Follett's Kingsbridge as a campaign setting...

[hbarsquared]

My favorite book of all time (before Ken Follett wrote its sequel, World Without End), has been Pillars of the Earth. What I like about both books is that neither one of them has a "plot" to speak of. There is no overarching goal to reach, no building up to a climax, no single problem that is solved or overcome. They are simply stories that follow the lives of several people, and all the trials and tribulations thereof.

What also struck me about both books was how evocative the setting - middle ages England - came across. From the peasantry to nobility, to the rise of merchants to the delicacy of farming. Kingsbridge, in my mind, began to form as an ideal campaign setting, and the embodiment of WotC direction for the "Points of Light" default campaign setting.

Kingsbridge is definitely a Point of Light in an otherwise dark world. Outside the town thrive murderous outlaws and petty nobles. Kingsbridge is in constant danger from the rampages of nearby lords as well as the ongoing and far-reaching effects of weather, economics, as well as the decisions of kings and bishops.

I like that.

Anyway, I just thought I would mention Follett's work, and see if anyone else has had similar thoughts regarding its likeness to a Point of Light. Of course, in D&D we would add monsters and magic, but the core though is still there.

Just curious. And if you haven't read Follett before, please do. Great books.

 

[Ebonyr]

I will try to get that book, sounds interesting

 

[Morrus]

They're both excellent books. I read Pillars of the Earth years ago, and got World Without End for Christmas.

Thing is, though, they're completely character-driven. That makes for an excellent novel, but there isn't really much there to use as a campaign setting, other than as background reading material and inspiration for what medieval life was like.

Basically, it's a medieval soap opera. A very good one, but other than "medieval town", there's not much setting material, and it isn't the stuff of heroic gaming. I'm fairly sure that my players would rather slay dragons than get a good deal on wool dye at the market.