Majestic Fantasy 5th edition First Pass

[Admin Pete]

Publicly posted information by robertsconley and his draft materials of converting his system over to 5th Editon D&D.

This is a google link to the folder where my drafts are.
link

[Admin Pete]

The Majestic Wilderlands campaign, executed in Fifth Edition at Gaming Ballistic

[Admin Pete]

Publicly posted comments by robertsconley

I do have specific ideas on how things work in the fantasy settings I run. If I am going to all the effort to make it presentable for sharing why not make it reflect that. Otherwise I just cherry pick from existing options like I did when I ran a Majestic Wilderlands campaign using the 5e rules.

So central to my concept of magic is that there are ten arts. Nine of which correspond to one of the nine chromatic crystals (ROYGBIV + BW) created by the gods to seal the Abyss when it was created to imprison the demons at the dawn of time.

As are result the original ambient mana of the world was amplified allowing vancian spell casting to be developed by various cultures. But this resulted in certain spells being easier to cast by using mana that was funneled through a particular crystal. So instead of Abjuration, Conjuration, Illusion etc. I had the Art of the Hawk, Art of the Web, etc each tied to a particular crystal.

The original untainted mana is considered part of the Art of the Forge and associated with Chromatic Crystal the master key to the other nine.

Along with this is another concept called viz which is magic in physical form. The basic mechanics that it is count toward the creation cost of the magic item (100 gp per) or 1 viz allows a spellcaster to case one 1st level spell without losing it from memory, or in the case of 5e expending a spell slot.

As I worked through the classes, I started tying more thing to this metaphysical construct. For example because each of the crystal are tied to a specific deity they also represent the deity's sphere of control. So for 5e, this structured the options for ten clerical domains I created.

Then when I ran into the Monk class, I decided to recast the flavor as Mystics. Their source of power isn't ki, but vim which is mana intertwined with a sentient being's soul. I found that concept useful later to add flavor for other classes when creating abilities.

So now leading up to Warlock they have several subsystem going on.

1) They have a supernatural patron
2) They can cast arcane spells
3) They have a pact in the core book there are three pacts Blade, Chain, Tome
4) They gain Eldritch Invocations which are basically magical powers except for the few that modify the Eldritch Blast cantrip.

Now I knew I was going to give the Warlock the stink eye because the basic concept is solid, the execution however been a power gamer's playground in many 5e campaigns I ran or was involved in. As result I am not keen on the original set of invocations and pact power. But d**n I like the idea of a PC type having a one on one relationship with a supernatural patron. And as it happened I had a handful that were excellent for that. The traditional Demons of course, the Great Dragons, and the Summer or Winter Court of the Faeries.

Some of the four like the supernatural patron wrote themselves. But other like the Pacts and Invocation were little more tricky. So what I decided is to keep the Eldritch Blast invocations. And make the rest contingent and customized based on what Pact the warlock bound their vim too. Like the rest of magic each Pact is tied to one of the nine chromatic crystals.

[Admin Pete]

Publicly posted comments by robertsconley

Regarding Blackmarsh

It is separate born out of the work I did prior to acquiring a license to the Judges Guild IP. Prior to 2008 when I got the license I had extensive notes and sketches for a Judges Guild IPless version.

However the license made a lot easier for me as the main thing I focused on what the Swords & Wizardry conversion. The setting material was a matter reorganizing and condensing 30 years of notes into something concise and useful.

But a few years later in 2010, I was inspired by a conversation about how Dave Arneson flipped a map of Holland around to draw the outdoor map for Blackmoor. That led to me doing the same and creating Blackmarsh. Because people still loved what I did in Points of Light. And because Southland in PoL I was a homage to the Outdoor Survival Map. I opted to place Blackmarsh north of Southland and thus in that world instead of the Majestic Wilderlands.

The current situation with Bob Bledsaw II is a real gut punch to me both personally and creatively. But luckily I had the work I did prior to getting the license. So instead of the Majestic Wilderlands it will be the Majestic Fantasy Realms.

[Admin Pete]

Publicly posted information by robertsconley.

The geography and names are mostly different but all the conflicts, adventure hooks and cultures you read about will still be there. It was just be the City State of Eastgate ruled by the Overlord of the Tharian Confederation instead of the City-State of the Invincible Overlord.

Plus all the material I done for Points of Light and Blackmarsh will thrown in as well. For example what I call the Bright Empire in Blackmarsh/PoL is really the most of the stuff I wrote for the Ghinorian Empire. There are difference like the Bright Empire dominated by the United Church of Delaquain (Mitra), Sarrath (Set), Thoth, and Veritas versus the Ghinorian Empire dominated by the Church of Mitra.


Map One will be based off this but done in the color style of the Wilderlands map I did.

[Admin Pete]

Publicly posted information by robertsconley

I am planning in rough order

Releasing the Basic Rules for the Majestic Fantasy RPG via Kickstarter to pay for the art and editing. Like Supp VI this would be for Swords & Wizardry and other Classic editions.
Along with this will be the quick character generation cards that I used at gamestore sessions and conventions.

The Wild North, currently drawing up a half dozen town maps.

Deceits of the Russet Lords my next adventure will be set in the PoL/Blackmarsh setting that I am calling the Majestic Fantasy Realms.

Scourge of the Demon Wolf revision to put it into the Majestic Fantasy Realms. Highly likely will expand the setting chapter a bit. I had complaints that it was too terse.

Then The Grimoire of Lost Magic the first of the full Majestic RPG Supplement. Will have all the magic User classes, Spells, and some additional adventure and setting material involving magic users. Also for Swords & Wizardry.

I plug away on all of them so one may get done before the other.