D&D General Greyhawk setting material

[Hussar]

The notion of local vs epic fantasy is a pretty solid difference between FR and Greyhawk. Looking at the modules, by and large, in Greyhawk, you have pretty local problems being solved by mercenary PC's. Forgotten Realms is a lot more epic in scope - cast of thousands, large, sprawling events, that sort of thing.

But the fantasy part isn't what differentiates the settings. Greyhawk featured some pretty gonzo stuff. Sure, the original PC's in Gygax' crew were largely human or demi-human, but, again, that was a reflection of the times. It was the mid-70's. 99% of the stranger races hadn't even been thought of. I'm not interested in playing D&D with all the options turned off. I like the options.

And, really, since I mostly got back into Greyhawk with Paizohawk, the destruction of cultures in the north don't really faze me. I just don't care since I never played there and never ran anything in that area. Having the Scarlet Bros in the open makes it a lot more interesting when you're centered around the Azure Sea and southwards.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The issue with Greyhawk is because it was the original default setting for all published models it accreted lots of content created by lots of different authors with lots of different visions (Saltmarsh being dumped in Keoland is a prime example). As such, it became a muddy mess.

No reason you can't strip it back to something more Gygaxian if you want, but there is no "One True Greyhawk", it's whatever you want to make of it.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

Settings (D&D or otherwise) are defined as much by what isn't present as by what is.

 

[Zardnaar]

Settings (D&D or otherwise) are defined as much by what isn't present as by what is.

Depends on the setting. Krynn and Darksun don't have a lot if phb races back when they were around.

Greyhawk was Humanocentric so was Ravenloft.

If you're cutting races to fit new ones in kind of implies all races don't have to be there.

The main reason more than a few people are recommending the 1983 set is.

1. It's good/bare boned.
2. Avoids a lot of the metaplot that plagues old campaign settings.

They can add bits and pieces into it, Vecna for example but it also makes things easier for new players.

Even 4E Darksun had the sense to ignore a lot of 2E metaplot. TSR literally blew up every world they had with realms shaking events or the equivalent.

Greyhawk Wars, Grand Conjunction, Prism Pentad, second cataclysm, second inhuman war etc.

We already have FR kitchen sink, Mearls gets GH though from the sounds of it.

I expect some new stuff,I don't think they'll go to overboard maybe add Dragonborn is about as exotic as I expect just to cover the phb, Drow already exist, Tieflings make sense based on old lore, Dragonborn not so much one way or another.

 

[lowkey13]

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[qstor]

The Paizo maps from Dragon or Dungeon are also nice.

Yeah they're great and one sale IIRC on paizo.com

 

[qstor]

So I just picked up Ghost of Saltmarsh and I have only read the first chapter but have scanned it over many times. I'm really enjoying the write up on Saltmarsh. I've always played and ran games in FR and have setting material for that setting (old grey box). My question is, what is a good start for Greyhawk material. I wish to learn more about the setting. I DM 5e but if I'm not mistaken this setting never really got an update through the editions did it? Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

I'd get the '83 boxed set AND the Living Greyhawk Gazetter depending on how much money you want to spend and then
Greyhawk the adventure begins

 

[Parmandur]

Ghosts of Saltmarsh rolls back the metaplot to Year One, but Mearls included a bunch of stuff from Living Greyhawk as hooks on the regional Gazeeter. I reckon this is what they will do with any further products.

 

[lowkey13]

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[Ralif Redhammer]

So, the Tirapheg and Umpleby? I'd honestly love to see a Greyhawk sourcebook with a mini-Fiend Folio in the back. We've seen a number of them appear, but there's still a ton to mine from.

As for player options, I could see some backgrounds being included. A thief-acrobat Rogue subclass. Some new and updated spells from Tenser, Mordenkainen, and Melf would be pretty cool. Not sure anyone would get excited about a Valley Elf subrace, though. The rest of the stuff I'd associate with Greyhawk has already been absorbed into D&D's DNA by now.

What I would expect from a 5E Greyhawk setting book:
3. Monsters, particularly any 1E monsters that haven't made it into a book by this time, no matter how weird.
I can't think what player options Greyhawk might ask for...