Question: What is the setting of Mhirdrun?

Answer: Sword & Sorcery.

Sword and sorcery (S&S) is a subgenre of fantasy generally characterized by sword-wielding heroes engaged in exciting and violent conflicts. An element of romance is often present, as is an element of magic and the supernatural. Unlike works of high fantasy, the tales, though dramatic, focus mainly on personal battles rather than world-endangering matters. Sword and sorcery commonly overlaps with heroic fantasy.

A film genre tangentially related to sword and sorcery, at least in name, is sword-and-sandal, though its subjects are generally oriented to biblical times and early history, instead of fantasy. Not to be confused with cloak and dagger or cloak and sword, which are alternate genres.

 

Basically, Mhirdrun is a setting designed with small-scale personal conflict in mind. It's a story about you. Not about A King, or an Emperor. It isn't about a scenery crunching super-villain. It's about personal struggles and vendettas. Think Conan. Think low level Dungeons & Dragons where a two-hundred pound orc is a legitimate danger and a summoned demon could be part of a final boss fight. Mhirdrun is intentionally small scale.. because no character in Mhirdrun is powerful enough,well-connected enough, or influential enough to bring about doomsday. The world in which Mhirdrun is set will be there tomorrow; even if the town of Mhirdrun burned to the ground.

 

 

Question: What is Mhirdrun exactly?
Answer:

1. Mhirdrun, is a world setting that uses '3.0 D&D Common-Core' for much of it's lore. (but not game rules) ... things that are typically true across multiple D&D campaign settings in D&D 3.0 and 3.5 are true in Mhirdrun. 

    - Tanar'ri (Demons) and Baatazu (Devils) hate each other. They have specific 'types'.

    - Drow are assholes with strong associations with a cathuluesque goddess of evil, darkness, madness, betrayal, blood-sacrifice, etc.

    - Dragons are supernatural creatures native to the prime: Black Dragons are 'Always Evil' and Gold Dragons are 'Always Good'.
    - Tieflings have a more human appearance and can pass as humans if they make effort to hide a few features or wear concealing clothing while out and about.

    - Etc.

2. Mhirdrun is the official name of our sim.

3. Mhirdrun itself is NOT a published D&D setting: It is a unique setting created for this sim.

4. Mhirdrun is a small castle town. Not the Kingdom, a City, or the World. It is named for the river that flows nearby, called 'The Mhird'.

5. Mhirdrun is a Barony, which answers to a Distant King who rules a much larger Kingdom. Its own Baron has not yet come of age, and is being fostered abroad; Mhirdrun is currently being managed by a Regent or Steward (think Gondor) put in place by the King to handle affairs till the Baron comes of age.

6. Mhirdrun is part of a wider world. Though Mhirdrun's wider world isn't published? Aspects of it may effect in Mhirdrun's Sim setting from time to time. Mhirdrun town ... is part of the Mhirdrun Campaign setting. (Examples of wider campaign settings include: 'Baldur's Gate', 'Pool of Radiance', 'Neverwinter Nights' and 'Waterdeep: The City of Splendors' are all parts of 'The Forgotten Realms campaign setting' - and have no connection to the world that Mhirdrun is in.)

 

===================================================

 

Question: What is the time period of the sim?

Answer: Medieval 'Low fantasy'; most inspirations are late Roman / Early Feudal.

 

===================================================

 

Question: Can I play my favorite original character here?
Answer: Long story short: We highly recommend that people DO NOT bring their favorite OC (original character) to Mhirdrun for a few primary reasons that include but are not limited to:

• Making references to locations, characters and events in other campaign settings is generally frowned upon with the exception of diety-worship. This puts large plot holes in your character's history.

• The exotic species you want to play may not be available to you, either because all slots may end up filled or it hasn't yet been translated or balanced to Dungeon World (the table-top rule-set we are using) for our sim.

• Character Death (including TPK) without your player's consent can happen in the setting. We are not going to be careful with your prized china plates that you keep on a shelf.

• The setting of Mhirdrun is a lot less epic (and even a lot less heroic) than most D&D style campaign settings, and most characters from those settings are either too powerful, or not morally gray enough to fit in. The powers your character has are likely not available in the setting, or may not have been balanced for our sim.

 

It is for these reasons that we highly recommend that you make characters expressly for the setting rather than bringing OC's from other settings to play here. If you feel like you can translate it into Dungeon World's rules -- do so at your own risk.

 

===================================================

 

Question: Is Gunpowder available in the setting?

Answer: Not for player use or creation, nor reference. However we may allow or create access to it at a later date. Think of it like 'Greek Fire' - lost to history.

 

===================================================

 

Question: What is a 'Normal Character'?

Answer: Normal character are the base-line D&D fantasy races which typically include:

• Human.

• Elf.

• Dwarf.

• Halfling.

• Gnome.

But has been expanded to include:

• Orcs.

• Drow.

 

These characters can typically be created on your own without much DM oversight so long as you are familiar with the process for creating a character within Dungeon World's rules and are familiar with how to work the HUD.

 

===================================================

 

Question: What is a 'Special Character'?

Answer: Special characters are exotic character types that are supposed to be more rare, or more powerful, or are somehow unusual or non-standard compared to other members of their species. These characters are typically limited in number, in order to preserve some kind of 'normality' in the setting. Adventure is all about finding exotic stuff -- but when you encounter 8 exotic characters before you even step out of the tavern it stops being special~ things that could be special characters include:

 - An 8 foot tall human.

 - A Drow (or even human) Noble.

 - A Marilith Demon.

 - A Succubus Demon.

 - A Centaur.

 - A Satyr or Faun.

 - A small dragon the size of a horse.

 - A large dragon.

 

These characters are organized into tiers based on their rarity, power, and other factors. You must be part of the 'Special Characters' group in order to play them, and must maintain an associated attendance/rental box (which is typically free or 1 linden.)

 

===================================================

 

Question: Can I play a...

Answer:

• Demon? - Yes. But only as a special character, following the normal rules for special characters.

• Dragon? - Yes. But only as a special character, following the normal rules for special characters.

• Hermaphrodite? - No. Shape-shifters under the effects of magic .. maybe? Put a tack in that for later. Not at launch.

• Goblin? - Probably. Not a World of Warcraft alchemist or engineer goblin though. Goblins are tribal like orcs and have no distinct balances or bonuses over them. They have no distinct advantages in 1 on 1 over larger creatures.

• Kobold? - Yes, but you cannot use the Snaggletooth Cartoon-Kobold avatar. Ever. We'll update what avatar is okay if someone suggests a good one.

• Furry? - No. Never. HOWEVER ... several species (such as gnolls) that happen to *have* fur may be permitted, but a 'furry fox' or 'lop-earred rabbit fur' will never be accepted as a valid character in Mhirdrun. The important thing is that something has a legitimate cultural background and doesn't look like a cartoon furry. These are tightly restricted to maintain the integrity of Mhirdrun as a setting.

• Gender that isn't my own: Yes.

• Thing not listed? - Ask an admin. If you have a good avatar for it made from parts that can be purchased by the average person, they may be willing to create stats for it under the special character rules and requirements. The worst thing that can happen is they say 'No'. If you have an avatar that requires a large amount of modding to make it look good that the average person cannot do to play the same character type: No.

 

===================================================