What is the best "generic" setting?

[Glyfair]

People always say that, but aren't cities built beneath giant inert golems and cities full of necromancers kind of atypical?

Really, all those settings have atypical things.

Just off the top of my head, Greyhawk has a spaceship sitting in the Barrier Peaks. That;s sort of atypical.

 

[Hussar]

I think I would argue that a setting without atypical elements would be unbelievably boring. It's the atypical elements that make the setting.

 

[Remathilis]

Scarred Lands is sinister? It could be I suppose, but, it doesn't have to play that way. It is certainly as generic as any of the other settings you list.

See, I was always under the impression Scarred Lands was kinda like Ravenloft: lots of evil cultists, weird demons, and evil elder gods that make the setting a fight for survival morseo a realm of adventure. It didn't evoke the same feeling that Greyhawk or Realms did; high fantasy rather than sword and sorcery (heh).

However, it might be worth a look into as well. Esp if people* speak highly enough of it.


* people NOT named Nightfall, that is.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The giant golem is a bit different, though I'd argue that it's no more unusual than the giant golems of Shadow World, sky galleons of Mystara, or multi-dimensional castles of Greyhawk. Most of that stuff appears atypical at first glance, as well

I've been an MML subscriber for almost 10 years now, but I wouldn't say Mystara really is a generic setting. Karameikos, perhaps, since you can run the majority of non-climate-restricted D&D adventures there (and in a few other nations), but the world itself is pretty darn quirky.

I view a "generic" setting as one where a DM doesn't have to do much more than rename the gods and neighboring communities to be able to use a published adventure. In Mystara, that's only true if you're playing in a small handful of countries.

In contrast, most of Greyhawk, Kalamar and most of the other settings listed meet this criteria, as do many others not listed. (I use Praemal, the world of Ptolus this way in my Midwood campaign, for instance.)

 

[Nightfall]

Sinister?! The Scarred Lands!!? Never...

Elder evil gods? No we got Titans...but they aren't any more gods than say Primus.

 

[Nifft]

Primus.

"Modrons! Transform and roll out!" -- Primus Optime

Marching, -- N

 

[der_kluge]

Greyhawk will win because people won't be familiar with all the others.

I mean, the fact that there's no actual BOOK which one can purchase for 3rd edition detailing the Greyhawk setting should give it a failing grade automatically.


The Wilderlands, baby. It is a thing of beauty. All other settings pale in comparison.

 

[Yair]

Impossible for me to say as I don't know most settings. Of the few I do know, both Greyhawk and Mystara work well, but I prefer Greyhawk. (Forgotten Realms I don't like, especially not for a generic campaign.) Getting your hand on a good book on either might be difficult, though (but you can purchase old D&D pdfs). If you can't get one of these, I'd recommend.... erg... well, any of the others, since I don't know them. Gazetteer of the Known Realms is what I'll probably be looking into myself if I needed such a setting, for the sheer simplicity of being the bedrock for the many fine Dungeon Crawl adventures, which I like.

 

[rounser]

Thunder Rift, without a doubt. It out-generics all of the poll options.

It's been described as a "D&D game reserve", and all the assumptions and cliches of the implied setting are there intact, because it was designed to introduce new players to OD&D. It's also a microcosm, which makes it easy to detail thoroughly if you want to, and (let's face it) 3E doesn't need much space to reach 20th level. The modules are rather poor quality though, so I'd suggest just using the 32 page setting guide:
http://paizo.com/store/downloads/wizardsOfTheCoast/classicDAndD/adventures/v5748btpy7my3

 

[Khairn]

My first choice would be Harn (Other)

Even after 20+ years the setting remains fresh and incredibly detailed. If limited to only D&D, I'd probably say FR.