Would you pay for a new, original campaign setting?

[Sulimo]

If you're looking for something that goes beyond traditional fantasy, you might check out Shadow World. It's for Rolemaster, but it's well-done and you should be able to convert it fairly easily. Some DMs have already done part of the work (prestige classes, etc.) In any even, it has its roots in traditional fantasy, but there are many interesting twists.

Shadow World certainly is an interesting world, which has more than few interesting twists. But with it being small press/self published setting I'm not sure enough details get published quickly enough for the average D&D person. In the main it has focused on setting details rather than adventures.

And its certainly not for those wanting a low magic setting. The magic level in this isnt terribly far away from the Realms.

Plus there are some elements of hi-tech, although they can be ignored easily.

 

[Paul_Klein]

I will almost positivly buy the setting book of the WotC contest winner sight-unseen. It just seems like I should. If only to support that one (very) lucky individual who won.

 

[bwgwl]

i might buy an interesting new campaign setting book, but i'd probably never play it, as i prefer homebrew. (i bought the FRCS and the KoK Player's Guide only to see what i could steal for my own worlds.)

i hate to say it, but i'm with Mistwell here -- i don't think i'd ever buy a campaign setting that wasn't from WOTC or an established designer i know of. (i hate to say i wouldn't support anyone else, and not that i hate to say i agree with Mistwell. )

i like standard fantasy for the most part. while i think FR and Greyhawk are a little too bland, something like Earthdawn or Dark Sun would be about the limit of what i would tolerate. Talislanta or DragonStar, for example, is TOO far.

 

[SableWyvern]

I don't buy campaign settings, unless they come with the system.

However, if I was going to buy one, it would have to be something fairly different from the norm. The only campaign setting I've ever seriously contemplated purchasing was Dark Sun.

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Sure! Especially if I had a spare $120,000 ....

 

[kingpaul]

I will buy the contest winner when it comes out regardless, just to support what is being done by WoTC there. I think it is a cool idea. Unless of course mine is the one chosen, then I suspect I won't have to buy it, as I will have already written it.

::chuckle::
That pretty much sums up my thoughts on that contest as well.

 

[El_Gringo]

Probably not. The hassle of learning a new world, coupled with trying to get the players to learn about it, is too much work. However, I'd definitely get it if it had the following:

-Hardcover
-Full-color
-Interesting and simple rules additions (regional feats, prestige classes, etc.)
-Quality artwork
-Easily identifiable themes
-Little/no metaplot
-Plenty of room for exploration and surprises
-Full color, fold-out map(s)
-Balanced mechanics


Too expensive for most small publishers? Not if they charge $40 or more for it. I'd easily fork over 40-50 dollars for such a book.

 

[roytheodd]

I've already got a store-bought campaign setting and it's perhaps the best out there. Maybe you've heard of it? The Kingdoms of Kalamar.

 

[Davelozzi]

I agree with Mistwell and others. I'll check out the WotC contest winner win it's released but I'm much less likely to buy a campaign setting from a previous unknown writer/publisher.

 

[Desdichado]

What will make the contest winner unique (or unusual is probably a better term) relative to some "unknown author's fantasy setting" is the fact that novels, possibly even computer games, TCGs and the like are all going to be launched from the same platform. That's what makes it potentially interesting, not whatever inherent features the setting possesses.

And I rarely buy campaign settings. For 3e I don't own any, although I've been tempted from time to time to buy FR. Even then, I'll never run it. I'll read it to see how it's organized, steal mechanics from it as needed and look at the beautiful artwork (most of which is available on the Wizards site anyway) but that's that. And I'll only do that with the best done settings that I see.