When should I set my Greyhawk?

[Sword of Spirit]

I'm working on a plane-hopping multiverse campaign. I initially looked up some timeline harmonizations and picked one that I liked...but as I was reading the original Planescape campaign setting I realized I liked the feel it had better than it did after the changes, and I decided I'd just set it right there at the boxed set. Nothing that came afterwards in the official timeline happens during our game unless I want it to.

So I decided I'm going to do the same thing for each of the settings--just decide what date in the setting I like the best as a starting point and declare all of those dates chronologically synchronized in my version of the multiverse.

Now, I realized that I actually know little about the changes that happened to Greyhawk over time. The only product I currently have is the D&D Gazetteer, (I used to have the 1e/2e transitional Greyhawk Adventures hardback). So I wanted to see what you Greyhawk fans recommend.

Basically, I need to know a few things.
1) What would you define as the major Greyhawk time periods? (Such as how the Forgotten Realms had pre-Time of Troubles (1e), post Time of Troubles (2e-3e), and then went into things we need not discuss.)
2) How did the map change? Can I use my D&D Gazetteer for any of them, and if so, what changes to political entities or geographical features do I need to be aware of?
3) If I need additional products, what single product will give me everything (or as close as possible) that I need for a particular time period?
4) Sell me on your favorite time period--why is it in the coolest? (Since I already anticipate I'll get people speaking up for original incarnation Greyhawk (which I'm happy to hear about), I want to specifically encourage anyone who prefers a different time period that may not have as large of a likely contingent to share their thoughts also.)

Thanks all!

 

[Voadam]

1) a. 1e time period Folio, 80's boxed set, 1e/2e hardcover. Original AD&D modules set in this time period.
b. Greyhawk wars 2e era From the Ashes dark ages Era
c. Late 2e, 3e era.

2) Greyhawk wars from mid 2e era blew up the Great Kingdom and had Iuz expand and conquer.

3) Living Greyhawk Gazetteer from 3e is a great in-depth overview. There are fantastic suppmements throughout that can be the basis for great understanding of the setting. OE Greyhawk folio, 1e boxed set Campaign Setting, From the Ashse boxed set, late 2e Player's Guide to Greyhawk and one other sourcebook I forget, and 3e Living Greyhawk Gazeteer. The 32 page 3e mini gazetteer is the only one I don't have.

4) tough call, I like all three eras. 1e original is classic fantasy backdrop with enough details on countries to get a flavor but not overdeveloped, a great place to plunk in modules, particularly the classic AD&D ones. From the Ashes is a great Grimdark one with evil on the rise and good nations hard pressed but tons of stuff for good adventurers to face off against. 3e is the default 3e setting with Pelor and Kord as familiar gods and a touch of greyhawk setting flavor without huge dark war metaplot.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

Thanks. That makes a lot more sense. Sounds like the 2e stuff is your shakeup analog to the Time of Troubles or the War of the Lance. I might be best off sticking with 3e and making all three of the AD&D world-changers happen simultaneously. Still considering though (and open to additional suggestions).

The 32 page gazetteer is, as far as I can tell, composed of excerpts from the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, so that's the obvious upgrade if I want to go with the 3e version.

How much of a mess of the world did Iuz make when you compare

 

[Voadam]

Thanks. That makes a lot more sense. Sounds like the 2e stuff is your shakeup analog to the Time of Troubles or the War of the Lance. I might be best off sticking with 3e and making all three of the AD&D world-changers happen simultaneously. Still considering though (and open to additional suggestions).

The 32 page gazetteer is, as far as I can tell, composed of excerpts from the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, so that's the obvious upgrade if I want to go with the 3e version.

How much of a mess of the world did Iuz make when you compare

The LGG is fantastic for getting information on the gods beyond one page charts of spheres of influence, deific power level, and ethnic associations that were in most AD&D versions of the setting. From the Ashes had good deity descriptions as well though, if not as comprehensive a list as in LGG.

Iuz conquered a bunch of countries in the Greyhawk Wars/From the Ashes. If I recall this includes the Bandit Kingdoms, The Horned Society, and some of the good ones (Keoland? shield Lands?).

Post From the Ashes the Crook of Rao artifact of good is recovered and used to banish a bunch of the fiend horde Iuz had unleashed. This went a ways to reducing his big threat to the world and caused some territorial recovery. Still lots of issues with the humanoid Pomarj empire, open Scarlet Brotherhood, Rary the Traitor, and former districts of the Great Kingdom.

 

[Cleon]

Well obviously you should set it during WG7 Castle Greyhawk.

...Cleon flees from Enworld, pursued by a posse of outraged fans of the Flanaess.​

More seriously, I'd lean towards either the 1E or 3E versions unless you're planning on involving the PCs in the whole "Iuz is Conquering the World" storyline of that version.

Also, you said you only have the Gazetteer, so wouldn't it be most practical to use that setting?

 

[howandwhy99]

Basically, I need to know a few things.
1) What would you define as the major Greyhawk time periods? (Such as how the Forgotten Realms had pre-Time of Troubles (1e), post Time of Troubles (2e-3e), and then went into things we need not discuss.)
2) How did the map change? Can I use my D&D Gazetteer for any of them, and if so, what changes to political entities or geographical features do I need to be aware of?
3) If I need additional products, what single product will give me everything (or as close as possible) that I need for a particular time period?
4) Sell me on your favorite time period--why is it in the coolest? (Since I already anticipate I'll get people speaking up for original incarnation Greyhawk (which I'm happy to hear about), I want to specifically encourage anyone who prefers a different time period that may not have as large of a likely contingent to share their thoughts also.)

Thanks all!

1. I had a post last year that covered this. There are others on the interwebs with similar breakdowns.
http://www.enworld.org/forum/showth...awk-5e/page3&p=6419155&viewfull=1#post6419155

Basically, there is pre-published Greyhawk, 80's Gygaxian Greyhawk, Post-Gygax 2e mocking, early to mid-90s Version 2 Greyhawk (box sets: Wars, City, and From the Ashes), circa 2000 Greyhawk, Living Greyhawk fan world, and Castle Zagyg Greyhawk... possibly a new iteration of the pre-published version.

2. Early GH has some sketch maps recently posted with areas only vaguely looking like the definitive Darlene versions from the 80s. Carl Sargent's Work redrawn political lines for post-Gygaxian Greyhawk, many of which were changed back when 3e came on the scene. He also added all sorts of detail. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer accumulates all these new additions until its publication. Living Greyhawk divided up the lands into play regions with a number of highly detailed areas and events.

3. GH '83 Box Set is Greyhawk as originally published, the pre-publication version is best learned from online or perhaps by using Castle Zagyg material (none of which are cheap) like the East Mark Gazetteer and the Yggsburg book. "From the Ashes" is Sargent's setting box set. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer is a great compilation encyclopedia

4. All of them have strong points. A lot actually has more to do with how you run your games. Later versions are very detailed, so like Forgotten Realms and other new settings having the DM know all that material can be a challenge. Or not, depending on your game.