Campaign Building

Creating a campaign to run in Altered Realms can be as simple or complicated as you please. Altered Realms seeks to present an “Iceberg of Gameplay”, where the game and its systems are simple and approachable at first but contain layers of more complicated gameplay the deeper you choose to go.

What is a Campaign?

Altered Realms considers a "Campaign" to be: "a long running Adventure or series of Adventures with a consistent Setting and Cast.". An average Altered Realms Campaign typically requires many game sessions and several months, if not one or more years of real time to complete. This is by no means the only way to run Altered Realms. Many Narrators prefer to run short compact adventures that are not intended to develop into a long-running campaign and typically take only a few sessions to complete. These types of games are often referred to as "One-Shots", due to their once and then done manner of gameplay.

Choosing a Campaign Setting

Your setting can include a single island, kingdom, nation, world, solar system, galaxy, universe or multiverse. The choice is up to you and the players. Your setting can also develop over time, appearing at first to be a fantasy setting with limited technology and travel options that blossoms into a sci-fi galaxy with strange and diverse forms of travel and technology. The resources to create or choose a variety of realms and therefore Campaign Settings are all present on this website.

It is important to remember that the setting you choose will affect every part of the game.
The Setting includes two major story descriptors that greatly affect all aspects of gameplay, namely the Magical Prevalence and the Technological Age.
The setting can affect everything from the types of creatures that can be expected to be encountered, to the XP, Archetypes and Items available to Players in game and during character creation.

The Magical prevalence in a Realm or World will determine several factors, including: Whether or not XP will be granted for Magic, as well as Enchanted Items and Magical Archetypes available.

Presets

Presets are a grouping of the above selections based on popular choices in culture.

The level of technological advancement in a given setting is one of its key defining characteristics and will greatly affect the XP granted to characters and players in the story and the Buyer’s Guides that will be available to the Players.

When you create or organize a campaign as the Narrator you will be responsible for deciding how much XP players will be granted and how often they will be granted it. The more XP you grant the more powerful and diverse characters the Players and the Narrator can create. This can increase the challenge of balancing a game with so many variables and possible actions players could take. With less XP granted there are less options and therefore less variables, less to have to balance, less to keep track of, and ultimately less variation and diversity.

Characters you select or create for this campaign should have XP values close to that of the players. They should be slightly higher in XP value or Level than the player if they are meant to be a challenge individually and slightly lower in XP value or Level than the players if they are meant to be a challenge in groups.

The players should know that when building their character and whenever that character levels up they will be granted a certain amount of experience points. These Experience Points can be spent on anything that adds to or further develops the character, such as: Archetype Bundles, Attributes, Abilities, Character Origin, Skill Training, Traits, Quirks, Contacts and Connections or Converted into funds.

Starting XP

Starting XP is affected by the following factors; The Starting Level of Characters, the Magic Prevalence and the current Technologic Age. As the narrator you may choose which of the starting XP values is applicable to the desired setting.

Starting XP Table

Find your starting level, from that line Combine your starting level with the number under your  selected Era and one of the numbers under magic. If you selected any form of magic, use the number under “Yes”. If you selected “Realism”, use the number under “No”. Sum the 3 Numbers and you will have the XP granted to Players during character creation.

Formula

Level + Era + Magic = Starting XP

Level Up XP

XP gain per level up is affected by the following factors: Character Level, Magical Prevalence and Technologic Age. If calculated XP values result in fractions, allow Players and Characters keep the partial XP, so long as partial XP is also going to be granted during level up. Refer to the table below for XP distribution.

XP Per Level Up Table

Find your Player’s Level, from that line Combine 1 with the number under your selected Era then Add one of the numbers under Magic. If you selected any form of magic, use the number under “Yes”. If you selected “Realism”, use the number under “No”. Sum the 3 Numbers and you will have the XP granted to Players during each Level Up.

Formula

1 + Era + Magic = Level Up XP

Narrator's Privilege

As the Narrator, you may deign to grant XP to players, antagonists and creatures and monsters which the players have encountered or of which they have been made aware. You may do this at your discretion, but as always, try to maintain balance. If you award one player XP you should find reasons for granting other players XP or grant it to all players that participated. Creatures with more XP gained overall should be awarded Level Up's and their XP less often.

Characters are granted starting funds depending on their starting campaign setting and level. As the narrator you decide what starting funds, if any, that they should be granted based on the setting and tone you wish to stage.

Spending XP on Funds

Players may spend XP on starting funds during character creation or during any narrator approved level up. They may only do this with the narrator's Approval.

Stone Age Starting Funds

Bronze Age Starting Funds

Feudal Age Starting Funds

Colonial Age Starting Funds

Steam Age Starting Funds

Combustion Age Starting Funds

Information Age Starting Funds

Cyber Age Starting Funds

One of the fundamental questions that need to be answered when creating a campaign is “What sort of story would you like to tell?”. No two Adventures are the same, even when run by the same Narrator and played by the same characters, there will be a different outcome or sequence of events every time. Each Narrator has a different style of
running games, they may magnate towards one or more Adventuring styles.
It’s important to keep in mind that players also magnate towards different Adventure styles, and their tastes in Adventure may change over time.

Adventure Style Options

Below are some of the most common types of Adventures that may help you decide what kind of adventure you might be interested in running, or at the very least can offer a good idea of what kind of campaign you definitely don’t want to run.

If you are creating a map from scratch either physically or digitally, or simply choosing a pre-created map and locations, there are a few general guidelines that can add instant believability to any map or described location.

Travel Through Time as You Create

Try to think about your locations not just as they are now but how they once were and how they got the way they are today. Start with the original settlement structures and build out and up from there. This form of location generation can be extremely engaging and entertaining and creates dynamic and engaging locations with rings of time visible to those that pay attention.

Water Central Locations Are More Believable

Most if not all intelligent carbon based life in the Altered Realms requires water for sustenance. Placing a source of water near settlements, or more accurately, causing settlements to form around the water sources, causes them to feel more real and makes the surrounding areas feel more dynamic.

Natural Resources Birth Settlements

Most if not all sentient life forms in the Altered Realms utilize tool making, resource gathering and cultivation. Out of convenience they often will spread their settlements out and around natural resources as the settlement grows and develops. Salt, Ores, Dyes, Herbs, Spices, Oils, Textiles, Animals and Food Sources are all historically popular resources to settle near or cultivate.

Local Climate and Topography Affect Everything

Keep in mind what the kind of climate and topography that has been described or could be expected in the area. Your map can be vastly different with more or less vegetation and the addition or subtraction of a few hills, coasts, cliffs or bluffs.

Villages, Towns and Cities are Vastly Different in Size

The scale between a major city and a small village is vast. The average modern city houses between 1,500 and 50,000 citizens while a Medieval or bronze age village may house as few as a dozen. Keep this in mind when describing, selecting or creating your locations.

Civilization Spreads

Imagine your cities and districts as massive infrastructure connecting to different parts of itself until it becomes a major metropolitan area. Then, fast forward or rewind until you reach the time period in which the characters are acting. Small towns and villages almost always surround major cities. One of those towns can become its own city or part of the city as a whole as time passes.

Age, Technology and Culture Affect Infrastructures

Maps, infrastructure and architecture differ over the course of time and are not consistent even in our Realm. When you choose or create an area map try to keep in mind what level of infrastructure and architecture are present based on what could be expected or what has been described in that region.

Within those Settlements you will naturally want to populate them with shops and businesses to make the town feel more like a living, breathing thing.

Realistic Businesses

A realistic business should feel like a living breathing thing, bustling with activity unrelated to player interaction. They should have an owner and operator, employees, hours of operation, stock and/or services and security.

Limited Stock

As a general rule no shop should have an infinite quantity of any good.
Small shops should have a reflective small selection.
Larger shops or shops in more developed towns should carry a more diverse inventory.

Limited Staff

Businesses should only be able to accommodate or seat a certain number of people. For instance, if the players show up during the busiest part of the business day or at a popular location they may need to wait for service or be rejected entry altogether.

Shortages

Towns and individual locations can have shortages of certain supplies depending on a number of factors, including: Location, Local and Global Climate, Current Conditions, Trade Routes, Local Technological Age, Local Species and Nearby Resources.

Pricing

Use one of the buyer’s guides as a price guideline for the base Cost of a given location’s goods and services. Try to pick a Buyers Guide that is close to the technological age of the location. Then add a modifier for Abundance or Scarcity. Example:
Overstocked - Add 5% to the Base Cost.
Prevalent - Add 10% to Base Cost.
Standard Supply - Add 20% to Base Cost.
Scarce - Add 50% to the Base Cost.

Buying

Shopkeepers should be selective as to what they are willing to buy from players. They should only be interested in either buying something they feel they can resell or something they can personally use. The item should Sell for no more than its Base Cost and offers should Start at 50% of the Item’s Base Cost. Players should have to think and work to sell their loot, especially if it’s stolen.

Haggling

Haggling should be done on a case by case basis. Some shops or merchants may be willing to haggle, while others may have posted and set prices. Don’t let players haggle on every single item if you do allow it, instead haggle on the price of the entire sale or the highest value item. A shop owner should always be more willing to pay with stock or services rather than money.

Inventory

If you are building a custom shop try to imagine the storage room and how much of any given item there is on the shelves. There should be a limited amount based on the size of the shop or city. Good shopkeepers will keep the majority of their stock secured and separate from the main sales floor.

Security

Most places of business will take measures to protect their inventory. Secure rooms and locks are common. Personnel are less common but become more prevalent in large and high crime cities and at businesses with particularly expensive inventory. Small towns will most likely rely on the local sheriff, lawman or constable to prevent and punish theft or aggression. Higher technological age business might incorporate security cameras in addition to other forms of security.

If you are creating a Species from scratch or simply choosing an Altered Realms Species to populate your setting, there are a few general guidelines that you may find helpful.

Start At the Beginning

Try to think about where the species came from and how they got where they are now. How did the species originate? Did they evolve naturally over millennia? Were they placed here by their god? Did they migrate from a far away Realm? Any and all of the factors involved in their origin could greatly affect the culture and mythos of the species.

Think In Their Shoes

Try to view things from the perspective of the species as you develop their styles, architecture, beliefs and mythos. Species with more hands might develop vastly different technology and tools. Smaller Species could utilize much smaller spaces as habitats. Larger species might have huge structures or more open air features. Flying species may not see the need for stairs, ladders or bridges. Aquatic species might not have reasonable accommodations for non-aquatics and vice versa.

If you are developing an original ecosystem either with your own creature creations or chosen Altered Realms creatures there are some general guidelines that you may find helpful.

The Circle of Life

Utilization of the circle of life can make a world feel whole, integrated and completed. Even if only a single or partial circle of life is represented, it can add tons of content and interactivity to a campaign.

Use the Right Creature for the Region

While it may be obvious to some it should still be stated that some creatures are better for certain situations than others. Planning an adventure on the high seas? Use an aquatic or flying creature type. Climbing to the top of a high mountain peak? Use a flying or winter environment creature. Traveling through the forest? Use creatures that can utilize the underbrush or treetops. All pre-made creatures in this book have a preferred habitat listed that you can use to easily place creatures in regions and environments that make sense.

There’s a lot you can do with an original concept or the societies presented within this book. The following are some general guidelines for using Altered Realms Civilizations or creating your own.

Create a Legacy

Ask yourself some basic questions and answer them while keeping in mind their specific species limitations and philosophies.
What kind of name has this society carved out for themselves? What are they most known for? Are they a Mono-Society or a Melting Pot? Are they a ruthless empire? A struggling kingdom? A fragile democracy? A loose commonwealth? A socialist society? A capitalist oligarchy?

Philosophy

Try to imagine a general Philosophy for your society or use one of the ones listed with the Altered Realms Species. Use that to shape your original society, how they form laws, governments and organizations. Kingship only worked in a time when society had an emphasis and focus on personal honor and fealty and very little access to education. People made deep and meaningful vows that they felt accountable to from a higher power.

Choose a Course and Heading

Try to imagine the general attitude and goals of your factions. Are they heading to their promised land? Do they seek to achieve a major technological advancement? Are they preparing for war? Are they developing new trade routes? As your story progresses you may feel the need to have factions react to the actions and reputations of players. When these responses are consistent with that faction’s previous behavior, players are more likely to be immersed by the content

Most if not all stories will have a cast of characters other than the players. If you are creating a cast from scratch or pulling characters from resources, here is a general format that you may find helpful. The format we present is by no means the only way to create an engaging and fun story, but it is reliable and consistent with popular writing techniques.

Write Only as Much as You Need

The more important a character the longer their writeup should be. The more there is to be found, the more players have to interact with, and can have revealed to them. Along that same vein, there is no need to develop a character more than is necessary. For instance; the random shopkeeper doesn’t need a full backstory and character details unless it’s likely that the players will want or need to know about it. Even so, there’s nothing wrong with making something up on the spot if players take an interest in a character you hadn’t foreseen or planned. There’s also nothing wrong with writing a cast of fully fleshed out characters with intriguing and unique origins, but it’s usually best to do that level of effort on campaigns that have a roleplay emphasis, as that content is more likely to be interacted with in those scenarios.

Much like other facets of Altered Realms there is no one true way to build levels for your players to explore. Depending on your setting and the character responsible for the building of the level you are designing it can be as practical or nonsensical as you desire. That being said, there are a few guidelines that help you get into the mindset of a Level Designer and make sure that when something is encountered by the players it makes sense for it to be there.

Layout

Unless a sense of claustrophobia is trying to be instilled, make sure when you’re designing your structures that you leave enough room from players to maneuver.
Place furniture, objects and support structures around the room. If a combat encounter takes place, we want it to feel dynamic and real, it shouldn’t feel like an arena unless it is an arena or a location that resembles one. Players should at least have the opportunity to seek out Cover, hiding spots or a means of escape, unless those are things that you are intentionally removing to increase the challenge or as a consequence of choices made by players.
Add instances of interactable objects, terrain and hazards. Market stalls, hay bales, wood bundles, vehicles, barrels of water or beverages, bottles, food, tools, ponds, puddles, mud, chandeliers, candelabras, walls, ledges, production vats, torches, braziers, bonfires and industrial machines are all examples of dynamic terrain additions that players can interact with, force enemies into or avoid altogether.

Realism

The way into any facility should always be guarded, locked or hidden. Players should have to think and be creative to gain access to places that are well secured or fortified. The way into such places should still be accessible to the staff, so the means of access shouldn’t be overly complex, otherwise the staff would have problems getting back inside.
If the players are exploring an occupied facility they should encounter hazards that such a place would employ around the entrances or avenues into the property but regular passageways used by the staff of the facility shouldn’t be trapped. Along that same vein there should only be additional traps and hazards if the creatures staffing the facility are in hiding, on the run, running illegal operations or are on high alert. Locations utilized by fewer creatures could reasonably contain more hazards and traps as a means of compensating for lack of fighting forces.
There should always be more than one way in and out of a place, even if it’s a window, chimney or escape hatch. Creatures don’t design themselves a coffin and would want to have another means of exit in case of emergencies.

Home Field Advantage

When players are facing off against creatures that live or work in a facility they should always be at a disadvantage. The creatures there should know where everything is, they should know exactly where to go in an emergency and they should have an in-depth familiarity with the overall layout of the building or facility. If a sentry spots an intruder they should head for the closest alarm. If a staff member is fleeing they might intentionally go down a trap corridor or activate defenses as they go. Creatures can lock and blockade doors, hide and set up ambushes. If they have a means of communication the entire facility could be alerted of a breach within seconds of it happening. Players should feel this pressure when interacting with organizations and militaries. As a general Rule: If it’s all too easy, it’s not very engaging.

Try to make your locations you design make sense, at least in the setting. A facility with live-in staff should have a Water, Food and Housing for those individuals and would have facilities set up for their organic needs. If players explore a facility and any of these elements are absent, they will notice, or at the very least can no longer incorporate that element of the facility as part of their plan.
Buildings with a kitchen have ways that players can gain access through kitchen deliveries or new staff hires. The entire facility can be affected from a kitchen with even slight modifications to the Menu.
Buildings with waste facilities may be connected to a sewer or septic system that could be an additional means of access.
Facilities with fresh water sources offer another means of access and affect the creatures who drink the water.

Trap Design

Traps are a great addition to most levels. They can be used to keep players on their toes and incorporate consequences for haphazard exploration, but they should be used sparingly. You don’t want players to feel like they need to roll perception or investigation every time they move because they never know when or where a trap might be. Traps should be intuitive to a point, if players were to put themselves in the shoes of the designer, they should be able to understand and even predict the placement and types of trap they encounter.
Traps should be used in a sensical scenario. Bandits aren’t going to fill the inside of their base with pit traps, but they might place a few near the main entrance and perhaps under that slightly obvious breach in the wall. Those same bandits shouldn’t have access to advanced contraptions or machinations unless the story or setting has been primed for such an encounter, such as; said bandits could have stolen a shipment of machinery or captured a brilliant inventor.
Players should have hints or opportunities to gain insight from their rolls or knowledge about the location they are exploring. There should be some warning that the place they are headed was originally designed by a madman with a reputation for being extremely paranoid if the place is trapped beyond all reason. There should be a mention of a magical artifact, ritual or circle that powers the Arcane traps players encounter in a Wizard’s Tower. There should be a mention of the trails that this place was meant to
embody if the location is a full on Dungeon, complete with Guardians, Mechanized Traps and Puzzles.