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Originally Posted by jamesh
We're talking about two different things, Robert. You're talking about thematic differences and I'm talking about actual physical differences in the setting itself. By defining every hex on a campaign map in minute detail, a campaign sourcebook limits the number of liberties that a GM can take with a setting by design (well, short of ignoring or re-writing the material in the supplement).
Exalted, for example, is wildly popular due in part specifically to the lack of such minute detail. One Storyteller's version of Creation (the Exalted setting) will be wildly different than another's, not just thematically, but in terms of physical composition (i.e., towns, cities, creatures, geographic features, etc), as well. There is less shared commonality here than there is between campaigns run in a setting where every last detail is spelled out.
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I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the point you are trying to make about campaign worlds.
To me something like Exhalted doesn't have a campaign world defined then it is obvious that you would make your own. With whatever geography, cities, history, creatures, etc you create. But still would be Exhalted as the game itself defines it's flavor.
I hope this make sense and is what you are talking about.
As for the current edition of Wilderlands. All I can say is that there are details that hamper your freedom to create and details that help. Necro, Judges Guild, and the authors really tried to make the boxed set have the details that helps not hamper a GM in creating their own world.
I know you said that it sounds like it helps time-pressed GMs but my experienced is that all GMs are time-pressed and they never have enough detail for their players.
I have no problem with your goals, I guess the only that I am perplexed is why buy the Player's Guide at all? Honestly it sounds like you better off just making your own world from scratch.
I am sorry I have no comp copy to pass on. All I can say the Rorystone download is representative of the boxed set.
Last if you are familar with Traveller at all. The Wilderlands are more like a sector supplement then something like Harn. Sure everyone buys a sector supplement is broadly playing with the same world with the same physical characteristics in the same location. But a world is so vast and the terms are defined so broad that my Hex 0103 Esalin - Charismatic Dictatorship with a thin atmosphere isn't going to be the same as your hex 0103 Esalin.
Even in traveller game that use the Third Imperium, some GMs protray the Imperium as a force for good, other protray it as a sinister evil., other have something in between.
The boxed set Wilderlands is more akin to Traveller then to a hyper detailed setting like Harn.
As for price $70 is steep for anything but Amazon has it for $44.