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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lord Irongron" data-source="post: 7424012" data-attributes="member: 6953816">There are plenty of RPer who are obsessively fascinating by the setting; those who aren't interested in DMing but nevertheless devour any and all source books. There are also those whose raison d'etre to the world RPGs comes due to a love of a particular world. I suspect over the years many of those who became fans of RPGs did so because they were attracted by the chance to play a game based upon their favourite TV Show/Game etcOf course it wasn't always that way. Some old RPGs like Palladium or Rolemaster did not even include a world - these were systems one could use to play in a world of one's own choosing. In this cases world building was itself specifically implied.For myself I'm attracted to some RPGs by the world (such as Warhammer, Paranoia) and others by the system (see Rolemaster above). For most players in games I've run the world itself is not so crucial; they're really in it for the adventure.That being said I've spent a long time making worlds, but the ratio between how much time I spent on it and how many hours we actually gamed there leaves me inclined to say it's often not a great idea.I guess there is one other thing I'd say about world building (specifically in regarding RPGs) and that is how much 'weight' it carries in the imagination of players. This isn't about the actual quality so much as how much of themselves they have invested in it beforehand, facing off against one of the Nazgul in Middle Earth is almost certainly going to feel more exciting that facing Malagod of the Bone Tower in a custom settling, even if the latter is 'better'.So for a DM, by making one's own world you're also making a big ask of your players - not to just play the game, but also take the time to immerse themselves in your world. Many may not want to, and even whey do it will not translate to other games, films, books, as is the case in an established setting. For them it's 'dead' knowledge, heck its not even a conversation topic in future years as nobody else will have any clue what is being talked about.This all leads me neatly on to the Forgotten Realms, which is where I work. By one standard it is one of the most lacklustre settings out there; being almost entirely derivative of other fiction and real world mythology. Yet by another it is perfect for tabletop RP. Whatever 'theme' of adventure you're aiming for, be it a Nordic Saga or being pitted against the minions an Arch Devil of the Nine Hells it has something for everyone. In short it is a setting that people are familar with, even if they have never encountered it.So is world building bad? Well it sure is fun. I wouldn't recommend it is as a means to an end, but sure can be an enjoyable hobby.</blockquote>

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