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

[bergec]

I fully intend to make Greyhawk the setting of my first D&D Next campaign, so I have been re-reading the old 1983 box set books. As someone pointed out, apart from some organization issues, they are surprisingly solid and mostly setting material. I have no pressing need for an official version but, of course, would welcome one.

I'd like to see it reflect the 576CY version of the world with minimal alterations, maybe just some cleanup here and there to reflect changes in how races and classes work. I would not be opposed to some additions where they make sense (e.g. tieflings to reflect those in the Horned Society, Iuz, and Great Kingdom who have pacted with devils and been tainted) but resisting the urge to shoehorn every new race or class into the setting. Keep the level of detail pretty much as it was in the boxed set (ie. just enough to get you started, plenty of room to improvise and add).

I would prefer the Greyhawk Wars to be a separate campaign book for those who wish to play through it or in its aftermath.

 

[DMKastmaria]

Re-released a slightly cleaned up version of the original folio. With a sturdier cover, though. Add the Gods from Gary's Dragon Magazine articles, for those not hip on "Church of Crom, Scientist."

Use Darlene's maps.

Never, ever, ever Advance a Timeline. If someone has to write novels, that's cool, but let each author create their own timeline, just like every DM does.

 

[hafrogman]

I often think it'd be interesting to explore something new with the established worlds. Or rather something old. New products push the story forward, incorporating the last set of adventures, products and suchforth. But what about the other direction? There's plenty of history, room for great adventures and taking part in the building of the world that people have been enjoying for decades. Not just Greyhawk, I think it'd be an interesting approach for any of the old settings to get republished.

 

[amerigoV]

I often think it'd be interesting to explore something new with the established worlds.

That reminded me of a thought I had a few months ago around this topic - perhaps instead of saying "here is the push forward in time" - have a couple of alternate outcomes. Release a couple of books that outlines interesting directions you can take the world, plot point campaigns (to steal something awesome from the Savage Worlds approach).

Examples:

- Go back in time and run the old ToEE/Giants combo/Demonweb/etc
- What if the forces of ToEE won? More "postapoc" than anything else
- Next steps post Greyhawk wars
- One of the ancient civs thought destroyed rises back up out of the desert

So they are not an official canon direction, but some options for new directions DMs can take things. Those that enjoy the world and like new material have some interesting options to consider. Those that just run their own stuff in the world can either yank what they like or just completely ignore it.

 

[Stormonu]

Re-released a slightly cleaned up version of the original folio. With a sturdier cover, though. Add the Gods from Gary's Dragon Magazine articles, for those not hip on "Church of Crom, Scientist."

Use Darlene's maps.

Never, ever, ever Advance a Timeline. If someone has to write novels, that's cool, but let each author create their own timeline, just like every DM does.

Okay, this is the second time it's come up. What's the driving difference between the folio and the boxed set?

 

[DMKastmaria]

Okay, this is the second time it's come up. What's the driving difference between the folio and the boxed set?

The folio booklet is 32 pages long. The boxed set's two books total 128 pages.

The former is pretty much perfect, for DIY DM's to take and make their own. I do like the boxed set, though.

My only criticism of the folio is that its lacking the gods. But, I really like the Greyhawk gods, so there ya go.

 

[renau1g]

I often think it'd be interesting to explore something new with the established worlds. Or rather something old. New products push the story forward, incorporating the last set of adventures, products and suchforth. But what about the other direction? There's plenty of history, room for great adventures and taking part in the building of the world that people have been enjoying for decades. Not just Greyhawk, I think it'd be an interesting approach for any of the old settings to get republished.

Yup, there's definitely a need for this...here's a trip back in time....


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgyvMp5YWcI]Back in Time - Back to the Future Music Video - YouTube[/ame]

Or more recently:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28tOorGq8Hs[/ame]

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Put me down for reseting the timeline to the folio, then locking it without advancing. I'd be OK with the level of detail from the LGG, and fine with adding in some of the adventuring locales that were introduced later, like those from the various Paizo Adventure Paths.

What I wouldn't want the setting to do is have some built-in assumption that doesn't allow reuse of the classic adventure modules and later adventures without significant setting rework. It's much easier for a DM to advance his own campaign forward than it is to revert a setting to an earlier time once published.

 

[ren1999]

A 5e Greyhawk could be the setting aimed at groups who choose to run their games as simply as possible. Similarly, there might be a 5e Eberron which aims to appeal to groups who want everything, the kitchen sink, and the whole vanity set as well. It'd be good to see campaign settings freed from the expectation that they must include everything somewhere, somehow.

Please see the map that I made that includes all worlds so the fans and previous designers can participate in a collective 5E feeling. It allows parties to go from one world to another in the same campaign story.
http://kira3696.tripod.com/

This is a world that includes most previous D&D campaigns. In this world, magicians have gone back in time to introduce various things such as plate armor, longbows, pikes, and other things to an alternate earth of about 20,000 years ago as the ice started to melt. Conan's world is even here as are the gods of the original Deities and Demigods. The reason that guns and gunpowder is shunned is that magic in this world is stronger and more convenient. Now casters do know the secret of gun powder but they keep it a closely guarded secret in order to subject the races of Orcs, and other less intelligent races into doing their bidding in this alternate earth past.

This will also allow for all of the Gazetteer material of ancient Rome (a wizard from Rome goes back in time to recreate an empire like the Rome he knew), Vikings, etc..

 

[Ichneumon]

Please see the map that I made that includes all worlds so the fans and previous designers can participate in a collective 5E feeling. It allows parties to go from one world to another in the same campaign story.

Good to see my home country being the one where the dragons hang out.