Metaplots - it wasn't just TSR that did them

[Lord_Blacksteel]

One of the big benefits to a published setting is that everyone knows the setting. You don't have to teach your players where the towns are and what the major religions are.

-> This is important - it is the major benefit of having a published setting BUT...

If a metaplot changes something in the setting you don't like, or if you had already made some change to the setting that the metaplot, sure, you could decide to just ignore the published material, but then one of the benefits of a published setting is gone. You no longer have a setting that everybody knows inside and out.

Plus, I find myself not wanting to contradict setting cannon. It's just an instinct I have. I know I can choose to do something different, but I just find it hard. If I know a supplement will be coming out soon that details a certain aspect of a setting I find myself not wanting to use that setting aspect until the supplement comes out and I've had a chance to read it because I don't want to accidentally contradict something in that supplement.

I suspect this "don't contradict cannon" instinct is not unique to me, thus the sentiments from some gamers about how metaplot ruined their game. We can ignore it, sure, but it's like too much salt in your food. It might still be edible, but you don't wanna eat it anymore.

-> This is true as far as changes made during an ongoing campaign but when starting up a new campaign this can be a hidden benefit. Look at the existing metaplot and then pick a point where things are going to change. Let your campaign start before that change and you have all the benefits of familiarity without having to worry about future canon updates.

Example: The party is sitting in a rim-world cantina hearing about how the Empire just chased the rebels off of Hoth and then they see Luke Skywalker enter the bar and cut Boba Fett in half with a red lightsaber - all the benefits of massive canon plus a serious WTF moment ane the freedom to ignore Return of the Jedi and all the EU stuff that comes after. Maybe they don't care - maybe they just want to run a mechant ship - but if they do care then here's a chance to do what they want in a wide-open yet familiar
setting.

As I've gotten older I've realized that campaign settings are expendable and they are meant to be used, not stored on a shelf and admired in a pristine state. Look at it as having a limited lifespan and get the most out of it. Run your characters up to a high level and let them beat on the setting and some of the well-known NPC's if they want - then retire it and start a new one. Maybe your next campaign will pick a different point of change, maybe it will be set before, maybe you will ignore it completely. But for THIS campaign, the one you are about to actually run, don't be afraid to get it dirty.