Chimera Institute Setting - Dev Log #1
- Shylah Hunter
- Jan 6
- 4 min read
Updated: Jan 6
Chimera Institute: An Upcoming Setting Book by Wick & Wand
"The Chimera Institute prides itself on being the last bastion of hope on Los Lokai, a once dying world now afforded a chance at prosperity. Positioned as a prestigious school for arcane learning, the Chimera Institute ushers students into its halls from a myriad of other planes, uniting them under one alma mater.
Chimera's research team, led by the enigmatic Chancellor Fain, have long been revered as saviors for their groundbreaking methods of reversing the “Extumus”, a deadly fog that once threatened to consume all of Los Lekai. However, the discovery of an old relic by a group of unassuming students unravels a mystery that has long been suppressed: Chimera was founded on a singular, chilling lie, and there are people in power desperate enough to keep the evidence buried at the cost of everything."
Project Overview
We are extremely excited to announce the beginning of our development journey with the Chimera Institute setting book! Magic colleges have been around in popular media for quite some time. For this particular project, we wanted a couple of concepts to take center stage:
A Sense of Mystery
The Intrigue of an Academia Setting
Character Driven Stories
An Arcane College Setting
Magic schools have enchanted audiences for decades, becoming iconic settings in popular media. From the halls of Hogwarts in Harry Potter to the arcane lessons at Brakebills University in The Magicians and countless magical academies in anime, these institutions blend the universal experience of school life with the wonder of the supernatural. This unique combination can still create a relatable story. In these worlds, the ordinary—like exams and friendships—meets the extraordinary, such as spellcasting and battling mythical creatures.
At their heart, stories set in magic schools are about growth and transformation. They take the classic coming-of-age arc and amplify it with magic, making struggles like self-discovery, relationships, and moral dilemmas even more vivid. Whether it's facing a terrifying prophecy or mastering a spell with dangerous moral repurcussions, the stakes feel higher but remain grounded in universal emotions.
This is what we got excited about when conceptualizing this setting. We wanted to create something that put characters first, and we believe this is the type of setting that provides a natural framework for diverse characters to connect, clash, and grow. It’s no wonder magic schools continue to be popular in the media—they’re the perfect stage for stories about becoming who we’re meant to be.
Features You Can Expect to Dive into with Chimera:
An Extensive Class Catalog
We currently have a list of roughly 140 named courses in the catalog we're putting together for this book! You could potentially plan a “4 year graduation plan” if you wanted to for RP purposes. However, RP isn’t the only reason we’ve included this course list.
We’re considering adding a “class boons” system. With this system, under the DM’s discretion, each player can receive a small boon in the form of +1 skill increases, a feat, etc for passing a course for the semester. These boons wouldn’t infinitely stack with all semesters, however. We want a limiter of some sort, where a player can choose which “boons” they have active at a particular time.
In the catalog, we’d provide suggestions for what kind of reward a player can receive for completing a course. Players can then strategize on what courses they’d like to take!
40+ Fully Developed NPCs
Within the walls of the Chimera Institute, we're developing an extensive cast of students and faculty! Our goal is to provide DM's with a ready-to-go cast of 40+ fully developed NPCs, each with their distinct personalities, motivations, and plot hooks. DMs can pick and choose who they'd like to include in their campaign or cycle through NPCs depending on who the group meshes with.
Players will be able to reveal an NPC's secrets using the "Deck of Bonding" mini-game, another bit of content we're very excited about including!
3 Unique Mini-game Systems
During their time at the Chimera Institute, players will have a chance to enjoy 3 original mini-game systems to play out fun and unique scenarios. They may build relationships using the "Deck of Bonding" mini-game. Perhaps they'll have a chance to challenge their fellow party members and NPCs using the "Arcane Dueling" mini-game, or up the stakes and the venue by engaging in full-blown combat in the "Spire" arena!
The Narrative Begins
Admissions
As one of the most prestigious schools for arcane study, the Chimera Institute’s reputation is known far and wide across the planes. Arcane practitioners of immense talent and ambition from all over covet a seat at the Chimera Institute. However, there is no official application process for those who wish to demonstrate their skill; all admissions into the school are through invitation only. With its ever-watchful eyes, the Chimera Institute monitors the planes, searching for those who exhibit the qualities the College most prizes: "dedication, loyalty, and the courage to insight progress".
Some who enter the Institute can recall a specific "inciting moment" that triggered their invitation. Maybe it was an act of brilliance or immense sacrifice that sparked the appearance of the "Chimera mark".
Once deemed worthy, prospective students who receive the mark are sent a letter of admission by the headmaster himself: Chancellor Fain. Those who accept the offer will make their way to the plane of Los Lekai by escort, Chimera Institute’s home and base of operations. Some expect to return to their homes someday, while others never look back.
The Six Colleges
College of Martial & Abjuration Studies
College of Augury & Spiritual Studies
College of Elemental Evocation & Expression
College of Runecraft & Enchantment
College of Arcane Theorycraft & Infusion
College of Medica and Alchemy
As we embark on this exciting journey to bring the Chimera Institute to life, we're thrilled to share the creative process with you! This dev log is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to delve deeper into the mysteries, mechanics, and magic that make Chimera unique. Stay tuned for weekly updates, where we’ll explore everything from mini-games to in-depth character profiles, NPC dynamics, and beyond!
Shylah Hunter
A graphic designer by profession, and a long-time fan of all things RPG and tabletop, Shylah actively devotes her creative energy towards laying a path between the world of visual design and storytelling.
コメント