Since I'm a swords-n-sorcery fan, most of the high fantasy settings are right out. I can enjoy them, but they don't grab me the way swords-n-sorcery settings do.
RPG Favorites:
Greyhawk - the oldie but goodie. It's held up incredibly well, offers tons of ideas, and puts the PCs in the drivers seat. For gaming, it's still the benchmark I compare other settings against.
Golarion - shaping up to be the Greyhawk of the 21st century. It takes the pulp influences, twists them a bit, and makes them cool and new again. As long as it stays grounded in its pulp swords-n-sorcery roots and doesn't succumb to the "hawt high fantasy" vibe-of-the-day or drift too far in "time-period-mish-mash" I think it'll emerge as the new gold-standard.
Kingdoms of Kalamar - sandbox-style setting like Greyhawk. Internally consistent and easily supports the low- and middle-magic ranges as written. Could support high fantasy if desired. The rough-n-tumble of Greyhawk mixed with the grit of Harn and the adventure of Hyboria.
Hyboria - The granddaddy of sword-n-sorcery settings. Rich, diverse, mature, & complex without drowning a GM in mind-numbing detail. This is a setting for adventurers from swashbuckling adventure, gory war, daring heists, & eldrich horrors.
Harn - even if you never use the setting, it can provide a wealth of GM-info for bringing the middle ages into your game.
Scarred Lands - even though it breaks the High Fantasy ban for me, it inspires the hell out of me as a GM and a player. Sure the geography and internal consistency are complete messes, but damn it's got some cool ideas. Also, the #2 best fantasy pantheon in gaming history. (The Book of the Righteous still edges it out, but not by a lot.) Although I've never run a campaign there, I frequently pour through the books for ideas and inspiration.
Freeport - Yes, the verdict is in; Pirates are cooler than ninjas. And here's the wretched hive of scum & villany to let your players prove it. I'm gonna run a campaign here someday, and it's gonna be glorious!
Arcana Evovled - Although I'm a fan of the game & mechanics more than the setting, like the Scarred Lands, it makes me want to run a game - NOW.
Fictional Favorites:
The world of the Thieves' World setting
Hyboria
Midkemia - yeah, sometimes it's a mess but when it works, it kicks much ass.
The world of ASoF&I.
The setting of Kingdoms of Thorn & Bone (The Briar King, etc.)
Ferelden from Dragon Age: Origins - On the surface it's a standard fantasy setting, but it shows how a setting can take those fantasy tropes, tweak them, and make them into something fresh. Plus, I'm a sucker for dark fantasy.
RPG Favorites:
Greyhawk - the oldie but goodie. It's held up incredibly well, offers tons of ideas, and puts the PCs in the drivers seat. For gaming, it's still the benchmark I compare other settings against.
Golarion - shaping up to be the Greyhawk of the 21st century. It takes the pulp influences, twists them a bit, and makes them cool and new again. As long as it stays grounded in its pulp swords-n-sorcery roots and doesn't succumb to the "hawt high fantasy" vibe-of-the-day or drift too far in "time-period-mish-mash" I think it'll emerge as the new gold-standard.
Kingdoms of Kalamar - sandbox-style setting like Greyhawk. Internally consistent and easily supports the low- and middle-magic ranges as written. Could support high fantasy if desired. The rough-n-tumble of Greyhawk mixed with the grit of Harn and the adventure of Hyboria.
Hyboria - The granddaddy of sword-n-sorcery settings. Rich, diverse, mature, & complex without drowning a GM in mind-numbing detail. This is a setting for adventurers from swashbuckling adventure, gory war, daring heists, & eldrich horrors.
Harn - even if you never use the setting, it can provide a wealth of GM-info for bringing the middle ages into your game.
Scarred Lands - even though it breaks the High Fantasy ban for me, it inspires the hell out of me as a GM and a player. Sure the geography and internal consistency are complete messes, but damn it's got some cool ideas. Also, the #2 best fantasy pantheon in gaming history. (The Book of the Righteous still edges it out, but not by a lot.) Although I've never run a campaign there, I frequently pour through the books for ideas and inspiration.
Freeport - Yes, the verdict is in; Pirates are cooler than ninjas. And here's the wretched hive of scum & villany to let your players prove it. I'm gonna run a campaign here someday, and it's gonna be glorious!
Arcana Evovled - Although I'm a fan of the game & mechanics more than the setting, like the Scarred Lands, it makes me want to run a game - NOW.
Fictional Favorites:
The world of the Thieves' World setting
Hyboria
Midkemia - yeah, sometimes it's a mess but when it works, it kicks much ass.
The world of ASoF&I.
The setting of Kingdoms of Thorn & Bone (The Briar King, etc.)
Ferelden from Dragon Age: Origins - On the surface it's a standard fantasy setting, but it shows how a setting can take those fantasy tropes, tweak them, and make them into something fresh. Plus, I'm a sucker for dark fantasy.
