Build a world, or borrow it? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Build a world, or borrow it?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
tylerconklin1
Sep 04, 2008 18:30:24 Hi,

I'm currently starting work on my next 4E campaign and I've got a big decision to make and I would like some opinions and advice.

I need to decide whether to create my own world complete with histories and political systems, or to use a pre-made campaign setting. My last long term campaign was a Ravenloft 3.5 game that ran for 13 months and was really successful. I enjoyed running it and the players had a good time. However Ravenloft is the only campaign setting I know really well. I don't know much about FR and almost nothing about Ebberon or other settings.

I've come up with a list of pro's and con's in regards to creation vs. premades.

Creating a world:
Pro's - I get to invent a world from the ground up throwing in whatever I want
-This could be a world that is used over and over again which will make it all the more interesting and fun.

Con's - Creating a world from scratch is a TON of work and I don't know if my players will want to wait that long for me to make it.

Using a pre-existing world:
Pro's- A lot of the heavy literary lifting has been done, all i really have to do is make a plot and throw in some personal touches to the world.
It'll be easier to run since I'll be able to read books about it and I can learn it quicker than I can creating my own.

Con's- Even though as a DM I know I can do what I want, I would feel weird about vastly changing a world that someone else created, "Who am I to destroy waterdeep?"
Players could read about the world on their own and take the mystery out of some aspects(though I could ask them not to read on their own)

So I would appreciate any feedback you all could offer in this matter.

Eternally Greatful,

Tyler
#2
squarecircle
Sep 04, 2008 18:39:11 You could create your own world, but just a basic outline of it, and do the details as you play the game.

That's how I approach it. That way the players are inadvertantly contributing to the creation of the world, whether they realize it or not.
#3
theplaneswalker
Sep 04, 2008 21:11:48 i can assist you with a map for your world once you come up with the basics

an example of my work: http://requiems.110mb.com/earenmap.htm
#4
guang
Sep 04, 2008 21:18:06 or you could do things the 4e way, and build/borrow each chunk as you use it, using whatever sources you like.
#5
corrinus
Sep 05, 2008 0:30:12
You could create your own world, but just a basic outline of it, and do the details as you play the game.

That's how I approach it. That way the players are inadvertantly contributing to the creation of the world, whether they realize it or not.

That's what I did. I came up with the basic outline, and came up with details as they were needed. Some of the most important aspects of my world today evolved from snap decisions (i.e. the name of that nation's king, or, the great world war in the 1st age, etc). Also, as you go on, when you have more time, make up more (which isnt related to your current campaign or adventure) and then use it later - or never use it, just... have it to flesh out the world.
#6
sigil_beguiler
Sep 05, 2008 1:09:50 Yup, I also just build a basic framework and then build it up through playing. Since it doesn't really matter what happens on the other side of the campaign map since the PCs the eyes for the game/story aren't focused there.
#7
mccarnage
Sep 05, 2008 3:59:12
i can assist you with a map for your world once you come up with the basics

an example of my work: http://requiems.110mb.com/earenmap.htm

Wow, that map looks awesome though it needs some more locations to make it more "alive."

Which software did you use to make it?
#8
theplaneswalker
Sep 06, 2008 3:08:29 photoshop all the way, it only has those villages because thats where my campaign starts, i add the other villages as the players move from town to town.
#9
ansob
Sep 06, 2008 6:08:46
http://requiems.110mb.com/earenmap.htm

Christ, that's an awesome map. I don't suppose you'd like to offer your services to the rest of the board as well? :P

To answer the OP: building a world is great, but it can so very often result in stuff that sounded cool on paper being lame, or the world giving off a vibe that you didn't want it to. In addition, truly creating a setting requires years of work (although you can probably get a working prototype done in a matter of months) - not the sort of thing you start now and expect to have results in time for your players to still be around.

Borrowing worlds, whilst sometimes a tad cliché, is much more practical, as you yourself have noted. For your players, it can also be a lot more interesting - sadly, most players lack the explorer attitude and get more excited about a game set in a commercial setting than they do about entirely new settings; plus, you want to resist the urge to showcase the setting, as in most cases, that detracts from the plot.

In the end, I think that some sort of middle ground is better, if you don't want to sit down and put in the massive amount of work needed to make a functional setting - come up with the start of a setting, then pilfer liberally from adventure modules, tweaking the flavour to fit. That way, you get to write in the cool bits you want and still get away with being able to use the setting relatively fast. Over time, as people play in it, it's bound to change and refine itself.
#10
Book5
Sep 13, 2008 13:28:48 The easy way is to take mostly from an existing setting, but then change stuff to suit your needs. All you have to do is tell your players "this is ferun ... but not" and then you have lots of premade stuff ... but you leave yourself the freedom to switch stuff around - and you don't have to memorize all the details from the published stuff.

Honestly thats what annoys me the most about playing in an established setting: players trying to correct you with their "oh but thats not right because in book x they did y and so z" which tends to happen when you are using one of the players favorite settings.
#11
umadin
Sep 14, 2008 22:55:39 Since were talking about creating a campaign in the default or an existing setting I thought would mention a resource I have created to begin to map the default pol setting.

Theres a link in my sig, there's maps for the default setting and if you decide to not use them theres an areas list that can serve as a checklist to go through to make sure you encorporate all the default stuff.

Hope it helps, bump it up if youd like no one seems to give a **** about it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 tylerconklin1 Sep 04, 2008 18:30:24	Hi, I'm currently starting work on my next 4E campaign and I've got a big decision to make and I would like some opinions and advice. I need to decide whether to create my own world complete with histories and political systems, or to use a pre-made campaign setting. My last long term campaign was a Ravenloft 3.5 game that ran for 13 months and was really successful. I enjoyed running it and the players had a good time. However Ravenloft is the only campaign setting I know really well. I don't know much about FR and almost nothing about Ebberon or other settings. I've come up with a list of pro's and con's in regards to creation vs. premades. Creating a world: Pro's - I get to invent a world from the ground up throwing in whatever I want -This could be a world that is used over and over again which will make it all the more interesting and fun. Con's - Creating a world from scratch is a TON of work and I don't know if my players will want to wait that long for me to make it. Using a pre-existing world: Pro's- A lot of the heavy literary lifting has been done, all i really have to do is make a plot and throw in some personal touches to the world. It'll be easier to run since I'll be able to read books about it and I can learn it quicker than I can creating my own. Con's- Even though as a DM I know I can do what I want, I would feel weird about vastly changing a world that someone else created, "Who am I to destroy waterdeep?" Players could read about the world on their own and take the mystery out of some aspects(though I could ask them not to read on their own) So I would appreciate any feedback you all could offer in this matter. Eternally Greatful, Tyler
#2 squarecircle Sep 04, 2008 18:39:11	You could create your own world, but just a basic outline of it, and do the details as you play the game. That's how I approach it. That way the players are inadvertantly contributing to the creation of the world, whether they realize it or not.
#3 theplaneswalker Sep 04, 2008 21:11:48	i can assist you with a map for your world once you come up with the basics an example of my work: http://requiems.110mb.com/earenmap.htm
#4 guang Sep 04, 2008 21:18:06	or you could do things the 4e way, and build/borrow each chunk as you use it, using whatever sources you like.
#5 corrinus Sep 05, 2008 0:30:12	You could create your own world, but just a basic outline of it, and do the details as you play the game. That's how I approach it. That way the players are inadvertantly contributing to the creation of the world, whether they realize it or not. That's what I did. I came up with the basic outline, and came up with details as they were needed. Some of the most important aspects of my world today evolved from snap decisions (i.e. the name of that nation's king, or, the great world war in the 1st age, etc). Also, as you go on, when you have more time, make up more (which isnt related to your current campaign or adventure) and then use it later - or never use it, just... have it to flesh out the world.
#6 sigil_beguiler Sep 05, 2008 1:09:50	Yup, I also just build a basic framework and then build it up through playing. Since it doesn't really matter what happens on the other side of the campaign map since the PCs the eyes for the game/story aren't focused there.
#7 mccarnage Sep 05, 2008 3:59:12	i can assist you with a map for your world once you come up with the basics an example of my work: http://requiems.110mb.com/earenmap.htm Wow, that map looks awesome though it needs some more locations to make it more "alive." Which software did you use to make it?
#8 theplaneswalker Sep 06, 2008 3:08:29	photoshop all the way, it only has those villages because thats where my campaign starts, i add the other villages as the players move from town to town.
#9 ansob Sep 06, 2008 6:08:46	http://requiems.110mb.com/earenmap.htm Christ, that's an awesome map. I don't suppose you'd like to offer your services to the rest of the board as well? :P To answer the OP: building a world is great, but it can so very often result in stuff that sounded cool on paper being lame, or the world giving off a vibe that you didn't want it to. In addition, truly creating a setting requires years of work (although you can probably get a working prototype done in a matter of months) - not the sort of thing you start now and expect to have results in time for your players to still be around. Borrowing worlds, whilst sometimes a tad cliché, is much more practical, as you yourself have noted. For your players, it can also be a lot more interesting - sadly, most players lack the explorer attitude and get more excited about a game set in a commercial setting than they do about entirely new settings; plus, you want to resist the urge to showcase the setting, as in most cases, that detracts from the plot. In the end, I think that some sort of middle ground is better, if you don't want to sit down and put in the massive amount of work needed to make a functional setting - come up with the start of a setting, then pilfer liberally from adventure modules, tweaking the flavour to fit. That way, you get to write in the cool bits you want and still get away with being able to use the setting relatively fast. Over time, as people play in it, it's bound to change and refine itself.
#10 Book5 Sep 13, 2008 13:28:48	The easy way is to take mostly from an existing setting, but then change stuff to suit your needs. All you have to do is tell your players "this is ferun ... but not" and then you have lots of premade stuff ... but you leave yourself the freedom to switch stuff around - and you don't have to memorize all the details from the published stuff. Honestly thats what annoys me the most about playing in an established setting: players trying to correct you with their "oh but thats not right because in book x they did y and so z" which tends to happen when you are using one of the players favorite settings.
#11 umadin Sep 14, 2008 22:55:39	Since were talking about creating a campaign in the default or an existing setting I thought would mention a resource I have created to begin to map the default pol setting. Theres a link in my sig, there's maps for the default setting and if you decide to not use them theres an areas list that can serve as a checklist to go through to make sure you encorporate all the default stuff. Hope it helps, bump it up if youd like no one seems to give a **** about it.