Welcome to the Nolaria Dungeons and Dragons Campaign, created and run by Mark Norton. Mark has been playing and running D&D campaigns since 1977. As you might expect, play has evolved considerably over that time since. The original boxed set of rules didn't really provide much depth to set up a game and run it effectively. Later editions of the rules improved that situation and Mark's gaming group used AD&D2 for many, many years. Now the time has come to move on to DDed5 with the introduction of two new Game Settings: Petronia and Mahan. Petronia was designed for in-person play, while Mahan has been optimized for on-line/isolated play.
Petronia is set in the northeast corner of Nolaria, an area rich in ancient ruins and the history of two mighty civilizations that both fell to darkness. Both of these culture, one of men the other of dwarves were based on high magic and powerful technology. A new nation is rising out of the ashes of an old empire providing a place ripe for new heroes and mighty deeds. You are invited to play in Petronia and explore both ancient days and modern times.
Get started by reading the Petronia Start-up page.
The Kingdom of Norberg is divided into thirteen "baronies", one of which is Mahan. Near the center of the kingdom, Mahan is on the seacoast and quite close to Marcoux, the capital of the kingdom, where the King sits in state. Norberg has the feel of late medieval Europe, advanced via magic and some technology. This evolution is on-going as new discoveries improve society and making some very rich. You are invited to play remotely in the Mahan Game Setting.
Get started by reading the Mahan Start-up page.
Campaign Settings
Over the years, play was focused on one of several "Campaign Settings". The latest of these setting is the Petronia setting, which invites players to explore the ruins of an ancient civilization. Many other areas of Nolaria have been used as game settings. While the stories and people involved in these settings won't have much impact on the latest setting, the do provide an overall backdrop for the larger campaign. It means that there is a wealth of detail should you ever choose to wander a bit further than the local game. Who knows where fate will take you?
Other campaign settings have included:
Norberg
Picture renaissance Europe with magic added to modernize things a bit. Norberg is a kingdom in the classic sense - ruled by King Forsigne along with his queen, Genise. The kingdom is broken into a dozen or so baronies and two major cities (Kittleton and Marcoux). The dominant religion is Omiism, a mono-theistic faith modeled on Christianity. Norberg has several places of adventure including Bannoff Castle Dungeon, a classic D&D dungeon with a few interesting twists.
Oka
Oka is the religious center of the Mernia Empire. Mernia is the oldest nation on the Nolaria continent with a very late Roman flavor. It's glory days are in the past and the government is corrupt and more interested in gladiator games than in fostering society. Oka has several large temples to the Nolar gods: Zutin the Great, Helmina the Mother, Delharia goddess of knowledge and many others. Game play touches on politics and intrigue in a very old country. Magic is powerful, but no longer practiced much.
Goa
The cit of Goa lies on the west shore of Lake Harrow on the northern side of Nolaria. It's a city state run by a council of members drawn from the old families, rich merchants and others. Located near some of the more wild parts of the world, it is a base of operations to explore ancient ruins, dark forests, and mountains with dragons and terrible monsters. Goa preserves some of the magic studied in Mernia, but lacks it's great universities. The religions of Omiism and Nolarism are in competition here, roughly balanced and both hating the other.
Mernia
Centered around Lake Darnnock and extending all the way to the eastern ocean, the Mernian Empire is a sprawling land of gods, legions, high civilization, and terrible magics. Sadly, the glory days of the empire is over and Mernia is slipping slowly into decline. The Oka Game Setting was focused on religious intrigue, slave rebellions, and demonic terrorists. The Petronia Game Setting was once part of the mighty empire, but makes its own way now that the emperor doesn't seem to care.