What is the most detailed setting available?
- Thread starter Jd Smith1
- Start date
Voadam
Legend
I would find it hard to believe that the Forgotten Realms does not have the most written about it. It does not have every noble bloodline, but the volume of setting material would be hard to match.
schneeland
Adventurer
I also thought of The Dark Eye/Aventuria immediately, but with all the information from 1e and 2e, the Forgotten Realms should probably at least come close (for something that is forgotten, they are really quite well remembered).
overgeeked
B/X Known World
Tekumel by MAR Barker is a contender. As is Wildlands of High Fantasy by Judge’s Guild.
Ralif Redhammer
Legend
Definitely historical, but sometimes I'm not always so sure on the realistic part!
I'd agree with the aforementioned Forgotten Realms and Tekumel. I don't know if it would deserve first place, but I'd also put Kingdoms of Kalamar in the running.
I'd agree with the aforementioned Forgotten Realms and Tekumel. I don't know if it would deserve first place, but I'd also put Kingdoms of Kalamar in the running.
Jd Smith1
Hero
I'll agree on Forgotten Realms: it has great maps and a lot of fiction, but very little political detail, and political detail there is, is piecemeal.
Voadam
Legend
Thay invades Rashemon, inflicts some damage, and is repulsed by the berserkers and witches. Thay has some plans to do so again in the future.
The Zhentarim has some nefarious political scheme.
That covers a lot of it.
Ralif Redhammer
Legend
But for a few places, yeah, the kingdoms are fairly self-contained and don't interact with each other that much.
But it has more than just maps and fiction - the level of detail and history is vast. Depending on the location, I can grab a sourcebook and find details about multiple alleys, shops, or ruins that in turn can inspire countless adventures.
But it has more than just maps and fiction - the level of detail and history is vast. Depending on the location, I can grab a sourcebook and find details about multiple alleys, shops, or ruins that in turn can inspire countless adventures.
RangerWickett
Legend
Novels might put the Realms over the top, but you should look at Paizo's catalog when it comes to Golarion. Something like 3 books a month for 12 years, not counting shorter adventures for organized play? There's an incredibly detailed wiki about the setting too. It's honestly fascinating.
MGibster
Legend
I remember a friend of mine voicing his preference for the West End Games version of the gate in the late 1980s. "I like Star Wars because, unlike Star Trek, the universe is wide open and you can do whatever you want." My, my. How times have changed.
Sometimes I think the line is a bit blurred when it comes to multi-media intellectual properties. Battletech has a rich and highly detailed setting, but when it comes to the Mechwarrior RPG, most of the setting material is actually found in the 200+ novels and various splat books for the table top war game rather than the role playing game. I don't know if it's fair to compare Star Wars, Battletech or Dune (it's an RPG now) to Harn.
Voadam
Legend
That is a good contender. My gut would say FR, but they have dropped off significantly in production since 3e and Paizo has been cranking out regular setting material for over a decade.
overgeeked
B/X Known World
If we're going outside established RPG settings, then definitely Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, and DC. Each of those would likely blow any RPG setting out of the water in terms of detail. And there are games for each.
If we consider non-gaming materials in the calculation, I think Call of Cthulhu may be the biggest. Lots of IPs are limited by licensing. But Cthulhu is public domain, so almost anything could be considered "setting details", from the Evil Dead movies to creepypasta.
I"m not sure what 'fairness' has to do with anything. It's just a factual question. I don't think Harn's feelings are going to get hurt.
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