New WotC Campaign Setting

[Stormborn]

Not at all interested in Greyhawk. Generic DnD I can do on my own or with any number of other settings. Nor do I believe that WotC will release a "fully supported" campaign setting any where this side of 4th Ed. and then only to feature the new ruleset if then. Nor do I want them too.

On the other hand I, like others, am interested in one-shot campaign settings/mega adventures. I would love to see Planescape (is it Monte's secret "last project"?), Spelljammer (an expansion of the Poly Spider Moon version as first choice), and Al-Quadim single volume setting books. I don't expect to see one, but an "asian" inspired setting book would be good too. Greyhawk would be fine if it was an "Expedition to Castle Greyhawk" type book. Plus, we know that while bits of the other two finalist entries got incoporated into Eberron (the Deathless Elves were Rich Burlew's I think) WotC could do setting books for those and then see if they are well recieved with an eye to revamping for 4th ed. In the end, however, I suspect that we are mostly going to see nostalgia driven projects and Eb/FR locals with mostly fluff and little crunch for then next year or so until 4th ed is announced.

 

[Ghendar]

I believe Greyhawk is intended to be an open, not overly developed world that allows individual DM's the opportunity to tailor it to their specific needs. You can't always do that with FR or Eberron, or at least not to the same extent.

Personally, I prefer tolkienesque type RPG worlds. I would not spend one thin dime on a 3.5 adaption of things like Dark Sun or Spelljammer (ugh!)

Mystara, on the other hand, I would buy and no it's not typical generic fantasy. It's a much different feel than either FR or Greyhawk.

 

[mythusmage]

What I'd like in a New Setting

Coherency. It all hangs together. It has a history, the lands and nations interact with and influence each other. Events have impact beyond the place of occurance.

It makes sense. Geography and location affect climate and biome. Climate and biome affect culture.

Well written, well edited, well produced. Especially the writing. Writing that catches your attention and keeps it. Writing that gets you excited about adventuring in the world. Writing that's worth reading for its own sake.

D&D magic is a part of the world, with all the implications inherent thereto. Not wimped out, not "nerfed", not mangled to fit the procrustean bed. If it means Cure Minor Wound potions cost 3 silver at the local apothecary, then Cure Minor Wound potions cost 3 silver at the local apothecary.

Interesting NPCs. Nuff said.

Vanilla, nothing special, only solid writing, interesting places, and lots of interaction. The heart of my argument is; make it interesting, integrated, and have a history. A real history and not some sketchy timeline. Put some work into it, and give it the time it needs to be done right. Have an overall goal, and don't let playtesters and kibittzers force inconsequential and irrelevant crap on you.

Finally, release with D&D 4th edition as D&D 4th edition's official setting. The new setting and D&D 4th edition get designed together so that they work together.

That's what I'd like to see from a new D&D setting.

 

[bento]

DMG3: Campaign Builder

Rather than going whole-hog with a new campaign setting like Eberron, I'd much rather see a different approach.

Why not make a Dungeon Master's Guide III: Campaign Builder? Have the first fifty pages with in-depth campaign building advice, then the rest of the book be like Green Ronin's True20 "Worlds of Adventure" - where they could highlight 5-7 different campaign worlds. These new worlds could use other books like "Tome of Battle: Book of 9 Swords" or "Magic of Incarnum", and build a setting around them, complete with major groups, important places and background plots.

I remember looking for an OA setting a few years ago and stumbling across the Web Enabled campaign setting based on ancient India (Marzapan?). Just reading those 10 pages or so really opened my eyes to the possibilities of what you could do with some rules and a vision.

This DMG3 book could sort of do the same thing - show that you don't have to necessarily create an entire world, but a place large enough and exciting enough to contains a few year's worth of fun.

Realistically though I'd much rather they focus on creating more large adventure books like "Red Hand of Doom" or "Ravenloft" which really help the harried DM.

 

[Enforcer]

If a defunct setting has to be resurrected, I'd choose Dark Sun or Birthright. But I'd prefer one-shot books that I can choose elements from a la carte. Like a book of magical societies, or a book of military orders, stuff like that.

 

[Cam Banks]

Everybody should be playing Dragonlance.

No, really. Would I lie to you?

Cheers,
Cam

 

[MojoGM]

I agree with tohse who say we don't need another fully supported campaign setting, but some one-off books would be nice.

Let's revisit Spelljammer...that was a setting with a lot of unrealized potential in my opinion.

 

[Ghendar]

Vanilla, nothing special, only solid writing, interesting places, and lots of interaction. The heart of my argument is; make it interesting, integrated, and have a history. A real history and not some sketchy timeline. Put some work into it, and give it the time it needs to be done right. Have an overall goal, and don't let playtesters and kibittzers force inconsequential and irrelevant crap on you.

I agree with you.
The problem is that some people think this is only attainable by being given a setting that's "different" ala Eberron. Some people look down on Greyhawk as boring or vanilla. They need the flashiness of an Eberron, or the differentness of a Dark Sun, or the wackiness of a Spelljammer.

No one needs any of that to make a setting interesting. It's all in what you (as the DM) do with it.

I enjoy Greyhawk because it gives me enormous freedom to make that setting my own.
I enjoy FR because of the huge support the setting has been given and its history
I enjoy Eberron because it's a bit different then other settings and gives me some options I don't have in Greyhawk or FR.

imo. Play the setting you want to play in.

 

[buzz]

However, a fresh campaign setting would bring a new influx of money to the company.

It would?

GREYHAWK!

Greyhawk is "fresh"?

Tangent: Settings currently available to D&D 3.x players, both new and ones glutting discount bins everywhere.

Arcanis
Blackmoor
Dragonlance
DragonMech
Eberron
Forgotten Realms
Gazetteer of the Known Realms (DCC)
Greyhawk
Iron Kingdoms
Kalamar
Midnight
Neiyar
Oathbound
Ptolus
Ravenloft
Scarred Lands
Wilderlands
...and probably a host of small-press/PDF products I'm unaware of.

Summary: I think the last thing WotC (or any other publisher) needs to do is create a new campaign setting.

 

[radferth]

As a big Greyhawk fan, please, no more Greyhawk support. One setting book for each new edition is fine, maybe some downloads for the new players; but please, no updating, no metaplot, no trying to retrofit new rules into the setting.