Fantasy Core RPG
© Jerry Harris 2013
Published here as Open Game Content.
(This link will take you to the Fantasy Core Index.)
Jianghu Setting
How is this setting different from the usual RPG fantasy world?
Your enemies in this game are mostly human. They aren’t just obstacles to completing a job or objective, but have passionate, though often calculating, conflicting ideologies which drive the adventures. There are monsters, but they are rare, but usually confined to haunted areas or have been summoned for a specific purpose. Even if your enemies are malevolent, they may need to be dealt with peacefully, in return for information or service, rather than with a fight.
Your conflicts come from getting involved with the various power groups and influential individuals. Working for one, often makes you an enemy of another. Neutrality is nearly impossible.
All of these groups have their own strong motivations and a particular point of view. Value judgements upon those motivations are difficult, because none of them are truly benevolent or malevolent. The organized thieving gangs often work as a vigilante police force for those paying protection money, where there is no law. The despotic Governor does keep the peace and the city prosperous. The secret society espousing equality for all is controlled by a rigid caste system. And so on.
What sets the character apart from the NPC’s in this setting is that they are outsiders and will have to decide for themselves who to support and who they are against. Further, the characters are not simple mercenaries, fighting for whoever pays them. Their own sense of honor will motivate their actions.
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