jbear
First Post
Hehe, I think you're onto something. Anyone else find it a little odd that this thread is in the "News" Forum. Hehehehe, I do!
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NOW LIVE! Into the Woods--new character species, eerie monsters, and haunting villains to populate the woodlands of your D&D games.
Let's Forget the Forgotten Realms
- Thread starter Morrus
- Start date
Incenjucar
Legend
Steel Wind, you make a very interesting point.. something LIKE DragonLance...
I know it won't happen, due to the nature of RPG fantasy publishing, but it would be rather interesting if there was a setting-search-via-novels. Some method to learn what STORIES really grab player interest, but bound more or less by D&D rules. This happens often enough with other RPGs, in a way - so many new RPGs pop up based on novels, films, video games, and war games. D&D itself was inspired by novels and movies and so forth, but is still feeding off of those inspirations and incorporating precious few new ones. Indeed, the only contemporary story inspiration I know of in 4E is the hint of a monk subclass in the new Elemental Chaos book based somewhat on Avatar: The Last Airbender.
I just hope that, if they ever do make a new story for D&D, the spotlight isn't mostly on wizards again.
I know it won't happen, due to the nature of RPG fantasy publishing, but it would be rather interesting if there was a setting-search-via-novels. Some method to learn what STORIES really grab player interest, but bound more or less by D&D rules. This happens often enough with other RPGs, in a way - so many new RPGs pop up based on novels, films, video games, and war games. D&D itself was inspired by novels and movies and so forth, but is still feeding off of those inspirations and incorporating precious few new ones. Indeed, the only contemporary story inspiration I know of in 4E is the hint of a monk subclass in the new Elemental Chaos book based somewhat on Avatar: The Last Airbender.
I just hope that, if they ever do make a new story for D&D, the spotlight isn't mostly on wizards again.
trancejeremy
Adventurer
Since I grew up with D&D and AD&D, I mostly started out with Greyhawk and the Known World. My first exposure to FR was in the early AD&D computer games from SSI - aka the Gold Box games.
I think it's a pretty decent setting. Yes, it's a kitchen sink thing, but at the same time, it has the benefit of being well developed by the guy who actually made the setting (Ed Greenwood) which gives it a certain depth.
The trouble with Greyhawk is that outside of the folio and a dozen or so modules, you don't really have much actually from EGG. It's left to others to fill in as they saw fit - some did a good job, most didn't.
Beyond that, I think EGG got a bit too creative with the names of places (outside of Greyhawk). In the FR, Greenwood sort of took a page out of Conan - the places and cultures sort of sound like real world names, so you are always familiar with them.
Still, I do have to say that the first Drizzt novel is one of the few books I simply could not finish (all the others were novels by Steve Perry). Never tried an Eliminster book. But in either case, you can easily avoid them.
I think it's a pretty decent setting. Yes, it's a kitchen sink thing, but at the same time, it has the benefit of being well developed by the guy who actually made the setting (Ed Greenwood) which gives it a certain depth.
The trouble with Greyhawk is that outside of the folio and a dozen or so modules, you don't really have much actually from EGG. It's left to others to fill in as they saw fit - some did a good job, most didn't.
Beyond that, I think EGG got a bit too creative with the names of places (outside of Greyhawk). In the FR, Greenwood sort of took a page out of Conan - the places and cultures sort of sound like real world names, so you are always familiar with them.
Still, I do have to say that the first Drizzt novel is one of the few books I simply could not finish (all the others were novels by Steve Perry). Never tried an Eliminster book. But in either case, you can easily avoid them.
What are you trying to say?
I'm a FR dieheart, but I have no problem with GH being the initial core setting. As long as these references are kept low (much like in the Pathfinder RPG book).
I have no problem that other settings get their support.
If you don't like FR, that's fine. What's the point in bashing a setting, that other people hold dear?
I'm a FR dieheart, but I have no problem with GH being the initial core setting. As long as these references are kept low (much like in the Pathfinder RPG book).
I have no problem that other settings get their support.
If you don't like FR, that's fine. What's the point in bashing a setting, that other people hold dear?
Cergorach
The Laughing One
My introduction into RPGs was not D&D, it was the Dutch version of Das Swartze Auges (Oog Des Meesters), eventually we moved on to the Dutch version of the D&D Red Box, and from there to the English version of AD&D 2E. As far as I remember as a player we had very little official setting, if we had I never knew (or remember). When I started DMing I used my own setting with self made maps, I had the time for it and not the cash to invest in setting books (RPG material was rare and expensive at the time in the Netherlands).
My first real introduction to Dragonlance was the Champions of Krynn computer game, I never played/DMed the epic AP, I did read a few of the satellite novels. For me Dragonlance was always about Draconians and (evil) knights on Dragons, the Epic AP actually spoiled the setting a bit for me, the AP adventures I got my hands on didn't inspire me at all. I do think if a company like Paizo ever got it's mits on it, they could do a very inspiring AP path. I always wanted to use Draconians, but I don't think I ever did...
I did read a lot more FR novels, played some Eye of the Beholder and some of the later computer games. Sure Drizzt and Elminster were pretty powerful characters, but Drizzt was stuck in a hole in the ground in the FR equivalent of Alaska, and Elminster didn't go round saving every village and farmer. FR gave a lot more freedom as a setting then DL, but I still didn't use it as a setting until I got less time on my hands and a detailed ready to use setting became an asset. That was in the year(s) leading up to 3E and we started playing 3E before it was out (thanks to the 3E rumors on this site), I used Northern Journey as a basis and the extensive library of FR pdfs to make it a more sandbox campaign. I can spin a tale as good as the next DM, but creating a deep/large consistent background on the fly is difficult, FR as a generic setting helps a lot. Not to mention that settings like Al-Quadim, Maztica, and Kara-Tur intrigued me.
I never really got into GreyHawk because by the time that I did have money to spend on campaign settings, GH was on it's way out (and not readily available) and it's presentation never really got me motivated. I did like some of it's large maps and the idea of an demon kingdom...
I never did get into the 'big' changes 3E and 4E made to FR, I usually stuck to the 2E setting. I did buy the 3E setting books loyally and they are some of the most attractive setting books at the time. As I've mentioned before I never really liked the presentation of the 4E books the FR books weren't an exception.
I eventually did buy as much (2E) FR, DL and GH stuff as I could get my hands on without paying through the nose. But I think my favorite settings (I never got to play/DM in) are Planescape and Spelljammer. Birthright also got a special place in my heart due to the rules they introduced for running a realm (and the blood abilities associated).
I haven't touched a Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Battletech or Shadowrun novel in many, many years. While I enjoyed reading them at the time, they are the fantasy/scifi equivalent of sappy dime store romance novels, there are many good fantasy/scifi novels out there that don't try to fit into a RPG setting.
I think that Paizo is currently the best generic fantasy setting and their APs make for some very good specific campaign settings. But their not yet at the level of 'Volo's Guide to the North' (etc.) books were all kinds of interesting sites and inns are detailed, what is more important then an inn or an interesting site the party travels through...
If WotC does revive old settings for 5E, it would be wise to make the setting more era neutral, so players/DMs can actually choose when to play.
My first real introduction to Dragonlance was the Champions of Krynn computer game, I never played/DMed the epic AP, I did read a few of the satellite novels. For me Dragonlance was always about Draconians and (evil) knights on Dragons, the Epic AP actually spoiled the setting a bit for me, the AP adventures I got my hands on didn't inspire me at all. I do think if a company like Paizo ever got it's mits on it, they could do a very inspiring AP path. I always wanted to use Draconians, but I don't think I ever did...
I did read a lot more FR novels, played some Eye of the Beholder and some of the later computer games. Sure Drizzt and Elminster were pretty powerful characters, but Drizzt was stuck in a hole in the ground in the FR equivalent of Alaska, and Elminster didn't go round saving every village and farmer. FR gave a lot more freedom as a setting then DL, but I still didn't use it as a setting until I got less time on my hands and a detailed ready to use setting became an asset. That was in the year(s) leading up to 3E and we started playing 3E before it was out (thanks to the 3E rumors on this site), I used Northern Journey as a basis and the extensive library of FR pdfs to make it a more sandbox campaign. I can spin a tale as good as the next DM, but creating a deep/large consistent background on the fly is difficult, FR as a generic setting helps a lot. Not to mention that settings like Al-Quadim, Maztica, and Kara-Tur intrigued me.
I never really got into GreyHawk because by the time that I did have money to spend on campaign settings, GH was on it's way out (and not readily available) and it's presentation never really got me motivated. I did like some of it's large maps and the idea of an demon kingdom...
I never did get into the 'big' changes 3E and 4E made to FR, I usually stuck to the 2E setting. I did buy the 3E setting books loyally and they are some of the most attractive setting books at the time. As I've mentioned before I never really liked the presentation of the 4E books the FR books weren't an exception.
I eventually did buy as much (2E) FR, DL and GH stuff as I could get my hands on without paying through the nose. But I think my favorite settings (I never got to play/DM in) are Planescape and Spelljammer. Birthright also got a special place in my heart due to the rules they introduced for running a realm (and the blood abilities associated).
I haven't touched a Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Battletech or Shadowrun novel in many, many years. While I enjoyed reading them at the time, they are the fantasy/scifi equivalent of sappy dime store romance novels, there are many good fantasy/scifi novels out there that don't try to fit into a RPG setting.
I think that Paizo is currently the best generic fantasy setting and their APs make for some very good specific campaign settings. But their not yet at the level of 'Volo's Guide to the North' (etc.) books were all kinds of interesting sites and inns are detailed, what is more important then an inn or an interesting site the party travels through...
If WotC does revive old settings for 5E, it would be wise to make the setting more era neutral, so players/DMs can actually choose when to play.
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talien
Community Supporter
Given the reprinting of the AD&D books, the "unify all gamers" spirit for 5E, and the generally conciliatory tone taken by the designers lately, I'm going to make a prediction:
We will start seeing all-inclusive collector's editions of each of these settings. Might be a boxed set, might be a huge tome, but I think it's coming. Now whether or not these new mega-inclusive products satisfy fans is another thing entirely. I'm waiting for the 600-page Greyhawk tome myself.
We will start seeing all-inclusive collector's editions of each of these settings. Might be a boxed set, might be a huge tome, but I think it's coming. Now whether or not these new mega-inclusive products satisfy fans is another thing entirely. I'm waiting for the 600-page Greyhawk tome myself.
For me, the biggest problem I have with going back to Greyhawk is the following.
I want the original creators involved with the setting, in some way.
Ed Greenwood is still alive, still active, and writes for the setting. Even with corporate mandated changes, both he and R.A. Salvatore have worked with them and done a good job with their contributions and other items.
Gary Gygax is dead. And since his ouster from TSR back in 1986, Greyhawk has suffered from too many reboots/changes. From the really bad continuation of the "Greyhawk adventures" line, to numerous political changes, to changes because of the 3e ruleset, etc, Greyhawk has had so many changes that have fractured the fan base.
I wouldn't mind, and would actively encourage, Wizards to reprint the classic setting boxed set from 1983, as well as some classic modules, at least from a literary perspective--but I can't see really continuing the setting ad infinitum. Somehow, I like the perspective of not continuing a series after its creator has died.
I want the original creators involved with the setting, in some way.
Ed Greenwood is still alive, still active, and writes for the setting. Even with corporate mandated changes, both he and R.A. Salvatore have worked with them and done a good job with their contributions and other items.
Gary Gygax is dead. And since his ouster from TSR back in 1986, Greyhawk has suffered from too many reboots/changes. From the really bad continuation of the "Greyhawk adventures" line, to numerous political changes, to changes because of the 3e ruleset, etc, Greyhawk has had so many changes that have fractured the fan base.
I wouldn't mind, and would actively encourage, Wizards to reprint the classic setting boxed set from 1983, as well as some classic modules, at least from a literary perspective--but I can't see really continuing the setting ad infinitum. Somehow, I like the perspective of not continuing a series after its creator has died.
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