General RPG DiscussionDiscussion of all RPGs and non-system-specific topics. DM/GM/player issues, settings, etc. Rules discussion belongs in one the forums below.
So, on topic, the campaign setting announcement will be at the "D&D 4th Edition Extravaganza," which will detail a ton of products. It looks like the first one is on Friday at noon, and there will be another Saturday at noon (of course, it won't be "news" by that point). Make sure you check the schedule yourself, but that's the seminar name!
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That's not what "everything is core" means. The different campaign settings are still completely separate settings, even though they use the same cosmological framework. The PHB gods do not exist in FR, for example (though some happen to have the same names.)
correction: it's not what it CURRENTLY means.
That each Core world has its own gods is a longstanding D&D tradition. There are reams of them for FR. Eberron has its own. There isn't a set list of Astral Dominions, and all the planes are the same. Heck, Eberron has just decided that its planes are sections of the larger, pre-made planes used.
Granted, you could be right. However, the idea that everything is officially one big setting allows WOTC to say "ok everyone, here's more core material you get to pick up". They do that now, but making it official makes more sense. More imperative, if you understand me.
One thing I find frustrating is the apparent need for each campaign setting to embrace every last aspect of 4e races and classes, meaning every campaign will include the kitchen sink. Bleh.
I find that a campaign setting is often special as much for what it excludes in addition to new things that it includes.
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Eh, there's only one setting they could choose that would really make me irate.
Sadly, that's the one a lot of people say they're going to go with :<
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I am wondering how long till the first thread about what the NEXT setting will be
I don't think I will be that annoyed as much as I would be, if it wasn't for DDI. Since even if it is a setting I won't get, at the very least I will be able to take what crunch I want from the setting through DDI without buying it.
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I am wondering how long till the first thread about what the NEXT setting will be
It's an interesting question.
If they go with something odd, like Dark Sun, this time, that suggests they think there are enough quasi-medieval settings, so the chances of going back to Dragonlance are slim.
Perhaps DL this year and Dark Sun next year -- but they're running out of major well-known settings if we discard ones where significant aspects are now included in the extended-core (Planescape via MotP and DMG2, Spelljammer via Adventurer's Vault, Ravenloft via Domains of Dread, etc). What's left? Mystara?
Perhaps DL this year and Dark Sun next year -- but they're running out of major well-known settings if we discard ones where significant aspects are now included in the extended-core (Planescape via MotP and DMG2, Spelljammer via Adventurer's Vault, Ravenloft via Domains of Dread, etc). What's left? Mystara?
Mystara is a possibility, but the way Chris Perkins talked on a podcast (the Tome Show?), it definitely did not sound like Mystara was even on the radar.
We know that the setting has an A in it, so that rules out Birthright. And from what Chris Perkins said, it sounds like Birthright may not make a comeback. Likewise, I doubt it's Council of Wyrms.
The two big contenders seem to be Dragonlance and Dark Sun. My money is on Dark Sun. With the release of psionics next year, and the re-release of the Prism Pentad, there will be no greater time for Dark Sun to make its 4th edition appearance.
Another good possibility is Greyhawk. With the passing of Gygax and Arneson, it would be a good time to capitalize on the nostalgia factor and to do a major reboot.
Other possibilities, which are much less likely, include:
1. Taladas - Dragonlance's other continent, which includes 3 instances of the letter A
2. Maztica - Never popular, and wiped out in the Realms anyway.
3. Al-Qadim - Arabian Adventures!
4. Kara-Tur - Only if presented as the home of Oriental Adventures.
5. Tale of the Comet - Unlikely, but boy would it be fun!
6. Ghostwalk - Possibly, but I don't think it got that great of a reception.
7. Blackmoor - I don't think WotC has the rights to this.
Blackmoor is being done by Code Monkey Publishing I think in conjunction with Zeitgeist Games. They just released the first 4E book for it.
From the CMP website:
Dave Arneson's Blackmoor: The First Campaign, is released under the 4th Edition rules set!
Dave Arneson’s Blackmoor™
The First Fantasy Campaign!
When Dave Arneson co-created Dungeons & Dragons in 1972, he incubated the game in his own setting—the world of Blackmoor. Now, four editions of the game and nearly as many decades later, you can play the newest version of the rules in the oldest fantasy setting! Explore the mysteries of Castle Blackmoor, battle the invading hordes of the ruthless Afridhi, or elude the schemes of the dread Egg of Coot. The possibilities for adventure are endless… and they await!
Retail Price Print: $40.00 U.S.
Retail Price PDF: $30.00 U.S. - Available in our Store and on RPGNow.
Page Count: 240
Author: C.A. Suleiman, Ari Marmell, Owen K.C. Stephens, Tim Hitchcock, M. Alexander Jurkat Developer: C.A. Suleiman
Release: June 2009
Type of Book: Campaign Setting
A setting for players of Fourth Edition Dungeons & Dragons
For Players
● The only licensed, second-party setting for players of the new 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons game
● Six new base classes to play, from the Arcane Warrior to the Wokan
● Hundreds of new powers and scores of new paragon paths and feats
● Complete, ready-to-play setting includes NPCs and new monsters
Dark Sun this year, and one of the setting search laureate next year. Because time has come for something new.
This.
But, it's possible that Dark Sun might be backstabbed for quintuple damage old-school style and be replaced by a retro 4e Greyhawk.
Definitely, though, 2011 will be something new.
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Characters & Games
Books currently in play: Dungeon & Dragon Magazine (*Scales of War AP*), WOTC 4e Core and Supplemental books
Current Campaign: Scales of War - Lost Mines of Karak -- Kodirgo, Minotaur Barbarian 6; Vondal, Dwarf Cleric 6; Karithul, Gnome Bard 6; Marshaun, Elf Druid 6
1. Taladas - Dragonlance's other continent, which includes 3 instances of the letter A
Nah, they'd have that as a page in the DLCS, if anywhere.
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2. Maztica - Never popular, and wiped out in the Realms anyway.
yeah.
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3. Al-Qadim - Arabian Adventures!
technically also in the realms. Imagine the ironic plays on our current quagmires in the middle east! Woooo... hack, wheeze.
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4. Kara-Tur - Only if presented as the home of Oriental Adventures.
Or Rokugan. Don't they own the rights to it or something?
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6. Ghostwalk - Possibly, but I don't think it got that great of a reception.
yeah, no. It's a monte cook setting anyway, and I believe he's more of a fan of d20; and it's not oldschool.
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7. Blackmoor - I don't think WotC has the rights to this.
I'm sure they could get the rights, but yeah, it's already a setting for 4e. It and Scarred Lands.
Speaking of which, how closely does the Blackmoor 4e setting a) go with Arneson's original setting, and b) relate to Greyhawk proper?
I'm reading the Dungeon 112 issue, Maure Castle. I admit, I'm becoming interested in reading up on Greyhawk as a setting.
If it was Greyhawk 2010, what would the significant changes to the setting be? FR killed off all its powerful mages. Would something be done for Mordenkainen? Maybe trapped beneath Castle Greyhawk, or in some artifact, by arch fiends?
I expect some NPCs would be statted up, including epics like Yggwylv, Xagyg, and other major threats. Probably also some artifacts of note. The module for the setting could be a revist of a famous dungeon, if we're going old school.
What would the mechanic introduced be? better trap design?
Or Rokugan. Don't they own the rights to it or something?
No, that's AEG. I was in some sort of weird transition when Oriental Adventures 3e came out. I don't remember the specifics.
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yeah, no. It's a monte cook setting anyway, and I believe he's more of a fan of d20; and it's not oldschool.
Well....4e is d20. Was there mention anywhere that the setting would be an old school setting?
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If it was Greyhawk 2010, what would the significant changes to the setting be? FR killed off all its powerful mages. Would something be done for Mordenkainen? Maybe trapped beneath Castle Greyhawk, or in some artifact, by arch fiends?
I expect some NPCs would be statted up, including epics like Yggwylv, Xagyg, and other major threats. Probably also some artifacts of note. The module for the setting could be a revist of a famous dungeon, if we're going old school.
The running theory is that if Greyhawk was ever released in 4e, it would be a reboot where they go back to the original Greyhawk setup before the Greyhawk Wars. So, for example, you would have the classic members of the Circle of Eight.
For an adventure...maybe they'd do a 4e version of Castle Greyhawk?
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