What's the deal with Greyhawk...

[buzz]

Re: Who needs support from WOTC

I hear everyone saying they want more support for the greyhawk world, but one of the main complaints about Forgotten Realms is that there is to much change and support!

I didn't have anything to do with FR until 3e came out, so forgive me if this is a clueless question...

What has WotC done to "advance" the setting since 3e? I have every RPG product put out for FR since 3e, save for any FR novels, as I simply don't have much interest in game fiction. As far as I can tell, the books I have so far are simply detailing FR as of 1371DR. I haven't really noticed anything in them or Dragon that have "advanced" the setting beyond that point. Granted, I'm still making my way through them all...

I guess my impression is simply that the 3e incarnation of FR seems to be exactly what people are demanding of GH, i.e., a descrption of the world, with any "plot" left up to the players.

Anyway, I'd love to see a GHCS that was on par with the FRCS. The LGG is quite good, but I simply think it could be better; doesn't the "default" setting deserve that much?

 

[Remathilis]

Advancements such as the death of the King of Cormyr (Into the Dragon's Lair, IIRC) advance the campaign world for later products.

Example #1: In Monsters of Faerun, There are plenty of references to Bane being dead, his son Xvim being alive. (Banedead, Beasts of Xvim)
Forgotten Realm Campaign Setting comes out, and Bane returns, Xvim is "dead". Invalidates both entries in a book that came out 4 months earlier.

Those playing in the Realms have to retrofit thier campaigns around this god-switch or ignore it, but also ignore all future references in Magic of Faerun, Faiths and Pantheons, Lords of Darkness, Races of Faerun, etc.

Some DM's like this, others feel power is out of thier hands.

 

[Joseph Elric Smith]

...and what do the old Greyhawk grognards have against the "new" (Living) Greyhawk?

Hmm that the felt the need to revise, in stead of create. If Greyhawk needed to be changed to make it fit why not create a new world and stop screwing with the classic?

Ken

 

[JacktheRabbit]

* Return to Temple of Elemental Evil - Lots of specific info, perhaps their best "core" greyhawk info book.

Except that Monte made lots of assumptions and changes that really irritated old school Greyhawk people.

 

[Joseph Elric Smith]

quote:
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Originally posted by Remathilis
* Return to Temple of Elemental Evil - Lots of specific info, perhaps their best "core" greyhawk info book.



Not core Greyhawk at all Blaming Big T for everything, when Big T had nothing to do with the Temple of Elemental evil. If monte wanted to make a super modules based around Big T why didn't he do return to the temple of Therizdun.
Ken

 

[buzz]

Advancements such as the death of the King of Cormyr (Into the Dragon's Lair, IIRC) advance the campaign world for later products.

Example #1: In Monsters of Faerun, There are plenty of references to Bane being dead, his son Xvim being alive. (Banedead, Beasts of Xvim)
Forgotten Realm Campaign Setting comes out, and Bane returns, Xvim is "dead". Invalidates both entries in a book that came out 4 months earlier.

To be fair, MoF and ItDL were sort of 3e "transition" products. The latter still had the 2e FR logo and the former lacked the 3e FR "look." Both pre-dated the 3e FRCS. All the products since then have shared a common starting-point and don't seem to be advancing from it.

 

[Oberton]

Money

Did anyone read the recent news that WOTC will not be doing many modules in the future? WOTC, said they would be focusing on their core product lines and publishing more rule "crunchy" books... I wonder if WORLD BOOKS and their SUPPLEMENTS qualify as crunchy books... I remember the stink over the Silvermarsh books and that we should not expect more of this type of product...

I guess, I am just wondering what they consider CRUNCHY books and how that translates into products detailing worlds...

 

[buzz]

Re: Money

I guess, I am just wondering what they consider CRUNCHY books and how that translates into products detailing worlds...

Considering that Urban Arcana, Ghostwalk, and Uapproachable East are coming out soon, not to mention the new campaign setting from the setting contest, I think that campaign settings are going to continue to be on their list.

That they're not going to put out "modules" should be no surprise. The format hasn't been profitable for them in a while, and is best left to smaller d20 companies (sort of the whole purpose of the OGL, afaic). Besides, there's still Dungeon.

 

[Theuderic]

I didn't know "grognards" was a disparaging term

It isn't. Mr. Noah seems to think it is though, hmmm.....

 

[chatdemon]

I don't have any comments on this that I haven't made before, so I'll just leave yall with a shameless plug.

http://www.canonfire.com/html

A really big Greyhawk site.

And, btw, if by unhappy grognards you are referring to the RJK and EGG fanboys out there, (not naming any names...) ignore them, they are a loud but extremely small minority.