Best Campaign Setting - With regards to layout/structure

[weem]

I'm working on a campaign setting of my own (have been for a while now really) and I was curious which campaign setting books had the best layout in your opinion as far as...

1/ The overall structure of information

2/ The QUANTITY of information for each section

3/ And even the QUALITY - but in this case, I mean quality as in the value of the information given (whether you liked the setting or not, they give you what you needed while skipping what you didn't need)

I intend on putting my CS together and making it available online (to the three or four people who would download it... my group essentially) and I wanted to see some examples of what people consider "good" as far as the structuring of these things. I know what I like and what works for me, but often times what I like and what others like do not match up I could just do it my way since it's basically for my group, but I want to do the best I can and in the event some others may wish to use it, I want to have put forth a better than average effort to determine what pleases others regarding the subject.

Thanks in advance, I appreciate any and all feedback

 

[Nellisir]

I like a relatively brief, efficient synopsis of kingdoms, groups, planes, regions, powers, etc. The 83 gold Greyhawk boxed set and the grey FR boxed set were both good; the 3e FR campaign setting book was also good. Do not write novels on every little thing; it's boring. DO answer the question: what do adventurers do (here)? In every entry. If they don't do anything, it's not really worth writing up in an adventure resource, is it?

 

[weem]

Great feedback, thanks That's pretty much what I look for - "what can the adventurers do here", etc. I actually felt buried in information when it comes to the 3e FRCS, but that may be more about my lack of familiarity with the realms more than anything. I do have the grey box FRCS and have looked through that semi-recently - I should do so again.

Thanks again - much appreciated!

 

[Khuxan]

DO answer the question: what do adventurers do (here)? In every entry. If they don't do anything, it's not really worth writing up in an adventure resource, is it?

Agreed. What a setting needs is Threats, Rewards, Assets and Problems.

 

[Doug McCrae]

Eberron Campaign Setting showcases current best practice, imo. Sections on geography (16 nations, far fewer than FR), history, organisations (mostly foes, some friends), religion, how PC races and classes fit into the world, available services, world specific crunch, magic items, monsters and a sample adventure. And right where it should be, on page 1, a list of inspirational movies.

The 83 Greyhawk boxed set contains a pretty good world, for its time, though even then it was inferior to Glorantha and Tekumel. These days it serves best as an example of what not to do. Far, far too many nations, 80% of them redundant. Information on deities split between two books so you have to flip back and forth. The nadir is two pages on trees. Not magical trees, or useful trees. No. Just the ordinary normal trees that grow in Greyhawk. What kind of tree leaf were you smoking, Gary?

 

[Nellisir]

Eberron Campaign Setting showcases current best practice, imo. Sections on geography (16 nations, far fewer than FR), history, organisations (mostly foes, some friends), religion, how PC races and classes fit into the world, available services, world specific crunch, magic items, monsters and a sample adventure. And right where it should be, on page 1, a list of inspirational movies.

The 83 Greyhawk boxed set contains a pretty good world, for its time, though even then it was inferior to Glorantha and Tekumel. These days it serves best as an example of what not to do. Far, far too many nations, 80% of them redundant. Information on deities split between two books so you have to flip back and forth. The nadir is two pages on trees. Not magical trees, or useful trees. No. Just the ordinary normal trees that grow in Greyhawk. What kind of tree leaf were you smoking, Gary?

For clarity, I was promoting the '83 set in general, not specifically advocating multiple pages on mundane trees. A similar, but more recent product, is Necromancer Games' Wilderlands Gazetteer. I'm mixed about the Eberron Campaign Setting. It's in storage right now, though, so I can't look it over.

 

[Khuxan]

The nadir is two pages on trees. Not magical trees, or useful trees. No. Just the ordinary normal trees that grow in Greyhawk. What kind of tree leaf were you smoking, Gary?

When I opened the 3.0 Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting and found the section on trees and animals, I loved it and sought to emulate it in all of my campaign settings. Now I completely agree with you. Every detail should be useful.

 

[Jraynack]

The nadir is two pages on trees. Not magical trees, or useful trees. No. Just the ordinary normal trees that grow in Greyhawk. What kind of tree leaf were you smoking, Gary?

Probably the same stuff as Tolkien. At least Tolkien didn't include every little bit of background in the books.

Hey weem, shoot me your e-mail and I will send you a complimentary copy of Classes and Races of Cthonia, our 3.X guide to traveling the lands of Terra.

Also, pick up our free campaign primer HERE. Both might help with some ideas with your own campaign.

 

[Wraith101]

Ptolus

 

[ruemere]

[...]
1/ The overall structure of information
2/ The QUANTITY of information for each section
3/ And even the QUALITY - but in this case, I mean quality as in the value of the information given (whether you liked the setting or not, they give you what you needed while skipping what you didn't need)[...]

Ad. 1
In my opinion, Scarred Lands Ghelspad Campaign setting is a stellar example of properly structured campaign setting:
- Introduction
- History
- Gods (or Cultural/Technological developments)
- Nations
- - list of nations
- City-States
- - list of city states
- Important Locations
- - list of locations with detailed descriptions
- Other Places
- - list of locations with brief descriptions
- Appendix
- - specific mechanics

Each of the chapters on nation/city-state is further broken down into:
- Table <skip if not applicable>: Name, Population, Government, Ruler, Capital, Major Cities, Languages, Religion, Currency, Resources, Allies, Enemies
- History
- Geography
- Flora and Fauna
- People
- Culture
- Crime and Punishment
- Religion
- Armed Forces
- Cities / Other cities

Locations follow similar pattern, with some nonapplicable entries skipped.

Most city entries contain additional subsection on the roles/tasks for adventurers or conflicts/events/problems adventurers may want to involve themselves with.


Of course I do realize that the form summarized above may be too elaborate for your task. If so, just try focus on these:
- Region - name, description and several distinguishing traits (weather, monsters, legends, animals/plants)
- Major Powers - who is large and in charge, and how do they feel about each other
- Resources - what makes mercantile/military/government organizations tick in this region - commerce (of what), mining, culture, science, trade routes
- Armed Response - what kind of an armed response may be expected (in short, in what capacity adventurers would be needed if the major powers would hard pressed for armed response - obviously, local militia may be unable to cope with well organized band of hobgoblins)
- Events - important events which are to occur within a span of the next year or years (ailing king may die, unusally hard winter, discovery of important source of income)
- Adventurers needed here - list of things which one may want to hire adventurers for. Such things would be beyond competence of local law (or deemed too costly or risky to engage local forces)

Ad. 2.
Quantity? Be as brief as possible. Such information should be easy and fast to read.

Regards,
Ruemere