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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Brazeku" data-source="post: 3438736" data-attributes="member: 48916">As a preference, I like to have the setting material to help generate adventures.  Later in this post, I'll tell you what setting material I usually use.  And point 2 is somewhat moot- what we're arguing is almost certainly scale.  As opposed to having character actions which function inside an adventure (with an adventure being an assault on a keep or whatnot), a setting as I use it would be, basically, a really large, vague adventure.I would include this as setting prep.I actually think we're on the same page.  I build the setting with the idea that it's going to do something in particular- the difference is that, as opposed to a task, the inspiration begins with an image, usually of a place- then I ask 'what can we do there'?I don't generally worry about extensive history unless the players are making motions to interact with it.  The adventure playground that you're describing... is setting.I don't really run campaigns that focus on BBEGs.  Culture is pretty important to my campaigns because it helps determine the way NPC X is going to act, and determines large scale background conflicts- the sense that the world is larger than the actions of the players.  If the players do run up against adversaries, usually that adversary grows out of the environment that the players have come across.  In fact, I rarely stat out NPCs unless it looks like there's going to be a fight.Or the setting can generate the adventures.  This helps give your adventures flavor.In 16 years, this has never happened.  Setting tends to be fairly flexible due, as you pointed out, to its sweeping nature.  During travel I have a few places that I've listed in the area, and I'll drop them in as I see fit, then alter the setting to accomodate.  Then they become part of the setting.I don't even think we're really arguing.  I think our terms just became crossed.Anyway, I'm going to tell you what I consider setting.  Keep in mind that I am an improv DM- I guess you could say setting is my adventure prep.General culture- determines how NPCs act as a baselineA few locations- stages for the PCs to investigate.  Brief history.Some notes on architecture- for when I have to generate maps (I do not do maps ahead of time anymore, I like to be able to end an area if the players seem to be flagging), also for descriptionSome notes on politics- to determine purpose of events, NPC motivesStock opposition- longest process.  For players to fight if necessary (I prefer not to use the MM).  These will usually include a few notes on why they are in location X, and how they act.A few events- things that can happen, and why they are happening.That's about it.  In about an hour of prep I can run most any adventure.  I invent NPCs on the fly.</blockquote>

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