What's the single best thing about Greyhawk?

RPGPundit · April 14, 2011, 06:27:13 PM

If you had to summarize, the single thing that makes Greyhawk worth playing, compared to other fantasy settings, what would it be?

RPGPundit

hanszurcher · April 14, 2011, 06:45:41 PM

Breadth over depth.

Cole · April 14, 2011, 06:49:48 PM

Single thing? I'll go for "readiness for adventure."

Why? There is a frontier quality to the setting, I think, and conflict is always looming, with the crumbling and/or balkanization great powers and proudly player-friendly areas like "The Wild Coast" and "The Bandit Kingdoms" and some great pulp vistas to explore.

In the same spirit, there are a lot of villain groups that I think are great to square off with, Scarlet Brotherhood, Horned Society, House of Naelax, Mage of the Valley, and Iuz as my particular favorite.

The built-in ties to many of the old-favorite adventure sites doesn't hurt either.

Cole · April 14, 2011, 06:50:33 PM

Quote from: hanszurcher;451753Breadth over depth.

Also, arguably the best RPG map ever.

PaladinCA · April 14, 2011, 07:14:40 PM

Greyhawk amplifies the sandbox attitude found in non-modular AD&D games. If you don't go out and look for trouble/adventure somewhere in the Greyhawk setting, then trouble/adventure will probably come looking for YOU." Pick a spot on the map and go!

estar · April 14, 2011, 07:52:46 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit;451751If you had to summarize, the single thing that makes Greyhawk worth playing, compared to other fantasy settings, what would it be?

The scope of the semi-feudal setting from Keoland to the Great Kingdom, from Frost Barbarians to the Scarlet Brotherhood.

Benoist · April 14, 2011, 07:57:24 PM

Quote from: estar;451760The scope of the semi-feudal setting from Keoland to the Great Kingdom, from Frost Barbarians to the Scarlet Brotherhood.

This. The feudalism, the openness and variety of the campaign milieu. 1983 boxed set.

Benoist · April 14, 2011, 07:58:42 PM

Quote from: Cole;451754Single thing? I'll go for "readiness for adventure."

Hmm. That's a pretty good pick as well!

danbuter · April 15, 2011, 09:29:57 AM

It provides interesting enemies, via both countries and organizations, yet is not over-detailed.

KenHR · April 15, 2011, 09:44:38 AM

In addition to many good points already mentioned, it has a state ruled by half-demon.

That's just badass.

Drohem · April 15, 2011, 11:32:01 AM

Quote from: Cole;451754Single thing? I'll go for "readiness for adventure."

Why? There is a frontier quality to the setting, I think, and conflict is always looming, with the crumbling and/or balkanization great powers and proudly player-friendly areas like "The Wild Coast" and "The Bandit Kingdoms" and some great pulp vistas to explore.

Quote from: estar;451760The scope of the semi-feudal setting from Keoland to the Great Kingdom, from Frost Barbarians to the Scarlet Brotherhood.

For me, this is the single best thing about Greyhawk: it syntheses both of these elements into a single package of goodness. It combines the Frontier mindset and feel with a semi-feudal setting. It's loosey-goosey with the feudalism concept so that there's plenty of wiggle-room for adventurers to operate outside the normal bounds in such a stratified society, and the Frontier mind-set gives the setting a quasi-Old West/Fantasy feel.

Zachary The First · April 17, 2011, 09:11:55 AM

Aside from the Darlene map, the other truly great thing is that Greyhawk is also "play-friendly". There's some depth there if you want it, but you don't have to worry about stomping all over canon or learning reams of history to make it work. It's accessible out of the box, the concepts of the setting are clearly defined, and ready to be used.

Settembrini · April 17, 2011, 01:21:22 PM

Suloise

Patrick Y. · April 17, 2011, 01:44:02 PM

There's a feeling in Greyhawk that adventurers can truly accomplish something, where they can get stuck into any of a hundred different locations and change the course of history.

skofflox · April 17, 2011, 03:51:49 PM

All of the above, ie;
great flavor...less filling...and the MAPS .

A strong dose of nastolgia here as I used to stay up looking at those maps with a flashlight after bedtime! Have been keeping an eye out for a good original set just to spruce up the wall in my hobby room!.