When Wizards' Worlds Collide... What's in your DarkGreyPlaneRealmBirthJammerSunScape?

[edbonny]

REALM OF CONJECTURAL FANTASY: The many, many worlds of Wizards of the Coast are unifying, merging into a single campaign setting. What happens when Greyhawk mashes into Forgotten Realms slams into Dark Sun crashes into Birthright blends into Spelljammer collides with Ravenloft smacks into Mystara crushed by Planescape? What survives? What falls by the wayside? Blooded half-fiend muls from outer space?

Let's make a campaign setting by picking out the archetypal things about these worlds. If I have left anything out of the poll, let me know and I will add it in.

Sure some of Ravenloft was a mosaic of these worlds but that doesn't count.

 

[Nightfall]

Well if they all merge together, we get some very good (Elmordritchen), and some very evil (Lord Sotfzray, Lord Knight High Baneson of the Black Mind Rose)

 

[CrazyDrake]

while we're at it, let's throw in some stuff out of Magic, like SLIVERS!

 

[takyris]

REALM OF CONJECTURAL FANTASY: The many, many worlds of Wizards of the Coast are unifying, merging into a single campaign setting. What happens when Greyhawk mashes into Forgotten Realms slams into Dark Sun crashes into Birthright blends into Spelljammer collides with Ravenloft smacks into Mystara crushed by Planescape? What survives? What falls by the wayside? Blooded half-fiend muls from outer space?

Let's make a campaign setting by picking out the archetypal things about these worlds. If I have left anything out of the poll, let me know and I will add it in.

Sure some of Ravenloft was a mosaic of these worlds but that doesn't count.

Well, if we're talking Planescape, then anyone dumb enough to tick off the Lady goes away. I like the idea of Dark Sun and Spelljammer combining in some horrific fashion as defilers realize that there are other worlds out there available for use.

Unfortunately, I see much of Greyhawk falling, simply because it isn't powerful enough relative to other worlds -- not a reflection on it as a bad thing, just in sheer munchiness.

 

[Nightfall]

while we're at it, let's throw in some stuff out of Magic, like SLIVERS!

Much like Kender, slivers must die.

 

[Henry]

Well, the heroes Tanis Half-Mul, GoldSimbul, and Tassledon Falconhand would have to brave the dark fortress of Zhentilthalanthas to find the lost scepter of KingsOrbsDragonStein, in order to separate the worlds and return order to the chaos. Perhaps they can beat the evil villain IuzShoontmoyothibenay, or perhaps not.

 

[Minicol]

REALM OF CONJECTURAL FANTASY: The many, many worlds of Wizards of the Coast are unifying, merging into a single campaign setting. What happens when Greyhawk mashes into Forgotten Realms slams into Dark Sun crashes into Birthright blends into Spelljammer collides with Ravenloft smacks into Mystara crushed by Planescape? What survives? What falls by the wayside? Blooded half-fiend muls from outer space?

Let's make a campaign setting by picking out the archetypal things about these worlds. If I have left anything out of the poll, let me know and I will add it in.

Sure some of Ravenloft was a mosaic of these worlds but that doesn't count.

This is what I am doing now (see my thread Greyhawk D20), even though it does not seem very popular. (nobody interested ?)

My take is that it is really not difficult at all to mix the settings, and even less since 3.x. Create a character using the settings basic rules, and find a reason for him to be elsewhere. I have a player running a rokugani samurai accidentally appearing in Greyhawk city. The player spent the best of three sessions mimicking how he tried to learn the local language and customs, and avoiding breaches of etiquette. This was fun.

Otherwise, travel between different worlds should be possible. Think Gates, and the "ways" of Wheel of Time.

If your characters do travel, be sure to show both how the worlds are similar, and different at the same time : local elves, local dwarves, local fanatic clergies, gods under different names but looking suspiciously the same... After all, our imagination is part of a "fantasy subculture", so it is reasonable to find the same archetypes over and over again. You can also create an "eternal champion" campaign this way.

Just my opinion really. However, if anyone is willing to give me more ideas on my own Greyhawk/D20 planehopping campaign, I am still interested.

Happy gaming

 

[edbonny]

Anyone for a Faersuelian Pantheon?
Slaadi in Space?
Sigildeep - The City of Splendid Portals
Thri-King - blooded insect-lords of Cerilia

 

[Zappo]

Let's make a campaign setting by picking out the archetypal things about these worlds.

Uhm... Planescape has the whole belief theme, exemplified by the factions, as well as the concept that real power comes from knowledge. Another important element is that you can't always solve things through violence, because there's always someone who can beat you, exemplified by the ease of finding and meeting extremely powerful creatures. More specific items are the Lady of Pain, portals, the City of Doors, the exotic planes, the various factions, the Blood War, the cant.

Dragonlance is big on heroism; few people making a big difference. Great armies waging epic wars and conquering continents. The need to have faith in the gods even when they seem to abandon you. Distrust of arcane magic, leading to secluded wizards and uncommon magic. The problems of racism are also quite important - the dwarves and elves keep screwing up again and again mostly because of this (ok, so that's speciesism). More details include the best-known gods, the Orders of High Sorcery, the dragons and their allegiances, the Cataclysm and all the old ruins scattered in the world, the Test, the draconians.

Ravenloft, well, is about horror. Can't be much more specific; each domain has its own flavor of horror. Terror, insanity, no justice, no escape, only the choice between a short life of fighting darkness or a slow descent into it. Specific items include more dangerous magic, Dark Gifts, magical healing of curses and disease is hard to impossible, classical monsters such as vampires, witches and werewolves are made more powerful.

Forgotten Realms... uhm, I haven't quite played it enough outside of the CRPGs. Still - high magic, high levels, ancient empires of immense power, secretive organizations, the Underdark, Waterdeep.