Combating nostalgia (Grognards needed)


Advice


Having been away for a couple of years, it is great to be getting back into my RPG groove. I've been rifling through my old notes and campaign write ups and I came across my old copy of GAZ1 and had an idea that I seem to be having a hard time justifying for some unknown reason. I've been contemplating taking the Grand Duchy of Karameikos out of Mystara and reflavoring it a bit by adding minor steam technology to it. I never really GMed interactions between Karameikos and it's neighboring countries beyond simple mentions of trade agreements and having a place for various foreign NPCs to be from, so lifting it and adding it to my personal setting would please me for simple homage sake to say the least. However, I have this feeling that I'm...I don't know..betraying the setting itself by changing it. It's absurd to feel that way, I hope I'm not the only person to feel that way. Forgive my long winded exposition. I was hoping to find out if any of you have had nostalgia get in the way of working on your game. I'm anticipating running a game for a few people and I would like to overcome this idiotic and simple roadblock to put a spin on something I love very much.


Thought #1: It's your game. The folks who wrote GAZ1 and the folks who are writing Pathfinder will all tell you that. It's your game. Take what you want from each setting, smash it all together, make your own game out of it. Everybody wins.

Thought #2: Your nostalgia and your desire to stay true to setting are not unique. So don't feel bad about it.

Thought #2a: Pursuant to Thought #2: Maybe your players will feel the same way, so put all this stuff up front to them to see if it also chafes their sense of nostalgia - if everyone's chafing, then maybe it won't work for your game after all. If not, then see Thought #1.


Just remember that changing your campaign's geography isn't going to change what GAZ1 says, or anyone's memories of playing their old games in Mystara.

It's not a betrayal of the setting any more than it is to make a remix of a good song. You honor it by using it as a piece in something greater, and make the youngins aware of its existence.

That said, I'm reluctant to homebrew sometimes, but then I just tell myself that it's what the players want, it'll be more fun, and people are more important than ideas.


As the senior Grognard around here, I hereby grant you full absolution on your proposed idea. ;-)

No, seriously, we used to do this all the time. It's fine. We dumped the City State of the Invincible Overlord right in the middle of Oerth. Go for it, have fun!


I'd say go for it. If you want to honor the content, honor it by letting your players actually play in it. Determine what you feel is the heart and soul of that old content, and as long as you retain that, you'll have succeeded.


If the concept makes you excited then do what you want with it. Your enthusiasm for the setting will spill over for your players and you will all enjoy it that much more. Go for it.

Scarab Sages

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Rule #1 of GMing: Steal. Steal Shamelessly. Appropriate what you like and leave the rest. That's what 90% of setting material is for. I have never run a game set in an official campaign world but I've run the Caves of Chaos and the Isle of Dread and the Lost Cavers of Tsojcanth. And I've stolen bits and pieces from dozens of other modules and adventure paths.

So, have at it!


Heck, I took the Tomb of Horrors and stuck it under Kaer Maga on top of Rappan Athuk. How's that for some chocolate and nuts in your peanut butter.


You guys are fantastic! I was actually thinking that Bargle could be researching how to become a steam lich, delving into ancient ruins searching for technology pre dating the golden age of Traladar...sound promising?

EDIT: Bargle's secret lair could be on the isle of dread inside the temple of elemental evil, but to get to it you must traverse the tome of horrors... (players must roll up at least three extra characters.)

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