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Definition of a setting

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Speech
Oct 14, 2006 12:54:52 I have been thinking about settings and such and wondered what others thought is the clincher that defines a setting-what gives it its unique feel and flavour. Is it the history or the personalities (both the iconic personalities and the high powered ones), or is it the the environment and the cultures as a whole. I understand that a setting is defined in part by all of these, but what I am wondering is if there is one that is more of a defining quality than the others.

The biggest reason I ask (aside from being a person who thinks too deeply when it comes to this stuff) is that I have been interested in GH for some time...but have never felt like I knew enough about the setting to really run a good campaign there. I know a little of the history and have lots of campaign type story-lines and such...but have never run anything there. I am now trying to figure out what is missing from my knowledge so I can fill the gap and get my butt motivated.

Any thoughts?
#2
Mortepierre
Oct 15, 2006 11:11:06 Hard to say. Your question isn't exactly crystal clear (no offense).

I could give you the "GH is the best setting!" speech but it usually devolves into a "here you won't find Elminster/warforged" rant.

All its strong points are things other settings can claim too.

Long history
Politics
Ancient artifacts/gods/ruins
Not a black&white world
Infamous bad guys
etc..

'course, GH is the seat of the "old" (read:1e) modules which have become legendary but it doesn't have the same appeal for the newest generation of gamers as it had for us old timers.

In the end, I think GH has become an acquired taste. You'll either hate it or love it. As it's the "standard" reference in matters of heroic-fantasy settings, you're bound to find all the elements you're used to (dragons, magic, demons, ..) but precious little of the newest "gadgets" (psi, warforged, ..).

In a sense, I think it's the perfect incarnation of this gag:
http://goblinscomic.com/d/20051112.html

I've known and gamed in GH for the past 25 years, so I know it inside-out. If I didn't and took a look at it today, I would probably be disheartened by the lack of official, easy-to-buy, canon accessories. Yes, there is ebay, pdf, etc.. but what I mean is you won't find a honest-to-god GH mod. on a shelf in a gaming store these days. You have to hunt them down. It's not that difficult but it certainly acts as a deterrent to people used to have an easy time and to blow money on 114 full-color pages accessory with good art.

Besides, the other settings FR have already stolen many of the things that made GH "unique". Drows, aboleths, elder elemental god, .. you name it
#3
fharlang
Oct 15, 2006 14:39:13 What makes a setting?

For me, it is the unknown. When I started gaming in 1983, there, on the wall behind the DM, was this great big two panel color map. After creating characters, we rolled to see where we were born, and I was from Veluna. That was the start of a 23-year relationship. I will be the first to tell you that I have not always been faithful to the setting. I’ve ran campaigns in FR and Dragonlance. I have come to see the error of my ways, so now all the players see a large two panel Greyhawk map behind me every time they come to game. I don’t claim to know all there is about Greyhawk. My players are happy to have a world where they don’t know what’s around the next bend, like you find in FR. So for them it also is the unknown that keeps bringing them back.
#4
Elendur
Oct 16, 2006 14:46:29
The biggest reason I ask (aside from being a person who thinks too deeply when it comes to this stuff) is that I have been interested in GH for some time...but have never felt like I knew enough about the setting to really run a good campaign there. I know a little of the history and have lots of campaign type story-lines and such...but have never run anything there. I am now trying to figure out what is missing from my knowledge so I can fill the gap and get my butt motivated.

Any thoughts?

Nothing is missing. Pick a country with a cool sounding name, and set your adventure there. If a question comes up about a person, place or thing, feel free to spend 10 minutes looking it up in whatever resources you have. But after that, just make it up.

A setting should be in service to the adventure, not the other way around.
#5
Speech
Oct 17, 2006 7:56:02 Thanks for all of the responses.

I have been playing for a while too-I remember in gradeschool I wrote a story about Keraptis and White Plume Mountain and got into a lot of trouble for "being involved" in the evil that is D&D. People were certainly looking for a scapegoat in those days. Anyhow, I think my biggest hurdle is trying to get a feel for the setting with very little published material available anymore. I have gotten my hands on a couple of things, but without the reference material it's tough for me to capture the feel. Or maybe I'm just lazy. :D

I too have been playing since the basic red book set and have played every incarnation of the game since then-I think what I like so much about the setting is the nostalgic feel of it...and maybe my problem is I'm trying to recreate the past. I dunno..I think too much...I should just shut up and play the game.

be well
Speech

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Speech Oct 14, 2006 12:54:52	I have been thinking about settings and such and wondered what others thought is the clincher that defines a setting-what gives it its unique feel and flavour. Is it the history or the personalities (both the iconic personalities and the high powered ones), or is it the the environment and the cultures as a whole. I understand that a setting is defined in part by all of these, but what I am wondering is if there is one that is more of a defining quality than the others. The biggest reason I ask (aside from being a person who thinks too deeply when it comes to this stuff) is that I have been interested in GH for some time...but have never felt like I knew enough about the setting to really run a good campaign there. I know a little of the history and have lots of campaign type story-lines and such...but have never run anything there. I am now trying to figure out what is missing from my knowledge so I can fill the gap and get my butt motivated. Any thoughts?
#2 Mortepierre Oct 15, 2006 11:11:06	Hard to say. Your question isn't exactly crystal clear (no offense). I could give you the "GH is the best setting!" speech but it usually devolves into a "here you won't find Elminster/warforged" rant. All its strong points are things other settings can claim too. Long history Politics Ancient artifacts/gods/ruins Not a black&white world Infamous bad guys etc.. 'course, GH is the seat of the "old" (read:1e) modules which have become legendary but it doesn't have the same appeal for the newest generation of gamers as it had for us old timers. In the end, I think GH has become an acquired taste. You'll either hate it or love it. As it's the "standard" reference in matters of heroic-fantasy settings, you're bound to find all the elements you're used to (dragons, magic, demons, ..) but precious little of the newest "gadgets" (psi, warforged, ..). In a sense, I think it's the perfect incarnation of this gag: http://goblinscomic.com/d/20051112.html I've known and gamed in GH for the past 25 years, so I know it inside-out. If I didn't and took a look at it today, I would probably be disheartened by the lack of official, easy-to-buy, canon accessories. Yes, there is ebay, pdf, etc.. but what I mean is you won't find a honest-to-god GH mod. on a shelf in a gaming store these days. You have to hunt them down. It's not that difficult but it certainly acts as a deterrent to people used to have an easy time and to blow money on 114 full-color pages accessory with good art. Besides, the other settings FR have already stolen many of the things that made GH "unique". Drows, aboleths, elder elemental god, .. you name it
#3 fharlang Oct 15, 2006 14:39:13	What makes a setting? For me, it is the unknown. When I started gaming in 1983, there, on the wall behind the DM, was this great big two panel color map. After creating characters, we rolled to see where we were born, and I was from Veluna. That was the start of a 23-year relationship. I will be the first to tell you that I have not always been faithful to the setting. I’ve ran campaigns in FR and Dragonlance. I have come to see the error of my ways, so now all the players see a large two panel Greyhawk map behind me every time they come to game. I don’t claim to know all there is about Greyhawk. My players are happy to have a world where they don’t know what’s around the next bend, like you find in FR. So for them it also is the unknown that keeps bringing them back.
#4 Elendur Oct 16, 2006 14:46:29	The biggest reason I ask (aside from being a person who thinks too deeply when it comes to this stuff) is that I have been interested in GH for some time...but have never felt like I knew enough about the setting to really run a good campaign there. I know a little of the history and have lots of campaign type story-lines and such...but have never run anything there. I am now trying to figure out what is missing from my knowledge so I can fill the gap and get my butt motivated. Any thoughts? Nothing is missing. Pick a country with a cool sounding name, and set your adventure there. If a question comes up about a person, place or thing, feel free to spend 10 minutes looking it up in whatever resources you have. But after that, just make it up. A setting should be in service to the adventure, not the other way around.
#5 Speech Oct 17, 2006 7:56:02	Thanks for all of the responses. I have been playing for a while too-I remember in gradeschool I wrote a story about Keraptis and White Plume Mountain and got into a lot of trouble for "being involved" in the evil that is D&D. People were certainly looking for a scapegoat in those days. Anyhow, I think my biggest hurdle is trying to get a feel for the setting with very little published material available anymore. I have gotten my hands on a couple of things, but without the reference material it's tough for me to capture the feel. Or maybe I'm just lazy. :D I too have been playing since the basic red book set and have played every incarnation of the game since then-I think what I like so much about the setting is the nostalgic feel of it...and maybe my problem is I'm trying to recreate the past. I dunno..I think too much...I should just shut up and play the game. be well Speech