Story Guidlines

Where did you find the info on toilets in castles? I looked and looked, even found some really old "blueprints" of castles and keeps (my castle is actually a keep, designed to withstand a siege), but no indicators of toilets or whatever.

Thank you for all the info. There is a whole bunch I don't know. Duh.

Why is there only 1 AD&D? and 3 D&D editions? Is AD&D simply the next version of D&D?

 

Well, since all your questions where answered, i'll just add a small resume of the settings:

FR is one of the basics settings, and probably the most documented.
It is based in the world of Toril, and Faerun is the main and bigger continent. Most of the adventures occur there. There still unknown continents, i assume for future development, or as free terrain for DMs.
There isn't a big story involving all of faerun, but a lot of "lesser" events.
It is a highly magical setting, where a +1 sword is something common, and most of the people knows about magic and even know a cantrip or two. Technology isn't common but exists, usually mixed with magic (flying ships, for example).
Known charcters are Drizz't Do Urden (the scimitar dual-wielding drow), Elmister (a kind of Gandalf, but older and dressed in red)

DL is an old setting.
The main story here is with dragons, of course. This setting has a "general" plotline", in which men battle against Draconics, which are a race of creatures that look like humanoid dragons (not confuse with the half-dragon template/race). They want, basically, conquer the world, while the other races try to fight them back.
The most known charcter is Raistlin, a powerful wizard with white hair and golden skin. You'll see it depicted in black or red robes (black robes are for evil wizards, Raistlin later turned to red, which is for neutral wizards). I think that Allyx signature belong to other charcters

GH is the other main setting.
It is very developed too, with lots of continet/countries.
The main plot is the war against the hordes of Iuz, which try to conquer the world. Think of Lord of the Rings: a powerful god-like charcter, that runs vast dark lands, trying to take over the world
Known charcters are, of course, the circle of eight, a group of powerful wizards (their names are on many spells: Bigby, Zagig, etc). The best charcter is Murlynd: a wanderer, that wears a wide hat, and carries two strange looking "rods" on their hips, which make big noise and kill at distance. It travels in time and space apparently, and usually presents himself as "no, is not Merlin, my name is Murlynd!"

I dunno much on this one neither.
As Allyx says, i think is based more on psionics (powers of the mind, which work pretty much like magic but aren't affected by it), and if i'm correct, Yuan-ti as a lot to do in it (Yuan-ti are an ancient race of evil reptile creatures. Very intellingent and powerful, they dabble in dark margic, and experiment with mixing races, often creating aberrations)
Also, i think the world is divided in very defined continents: a land of ice, a land of fire, etc. There's also a sea made of pure acid, sailed by specially protected ships.

Ravenloft is more like a prison.
A group of extra planar entities created this demi-plane. They act like gods in there, and grant powers to creatures. The Ravenloft "world" doesn't have clear boundaries, is more like a huge continent, divided in countries. If you try to walk away, you'll find that the borders are lost in a greenish mist; whoever enters there isn't seen again.
Actually, Ravenloft is made of creatures from other planes. The greenish mist appears in one of the other settings, and whoever is enveloped by it gets transported to Ravenloft, prisoned for ever. The dark entieties watch over the place, and don't let anyone leaves by any means.
This setting is in a victorian age. Magic is strange here, and doesn't work properly. Most of the magical items are adapted, especially those with good natured properties. the setting is mostly evil, and vampires, werevolves and all the tipycal horror creatures live here. Oddily, orcs and half-orcs don't exist in RL, and if one gets transported here is transformed in a kaliban (a race of deformed people).
It's one of the most interesting settings, imho.

A great war between wizards occured, and that's the big-bang starting point.
The setting is based on that event. Magic and science runs freely. It's an interesting setting, more advanced than the standard D&D game.
The main feature here are the new races: half-shapeshifters, reincarnated spirits, golem-like creatures (reminiscent of the magical war), and a race of werevolves descendants (werevolves are extinct here)

 

Thank you both for the detailed information, I really appreciate it.

I also found a history of the Forgotten Realms (which I haven't read yet) at - guess where - The Sorcerer's Place and there is a website for Greyhawk that also has some history. Both have maps. And I came across a very detailed map of Faerun from a site that no longer exits, Blackwyrm's Lair.

And, I guess there is nothing like first hand experience for finding things out! Like castle toilets, for example.

 

Scryler to the rescue with the new Chamber Pot mini-mod add-on. This mini-mod puts a chamber pot in every house, tower, temple and castle, removes Burne's now unnecessary quest and adds dialogue asking you to empty the pot in Burne's tower. Other characters have the capacity to ask you to empty the pot in their vicinity. There are rumors that a special treasure box appears if you succeed in emptying every chamber pot in the game.

 

I'm just curious as to why, if it's a story (be it a short or novel), you are interested in limiting yourself to D&D rules and/or guidelines. If, on the other hand, it's a module (or something akin to one), then I can see that it needs to "fit", per se.

So, why a D&D story and not simply a "fantasy" or "science-fantasy"?

Stohrm

PS. Just curious, and good luck btw. I started one over twenty years ago, but managed to get stuck trying to write a particular chapter. I probably should've just skipped over it and came back to it, but didn't concider that option until now. So, I guess I should thank you for that.

PPS. Ditto on the brain that doesn't know when it's time to sleep. Although, simply resting seems to work for a while. Oh, and that which you refrained from mentioning really works wonders; but alas (or is it "uh lass") we won't go there.

Merry Xmas to all, btw.

 

Because D&D is where I am focused, today. If that makes sense. Ex, when I first played Spades, night after night I dreamed I was playing spades. (Those were actual dreams, not fantasies to get to sleep.) It's what I am trying to learn. Right now, I have no intentions of writing anything (although that could happen, but if it did, it would be just for me)...it's a brain thing.

 

STAY AWAY FROM MATHEMATICS! That way lies madness...

 

Been there, done that. Now people confuse my being psychotic with being psychopathic; but little do they realize the fine line between insanity and ingenuity...

Stohrm