Best d20 Setting?

[Black Knight]

Something Else Entirely

While I am a die hard FR fan, 2 companies have recently peaked my curiousity: Mystic Eye Games' Gothos setting ang Thunderhead Games' Bluffside setting.

While it's no secret that I write for both of these companies and that TG's Bluffside can be found in MEG's World of Gothos, I believe that these two settings will be set far apart from the others in the coming year and really shine for the new comers.

Jeff, The Chained Monkey

 

[Darklone]

Wow

I'm impressed. I know there are a lot of KoK guys out there. I know that many of them voted here. I knew there will be a lot, but I would have never thought to make it to the top.

And stay there.

Btw: I have to admit to having ranted against the FR sometimes. That's not really what I wanted to say. I do like the FRCS. Nice book. I just hate the good old "my lvl51 char will bash your demigod!" discussion. I never got the image why the Realms should be working, there are too many powerful mages NOT to have another Netheril. Too many archliches, too many of everything. Considering the power of wishes or higher spells, this should be enough to escalate.

Oops I ranted again. Sorry

What I wanted to say: FR is a good setting for high level gamers. Since I consider myself as low level fanatic, I prefer other settings. (Kalamar!Kalamar!Kalamar! and some homemade worlds)

 

[GrimJesta]

Woohoo, I was mentioned in a thread a little ways up w/o ever having posted here. YES!!

::dances and flips for joy::

Aight, Im on heavy cold meds right now, so ignore my inane babbling.

I voted for KoK for the following reasons:
1) Its very well thought out and planned.
2) No meta-plot.
3) The Human nations/sub-races are very cool and realistically done.
4) Magic is there, but not in an unrealistic amount. Same goes for monsters.
5) The adventures are informative and well written (hell, Ed Greenwood is writing a Kalamar sourcebook, so the sourcebooks should rule too).
6) The worlds history and philosophies are well thought out and very 'earth-like' in their realism.
7) a Universal Pantheon. The gods just have different names to each culture, but theyre the same dudes in the sky.
8) Did I just say "dudes in the Sky"? WTF is wrong with me?
9) Kalamar is just superb!!!

Just adding my 2 coppers.

-=GrimJesta=-

 

[Nightfall]

Re: Something Else Entirely

While I am a die hard FR fan, 2 companies have recently peaked my curiousity: Mystic Eye Games' Gothos setting ang Thunderhead Games' Bluffside setting.

While it's no secret that I write for both of these companies and that TG's Bluffside can be found in MEG's World of Gothos, I believe that these two settings will be set far apart from the others in the coming year and really shine for the new comers.

Jeff, The Chained Monkey

It will shine a lot brighter Jeff, if you send out some more HINTS/Previews for Bluffside...

 

[kenjib]

For example, tonight I read about Reanaria (sp?) Bay, the Reanarians as a race, and their language, as well as about some of the gods that have prominent temples in the bay area. I'm finding it to be much more enjoyable this way.

That's a great suggestion. For people new to the setting, the Reanaaria Bay might be the best place to start reading. It's an area of city-states so there is more diversity less political interconnectedness, which makes for easier reading.

 

[Zarrock God of Evil]

I'll be playing in three genres for the near future and these are my favoured settings:

1. Sci-fi: Dragonstar

2. Fantasy: Forgotten Realms (don't plan on switching in the next
decade unless a new Planescape comes out).

3. Horror/Modern: d20 CoC/d20Modern.


I started out with Dragonlance but it lost its magic too quickly....


I've taken a look at the KoK a few times but it doesn't seem appealling at all. Without offending anyone, I think they managed the most boring d20 layout and presentation yet with the campaign book. I don't know about the writing but the setting seems to be directly the opposite of what I find appealling.
The gripes about FR are completely irrelevant to me, I really don't think there's anything in the FRCS that a good DM can't handle easily - and boy does that book save you a lot of work. There's almost zero fluff in the FRCS and most of the new rules material is so good I regret it isn't part of the core rules.... (excellent prestige classes, regional feats and the awesome subraces).

-Zarrock

 

[RedShadow]

Iron Kingdoms Rock

I liked the Iron Kingdoms, it was new and had a great air of freshness and originality that I remember from reading Blackmoor, Greyhawk and Mystara many moons ago. I have always liked the idea of the steam power, guns and magic in the same campaign. It is well written and I aboslutel y look forward to seeing it all fleshed out. I hope they hurry.

 

[jcw8705]

One more for KoK

I started out in Greyhawk many moons ago, but then as I began to make more cohesive campaigns (we stopped just pulling out the next module in the series and hacking into it), I found that Greyhawk had just a bit too much magic for my taste (this became really apparent to me way back when they put out the super-module T1-4. 1st to 8th level and tons of treasure in no time).

So I migrated to the FR as they had just come out and here were 10th level rangers with only a +1 flametongue to their name. This was what I wanted. Suddenly though, 2nd edition hit and in the change everything I hadn't really liked about Greyhawk welled up. Supra-powerful wizards started popping out of the woodwork everywhere, and there was this wizard who couldn't keep his nose out of everyone's business. I've used recurring characters before in my campaigns, but this guy was too much. He was everywhere.

So I wandered a bit with Planescape and snuck back to Greyhawk now and then, but then Birthright struck, and it was solid gold in my book, and then it died.

A bit later a friend coaxed me into reading his KoK book, and I enjoyed it, but I really wasn't up to investing in yet another game system. So I kept on with Birthright and Greyhawk. One for my low-magic needs, the other for general hacking and a slashing.

Then 3rd edition tore onto the scene and I set my first campaign in Greyhawk again but it was missing something (other than too much magic, and I hadn't yet figured out to halve all xp awards). I read the FRCS, but it was still the same old beast just hiding under a new coat of fur.

Scarred Lands came close, although the magic was still just a bit too much. And then I relooked at Kalamar. It was what I needed, and my new campaign finally found a home.

For high-magic, Elminster and more 20th-level wizards than you can shake a stick at go with FR.
For high-magic, fun and no Elminster go with Greyhawk.
For high-magic, fun and Titanspawn go with Scarred Lands.
But I am going with low-magic, rich background..so Kalamar it is.

John

 

[Creamsteak]

I favor my new project: The Final Fantasy Tactics Campaign Setting. Check out the post-http://www.enworld.org/messageboards/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1526

 

[omedon]

I voted for EN World Settings

Malls and Morons is an absolute lark