Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TraverseTravis 06-28-07, 06:34 PM	This sourcebook would detail the fictional town of Geneva Lake, Wisconsin during the first twelve years of roleplaying games, between 1973 (the founding of TSR, Inc.) and 1985 (Gygax's departure from TSR). Geneva Lake would be a "modern fantasy" version of the real world town of Lake Geneva - in other words, Lake Geneva as it might appear in WotC's Urban Arcana setting. In the fictional version, the lake is Lake Geneva, while the city is Geneva Lake. The name of the setting is based on Dave Arneson's upcoming documentary of the first decade of roleplaying. If an agreement to use the name couldn't be reached with Arneson, then an alternative title for the setting would be Here There Be Dragons. WotC would use as much of the real Lake Geneva as legally possible. Trademarked elements within the town - such as a McDonalds - would be modified or replaced by their equivalent Urban Arcana brands as deemed necessary by WotC's legal department. However, WotC would acquire the rights to portray and use as much of the town and its citizens as feasible in the game by the following method: WotC would contact many of the citizens who lived in Lake Geneva during that time - even ones who never published anything gaming-related, such as waitresses and retail clerks - and seek their permission to use their likeness and biography in the game, and to modify them for fictional use. WotC would actually send a person to Lake Geneva for a few weeks to speak with locals and get their legal signature, photograph, and brief biography (such as what house they lived in during those years, and where they worked, and some interesting quirk about them). Also, locally-owned businesses that were around in those days (and that aren't national chains) would be contacted as well, so that they could be used as is. The WotC fellow would also stop by the Walworth County courthouse and library to photocopy as much relevant information as feasible, such as aerial photographs and city directories from that era. The town map of that era would used as the campaign map. Geneva Lake would be tied into the continuity of the various d20 Modern settings, especially the world of Urban Arcana, but also other modern settings such as Dark•Matter. This would also be the Earth that characters from the D&D Worlds have visited. For example: This is the home world of the Kids of the D&D Cartoon Show. Elminster, Dalamar, and Mordenkainen are known to have visited this world and spoken with Ed Greenwood. This world is referred to the "Dimension of Myth" by Mystarans. (reference: Wrath of the Immortals boxed set) This is the home of the Averoignians from the X2, Castle Amber (http://paizo.com/store/byCompany/w/wizardsOfTheCoast/byProductType/roleplayingGames/dungeonsDragons/classicDAndD/adventures/v5748btpy7mwv&source=search) module. Chicago and New York were visited by Immortals from Mystara in IM1, The Immortal Storm (http://paizo.com/store/downloads/wizardsOfTheCoast/classicDAndD/adventures/v5748btpy7mv3&source=search) One of the premises of the setting would be that the act of "world building" by Dungeon Masters works a powerful spell, establishing gates with those "fictional worlds" which lie beyond the Plane of Shadow. Geneva Lake, as the hub of such activity, would become a mecca for world-hopping adventurers...and for investigation by Department-7. In or near Geneva Lake, there would be several gates to Oerth, Blackmoor, Mystara, and all the old-school (pre-1985) D&D Worlds. Also, there would be intrusions from the Plane of Shadow, resulting in D&D adventuring parties and monsters in Geneva Lake and its surrounding countryside. In fact, a Dragons in the Basement adventuring party could consist of either d20 Modern heroes or D&D heroes, or a mixture of both. Besides the published D&D Worlds of TSR, the adventuring party could visit other settings: The plane-hopping wouldn't be limited to D&D fantasy worlds only...the TSR worlds of Star Frontiers, Boot Hill, Gang Busters, Gamma World, and other TSR creations would have gates to Geneva Lake. The existence of such gates are spoken of in AC4, Book of Marvelous Magic (http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=1206). However, characters from these times and worlds would be statted using d20 Modern, Future, or Past. WotC would contact many of the old TSR employees, such as Frank Mentzer and Steve Marsh, and request permission (perhaps for a smallish fee) to use their worlds (such as Aquaria and Starstrands) in the game. Home campaigns from amateur DMs from the early gaming scene would be solicited for inclusion in the setting. The author wouldn't necessarily have to be based out of Lake Geneva...the only requirement would be that their campaign was in existence between 1974 and 1985. If it could be worked out, non-D&D worlds from other game companies of that time could be visited by the PCs, such as the worlds of Tekumel, Tunnels & Trolls, Chivalry & Sorcery, and Space Opera - though they'd be given a d20 System rules makeover for Dragons in the Basement. In summary, Geneva Lake, Wisconsin would be a kind of interplanar Sigil of the d20 Modern/D&D multiverses, and would become for the D&D Worlds what Arkham, Massachusetts is for the Cthulhu Mythos. Travis For more on this campaign setting, see: Lake Geneva Wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Geneva%2C_Wisconsin) Lake Geneva Chamber of Commerce (http://www.lakegenevawi.com) Especially recommended are the "fun facts" about the town: http://www.lakegenevawi.com/fun_facts.htm. These would be used as adventure seeds.
Aussiegamer 06-28-07, 09:04 PM	Is this going to be released by WOTC or are you suggesting a d20M book idea?