masks and they die. They become one of us again, just a man. How to tell a story. That is important. How to keep it simple and know when to add different elements. Allow the players to become the driving force, allow them to tell the story and the DM creates an outside force, while the dice add an element of their own. The stories that we tell during the game are a lot like wrestling stories. These aren't new ideas, these are ancient formulas, but instead of watching it, we are the ones who get to wear the masks and channel the heroes of yore. I was a big reader of fantasy as a youth, though I did branch out into reading some sci-fi, True Crime & the Burke series by Andrew Vachss; plus several books by Michael Critchton & the first to Robert Langdon books by Dan Brown. The last few years I've read more Urban Fantasy & academic works. I want to look into reading some pulps like Spider, Doc Savage, the Shadow & others if I can find affordable copies.I have yet to read Westerns but flirted with the idea. I still need to finish the Barsoom series & read the Tarzan series as well.I also need to catch up on the Eternal Warrior cycle by Michael Moorcock, finish reading the 'Fafhrd & Grey Mouser' tales & the various R.E. Howard stories - beyond just his Conan fare. I loved R.E. Howard's 'The Sowers of the Thunder' which is some of his pulpy historical based fiction. |
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 21, 2018 0:20:21 GMT -5
Ironic comparison, by which you were compared to an exaggerated extreme: my baby girl's aversion to "old stuff" - which Twilight Zone (and "Dezi Arnez Presents") definitely is. Probably best read in a Chico Marx voice. PS: That baby girl, all grown up now, changed her attitude towards Old Stuff when she was 15 and caught Cherie (Mommy) and Chester (Daddy) watching an old Jimmy Stewart movie. She did the most perfect Freeze Double-take and shouted "Who is THAT guy? He's HOT!" , thank you for the clarification - we are all good. It is some times hard to decipher stuff in text, which is why I asked for clarification & made the assumption it was not meant as a barb at me personally. You all have been gracious to me & I really appreciate it. |
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Post by mormonyoyoman on Feb 21, 2018 0:27:23 GMT -5
Will Murray publishes inexpensive reproductions of some of the best pulps in various electronic formats. For the Shadow, Doc Savage, the Black Bat and a few others, you'll need to go to Tony Tollin physical magazines (pulp size) which have at least two novels in each issue. Can't remember their addresses but you can find their stuff at Radio Archives site.
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 21, 2018 0:31:37 GMT -5
I really need to read the other books by Lance Horner & Kyle Onstott, especially 'Child of the Sun' & other 60's pulp fiction; plus other classic Weird Fiction and Sword & Sorcery/Sword & Planet tales, as I love that stuff. They may actually revive my interest in reading fiction again.
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 21, 2018 0:38:01 GMT -5
Will Murray publishes inexpensive reproductions of some of the best pulps in various electronic formats. For the Shadow, Doc Savage, the Black Bat and a few others, you'll need to go to Tony Tollin physical magazines (pulp size) which have at least two novels in each issue. Can't remember their addresses but you can find their stuff at Radio Archives site. Thanks a lot mormonyoyoman, I really appreciate the tip. The idea of reading these old Pulps inspires me, as I love that kind of at times campy adventure yarns, which frankly helped inspire the 'Dieselpunk' scene I am intrigued by. I want to read those old Flash Gordon & other pulp comic strips, plus the newer comics inspired by them & maybe listen to the old radio shows if I can. I do miss those old Popeye cartoons I grew up on as well. |
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Post by mormonyoyoman on Feb 21, 2018 0:40:30 GMT -5
Youtube for some Fleischer Popeyes, rusc.com for old time radio.
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Post by Hexenritter Verlag on Feb 21, 2018 0:43:53 GMT -5
Youtube for some Fleischer Popeyes, rusc.com for old time radio. Nice, thank you again mormonyoyoman - I really appreciate the tips. |
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Post by Admin Pete on Apr 2, 2021 10:24:33 GMT -5
You can draw inspiration for your campaign setting from virtually anywhere. I can see a poster or graffiti and be inspired with ideas.
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Post by hengest on Jan 19, 2022 11:18:18 GMT -5
Now that I have at least a bit of an implied setting, I think I can say that my "inspirations" are dreams, children's fantasy, daydreams, the notion of seat-of-pants gaming (which I learned about on this board), diffuse magic, and characterless settings.
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