Currently I'm constructing a campaign set in Forgotten Realms, but I am considering moving it to Greyhawk.
The campaign centers around a relatively remote wilderness area that used to be a profitable trade route, until the only road through the mountains was severed. With no reason to travel to this area the local economy has whithered. Former cities have shrunken into towns, small towns now lie abandoned, many have turned to robbery and banditry to survive, and of course monsters encroach upon the weakened populace.
I was wondering if anyone could suggest some possible locations within Greyhawk. I have not yet purchased the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, but I do plan to in the near future. I've looked at quite a few maps online here, but they only help to confuse me.
Currently I'm constructing a campaign set in Forgotten Realms, but I am considering moving it to Greyhawk.
The campaign centers around a relatively remote wilderness area that used to be a profitable trade route, until the only road through the mountains was severed. With no reason to travel to this area the local economy has whithered. Former cities have shrunken into towns, small towns now lie abandoned, many have turned to robbery and banditry to survive, and of course monsters encroach upon the weakened populace.
I was wondering if anyone could suggest some possible locations within Greyhawk. I have not yet purchased the Living Greyhawk Gazetteer, but I do plan to in the near future. I've looked at quite a few maps online here, but they only help to confuse me.
I would recommend Steirch in the western Flanaess. The trade route through the mountains could be south through the Jotens to the Yeomanry. Or, most ambitiously. It could have been through the Crystalmists to Ull. IMO, the key you have identified is that the trade route was profitable, not that it was a major trade route. In either event, the cause for the collapse might have been followers of Orcus, who are noted to have been active in Steirch. And then there is also Lolth.
You don't provide too many details but I like the sound of what you are desribing. It sounds very atmospheric. _________________ GVD
Sounds like the historical Pomarj would be good, after the humanoids invaded. _________________ Allan Grohe<br />https://www.greyhawkonline.com/grodog/greyhawk.html<br />https://grodog.blogspot.com/
Ratik could be a possible location, except for its sea trade. Possibly Tehn, the Pale or Stonehold. Maybe the North Kingdom. That entire region is in turmoil, and you could easily fit in reasons why trade has lessened or even dried up due to the events of the decade or so.
I'd go with the Yeomanry. It's pretty much 'surrounded' except for a little 50-75 mile wide area to the east (mountains to the NE, N, W, S, SE; plus a swamp to the S, SE just over the moutains/'hills').
My current Hackmaster campaign is set in the Yeomanry. I'm running the Little Keep on the Borderlands. I placed it about 25 miles north of Loftwick, in the Jotens; it was/is a nice location, where I placed a nice little '3 part mountain pass'.
Other than that, Geoff, Ket and Sterich could also be contenders, maybe Perrenland. Basically, there are more than a few places you could place it. :)
I tend to play in the area between Verbobonc and the Ulek States. There are a lot of good locations in there, and you're not too far from the City of Greyhawk. Even if you're not playing one of the classic modules, you can probably find a place to put your adventure. (For instance, I put "Forge of Fury" in the Lortmils - though maybe that's old enough now to qualify as a classic, too.)
I also would go with the Yeomanry. It would be very easy to fit towns to your description in this locale. As one gets closer to the mountains, it becomes more remote. There could be towns that were once thriving mining towns with a high volume of trade but are now in decline due to either the mines being played out or perhaps due to humanoid and giant incursion into the mining areas, to name only two of many possible causes. _________________ Count Telemachus, Archmage of the Unicorn Conferderation
Everyone is giving good examples but there are still a few more. That's the beauty of Greyhawk - it fits to your campaign. I treat the Yeomanry like ancient Greece, Athens with the Scarlet Brotherhood as Sparta. My players love it. It's also a very different treatment then originally conceived (not so much the SB).
I would vote for Sterich. The land was ravaged by Giants. To the north west, beyond the hills, Geoff is a human land controlled by giants. To the south the Yeomanry successfully guarded its borders Against the Giants. The mountains that separate these two nations, however, are still controlled by hostile jotuns. The southern most portion of Sterich is in shambles. Also the Against the Giants campaign is set in Geoff, their neighbors to the north, but Sterich still has serious problems of their own. It's provides an excellent source material for mid and high level campaigns.
Pick up the Living Greyhawk Gazateer, the map depicts a war torn continent. It lays everything out rather nicely.
Seeing as the OP posted this thread in 2005, I sure hope they have found a location to start their Greyhawk campaign in. As many other poeple often have the very same question "Where to get started in Greyhawk?", we might as well let the thread continue to germinate. At a later date, a link to this thread may very well become part of an FAQ compiled for those new to Greyhawk.
Just a note to everyone: be sure to check out the dates of not only the orignal post but of the last post that was made in the thread to see how active the thread is, and reply accordingly.
Last edited by Cebrion on Mon Aug 11, 2008 10:45 pm; edited 1 time in total
Seeing as the OP posted this thread in 2005, I sure hope they have found a location to start their Greyhawk campaign in. As many other poeple often have the very same question "Where to get started in Greyhawk?", we might as well let the thread continue to germinate. At a later date, a link to this thread may very well become part of an FAQ compiled for those new to Greyhawk.
Yeah, I noticed that. I was going to erase it but I'd rather link than retype
All of the above sites offer excellent opportunities, still, I'd go with Sterich and the Yeomanry.
The "Against the Giants" campaign provides the milieu for all kinds of trade routes having been "cut off;" trade between Flen (Sterich) and North Reach (Yeomanry), Flen and Cryllor, Cryllor and Longspear, the Yeomanry and Melkot. The possibilites are endless.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Canonfire! is a production of the Thursday Group in assocation with GREYtalk and Canonfire! Enterprises
As many other poeple often have the very same question "Where to get started in Greyhawk?", we might as well let the thread continue to germinate. At a later date, a link to this thread may very well become part of an FAQ compiled for those new to Greyhawk.
