The Ghost of Golarion or the Forgotten Realms A Campaign Setting Idea

[kid america]

Has anyone GMed a campaign setting in Golarion (or the Forgotten Realms) where the entire campaign world is in ruins?

I'm thinking about running a campaign like this.

Three major cataclysmic events have taken place.
Event One a world-wide war has taken place between the humanoid races, dragons, and demons.
Event Two a biological/alchemical weapon was used to end the war, which unleashed a global plague.
Event Three during the plague a meteor struck Golarion.
What is left is a planet on the verge of ... that's where the PCs come in. They have the opportunity to shape the future of the campaign world with every decision they make.

This is not a post-apocalytic sci fi world.

This is the traditional Pathfinder fantasy world of Golarion (or the Forgotten Realms) that has suffered three major blows. Its now up to the GM and players to see what they can do with it.

Anyone run a campaign like this?

Any suggestions for running a campaign world like this?

Any suggestions for reading material along this line? (books, comics, graphic novels, game magazine articles, blog posts)

Any 3rd party material suggestions along this line?

Any website links, blog links, or Obsidian Portal campaigns to follow that are similar?

Any and all suggestions welcome on how to make this campaign fun and work.

Thanks,

kid america

[Legendarius]

Event One - reminds me of Greyhawk Wars somewhat, or Dragonlance
Event Two - sounds like the Cyre/Mournlands in Eberron getting wiped out
Event Three - end portion of Wrath of the Immortals campaign, or again Dragonlance

Obviously all of these things are in different campaign settings but I'd think you could mine these for ideas.

[Doctor Necrotic]

D&D 4th Edition's take on the Forgotten Realms is depressingly post-apocalyptic or at least torn apart by the biggest world shattering event that it has ever faced. While many FR fans strongly dislike it for reasons I won't discuss, it will probably provide some good ideas on tackling a devastating magical event that nearly rips reality apart. With the "Sundering", it looks like Aebir-Toril is recovering and reclaiming the land in a new age of heroes.

Also, the Worldwound stuff for the new Pathfinder adventure path is strongly recommended. It's all about a horrific nightmare overrun by demons.

As for as plague, Obsidian Twilight might be of some help too. While that's a bit undead themed, there's plenty of stuff to pick apart from it to look at a world torn to pieces by plague and despair. I believe a destructive magical meteor was a plot device in Obsidian Twilight as well!

AD&D's Dark Sun setting could provide a dystopian look at a world that suffered an apocalypse. Magical radiation, super-powered fascist overlords, psionic mutant psychopaths, and much more. Paizo did a conversion of it back in 2004/5 for Dragon/Dungeon magazine.

As for other settings, what happened with the weapon? Did it create something like Cyre (Eberron) or an otherworldly prison realm all to itself (Ravenloft)

Hope that helps a little.

[kid america]

Way to go Doctor Necrotic. (applause, applause, hazah, hazah)

You are my RPG hero Sir.

All great references to material I will definitely check out and mine through for the campaign.

Again many, many thanks to you.

Also, thanks to Legendarius as well.

[kid america]

Personally I was a big fan of the "Sundering." It was just one more tool in the DM/GM toolbox. No one said you have to use it or live with it.

When an organism stops growing and evolving it dies. The same goes for a commercial product.

No reason the Realms can't grow and evolve.

[Sissyl]

For the meteor, I would check out When the Sky Falls by Bruce Cordell. I found it an interesting take on such events.

[Doctor Necrotic]

kid america wrote:

Personally I was a big fan of the "Sundering." It was just one more tool in the DM/GM toolbox. No one said you have to use it or live with it.

When an organism stops growing and evolving it dies. The same goes for a commercial product.

No reason the Realms can't grow and evolve.

The Sundering is the event in 5e to bring back the flavor many thought it missed during the Spellplague era. Perhaps you meant spellplague?

Realms rambling:

Personally, I didn't think it (the spellplague) was a good addition to the realms. It felt very artificial and more so a means of appeasing a non-fanbase and the new rules/setting. But, that's old and dead news, so it's time to move on and move forwards. The Sundering looks pretty fascinating so far (Plus, The Companions was a pretty fun read.)

Heck, every era had its flaws. 3e prevented the 2e Realms from going a fascinating direction involving a more applied-magic and science aware world. A renaissance era, if you will. Some might have not liked that, but I would have at least. (So yes, I do like change.)

Anyway, best of luck on your campaign! Please, let us know how it goes.

[kid america]

I've got When The Sky Falls and have been trying to figure a way to work it into a campaign for a couple years now.

So I thought why not just start the campaign with it.

Thanks Sissyl and others of you who mentioned it.

I picked up Numenera and Neoexodus.

Hoping to pull some ideas from those as well.