Calandra's page

I think it helps if you ahead of time define how your character would react in certain situations. I seem to recall that Ultimate Campaign had useful questions you could answer about your character. You kind of expand your backstory to include not just what's happened to you, but how you would respond to people or what decisions you would make. That way when something comes up you don't default to your natural instincts, you've got some guidelines for new instincts.

How much would you actually want this to be a setting over an all-purpose resource?

A resource doesn't have to have much cohesion. A setting, on the other hand, seems to me to need a few things defined.

Like:
1) A pantheon
2) World geography
3) Cosmology

If you would actually want a setting, but as versatile a setting as possible, it seems to me that the cohesive elements would have to be there but could easily be dismantled. Like a puzzle-piece setting, I guess. The GM can just work with individual pieces, or start putting them together as necessary.

I think this is a really interesting idea. I had two thoughts:

What about a kind of database? If a GM says, I need a thieves' guild, they can look at the fully written up, open content thieves' guilds and pick one that suits their purposes. I know this doesn't fully fit what you're talking about, but I think one way to increase usefulness is to contribute components rather than overarching, unifying setting themes. Also, I think this might cut down on the NPC plots and mary-sue PCs you mentioned.

Random thought about geography. Your whole idea for some reason makes me think of a storybook, where you turn the page and a new city pops out. So I was picturing that, and wondered, what about a world like an origami creation--where you travel almost through folding space, or paper. That way, geography hardly matters. Every time someone creates a new city/region/etc., you just put another fold in the paper.

Okay, actually I have a third thought. One thing I think would be so helpful in adventure modules would be a sidebar at the beginning saying, "Looking to insert this in your own world? This module essentially requires 1) an isolated swampy area for a hidden temple and 2) a forgotten serpent god." Like, a list of the essential setting pieces. I don't know if that makes sense, or would be helpful to anyone else, but it seems useful to me.

Anyway, count me interested. I'll be paying attention to your thread.

"'He has--among other trifles--a good house and a large estate--that of Hurtfew Abbey in Yorkshire.'"

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell, Kindle location 1055.

My table for the Midnight Mauler chose to split up often, nearly costing them their lives. But in the end, their perseverance paid off and they caught the Mauler at literally the last second before he could kill again. They succeeded in every possible way and The Society rewarded them well.

As the frequently unconscious rogue in that party, I think "succeeded in spite of themselves" might be a bit more accurate, but regardless, it was so much fun! Thanks for running a great table, Kyle!

PaizoCon was awesome!! Thanks to everyone who worked so hard on it.