General RPG DiscussionDiscussion of all RPGs and non-system-specific topics. DM/GM/player issues, settings, etc. Rules discussion belongs in one the forums below.
The idea in a nut shell is to add a 3rd book in the setting material for each of the published Campaign settings. This book would be built much like Open Grave/Dragonomicon. It would give tiered NPC groups and encounters iconic to the setting. It would flesh out the examples in the Campaign guide, and have a modular toolkit approach much like Dungeon Delve did. So for example Eberron would feature Heroic tiered Spy encounters, a 3-5 page blurb expanding on the Spy groups in Eberron, and 'monster' stat blocks for that encounter. Then the next would be Paragon tier Drow encounters featuring a Skill Challenge, etc, etc. The book would include a tear away map of the smaller encounters. A counterpoint to the Campaign Guide big world maps. While the Campaign Guide features a little of this, this book would be the expansion beyond the intro adventures given.
In keeping with the naming convention of Player's Guide, Campaign Guide, I think this module could be called Adventure Guide. So. Forgotten Realm Adventure Guide, Eberron Adventure Guide, etc.
Personally I don't find the adventures to be as useful as the 'setting/monster' books like Open Grave and Manual of the Planes. And this would fill that nitch of good monsters and encounters I could play with. So, EnWorld. What do you think?
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Last edited by Mostlyjoe; 19th October 2009 at 11:04 PM..
I don't think there's such a thing as too many good adventures, so I don't see it as an either-or thing. But having said that, this kind of toolkit sounds, at the very least, interesting. I'd probably consider buying one even for a setting I wasn't using, if it wasn't too strongly flavoured (Realms, yes; Dark Sun, yes because while strongly flavoured, I like the setting; Ravenloft, probably not).
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I'm not sure that giant fantasy kitchen sinks like Forgotten Realms or Eberron need this, but Dark Sun could certainly benefit from a Big Book of Things That Try to Kill You.
Yes, I think DS could really use this kind of \book, but so could FR and EB. In FR, it would be a good way to introduce appropriate organizations to deal with (peacefully or not) at different levels.
For EB, might be better to details regions to adventure in at different levels.
I had a simalar though last year when FR first came out, but I at the time thought maybe not right away. I think a book like this for FR coming out in say late next year early 2011 would work great.
then do the same every year Dec 2010 FR adventure book, Dec 2011 Ebberon, Dec 2012 (If the myan calander didn't kill us) Dark Sun. It gives the creaters a break, and the fans a second look. It could even showcase how to use later books in that setting...Artaficers in the realms, Psionics in Ebberon, ect...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Remathilis
Planescape
It should be given special award to Die Vecna, Die: a module that manages to trash no less than THREE different settings (Greyhawk, Ravenloft, Planescape) in the course of one module.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Remathilis
Those of you who fretted that monsters have too many hp and fights take too long: meet the barbarian. The ULTIMATE "Lets speed this combat up, I need to whiz" class!
this book would be built much like open grave/dragonomicon. It would give tiered npc groups and encounters iconic to the setting. It would flesh out the examples in the campaign guide, and have a modular toolkit approach much like dungeon delve did. So for example eberron would feature heroic tiered spy encounters, a 3-5 page blurb expanding on the spy groups in eberron, and 'monster' stat blocks for that encounter. Then the next would be paragon tier drow encounters featuring a skill challenge, etc, etc. The book would include a tear away map of the smaller encounters. A counterpoint to the campaign guide big world maps. While the campaign guide features a little of this, this book would be the expansion beyond the intro adventures given.
sold
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This is a great idea. Works right into the idea of making this edition easier on the DM in prep time and giving a hand to new DMs. Something like this would be a great way for a new DM to get ideas of what kind of adventures to run in the setting. I also like the idea of a little section of suggestions on how to use material from later books in the setting.
This does sound like a great idea.
I think it kinda fits with their 32 page softcover line a bit too. (Hammerfast et al)
I think these would be great 128 page softcovers.
I'd buy the Eberron one (and likely the Dark Sun) really quick.
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I'll add to the chorus that it's a great idea, Mostlyjoe. I'm a homebrew DM, but this is a product I'd be interested to mine for ready to use encounters/ideas (ESPECIALLY if there are battlemaps included) whereas I haven't bought any campaign setting books.
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