Axioms of Greyhawk - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Axioms of Greyhawk

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Gnarley_Woodsman
Oct 03, 2003 11:23:10 What is it that you do in your campaign that shows your players "Greyhawk?"

I personally have laminated the poster maps and keep track of movement with a dry erase marker.

I keep track of time and dates on a Greyhawk calender, opening each session with "Its the third day of Brewfest CY592 you left off in the middle of a tavern having inebriated yourselves!" or something similar. I also make sure to use the names of appropriate Greyhawk dieties when having NPCs swear. Things like that.

Lets hear what everyone does to bring Greyhawk to life....
#2
bdunn91
Oct 03, 2003 12:00:28
Originally posted by Gnarley_Woodsman
What is it that you do in your campaign that shows your players "Greyhawk?"

I keep track of time and dates on a Greyhawk calender, opening each session with "Its the third day of Brewfest CY592 you left off in the middle of a tavern having inebriated yourselves!" or something similar.

I also start sessions off by reminding them of the date, in GH terms. I also put together a packet with information from the Greyhawk folio (photocopied) including a calendar. The information I put in is tailored to the character's skills, background, and class (know: arcana gets them the magical runes page, diplomacy gets them the list of noble ranks and how to address them). Everyone gets a summary of their countries of origin and what they know about their closest neighboring countries and regions.
#3
Greyson
Oct 03, 2003 12:15:40 We rely on Greyhawk histroical events and people to enrich our characters - motives, families, connections etc. We definitely use Greyhawk human races and indicate physical characteristics in descriptions, e.g., we have a lot of Oeridian and Flan characters. And NPC personalities, past and present, are usually an element of gameplay.

We abandoned the Greyhawk calendar convention. We feel it's too minor of a detail. Friday, October 3, works well enough for us.
#4
Brom_Blackforge
Oct 03, 2003 13:37:01 I emailed my players a Greyhawk calendar, and I'll mention what day it is from time to time. (Really, the calendar is mainly for me to keep track of the passage of time more than for giving the players a flavor of the setting.) Also, when the party travels overland, I'll show them a map. I'm interested in reading what others do, though; it would be nice to incorporate more elements. Giving the players a summary of their countries and the neighboring lands is a good idea - good way to educate the players about the setting, if they're not already knowledgeable.
#5
Gnarley_Woodsman
Oct 03, 2003 15:18:04 I also utilize the human "Sub races"... I allow my players to receive the bonuses listed in Anne Browns Players guide, both the attribute increases and the specific racial advantages. Oeridians receive Master work Armor or weapons for free per the tables in the guide for example.

Describing the mixed racial heritage of villages and the diversity in larger populaces is also something I try to evoke.

I use Greyhawk weather patterns based on the charts from the folio and the FtA boxed set......For example snows in the central Flaness are usually light. The temperature and weather is moderate in most cases.
#6
mcbard
Oct 04, 2003 11:02:45 If you like generating Greyhawk weather and dates, check this out:

http://edulinux.edu2.evitech.fi/weatherforecaster/
#7
Gnarley_Woodsman
Oct 04, 2003 11:13:47 Whoaa!! Man is that KEWLL!!!!!

Thnx!
#8
grodog
Oct 04, 2003 13:50:45 When I DM GH sessions, I try to use:

the calendar (as a timekeeper for me and the players, as well as for flavor)
the moons (dovetails nicely from the calendar, especially if you use Clay Luther's .pdf calendar at http://www.canonfire.com/htmlnew/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=70)
the human, demi-humans, and humanoid races and tribes (Flan, Dwur, Kelbit, etc.)
the GH languages (Oeridian, Suel, etc.)
the GH runes (magical and mundane letters for the GH languages)
GH religions (gods and their followers active in the world)
legends and myths specific to GH ("there are underground connections between the three Great Lakes of the Flanaess..." and such)
news, rumors, events from neighboring regions/areas/places/etc., in order to give a broader picture of the world
NPC friends/family/contacts for PCs (serves the same function as above---to paint the broader picture---and can also help to stimulate adventures, provide cousel, etc.)
GH specific foods and trade goods, including material spell components (regional wines, fruits, and foodstuffs; horses, armor, weapons, leather goods, etc.)

A lot of this comes across as background materials, though: casual mentions, one-off comments, asides in descriptions, etc. Most of the work I try to focus on building up a home-base setting that the PCs will care about, NPCs that they'll want to interact with, etc. The rest of the details help to round out that meatier setting/NPC stuff.
#9
zombiegleemax
Oct 06, 2003 20:57:08 I insist that players have a background that is thoroughly immersed in GH lore. This, unfortunately, means that I rarely get players, since few are willing to do the legwork to learn about GH (everybody I encounter who games seems to be Realms obsessed, sigh) and fewer still who are willing to accept DM made characters.

But I won't compromise. Not this time anyway. I'm tired of DM'ing for shallow PC's whose histories I can't draw on in any way to motivate them or spur adventures. Making generic adventures is tiresome and boring from a DM'ing stand-point.

I'm about to start up a new game with a couple of willing subjects. I have insisted that I make up the characters (we're starting at 10th-level so it's really just to have a bit of fun, but also will give them a good introduction to the world by throwing them in the deep-end) and thus the backgrounds will draw upon GH lore such as how the GH wars affected them, what family they come from and what connections that family has, their social status by profession and race, their attitudes towards various other races and nations, how they were affected by other events that happened in their local area ("I remember seeing Robilar triumphantly arise from the fetid pit that was the Moathouse, on his fiery steed and remember thinking that he was a god... I want to be like that one day!"), etc.

To this end, I'm giving everyone free ranks in Knowledge (local) and some pretty thorough write-ups and the choice between a dozen or so characters that I'm making up. Hopefully by having the choice, everyone will be happier than if I was just to say, "You're playing this one, don't whinge!" But hey... on the other hand, it's not like I'm forcing them to play, I'm the DM and I DM the game as I see fit, if you don't like the way I do things...
#10
Gnarley_Woodsman
Oct 08, 2003 8:27:07 Having the players read the entries for the campaign area allowed my players to both understand the area of Greyhawk, and integrate their back stories. in my las campaign it worked out really well.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Gnarley_Woodsman Oct 03, 2003 11:23:10	What is it that you do in your campaign that shows your players "Greyhawk?" I personally have laminated the poster maps and keep track of movement with a dry erase marker. I keep track of time and dates on a Greyhawk calender, opening each session with "Its the third day of Brewfest CY592 you left off in the middle of a tavern having inebriated yourselves!" or something similar. I also make sure to use the names of appropriate Greyhawk dieties when having NPCs swear. Things like that. Lets hear what everyone does to bring Greyhawk to life....
#2 bdunn91 Oct 03, 2003 12:00:28	Originally posted by Gnarley_Woodsman What is it that you do in your campaign that shows your players "Greyhawk?" I keep track of time and dates on a Greyhawk calender, opening each session with "Its the third day of Brewfest CY592 you left off in the middle of a tavern having inebriated yourselves!" or something similar. I also start sessions off by reminding them of the date, in GH terms. I also put together a packet with information from the Greyhawk folio (photocopied) including a calendar. The information I put in is tailored to the character's skills, background, and class (know: arcana gets them the magical runes page, diplomacy gets them the list of noble ranks and how to address them). Everyone gets a summary of their countries of origin and what they know about their closest neighboring countries and regions.
#3 Greyson Oct 03, 2003 12:15:40	We rely on Greyhawk histroical events and people to enrich our characters - motives, families, connections etc. We definitely use Greyhawk human races and indicate physical characteristics in descriptions, e.g., we have a lot of Oeridian and Flan characters. And NPC personalities, past and present, are usually an element of gameplay. We abandoned the Greyhawk calendar convention. We feel it's too minor of a detail. Friday, October 3, works well enough for us.
#4 Brom_Blackforge Oct 03, 2003 13:37:01	I emailed my players a Greyhawk calendar, and I'll mention what day it is from time to time. (Really, the calendar is mainly for me to keep track of the passage of time more than for giving the players a flavor of the setting.) Also, when the party travels overland, I'll show them a map. I'm interested in reading what others do, though; it would be nice to incorporate more elements. Giving the players a summary of their countries and the neighboring lands is a good idea - good way to educate the players about the setting, if they're not already knowledgeable.
#5 Gnarley_Woodsman Oct 03, 2003 15:18:04	I also utilize the human "Sub races"... I allow my players to receive the bonuses listed in Anne Browns Players guide, both the attribute increases and the specific racial advantages. Oeridians receive Master work Armor or weapons for free per the tables in the guide for example. Describing the mixed racial heritage of villages and the diversity in larger populaces is also something I try to evoke. I use Greyhawk weather patterns based on the charts from the folio and the FtA boxed set......For example snows in the central Flaness are usually light. The temperature and weather is moderate in most cases.
#6 mcbard Oct 04, 2003 11:02:45	If you like generating Greyhawk weather and dates, check this out: http://edulinux.edu2.evitech.fi/weatherforecaster/
#7 Gnarley_Woodsman Oct 04, 2003 11:13:47	Whoaa!! Man is that KEWLL!!!!! Thnx!
#8 grodog Oct 04, 2003 13:50:45	When I DM GH sessions, I try to use: the calendar (as a timekeeper for me and the players, as well as for flavor) the moons (dovetails nicely from the calendar, especially if you use Clay Luther's .pdf calendar at http://www.canonfire.com/htmlnew/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=70) the human, demi-humans, and humanoid races and tribes (Flan, Dwur, Kelbit, etc.) the GH languages (Oeridian, Suel, etc.) the GH runes (magical and mundane letters for the GH languages) GH religions (gods and their followers active in the world) legends and myths specific to GH ("there are underground connections between the three Great Lakes of the Flanaess..." and such) news, rumors, events from neighboring regions/areas/places/etc., in order to give a broader picture of the world NPC friends/family/contacts for PCs (serves the same function as above---to paint the broader picture---and can also help to stimulate adventures, provide cousel, etc.) GH specific foods and trade goods, including material spell components (regional wines, fruits, and foodstuffs; horses, armor, weapons, leather goods, etc.) A lot of this comes across as background materials, though: casual mentions, one-off comments, asides in descriptions, etc. Most of the work I try to focus on building up a home-base setting that the PCs will care about, NPCs that they'll want to interact with, etc. The rest of the details help to round out that meatier setting/NPC stuff.
#9 zombiegleemax Oct 06, 2003 20:57:08	I insist that players have a background that is thoroughly immersed in GH lore. This, unfortunately, means that I rarely get players, since few are willing to do the legwork to learn about GH (everybody I encounter who games seems to be Realms obsessed, sigh) and fewer still who are willing to accept DM made characters. But I won't compromise. Not this time anyway. I'm tired of DM'ing for shallow PC's whose histories I can't draw on in any way to motivate them or spur adventures. Making generic adventures is tiresome and boring from a DM'ing stand-point. I'm about to start up a new game with a couple of willing subjects. I have insisted that I make up the characters (we're starting at 10th-level so it's really just to have a bit of fun, but also will give them a good introduction to the world by throwing them in the deep-end) and thus the backgrounds will draw upon GH lore such as how the GH wars affected them, what family they come from and what connections that family has, their social status by profession and race, their attitudes towards various other races and nations, how they were affected by other events that happened in their local area ("I remember seeing Robilar triumphantly arise from the fetid pit that was the Moathouse, on his fiery steed and remember thinking that he was a god... I want to be like that one day!"), etc. To this end, I'm giving everyone free ranks in Knowledge (local) and some pretty thorough write-ups and the choice between a dozen or so characters that I'm making up. Hopefully by having the choice, everyone will be happier than if I was just to say, "You're playing this one, don't whinge!" But hey... on the other hand, it's not like I'm forcing them to play, I'm the DM and I DM the game as I see fit, if you don't like the way I do things...
#10 Gnarley_Woodsman Oct 08, 2003 8:27:07	Having the players read the entries for the campaign area allowed my players to both understand the area of Greyhawk, and integrate their back stories. in my las campaign it worked out really well.