D&D 5E 5e Greyhawk: What could it look like?

[Knightfall]

I'm pleasantly surprised that Greyhawk is leading the way in the poll I posted. I did not expect that.

So, IF WotC does redo Greyhawk for 5e, what could it look like? I'm sure we all have different opinions about the grand old setting, and I'm sure those that didn't vote for it will have something to say on the matter.

All we have to remember is to keep it civil and discuss the idea rationally. That's why I wrote "could" instead of "should."

Perhaps the idea of an all era campaign book, as mentioned several time in the FR thread, would be the right choice for Greyhawk as well.

Cheers!

KF

 

[Stormonu]

My favorite version has always been the boxed set from '83. It was just detailed enough to get you started, but didn't overload you with history and detail. The layout was a little confusing at times and could use some reorganization, but it held just the right mix of info - a calendar, random encounter tables, a short history, a few paragraphs about each country, a handful of adventure ideas and a few special critters, fauna, flora, allies and knaves to throw at the party.

 

[Saracenus]

Greyhawk is a tough nut. Its been a long time since there has been an official product (not counting the Living Greyhawk Campaign) and the faithful are pretty opinionated about what they think the campaign is and should be.

Frankly, we (Greyhawk was my first campaign) argue about what previously published era a new campaign setting should highlight. I and a few others have argued the Battlestar Galactica 2.0 model al la the SyFy channel. That is just the folks that hang out at canonfire.org.

If you want die hard, go and hang out at dragonsfoot.com and asked those guys (because some of them actually played in the original campaign with Gary, not the published one). Edition wars there is anything beyond 1e is hearsay.

Then there are all the folks that have their fond memories from Living Greyhawk and 3e. Those folks wrote their own stories and it would be difficult if not impossible to collect the material from that. Even if you could, the ownership issues of the adventures not purchased by WotC prevent any real use of the LG material.

So while a D&D Next version of Greyhawk would be a nice nostalgia trip for me I don't think it is terribly realistic. And frankly, without a book line to leverage revenue, Greyhawk is not really in contention.

I welcome our continued Forgotten Realms Overloards...

 

[Keefe the Thief]

A 5e Greyhawk would look like a giantic, cross-D&D flamewar of epic proportions filled with "Gary's legacy sullied again!", "why didn't Mona write this?" and copious amounts of "you raped my childhood!" There is no way Wotc can escape this effect except if they find the lost Dead Sea Greyhawk Scrolls written by the Gax himself.

 

[billd91]

It should look pretty much Greyhawk in any other edition, just with any rule specific info quietly presented in 5e terms. There should be no special event in the Flanaess to "justify" the new edition changes in mechanical content, it should be presented as if the current way is the way it has always been.

 

[Kaodi]

I think that much of the map details outside of the Flanaess I would nuke from orbit, unless those ugly maps of Western Oerik I have been seeing were in fact based on something from or approved by Gygax.

 

[scruffygrognard]

1st off, you NEED the giant maps like the '83 boxed set.

After that, you'd detail the various kingdoms and their connection to one another (who their allies and enemies are, and who they trade with, cultural groups, etc), and give details on the gods of Greyhawk (including notes on where those gods are worshiped or reviled).
Finally, you'd give ideas for adventures in Greyhawk and give an overview of wilderlands to be explored and of classic adventure arcs/settings. For the development of the world, I'd look to input from Carl Sargeant and some old-schoolers who worked on Greyhawk (like Rob Kuntz and Frank Mentzer).

A quintessential, follow-up product would be Castle Zagyg. Gail Gygax has EGG's notes, so they could work from those with help from Jeff Talanian, Rob Kuntz and Frank Mentzer. You'd build old-school cred and goodwill from fans immediately.

 

[grimslade]

Greyhawk Next

I love Greyhawk, but there is a lot of product out there already. A summation of the events of 8 years of Living Greyhawk would be a nice treat. A nice batch of new modules/adventures would be keen. I would like to see more support with novels, DDI articles, and adventures than a revamped setting. Maybe a focused campaign book a la Neverwinter would be a nice addition.

 

[kitsune9]

My favorite version has always been the boxed set from '83.

Me too!

 

[thedungeondelver]

An '81 WORLD OF GREYHAWK folio with an insert that reads "It's all OK. It was just a nightmare. There's no such thing as Sean K. Reynolds, Carl Sargent or Erik Mona."

I kid! I kid!

I think one that picks and chooses from the best-received post-Gygax material, adds a timeline and emphasizes to the Dungeon Master that they can jump in in any era and snap off everything above it and develop as they go.

Don't force DMs into acceding that G123 AGAINST THE GIANTS and so on have already happened, or that the TEMPLE OF ELEMENTAL EVIL has risen, fallen, risen again, and fallen again.

Make those good old modules viable paths for adventuring again - that way if a DM wants to

(note: I did not say Adventure Path )
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