The Campaign Builder's Guild

I'm starting up a brand spankin' new campaign this summer, and I wanted to really get my players to understand the setting they're gonna be adventuring within. So I figure this is a loaded question, but what exactly would you, if you were a player, like to see on a short hard-copy handout that offers general info on the setting? It would sort of be like a gazetteer.

In retrospect, what would you, as a GM (or whatever you fancy to call yourself), put on such a thing? Ideally it would be a page or two; something concise and easy to pick up and read.

I want to make something pretty for the guys, but I also wanted to get the opinions of those more experienced than me.

Thanks everybody!

I'd probably start right off with clear presentation of some of the major players in the setting. Conflicts. Information that quickly and easily conveys the kind of power players can expect in terms of magic, technology, creatures, etc. A map is important, and you might also want to give strong indication about particular areas that are of greater interest or at least are places where things are happening - if you've ever read the 3e Greyhawk Gazetteer, it gives a short paragraph or three about all of the territories listed on the map as well as many cities, mountain ranges, forests, rivers, seas, lakes, swamps, etc. but makes it pretty clear that Greyhawk and a few other places are very notable, important hubs that the players will probably have some connection to.

This is admittedly a lot to cover, and probably more than what you want or have time to do, but it is a formula that can be followed pretty easily. If you're pushing for minimal word count, stick to the area that they're starting in and flesh it out - try and give them information that their characters would naturally know or give them information that they can put together to create more dynamic personalities. Make sure to include major players and happenings in the area as always, whether they're local or far-reaching powers that stem from some far-away land.

As above, but I would add two things.
One, keep descriptions very concise, and consider adding pictures. If they want more detailed info on something, they can search it out in-game.
Two, consider keeping the document as much from the character's perspective as possible. I don't mean write in the first person, but write what they would know and how they would view things. If they come from a culture that views undead as messengers from the holy ancestors, then undead ARE, for the purposes of your write-up, messengers from the holy ancestors. This may mean writing several different documents if the party don't share beliefs and educations (to one, dragons might be deities incarnate and swords oversized knives, to another, dragons might be big lizards and swords physical manifestations of a sacred warrior ethos) but if it was me, I'd enjoy doing the extra work :)

Pictures are highly necessary, as Kindling recommends. A picture can tell a thousand words.

Go find my First Celtricia Thread here on this site.
Then do the opposite of that.

Quote from: LordVreegGo find my First Celtricia Thread here on this site.
Then do the opposite of that.

Hah!  This post would receive high ratings if this forum allowed for that.

I guess the way to get players to pay the most attention to the setting is to involve them in the setting.
That is, make sure that the Gazzeteer gives them ideas for their characters and on how to tie it to the setting. Descriptions of the countries, important organizations, cultures, races, and character roles; that sort of thing should be at the forefront.
try to stay away from impertinent details; better to have the big things stick than to have a bunch of small things hang out somewhere in the back of their heads.

Quote from: Ishmayl

Quote from: LordVreegGo find my First Celtricia Thread here on this site.
Then do the opposite of that.

Hah!  This post would receive high ratings if this forum allowed for that.

well, it is kind of funny, self-critical, and true at the same time.

Creating the 'short-version' of a setting is difficult, and the more work you do and the more complete the setting, the harder the job becomes.  Getting the flavor and the pertinent data across without overdoing it is very difficult.  And at some level, impossible.

Something I did recently on My Igbar main page is I've started to give a snippet of each area, then started to include more, "...click here for more info".  I think I might recomend doing a lot of that, especially if this is going to be an online Gazetteer.  

C. Crow did a very good job of being succinct in one of his threads that had one sentence descriptions of all the cities and countries in his setting.