I've been browsing through the campaign settings on the site and this question bubbled up in my head: what is the most detailed d20 homebrew campaign setting in existence? I'm not talking about tall tales from yesteryear, but an actual campaign setting with content posted on the Internet that someone could use to run a campaign.
By "most detailed" I mean the setting with the most usable d20 content: maps, characters, items, vehicles, races, spells, feats, skills, deities, religions, histories, countries, armies, guilds, orders, and all that other cool stuff that GMs love to unveil to their players. If there are any full-blown adventures for the setting even better, and a multiple-level adventure path or campaign tops all.
By "homebrew" I mean the setting isn't published and sold by an established company. Sorry. Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, and Mystara need not apply.
Any opinions? If so, a link to the setting would be appreciated....
Most detailed one I can think of is by a former CBG regular named Jurgen Hubert. Urbis (http://juergen.the-huberts.net/dnd/urbis/index.html) was so intimidating that it received lower amounts of feedback than Jurgen wanted, I believe... But it sounds like a good example of what you're looking for.
Wow, very impressive! I love the creativity and attention to verisimilitude Jurgen has displayed.
When you say "intimidating", do you mean the sheer amount of text that has been written for the setting? In terms of word-count, this is definitely a contender....
That said, I was only able to find two maps, and those were very large scale (I believe they were large scale - there was no actual scale on the maps, but they portrayed kingdoms and mountain ranges). However, I couldn't find any maps of cities, towns, buildings, dungeons, or the like.
In terms of characters, I found a total of 9 well-developed (with stats, equipment, etc.) NPCs, and those were archtypes (for varying city guardsmen) to be used repeatedly. There were also mentions of specific characters, such as rulers, and in some cases the individual's race, sex, alignment, and classes was mentioned, but they were far from detailed or ready for play.
It looks like the current state of the setting is that there is a little bit of information - generally community stats and a brief description of the community with a bit of history - for positively TONs of cities and locales organized by region. The deities are similar, with a full 19 deities given the basic deific stats (domains, favorite weapons, etc.), but not character stats (though admittedly character stats for deities aren't all that useful for 95% of campaigns) or details behind the organization of their followers.
There are also quite a few broad brush strokes, again large bodies of text, that discuss some of the fundamental concepts such as the cosmology, the role of magic, how the standard races fit in the setting, and so on.
This setting definitely has the big picture covered in spades. What I'd like to see next is for a small area to be gone over in detail - town maps, floorplans for key buildings, stats for key characters, and a handful of adventures put together. To that end I've contacted the creator to see if he'd allow others to help out...the concept is definitely cool enough that he might be able to get a small team of developers to do grunt work for him....
Any other settings worthy of mention for their detail?
I don't have a link, but have you seen the Jade Stage? That's a pretty big setting.....
Quote from: EruWow, very impressive! I love the creativity and attention to verisimilitude Jurgen has displayed.
When you say "intimidating", do you mean the sheer amount of text that has been written for the setting? In terms of word-count, this is definitely a contender....
Last time I checked, I was at 120,000 words plus the table of contents and the index. But it's probably at 125,000 now...
QuoteThat said, I was only able to find two maps, and those were very large scale (I believe they were large scale - there was no actual scale on the maps, but they portrayed kingdoms and mountain ranges).
However, I couldn't find any maps of cities, towns, buildings, dungeons, or the like.[/quote]something[/i] for the supplements, after all... ;)
QuoteIn terms of characters, I found a total of 9 well-developed (with stats, equipment, etc.) NPCs, and those were archtypes (for varying city guardsmen) to be used repeatedly. There were also mentions of specific characters, such as rulers, and in some cases the individual's race, sex, alignment, and classes was mentioned, but they were far from detailed or ready for play.
It looks like the current state of the setting is that there is a little bit of information - generally community stats and a brief description of the community with a bit of history - for positively TONs of cities and locales organized by region. The deities are similar, with a full 19 deities given the basic deific stats (domains, favorite weapons, etc.), but not character stats (though admittedly character stats for deities aren't all that useful for 95% of campaigns)[/quote]can't[/i] make an appearance.
Quoteor details behind the organization of their followers.
There are also quite a few broad brush strokes, again large bodies of text, that discuss some of the fundamental concepts such as the cosmology, the role of magic, how the standard races fit in the setting, and so on.
This setting definitely has the big picture covered in spades. What I'd like to see next is for a small area to be gone over in detail - town maps, floorplans for key buildings, stats for key characters, and a handful of adventures put together. To that end I've contacted the creator to see if he'd allow others to help out...the concept is definitely cool enough that he might be able to get a small team of developers to do grunt work for him....[/quote]
Well, you got my answer per email. And for the record, I don't mind at all if others wish to detail smaller parts of the setting. Heck, with a few minor stipulations you could even publish and sell them... ;)
Wow, Jürgen, I hadn't realized just how expansive your world is. I should probably look over it a bit more. I just checked the word count on my book and I'm at 91,000, so I've still got a ways before I catch up with you. I do have more maps, but nothing that will help Eru.
I think the problem with homebrew is that we separate the world from the campaign. I spend very little time campaign-building but a lot of time world-building, and my world is one that campaigns can be played in but campaigns are not detailed out. I don't have a need to, I'm the DM there.
I shrug.
Quote from: JharvissWow, Jürgen, I hadn't realized just how expansive your world is. I should probably look over it a bit more. I just checked the word count on my book and I'm at 91,000, so I've still got a ways before I catch up with you.
To be fair, I've had a head start - I first started working on the setting in 2002...
Quote from: http://atze.walismus.de/englwiki/index.php/Main_PageCampaign Wiki[/URL] for them. We'll see how that goes...
Quote from: sdragonI don't have a link, but have you seen the Jade Stage? That's a pretty big setting.....
I'm certainly flattered, but I don't think that's a very good suggestion in this case. Fine detail is not one of my strengths, and though I've been working on ways of correcting it, the Jade Stage is almost completely formed of broad, generalized strokes.
Quote from: Luminous CrayonNow this... this is a brilliant idea for a community project. I'm sure a lot of worlds being worked on here could benefit from having a little bit of their fine detail outsourced.
Oh god, what I wouldn't give to be able to come up with a few broad facts and have people write entries, fiction, and other data for RV. ;) Things would get done a lot quicker if I was just a project manager/editor, rather than writing all the content.
Hi all, would anyone here contend the claim that Jürgen Hubert's Urbis: A World of Cities (http://eruvian.com/locale.asp?localeID=74) is THE most detailed d20 homebrew campaign setting on the 'Net?
As this thread testifies, I went looking for that very thing back in June and was pointed in the direction of Urbis. It just got published on Eruvian (http://eruvian.com) and weighed in at a whopping 428 (and counting!) components, the largest on the site. (A component within the Eruvian world-building environment is a character (statted), class, deity, domain, item, locale, organization, race, spell, vehicle, encounter, or entire adventure - soon to include entire campaigns as well as feats, skills, stories, and several other rpg objects.) Its publication also promoted Jürgen to Eruvian's first 2nd-level Contributor almost overnight!
Also, anyone know of a setting that has received more than 40 written reviews with ratings? If not, Urbis may already very well be the most reviewed homebrewed campaign setting on the 'Net. These reviews are on Urbis' various components as well as the setting overall, and every review includes a 5-star rating of each of these four qualities: Depth, Gameplay, Verisimilitude, and Creativity.
Just curious if you guys know whether or not Urbis has any contenders in terms of scope and detail (not to mention the creativity and thought that's gone into it). I know I'm impressed with it...thanks!
Quote from: Elven DoritosQuote from: Luminous CrayonNow this... this is a brilliant idea for a community project. I'm sure a lot of worlds being worked on here could benefit from having a little bit of their fine detail outsourced.
Oh god, what I wouldn't give to be able to come up with a few broad facts and have people write entries, fiction, and other data for RV. ;) Things would get done a lot quicker if I was just a project manager/editor, rather than writing all the content.
Of course, this works both ways - so why not help out someone else with his or her setting?
I've already done that once on Eruvian with the creation of this entry (http://eruvian.com/locale.asp?localeID=662). The overall creator of the setting only specified that she wanted "a homeland for the drow" and that the drow must be "evil, matriarchal, and spider-worshiping." I think I was able to deliver, and it turned out to be a rather fun exercise... ;)
If you are willing to help out others with their projects, others are more likely to do the same for you. It's as simple as that.
Quote from: Jürgen HubertIf you are willing to help out others with their projects, others are more likely to do the same for you. It's as simple as that.
Hmmm... I think that's the purpose of this site (http://www.thecbg.org) too. ;)
Quote from: IshmaylQuote from: Jürgen HubertIf you are willing to help out others with their projects, others are more likely to do the same for you. It's as simple as that.
Hmmm... I think that's the purpose of this site (http://www.thecbg.org) too. ;)
Er, yes, you are right of course.
*cough*
I'll keep that in mind and ask for feedback here more often from now on...
Quote from: IshmaylHmmm... I think that's the purpose of this site (http://www.thecbg.org) too. ;)
2 points for the turtle.
[blockquote=Jürgen Hubert]To be fair, I've had a head start - I first started working on the setting in 2002...[/blockquote]
Oh, Take the credit. You haven't got a head start on everyone, and the sheer depth, organization and sheer creative moil is even more impressive, especially for such a 'young' setting... ;)
I especially enjoy the very adult perspective found in the juxtaposition of fantasy and technology, and the way you describe this.
Jurgen, I hope you know I was just picking on you :) I think Eru's got a good idea going over at eruvian dot com, and while the database format of campaign hosting isn't my cup of tea, it's apparently working very well for you. I'm glad you're getting proper reviews and critiques over there, and I hope you still feel welcome to post here as well!
Quote from: IshmaylI think Eru's got a good idea going over at eruvian dot com, and while the database format of campaign hosting isn't my cup of tea, it's apparently working very well for you. I'm glad you're getting proper reviews and critiques over there, and I hope you still feel welcome to post here as well!
Hey, thanks Ishmayl - I appreciate the kind words. Feel free to post, review, or give the tools a test drive on Eruvian as well. As you know from my PMs to you, I think what you all have built here is great and am open to any collaboration you're up for.
Oh, and seeing as no one has challenged the contention that Urbis is the most detailed d20 homebrew campaign setting on the 'Net, I guess we have a winner.... Congrats Jürgen! =)
Cheers!
Quote from: LordVreegI especially enjoy the very adult perspective found in the juxtaposition of fantasy and technology, and the way you describe this.
Thanks. I've always been of the opinion that scientific and technological progress don't have to stagnate just because magic enters the scene, and in Urbis most wizards have better things to do with their time than sitting in their towers and hoarding their knowledge. And the existence of magic doesn't make the Scientific Method inapplicable - as long as magic has laws that can be discovered and researched, science does have a place in the world of magic.
So, of course, the logical next step is a Magical Industrial Revolution... ;)