Picking the Right Setting

Ever had the need to end your current campaign and pick up a new setting? Have you gotten a bit tired of dwarves and elves for one veterans lifetime? Not ready for a sabbatical but need a fresh idea to get you cooking? We all have, it’s part of being a GM. One of the vast numbers of problems can be, “What setting do I switch to?”

Jane Austin’s Fight Club

This video came up in the Savage Worlds chat room and while watching this hilarious piece of cinema I couldn’t help but wonder if it wasn’t being turned into a full feature length film. While a great short parody film I couldn’t help but think it would make a terrible movie. Adventures can be like this, one adventure might have a great story and craft a fantastic world around it but in the end there really isn’t much more of a story to tell when you’re done. The evil has been vanquished; the day is saved and so on. There is a reason Happily Ever After is placed where it is in the story, its cause it’s all downhill from there.

Prime Source Material

Consider also how much material is out there supporting your new found setting. While we all may be good at drafting up our own ideas and adding on to a world if all of the material just exists in the one adventure it may prove to be interesting expanding on the same feel. Tone and theme can be big parts of a world, and should be taken into consideration. Taking careful stock in if the setting is right for your table should be done with care. If a setting is too cartoonish or is to adult themed it can really drag down a game. Always take consideration into the feel of the game before switching settings.

Choosing the right style

I’ve never played a proper Horror campaign; I wouldn’t even know where to start crafting one. If I really wanted to run a horror campaign I’d likely fire up a pre-built adventure to get me going. I would have to tread lightly though moving into an entirely different genre of game can alienate not only your players but yourself. It can be tough to get your mind working in a new way. I mean let’s be honest, once dwarves have a Scottish accent they all tend to. So replacing Sauron with Cthulhu may end up making your brain hurt rather than getting it excited to continue running adventures. So consider what you’re switching to carefully, is this something that you have experience with, or have a passion for? Your players will be able to tell the difference even if you want to pretend it’s not that noticeable.

Switching settings or game styles is fairly common, how do you make it a success?