A'koss said:
This is exactly my issue with it too - despite it's obvious production value, Ptolus comes across like any other generic D&D city. I've got plenty of standard city stuff already...
I'll preface this by saying that I like a lot of Malhavoc's stuff. I think they make some of the most innovative rules crunch out there.
When I look at campaign settings, I want to see something that I don't see somewhere else. I want something unique. I like settings that offers me new territory to explore, new roles to play, etc. That's why I like Dragonlance, Dark Sun, Spelljammer, Eberron, etc. etc. They all offer me something new.
I'm not interested in settings that are more generic, like Greyhawk or the Forgotten Realms.
Monte's design philosophy where settings are concerned is something I'm a bit leary of. He says that he bases settings around rules, and doesn't bend the rules for the setting. To me, that leads to a generic D&D setting. My own design philosophy is that the setting is what draws people to adventure, and that rules can and should be broken or changed where necessary. Hopefully the two can integrate nicely, but feel free to change things if you want.
Sometimes, a setting is great not only for the extra things it adds in, but also for what it takes away. Dragonlance would not be the same if it had lycanthropic half-drow/half-orc psions in it.
I'm not trying to criticize Ptolus or anything. I think that from the standpoint of the package that you get, you get your money's worth. The question is, do you get your money's worth for the setting? Does it provide me with something new? Is there a reason to adventure in Ptolus, rather than in Waterdeep, Greyhawk, Palanthas, and so on?
Basically, I'd like to know more about the selling points of the setting itself.
