Please Help Me Select a Campaign Setting

[TerraDave]

Do you need a whole world? A big enough adventures (or series) might do the same thing. And if you are really pressed for time, might be more efficient for you.

Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil (which is loved by some, but not by others) has good old Hommlet and basically is an entire campaign in one book (if you start at 4th level, though be carefull with that first encounter).

Necromancer has a number of adventures with towns and cities as bases. Lost City of Barakus is a popular one.

Freeport (which you ruled out) and Bluffside have been mentioned.

Shackled City is coming out as a single book, should have lots of setting/base stuff in it.

And there is the Worlds Largest Dungeon...basically a world unto itself.

 

[Majoru Oakheart]

I'd suggest Greyhawk. Using the city of Greyhawk as a home base works out well. It isn't really high magic, it is just the default. The great thing about Greyhawk (or at least the 3E/3.5E version of it) is that it is basically the default setting.

So, all of the Complete books have information that is basically ready made for Greyhawk, there are a couple of adventures (all the 3E mods basically took place in Greyhawk), as well as RttToEE, and many 1E mods you can convert. Also, almost every adventure in Dragon magazine takes place in Greyhawk (of course, all of them are easily adapted to other settings, but they normally use Greyhawk city and country names)

Plus, if you can get a hold of the Living Greyhawk Gazeteer and research online, there is a lot of information about it.

Of course, I don't know too much about Kalamar, but from what I do know about it, it sounds a lot like Greyhawk but with a lot more complicated political landscape and a lot of changes from default D&D assumptions. Always seemed easier to stick with Greyhawk to me.

Also, although it's ready made, there are a lot of "grey" spots in the world to put your own creative touch in it if you want, or have the PCs run into any number of people that everyone has heard of (Otto, Tenser, etc), and visit known places like the Tomb of Horrors.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Shackled City is coming out as a single book, should have lots of setting/base stuff in it.

This is a good point. RttToEE or Shackled City, or World's Largest Dungeon sound like very good picks. I am very impressed with the way Shackled City looks and it's been playtested a LOT. RttToEE is also fun, but it can be intense. I'm playing in it now and I'd either suggest 5th level characters or letting the players play a +1 ECL race for free. I have no experience with WLD.

 

[Vascant]

Really depends on what you are looking for over all beyond what you have stated already..

Kalamar is a good choice, I like it myself however.. (Is there always a however?) I like settings myself that are supported on the website a little better so my opinion is going to be different..

Don't need an entire world? Bluffside, probably one of the better locals and has good supporting sites as well. The supporting sites I find critical because they give you a day to day feel to your world.

FR: Hands down one of the best supported worlds in existance, you can easily tone down the magic yourself, major NPC's that people tend to have issues with just don't use.

Greyhawk: Yeah it is older then dirt however, not only does it have vast support from fan sites but also not 1 but now 2 adventure paths. Both seem to be of outstanding quality. As you said, short on time at the moment, these may fit your needs perfect. With the AP 1 book getting ready to be release that could be your only new purchase to get going and keep going.

Someone stated Freeport, it isn't bad but never read it enough to suggest.

The guy who does tablesmith, has a nice free campaign world and a decent amount of material supporting it as well.

 

[GlassJaw]

I was going to cast another vote for Freeport but you put the kabosh on that. Still, having a player who "knows" the setting wouldn't really be a huge problem, unless he's read a module you want to run.

I'll cast my vote for the Shackled City hardcover that's coming out at the end of the month. It's a complete campaign, has gotten a ton of support, and has a great "home base" city.

 

[Faraer]

FR: Hands down one of the best supported worlds in existance, you can easily tone down the magic yourself, major NPC's that people tend to have issues with just don't use.

The "high magic" nature of the Realms is more to do with variety than quantity, and while it might turn out to be too high-magic for you as written, I wouldn't take that for granted.

The other "issues" I suggest you consider if and when anyone actually experiences them. In every setting, NPCs appear as and when the DM wants them to.

Of course, the only real deciding factor is which setting you like best after looking at them.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Another vote for Kalamar. Or Dragonlance.

 

[DarrenGMiller]

I second the nomination of Greyhawk.

DM

 

[Wisdom Penalty]

another vote for Valus and Greyhawk.

for some reason, those two settings just bring out the old school "nostalgia" for me when it comes to gaming. and im a self-admitted setting addict - i think i own every one (except nyambe) mentioned above, plus some not mentioned.

the problem with Valus is that there's no - zip - nada - none support. so if you're comfortable with homebrewing stuff once a (albeit wonderful) backdrop is painted down, then Valus it is.

if not, id go with greyhawk. it's just...well, cool.

W.P.

 

[jester47]

Kalamar is what you want.

No it isnt! You want Wilderlands!

Wilderlands allows you to make it what you want it to be, but does all the work for you.
Kalamar is good also, but it is a little thick with culture and stuff. Wilderlands gives you just what you need to run it. Check out the sample on the necromancer games web page.

Aaron.