Why no FR-style campaign books for the World of Greyhawk

[Erekose]

I'm sure this must have been asked before - so if someone can remember the answer please let me know.

Given that there is quite a lot of interest in Greyhawks (at least if these boards are a fair reflection) why has WotC not run a line of books like the FR campaign books?

The FR books are generally great but I'd choose Greyhawks in a second!

 

[diaglo]

b/c EGG won't/can't write them

 

[Erekose]

I don't want this to become a - why doesn't WotC license out Greyhawks to EGG thread (although I wish they would!) but Gary didn't write all of the material previously so there's no reason that it would have to be him or nothing now.

 

[Staffan]

Because at the time of the 3e release, WOTC felt that having multiple heavily-supported campaign settings would be a bad thing, on account of splitting up the customer base. Instead, they handed Greyhawk over to the RPGA to develop for the Living Greyhawk campaign, and kept it around for themselves for name-dropping in core books.

It would appear that they have gotten over part of the "splitting customer base" thing now, since they're releasing one-off settings like Ghostwalk (I do *not* think that's going to be the last one-shot setting) and are even going to release a full-fledged setting some time next year (the "setting search" winner), but I still wouldn't hold my breath waiting for official GH material.

 

[diaglo]

Gary and a few others like Rob Kuntz wrote the only Greyhawk worth anything.

the other stuff i'm assuming you are referring to the 2ed stuff ain't worth....(i promised not to swear)

edit: Carl, Sean, and Erik already know how i feel about them

 

[Darth Shoju]

Hmm

I'm not sure. Possibly b/c something to do with Living Greyhawk? The Greyhawk gods are covered in the PHB and Deities and Demigods, and the LG gazeteers cover a lot of Greyhawk info, perhaps WOTC feels this is enough? That and there is some info that comes out in Dragon too.

Personally, I'm with you. I'd like to see more Greyhawk material along the lines of the FR books too. I'm just speculating on the reasons WOTC hasn't done so.

 

[Dr. Harry]

Gary and a few others like Rob Kuntz wrote the only Greyhawk worth anything.

the other stuff i'm assuming you are referring to the 2ed stuff ain't worth....(i promised not to swear)

edit: Carl, Sean, and Erik already know how i feel about them

I must contest this, as Carl Sargent's work in the 90' refurbishment of Greyhawk was first rate.

Harry

 

[jasamcarl]

I'm generally not a 'fluff' person, but Carl Sargent's 'Ivid the Undying' was a fun read. He has a knack for integrating fantasy and history in a way that doesn't devolve into blunt abstraction. It still wouldn't be a good buy (if it had been released) for everybody, but given my preoccupation with Byzantine history, it worked.

 

[Darth Shoju]

I'm a fan of Carl Sargent too. His Greyhawk work is awesome.

 

[Erekose]

On a different thread someone mentioned WotC wanting the default setting to be static.

I can't remember the rationale behind this but this could a reason.

Having said that, they could still lock the campaign at a certain date and just describe the world at that point. In essence this isn't a million miles from what they;ve done so far with FR.

I think what frustrates me most about this is that if they don't want to develop it I'm sure a lot of d20 companies would jump at the chance! WotC could produce a "Greyhawk Adventures" book and then farm out the rest as with "Oriental Adventures".

I seem to remember a 1E Greyhawk Adventures - given WotC current tendency to produce 3E books with 1E names may be they will get around to it eventually . . .