Favorite Published Campaign Setting

[Nightfall]

I play in the Scarred Lands and Greyhawk settings, plus two homebrews, and I have to say that so far I prefer homebrews, but I am warming to Greyhawk.

Any reason you felt that Greyhawk was better than the Scarred Lands? (Is just curious you understand)

Btw, Psion, thanks for the vote!

 

[ForceUser]

Any reason you felt that Greyhawk was better than the Scarred Lands? (Is just curious you understand)

Scarred Lands is a neat setting, but the whole Titanswar thing bugs me. It would make great campaign mythology if it had happened tens of thousands of years ago, but the brevity of the world's history totally puts me off. I like my D&D settings steeped in ancient lore, fallen empires, and forgotten relics, thank you very much. I'm actually a bit baffled that this product comes from the same folks that brought us the intricate, convoluted, highly detailed setting that is Worlds of Darkness. Scarred Lands is just too pat, and I'm surprised at how popular it's become. I own both Creature Collections as well as Relics & Rituals and the Scarred Lands Gazeteer, and after reading these products I doubt I'd ever run a SL campaign. Not my cuppa joe. I do use selective bits from the CCs and R&R, though, in my OA campaign. Ritual magic is cool.

I happen to be playing in SL campaign right now, but I just try to ignore that fact and concentrate on having fun roleplaying my character, whose concept is independant of the setting and could work in any generic fantasy world

Yeah, defintely not a fan.

 

[Nightfall]

Hmm I guess I can understand that. For me though, the ancient world was Pre-Divine War. A place where Titans ran around and knocked stuff over at a whim. Where people survived by just being barely one step ahead of the last Titan's epoch. For me, the Divine War was just a better version of the Time of Troubles....with out all the AO acting like he's some bigshot. It's a mythology I feel comfortable about BECAUSE it has greeco-romansque feel to it.

I don't know about "PAT" but I guess I see I can see why you have that feeling. I always felt the strength lie in making interesting characters for the place and then just trying to be a hero in that world.

But hey, this is just my opinion and you have yours. I respect that Force.

 

[ForceUser]

It's all good. Play what's fun.

The ancient world in SL is pretty much irrelevant, other than being the reason Ghelspad is the way it is today. There's no mention of lost civilizations and the like because that's not the focus of the setting. I understand what they are doing with SL, and I'll give you that it's a fresh way to build a campaign world. It just doesn't work for me.

Boxed settings in general don't work for me. I prefer homebrews because it gives the DM more room to be creative without having to worry about staying true to the setting. The biggest reason I'm enjoying the Greyhawk campaign is because I have a great DM.

EDIT: Epiphany. I can explain my dislike of SL in one phrase: there's little mystery. The distance of years lends mystery to the past, shrouding events in legend, but in SL everyone knows what happened because it was only a few generations ago. That, I think, is the core of my dislike for the setting.

 

[Buttercup]

I can't vote in your poll, because you forgot my favorite. Kingdoms of Kalamar!

 

[Nightfall]

EDIT: Epiphany. I can explain my dislike of SL in one phrase: there's little mystery. The distance of years lends mystery to the past, shrouding events in legend, but in SL everyone knows what happened because it was only a few generations ago. That, I think, is the core of my dislike for the setting.

Okay well I guess we have a difference of opinion on mystery. Certainly there's no idea on which titan created the present "divine races" (save Gaurak with the orcs but I doubt he thought about having them breed much! ) Or what happened to the Slacerians...if they are still around. Or perhaps the mystery of whether or not That Which Abides will return or another formerly dead god will come back (There were a few! )

But in any case force that's just my opinion and I respect yours.

 

[Voadam]

I go with Ravenloft all the way but here are a few more you forgot to list:

Living Imagination's Twin Crowns (Ptalmanar)
Spelljammer
Dragonlance
Dark Sun
The Cthulhu setting
Dragonlords of Melnibone
Sovereign Stone
Hal mentioned Hunt rise of evil but it bears repeating
Broncosaurus rex
Historic settings from Avalanche press

 

[Donatello]

I voted for the Realms given the options.

I'm glad to see someone mentioned Twin Crowns I was beginning to feel like a real red-headed stepchild.

 

[Alaric_Prympax]

Well let me answer this question yet again.

As I have said I was born and bred in Greyhawk.

Then Scarred Lands and Ravenloft.

 

[Dark Jezter]

Okay, guys. I'm going to redo this list in another thread, so I need an updated listing of campaign settings. Here are the requirements for a campaign setting:

1. It must be a 3rd Edition D&D setting, not Spycraft, not Call of Chthuhu, not generic D20, not Star Wars D20, and not 2nd or 1st Edition AD&D. Only campaign settings built for 3rd Edition Dungeons and Dragons will be accepted.

2. The campaign setting must be published, not homebrew, not available over the web, but actually printed and available for purchase. Sorry, Planescape and Dark Sun fans.

So, anyways, here are what I've decided upon so far...

Greyhawk
Forgotten Realms
Ravenloft
Scarred Lands
Kingdoms of Kalimar
Dragonstar
Rokugan

I would ask that if I forgot any, you please remind me so I can add it before I start up the v2.0 of this poll.