In the end, a campaign setting really is just a stage for adventures. And adventures are generally the only way through which players are interacting with it. This really deserves an article of its own, but when it comes to designing a campaign setting you really need to start with chosing the kinds of adventures that will be set in it. I believe the fact that I am only explicitly making such a list now has a lot to do with all my worldbuilding work only really taking shape in the last half year or so.
So here you go. When I think of the Ancient Lands as a stage for adventures, these are what I have in mind:
- The Lost City
- The Isle of Dread
- Quagmire!
- Against the Cult of the Reptile God
- Dwellers of the Forbidden City
- The Forgotten Temple of Tharizdun
- Death Frost Doom
- Deep Carbon Observatory
- Slumbering Ursine Dunes
- Aliens
- Apocalypse Now
- Dark Souls
- Princess Mononoke
- Red Nails
- Stalker
- Super Metroid
You could say a microsandbox. Or a mesodungeon.