Wikipedia

Living campaigns

(Redirected from Living Forgotten Realms)

Living campaigns, or shared campaigns, are a gaming format within the table-top role-playing game community that provide the opportunity for play by an extended community within a shared universe. In contrast to traditional isolated role-playing games, living campaigns allow and encourage players to develop characters that can be played at games run by many different game masters, but which share a game world and campaign setting, as well as a plot line that is overseen by a central core of professional or volunteer editors and contributors. Many living campaigns serve a dual role of providing a creative outlet for highly involved volunteer contributors while also serving as a marketing tool for the publisher of the game system that is the focus of the living campaign. While the earliest living campaigns were run by the now defunct RPGA (Role Playing Gamer's Association),[1] many groups around the world run active living campaigns which are independent or sponsored by other publishers.

Overview

edit

Living campaigns are a shared campaign setting with a codified set of rules for the campaign that govern how to build and advance characters as well as how the campaign will handle rules elements of the setting. Campaign staff create, distribute, and manage new adventures in that campaign setting, and quite often administer a player database and promote various products. A living campaign lets players build and advance characters, develop their personalities, and forge relationships. Living campaign games are run at conventions, game days and other gatherings. The rules for character tracking allow a player to take their PC they created for the campaign to any of these gatherings and play it in the adventures offered. It is still common for adventures to be offered at conventions with premade characters that fit to the story, but Living campaigns allow for additional options.

The original living campaign was the Living City, set in the Forgotten Realms city of Ravens Bluff, and created by the RPGA.[2]: 13  The campaign ran in its original form in Polyhedron magazine starting in the mid-1980s, and continued until shortly after the advent of 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) in 2000.[3] It then restarted under the auspices of the company Organized Play, but lasted only two years under that license and then reverted in 2003 to Wizards of the Coast.[4][3] Living City proved to be a popular concept and "the number of Living City events actually surpassed the 'classic' RPGA tournaments — possibly as early as late 1993".[5] In the first decade of the twenty-first century, RPGA created a variety of living campaigns.[5] The largest was Living Greyhawk, played by thousands of people around the world from 2000 to 2008.[6][7]

Organized play programs

edit

Shared campaigns have occurred for multiple role-playing games:

Name Year Setting/system Notes Ref
Ashes of Athas 2011 – 2013 Dark Sun (4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons) Administered by Baldman Games at conventions such as Winter Fantasy. [8][9][10]
Chronicle for Vampire 2019 – present Vampire: The Masquerade (5th Edition) The official campaign produced by Modiphius Entertainment. [11][12]
Cypher Play 2016 – present Numenera, the Cypher System, and The Strange Organized by Monte Cook Games.. [13][14]
D&D Encounters 2010 – 2016 Forgotten Realms (4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons, 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons) An official Dungeons & Dragons organized play program launched by the RPGA and then administered by the D&D Adventurers League after 2014. [15][16][17]
D&D Expeditions 2014 – 2016 Forgotten Realms ( 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons) An official Dungeons & Dragons organized play program launched by the D&D Adventurers League; envisioned as the living campaign successor. [18]
Legacy of the Green Regent 2003 – 2006 Forgotten Realms (3.5 Dungeons & Dragons) The first of the RPGA's Dungeons & Dragons Campaigns program; it also included digital tracking. [19][20]
Legends of the Shining Jewel 2003 – present World of RAIA (3.5 Dungeons & Dragons/Pathfinder) Transitioned to Pathfinder in 2009. [21][22][23]
Living Arcanis 2001 – 2009 3.5 Dungeons and Dragons Originally a part of the RPGA, it was then relaunched as a separate program by Paradigm Concepts. [24]
Legends of Arcanis 2010 – present Arcanis Roleplaying Game system Paradigm Concepts relaunch program. [25][26][27][24]
Living Arcanis 5E 2016 – present Arcanis (5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons) [24][28][29]
Living City 1987 – 2003 Forgotten Realms (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition, 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons) The first Living Campaign launched by RPGA; it was a series of adventures set in the city of Raven's Bluff. [5][30][31]
Living Death 1997 – 2007 Masque of the Red Death (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition, 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Dungeons & Dragons) A RPGA Living Campaign; the campaign was played in seasons assigned to specific campaign years, from 1890 (1996) through 1899 (2007). [32][5]
Living Divine 2011 – 2012 4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons [33]
Living Force 2001 – 2012 Star Wars Roleplaying Game A RPGA Living Campaign; the campaign was set in the Mid-Rim Cularin system one year after The Phantom Menace – it jumped forward in time after the release of Attack of the Clones. [34][35][36]
Living Forgotten Realms 2008 – 2014 Forgotten Realms (4th Edition Dungeons & Dragons) A RPGA Living Campaign; this living campaign utilized the new 4th Edition rules and replaced the 3.5 Edition Living Greyhawk campaign in organized play. [37][38][18]
Living Greyhawk 2000 – 2008 Greyhawk (3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons, 3.5 Dungeons & Dragons) A RPGA Living Campaign; the largest RPGA living campaign. [6][7]
Living Jungle 1995 – 2003 Forgotten Realms (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition, 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons) A RPGA Living Campaign; a spinoff from Living City set in Kara-Tur. [39]
Living Spycraft 2002 – 2007 Spycraft A RPGA Living Campaign; in 2005, the campaign converted to the Spycraft 2.0 ruleset. [40][41]
Mark of Heroes 2004 – 2006 Eberron (3.5 Dungeons & Dragons) The first RPGA Campaign set in Eberron. [42][43]
Pathfinder Society 2008 – present Pathfinder The official Pathfinder organized play program. [44][45][46]
Quelmar 2012 – present The Quelmar Realm (Dungeons & Dragons, Candela Obscura, Swords of the Serpentine, among others.) Community-driven series of living campaigns which share the single living realm of Quelmar, primarily at conventions and in local chapters. [47][48][49][50]
Sarbreenar the Living City 1992 – 2008 Forgotten Realms (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition, 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons) A RPGA Living Campaign; a spinoff from Living City specifically for the United Kingdom. [5]
Shadowrun Missions 2004 – present Shadowrun (3rd - 6th Editions) The official organized campaign setting sponsored by Catalyst Game Labs. [51][52][53]
Starfinder Society 2017 – present Starfinder Roleplaying Game The official Starfinder organized play program. [54][55][56]
Star Trek Adventures Living Campaign 2017 – present Star Trek Adventures The official organized campaign setting by Modiphius Entertainment. [57][58][59]
Virtual Seattle 1996 – 2004 Shadowrun (2nd - 3rd Editions) The first non-Dungeons & Dragons RPGA-sponsored campaign; it was replaced by Shadowrun Missions. [60][61]
Witch Hunter: Dark Providence 2011 – 2013 Witch Hunter: The Invisible World A Paradigm Concepts convention program. [62][63]
Witch Hunter: Revelations 2007 – 2010 Witch Hunter: The Invisible World A Paradigm Concepts convention program. [64]
Xen'drik Expeditions 2006 – 2008 Eberron (3.5 Dungeons & Dragons) The second RPGA Campaign set in Eberron. [65][66]

References

edit
  1. ^ Lindsay, Chris (2017-11-13). "Adventurer's League Survey: You say you want a revolution…". Dungeons and Dragons. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on November 15, 2017. Retrieved 7 August 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Shannon Appelcline (2011). Designers & Dragons. Mongoose Publishing. ISBN 978-1-907702-58-7.
  3. ^ a b Appelcline, Shannon. "Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (3.0) | Product History". DMs Guild. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  4. ^ "Pyramid: Organized Play Drops Living City". www.sjgames.com. December 18, 2003. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  5. ^ a b c d e Appelcline, Shannon. "LC4: Port of Ravens Bluff, The Living City (2e) | Product History". DriveThruRPG.com. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  6. ^ a b "Dungeons & Dragons FAQ". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2008-10-02. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
  7. ^ a b Appelcline, Shannon. "Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (3.0) | Product History". DriveThruRPG.com. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  8. ^ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Rodney Thompson, "D&D Experience Podcast" at 2:02, Wizards of the Coast "D&D Podcast", February 11, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2011.
  9. ^ "Ashes of Athas | Series | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  10. ^ "Ashes of Athas". Alphastream. 2015-12-18. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  11. ^ "Modiphius Announces Organized Play And New Releases For Vampire: The Masquerade". Tabletop Gaming News. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  12. ^ "Modiphius launches V5 Organised Play Program & new V5 books announced". Modiphius. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  13. ^ "Monte Cook Games Launches Organized Play". icv2.com. May 25, 2016. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  14. ^ "Cypher Play Organized Play Program". Monte Cook Games. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
  15. ^ "Dungeons & Dragons tries to lure back players - CNN.com". CNN. June 8, 2010. Retrieved 2021-02-26.
  16. ^ "'D&D' Adventurers League Launches with New Edition". ICv2. May 21, 2014. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  17. ^ Thorne, Scott (January 18, 2016). "Rolling for Initiative--WOTC's Changes to 'D&D' OP: A Death Knell for the Program?". Icv2. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  18. ^ a b Tulach, Chris (July 3, 2014). "D&D Expeditions". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 3, 2014. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  19. ^ "Legacy of the Green Regent: The Legacy Begins". archive.wizards.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2016. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  20. ^ "LGR - Legacy of the Green Regent | Series | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  21. ^ "paizo.com - Store / The Shining Jewel". paizo.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  22. ^ "Legends of the Shining Jewel | Series | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  23. ^ "Legends of the Shining Jewel – Home of Legends of the Shining Jewel". the-shining-jewel.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  24. ^ a b c "Paradigm Concepts - Arcanis the World of Shattered Empires - Kickstarter". Tribality. 2017-04-03. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  25. ^ "Living Arcanis D20 | Series | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  26. ^ "Legends of Arcanis | PARADIGM CONCEPTS". Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  27. ^ "Legends of Arcanis". U-Con Gaming Convention. 2012-09-24. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  28. ^ "D&D 5e Living Arcanis — LA5E-INTRO-02: A Thousand Words". BFGcon 2019. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  29. ^ "Living Arcanis 5E | Series | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  30. ^ Appelcline, Shannon. "LC2: Inside Ravens Bluff, The Living City (2e) | Product History". DriveThruRPG.com. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  31. ^ "RPGA Living City Adventures | Series | BoardGameGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  32. ^ "The Living Death Campaign | Family | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  33. ^ "Living Divine (4e) | Series | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  34. ^ "What's the Living Force?". Wizards of the Coast. September 6, 2001. Archived from the original on October 27, 2002. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  35. ^ "Living Force: Last Stand (The Final Living Force Update)". Wizards of the Coast. February 1, 2007. Archived from the original on February 7, 2007. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  36. ^ "Living Force | Series | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  37. ^ "Living Forgotten Realms". www.livingforgottenrealms.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  38. ^ "Living Forgotten Realms | Series | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  39. ^ "Malatra (Living Jungle) | Setting | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  40. ^ "Patrick Kapera Interview". UK Role Players. 23 February 2008. Archived from the original on 24 July 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
  41. ^ "Living Spycraft Site, Boards, and Lists". Crafty Games. 7 January 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
  42. ^ "Mark of Heroes". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 29, 2005. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  43. ^ "EMH - Eberron: Mark of Heroes | Series | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  44. ^ "Tabletop RPG Showdown: Dungeons & Dragons 5E vs. Pathfinder". Lifehacker. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  45. ^ Hiller, Ryan (2017-02-07). "Getting Your RPG Fix With Play-by-Post Gaming". GeekDad. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  46. ^ "Pathfinder Society | Organized Play | Paizo". paizo.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  47. ^ "Quelmar Community Campaigns". Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  48. ^ "Experience a New World with Quelmar". Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  49. ^ "Setting the Stage Podcast: James and Quelmar" (Podcast). Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  50. ^ "PAX Unplugged 2024 RPG Freeplay Community Game Schedule". Retrieved 2023-10-03.
  51. ^ "Tabletop Review: Shadowrun Missions: Showcase". Diehard GameFAN. March 4, 2013. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  52. ^ "Missions". Shadowrun 5. 2011-02-04. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  53. ^ "Shadowrun Missions | Series | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  54. ^ "Starfinder Society | Organized Play | Paizo". paizo.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  55. ^ "Latest Paizo Starfinder and Pathfinder Second Edition News - March 2021". Nerds on Earth. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  56. ^ "Begin Your Science Fantasy Adventuring With the 'Starfinder Beginner Box'". GeekDad. 2019-05-17. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  57. ^ GameCentral (2021-01-15). "The 11 best board games to try on lockdown - movie tie-in edition". Metro. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  58. ^ Wieland, Rob (June 26, 2020). "A Beginner's Guide To Space Opera Games". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  59. ^ Wieland, Rob (January 12, 2021). "What You Need To Get Started On Your Star Trek Adventures". Star Trek. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  60. ^ "Virtual Seattle | Series | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  61. ^ False, Noble Knight Games. "#107 Virtual Seattle, A Few Good Rangers - Polyhedron from TSR". Noble Knight Games. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  62. ^ "2011 Dragon*Con Gaming Guide". Issuu. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  63. ^ "Witch Hunter: Dark Providence | Series | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  64. ^ "Witch Hunter: Revelations | Series | BoardGameGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-12.
  65. ^ "Xen'drik Expeditions". Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on July 9, 2006. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  66. ^ "The Xen'drik Expeditions Campaign | Series | RPGGeek". rpggeek.com. Retrieved 2021-04-13.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Living_campaigns&oldid=1255297592"