Well as one of the authors I am somewhat biased
The
D20 Stuff is pretty minimal and easily converted over to any edition of D&D. Heck my own game is run using
GURPS and i find what the other authors did useful. We all did different maps, I was responsible for Map 5, 8, and the northern half of 11. Basically the central portion of the setting.
If you get the boxed set you will find that it allows you have a more free flowing campaign where the players can set the direction in which they go. Certainly you can nudge them into the areas that you have prepared but if they decide to go elsewhere you are not staring at a blank hex.
The overall meta story of the boxed set is minimal. It there but you can change details without worrying about major impact on what was written in the individual hexes. In this regards it is like a fantasy version of Traveller's Spinward Marches. You got the Imperium, the Zhodani, Sword Worlds a bunch of worlds with stats. But no two Traveller GM spinward marches have exactly the same Imperium, Zhodani, etc.
When I prepare I have a primary plot that I trying to present but with the boxed set I look for two or so more little things that I can be prepared for. Then start with the current hex where we left off and just look around and see what there making a list summarizes that.
I take this list and make a rumor list, maybe if they are in a village I will draw up a "bulliten board" or town cryer sheet with rumors. The shear number of detail in the Boxed set allows me to make this list easily. For the player it helps them make the world more real as they get a sense there is more going on then them.
Those of us who bought the original Wilderlands all started from the same base but developed very divergent games. The flexibility of the orginal Wilderlands allowed this and that flexibility is preserved in the current boxed set.
Some DMs Wilderlands are more adventure oriented. Mine is more political and culture oriented as result of my end games. My players carving out some section of the Wilderlands to call their own.
Rob Conley
http://home.earthlink.net/~wilderlands
