The following is taken from Worlds and Monsters, Races and Classes, misc sources such as the DMG and what they stated in their modules. I am going to start a new game, and what better way to start then with this and what they are doing. I will add more as they come with them.
Races
• Dragonborn
• Dwarf
• Eladrin
• Elf
• Half-elf (possibly)
• Halfling
• Human
• Tiefling
Monster Manual Races
• Bugbear
• Doppleganger
• Drow
• Githyanki
• Githzerai
• Gnoll
• Gnome
• Goblin
• Hobgoblin
• Kobald
• Minotaur
• Orc
• Shadar-kai
• Shifter
• Warforged
Classes
• Cleric
• Fighter
• Marshal
• Paladin
• Ranger
• Rogue
• Warlock
• Wizard
Ancient Empires
• Anauli (eladrin)
• Arkhosia (dragonborn)
• Bael Turath (tiefling)
• Cendriane (eladrin)
• Nerath (human)
• Realm of the Twin Queens (eladrin)
• Zannad (yuan-ti)
Cities
• Avaellor (eladrin), island during spring and summer
• Jenn-Tourach (eladrin), midsummer atop a mountaintop
• Fallcrest (from the DMG)
• Shinaelestra (eladrin), Howling forest at midnight
• Winterhaven
Dungeons
• Pyramid of Shadows
• Shadowrift
• Temple of Elemental Evil
• Thunderspire Labyrinth
Ruined Cities/Ruins
• Amethystra
• Bael Turath
• Bhaarel
• Razortear
• Serpentus Rift
• Tower of the Impossible Staircase
Ages/Battles
• Age of Chains
• War of Teeth
• War of Wings
• War of Ruins
Places/Terrain
• Daggermoor Forest
• Durkellwood
• Haruani Archipelago
• Howling Forest
• Mount Keannor
• Shadowsong Forest
• Thunderspire Mountains
Elf Tribes
• Oakroot tribe
• People of the Shadow Glade
• Whitepeak tribe
Infernal Pacts
• Iron Crown of Madness
• Million Pains of Eternal Torment
• Night’s Loving Void
• Scarlet Claw of Hunger
Rivers
• Marrilarch River
Island
• Misty Island
Underdark
• Gar Morra, the City of the Deep
• Hrak Azuul, the Fungal Forest
• Vault of the Drow
Feywild
• The Court of Stars
• The Fortress of Mag Tureth
• The Isle of Dread
Elemental Chaos
• City of Brass
• The Pandemonium Stone
• Titan Realms (Muspel, Vedraeholl, Nyfel)
• Yrnsvellor, the Steel Glacier
• Zerthadlun
People
• Achazriel
• Corvax Croweye
• The Jade Hand
• Jibaal of the Mountain
Gods
• Asmodeus
• Avandra, goddess of change
• Bahamut, god of honor and justice
• Bane
• Chained God
• Corellon
• Erathis
• Gruumsh
• Ioun
• Kord
• Lolth
• Melora
• Moradin
• Obad-Hai
• Pelor
• Raven Queen
• Sehanine
• Tiamat, goddess of lies and greed
• Torog
• Vecna
• Zehir, god of night
Now if we could just get those on a 4E core setting map!
Amen to that!!!!
Now if we could just get those on a 4E core setting map!
Nooooooooooo!
That's the one thing that I don't want. I want them to give us tons and tons and tons of locations and locals, but I don't want there to be a "core" spacial relationship between them. Infinite real estate for the win!
I doubt WotC'll repeat the mistake of dunking campaign setting chapters or restrictions into a generic rulebook again. At least, I hope against it. I think the purpose of those locations was also the PoL modular one of "you can plant this and it's surrounding lands anywhere!" So only YOU can piece together the fragments of maps you come across (and prevent campaign setting fires).
Nooooooooooo!
That's the one thing that I don't want. I want them to give us tons and tons and tons of locations and locals, but I don't want there to be a "core" spacial relationship between them. Infinite real estate for the win!
Just because they put this all together on a map doesn't mean you HAVE to use it at all. But it's much easier for you (or anyone else who doesn't want a complete 4e setting) to ignore it and use whatever you want as opposed to someone who doesn't have the time/creativity to create something on their own to come up with one.
How is this in any way different than the 3rd Edition core books? Except that the 3rd Ed. books have far fewer references to a specific setting.
Just because they put this all together on a map doesn't mean you HAVE to use it at all. But it's much easier for you (or anyone else who doesn't want a complete 4e setting) to ignore it and use whatever you want as opposed to someone who doesn't have the time/creativity to create something on their own to come up with one.
Yeah, I know, but it spoils a bit of the inherent mystery. It seems to me as though the spirit of the core says "let your world grow organically" as a way of encouraging more people to DM. As a part of nature we abhore a vaccume and seek to fill it. No more does this apply than to a map. If they publish a map then we, and they, will try to fill that map, and then there's no room left for new things: our edges touch, we can see the poles, the globe has been circumnavigated, and everything has been cut up into countries and there is nothing left for an inheritance.
Now, yes, I realize that many people want those worlds. I used to do that too. My gut instinct is to still do that, but I'm fighting my gut instinct in favor of a more mysterious world, a world where I can step out of the DM chair and into a player chair without asking the entire party to start new characters, and the new DM just starts drawing new lands at the edge of the map.
I dunno, I'm probably rambling here, but I think the freshness for the communal D&D experience of having a world that explicitly does not have a map, not just by omission as in 3e but by intentional design, is a good thing.
I deffinately see the "the core rulebooks will be generic and not include a setting" here...
How is this in any way different than the 3rd Edition core books? Except that the 3rd Ed. books have far fewer references to a specific setting.
Greyhawk was the default setting for 3rd. They just stopped making references to it.
I actually would like there to be a 'default' setting withe PHB and DMG for a couple of reasons:
1: It allows me to start playing right away without having to spend a lot of time creating my own world.
2: Casual players that wouldn't normally go out and buy the world book have a little extra info.
3: People who don't need that little extra can easily ignore it.
Now I'm not talking about a massive amount of info. I really only need the pantheon of gods, a map, a history of the world, and some key places and facts. Really just a chapter.
we've been playing eberonn for quite a time as default for 3.5 ed. It would be ashame if eberonn is abanned by 4th
I don't think that will happen. From what I can tell Eberron has been a pretty decent success for WOTC. From a business stand point, it'd be a mistake to abandon your latest and greatest product.
Also considering that the Warforged are now a standard PC race, I don't see Eberron going away anytime soon.
Right now though, it's a custom setting for me, to begin with it's going to be simple, but I may expand it later on if I like it. The problem with using a pre-made setting is someone will always know the setting better than you, or at least, know something you don't.
I'd love for them to continue what they started, but if not at least give us a world map. Contract with the person who did the Maps of Mystery for Dungeon (Chris West) and have him do up a similar item to the one he did for the last Dungeon. (it was a poster Map, fitting in all his Maps of Mystery he had done for them prior.)
This way if people didn't want to design a map from scratch they could use it and those who didn't want use it could just ignore it and do their own thing.
Snip
…where I can step out of the DM chair and into a player chair without asking the entire party to start new characters, and the new DM just starts drawing new lands at the edge of the map.
Snip
I actually did that once. It was a lot of fun. Unfortunately logistical issues killed the campaign and at the moment I haven't got enough DMs in my group to do it justice. As soon as I do though…
I'm a bit split about wether I want the core book to have a setting or not. On the one hand, it would be nice to just be able to throw together a quick adventure in a simple, pre-made setting so we can test out the full 4E rules right away. On the other hand, it might get the idea into players' heads that this is the setting you should use and you shouldn't make your own.
Right now though, it's a custom setting for me, to begin with it's going to be simple, but I may expand it later on if I like it. The problem with using a pre-made setting is someone will always know the setting better than you, or at least, know something you don't.
In a way, every module does just that. Sure it's just a bare-bones, only-what-the-adventure-needs affair, but it is everything that the adventure needs. More than that is irrelevant until you try to string them together.
As for a general, edition-wide, generic setting I'm kind of expecting to see a little of that in the up-coming modules. Just a little mind you, but they are intended to fit together into a larger whole. Why not sneak a little more detail into them.
As for the lack of a general setting in 4E; it could be worse. Right now I'm running a game for which the core rulebook doesn't even assume your game is in any particular genre. Personally, I like having all the control over the setting, but it has its drawbacks.
Here's my take on it. First is that they have at least fleshed out some type of setting. Once you give civilizations names, geographical names, city/town names, historical battle/events names, etc... you have ALREADY developed at least some type of setting. It is no longer in any way generic.
I'd love for them to continue what they started, but if not at least give us a world map. Contract with the person who did the Maps of Mystery for Dungeon (Chris West) and have him do up a similar item to the one he did for the last Dungeon. (it was a poster Map, fitting in all his Maps of Mystery he had done for them prior.)
This way if people didn't want to design a map from scratch they could use it and those who didn't want use it could just ignore it and do their own thing.
Barthalas has a point, though I would argue that in this case what they're giving us is a setting template rather than an actual setting. I like the idea of getting a setting template rather than a setting (just like classes are character templates rather than characters). As for completing it, an interesting approach might be to drop all these sample locales onto a topographical map of Connecticut or the British Isles. Bam! I might have to try that and see what happens.
That said, I doubt it would hurt anyone if they devoted a chapter (or an appendix) of the DMG to a sample map and a little extra detail for their sample, like they do with creature templates. I wouldn't want to see it in the PHB though, but now I'm getting nit-picky.
I think you can take Bael Turath and read it as "the lost Teifling empire iin your world".
Having said this, I bet if we express enough interest, WoTC might think about fleshing it out.
With the Points of Light setting, this is easily customizable as well.
As an example... White Wolf's Exalted has a simple 2-page map in the core book that lists off only the major cities, and leaves hundreds of miles of land between most of them un-detailed. I think the same thing would be good for a basic setting put into the core books themselves. Detail a few big cities and their surrounding terrain, name mountain ranges and forest and such, maybe name the major waterways as well only leaving tributaries and small lakes nameless. Then you can have players give you a story for their character that doesn't need your help to fit it into your game world, and you can tell players where the game will start and they don't have to ask you for a detailed description because it's already covered.
Fourth Edition Dungeons and Dragons Setting
The following is taken from Worlds and Monsters, Races and Classes, misc sources such as the DMG and what they stated in their modules. I am going to start a new game, and what better way to start then with this and what they are doing. I will add more as they come with them.
Races
• Dragonborn
• Dwarf
• Eladrin
• Elf
• Half-elf (possibly)
• Halfling
• Human
• Tiefling
Classes
• Cleric
• Fighter
• Marshal
• Paladin
• Ranger
• Rogue
• Warlock
• Wizard
Ancient Empires
• Anauli (eladrin)
• Arkhosia (dragonborn)
• Bael Turath (tiefling)
• Cendriane (eladrin)
• Nerath (human)
• Realm of the Twin Queens (eladrin)
• Zannad (yuan-ti)
Cities
• Avaellor (eladrin), island during spring and summer
• Jenn-Tourach (eladrin), midsummer atop a mountaintop
• Fallcrest (from the DMG)
• Shinaelestra (eladrin), Howling forest at midnight
• Winterhaven
Dungeons
• Pyramid of Shadows
• Shadowrift
• Temple of Elemental Evil
• Thunderspire Labyrinth
Ruined Cities/Ruins
• Amethystra
• Bael Turath
• Bhaarel
• Razortear
• Serpentus Rift
• Tower of the Impossible Staircase
Ages/Battles
• Age of Chains
• War of Teeth
• War of Wings
• War of Ruins
Places/Terrain
• Daggermoor Forest
• Durkellwood
• Haruani Archipelago
• Howling Forest
• Mount Keannor
• Shadowsong Forest
• Thunderspire Mountains
Elf Tribes
• Oakroot tribe
• People of the Shadow Glade
• Whitepeak tribe
Infernal Pacts
• Iron Crown of Madness
• Million Pains of Eternal Torment
• Night’s Loving Void
• Scarlet Claw of Hunger
Rivers
• Marrilarch River
Island
• Misty Island
Underdark
• Gar Morra, the City of the Deep
• Hrak Azuul, the Fungal Forest
• Vault of the Drow
Feywild
• The Court of Stars
• The Fortress of Mag Tureth
• The Isle of Dread
Elemental Chaos
• City of Brass
• The Pandemonium Stone
• Titan Realms
• Muspel
• Vedraeholl
• Nyfel
• Yrnsvellor, the Steel Glacier
• Zerthadlun
People
• Achazriel
• Corvax Croweye
• The Jade Hand
• Jibaal of the Mountain
Gods
• Asmodeus
• Avandra, goddess of change
• Bahamut, god of honor and justice
• Bane
• Chained God
• Corellon
• Erathis
• Gruumsh
• Ioun
• Kord
• Lolth
• Melora
• Moradin
• Obad-Hai
• Pelor
• Raven Queen
• Sehanine
• Tiamat, goddess of lies and greed
• Torog
• Vecna
• Zehir, god of night
From the dungeon adventure Touch of Madness:
Places/Terrain
Kortian Valley
Kadagast Mountains
Harrow Woods
The Frozen Northern Wastes
Kord's Tankard (Lake)
The Sodden Verge (Swamp)
The Old Forest
People
Volarn
Malachi
Rastophen (Deceased)
Cities/Towns
Wellspring
Ruins
The Forlorn Tower
Misc
The Kaorti (Former Cultist of Ioun, now warped by exposure to the Far Realm)
Somehow I missed the fact that this 3.5 adventure was set in the 4e D&D World. Lots a info here.
As an example... White Wolf's Exalted has a simple 2-page map in the core book that lists off only the major cities, and leaves hundreds of miles of land between most of them un-detailed. I think the same thing would be good for a basic setting put into the core books themselves. Detail a few big cities and their surrounding terrain, name mountain ranges and forest and such, maybe name the major waterways as well only leaving tributaries and small lakes nameless. Then you can have players give you a story for their character that doesn't need your help to fit it into your game world, and you can tell players where the game will start and they don't have to ask you for a detailed description because it's already covered.
I agree that giving players the option to use at least a tentative map might be a nice jumping off point for some groups. I know that DM's often don't want to take the time to create a world from scratch, and sometimes it's nice if all the characters can be on the same page with a common campaign setting. I've been playing Eberron for a while now, and it's helpful when the DM can name a particular city or nation and everyone knows what he/she is talking about.
However, I would personally not use a map if WotC provided one. One of the things that I find interesting about the PoL setting is that no one really knows much about the world outside of his or her own town. I'd like to start with a town or two in the middle of a big blank piece of paper and let the characters explore and map as they go. I plan on using locations as a reward; characters don't just collect treasure and exp., they also collect map locations that will help them accomplish objectives. Maybe the party finds a item that is the heirloom of a wealthy family in some unknown town, and returning it would provide not only a substantial reward, but plot hooks as well . . .
Snip
I'd like to start with a town or two in the middle of a big blank piece of paper and let the characters explore and map as they go. I plan on using locations as a reward; characters don't just collect treasure and exp., they also collect map locations that will help them accomplish objectives. Maybe the party finds a item that is the heirloom of a wealthy family in some unknown town, and returning it would provide not only a substantial reward, but plot hooks as well . . .
I once did something similar to this in a campaign where we took turns DMing. It turned out to be one of the most entertaining campaigns I've ever been involved in. I might have to do it again.