This results show the answers to the five questions below, comprehnsive with the votes of the same poll at the Italian Message Board.
There was a total of 33 voters (16 in this forum and 17 in the Italian Message Board).
For each question multiple answers were possible.
The number indicates the number of preferences the answer got. I included any answer that got at least two preferences. Answers with the same number of preferences are listed in alphabetical order.
QUESTION 1/A: If you were a DM, where would you set your next Mystara's campaign?
10 - Karameikos
8 - Glantri
6 - Norwold
4 - Isle of Dawn
3 - Darokin
2 - Alphatia
2 - Ochalea
2 - Thyatis
Other answers: 16
QUESTION 1/B: And, if you were a player, where would you like most to play in Mystara?
9 - Glantri (of which: 1 - Boldavia and 1 - Glantri's Past, Dragonlord time)
6 - Savage Coast
3 - Hule
3 - Isle of Dawn
3 - Karameikos
3 - Thyatis
2 - Alfheim
2 - Bellissaria
2 - Davania
2 - Ylaruam
Other answers: 13
QUESTION 2: Which place of Mystara you don't stand at all, and you'd like it to be canceled from the official maps?
9 - Ierendi
8 - Hollow World
4 - Patera
3 - Atruaghin
3 - Savage Coast (of which: 1 - moved in the future and 1 - no "gunpowder")
3 - The KW is too small (ok, this is not a place to cancel, but the answers I got were put in this section, so I left them here)
2 - Alphatia
2 - Five Shires should be weakened
2 - Serraine (of which: 1 - less "technology")
2 - Yavdlom
Other answers: 5
QUESTION 3: Which place (or places) of Mystara would you like to be moved elsewhere on the maps? And where would you place it (them)?
13 - Ethengar moved (of which: 7 - to Central Brun, 3 - to a "wider area", 2 - to Skothar/Jen, 1 - to Western Brun)
11 - Ylaruam moved (of which: 5 - to Sind, 2 - to Thothia/Great Escarpment, 1 - to Davania)
8 - Atruaghin moved (of which: 3 - "faraway", 1 - to Davania, 1 - to Savage Coast, 1 - to Skothar)
7 - Northern Reaches moved (of which: 5 - to Norwold and 2 - away from Ylaruam)
5 - Alphatia back to the Outer World
2 - Savage Coast moved (of which: 1 - on a Mystaran moon, 1 - nearer to the Known World)
Other answers: 9
QUESTION 4: Which region of Mystara would you like to be more developed/detailed than now?
11 - Davania (of which: 3 - Northern Davania, 1 - Izonda, 1 - Pelatan, 1 - Southern Davania, 1 - Vulcania)
10 - Central Brun
9 - Skothar (of which: 2 - Jen, 2 - Tangor, 1 - Minaea)
8 - Alphatia
7 - Hule
4 - Bellissaria
4 - Sind
3 - Isle of Dawn
3 - Ochalea
3 - Ylaruam
2 - Heldannic Territories
2 - Jen
2 - Norwold
2 - Savage Baronies
2 - Serpent Peninsula
2 - Thyatis
2 - Wendar
Other answers: 10
QUESTION 5: In your opinion, which is the most original place of Mystara? (both as an absolute parameter than comparing it to the other official D&D settings)
12 - Savage Coast (of which: 1 - Orc's head Peninsula, 1 - Red Curse, 1 - Savage Baronies)
10 - Shadow Elves
9 - Broken Lands
6 - Glantri
6 - Hollow World
6 - Ierendi
4 - Alphatia
3 - Rockhome
2 - Hule
2 - Serraine
2 - War Thyatis-Alphatia
Other answers: 18
COMMENTS:
Just a few comments.
- The favourite setting for DMs adventures is Karameikos, while Glantri is the most preferred settings by players, Karameikos being definitely a secondary choice for them. Uhmmm..... something to think about, isn't it?
Anyway, Glantri is still one of the most liked places of Mystara both by players and DMs.
- Ierendi's setting seems to be quite hated by Mystara's fan (this is somewhat a surprise to me), the Hollow World being second (and this is not a surprise). The other places of Mystara are not so despised and there is quite a dispersion of the answers (many places got almost the same amount of preferences).
- A vast majority of the voters would like to move the Ethengar steppes elsewhere (central Brun being the favourite place). Also Ylaruam, Atruaghin and the Northern Reaches are felt out of place. This is not a surprise, I think: all we know about the great problems the Expert Set map created to players, DMs and game developers in trying to build a coherent setting.
And it seems also that putting Alphatia in the Hollow World was not a very smart move...
- About the developing of Mystara's regions, answers are scattered throughout the whole Mystara's surface (this is not a surprise, I think, given the fact that each player/DM has its favourite area in this world).
Anyway, most of the people chose truly exotic places such as Davania and Central Brun (also Skothar, Hule and mainland Alphatia are top in the list). This info may be useful for anybody wishing to publish a fan-made web gazetteer or other similar material.
- The answers to the last question, in my opinion, answers also to an old question havard made about "what elements define Mystara?"
It seems that many of us like a lot the Savage Coast setting (it is also one of the best places for players, as per the answers in 1/B) and thy like also the typical and not truly evil Mystaran shadow elves.
In general, it seems to me that the "melting pot" areas (Savage Coast, Glantri, Broken Lands, the Hollow World, and even Ierendi) are considered one of the most original contribution that Mystara gave to the D&D settings.
I'd like a lot to read your comments about this home-made poll. I know it is not very professional (many answers might have been influenced by previous voters, for instance), but I hope it would help to get a clue about what people really like/don't like about Mystara. ;)
- The favourite setting for DMs adventures is Karameikos, while Glantri is the most preferred settings by players, Karameikos being definitely a secondary choice for them. Uhmmm..... something to think about, isn't it?
This is probably because most people who answered are DMs and have a long experience with Mystara. Karameikos is well known, so it's easier to use for a DM, especially when introducing new players to Mystara. OTOH, probably fewer people manage to play in some of the more original areas, so this could explain the greater variety in player preferences.
- Ierendi's setting seems to be quite hated by Mystara's fan (this is somewhat a surprise to me), the Hollow World being second (and this is not a surprise).
I'm actually more suprised by the latter. Ierendi has always been disliked by many people, especially on the MML -- there's even a variant mini-gaz -- due to the abundance of puns and the unrealistic economy.
OTOH, the Hollow World is rather coherent, though possibly the idea of the SoP is not appealing to some people?
Anyway, most of the people chose truly exotic places such as Davania and Central Brun (also Skothar, Hule and mainland Alphatia are top in the list).
Not surprising, since these are the less detailed areas.
It seems that many of us like a lot the Savage Coast setting (it is also one of the best places for players, as per the answers in 1/B)
That comes actually as a surprise. I'd always seen only limited interest for the SC here or in the MML.
In general, it seems to me that the "melting pot" areas (Savage Coast, Glantri, Broken Lands, the Hollow World, and even Ierendi) are considered one of the most original contribution that Mystara gave to the D&D settings.
Well, the Savage Coast contains many of the setting-specific races, and the SE, Glantri and the Broken Lands contribute a lot to this kind of experience (they all have very peculiar stances -- either entirely new races, or other variant rules).
OTOH, it's pretty odd to see the Ierendi and the HW appear pretty high in this list, and they top the most hated list as well -- possibly they are original in ways that not all appreciate...
GP
QUESTION 1/A: If you were a DM, where would you set your next Mystara's campaign?
10 - Karameikos
8 - Glantri
6 - Norwold
4 - Isle of Dawn
3 - Darokin
2 - Alphatia
2 - Ochalea
2 - Thyatis
Other answers: 16
QUESTION 1/B: And, if you were a player, where would you like most to play in Mystara?
9 - Glantri (of which: 1 - Boldavia and 1 - Glantri's Past, Dragonlord time)
6 - Savage Coast
3 - Hule
3 - Isle of Dawn
3 - Karameikos
3 - Thyatis
2 - Alfheim
2 - Bellissaria
2 - Davania
2 - Ylaruam
Other answers: 13
it seems that DMs aren't really setting their games in places where players most want to play. Glantri is high in both lists, otherwise there doesn't seem to be good correlation between the lists.
it seems that DMs aren't really setting their games in places where players most want to play. Glantri is high in both lists, otherwise there doesn't seem to be good correlation between the lists.
Also remember, Shawn, that in most of those cases... DM's were answering the Player's questions... I certainly don't want to play in areas that I'm intimately familiar with as a DM... my foreknowledge would ruin my playing experience.
On the other hand, I do intend to start a new campaign after taking a short hiatus.. which starts in Karameikos for the low levels... moves to Glantri to give the players a "worldly" point-of-view... then all over the SC... until I'm as familiar with it as I am with the KW...
Still, I suppose you do have a point, but I would like to see the results of the player question from non-DMs...
Roger
Also remember, Shawn, that in most of those cases... DM's were answering the Player's questions... I certainly don't want to play in areas that I'm intimately familiar with as a DM... my foreknowledge would ruin my playing experience.
That's certanly true!
But, OTOH, I'd ove to either play or DM at the SC... I guess it's that there are still a lot of work to be done there and there aren't too much great secrets at there (okay, at least a HUGE one for Herath, one more for Nimmur, Hule and Eusdria, but still, it's no Glantri ;) )
Damn, I missed this poll, I wish I had voted ;)
Me too
The best thing with Mystara is that it is not a world in black and white, like so many others, but in shades of grey
The best thing with Mystara is that it is not a world in black and white, like so many others, but in shades of grey
It is very interesting that it is often possible to play either of two opposing sides as the 'good' guys. Makes for great possibilities!