As it says in the title, I've been thinking lately about GMing a Pathfinder game that isn't really about any particular plot hook; instead, it'll revolve mainly around simple roleplay, and discovering new places and cultures that can only be possible in fanatasy settings.

It would be sandbox (for the most part) in a homebrew setting. About 60% roleplay, 40% puzzles and combat.


Is there interest in something like this?

I'd give tentative interest, though I'll warn you that sandboxes, in general, don't do too well on RPOL.  They can work, and they can work well, but you have to make sure the characters have strong appropriate goals for themselves and you have to be willing to accept that five players might end up as five solo games.

I could be interested.

I'd be interested.

YES!! Yes, yes yes! Please let me know wyen tuere is a oink available for this game.

I would as well

Would you be using a world-map with fog-of-war covering it? I can give you some tips on how to make that.

I happen to like seeing a mostly-hidden world map gradually open up.

Good to see that there's interest, I'll start working on the game in earnest.

@LonePaladin: I was just going to make a tilemap and add a simple opaque layer over it in an image editor - if you have any tips to make it nicer I'd love to hear them.

I'm a big fan of http://www.hexographer.com/ for tile maps.  I paid for the full version and I've been more satisfied with it than I have almost any other gaming software I've purchased.

In reply to localschor (msg # 8):

For more authentic fog-of-war, don't use a tilemap if your setting has a regular one. Open it up in Photoshop or Gimp, and create a transparent layer on top of it. Fill that layer with some sort of texture, like parchment or smoke. To reveal parts of the map, simply go into that layer and use an eraser tool.

Some erasers have the option of feathering the edges, so that you get a gradual fade instead of a sharp line. This makes the transition look better. To really make it authentic, try to make the eraser's width match the distance the group can see, then simply trace their path.

You can do erasing on the top layer while it is hidden. This way, you can easily trace the eraser over coastlines and roads and other important landmarks, then un-hide the fog layer.

Sounds quite neat.

I'd definitely be interested.  How many players will you host.  Also ic mods would be cool in towns that are discovered.  Have em be the barkeep or owner of the inn. They can mod areas where players can swap ic stories when they don't want to explore.

@LonePaladin: Thanks for the advice - on to execute!

@ant722: Unless a couple of co-GMs volunteer, it'll be just one group (6 player max.)

Could be interesting. What style did you have in mind for the setting, and what approximate power level were you thinking? To me this type of game would suggest something more "wild" than traditional pathfinder, with lower power levels. Letting players know a rough idea of what to expect would help with making sure they fit well with the world, without giving away too much of what to expect.

Let us know when you get this game going :)

In reply to Fireinthahole (msg # 14):

My inspiration comes from Kino's Tabbi (and Gulliver's Travels to lesser degree.) Most things won't be as out of whack, but I'm hoping to give a feel of "there's a world of fantasy to be discovered".


You'll get the specifics when I'm ready to advertise...

For anyone who may have have been keeping an eye on this thread, you will be happy to that the game is now ready and is requesting for players:

Pathfinder: the Surveyor stories

Thank you for your interest.