What is your favorite D&D setting?

[Zappo]

Wow, why no love for Dragonlance? Dead last behind even Spelljammer!? Yikes. Sure 20 years ago the modules were pretty railroading, but the setting itself was and is cool. Have people even seen the new 3.5 hardcovers out now detailing the best illustrated monsters outside of WOTC and an entire sourcebook with rules and options for running alternative War of the Lance campaigns?

I don't get it. Draconians, Dragonriders, a very "fairy tale" feel, multiple era of play, what's the hangup?

I'm quite surprised too. I guess that most people are thinking about the "old" dragonlance, not the new 3.5 dragonlance. I, too, haven't looked into it, so I can only judge the old dragonlance - which, well, I didn't like. Draconians, dragonriders, a very "fairy tale" feel, multiple eras of play, extensive railroading, little to do besides the modules, gully dwarves, tinker gnomes, and kender. Meh. I still wouldn't place it last, though.

 

[rogueattorney]

It is my understanding that, faced with the prospect of litigation from Kenzer & Co. for republishing their comic without permission, WOTC granted them permission to use the D&D logo and content that is not available to other companies.

Thus, to claim Kalamar is an official D&D setting without a caveat is facetious at best.

What you call a "shake-down", I call compensation for unlawful use of copyrighted material. Maybe you're not trying to characterize Kenzer as the bad guy here, but it sure seems like it.

I'm no fan of Kenzer, but in my experience, if a little 6 employee company gets a major concession from a much bigger company, it's usually because the much bigger company did a major no-no. If that weren't the case the much bigger company, with its much bigger pockets, would just as likely try to win a war of attrition in the courtroom. We'll never get the whole story because they settled out of court and neither party is talking (probably pursuant to the terms of the settlement agreement).

R.A.

 

[MonsterMash]

Out of the options I picked Al-Qadim, but for published settings I prefer the Wilderlands of High Fantasy (which pre-dated any of the TSR/WotC settings for actual publication).

 

[teitan]

Wow, why no love for Dragonlance? Dead last behind even Spelljammer!? Yikes. Sure 20 years ago the modules were pretty railroading, but the setting itself was and is cool. Have people even seen the new 3.5 hardcovers out now detailing the best illustrated monsters outside of WOTC and an entire sourcebook with rules and options for running alternative War of the Lance campaigns?

I don't get it. Draconians, Dragonriders, a very "fairy tale" feel, multiple era of play, what's the hangup?

45 dollar price tags, poor editing, mismanaged information. Yeah, DL was cool and continues to be cool, in novels.

 

[Kai Lord]

45 dollar price tags, poor editing, mismanaged information. Yeah, DL was cool and continues to be cool, in novels.

Mismanaged information? How so? I'm not saying the new rules are perfect but I don't see how anyone couldn't agree that they're best rules we've had for the setting in any edition.

 

[Spatula]

First printing of darksun, before the Author's NPCs F'd the setting over.

Any material out there for pre Fall of Kalack or alternet setting were kalack's ziggarat is a setback, rather than lethal failure?

I just ignore everything that happens after Kalak's death myself. And most of the later-day game material that incorporates the novels' events and revelations. That which remains is just fine for a "pre-fall of Kalak" campaign... such as the one in my story hour (which is going to be updated in the near future, now that I have more free time).

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

What, no "Hollow World"?!?!?

 

[Kanegrundar]

Mismanaged information? How so? I'm not saying the new rules are perfect but I don't see how anyone couldn't agree that they're best rules we've had for the setting in any edition.

That may be, but it's still not up to par along side settings like FR (the new edition drew me in after years of staying away) and Eberron. I liked the idea of DL back in the old module days, but it's still just the same old fantasy setting. For me, not even FR really sparks me up anymore (though the 3E campaign setting is among the best cs's out there). I'm not into the whole "fairy tale" feel anymore. Settings like Iron Kingdoms, Eberron, and Warcraft are more my speed nowadays. DL, while in it's best incarnation, still feels old and tired to me.

Kane

 

[Altalazar]

Ravenloft all the way. Though I also enjoy my own home-brew. I've spent so many years developing it that I just have to use it. I know it so well. And it is so big that I can run just about any campaign type in it just by shifting the starting location around.

I do get meterials for other worlds, but I'm more apt to use them as inspiration / insertions into my world than as worlds on their own. With the exception of Ravenloft.

 

[Li Shenron]

If it has to be one only, probably Planescape. Sometimes it feels however a little kitsch...

Others would be Forgotten Realms for the vastness and complexity, Al-Qadim for the style and atmosphere, and maybe Ravenloft (althought I think it fits best as a plane/region in a larger world rather than the whole thing).