What do you think is the best campaign setting?
- Thread starter Zethnar
- Start date
3rd vote for Oathbound. Another nice thing about it is that you can pick up something cool and not wonder if it is going to fit into your on going campaign.
I own Midnight and there is one thing that the supporters haven't said- the PCs can be heros, but unless they are elves, they will never get a hero's welcome anywhere. They will lose eventually and there is nothing they can do about it (fighting a god has that kink). And I ask anyone if I am wrong- how does one kill a god and millions of orcs and 4 epic level champions of the god and thousands of traitorous humans?
I own Midnight and there is one thing that the supporters haven't said- the PCs can be heros, but unless they are elves, they will never get a hero's welcome anywhere. They will lose eventually and there is nothing they can do about it (fighting a god has that kink). And I ask anyone if I am wrong- how does one kill a god and millions of orcs and 4 epic level champions of the god and thousands of traitorous humans?
Ramien Meltides
First Post
It appears that most of what I had to say has already been said. Nevertheless, I will also recommend Valus as a good choice to fit what you're looking for - I think you'll be pleasantly surprised, especially with the handling of the gods, races, and magic.
Second, I'd definitely suggest picking up Dawnforge and giving it a look-see. As several folks have mentioned already, the setting is rather good (although I should mention that I have a bias, as one of the developers).
Lastly, I'd also like to add my voice to those who mentioned Birthright as a possibility. (Hi Duane!) The setting, while "old school" is just as good today as it was in the 90's. Epic adventure side by side with gritty fantasy.
Second, I'd definitely suggest picking up Dawnforge and giving it a look-see. As several folks have mentioned already, the setting is rather good (although I should mention that I have a bias, as one of the developers).
Lastly, I'd also like to add my voice to those who mentioned Birthright as a possibility. (Hi Duane!) The setting, while "old school" is just as good today as it was in the 90's. Epic adventure side by side with gritty fantasy.
Voadam
Legend
Zethnar said:Ok to answer a quick question that seems to have been asked a lot. I like games that are epic in scope, where the characters deeds take them from simple farmers or thieves to mighty heros and saviours.
I like having a dark foreboding atmosphere over the game, some kind of looming threat to which the PC's are drawn and must defeat (which is what drew me to midnight, and the tolkein reference was just an impression I got from a brief look at the product). Course most of that can be covered by plot and doesnt have to be written into the system.
So far I've only ever run homebrew stuff, never a published campaign setting (except for once when I ran a 6 month long warcraft campaign). I've never run Eberron and I dont think I ever will, although I might surprise myself one day
One other thing, I like either low magic or a system that doesnt use the standard "spell slots" from the core books. Although thats not as much of an issue as I have the "Advanced Players Guide" by sword and sorcery which has a very nice skill based system in it.
From the ones I have
Dark foreboding: Ravenloft(horror), Dragonlords of Melnibone(dark Fantasy), Wheel of time(madness tainted low-magic), Valus(low magic gritty D&D), Scarred Lands (world with lots of dark monster races everywhere), Ragnarok! (Norse Mythology approaching apocalypse mini setting),
Different: Nyambe (Fantasy Africa CS), Avalanche Press historical/mythological ones (Ragnarok!, Atlantis, War in Heliopolis (eh),)
Different magic system: Wheel of Time
Epic: Oathbound, Forgotten Realms
Acid_crash
First Post
As dark, gritty, and unhealthy living in Midnight would be, I really think that Dark Sun is a harsher and more gritty world to live. At least in Midnight you have trees to hide in. 
These would be the two settings I would recommend to you, if you are wanting d20. You didn't specify that you are just wanting d20 settings, so I will plug in a couple options of non d20 settings that are really damn cool and deserve to be played.
Exalted and Fireborn, from White Wolf and FFG. Both outstanding games, both epic, and both with cool task resolution mechanics that brings the feel of the world out. I would even push Fireborn ahead of Exalted because there is less to learn, and I how much cooler is it to be able to play a scion (a dragon from the Mythic Age that is reincarnated in human form) and a dragon (through flashbacks to the Mythic Age) in the same game. Plus, it's dice mechanic is very fluid and gives players a lot of options and choices. Go to www.fantasyflightgames.com and give Fireborn a check up. Same creators of the famous Midnight setting, so they know what they are doing.
These would be the two settings I would recommend to you, if you are wanting d20. You didn't specify that you are just wanting d20 settings, so I will plug in a couple options of non d20 settings that are really damn cool and deserve to be played.
Exalted and Fireborn, from White Wolf and FFG. Both outstanding games, both epic, and both with cool task resolution mechanics that brings the feel of the world out. I would even push Fireborn ahead of Exalted because there is less to learn, and I how much cooler is it to be able to play a scion (a dragon from the Mythic Age that is reincarnated in human form) and a dragon (through flashbacks to the Mythic Age) in the same game. Plus, it's dice mechanic is very fluid and gives players a lot of options and choices. Go to www.fantasyflightgames.com and give Fireborn a check up. Same creators of the famous Midnight setting, so they know what they are doing.
Buttercup
Princess of Florin
I think there are many excellent campaign settings out there. My preference is to cherry-pick features from a several to create my own world. Here are the settings I've been most impressed with:
Kingdoms of Kalamar If you want a setting that is fully compatable with the SRD, has lots of detail and yet still provides plenty of blank canvas for you to plug in your own ideas, this is the setting for you. The books are really well done, and the atlas is the most beautiful RPG product anyone has ever produced.
Conan Although the books are plagued by editing errors, the artwork is beautiful and the setting is very flavorful. The rules have been modified to accomodate a low or no magic campaign, in an interesting and balanced way, IMO.
Midnight This setting is grim, and therefore not to everyone's taste. I'd like to run a game in it, but my players refuse to play in such a dark and (to them) hopeless world. Nonetheless, if you can find the right group of players, I think this could be a really memorable campaign.
Iron Kingdoms Holy moley but the production values are high on the Character Guide and the Monsternomicon. Only problem is--it's taking Privateer Press forever and a day to release new books. If you can wait, this is worth waiting for.
Then there are some mini-settings that I love, like Freeport, Bluffside and Redhurst Academy of Magic. If you want a locale that you can plug in just about anywhere, I'd recommend you take a close look at these three.
Kingdoms of Kalamar If you want a setting that is fully compatable with the SRD, has lots of detail and yet still provides plenty of blank canvas for you to plug in your own ideas, this is the setting for you. The books are really well done, and the atlas is the most beautiful RPG product anyone has ever produced.
Conan Although the books are plagued by editing errors, the artwork is beautiful and the setting is very flavorful. The rules have been modified to accomodate a low or no magic campaign, in an interesting and balanced way, IMO.
Midnight This setting is grim, and therefore not to everyone's taste. I'd like to run a game in it, but my players refuse to play in such a dark and (to them) hopeless world. Nonetheless, if you can find the right group of players, I think this could be a really memorable campaign.
Iron Kingdoms Holy moley but the production values are high on the Character Guide and the Monsternomicon. Only problem is--it's taking Privateer Press forever and a day to release new books. If you can wait, this is worth waiting for.
Then there are some mini-settings that I love, like Freeport, Bluffside and Redhurst Academy of Magic. If you want a locale that you can plug in just about anywhere, I'd recommend you take a close look at these three.
Add another vote for Midnight. This is perhaps the most coherent and flavourful setting I've read, and I'd love to play in it. It's well supported too.
It is definitely very dark and depressing though. Some of my friends played a short game in it and it petered out because the mood was too hopeless. But I was thinking that it mightn't be too hard to run a less dark game by just rewinding to a bit before Izrador came storming out of the North. You'd still get to use all the cool cultural stuff and the lack of gods and undead problems which help make the setting unique, and there was plenty of conflict around to keep players busy, even give them a chance to affect the outcome of the invasion a bit if you like. I would like to give this a try when our current campaign ends.
Back on topic - I haven't actually played in any published settings except FR, because all the GMs I know except one only use homebrews. But settings I've read, loved, and like to steal stuff from include Rokugan, Nyambe, and Green Ronin's Mindshadows (south to southeast asian influenced, psioics heavy setting. Not too keen on the Juggernauts though - cross genre sure but mecha in d20 is a bit much for me. Each to their own). For low magic settings, I love the very different kinds of spell users in Conan (the Atlantean Edition fixes the errors), Green Ronin's Medieval Player's Manual, and Skull&Bones.
It is definitely very dark and depressing though. Some of my friends played a short game in it and it petered out because the mood was too hopeless. But I was thinking that it mightn't be too hard to run a less dark game by just rewinding to a bit before Izrador came storming out of the North. You'd still get to use all the cool cultural stuff and the lack of gods and undead problems which help make the setting unique, and there was plenty of conflict around to keep players busy, even give them a chance to affect the outcome of the invasion a bit if you like. I would like to give this a try when our current campaign ends.
Back on topic - I haven't actually played in any published settings except FR, because all the GMs I know except one only use homebrews. But settings I've read, loved, and like to steal stuff from include Rokugan, Nyambe, and Green Ronin's Mindshadows (south to southeast asian influenced, psioics heavy setting. Not too keen on the Juggernauts though - cross genre sure but mecha in d20 is a bit much for me. Each to their own). For low magic settings, I love the very different kinds of spell users in Conan (the Atlantean Edition fixes the errors), Green Ronin's Medieval Player's Manual, and Skull&Bones.
grodog
Hero
Wisdom Penalty said:
Thanks for the plug Wisdom Penalty
I'd certainly be curious to see whether folks think that Valus must be DM'd and played by experienced folks or not---I think Destan's chapter about DMing in the setting should help out anyone, whether a newbie or an old hand.
If you're looking for a sense of what the Valus us like, Zethnar, check out his fiction threads (he just updated the most current one yesterday) at http://www.diffworlds.com/ryan_smalley.htm
I'm a huge Greyhawk fan, too, so if you're looking for more info on that setting, speak up Zethnar, and I'm sure we can all help you out with ideas, online resources, etc.
grodog
Hero
Zethnar said:
True, but Valus, Greyhawk, and Midnight would all fit those molds, though for different reasons Valus is more medieval in feel, with "realistic" cultures and peoples at odds with one another over dogma, beliefs, racism, etc.; it's also a micro-setting, rather than a full-blown campaign world (Valus is a 600 mile long island, set within a larger world called Ostia Prim).
Greyhawk is a more Leiber-like world---grim and gritty, but filled with high adventure. It's lower magic than the FR, but that's not saying much ;-) Don't forget that all of the classic artifacts and relics originated (for the most part) in Greyhawk.
Midnight is more like a setting where the forces of good are in decline and retreat, with the forces of evil ascendant (it has that tinge of doom like Warhammer Fantasy Roleplaying).
