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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Voadam" data-source="post: 4932783" data-attributes="member: 2209">Greyhawk:I have a couple of these:The OD&D original folio, the AD&D 1980s boxed set, the 2e From the Ashes Boxed set, the late 2e Player's Guide, and I used to have the 3e Living Greyhawk Gazetteer.They each do the setting differently, presenting different strengths.The folio gives nice concise one paragraph descriptions for each of the countries, probably the best one for getting a handle on their history, politics, and their relationships as many split off from the Great Kingdom and were influenced by human ethnic migrations. It does not even reference the gods and only provides the bare bones of the countries and geographical features, leaving a lot of room for the DM to work in. It is short and this is the only one I read cover to cover.The 80s boxed set expands on the folio including the pantheons and such. Plenty of room to work in and breathe but more history flavor and details to grab onto. All the AD&D modules fit right in and feel like they fit. To me it also feels the most complementary to the 1e DMG, not just a matching of independent rules and settings.From the Ashes reboots the setting after a series of wars turning it much darker with exhausted countries of good threatened by evil nations that have expanded or fallen into destructive chaos after the war and fiends were unleashed upon the land and roam in great numbers. Great in depth description with tons of NPCs, events going on, plots, etc. and a fantastic delving into the pantheon with great 2e god descriptions. I like it a lot.The Player's Guide is a less oppressively Dark Fantasy return for Greyhawk with the demon's having been banished and evil nations and armies pulling back leaving places of mystery for dungeon exploration instead of armies and politics and such. I remember it having a decent section for the human ethnic groups but its been a while.I don't have the end of the 2e era The Adventure Begins one.I also don't have the short 3e Greyhawk gazeteer. The 3e Living Greyhawk Gazeteer brings together a ton of expanded universe greyhawk lore (expanded pantheon, revealed histories, etc.) and organizes it nicely while keeping almost entirely stat free. I really liked the god info here.So which is best for you depends on what you want. Just a background of kingdoms with some kingdom and ethnic history/politics to set as the backdrop of your D&D game? go with the Folio.Want the quintessential 1e Gygax AD&D game? Go with the boxed set.Want a well detailed dark fantasy D&D setting with tons of adventure/setting hooks? From the Ashes.A not as quirky medieval D&D setting? Go with the later 2e.Want a great overview to everything Greyhawk as it has developed? Go with the Living Gazeteer.</blockquote>

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