What do I want?
A campaign approachable by Gloranthan newbies but still full of detail and crunch, featuring a sweeping conspiracy within one (or both) of the great empires. I've thinking of campaign sets like Pavis/Big Rubble/Borderlands with a liberal spatterings of Orient Express and a hugh slice of scrummy City of Lies (for L5R).
Largely set within one or two cities with a bit of wilderness stuff between. I have a strong leaning towards Voss Varainu (Sp?) within the EWF being one of those cities, as it will be a hidden ruin in the 3rd age and not covered by any substancial published materials, it is the birthplace of the Stiched Zoo, and and EWF cultural centre.
You could start with a city setting book with a few hints and tit-bits in it, then publish a few short scenarios leading into a grand campaign of corruption and conspiracy within City Hall and the halls of power of the greater world. Ancient powers would have to be involved, but in this case, the ancient powers are merely the subjects of exploitation and plunder by corrupt leaders and not the underlying evil of the story itself. (I am a great fan of man as the source of all evil within fantasy gaming story structures, not gods, as to do otherwise is an abrogation of moral resonsibility).
The campaign would of course be humano-centric to keep the elder races as mysterious outsiders with unknown motivations. They'd be slowly revealed over the campaign to illuminate their cultures to newby Glornathan's, and be allies and enemies withing the campaign structure itself. I think one or more minor races should be shown in a heroic light too towards the climax of events, because it's about time they gota fair deal.
I've probably got a lot more to say about what I want, but it can wait.
DD
