Book of campaigns. An idea [Archive] - Wizards Community

Book of campaigns. An idea [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
weasel fierce
05-27-05, 01:30 PM There's a fair clamouring for old campaign material to be released. There's also the viewpoint that WOTC will only support Forgettable realms and Eberron.

My idea was this.. make a big-as-an-evil-year hardcover book, with information on each of the old settings. Obviously nothing conclusive as space constraints would prevent it, but a brief summary of the setting, whatever variant classes and races are nescesary for that setting, and maybe a map or two of each.

That way, a bone could be thrown to the people who like Greyhawk, Dark sun, spelljammer and whatnot, and WOTC would not be limited to supporting a campaign setting, given that they could set the immediate expectation that this was a standalone project

EDIT: Thoughts and ideas ?
caeruleus
05-27-05, 02:31 PM Since it would have to be such a big book, it would be very expensive. Someone interested in, say, Al-Qadim might want Al-Qadim material, but have no interest in spending money on Dark Sun, Spelljammer, Birthright, Greyhawk, etc, etc. So I'm not too sure if it would sell.

I'd much rather see a small book (64, or 32, or even 16 pages) for each. That way, if you want them all, you can buy them all, but if you only want some, you can only buy those.

I still don't think WotC would go for it though, because I don't think even that idea would sell as much as they'd like. (Even though I know I'd buy them.)
Gedrin
05-27-05, 03:40 PM To a certain extent, I bet WotC wants to limit the number of campaign worlds they support. Focusing the consumer on a few areas, and releasing one product every one or two months that might apeal to them is much easier than trying to release one product every two months that might appeal to the consumers of 6 or 7 game worlds.
Zachary The First
05-27-05, 05:10 PM I think a Gazetteer would be the best. With a Gazaetteer, it's not fullblown support, but it still gives fans a little something. Whereas I'd personally buy the big book, I think people would lean towards buying the smaller, seperate supplements.

Bottom line: Like the idea, don't think it'd sell.
Shemeska the Marauder
05-28-05, 02:32 AM Only if some of the authors of those settings were involved. I'm sorry, but some of those settings would be wrecked depending on who of the current design team worked on them.
Zachary The First
05-28-05, 03:26 AM Only if some of the authors of those settings were involved. I'm sorry, but some of those settings would be wrecked depending on who of the current design team worked on them.

To be honest, that's a good point that I hadn't thought of. In a way, I'd almost remember Birthright or Savage Coast as is, not made unrecognizable or too uber by a 3.5 design team.
weasel fierce
05-28-05, 03:32 AM Agreed. I hadnt thought of that.
Arrowhen
05-28-05, 05:00 AM As much as I'd like to see some of the classic campaign setting resurrected--I'd especially love to see the return of the Historical Reference Sourcebooks--we have to remember that this is WotC we're talking about. If they put, say, five settings in one book, it would require approximately 15 new standard classes, 100 new prestige classes, and 150 new feats. With all that necessary crunch (you can't put out a book without classes, prestige classes and feats or you'll stifle players' creativity) there'd barely be room left for the titles of the campaign settings, let alone any maps or descriptions.
Zachary The First
05-28-05, 05:29 AM ...we have to remember that this is WotC we're talking about. If they put, say, five settings in one book, it would require approximately 15 new standard classes, 100 new prestige classes, and 150 new feats. With all that necessary crunch (you can't put out a book without classes, prestige classes and feats or you'll stifle players' creativity) there'd barely be room left for the titles of the campaign settings, let alone any maps or descriptions.

LOL...I'm laughing, but it's a laugh tinged with sadness.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
weasel fierce 05-27-05, 01:30 PM	There's a fair clamouring for old campaign material to be released. There's also the viewpoint that WOTC will only support Forgettable realms and Eberron. My idea was this.. make a big-as-an-evil-year hardcover book, with information on each of the old settings. Obviously nothing conclusive as space constraints would prevent it, but a brief summary of the setting, whatever variant classes and races are nescesary for that setting, and maybe a map or two of each. That way, a bone could be thrown to the people who like Greyhawk, Dark sun, spelljammer and whatnot, and WOTC would not be limited to supporting a campaign setting, given that they could set the immediate expectation that this was a standalone project EDIT: Thoughts and ideas ?
caeruleus 05-27-05, 02:31 PM	Since it would have to be such a big book, it would be very expensive. Someone interested in, say, Al-Qadim might want Al-Qadim material, but have no interest in spending money on Dark Sun, Spelljammer, Birthright, Greyhawk, etc, etc. So I'm not too sure if it would sell. I'd much rather see a small book (64, or 32, or even 16 pages) for each. That way, if you want them all, you can buy them all, but if you only want some, you can only buy those. I still don't think WotC would go for it though, because I don't think even that idea would sell as much as they'd like. (Even though I know I'd buy them.)
Gedrin 05-27-05, 03:40 PM	To a certain extent, I bet WotC wants to limit the number of campaign worlds they support. Focusing the consumer on a few areas, and releasing one product every one or two months that might apeal to them is much easier than trying to release one product every two months that might appeal to the consumers of 6 or 7 game worlds.
Zachary The First 05-27-05, 05:10 PM	I think a Gazetteer would be the best. With a Gazaetteer, it's not fullblown support, but it still gives fans a little something. Whereas I'd personally buy the big book, I think people would lean towards buying the smaller, seperate supplements. Bottom line: Like the idea, don't think it'd sell.
Shemeska the Marauder 05-28-05, 02:32 AM	Only if some of the authors of those settings were involved. I'm sorry, but some of those settings would be wrecked depending on who of the current design team worked on them.
Zachary The First 05-28-05, 03:26 AM	Only if some of the authors of those settings were involved. I'm sorry, but some of those settings would be wrecked depending on who of the current design team worked on them. To be honest, that's a good point that I hadn't thought of. In a way, I'd almost remember Birthright or Savage Coast as is, not made unrecognizable or too uber by a 3.5 design team.
weasel fierce 05-28-05, 03:32 AM	Agreed. I hadnt thought of that.
Arrowhen 05-28-05, 05:00 AM	As much as I'd like to see some of the classic campaign setting resurrected--I'd especially love to see the return of the Historical Reference Sourcebooks--we have to remember that this is WotC we're talking about. If they put, say, five settings in one book, it would require approximately 15 new standard classes, 100 new prestige classes, and 150 new feats. With all that necessary crunch (you can't put out a book without classes, prestige classes and feats or you'll stifle players' creativity) there'd barely be room left for the titles of the campaign settings, let alone any maps or descriptions.
Zachary The First 05-28-05, 05:29 AM	...we have to remember that this is WotC we're talking about. If they put, say, five settings in one book, it would require approximately 15 new standard classes, 100 new prestige classes, and 150 new feats. With all that necessary crunch (you can't put out a book without classes, prestige classes and feats or you'll stifle players' creativity) there'd barely be room left for the titles of the campaign settings, let alone any maps or descriptions. LOL...I'm laughing, but it's a laugh tinged with sadness.