And isn't Reynolds back with WotC again?
I actually think he's working with Monte Cook Games, currently. Or at least, the last I knew.
Strange that the kitchen sink trope plagues Greyhawk but not: Darksun, Theros, Ravnica, Birthright, Dragonlance, Innistrad, Amonkhet, Ixalan, Kaladesh and others. The "Ho but they're MTG settings! They don't count!" is pure BS. Three of these are not, and you could add others that are in the DM guild or even Drive thru. A setting is a setting and so far, the printed ones were well received and the PDF of the others were not receiving the tropes' accusations either.
As for inclusivity. You'll get the suspicious/xenophobic tropes even Eberron depending on your race and the region you'll be in. The changelings hide and do not show their heritage for a reason. Even in the realm there will be suspicions/xenophobia involved depending on your race, culture, class or simply because you're not from the village. Some places are cosmopolitan others are backwater areas. Not everything is and should be Mos Eisley...
I am all for inclusivity for the game itself, but whatever setting is in question should likely have a myriad of approaches to the topic, from acceptance and cooperation to outright racism and fear.
It seems to me that some folks are conflating the situation in the setting as that of the game itself.
I do think that setting and fictional elements of the game may be tailored a bit to the participants, and that generally speaking you want everyone involved to be comfortable and have fun. I've played far too many characters who were mistrusted and feared and had a blast doing so to think that this is really an issue.
But at the same time, if you have a player who doesn't want to examine the idea of being an outsider or similar trope, but really wants to play a tiefling, then like adults you should work it out. Not have the villagers constantly grabbing torches and pitchforks when the character shows up.
To you too the irony of my post was lost...
I play in Greyhawk. I have a Dragonborn nation right south west of Nyrond. I have seen Tieflings in my games. Yes these were ostracized a lot but at least players knew what to expect as they were playing in Furyondy and Iuz made sure that Tieflings would ever been seen with suspicion. It took a while but Sir Kangash was finally accepted. Tabaxi could come from Hepmonaland for all I care. The "Kitchen Sink" redux bears no meaning for me. Again I will state that I am not a purist that stuck with the 1983 box set (Sacrilege! some would say). But Greyhawk has that medieval feel that the FR do not have. Society is surrounded by unknown and evil things, none the least are the Great Kingdom, The Bone March, Iuz empire, The Horned society (if you don't get into the FtA box set) or the Pomarj or the Scarlet Brotherhood and so many others. The general population is low enough that a lot of mega polis barely make it in the 100k mark and many don't (save the Great Kingdom at its peak). The diversity of cultures keeps the feel of medieval society even if they are quite different from Europe.
But I want something done for Greyhawk for 5ed. An update that will give common ground to players and DMs alike. A basis on which to start fresh. Just like the FR had. Just like Eberron had. Just like any other setting should have.
I think that this is great, and I largely approach the setting that way myself. It seems that most of the folks who've been active in this thread and who are fans of GH are pretty open minded. That's not always the case, though.
There are a lot of fans of the setting that take a pretty "from my cold dead hands" approach to adding elements from later products and editions. I mean, I think this stance is prevalent enough that some folks mistake it for being an aspect of the setting more than a trait of some fans. For me, this is one of the big obstacles for the setting....there's this stigma that, although unfair, is present because of some loud and vocal groups within the fanbase.
Again, present company here in this thread excluded. Everyone here seems pretty open minded about allowing new elements to the setting and about making some changes to appeal to new crowds.
My thoughts exactly. Nothing prevents WotC to incorporate new races and what not. The PHB is the main assuption here. But again, we should stress what Greyhawk has that the other settings don't. It is the build your own kingdom, fight the unknown, help civilization stay alive. Whether you do it for your own pocket, a higher power or simply your liege is irrelevant. Evil and Chaos is out there waiting for you to try. We can play on so many aspect of Greyhawk. Not every single adventure should be about saving the world. Lining your pockets with gold and magic is a good motivation too.
I think that, if it was up to me, I would likely eliminate alignment for PCs entirely in Greyhawk. Paradoxical as it may seem, I think that doing so will actually result in players giving more thought to how they want their character to behave in any given moment, at any given decision point. Get rid of the idea of heroes and villains as it pertains to the PCs. I also think that it will allow for slightly more morally gray characters who can still be protagonists, but who we don't need to be paragons of virtue and righteousness....although someone can still play a character like that if they want.
I'd keep alignment for monsters, especially planar ones, and maybe as a loose descriptor of nations or peoples as a whole (the monks of the Scarlet Brotherhood tend toward Lawful Evil, etc.).
I know that the Good/Evil and Law/Chaos axes are pretty central to the setting for many folks, but I think it's time to portray that in other ways.
I do think that should WotC ever craft a new adventure book along the lines of the ones they've made for the Realms, that they will need to consider ways in which to involve the PCs that don't rely on them simply wanting to do what's right and fight evil. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I like the idea of GH being less about purely and always heroic PCs.
