While the Alacrity system provides the engine for adventure, the world itself is the landscape where stories unfold. A compelling setting breathes life into the game, offering context for character motivations, challenges rooted in history and culture, and mysteries waiting to be uncovered. Whether you are crafting a world entirely from scratch, adapting a favorite novel, or running adventures in a published setting, the choices you make about the world’s nature profoundly shape the campaign experience.
Alacrity is designed to be setting-neutral, meaning its core mechanics can function in nearly any fantasy environment. This chapter, however, offers guidance, tools, and considerations specifically for the Game Master tasked with building or detailing the stage for adventure. It’s not about providing a pre-made world, but rather about offering a framework to help you think through the key elements that make a setting feel rich, believable, and ripe for exploration.
Within this chapter, we will explore:
- Establishing the Big Picture: Defining the overall tone, scope, and core themes of your world.
- Gods and Pantheons: Considering the role of deities, faith, and divine influence.
- Mapping Your Campaign: Approaches to creating and using maps, from local regions to continents.
- Factions and Organizations: Developing the groups, powers, and societies that drive conflict and intrigue.
- Magic in Your World: Tailoring the nature, availability, and feel of magic to fit your setting’s unique flavor, including guidelines for adapting or creating magical Effects.
- Campaign Events: Thinking about large-scale events and timelines that shape the world over time.
- Play Style: Aligning your world design with the type of game your group enjoys.
Think of this chapter as a toolkit for creation. Use the ideas presented here to spark your imagination, organize your thoughts, and build a world that excites both you and your players, providing a memorable backdrop for countless Alacrity adventures.
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File Created: 05/07/2025 Last Modified: 05/07/2025