Living campaigns
Encyclopedia
Living 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 RPGA
(Role Playing Gamer's Association), now a division of Wizards of the Coast
, many groups around the world run active living campaigns which are independent or sponsored by other publishers.
, 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
. 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. 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
.
began, with Legacy of the Green Regent, to offer a living style campaign that was a slightly different play experience. A campaign-style game follows many of the same conventions as other Living campaigns such as Living Greyhawk
, but differs in a couple areas:
Shared universe
A shared universe is a fictional universe to which more than one writer contributes. Work set in a shared universe share characters and other elements with varying degrees of consistency. Shared universes are contrasted with collaborative writing, in which multiple authors work on a single story....
. 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
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
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 RPGA
RPGA
The RPGA , is part of the organized play arm of Wizards of the Coast that organizes and sanctions role-playing games worldwide, principally under the d20 system...
(Role Playing Gamer's Association), now a division of Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
, many groups around the world run active living campaigns which are independent or sponsored by other publishers.
Overview
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 charactersPlayer character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player 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
Ravens Bluff
Raven's Bluff is a fictional location in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:...
, set in the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
city of Ravens Bluff
Ravens Bluff
Raven's Bluff is a fictional location in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:...
. The campaign ran in its original form in Polyhedron
Polyhedron (magazine)
Polyhedron was a magazine which started out as the official publication of the RPGA . Publication began in the year 1981, and the target audience was players of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game...
magazine starting in the mid-1980s, and continued until shortly after the advent of 3rd Edition Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
(D&D) in 2000. 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
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
.
What is a Campaign-Style Game?
Wizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
began, with Legacy of the Green Regent, to offer a living style campaign that was a slightly different play experience. A campaign-style game follows many of the same conventions as other Living campaigns such as Living Greyhawk
Living Greyhawk
Living Greyhawk was a massively shared Dungeons and Dragons living campaign administered by RPGA that ran from 2000 to 2008. The campaign setting and storyline were based on Gary Gygax's World of Greyhawk setting, and used the Dungeons and Dragons Third Edition rules...
, but differs in a couple areas:
- All accounting/book keeping is done on the RPGA website.
- The campaign provides periodic level bumps so everyone in the campaign is the same, or nearly the same, level.
- In traditional Living campaigns you cannot level without gaining experience from playing in adventures.
- Characters in the campaign are not static, meaning players can change many of their character's details between adventures.
RPGA Living Campaigns
WOTC/RPGA-sponsored Living campaigns:- Living Forgotten Realms: Announced at Gen ConGen ConGen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
2007, this campaign was launched at Gen ConGen ConGen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
2008. LFR uses D&D 4th edition rules and is set in the Forgotten RealmsForgotten RealmsThe Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting. - Ashes of Athas: Announced in late 2010 and first released at D&D Experience 2011, this story-driven ongoing campaign uses the D&D 4th Edition rules and is set in the Dark SunDark SunDark Sun is a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting featuring the fictional desert world of Athas. The original Dark Sun Boxed Set campaign setting was released in 1991....
setting. Chapters of three linked adventures premiere at each of the D&DXP, Origins Game Fair, and Gen ConGen ConGen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
gaming conventions. Adventures are available for wider play six months after their initial release. - Living Divine: Announced at D&D Experience 2011, this campaign is launching at Gen ConGen ConGen Con is one of the largest and most prominent annual gaming conventions in North America. It features traditional pen-and-paper, board, and card-style games, including role-playing games, miniatures wargames, board games, live action role-playing games, collectible card games, non-collectible...
2011, with sneak previews at five regional conventions. LD uses D&D 4th edition rules and is set in its own campaign setting. Modeled after Living GreyhawkLiving GreyhawkLiving Greyhawk was a massively shared Dungeons and Dragons living campaign administered by RPGA that ran from 2000 to 2008. The campaign setting and storyline were based on Gary Gygax's World of Greyhawk setting, and used the Dungeons and Dragons Third Edition rules...
, it is a regional campaign with geographical restrictions.
Non-RPGA Campaigns
There are many campaigns that are run either by the members or by non-WOTC companies responsible for the game world. Some of them were at one time part of the RPGA.- Living Arcanis: A d20 System campaign set in the world of OnaraArcanisArcanis was originally a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons game, created and supported by Paradigm Concepts. It is also the name of the fictional world where the setting takes place...
. No longer part of the RPGA as of 2007. - NeoExodus ChroniclesNeoExodus: A House DividedNeoExodus: A House Divided is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, created and supported by Louis Porter Jr. Design. The name of the fictional world were the setting takes place is Exodus...
: A new campaign in the planning stages using the setting published by Louis Porter Jr. Design - For Queen & Country: A UK only campaign started after Crafty GamesCrafty GamesCrafty Games is an American publisher of role-playing games based on espionage and fantasy themes, particularly Spycraft. The company was founded by the creative team behind the Spycraft and Spycraft 2.0 RPGs, shortly after both lines were shut down by then-publisher Alderac Entertainment Group...
announced that Living Spycraft was ceasing. Uses the SpycraftSpycraftSpycraft is a d20 and OGL-based role-playing game dealing with superspies and modern action. Originally published by the Alderac Entertainment Group, it is currently published under licence by Crafty Games.-History:...
v1 rules. - Spymaster: The Spymaster campaign is community run and independent of Crafty GamesCrafty GamesCrafty Games is an American publisher of role-playing games based on espionage and fantasy themes, particularly Spycraft. The company was founded by the creative team behind the Spycraft and Spycraft 2.0 RPGs, shortly after both lines were shut down by then-publisher Alderac Entertainment Group...
but still uses the most recent SpycraftSpycraftSpycraft is a d20 and OGL-based role-playing game dealing with superspies and modern action. Originally published by the Alderac Entertainment Group, it is currently published under licence by Crafty Games.-History:...
rules. Living Spycraft characters can be directly converted for play in Spymaster. - Pathfinder Society Organized PlayPathfinder Roleplaying GameThe Pathfinder Roleplaying Game is a fantasy role-playing game first published in 2009 by Paizo Publishing...
: The Pathfinder Society campaign is managed by PaizoPaizo PublishingPaizo Publishing is an American publishing company in Redmond, Washington that specializes in game aids and adventures for "the world's oldest fantasy roleplaying game" and its flagship spin-off game and setting, Pathfinder...
and uses the most recent Pathfinder RPGPathfinder Roleplaying GameThe Pathfinder Roleplaying Game is a fantasy role-playing game first published in 2009 by Paizo Publishing...
rules. - Shadowrun Missions: Catalyst Game LabsCatalyst Game LabsCatalyst Game Labs was created in May 2007 by InMediaRes Productions, LLC for the purpose of publishing print Classic BattleTech and Shadowrun sourcebooks...
sponsored SF campaign, set in various cities based on year.
Extinct Campaigns
The following campaigns are no longer in existence or have ended but still have adventures available:- Dave ArnesonDave ArnesonDavid Lance "Dave" Arneson was an American game designer best known for co-developing the first published role-playing game , Dungeons & Dragons, with Gary Gygax, in the early 1970s...
's BlackmoorBlackmoorBlackmoor is a fantasy role-playing game campaign setting generally associated with the game Dungeons & Dragons. It originally evolved in the early 1970s as the personal setting of Dave Arneson, the co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, first as a setting for Arneson's miniature wargames, then as an...
: Campaign set in the "original D&D setting" updated to 3.5 edition and 4th edition. Currently this campaign is on indefinite hold due to licensing issues. Note that older adventures for the 3.5 version of D&D may still be available. - Living CityRavens BluffRaven's Bluff is a fictional location in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:...
: Set in the Forgotten RealmsForgotten RealmsThe Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting - Living Spycraft: A world of espionageEspionageEspionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
using the SpycraftSpycraftSpycraft is a d20 and OGL-based role-playing game dealing with superspies and modern action. Originally published by the Alderac Entertainment Group, it is currently published under licence by Crafty Games.-History:...
d20 System rules, managed by Crafty GamesCrafty GamesCrafty Games is an American publisher of role-playing games based on espionage and fantasy themes, particularly Spycraft. The company was founded by the creative team behind the Spycraft and Spycraft 2.0 RPGs, shortly after both lines were shut down by then-publisher Alderac Entertainment Group...
. - Living GreyhawkLiving GreyhawkLiving Greyhawk was a massively shared Dungeons and Dragons living campaign administered by RPGA that ran from 2000 to 2008. The campaign setting and storyline were based on Gary Gygax's World of Greyhawk setting, and used the Dungeons and Dragons Third Edition rules...
: A D&D campaign set in the world of GreyhawkGreyhawkGreyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
. This campaign has ended, but adventures can still be ordered and played until the end of 2009. - Virtual Seattle: Campaign run under RPGA auspices using Shadowrun 1st edition rules, set in the city of Seattle.
External links
- Series of articles on the history of role-playing games
- Parenting forum article to inform mothers about PGs
- History of roleplaying
- Article on RPGs as therapy
- List of Shared World campaigns and links
- Fannon, Sean Patrick. The Fantasy Role-Playing Gamer's Bible, 2nd Edition. Obsidian Studios, 2000.
- Gygax, Gary. Roleplaying Mastery. New York, NY: Perigee, 1987.
- Gygax, Gary. Master of the Game. New York, NY: Perigee, 1989.
- Gygax, Gary. "Editorial." Dragon Magazine 95: 12. (on influence from TolkienJ. R. R. TolkienJohn Ronald Reuel Tolkien, CBE was an English writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion.Tolkien was Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Pembroke College,...
) - Jaffe, Rona. Mazes and Monsters. New York, NY: Delacorte Press, 1981.
- Schick, Lawrence. Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Roleplaying Games. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 1991.
- BBC article on the history of Dungeons & Dragons
- Gamespy's 30th Anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons special
- The Acaeum – detailed information on pre-AD&D2 editions of the game
- Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary V1.0
- Opening the Dungeon – an article about the conflict over the proprietary or open-source nature of Dungeons & Dragons
- Classic Gaming Feature on SSI