This is a project I wish I could just buy. But it doesn’t exist, so I’m now thinking of just making it myself.

Oaths of the Waldstädten is a Folk-Heroic Alpine Fantasy Roleplaying Setting based on the center of Switzerland around 1300: This is where the story of Wiliam Tell takes place. This is where the Rütli Oath was alledgedly sworn.

Shit’s going down around Lake Lucerne right about that time and I think it’s the perfect campaign setting for a low magic fantasy setting. I also believe that for a campaign setting to actually be fun, some liberty has to be taken with historical accuracy: I’d rather the setting be full of hooks and factions and drama than being what actually happened back then.

Oh, and we need Elves and Dwarves and Monsters and stuff. Switzerland has a bunch of legends and stories that can be used for monsters. I think there is enough room to add in other stuff too. Say Dwarves: Maybe they’re building a tunnel through the Gotthard massive, a highway that, when finished, will change the flow of goods drastically. This would shift the power away from the route over the mountain and I’m sure there are a bunch of people in power that are opposed to that happening.

Elves I imagine as a travelling people, wandering from place to place and telling stories, trading goods, singing songs of legends happening far away. Is there an ancestral homeland for the elves? Maybe? But it’s far outside the bounds of this campaign setting, which really is just the four cantons around lake Lucerne and maybe a small bit further.

I expect to write up more about this idea in the future. Mainly: What are the concrete (historical) pressures involved? What are the various Factions? What are the Locations?

I’ll draw a map. And maybe even do some art. And try to figure out how big this should be. Ideally we can keep it zine-sized.