Mundesa: The world you live in, the world you will change.
Mundesa is a Psuedo-Modern world where instead of Science, Magic is the source of all advancement. Weapons and armor function in the same way but the culture is like that of the Modern world, so no Ye Old English. Magic has lead to interesting inventoins, such as flintlock pistols and rifles(which fall under a new class of weapons which require training to gain the proficiencies. Military Weapons proficancy) There is a 2% chance the weapon will explode when fired to most people still use bows and crossbows for long range combat.
Due to the more learned nature and how available magic items have become everyone starts with at least 1 rank in Use Magic Device. There are several new skills but they won't come into effect for the players. Mostly they will be used by the new NPC class of Engineer (the people that make this stuff).
Sadly players starting as Barbarians are exempt from the auto Magic Device rank due the fact that the class itself is not known for its Intelligence skills. However it is available to gain through normal means.
Now onto the factions of the world. All the gods are the same and currently the world is at peace with itself... Mostly. There are three major countries.
The gnomes and the humans have joined together to form a massive empire called The Republic of Itarion, it is run much like Ancient Rome government wise. Most of the advanced technology comes from this Super Power and they are a very proud of that fact. Most residents believe the Republic to be superior to the rest of the world and thus the Empire is growing rapidly. The Republic is in the middle of all of this and has the most contact with the coast of all the nations.
The Elves and druids are staying holed up in the Greywilde Forests, just southeast of the Republic. They currently hate the Republic because of its disregard for nature and its every expanding mentality. Their capital is Roseelf. All elven cities currently look like clearings in a forest to the untrained eye (basically you need a ranger, druid, or someone who has been there before in your party to even know you’re in one). Government wise they run like a Monarchy. Their technology comes from the forest so they have advanced herbal medicines and the Druids have managed to gain a deeper understanding of the forests and have increased the number of Tree Ents that protect the woods.
Finally the Dwarves: They rule a massive mountain range to the north that reaches down south in almost an upside-down L and control the land next to the mountains as well. This range is named the Ironlyn Mountains. Technology wise they rival the Republic but their technology is slightly less magic based and more good ol' Dwarven Ingenuity. They are at peace with everyone and are trading like crazy.
There are some pocket civilizations down south and across the waves but they have yet to make any major impact on the Super Powers.
Sadly I do not have a world map and if anyone wants to draw one that would be great.
One last note:
The racial tension between the Humans and the Elves is more between the Republic and the Greywilde elves. Most adventure parties come from non-Super Power Countries (I will not restrict you to make someone from one of them though).
Also Magic-users that come from the republic are HIGHLY regulated and anyone that seems to have a spark for the Arcane is taken from there families (though still allowed visitation) and taught by the Order, a group of government Mages that regulate magical research in the Republic.
Non-Order Mages that come from the Republic are rare because the Order actively hunts and forces them to join.
