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What is Birthright?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
redwizard
Jan 24, 2006 11:44:37 I'm not familiar with the Birthright campaign setting. Can someone describe the premise?
#2
silverfalcon
Jan 24, 2006 16:52:46 The summarised version:
1) The original was written for AD&D.
2) A "sanctioned" 3.5 version has been written (and revised) by those at www.birthright.net
3) The world (Cerilia) has ordinary people and blooded people. Blooded people possess special abilities caused by the essence of the old gods being dispersed when they died during a big battle against the evil god Azrai. PCs can be blooded.
4) Some blooded individuals have supernatural links to the earth. This is related to the power or influence of their church, legal/security buildings, trade network or magical strongpoint. These people are called regents and their "holdings" provide them access to additional actions and magical capabilities in order to rule. PCs can be regents.
5) Bad guys can be standard monsters, monsters from the Shadow World (which is the main other plane used), or standard humanoids (blooded or unblooded) including regents.
6) Some people (like me) play BR just as a standard "tabletop" game. Some people play it just as a game of political intrigue between regents (including as Play-by-email = PBEM). Some people play it as a bit of both.

For further info (e.g. classes, races etc), I suggest you go to www.birthright.net.

Sorontar.
#3
ranger_reg
Jan 24, 2006 20:11:13
I'm not familiar with the Birthright campaign setting. Can someone describe the premise?

The premise: Play a ruler at 1st level, as is your "Divine Right of Kings" (that's where the godly bloodlines come in).
#4
solandras
Jan 25, 2006 22:18:34 I'm currently playing in a Birthright campaign and thus far it's been really fun. I started off a blooded character, just a thief. However in my adventures (typical normal DnD stuff) I found a town that very much was in my interest to stay in. After digging around a bit I figured out that the locals absolutely hated the local ruler and after a bit I ended up taking the place. After plenty of work I've gone from local city lord to ruling my own country. That is the kind of stuff that birthright can be about. Really it's all up to the DM/Pc's to find a balance of what they would like to play. But for us it's about 80% base DnD, 20% political ruling.
#5
ozbirthrightfan
Jan 26, 2006 18:55:41 I wrote a review of the BRCS (Birthright Campaign Setting) for AD&D 2nd Edition over at Dragonsfoot.org; here's the link:

http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12183
#6
irdeggman
Jan 28, 2006 8:55:58 Not a bad review.

There are a few things of significance missing, IMO, though.

You forgot to address that in order to cast greter magic you had to be blooded or have elven blood (elf or half-elf). You got the blooded part but missed the latter one.

Elves are truely immortal and because of this they have no gods and cannot be priests. {Major significant change from core 2nd ed, also mechanically balances with the greater magic benefit}.

All priests are specialty priests. {Very common in 2nd ed but not the core rules}.

Paladins are also like specialty priests in that they each get different abilities (and spells if using the Book of Priestcraft). {This was a major departure from core 2nd ed where all paladins were the same, unless you took a kit. I also don't recall any other campaign setting in 2nd ed that did this.}

But like I said it was good overall review.
#7
ozbirthrightfan
Jan 29, 2006 17:16:36
Not a bad review.

There are a few things of significance missing, IMO, though.

You forgot to address that in order to cast greter magic you had to be blooded or have elven blood (elf or half-elf). You got the blooded part but missed the latter one.

Actually, the "elven blood" thing for "true magic" is mentioned in the section discussing magic, but not in the part about elves.

Elves are truely immortal and because of this they have no gods and cannot be priests. {Major significant change from core 2nd ed, also mechanically balances with the greater magic benefit}.

Although their immortallity isn't mentioned, their lack of priests is mentioned in the "Atlas of Cerilia" section where the human - elf wars are discussed. I probably should have mentioned it again in the section on races and classes, but I knew it was already too long for a review...

All priests are specialty priests. {Very common in 2nd ed but not the core rules}.

See the first paragraph after the heading "Classes":
"Priests are ALL specialty priests of one of the ‘new’ deities."

Paladins are also like specialty priests in that they each get different abilities (and spells if using the Book of Priestcraft). {This was a major departure from core 2nd ed where all paladins were the same, unless you took a kit. I also don't recall any other campaign setting in 2nd ed that did this.}

True enough, I didn't include that one, and aside from the Paladins of Haelyn, the others are quite different from the 2e PHB Paladin.

But like I said it was good overall review.

Thanks for reading it.
#8
irdeggman
Jan 30, 2006 7:13:46 One other thing (other than that bit with elves having no priests being hidden in the Atlas (it should be in the same place where you talk about all priests, IMO) is that bard spells are different than merely lesser magic.

They only get spells from Illusion, Divination and Enchantment/charm schools.

The first player in our games to run one discovered this after he made his PC up and took magic missile as a spell. Bards do not get all spells of 1 or 2nd level they only get the three schools listed above - which does grant them higher than 2nd level enchantment/cahrm spells.
#9
corvusdarc
Jan 31, 2006 16:15:48 I will be starting a online Birthright game. I am looking for a small number of dedicated gamers to supplement my existing group. Though Birthright, it will be played much as a standard D&D 2nd edition adventure. If you are interested, drop by

http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/darclair/

and check it out.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 redwizard Jan 24, 2006 11:44:37	I'm not familiar with the Birthright campaign setting. Can someone describe the premise?
#2 silverfalcon Jan 24, 2006 16:52:46	The summarised version: 1) The original was written for AD&D. 2) A "sanctioned" 3.5 version has been written (and revised) by those at www.birthright.net 3) The world (Cerilia) has ordinary people and blooded people. Blooded people possess special abilities caused by the essence of the old gods being dispersed when they died during a big battle against the evil god Azrai. PCs can be blooded. 4) Some blooded individuals have supernatural links to the earth. This is related to the power or influence of their church, legal/security buildings, trade network or magical strongpoint. These people are called regents and their "holdings" provide them access to additional actions and magical capabilities in order to rule. PCs can be regents. 5) Bad guys can be standard monsters, monsters from the Shadow World (which is the main other plane used), or standard humanoids (blooded or unblooded) including regents. 6) Some people (like me) play BR just as a standard "tabletop" game. Some people play it just as a game of political intrigue between regents (including as Play-by-email = PBEM). Some people play it as a bit of both. For further info (e.g. classes, races etc), I suggest you go to www.birthright.net. Sorontar.
#3 ranger_reg Jan 24, 2006 20:11:13	I'm not familiar with the Birthright campaign setting. Can someone describe the premise? The premise: Play a ruler at 1st level, as is your "Divine Right of Kings" (that's where the godly bloodlines come in).
#4 solandras Jan 25, 2006 22:18:34	I'm currently playing in a Birthright campaign and thus far it's been really fun. I started off a blooded character, just a thief. However in my adventures (typical normal DnD stuff) I found a town that very much was in my interest to stay in. After digging around a bit I figured out that the locals absolutely hated the local ruler and after a bit I ended up taking the place. After plenty of work I've gone from local city lord to ruling my own country. That is the kind of stuff that birthright can be about. Really it's all up to the DM/Pc's to find a balance of what they would like to play. But for us it's about 80% base DnD, 20% political ruling.
#5 ozbirthrightfan Jan 26, 2006 18:55:41	I wrote a review of the BRCS (Birthright Campaign Setting) for AD&D 2nd Edition over at Dragonsfoot.org; here's the link: http://www.dragonsfoot.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=12183
#6 irdeggman Jan 28, 2006 8:55:58	Not a bad review. There are a few things of significance missing, IMO, though. You forgot to address that in order to cast greter magic you had to be blooded or have elven blood (elf or half-elf). You got the blooded part but missed the latter one. Elves are truely immortal and because of this they have no gods and cannot be priests. {Major significant change from core 2nd ed, also mechanically balances with the greater magic benefit}. All priests are specialty priests. {Very common in 2nd ed but not the core rules}. Paladins are also like specialty priests in that they each get different abilities (and spells if using the Book of Priestcraft). {This was a major departure from core 2nd ed where all paladins were the same, unless you took a kit. I also don't recall any other campaign setting in 2nd ed that did this.} But like I said it was good overall review.
#7 ozbirthrightfan Jan 29, 2006 17:16:36	Not a bad review. There are a few things of significance missing, IMO, though. You forgot to address that in order to cast greter magic you had to be blooded or have elven blood (elf or half-elf). You got the blooded part but missed the latter one. Actually, the "elven blood" thing for "true magic" is mentioned in the section discussing magic, but not in the part about elves. Elves are truely immortal and because of this they have no gods and cannot be priests. {Major significant change from core 2nd ed, also mechanically balances with the greater magic benefit}. Although their immortallity isn't mentioned, their lack of priests is mentioned in the "Atlas of Cerilia" section where the human - elf wars are discussed. I probably should have mentioned it again in the section on races and classes, but I knew it was already too long for a review... All priests are specialty priests. {Very common in 2nd ed but not the core rules}. See the first paragraph after the heading "Classes": "Priests are ALL specialty priests of one of the ‘new’ deities." Paladins are also like specialty priests in that they each get different abilities (and spells if using the Book of Priestcraft). {This was a major departure from core 2nd ed where all paladins were the same, unless you took a kit. I also don't recall any other campaign setting in 2nd ed that did this.} True enough, I didn't include that one, and aside from the Paladins of Haelyn, the others are quite different from the 2e PHB Paladin. But like I said it was good overall review. Thanks for reading it.
#8 irdeggman Jan 30, 2006 7:13:46	One other thing (other than that bit with elves having no priests being hidden in the Atlas (it should be in the same place where you talk about all priests, IMO) is that bard spells are different than merely lesser magic. They only get spells from Illusion, Divination and Enchantment/charm schools. The first player in our games to run one discovered this after he made his PC up and took magic missile as a spell. Bards do not get all spells of 1 or 2nd level they only get the three schools listed above - which does grant them higher than 2nd level enchantment/cahrm spells.
#9 corvusdarc Jan 31, 2006 16:15:48	I will be starting a online Birthright game. I am looking for a small number of dedicated gamers to supplement my existing group. Though Birthright, it will be played much as a standard D&D 2nd edition adventure. If you are interested, drop by http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/darclair/ and check it out.