Still, I find it frustrating that WotC never understood our setting. I suspect it is being lumped with the smaller worlds because if the brief history the setting had under the AD&D system. Heck, even the few "updates" we got in Dragon and such only used AD&D Mystara material as references, when main batch of the source material and (the main fan base) appeared in the Classic D&D era.
Am I right in thinking that they just don't get Mystara?
Havard
Noone can get Mystara. That setting has tons of great ideas but no cohesion.
I disagree. The only problem is that there was never one boxed set or hardcover book which detailed the entire setting. The Poor Wizard's Almanacs and the Hollow World boxed set come pretty close though.
Irregardless I think one strength of Mystara is playing one nation at a time. That does not mean the entire campaign needs to remain in one country, but at least staying with one country long enough to get involved with the things happening there. I definately see potential in running a campaign in the style of the Voyage of the Princess Ark, travelling from place to place, discovering new cultures and trying not to get killed in the process.
X10 - Red Arrow Black Shield (and the modules leading up to it), also provides an excellent example of the kind of campaign you can run with Mystara covering a large chunk of the setting.
If you are looking for cosmology, check out the Companion and Immortal Rules boxed sets, as well as the Wrath of the Immortals box. '
But yes, I think you are right that many people don't get the setting. But that is simply because TSR and WotC never did a good job trying to explain it to people. At least not after the Classic D&D era, which is where most of the fan base has its roots.
Havard
As far as I have been able to see, there is no mention of Mystara in the 4e books. It is possible that I should be happy for this as it means that WotC will leave our setting alone, rather than nuke it from orbit as they did with the FR.
-As you said, be careful what you wish for. ;)
-Anyway, I think that it's likely that Mystara will be "resurrected" in 4e, but give it time. Mystara wasn't the most "popular" of the numerous settings that TSR had. I, personally, consider it a "second tier" setting. No offense, but Planescape, Spelljammer, Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, and Greyhawk all were more popular. Expect those settings to see 4e incarnations before Mystara does.
-As you said, be careful what you wish for. ;)
-Anyway, I think that it's likely that Mystara will be "resurrected" in 4e, but give it time. Mystara wasn't the most "popular" of the numerous settings that TSR had. I, personally, consider it a "second tier" setting. No offense, but Planescape, Spelljammer, Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, and Greyhawk all were more popular. Expect those settings to see 4e incarnations before Mystara does.
Forgotten Realms are more popular for sure. I will give you Greyhawk and Dragonlance obviuosly. But what do you base the idea that Planescape and Spelljammer are more popular.
Mystara has been around for a very long time. There was also a period of time that saw it on level with Greyhawk with numerouse Gazateers on the setting
Forgotten Realms are more popular for sure. I will give you Greyhawk and Dragonlance obviuosly. But what do you base the idea that Planescape and Spelljammer are more popular.
-Personal experience, and the proliferation of source materials.
-Personal experience, and the proliferation of source materials.
Mystara was just as popular, if not more so, than Planescape and Spelljammer. I base this on;-Personal experience, and the proliferation of source materials.
-Personal experience, and the proliferation of source materials.
Yes, but Mystara in 1e alone had much more material than Planescape ever had
-As you said, be careful what you wish for. ;)
Yeah, a re-launched nuked version of Mystara might just not appeal to anyone.
-Anyway, I think that it's likely that Mystara will be "resurrected" in 4e, but give it time. Mystara wasn't the most "popular" of the numerous settings that TSR had. I, personally, consider it a "second tier" setting. No offense, but Planescape, Spelljammer, Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, and Greyhawk all were more popular. Expect those settings to see 4e incarnations before Mystara does.
I like your sense of optimism!
No offence taken about referring to Mystara as a second tier setting. I like to see Mystara as the King of the second tier. It is clearly not on the same level as FR or Dragonlance, though am surprised to see Spelljamer and maybe even Planescape and Greyhawk belong in that first tier category if based on popularity. That we may see them published for 4e before Mystara is another matter that does not neccessarily have to do with just popularity either. Personal experience, and the proliferation of source materials.
As MerrickCale pointed out, there is a vast range of Mystara proucts out there. The problem is that only a very few of them are marked with the Mystara logo. Before the Mystara name was introduced, the setting was only known as the Known World or the D&D Game World. The large majority of the D&D products of theClassic D&D (ie not AD&D) line from TSR can be considered Mystara products and in fact most of them included specific references to that setting. I am glad that you bring up this point since I believe it is one of the reasons why the setting is believed to be less popular than it actually is.
Havard
As MerrickCale pointed out, there is a vast range of Mystara proucts out there. The problem is that only a very few of them are marked with the Mystara logo. Before the Mystara name was introduced, the setting was only known as the Known World or the D&D Game World. The large majority of the D&D products of theClassic D&D (ie not AD&D) line from TSR can be considered Mystara products and in fact most of them included specific references to that setting. I am glad that you bring up this point since I believe it is one of the reasons why the setting is believed to be less popular than it actually is.
Havard
Hey. I made a good point. Look everyone.
Hey. I made a good point. Look everyone.
Havard
Yeah, a re-launched nuked version of Mystara might just not appeal to anyone.
-Prrrrrroooobably not.
I like your sense of optimism!
-I call Planescape, Spelljammer, and Grwyhawk "second tier" settings because, well, they are all defunct. Hell, I love Planescape and Spelljammer sourcebooks (Greyhawk, not so much).
As MerrickCale pointed out, there is a vast range of Mystara proucts out there. The problem is that only a very few of them are marked with the Mystara logo. Before the Mystara name was introduced, the setting was only known as the Known World or the D&D Game World. The large majority of the D&D products of theClassic D&D (ie not AD&D) line from TSR can be considered Mystara products and in fact most of them included specific references to that setting. I am glad that you bring up this point since I believe it is one of the reasons why the setting is believed to be less popular than it actually is.
-Did not know that.
Hey. I made a good point. Look everyone.
-Don't get used to it.
-Did not know that.
Mystara might have more material publsihed about it than any other setting sans the Realms. Its probably got more than Greyhawk. Its gotta be close.
Heck, Ed Greenwood wrote an excellent sourcebook (Gazateer) on the halfling homeland
-I call Planescape, Spelljammer, and Grwyhawk "second tier" settings because, well, they are all defunct. Hell, I love Planescape and Spelljammer sourcebooks (Greyhawk, not so much).
Ah, I misunderstood your previous post then. I don't neccessarily disagree with this distinction.
-Did not know that.
Here is a list of the products produced for the Mystara line:
http://www.pandius.com/prodlist.html
Havard
I also have a ton of sourcebooks, the Gazetteer series and the poor wizards almanac help alot.
I was very disappointed that WoTC didn't bring it back, so I merely converted the entire setting. Which took forever.
After reading 4th Ed. I really couldn't care less what they do, But I surely doubt that we will see anything done with Mystara ever again.
After reading 4th Ed. I really couldn't care less what they do, But I surely doubt that we will see anything done with Mystara ever again.
-Well, supposedly, there is supposed to be a new setting updated into the 4e ruleset every year, so...
I play Mystara and always have.
I also have a ton of sourcebooks, the Gazetteer series and the poor wizards almanac help alot.
I was very disappointed that WoTC didn't bring it back, so I merely converted the entire setting. Which took forever.
After reading 4th Ed. I really couldn't care less what they do, But I surely doubt that we will see anything done with Mystara ever again.
A number of people are working on truly great Mystara projects over on The Piazza including the 'Atlas of Mystara' and the 'Gazetteer F Series' ('F' is for 'fan-made'). There have already been nearly a dozen of these Gazetteers produced covering regions north of the Known World. There are links to them in The Piazza but they are hosted on the Vaults of Pandius. Hope to see you around.
-Well, supposedly, there is supposed to be a new setting updated into the 4e ruleset every year, so...
Where would Mystara fit in the scale with Dark Sun, Ravenloft, Greyhawk, etc etc I wonder?
-Can't believe that 2015 is in seven years...
...or that I will be 45
-I'll almost be thirty!!
oh you bleeping bleepity bleep
Where would Mystara fit in the scale with Dark Sun, Ravenloft, Greyhawk, etc etc I wonder?
There's that quote in the recent Expedition to the Ruins of Castle Greyhawk which says that Castle Greyhawk is set to appear in other worlds such as Faerun, Eberron, and Mystara. Could that be a hint by WotC that Mystara is to be the 4e Campaign Setting of 2010?
Travis
There's that quote in the recent Expedition to the Ruins of Castle Greyhawk which says that Castle Greyhawk is set to appear in other worlds such as Faerun, Eberron, and Mystara. Could that be a hint by WotC that Mystara is to be the 4e Campaign Setting of 2010?
Travis
That would be great, but maybe you are reading too much into one line. I hope not though
Gimme some 4e shadow elf action
And if you read through the rules and the flavor of the default 4e assumptions I think you'll see that Mystara was a huge influence on the game.
Mystara might not have been mentioned by name in the 4e books, but which setting was?
I don't have time to check right now, but actually quite a few of the settings were mentioned by name in the core rules.
And if you read through the rules and the flavor of the default 4e assumptions I think you'll see that Mystara was a huge influence on the game.
Well, Mike Mearls did mention wanting to go back to the Classic D&D game, which is closely connected to Mystara so that would make sense.
Havard
I don't have time to check right now, but actually quite a few of the settings were mentioned by name in the core rules.
Well, Mike Mearls did mention wanting to go back to the Classic D&D game, which is closely connected to Mystara so that would make sense.
Havard
I think Mystara has a Points of Light feel to it
But places like Alphatia (pre-Wrath) seen very advanced and civilized.
That said, if you advance the timeline a while after Wrath, I could see the loss of Alphatia and perhaps a fall of Thyatis as well - basically a variant on Europe in our world after Rome fell.
L
But places like Alphatia (pre-Wrath) seen very advanced and civilized.
Alphatia may have cities that are ruled by extremely powerful wizards, but step outside the city and you have wilderness right there, filled with monsters escaped from summonings or forgotten wizard's experiments. Alphatians just don't care about that stuff. That is my interpretation anyway. Should fit quite well with PoL.
I am a little sick of that term though...
Havard