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Masquerade

2020-01-25T11:47:57Z

2601:203:480:4C60:20B1:FD6E:357:20B5:

{{skub}}

The common [[TVTropes]] endorsed name for a phenomena in a lot of [[Urban Fantasy]]: The supernatural is kept secret to the public, thus allowing the story to be set in something resembling the "real" world.

Why and how the supernatural is kept secret varies from work to work. Just from /tg/ related stuff:

* In [[Vampire: The Masquerade]] (from which the TVTropes trope gets its name) and [[Vampire: The Requiem]], you're fucking [[vampires]], social parasites on humanity. You don't want your prey to start hunting you.
* In [[Mage: The Awakening]], the Masquerade is supernaturally enforced; any mundane (called "Sleeper") who sees magic causes magic to go awry, damaging the caster.
* The [[Skaven]] had something like this going on in the original Warhammer Fantasy setting. They tried to keep their existence a secret from humans; while the Empire knew about the Skaven, and didn't like them, they also recognized that breaking the Masquerade in question would lead to open warfare and a unified Skaven faction (the latter is bad since the #1 killer of Skaven is ''other Skaven''), something they could ill-afford while fighting Chaos, beastmen, and vampires.
* In [[In Nomine]], since divine or infernal interference can cause humans to not meet their Destiny or Fate, and Heaven is charged with trying to maximize the former and minimize the latter, and souls are the chief source of Essence for Hell, both sides have good reason to keep things on the low down.
* In [[Monster Hunter International]] the world governments believe that the more people who know about the supernatural the more powerful it becomes, and supernatural forces are always evil in this setting with [[Yog-Sothothery|many]] being potential world enders. As such the Monster Control Bureau and its international counterparts are often forced to intimidate, frame or [[blam|even kill]] innocent witnesses to keep it up. The MCB director outright states in the second book that despite their best efforts he feels the truth will be exposed any day now in the wake of increasingly blatant supernatural events and modern communications.
* [[Urban Arcana]] is unusual in that the veil making shadowkind and supernatural acts look mundane is a force of nature rather than being an artificial construct. The more exposed someone is to unusual events, the weaker the effect becomes on them.

Non-/tg/ media, that are unusual in their approach to the idea:

* [[SCP Foundation]] universe: There are multiple organizations fighting to keep the existence of the supernatural, or the anomalous as they prefer to call it, from becoming general knowledge. One reason for this is because there are several supernatural phenomena that become more dangerous the more people that know about them. But a much bigger reason is because the world is full of extremely horrible things that the world would sleep better not knowing about, such as the girl who will give birth to something that will destroy the earth if she isn't tortured regularly. And more people knowing about anomalies means more people would abuse or try to weaponize them, with potentially catastrophic results. The Foundation itself even has an internal Masquerade because most members of the organization don't believe that magic is real even though they regularly deal with enemies that clearly have magical abilities, and those who are aware that magic is real and that anybody can learn it want to keep it a secret because they want to make sure that the Foundation doesn't become too dependent on using magic to protect the world.


There are some obvious problems with most Masquerades. If you're curious, go look up TVTropes (or better yet, its uncensored fork allthetropes) article on the matter; they list quite a few usual flaws.

[[Category:Gamer Slang]]

Dungeons & Dragons Campaign Settings

2020-01-25T08:46:46Z

2601:203:480:4C60:20B1:FD6E:357:20B5: /* Noteworthy/developed 'homebrew' settings */

[[Dungeons & Dragons]] had always been replete with [[campaign setting]]s, both those officially released and those created by DMs themselves. From the grim and dark world of [[Ravenloft]], to the noble and chivalrous [[Dragonlance]], they span all manner of interests and themes in order to provide as broad an attraction to players and DMs of all strips.

== List of D&D Campaign Settings ==
*[[Al-Qadim]]: A supplement to Forgotten Realms, taking place on the same planet. Fantasy medieval Middle East at the height of its wealth, science, and power.
**Last supported edition: [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]], 1 class updated for [[3e|Third Edition]]. Got a token mention in [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition| the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide]] as a potential location for the "foreigner" background, and the iconic yakmen adversaries were re-introduced via the ''Storm King's Thunder'' adventure module.

*[[Birthright]]: Long ago a bunch of gods died and heroic mortals gained their divine energy. One or more of your PCs is a descendant of those heroes.
**Last supported edition: [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons|Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]], unofficial porting to 3e taking place at [http://www.birthright.net/ http://www.birthright.net/]. The 5e ''Dungeon Master's Guide'' actually mentioned it as a potential location for adventures and/or planar jaunts, though, which is more than most previous editions gave it, so who knows what the future holds?

*[[Blackmoor]]: One of the three original campaign settings, developed by D&D co-creator Dave Arneson. Later retconned into Mystara as a Krull-esque distant past.
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition]]

*[[Council of Wyrms]]: You are the dragons.
**Last supported edition: [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]], possibly. No idea if the 1999 reprint used the old [[Dungeons & Dragons]] ruleset or not.

*[[Dark Sun]]: Dying desert world.
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition]], though most [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition|5e]] adventure modules discuss what would be needed to port them over to Athas, and the creators have stated they do plan to provide more support in the future.

*[[Dragon Fist]]: <s>If Dragonlance were manlier.</s> D&D set in the world of wuxia folktales from ancient <s>China</s> Tlanguo, the land of this setting.
**Last supported edition: '''None'''. Uses a weird hybrid of [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]] and [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]] rules. Published online-only by Wizards, never expanded or supported.

*[[Dragonlance]]: One of the more well-known D&D settings, thanks to the many books about it. Twisted D&D standards in a [[Setting:Brighthammer 40,000/2nd edition|Brighthammer40k]] sort of way. Home to the [[kender]].
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition]], through a licensing agreement between [[WoTC]] and Sovereign Press, though mostly through discussing ways to port stuff over from other books. Unlike Athas, though, Krynn's close enough to Faerun for the conversion to be more comprehensive.

*[[Eberron]]: Magitek adventurepunk in a world literally made of dragons.
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition]], though it took forever and spent years as just content that was either "translation guide in the back of the book" type or strictly WIP/playtest material.

*[[Exandria]]: Homebrew setting for [[Critical Role]] officially adapted come March 2020.
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition]]

*[[Forgotten Realms]]: The most famous and popular setting.
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition]]

*[[Ghostwalk]]: The [[Monte Cook]] one everyone forgets exists. The Ethereal Plane meets inverse Ravenloft meets Forgotten Realms, and players can play as ghosts.
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]], one of two new settings created for it. Only published reference was its campaign sourcebook.

*[[Greyhawk]]: One of the three original campaign settings, and the default D&D setting for most of its existence. Revered for being the personal setting of [[Gary Gygax]].
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition]], in the same manner as Dragonlance, though in the [[Dungeons & Dragons Forth Edition| 4e]] days it was killed off for a while around its 25th birthday in order to make way for [[Points of Light]].

*[[Jakandor]]: Self-contained setting set on an island divided between magic-loving mage civilization, and magic-hating barbarian horde.
**Last supported edition: [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]

*[[The Horde]]: A supplement to Forgotten Realms, taking place on the same planet. Mongols and their related allies and enemies.
**Last supported edition: [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]

*[[Kara-Tur]]: A supplement to Forgotten Realms, taking place on the same planet. Ancient fantasy China/Japan with some later material detailing India and Southeast Asia
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]], though the setting/land itself did not advance at all from its original publication. Got a token mention in [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition| the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide]] as a potential location for the "foreigner" background.

*[[Maztica]]: A supplement to Forgotten Realms, taking place on the same planet. Fantasy post-Columbian America, complete with paladins exterminating and suppressing the believers of native gods.
**Last supported edition: [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]. Got a token mention in [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition| the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide]] as a potential location for the "foreigner" background.

*[[Mystara]]: One of the three original campaign settings, and the first one to be officially published and supported. Partially inspired Greyhawk, it paints a broad picture of the lands around Castle Greyhawk and was designed by David Cook and Tom Moldvay. (Also includes the ''Hollow World'' and ''Red Steel'' settings.)
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons]]

*[[Planescape]]: [[plane]]s, planes everywhere — and we don't mean the flying kind. Established the Great Wheel cosmology. Made famous by the videogame [[Planescape: Torment]]
**Last supported edition: [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]], but many elements were taken in establishing the planar landscape of [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]] and Sigil appears as the hub of the module ''Expedition to Demonweb Pits''. Some tiny elements reappeared in [[Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition|later]] [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition| editions]], but for the most part the setting and rules are mazed.

*[[Pelinore]]: For all you Britfag grognards out there. Somewhat similar to Ptolus in that it focused on a single city and it's surrounding environs.
**Last supported edition: [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]]. Published and expanded on exclusively in ''Imagine'''s UK edition.

*[[Points of Light]]: The "default" setting for [[4e]]. An entirely new world completely separate from any existing D&D cosmology, presented as a predominantly blank slate with various cosmological and historical notes to hold it together before you begin personalizing it.
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition]]

*[[Ravenloft]]: You are evil and being punished in a magic Gothic world that hates you.
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition]].

*<s>[[Legend of the Five Rings|Rokugan]]</s>: Officially licensed by the 3rd Edition ''Oriental Adventures'' from [[Legend of the Five Rings]]. At least it led to the creation of ''Mahasarpa'', a related setting with a South-East Asia feel.
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]] (and every edition of [[Legend of the Five Rings|L5R's own RPG]])

*[[Spelljammer]]: D&D IN SPAAACE!
**Last supported edition: [[Advanced Dungeons & Dragons]], but authorized homebrew conversion to [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]] took place at [http://www.spelljammer.org/]. Rules for using a Spelljammer ship appear in [[Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition]] ''Manual of the Planes''. The [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition| 5e]] team has discussed it, mentioning that it's a very love-it-or-hate-it setting that makes it a bit of a rough sell, though they ''have'' said they want to do at least a little work with it. Got several mentions in ''Volo's Guide to Monsters'', including the reintroduction of the iconic [[neogi]] adversaries.

*[[Empire of the Petal Throne|Tékumel]]: The vary first setting ever to be published, and by TSR no less. An elaborate fantasy world based on Eastern themes. A whole language was build around it.
**Last supported edition: Original Dungeons & Dragons (Although the game branched off D&D long ago to become its own thing. Its is currently in its fifth edition, under a whole new rule-set.)

*[[Wilderlands of High Fantasy]]: based on the earlier single-city setting ''City State of the Invincible Overlord''.
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]]

* [[Kingdoms of Kalamar]]: Fairly standard D&D type world, although with some notable changes - [[hobgoblin]]s replacing [[orc]]s as the primary hostile humanoids. A third party setting originally, the third edition version was officially licensed but written by third party (and really bad mechanically). More known nowadays for becoming the setting for [[HackMaster]].
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]]

== Modern & Futuristic Campaign Settings ==
*[[Call of Cthulhu]]: the [[d20 Modern]] version.
**Last supported edition: [[d20 Modern]]

*[[Dark Matter]]: an "all conspiracies are true" alternate version of Earth.
**Last supported edition: [[d20 Modern]]

*[[Dimension Zero]]: 2620 where the Nazis won and natural resources have run out that must steal from other realities to survive.
**Last supported edition: Never. Was mentioned in the campaign primer for Project Javelin (was supposed to be a full [[Adventure Path]] for [[d20 Modern]]), but that campaign was canceled with only the first adventure (which takes place in another setting of the GM's choice) published.

*[[Gamma World]]: a post-apocalyptic future setting and one of the earliest.
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition]]

*[[Masque of the Red Death]]: a spinoff of [[Ravenloft]], set in [[Grimdark]] version of 19th century Earth. Has its own year 2012 spinoff in ''Gothic Earth Eternal''.
**Last supported edition: [[Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition]]

*[[Star Drive]]: main setting for [[Alternity]], later stripped of it's name for [[d20 Modern|d20 Future]].
**Last supported edition: [[d20 Modern]]

*[[Urban Arcana]]: Did you really need whole other book to add D&D elements to a [[d20 Modern]] game? Could've been called "Not [[Shadowrun]]", especially when combined with the d20 Cyberscape book.
**Last supported edition: [[d20 Modern]], with a few web-based beta-playtest rules availible for [[Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition]].

== Noteworthy/developed 'homebrew' settings ==
[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons Campaign Settings]]
*[[Dragonmech]]
*[[Dungeons: the Dragoning 40,000 7th Edition]]
*[[Golarion]], which ended up with [[Pathfinder Roleplaying Game|its own spinoff RPG]]
*[[Iron Kingdoms|The Iron Kingdoms]], which ended up with [[Warmachine|its own spin-off]] [[Hordes|wargames]], ''then'' [[Iron Kingdoms RPG|its own non-d20 RPG]]
*[[Ops and Tactics]]
*[[Ptolus: City by The Spire]]
*[[Uberstadt]]
*[[The Unified Setting for /tg/]]
*[[Humblewood]]

{{Template:D&D-Settings}}

Masquerade

2020-01-25T08:22:26Z

2601:203:480:4C60:20B1:FD6E:357:20B5:

{{skub}}

The common [[TVTropes]] endorsed name for a phenomena in a lot of [[Urban Fantasy]]: The supernatural is kept secret to the public, thus allowing the story to be set in something resembling the "real" world.

Why and how the supernatural is kept secret varies from work to work. Just from /tg/ related stuff:

* In [[Vampire: The Masquerade]] (from which the TVTropes trope gets its name) and [[Vampire: The Requiem]], you're fucking [[vampires]], social parasites on humanity. You don't want your prey to start hunting you.
* In [[Mage: The Awakening]], the Masquerade is supernaturally enforced; any mundane (called "Sleeper") who sees magic causes magic to go awry, damaging the caster.
* The [[Skaven]] had something like this going on in the original Warhammer Fantasy setting. They tried to keep their existence a secret from humans; while the Empire knew about the Skaven, and didn't like them, they also recognized that breaking the Masquerade in question would lead to open warfare and a unified Skaven faction (the latter is bad since the #1 killer of Skaven is ''other Skaven''), something they could ill-afford while fighting Chaos, beastmen, and vampires.
* In [[In Nomine]], since divine or infernal interference can cause humans to not meet their Destiny or Fate, and Heaven is charged with trying to maximize the former and minimize the latter, and souls are the chief source of Essence for Hell, both sides have good reason to keep things on the low down.
* In [[Monster Hunter International]] the world governments believe that the more people who know about the supernatural the more powerful it becomes, and supernatural forces are always evil in this setting with [[Yog-Sothothery|many]] being potential world enders. As such the Monster Control Bureau and its international counterparts are often forced to intimidate, frame or [[blam|even kill]] innocent witnesses to keep it up. The MCB director outright states in the second book that despite their best efforts he feels the truth will be exposed any day now in the wake of increasingly blatant supernatural events and modern communications.
* [[Urban Arcana]] is unusual in that the veil making shadowkind and supernatural acts look mundane is a force of nature rather than being an artificial construct. The more exposed someone is to unusual events, the weaker the effect becomes on them.
* [[SCP Foundation]] universe: There are multiple organizations fighting to keep the existence of the supernatural, or the anomalous as they prefer to call it, from becoming general knowledge. One reason for this is because there are several supernatural phenomena that become more dangerous the more people that know about them. But a much bigger reason is because the world is full of extremely horrible things that the world would sleep better not knowing about, such as the girl who give birth to something that will destroy the earth if she isn't tortured regularly. And more people knowing about anomalies means more people would abuse or try to weaponize them, with potentially catastrophic results. The Foundation itself even has an internal Masquerade because most members of the organization don't believe that magic is real even though they regularly deal with enemies that clearly have magical abilities, and those who are aware that magic is real and that anybody can learn it want to keep it a secret because they want to make sure that the Foundation doesn't become too dependent on using magic to protect the world.

There are some obvious problems with most Masquerades. If you're curious, go look up TVTropes (or better yet, its uncensored fork allthetropes) article on the matter; they list quite a few usual flaws.

[[Category:Gamer Slang]]