How do you use settings/worlds?

[Wombat]

I think I fall at 2.5 on your scale -- there are things I won't change about any given setting I run, but the place is dynamic and other matters may change wildly.

By way of vague examples, an explanation of "How Magic Works" may be modified, but not fundamentally altered. The gods are. The borders of nations change drastically. Whole dynasties change. Laws are abolished, rewritten, and fiddled with. New castles are built and powerbases created.

So, yeah, some things change, some stay the same...

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

I use published worlds as a place to land Spelljammers and a source of ready-made political organizations and threats.

When not playing Spelljammer, I use worlds either of my own creation or based on other media, mostly console RPGs.

 

[Baron Opal]

#3

If I purchase a setting book it is simply grist for my homebrew mill.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

2, of course. I don't buy a CS to change everything. If I use a world, I usually keep most or all defining traits. For example, I wouldn't run Midnight without Izrador.

Just something else I'm curious about...can your players, through their choices and actiions, affect real change in your world of choice. Why? or why? not?

Of course. Everyone can change the world, to the extend according to their power and influence. PCs tend to have more than their fair share of power, and often some influence, too.

If they got it in their head, say, to kill King Obould Many Arrows before Bruenor can get to that, then taking the land as their own, they could accomplish that with an army (and a high-level party is usually worth an army or two)