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The 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide (DMG) is set to bring a ton of new content to Dungeons & Dragons – from class optimizations and the weapon mastery system to bastions. But here at Roll20, one of the most exciting additions is the renewed focus on Greyhawk as a customizable campaign setting.

This iconic world – first created by Gary Gygax himself – has been a cornerstone of D&D lore for decades. Now, with its prominent feature in the new 2024 DMG, Greyhawk is back and ready to inspire a new generation of adventurers. So, let’s take a closer look at what’s coming in the new customizable campaign in Greyhawk.

A Rich History – Reborn for 2024

Greyhawk, most commonly referred to as the World of Oerth, was one of the earliest settings for D&D. Its resurgence in the 2024 DMG not only hearkens back to the good old days but also shows just how relevant and loved this world still is to both old and new players.

Greyhawk is a fantasy world inspired by medieval European history and tales. It's great for a fun campaign because the area has different cultures, strong magic, and dangerous creatures.

What really draws players back to Greyhawk is the history within the campaign. There is, in fact, a very detailed timeline, reaching back several thousand years, detailing all the major events, wars, and famous people.

This history provides the default for any Greyhawk campaign and provides a whole new level of information to draw upon. The new DMG features key locations and characters of the setting, which provides an easy and quick method of delving into this deep world.

Customize Your Adventure in Greyhawk

The most exciting thing about Greyhawk in 2024 DMG is that it can be changed in many ways. Rather than giving a firm set of rules, the guide offers tools and ideas to DMs so that they can make Greyhawk unique to themselves.

Modular Design

This flexible design, used in Greyhawk within the 2024 DMG, really aids DMs in crafting and modifying parts of their campaigns. It gives DMs more choices and ideas so they can tailor their adventures to what their players like and how they play.

Scalable Conflicts

The guide provides conflicts of various scales, from street-level skirmishes to continent-spanning wars, that can be adapted to any campaign style.

Flexible Timeline

Greyhawk has a detailed history, yet its future is left open. This allows diverse DMs to place their campaigns at a specific time and/or create their own pivotal points of history. You will not need to consider fitting your campaign into a particular timeline.

Diverse Environments

Greyhawk is more than the city itself. The 2024 DMG touches on the varied landscapes of the wider world, from the Wild Coast to the Bright Desert, offering a range of adventure settings.

Welcome to the Free City of Greyhawk

While there’s a lot to build from with the 2024 DMG, the heart of any Greyhawk campaign is the Free City of Greyhawk itself. This central metropolis serves as a perfect starting point for any campaign. 

The 2024 DMG guides players right into the city's structure, giving you plenty of information to bring work with as you customize your campaign to fit your players' needs.

  • Political Intrigue: The guide outlines the city's various factions and power players, from noble houses to thieves' guilds, providing a rich tapestry of potential allies and adversaries for player characters.
  • Economic Dynamics: Understanding the flow of trade and commerce in Greyhawk allows DMs to create realistic economic scenarios and quests tied to the city's mercantile nature.
  • Religious Landscape: The DMG provides details on the various temples and religious orders, helping DMs incorporate divine elements into their urban adventures.
  • Seasonal Festivals: The inclusion of Greyhawk's festival calendar adds flavor and potential plot hooks, allowing DMs to time their adventures with these colorful events.

Beyond the City Walls

While the Free City takes center stage, the 2024 DMG doesn't neglect the wider world of Oerth – a unique locale that offer even more than the city itself:

  • The guide provides a broad look at the lands surrounding Greyhawk, offering hooks for exploring and expanding your campaign.
  • Iconic sites like the Temple of Elemental Evil are mentioned, providing instant adventure hooks for classic D&D experiences.
  • Understanding the relationships between nations and city-states allows for complex, multi-faceted storylines.
  • Greyhawk's ties to the wider D&D multiverse are explored, opening up possibilities for plane-hopping adventures.

Integrating Player Characters

The Greyhawk presentation in the new DMG includes how to include players, with many ideas for tying character backgrounds and classes into various portions of Greyhawk:

  • Class-Specific Opportunities: There is a place for every character class in Greyhawk. Wizards study at the famous Grey College, while rogues find opportunity in the city's underworld.
  • Background Ties: DMs can link character backgrounds to Greyhawk's history and recent events, making the players immediately invested in the world.
  • Faction Allegiances: In Greyhawk, players can join different groups, which gives them reasons to act and creates conflicts.
  • Cultural Diversity: Greyhawk's cosmopolitan nature allows for characters from various cultures and species, encouraging diverse party compositions.

A Sandbox Full of Toys

The 2024 DMG presents Greyhawk as a "sandbox full of toys," giving DMs tools to work with while avoiding strict restrictions. This approach encourages creativity and customization, allowing each campaign to be unique.

Plus, with the addition of the new Bastion system (which allows for players to acquire a unique “headquarters” for their adventure) and the weapon mastery system, Greyhawk has plenty more to offer new 2024 campaigns.

Explore Greyhawk on Roll20

Whether you're looking to run a traditional Greyhawk campaign, use it as inspiration for your own world-building, or simply mine it for ideas to enhance your existing games, the 2024 DMG's treatment of this iconic setting provides an invaluable resource.

In Greyhawk, both new and experienced Dungeon Masters will find a world of endless adventure, waiting to be explored and shaped by their imagination and the deeds of their players.

Excited to dive into the rich world of Greyhawk? Roll20 is your perfect companion for exploring this iconic setting! Start your Greyhawk adventure on Roll20 today and watch your campaign come to life like never before.

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