"Believe what?" asked Shadow. "What should I believe?"
"Everything" roared the buffalo man.

What am I getting myself into?

The work of BDcraft has been a long time coming. Started in May of 2023, BDcraft is the work of one man with a full-time job (A minecraft RP server owner being employed? Shocking I know), Graduate studies and a start up business, all while pursuing his passion for worldbuilding. The product of this hobby has ended up in the form of a MCRP server styled in OSR (Old-School Renaissance) fashion. Having played on a plethora of MCRP servers, and worked as various positions such as Manager and Admin, the Owner decided to make one of his own, exactly as he saw fit, and with the happenstance of others being able to enjoy it as well. Eventually, this passion project has resulted into BDcraft. 

Above all, BDcraft is an experience with depth, with all aspects of the world being consummately the work of thousands of hours of research, rather than a typical "Kitchen-sink" setting. No race, flora/fauna, culture or any other aspect of the world has been created for the sake of checking a fantasy-setting box; this is a unique setting with heavy inspiration of traditional fantasy, in which players will find things new and old they gravitate to and are familiar with, or are seeing for the first time. 

What is the setting?

The setting of this server is fantasy, with the typical tropes everyone loves; the hearty Dwarves and nature-loving Elves, the brutish badlands race (called the Mer here) and the populous Humans, all fighting various forces against them as well as each other on occasion. Specifically, a focus is on OSR, as well as Sword & Sorcery. A shift from numerous tropes was desired as well, such as leaning away from purely Eurocentric fantasy, and expanding into more diverse (as well as a few entirely unique) cultures. Rather than High Fantasy with magicians flinging god-powered spells and every tavern filled with a creature cantina, BDcraft is a more low-fantasy setting with magic being rare, dangerous and unpredictable, and the various races being more humanoid, with the less-humanoid like the Mer being far more outcast. 

This choice for inspiration sets a particular, and very important tone for the server. It is gritty and real, though not so much as Grimdark. An adventurer does not simply slay every foe that comes across their path, but rather tactfully chooses battles, of which they may be wise to avoid. A knight and his party do not slay a dragon, even if they bear great magicks, but rather a full army of a city may be fortunate to abate the attacks of the scaled beast. This is an experience of real characters, not superheroes. No mortal is guaranteed success, or even to be the hero. Such may happen, but it is not to be expected. When victory is attained, it is earned, bestowed upon the truly heroic.

What is the lore?

One key factor of BDcraft that is important to understand for all players, is that a good deal of secrecy is being held. Many who will be reading this will have played on other servers where nearly all information is available for players to read: The location to find various highly rare materials, the magic a player holds, exotic items that exist in the vaults of kings, and perhaps even the daily routine and personal goals of a god. This will not do for the vision of BDcraft, as this ruins the magic of discovery. Far be it from this experience to spoil everything and show it's cards; rather, going out and learning of things in game, through events, others, books, or environmental storytelling is far more immersive and rewarding. 

All things are intended to be player driven, or character written. Even things posted by staff are things written in-character (unless explicitly stated such as this post for example) whether it be theirs or someone in the background. This goes for all future lore as well: rather than getting an approval through discord that you can build a house, one may receive an official letter from the nation they are developing land for, all in the goal of immersion.

It is intended that, once players discover things in game, they make forum posts of their discoveries to allow the server (and the greater world of Volantis) to know of their deeds. For example, nothing about molzen and it's ore kobelt are ever going to be released as official information beyond a summary of the mineral's details, leaving all the discovery of it's location, crude form, extraction, refinement, refined form appearance and properties up to the players. This may be frustrating to some, but remember; the goal of BDcraft is not to win, but to play. There may only ever be one person to be first for something, and the magicks, materials, lore, history, lost cultures, materials and more secrets of the lands do not divulge their details so easily. Who knows, you may discover a brand new creature which no one has seen before and decide to name it after a loved one, cementing your mark on the server forever. 

This is a world of pure potential, fueled by the writing of players aided by me and any staff that follow. Here can the story be written by the players, where they create the story rather than they be told. I hope that you enjoy, and may you RP to your hearts content. 

Besides, isn't it written? "There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil." The Lord has blessed me with the opportunity to develop a labor of love, and I will develop this idea to the absolute best of my ability, along with anyone who wishes to join along.

If you are interested in getting involved and do not already know me, DM me on discord at #BDanecker Otherwise, enjoy the show.

Vision and Goals of BDcraft