Do we need new Gazetteers?

[NeuroZombie]

I loved all of the Basic D&D Gazateers and would lover for something similar to be released. Heck, I would love 3.5. versions of the old Known World ones for that matter.

 

[MarauderX]

OK, i'll bite, what do you consider a good example?

Hmmm, I suppose most of the originals which can be found here.

Argent Silvermage also has a good example IMO.

 

[Silveras]

As much as I love the old Known World Gazetteers, I don't think they (or something new on the same idea) are practical to produce. To provide that sort of flavor and detail, they would have to be world-specific. Anything less would not "measure up". That limits their appeal somewhat. Additionally, they were/are primarily a DM's tool, which limits their market even more.

 

[Harlock]

As much as I love the old Known World Gazetteers, I don't think they (or something new on the same idea) are practical to produce. To provide that sort of flavor and detail, they would have to be world-specific. Anything less would not "measure up". That limits their appeal somewhat. Additionally, they were/are primarily a DM's tool, which limits their market even more.

Depends on the publisher, I suppose. White Wolf via Sword and Sorcery Studios is producing "gazetteer-like" books. Burok Torn: City Under Siege is about the city-state of the Dwarves. Hollowfaust: City of Necromancers is about the city-state where a lot of Necromancers live and rule. Calastia: Throne of the Black Dragon details an evil human empire. And, there are a lot more in the series.

Now, some may find them too setting specific, but I think most of them, could slide easily into a standard D&D campaign with very little DM trickery. Just slap them in any unexplored area and have them be isolationist.

As far as the books being DM specific, it seems to me that sometimes, S&SS have gone too far to make some of the books player friendly. I have on many occasions lent the books out to players for a read with the only request being that when they come to the section with adventure ideas, that they kindly skip over those.

It can be done, and by a large game company. The real question is, how big a profit margin does Hasbro need to consider something worth publishing, aside from crunch-heavy hardcovers?

 

[Arnwyn]

IMO, FR is a bland attempt at a comparison and instead relies on subraces for the spice. Pa-tooey!

I agree with you there, at least in terms of 3e FR.

However, the 2e Volo's Guides (as well as a few of the "FRxx" series of geographical supplements, along with a bunch of box sets like City of Splendors and Empires of the Shining Sea for example) were the cat's meow.

So, my answer would be: "yeah, Gazetteer-like supplements for my favorite campaign world would be very much appreciated". In fact, they're the only type of books other than adventures that I buy nowadays (as opposed to the never-ending and forgettable stream of splats coming out...).

 

[Silver Moon]

I had to vote for the second option of enough out there already, as I am still using the original Gazetteers. I'm planning a module for this summer tentatively named "Monster Mash" that uses 1988's "The Orcs of Thar" (Gaz10) as the main campaign setting.

 

[Mark]

Seems like a definite trend toward wanting Gazetteers but maybe there needs to me more voting to be sure...