Appendix N redux

[Dour-n-Taciturn]

I would add Steven Erikson's Malazan Book of the Fallen series; it does a fantastic job of world building, has a truly epic scope, does a good job of showing how different the agendas and motives of entities that live for thousands of years (or far more!) are from normal peoples', etc.

Gardens of the Moon
Deadhouse Gates
Memories of Ice
House of Chains
Midnight Tides
Reaper's Gale
The Bonehunters
Toll the Hounds
Dust of Dreams
The Crippled God

Well met! Love that series, heavy, heavy philosophical musings combined with the most sprawling epic story I have every read. Erikson and Esslemont were fantasy roleplayers and developed that world; Erikson having a background in Anthropology and student of the Vietnam War.

Glen Cook's Black Company is also a classic.

Tolkien goes without saying...

 

[DEFCON 1]

I'm more concerned with how Appendix T is going to look in 5th Edition.

Those polearms aren't going to just illustrate themselves...

 

[tlantl]

I don't see the need for there to be a list of recommended reading/ viewing materials. In the early days, when this hobby was new and people had no idea what it was about, this was more useful.

Nowadays, with the over saturation of media types available, there's no lack of understanding what the genre is about. The devs would probably do better to educate players on the most effective ways of playing the game rather than what media to absorb for ideas.

A list of roleplaying guides and advice for world building materials seems to be a more useful way to help players and dungeon masters.

 

[Anselyn]

If you want to try to attract new players, stop referencing things that, at this point, are ridiculously old.

What like the Greek myths?

 

[Sunseeker]

What like the Greek myths?

To be honest, I was just surfing the net and came across a wonderful little thread where almost everyone posting in was stating how they had no idea the Titanic was anything more than a movie.

I think new players should be educated on arcane subjects, but they should remain so in a manner of inspiration, not an expectation of familiarity in order to understand the content.

 

[Dour-n-Taciturn]

I don't see the need for there to be a list of recommended reading/ viewing materials. In the early days, when this hobby was new and people had no idea what it was about, this was more useful.

Nowadays, with the over saturation of media types available, there's no lack of understanding what the genre is about. The devs would probably do better to educate players on the most effective ways of playing the game rather than what media to absorb for ideas.

A list of roleplaying guides and advice for world building materials seems to be a more useful way to help players and dungeon masters.

Appendix N is not strictly necessary, but don't assume everyone absorbs what is out there. This thread is an exercise in genre influences, and those who are not aware of such sources may benefit greatly.

 

[MacMathan]

I look at it also as a list of what inspired the creators of the edition. What sort of stories were they wanting to recreate can tell you a lot about a game.

 

[Savage Wombat]

China Mieville Y/N?

Can we have a list of "Don't Reads" too? Starting with Twilight?

 

[Hussar]

I'd agree with most of the stuff listed so far.

I'd definitely add China Mieville. Fantastic world building and a take on heroic fantasy that is just cool. And, yes, Harry Potter certainly needs to be on the list.

Other inspirations:

Avatar: The Last Airbender
Terry Pratchett
Numerous authors from the webzine: Beneath Ceaseless Skies : : Issue #92
Numerous authors from Black Gate
James Enge's Morlock the Maker series.

 

[tuxgeo]

Eddings' Belgariad series might belong on a new list. ('Twas written after the original Appendix N came out.)