Back in the day, I had learned to play D&D (Basic and Expert) with one group. When I got to high school, around sophomore year, I joined another group that was playing AD&D 1st ed. They were very entrenched in Oerth and Greyhawk. I was similarly entrenched in what was known as the "Known World" back then.
We decided our two worlds were connected by gateways and that worked out fine for a while.
Later we attempted to make things simpler, and combine the worlds. We decided that they had always been like this, there was magic that had prevented people from traveling directly. Lame, but it worked. And then we drew a map. It was cool, but it had some issues. And then on my way to college, I lost the map. We had not called it "Mystoerth" either then, only Oerth.
Fast forward many years and I find this map created by Chatdemon online.
It was perfect. So rarely does something you find on the internet fit so perfectly with an idea you have. This map is perfect. It really describes the world I wanted to play in. The best of Oerth/Greyhawk and the best of Mystara/The Known World. I added a bit of Blackmoor and I have the only world I ever needed.
Sure it is not 100% original. I write original material all the time. Sometimes it is nice to let someone else do the heavy lifting. Though I have done quite a lot of original work myself now.
Later we attempted to make things simpler, and combine the worlds. We decided that they had always been like this, there was magic that had prevented people from traveling directly. Lame, but it worked. And then we drew a map. It was cool, but it had some issues. And then on my way to college, I lost the map. We had not called it "Mystoerth" either then, only Oerth.
Fast forward many years and I find this map created by Chatdemon online.
It was perfect. So rarely does something you find on the internet fit so perfectly with an idea you have. This map is perfect. It really describes the world I wanted to play in. The best of Oerth/Greyhawk and the best of Mystara/The Known World. I added a bit of Blackmoor and I have the only world I ever needed.
Sure it is not 100% original. I write original material all the time. Sometimes it is nice to let someone else do the heavy lifting. Though I have done quite a lot of original work myself now.
This is the world I am currently using in my games with my kids. The year is 1665 AC (Mystara) or
* I have been using a combination of my own timeline with corrections based on Matthew Fenn's research. His timeline fits together a little better than my own.
Physical details
Circumference
Earth = 24,901 miles (Eratosthenes, 3rd C. BCE)
Mystara = 19,448 miles (Rules Cyclopedia)
Oerth = 26,110 miles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oerth)
Mystoerth = 24,000 miles
This makes my world larger than Mystara. It also gives me (roughly) 2,000 miles "missing" from that map above (splinting the difference and looking at the map in Photoshop).
Here are my posts on the subject. I'll add more as time goes by.
Background
Overview
Mystoerth map revealed at last! (Canonfire!)
Some background on Dragonsfoot, "Your Greyhawk".
Short lived blog about Mystoerth by Chatdemon himself.
Early map
Discussion on The Piazza
Mystara Mash-up
Shared Greyhawk/Mystara Elements
Why Greyhawk & Mystara Matter For OSR & Old School Campaigns
Shared Greyhawk/Mystara Elements
Why Greyhawk & Mystara Matter For OSR & Old School Campaigns
Lands
Ærypt and Zakhara
Ansalon
Blackmoor
- 4E
- Monks come from Blackmoor Part 1 and Part 2
Hell
Hyborea/Hyperborea
Oestara an Alternate Mystoerth
Links
General / All Worlds
D&D Worlds Timeline Conversions
Adventure Lookup
Greyhawk
Canonfire!
- Greyhawk Wiki
Links
General / All Worlds
D&D Worlds Timeline Conversions
Adventure Lookup
Greyhawk
Canonfire!
- Greyhawk Wiki
Greyhawk at the Greyhawk Wiki
Greyhawk Grognard
- Beyond the Flanaess: Zindia and the Golden Jungle
- Historical Themes of the Flanaess
- The Flanaess as European Analogue
- Gamma Hawk (Greyhawk / Gamma World)
- Greyhawk is a mess
- Rebuttal: The Ugly Duckling
Setting Review II: Greyhawk
Greyhawk Grognard
- Beyond the Flanaess: Zindia and the Golden Jungle
- Historical Themes of the Flanaess
- The Flanaess as European Analogue
- Gamma Hawk (Greyhawk / Gamma World)
- Greyhawk is a mess
- Rebuttal: The Ugly Duckling
Setting Review II: Greyhawk
The 4 Eras of the World of Greyhawk
Harvard's Blackmoor Blog's Greyhawk posts
- Greyhawk goes to Blackmoor
Gargaming - Greyhawk Wiki
Brides of Iuz
Harvard's Blackmoor Blog's Greyhawk posts
- Greyhawk goes to Blackmoor
Gargaming - Greyhawk Wiki
Brides of Iuz
Maps
Anna Meyer is the founder of the Flanaess Geographical Society on Facebook.
- her Map of the Flanaess
- her Map of the Flanaess
Fantasy Map Review II: Greyhawk (Mythlands)
Greyhawkery
Greyhawk links
- Greycast (Spotify)
Blackmoor (Mystara OR Greyhawk)
Harvard's Blackmoor Blog
- How Blackmoor ended up in Mystara
- The Last Days of Blackmoor
- Blackmoor 2000
Using Blackmoor in Your Mystara Campaign (and Greyhawk!)
Mystara
Mystara on Facebook
Dreams of the Lich House: Mystara
Paleomap, for maps of Mystara/Ancient Earth
- In particular the Late Jurassic of 150 MYA.
Stocking the Dungeon, chatdemon's original blog for BECMI/Known World.
- Adding GR's Freeport to Mystara
- The Classic D&D Campaign Settings part 4: The Known World's Roots
The Come Back Inn, forum for Blackmoor
The Vaults of Pandius
- The Newbie's Guide to Mystara
Random Wizard: The Known World vs. Mystara
Interview with Bruce Heard
Armchair Gamer's Mystara/Greyhawk mashup
The “Known World” D&D Setting: A Secret History by Lawrence Schick at Black Gate
More on the Known World by James Mishler
Lawrence Schick Answers Q's on the Original Known World by James Mishler
- Part 2, with some information on Gods, in particular Mitra is mentioned.
Glantri - The lands I spent most of my time. It gets its own link.
Neopraxis - The Seven Crafts of Magic
Games I'll Never Play - The Great School of Magic
- Part 1
- Part 2
James Mishler Games
Came up with the Mystoerth map above
http://jamesmishlergames.blogspot.com/ (offline)
Chatdemon's Mystoerth Blog (now offline)
Dreams of the Lich House: Mystara
Paleomap, for maps of Mystara/Ancient Earth
- In particular the Late Jurassic of 150 MYA.
Stocking the Dungeon, chatdemon's original blog for BECMI/Known World.
- Adding GR's Freeport to Mystara
- The Classic D&D Campaign Settings part 4: The Known World's Roots
The Come Back Inn, forum for Blackmoor
The Vaults of Pandius
- The Newbie's Guide to Mystara
Random Wizard: The Known World vs. Mystara
Interview with Bruce Heard
Armchair Gamer's Mystara/Greyhawk mashup
The “Known World” D&D Setting: A Secret History by Lawrence Schick at Black Gate
More on the Known World by James Mishler
Lawrence Schick Answers Q's on the Original Known World by James Mishler
- Part 2, with some information on Gods, in particular Mitra is mentioned.
Glantri - The lands I spent most of my time. It gets its own link.
Neopraxis - The Seven Crafts of Magic
Games I'll Never Play - The Great School of Magic
- Part 1
- Part 2
James Mishler Games
Came up with the Mystoerth map above
http://jamesmishlergames.blogspot.com/ (offline)
Chatdemon's Mystoerth Blog (now offline)
- Building Mystoerth. A great discussion on Mystoerth.
The Wasted Lands (for Hyborea stuff)
World of Tesar, similar idea
Races
General Overview
Desert Elves and Orcs
Drow
Goblins
Gypsy Elves
Orcs
Elves
- Elves in Ganth
- Elf specific spells
- Elven Rangers (spells and S&W)
- White Elves (Snow Elves) for 5e
- Elven Absinthe
Saurians, Saurials and other reptile men
- Saurials from Battleaxes & Beasties
Orcs
- Orc King of Blackmoor
- Gods of the Orcs, from Realms of Chirak
Halflings
- Dwarflings
Adventures
A world is pointless without adventures to go on. Here are some alternate takes, in depth analysis and other thoughts on what I consider the classic adventures for my world.
Reviews of the classic B/X adventures.
The 30 Greatest D&D Adventures of All Time
T1 The Village of Hommlet
- Temple of Elemental Evil
- Rufus and Burne for D&D 4 Essentials
B1 Into the Unknown
- Module at DnDClassics.com
- Alternate map for In Search of the Unknown
B2 Keep on the Borderlands
- Module at DnDClassics.com
- Return to the Caves of Chaos
B3 Palace of the Silver Princess
- Module at DnDClassics.com
- Return to Palace of the Silver Princess
L1 The Secret of Bone Hill
- Module at DnDClassics.com
- Play report from Gen Con 2014
- Module at DnDClassics.com
- Plays Well With Others
- Module at DnDClassics.com
- Play reports. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4
- Module at DnDClassics.com
- Plays Well With Others
S1 Tomb of Horrors
- Gearing up for the Tomb of Horrors
- Return to the Tomb
- Return to the Tomb, Part 2
- Tomb of Horrors for 4e. Is it REALLY that offensive?
- Tomb of Horrors Map Set
S2 White Plume Mountain
- White Plume Mountain Dungeon Tiles!
- Grognardia Retrospective: White Plume Mountain
- Dragotha's Lair
S3 Expedition to the Barrier Peaks
- Plays Well With Others
- Metamorphosis Alpha
- Play Report
S4 The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth
- Play reports. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5
WG4 The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun
- Module at DnDClassics.com
G 1 2 3, Against the Giants
Adventures
- G1-3 Against the Giants (1e)
- Against the Giants: The Liberation of Geoff (2e)
- AC10 Bestiary of Dragons & Giants (Basic)
- Revenge of the Giants (4e)
- Castles & Crusades PDF3 Towers of Adventure 2 Cloud Giants Tower
- Dungeon Crawl Classics #22: The Stormbringer Juggernaut
D1-2, 3 Against the Drow
Adventures
- D1-2 Descent into the Depths of the Earth
- D2 Shrine of the Kuo-Toa
- D3 Vault of the Drow
Drow of the Underdark (3.5)
Preparing to Descend
Q1 Queen of the Demonweb Pits
- How Queen of the Demonweb Pits opened Dungeons & Dragons to the multiverse
- Q1 Queen of the Demonweb Pits (1e)
A to Z of Adventure! Q is for Queen of the Demonweb Pits
Q2 Project
- The search for Q2
- Monte Cook's Queen of Lies
- Greyhawk Grognard: Thoughts on Q2
CM2 Death's Ride
- Module at DnDClassics.com
http://pandius.com/mystghmp.jpg
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