Incorporating Greyhawk’s Historical Conflicts into West Marches Gameplay
One of the most compelling aspects of running a Greyhawk-based West Marches campaign is the setting’s rich history of wars, political intrigue, and shifting alliances. Unlike homebrew settings that require world-building from scratch, Greyhawk offers a treasure trove of historical conflicts that can shape the world and provide engaging backdrops for adventures.
In the Common Grounds Guild of Greyhawk, I’m using these past and present conflicts to create dynamic gameplay where players feel like their actions influence the world. Here’s how you can do the same.
Why Use Greyhawk’s History in West Marches Play?
West Marches campaigns thrive on player-driven exploration and decision-making, but that doesn’t mean the world should be static. Conflicts—whether past wars, political rivalries, or brewing tensions—can create living history for your campaign.
By using Greyhawk’s past wars, territorial disputes, and faction struggles, you provide:
- A sense of continuity – The setting feels deep and lived-in, rather than just a backdrop for random quests.
- Player investment – Adventurers who discover ancient war ruins or uncover old grudges will feel like their actions connect to something larger.
- Long-term world development – Decisions made in one session can ripple through later games, influencing power struggles or alliances.
Major Conflicts in Greyhawk to Incorporate
Here are a few historical and ongoing conflicts that make excellent sources of adventure hooks in a West Marches game:
1. The Greyhawk Wars (582–584 CY)
What Happened?
The Greyhawk Wars saw the forces of Iuz, the Scarlet Brotherhood, and other powers clash across the Flanaess, reshaping borders and leaving lasting scars. Though officially ended by the Treaty of Greyhawk, many regions are still in turmoil.
How to Use It:
- Players might uncover old battlefields, where undead or magical relics remain.
- Factions from the war could still seek revenge or lost treasures.
- The fragile peace may break down, dragging adventurers into renewed conflicts.
✅ Example Adventure Hook:
A noble from Furyondy hires adventurers to recover his family’s lost heirloom—a sword wielded by his ancestor in the Battle of Critwall Bridge. But when they arrive at the ruins, they find the battlefield haunted by the spirits of fallen soldiers.
📖 Reference: Greyhawk Wars (1991 Boxed Set)
2. Iuz’s Dark Dominion
What Happened?
Iuz, the demigod of deception and evil, still holds vast swathes of land in the north. His empire is a mix of chaos and tyranny, controlled by undead, demons, and warlords.
How to Use It:
- Border skirmishes can threaten nearby regions, forcing players to intervene.
- Agents of Iuz may be spying or sabotaging settlements.
- The party could infiltrate an Iuz stronghold, retrieving stolen artifacts or rescuing captives.
✅ Example Adventure Hook:
A group of exiles from Shield Lands seeks help reclaiming their home from Iuz’s forces. But is their leader truly seeking freedom, or is he using the adventurers to eliminate rivals?
📖 Reference: The City of Greyhawk (Boxed Set, 1989)
3. The Scarlet Brotherhood’s Shadow War
What Happened?
The Scarlet Brotherhood, a secretive and xenophobic order, played a silent but deadly role in the Greyhawk Wars, assassinating rulers and seizing coastal lands. Though their empire has weakened, their agents still operate from the shadows.
How to Use It:
- The Brotherhood may fund bandit groups or manipulate local rulers to regain power.
- Assassinations and secret plots can give players a mystery to unravel.
- The party might be framed for a crime to destabilize a region.
✅ Example Adventure Hook:
An informant claims to have proof of Scarlet Brotherhood spies operating in Hardby. When the adventurers arrive to collect the intel, they find their contact murdered, and now they’re the prime suspects.
📖 Reference: The Scarlet Brotherhood (1999 Sourcebook)
4. The Pomarj and the Rise of Orc Warlords
What Happened?
Once a human-controlled region, the Pomarj fell to orc and goblinoid warlords decades ago. The region remains a chaotic land of bandits, slavers, and monster-infested ruins.
How to Use It:
- Mercenary groups may seek to reclaim lost territory—for a price.
- A fragile alliance of orc tribes could be on the verge of war, and the adventurers must choose a side.
- A hidden human settlement still survives deep in the Pomarj, needing rescue or supplies.
✅ Example Adventure Hook:
A dwarf paladin is gathering warriors to strike at the orc warlord Turrosh Mak, but his real goal is retrieving a lost dwarven relic from the Pomarj’s depths. Will the adventurers fight for the cause, or just take the treasure and leave?
📖 Reference: Slavers (2000 Adventure Module)
Bringing It All Together: West Marches Style
Since a West Marches campaign relies on player-driven decision-making, these conflicts should act as open-ended tools, not rigid storylines. Here’s how to implement them dynamically:
1. Use Faction Missions
Give players the chance to take missions for opposing factions—they might retrieve lost documents for one side, then sabotage another’s supply lines.
2. Make Conflicts Change Over Time
Players should see the impact of their choices. If they stop a Scarlet Brotherhood plot, perhaps another faction moves into the power vacuum.
3. Let Players Discover Lore Organically
Instead of dumping exposition, let adventurers find war journals, ruined fortresses, or battle maps that hint at past events.
Resources for Running Greyhawk Conflict Adventures
- 📖 Living Greyhawk Gazetteer (2000) – Comprehensive guide to Greyhawk’s history.
- 📖 Greyhawk Wars (1991) – Details about major conflicts in the setting.
- 📖 Iuz the Evil (1993) – A deep dive into one of Greyhawk’s biggest threats.
- 🖥️ Canonfire! (www.canonfire.com) – A community site with fan-made Greyhawk content.
Final Thoughts: Make Players Feel Like History Makers
By tying player choices into ongoing conflicts, you make the world of Greyhawk feel alive and reactive. Whether they’re battling orcs in the Pomarj, uncovering Scarlet Brotherhood plots, or navigating the aftermath of the Greyhawk Wars, players will feel like their actions shape the Flanaess.
The Common Grounds Guild of Greyhawk is already seeing the impact of these historical conflicts in our sessions. As we continue, we’ll explore how these past wars still affect the present—and how our adventurers might change Greyhawk’s future.
Which conflict interests you the most? Let us know in the comments, and we might turn it into our next Guild mission!