Category talk:Wild

Mike Asks:

Need more info on technology. Inherent degradation would imply bronzian(or lower).

No, the setting is not bronze or stone age. This is full standard renaissance level tech, minus gunpowder. The degrading of items (including writings) doesn't prevent the accumulation of knowledge. It does reinforce a book copying class, an apprenticeship system, etc., while also giving good room for "lost arts". As Randy pointed out, there's also oral tradition.

Definition for why alchemy is limited? Who does the healing? How about herbal remedies? Eberron had a variety of spec herbs/materials that enhanced magic; look them over before answering.

Alchemy just never developed much in the world. The main reason for this is because I personally don't like the way alchemy is handled in the standard D&D rule set, and I don't have a good way to fix it. I dislike tanglefoot bags, etc.

I think it's already noted on the world page that there tends to be a large clergy class most places. As much as they supplement food sources, they also supplement healing to the world. Of course, this doesn't eliminate the Heal skill and what it does, nor does it (and the lack of hard alchemy) prevent healing herbs and the like. It's just not advanced enough to produce annoying items. Where exactly is the stuff from Eberron you're asking about?

Poisons are normal.

Communication. Word of mouth or print? How fast between islands?

The printing press does not yet exist. Communication happens as fast as ships travel, or as magical communications goes. The island density in mind is much more dense than even the southwest pacific, some only being hours apart by sea, not always days and months.

Travel. Conditions imply convoys but how freq/cost prohibitive is that? Are there orgs at sea(pirate/merch/religious)?

Convoys happen, but so do lone traveling ships. There are definitely seaborne organizations! Piracy is a huge issue wherever an island cannot keep a good navy around. Convoys aren't a complete necessity because of the "island hopping" nature of travel. When there's longer direct travel that goes over the wild oceans, they become more important.

Since we are all coming from diff cultures is our reason for gathering something that should be dealt with in our background or unexpected?

This detail is still being finalized between a few options.

Racism. Just because anything can breed doesn't mean they would. What event changed/founded this vigorous crossbreeding?

As long as people can remember have things been that way. Race is an unimportant trait to most people and organizations. Religious following is more important. That isn't to say that there aren't races that are racially driven or shunned. One could say an orc's genes are always dominant, no matter who he rapes... ;)

Impermanance of magic. Does this only affect crafted items or does it equally affect spells(made permanent)?

Covered in the rules page. I was writing that when your email came in.

General commentary

I personally get a feeling that this is a Hellenic city state type of world. This brings a lot of local flavor but the only common point so far is religion. Is there anything to balance this out?

Your general would be right. However, there are (small) empires, shared threats, and common tasks. The world is also not fully explored (at least according to recent maps).

Story element

Is this something you want to develop before or during character proposal stage? Really don't want to see as fractious a party as last time. Basicly looking for some common ground.

I have a few "get together" things I'm deciding between, and a few initial adventures planned. I have a couple overarching plots and themes I can select from but haven't fully detailed. I want to see how the characters are and go before committing too heavily to one particular one, and have the ability to tailor for them and what people seem to want.

I also want there to be a more cohesive party this time.