Putting together a low maintenance fantasy game that's probably closer to an NES-style game, but I'll probably run it on the IOT forum for the extra traffic. Here's some rough notes and maps.
Lost Lands
The Apocalypse is now. The eastern seas broil and churn, with waves as high as mountains sweeping entire islands under the dark surf. The south disappears under the grinding advance of a continent-wide sheet of ice. In the west the earth itself is torn asunder, plains turned to canyons, and mountains bursting into flame and ash. The forests and grasslands of the north stripped bare by howling gusts of wind, the soil dried and cracked until only decaying dust and sand is left. The people of the world that have not already died flee, pressed on by the advancing destruction behind them.
And so they reach the end the world, the Lost Lands, a sea untouched the Apocalypse, and the civilisations that preceded it. The Apocalypse halts at the eastern channel, the northern badlands, the western hills and the southern mountains. Some say the gods hold the Apocalypse back, others claim the Lost Lands are protected by a wellspring of natural magic, while others still hold that they are already dead and these lands are either heaven, hell, or somewhere else.
Races
Dozens of races make up the sentient peoples of the world. Whether all the world’s peoples are the same species or not, remains a divisive subject, with some taking personal offense when compared to others they may deem less ‘dignified.’ It is true that all races are able to interbreed, though only for a single generation. This could be some divine rule dictating that the races are not to mix, or it could be a property of natural magic, or even the same natural process that keeps mules from procreating. In any event, many races are similar enough that individuals could pass for one another if you don’t look too closely.
Magic
Magic is an undeniable and unavoidable part of life in this world, though some do try their best to avoid it. Almost anyone can do magic, if they put in the time and effort. Some compare magic to playing an instrument. Most people are capable of playing an instrument, though not all are capable of making music, and even fewer can make a living off it. The similarities stop at one point though – instruments don’t inevitably kill their user. Every use of magic slowly, or not so slowly, cripples and eventually kills the user, in proportion to the strength of the magic being used. Magic is not a one-way street, every action has a reaction, and the vast force of that reaction is on the body and mind of the user. Many a young wizards have perished after casting their first fire spell, and an untold number of would-be witches lay buried in the woods having tried to feel the life-web of a forest. Indeed, the most powerful magic users are those who use magic selectively, only in small amounts and with great care.
What is magic? That’s up for debate. Where does it come from? That one too. What can magic do? Who knows? Some believe magic is sent from the gods and channeled through mortals. Others say magic is the force connecting all the spirits of the world, whether they are trees, rocks, or cakes, and mortals can tap into that energy if they respect it. Still others see magic as a natural force, like the downward flow of water, and can be harnessed and wielded by mortals with proper technique. Whoever is correct, the sight of priests healing the sick, sorcerers devouring trespassers with shrubbery, or mages creating intricate works of art without lifting a finger, magic is used by mortals of all walks of life. As long as they are content with a painful and short life.
Signup
You have 5 points to spend on your countries starting stats, with 5 being the highest they can start at, and 1 being the lowest for Government, Society and Economy (representing being weak or unstable), and 0 being the lowest for Army and Navy (representing non-existence).
Government - 1
Society - 1
Economy - 1
Army - 0
Navy - 0
Race: When creating your race, have one positive and one negative attribute. You can either choose from the list of example attributes, or choose your own. Races are all humanoid, and in general only differ from humans in one or two noticeable ways. Remember, all races must be able to cross-breed. If you think your race may be too fantastical, check with me. You race will also be used for other NPC countries, or possibly other players.
Country Name: The official name of your country. Also include a demonym, and a shortened name for your country if its title is more than 3 words.
Government/Leader Name: Give a basic explanation of how your country is governed, and who the head of state is. Try to make a 1~3 word title for your government type.
Religion: Describe the religion of your country. Starting NPCs will likely share your religion, or a denomination of it.
Society/Culture: Describe how your country’s society is structured, and what the culture of your people is like.
Economy: Describe your country’s economy, such as what its staples are.
Army: Describe your country’s army, such as organisation, composition and tactics.
Navy: Describe your country’s navy, such as organisation, composition and tactics.
Legends: Create 2 Legends, given them a Name, Age, Occupation and a brief description of them. Starting Legends will be of your country’s main race. Older legends will be more at risk of dying, but are also more experienced and powerful.
Capital Location and Name/Migration Route: Show where your country’s capital will be settled, as well as its name, and the migration route your people took to reach it. In general, try to choose the route of least resistance, as in if your people arrived from the north desert, they should settle in the north, rather than trek around the entire bay to settle in the southeast. Feel free to give names to areas or landmarks along your migration route.
Language(s): The language or languages of your country. Also include some sample people and city names.
Background: Any additional history, details or background on your people, religion, government, or legends.
RULES
Orders
Sending orders is done by listing your three priorities. Your First Priority will receive most of your country’s attention, and is best used on something that will require a huge amount of effort, or something that simply must be accomplished as soon as possible. The Second should be used for projects that are still fairly wide ranging, but do not require the focus of your entire country’s ability. The Third Priority should be used for smaller initiatives, or objectives that you are fairly confident you can achieve without putting in extreme effort.
Your ability to succeed at your priorities is determined by your stats. For example, if you are trying to expand your military, having a strong economy will help outfit the new troops, while have a weak government or unstable society will undermine your attempts to recruit new soldiers.
The better explained your attempt and processes to achieve the priority are, the better the results will be. Simply saying ‘improve economy’ will be less successful than an explanation of
how you are going to improve your economy, and in what ways.
In addition to your three priorities, each of your Legends can be given a task. This can either be an independent task for them to fulfill, or you can get them to assist in one of your priorities, improving the chance and degree of success. For example, a warrior Legend could be tasked with assisting your First Priority, an invasion of your neighbouring country. Or, you could task your warrior taking a small party of adventurers and scouting out some unexplored mountains.
Stats
Country Name
Head of State
Government: Cohesion/Type – Brief description of government structure. Issues facing government.
Society:Stability/Races/Religions – Brief description of society. Issues facing society.
Economy: Strength/Equality – Brief description of economy. Issues facing the economy.
Army: Size/Equipment/Skill – Brief description of the army. Issues facing the military.
Navy: Size/Equipment/Skill – Brief description of the navy. Issues facing the navy.
Legends: Name, Race, Age, Occupation - Description
Maps