The 'which fantasy setting do you game in the most' poll

[Lurker]

Kim, if you ever run for President, they're bound to ask questions about the geography of Greyhawk. Who needs to know where Libya is?? Incidentally, I largely play in Aihrde (A-series and other mods).

Moderator: Senator Hartsfield, with the recent violence in Libya, what is your position on the United State's stance of isolationism?
Me: I believe we should intercede as the Iron Kingdom is currently making great progress into the See of Medegia and we should help them. Also, Ivid the III seems to have overstepped even his normally nebulous bounds by attacking the Ironfist dwarves of the Blemu Hills. Yes, we should react and react fast.
Moderator: Wha?
Me: Oh, that's The Great Kingdom, not Libya. Nevermind.

[slimykuotoan]

Noooooo, Greyhawk is behind FR.

[Zudrak]

I'm a big Greyhawk fan. Been using it since the mid 80s for my games. I know the geography and history of Greyhawk better than I do for most real countries.

What that guy named Kim said.

Greyhawk 1st
Haunted Highlands 2nd
Homebrew 3rd

There was too much work in doing the homebrew. I began it while playing 3.X and I think memorizing rules affected trying to start my world. Since I knew GH very well from the 1983 box onward, I went back to what I liked and knew best.

Of course, I'm now running the Haunted Highlands in a secondary campaign that has fast become my primary campaign due to attendance. My probable plan is to place the HH map onto the continent of Oerik in GH with the Sea of Dust a nigh-impenetrable barrier. I'm thinking something like this map would work as the V-shaped body of water west of the "Baklunish Lands" looks similar to that which is east of Eskadia.

Thus, west of HH over the Vestlig Sea is Kara-Tur (land of Oriental Adventures, as originally proposed in Dragon Magazine) and farther west is Frank Mentzer's continent of Aquaria before heading even farther west to the Solnor Ocean and reaching the eastern shores of Oerik. I just need to create a continent north of HH where the "northmen" are said to originate in the HH and Eskadia books. That would be Telchur/Hyperboria according to later GH sources.

Anyway, I prefer a premade campaign because all I have to do is fiddle, bend, mutilate, etc. to my fancy. I have little patience and even less time to make my own nowadays.

[slimykuotoan]

Thank you Zudrak, you have kept Greyhawk alive with your vote.

[Snoring Rock]

I'm a big Greyhawk fan. Been using it since the mid 80s for my games. I know the geography and history of Greyhawk better than I do for most real countries.

What that guy named Kim said.

Greyhawk 1st
Haunted Highlands 2nd
Homebrew 3rd

There was too much work in doing the homebrew. I began it while playing 3.X and I think memorizing rules affected trying to start my world. Since I knew GH very well from the 1983 box onward, I went back to what I liked and knew best.

Of course, I'm now running the Haunted Highlands in a secondary campaign that has fast become my primary campaign due to attendance. My probable plan is to place the HH map onto the continent of Oerik in GH with the Sea of Dust a nigh-impenetrable barrier. I'm thinking something like this map would work as the V-shaped body of water west of the "Baklunish Lands" looks similar to that which is east of Eskadia.

Thus, west of HH over the Vestlig Sea is Kara-Tur (land of Oriental Adventures, as originally proposed in Dragon Magazine) and farther west is Frank Mentzer's continent of Aquaria before heading even farther west to the Solnor Ocean and reaching the eastern shores of Oerik. I just need to create a continent north of HH where the "northmen" are said to originate in the HH and Eskadia books. That would be Telchur/Hyperboria according to later GH sources.

Anyway, I prefer a premade campaign because all I have to do is fiddle, bend, mutilate, etc. to my fancy. I have little patience and even less time to make my own nowadays.

This +1

[tylermo]

Too funny, Kim.

[Snoring Rock]

Back in the day (1978) I was playing with the Holmes addition basic set awaiting the release of the AD&D Monster Manual. At that time I had a small home-brew setting that resembled my take on Lord of the Rings. I had my own map drawn on graph paper taped together to make it larger. It grew as we played.

Later on, I picked up the Greyhawk gazetteers and eventually Greyhawk the Gem of the Flanaess. I had all of the G series, D series, Hommlet and S series. The Temple of Elemental Evil took way too long to get published, so I gave up on that. But I ported my world into Greyhawk. We played many adventures in Greyhawk. I was aware of Judges Guild and saw the maps, but never purchased anything. The artwork and some of the names like “Operation Ogre” turned me off.

I did manage to have a City State of the Invincible Overlord and Caverns of Thracia fall into my hands. I like them both and then got my hands on the Map of the area of Tarantis. There was a lot of mystery and wonder in those maps and dungeons. The production value on the adventures was sub-par, when compared to the TSR products, but the parchment paper maps were the highest quality. It would be years later before I took a closer look at JG.

Alas, I got married, children came and the books collected dust. I picked it up again about 2000 (D20 –D&D 3.0) and started collecting the new “return to Greyhawk” material. 2004 came along and I was surfing the net and ran across the pre-order for Necromancer Games reprint of the Wilderlands of High Fantasy. I remembered the cool maps so I quickly send my credit card number and within a few months the boxed set arrived.

Contained therein was the setting that I had overlooked for so many years. That boxed set now is tattered and covered in a layer of clear packing tape to keep it together. Many, many an adventure has occurred in the lands of the Wilderlands in my basement game room. The setting is fantastic. It is great as a sandbox setting and easy to add just about anything to. It makes published adventures work seamlessly with homebrew and even stuff on the fly. What I do not like is the gonzo style compilation. Towns full of orcs located in the center of a dwarven kingdom? Write ups detailing kingdoms that on the map turn out to be just a single town of 1,300? A Mig 24 fighter jet crash landing near Thunderhold? The Overlord has the 50mm cannon on his tower, protecting his keep. The dwarves have used the fuselage for making special armor. The pilot named “defect” did survive.

OK, ok, you can cut out what you don’t like. I get that. I have done that for 10 years. I love the hex system and the adventure hooks. I think the small area that the Wilderlands lakes place in, is a bit crowded for the amount of races and cultures and the span of tens of thousands of years is kind of crazy given the sparse population. Still, it has been my “go-to” setting for a long time.

So Judges Guild is appearing to be breathing again. They are re-drawing the maps and getting ready to clean up and reimagine the City State, Thunderhold and Modron. Exciting, but there will be no “new” material. I would like to see new adventure modules like Analegorn’s Lair, or Quest to Greyhaven Citadel, or Attack of the Hawk-men. Maybe detail other city-states like Tula or Valon. The new maps are gorgeous, but nothing new I have not seen or have already.

That brings me to trying something new. As you can see, I stick with things a while. I have long been contemplating starting a campaign in Aihrde. I like the map for the most part but dislike the level of detail in some areas and the abject lack of detail in others. The back history is fantastic. It is not all disjointed and jumbled up like the Wilderlands. The Wilderlands appears to have been generated randomly. Fun, but it get tiresome. Aihrde seems very cohesive and what I like best is that the setting is still alive. I do not like how the map has one scale but according to some of the modules the scale is different. I would prefer some continuity throughout. A good thing is the amount of undetailed space for making it your own.

What I mean by that, is that I can still purchase modules for it and look forward to new material in the future, not just reprints of the same stuff every few years. And yes, I get it; it is what I make it so whether it is out of print or not, it is my setting to do what I like with. I get that but, I like having others out there using the setting with the same system I am using to discuss and to share ideas with.

In the survey above, it appears there are more CK’s using Aihrde than I thought. So sell me on it.

[Omote]

For me, it's a tie between Greyhawk and the Lost Lands setting (Other/Homebrew). Though, I think the Lost Lands might be a titch more.

~O

[Fizz]

Interesting, nearly a half run home brew (44% at the time of my vote). For me, i play primarily in Birthright, though i have my own tweaks to it.

-Fizz

[Omote]

Birthright is so awesome! I really want to get a game off the ground using BR... I can't wait any longer!

~O

[Warunsun]

Birthright is so awesome! I really want to get a game off the ground using BR... I can't wait any longer!

~O

I was just thinking with the BR digital resources now available at dndclassics.com how easy it would be to resurrect it. Don't think I can get my group into it but I do think it could be very cool.

[Jyrdan Fairblade]

You totally should. I feel like Birthright, along with Spelljammer, Dark Sun, Ravenloft, and Planescape really opened up new vistas of play at the time.

Birthright is so awesome! I really want to get a game off the ground using BR... I can't wait any longer!

~O

[Omote]

Birthright really is a pretty vanilla type of setting which you don't incorporate all of the regency and mass combat rules. I don't say that as a bad thing though. With the way Birthright left us over a decade ago, there is so much a crafty DM can do to really make the world as his own. Other than a few specific areas, Birthright is a bare bones fantasy setting that I plan to play the spirit of, but inject my own ideas.

Even if you don't use the regent rules, I think Birthright has some nice, traditional, almost realistic European caste flavor to it that can change drastically most high-fantasy style C&C games.

~O

[tylermo]

Clovis, I don't know what to say. I guess I'm usually pretty good with picking up a setting and modules, and running it as is. So far, I've enjoyed what I've seen of Aihrde. I own it all, and have read through the modules. As for actual play...A0-A3, Dwarven Glory, Lure of Delusion, Wizard's Tower (a short pdf in Aihrde-not heavy on the geography, however), Into the Darkness (an adventure from one of the Crusaders). I really do like Aihrde, and not because I'm the convention sales guy. I was buying this stuff from Stephen and Todd as far back as 2005. If you need another reason, Todd was bragging (at GenCon) about your ability to run an adventure. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that Todd runs a pretty mean game himself.

[slimykuotoan]

I typically dislike to game in others' homebrew settings.

[Geoffrey McKinney]

I usually use settings of my own design (such as Carcosa and Isle of the Unknown). My favorite setting not created by myself is the Wilderlands.

[Snoring Rock]

Clovis, I don't know what to say. I guess I'm usually pretty good with picking up a setting and modules, and running it as is. So far, I've enjoyed what I've seen of Aihrde. I own it all, and have read through the modules. As for actual play...A0-A3, Dwarven Glory, Lure of Delusion, Wizard's Tower (a short pdf in Aihrde-not heavy on the geography, however), Into the Darkness (an adventure from one of the Crusaders). I really do like Aihrde, and not because I'm the convention sales guy. I was buying this stuff from Stephen and Todd as far back as 2005. If you need another reason, Todd was bragging (at GenCon) about your ability to run an adventure. I'm sure I don't have to tell you that Todd runs a pretty mean game himself.

I am stoked to know that Luthor was Todd's character too. That brings the campaign close to home after gaming with him. Can I still get Dwarven Glory, Lure of Delusion, or Wizard's Tower? What about Into the Darkness?

I have A0-A13 but have not used any of them yet. I think they are slightly long-winded at times on the fluff, but the crunch is excellent. The flavor is good too. I have a lot but not all that you have. I was thinking of starting in Fiume and using Eskadia as the stand in for the city. Maybe use the adventures in the Rune Lore book.

Do you think that A0 is the place to start?

[tylermo]

You can still get Dwarven Glory and Lure of Delusion in print and pdf. Wizard's Tower was always just a short pdf (written by Stephen Chenault) that showcased Jim Ward's Towers of Adventure boxed set. Into the Darkness...can't find my Crusader Magazine to tell you which issue it came from. Issue 26 or 19 rings a bell, but I'm not sure. I photocopied it at one point. It's a 7 pager, set in the southern reaches of the Bergrucken Mountains in Aihrde. As for A0 I really like it, but I'm easy to please. I think it's a solid first level starter. My party back in 2011 had a great time with it. I forgot to mention (I think) that there are a few others set in Aihrde. Mortality of Green, Shades of Mist, and Upon the Powder River. One that Todd and Stephen co-authored is Heart of Glass. It's a larger 5th level adventure that takes place in the sea town of Ihlsa (?). If I'm not mistaken, Malady of Kings is also in Aihrde. Plenty to choose from. Haunted Highlands would be cool as well. In the immortal words of Mr. Kenobi. "You must do what you feel is right, of course."

[finarvyn]

I've done so many campaigns in various settings over the years (Greyhawk, Blackmoor, Mystara, Haunted Highlands, Ravenloft, Middle-earth, the list goes on) but most of my campaigns are home-brew with parts borrowed from various settings.

For example, most of my campaigns have a "Free City of Greyhawk" which my players know to be the mecca of many things if they want to find a mage or buy something unusual or whatever.

[Julian Grimm]

I wish I could switch my vote now since I have had an epiphany about settings. Truth be told, I would like to think I use a homebrew more than anything but I don't. I realized the other day that outside of some experiments I have been running the Forgotten Realms more than anything. As I get older a free time gets less and less I rely more on FR than I do anything.

[pawndream]

I have run several different campaigns over the years, including published settings, but more often than not what I run tends to be a homebrew mash-up of stuff from all over the place, including published settings. So, homebrew is probably the most appropriate option for me.

I have run straight FR in both 1e and 2e AD&D.
I used Eberron in a 3.5, and later 4e campaign I ran for a couple of years.
I used the default 4e campaign world (Nentir Vale) in the 4e game I ran for 2 years.

Right now I am running two homebrew games of my own creation, one Haunted Highlands, and one Lord of the Rings (all play-by-post) and a ~bi-monthly Roll20 2e FR game.

[Fizz]

Birthright really is a pretty vanilla type of setting which you don't incorporate all of the regency and mass combat rules.

I love vanilla. It's so much better than chocolate. Heh.

I think it depends on what you mean by "vanilla" and "bare bones". Ruleset, yes it's pretty standard 2nd ed (except for the race changes). But in terms of flavor i find it to be quite unique.

But yes, you should totally start up another campaign! I've been running BR using C&C for several years. It converts very easily. Don't delay. Do it!


-Fizz

[Vicarious Pendrake]

Im planing on running birthright soon using a amalgamation of c&c and reigns company rules for mass combat.

The company rules fit in seamlessly so I have high expectations .

[Tadhg]

Erde!

[Treebore]

Heck, the way you guys talk about "homebrew", my Campaign world is homebrew, since it includes almost every setting I like to use on one planet. Greyhawk is the Eastern border of Aihrde, for example. Because in my world, the great desert wastes as perceived by the people of Greyhawk, are actually the lands of Aihrde hidden under a massive illusion put in place by Unklar. Faerun is its own Continent, as are Mystara and Widlerlands. Ravenloft is the great perpetual dark clouds to the South of every continent, and so on.

[slimykuotoan]

Heck, the way you guys talk about "homebrew", my Campaign world is homebrew, since it includes almost every setting I like to use on one planet. Greyhawk is the Eastern border of Aihrde, for example. Because in my world, the great desert wastes as perceived by the people of Greyhawk, are actually the lands of Aihrde hidden under a massive illusion put in place by Unklar. Faerun is its own Continent, as are Mystara and Widlerlands. Ravenloft is the great perpetual dark clouds to the South of every continent, and so on.

That's TOTALLY cool.

[Treebore]

Heck, the way you guys talk about "homebrew", my Campaign world is homebrew, since it includes almost every setting I like to use on one planet. Greyhawk is the Eastern border of Aihrde, for example. Because in my world, the great desert wastes as perceived by the people of Greyhawk, are actually the lands of Aihrde hidden under a massive illusion put in place by Unklar. Faerun is its own Continent, as are Mystara and Widlerlands. Ravenloft is the great perpetual dark clouds to the South of every continent, and so on.

That's TOTALLY cool.

Yes, it is, and I will hopefully get the group to "explore" more than just one continent in my next campaign. I think they were leaning towards remaining in the Wilderlands, when I last checked the poll.

[Zudrak]

Heck, the way you guys talk about "homebrew", my Campaign world is homebrew, since it includes almost every setting I like to use on one planet. Greyhawk is the Eastern border of Aihrde, for example. Because in my world, the great desert wastes as perceived by the people of Greyhawk, are actually the lands of Aihrde hidden under a massive illusion put in place by Unklar. Faerun is its own Continent, as are Mystara and Widlerlands. Ravenloft is the great perpetual dark clouds to the South of every continent, and so on.

That's TOTALLY cool.

Yes, it is, and I will hopefully get the group to "explore" more than just one continent in my next campaign. I think they were leaning towards remaining in the Wilderlands, when I last checked the poll.

Question (because I have thought of doing something similar in the past): Do the deities of each "campaign" know of one another or are they not omniscient? It's one area where I've struggled between having deities shared (but of different names, like the Greco-Roman pantheon) and having separate pantheons altogether. Of course, I'd probably end up doing something with a little bit of each extreme involved.

[Treebore]

Heck, the way you guys talk about "homebrew", my Campaign world is homebrew, since it includes almost every setting I like to use on one planet. Greyhawk is the Eastern border of Aihrde, for example. Because in my world, the great desert wastes as perceived by the people of Greyhawk, are actually the lands of Aihrde hidden under a massive illusion put in place by Unklar. Faerun is its own Continent, as are Mystara and Widlerlands. Ravenloft is the great perpetual dark clouds to the South of every continent, and so on.

That's TOTALLY cool.

Yes, it is, and I will hopefully get the group to "explore" more than just one continent in my next campaign. I think they were leaning towards remaining in the Wilderlands, when I last checked the poll.

Question (because I have thought of doing something similar in the past): Do the deities of each "campaign" know of one another or are they not omniscient? It's one area where I've struggled between having deities shared (but of different names, like the Greco-Roman pantheon) and having separate pantheons altogether. Of course, I'd probably end up doing something with a little bit of each extreme involved.

Yes, I assume they know of each other, some are even in more than one areas pantheon, under the same or even different names. In fact, the most "Universal deities" between the areas are the Demi Human deities, Moradin, Garl Glittergold, etc...Apparently the demi humans are much more dedicated in their worship. That, or they have the fewest gods written up for them.

[Arduin]

Heck, the way you guys talk about "homebrew", my Campaign world is homebrew, since it includes almost every setting I like to use on one planet. Greyhawk is the Eastern border of Aihrde, for example. Because in my world, the great desert wastes as perceived by the people of Greyhawk, are actually the lands of Aihrde hidden under a massive illusion put in place by Unklar. Faerun is its own Continent, as are Mystara and Widlerlands. Ravenloft is the great perpetual dark clouds to the South of every continent, and so on.

What a great idea!