15 replies to this topic

[toughluck]

So, I have been released upon the boards, mwahahaha :-)

What do you think about the so-called 'dead' campaign settings? Specifically, these ones:
- Dark Sun - it's tough to come up with a fitting description, suffice to say that I am really fond of it and this comic strip illustrates what happens when Athas collides with Forgotten Realms, and this page is the official page of Dark Sun now.
- Spelljammer - I guess there is little interest in the system, but has anyone played it? What are your feelings about it? For those that hear of it the first time (hardcore gamers, be ashamed), it is about what happens when science fiction collides with just the fiction (ie. when people that still use magic discover space travel), but it is a simplification. This page will have more to say on the topic
- Ravenloft... Have you ever wondered what Nosferatu's or Dracula's stats would be when they were ported to AD&D? Or what would happen if BG2 went on to explore the undead theme a bit more? Ravenloft happens, and it's a great setting for those of you who like to play with the lights turned off... Unfortunately, this system is one of the definitely deceased ones... The Kargatane official webpage is dead for a year, and there are no projects to bring it back to life. Well, too bad. This page is probably just a glimmer of hope...
- Birthright. Now this system is puzzling. References to it are so obscure that it would seem doubtful that the system ever existed... I know it did however, but when searching in google, BR returned irrelevant results, BR AD&D returned the game (BR: The Gorgon's Alliance), BR 3E some more interesting results, but still not really anything of interest... Did anyone here play that settting?
- Dragonlance. A setting so dead that only novels exist... And they are probably the only ones that sell really well (ok, aside from Salvatore's FR, especially the Drizzt ones, even if some people think Salvatore is a hack...), as bookstores and libraries do seem to actually have them, and they seem to be bought and read, too. Too bad, the setting itself seems interesting, but I guess it isn't that far off the FR setting to actually catch attention.

OK, I guess that is all, what are your thoughts? Guess if there aren't any responses, we can all say that these settings are deader than Bodhi after being left soulless and staked ;-)

[NiGHTMARE]

Spelljammer - yep it's cool . I'd really like to see a new CRPG using this setting, but I doubt it'll ever happen.

Birthright - there's several Birthright goodies available on WotC's previous edition downloads page.

Dragonlance - the setting has always been mainly about the novels, and there weren't exactly many Dragonlance accessories even back in the 2E days. So I wouldn't really describe it as "dead".

Novels - Most major bookstores I've been in sell Elaine Cunningham's novels too, and often Ed Greenwood's.

[oralpain]

I never really liked Spelljammer, seems cooky and implauseible even compared to msot of the stuff in Planescape.

I like Dark Sun and Ravenloft alot, though ravenloft is most defiantly not all about undead and monsters and such. I primarilty like it bacuse its mostly a low power/low magic world where good does NOT have the upper hand. I like Athas (the DS planet) because it is different and there are NO meddling gods.

The Dragonlance campaign seemed to focus far too much on the novels.

I've read soem stuff on brthright, but have never played it. I don't have an opinion on it yet.

[Sillara]

I love Ravenloft, but I find it impossible to DM. I enjoy playing in it, but it, more than nearly any other setting, is about ambience and mood. It cannot be properly played with 1) three little children in the next room, always clamoring for juice or snacks or what-have-you; or 2) players who are unwilling or unable to set aside game mechanics. It will completely spoil the mood if the big creature you build up to is dismissed as "only a goblin." (Ravenloft goblins are powerful, though. 4HD if I remember correctly!)

My other favorite setting (aside from our home-brew one) is Planescape, but it was not on the above list of dead settings.

I dislike Dragonlance because of the novels.

Sillara

[oralpain]

There are standard goblins in the demi-plane of dread. The "goblyn" listed in the ravenloft monstrous compendium quite a fearsome creature, it's alot tougher than a normal goblin and it's attacks are permanently disfiguring.

In a Ravenloft game it's best if you never call something by it's monstrous compendium name. It may look like a goblin (once the PCs get a good look at it), sound like a goblin, and may very well be a goblin, but there should alwasy be a bit of doubt. If the players dismis it as a goblin, they may make mistakes, then it can kill one of them. They won't dismiss it again. Or maybe this goblin is also a werewolf, or a polymorphed fiend, though I would see that as unnecessary in most cases.

[Arachnos]

I would'nt be too sure about the state of Dragonlance.

WOTC has reported that development of the Dragonlance Adventure Game would cease. I'm not sure what this means in the grand scheme of things but I'm sure it cant be good news.

[NiGHTMARE]

Well as I already mentioned, there never really were very many Dragonlance source books anyway, not when compared with the Forgotten Realms or even Greyhawk.

[AstraKiseki]

Ravenloft isn't dead ;_;


I play it online on chat rooms. *sighs* I suppose Dark Sun is dead, and I must admit Ravenloft novels are dead as well. *sniff* BUT RAVENLOFT IS NOT DEAD.

[Torack]

Birthright is a very politics-heavy setting.

Ravenloft is being produced by Sword and Sorcery Studio's and has had a fair number of books out. Check the WotC Ravenloft board for some author bashing if you want to. (Sheriff von Zarovich thread). They removed Lord Soth(Copyright reasons with the Margaret Weisman's company). And I believe they returned Vecna, much to the dismay of many players.

I love Dark Sun. I love the whole idea of no deities. I've played it and DM'ed a game or two. Very gewd schtuff. Who wouldn't love Halflings that enjoy to eat their fellow partymembers?

Haven't heard too many good things about Spelljammer. A lot of people think it's weird/overpowered whatever. IMO it appears to be a decent setting, with just a smidgen of errors to it. Errors that could have easily been ironed out as the product matured. Alas it never had that chance.

Even though Dragonlance didn't have a lot of stuff printed for it, Margaret Weisman(one of the original authors) and her company are pumping out books as fast as they can make them. However, none of them deal with Raistlin and consorts, but rather what happened after the War of the Lance.

I never played Planescape (DM'ed an adventure once, had a blast), but I ain't seeing it in the mentioned list. Same goes for Greyhawk Adventures(Considered standard D&D nowadays), Mystara and several other settings that I can't remember at the moment.

[khay]

If you search for birthright campaign setting on Google you get more plausible results.

[Daemon]

- Dark sun  was fantastic, love it to death

-Dragonlance just released its 3.5 campaign setting, its quite alive.

-Ravenloft, Urh the varaint rules, total lack of playtesting, eeuw.

-Spelljammer, I feel is the Best Setting that was ever released.True go anywhere do anything. In fact ive just started an Online spelljammer campaign, is gonna start somewhere next week.

[taza]

I like Spelljammer and Planescape.

Actually, both of the "new" modules i'm making for NWN are set in Spelljammer.

(in a crystal sphere. The players can't go flying, though. :/ )

[Torack]

Latest news update:

It appears that Dark Sun will have it's revival sometime next year. They did a massive number on it though. From what I gather from around the net, no-one's too happy with it.

Source #1
Source #2

Samples of the new Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide can be viewed in Dungeon Magazine 110 and Dragon Magazine 319.

[Stone Wolf]

Geez, it sounds like they messed up another setting. They'll change just enough to make the 2E stuff almost unusable, and then abandon the setting. Bastards! :bash:

[Torack]

Euh...never mind. I screwed up. Check the dates of the postings...hihihi.

Looks like I jumped the gun a little bit. I really should be more careful before posting this type of stuff. My bad. I'll...uh...leave now and schtuff.

*Hangs head in shame*

[Atlasia]

Ravenloft is my favorite. No other setting seems to make it as easy for me to terrorize my PCs than Ravenloft. It's too much fun to DM a game where yuo're picking off the party one by one and watching them sweat whenever they even attempt to do anything...sheer terror, I tell you.