Frostburn - WoTC Environment Series

[Narfellus]

wotc

well, for what my meager opinion is worth, i think that there are probably too many supplements out there already. I've been playing on and off since 1st edition, and all the incarnations of the game have had good and bad points. WotC has the privlege of the prettiest books ever made, but the drawback is that they and other 3rd party developers often rehash what has been done before, not even 3rd edition, but going back to the roots of the game. I don't think i need a rulebook to tell me how cold weather can affect the players. On the other hand, it will probably be full color hardback, beautiful art, and then the standard (yech) prestiges and feats and "new" weapons.
But i won't judge it until i see it, and if done right and with new ideas that really spark the imagination, then such a series might be worthwhile.

 

[I'm A Banana]

It seems....pointless....an all-in-one book might be better, but according to their plan their goal is to have people repeatedly buy book 'series,' and the environment and genre supplements concern me a bit because if they're not OGL, they're pretty useless to the industry at large, and these are things that can *easily* be built upon in published settings.....and in fact would benefit from it the most (like UA).

So I say screw 'em. I'm gonna support the industry and not them on this...it's more valuable to have a mostly OGL book IMHO than to have a WotC only book.

....unless what we're talking about is TOTALLY WRONG. In which case, maybe.

 

[Orius]

It sounds like it could be pretty cool (no pun intended). My guess is that this started off as a guide to Icewind Dale, and then they realized that it would sell better as a more generic product.

That's a plus IMO. Too many interesting campaign option ideas in 2e was saddled with a specific campaign world. Maztica, the Hordelands, and Al-Qadim all were shoehorned into the Realms, where generic references probably would have been more useful to players. Birthright's central theme PCs ruling kingdoms was tied to a specific setting, which I think was a shame, because some of the concepts in BR may have worked well with any campaign.
If WotC is going to release suppliments like this, I would rather see them as generic D&D rather than being tied to a specific setting. OA and MotC are great examples of this, giving DMs options to help them develop campaigns.

 

[talien]

Nice, talien. Thanks for the listing!

You're very welcome! Thanks for tolerating my shameless advertising.

Personally, I'm going to pick up Frost & Fur. It sounds like it has plenty of things I can use, and it has OGL material. I'd be shocked if Frostburn is OGL at all, which means anything in that book would be impossible to put in my campaigns etting if I'm going to publish it online.

For reference, here's the Designation of Product Identity:

The following items are hereby designated as Product Identity in accordance with Section 1(e) of the Open Game License version 1.0a. Any and all MonkeyGod Enterprises logos and identifying marks; all artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, illustrations, maps and cartography, likenesses, poses, logos, symbols, or graphic design, except such elements that already appear in the D20 System Reference Document and are already OGC by virtue of appearing there. The above Product Identity is not Open Game Content.

And the Designation of Open Game Content:

Subject to the Product Identity designation above, the following portions of Frost & Fur are designated as Open Game Content: all creatures, skills, feats, prestige classes; all Weapons; all Armor; anything else contained hereni which is already Open Game Content by virtue of appearing in the System Reference Document or some other OGC source; and all text contained herein that is already public domain

For some reason, spells are missing from that list. I'm pretty sure that's an error.

I may still pick up Frostburn just to see it, but as soon as my tax return comes in, you can bet I'm getting F&F.

Thanks. You're helping me make a house payment.

 

[MerricB]

I'm strongly of the opinion that Frostburn will cover both Arctic Wastelands and Deserts.

Both are inhospitable environments, where the PCs must worry about dying just from the temperature and the lack of food.

Cheers!

 

[Mean Eyed Cat]

I Just got Frost and Fur in the mail today and so far I really like it. In fact, I think I will continue buying the books in Monkey God's "environmental" series. I believe the Next Explorer's Guide book from MGE deals with the jungle.

 

[johnsemlak]

I Just got Frost and Fur in the mail today and so far I really like it. In fact, I think I will continue buying the books in Monkey God's "environmental" series. I believe the Next Explorer's Guide book from MGE deals with the jungle.

REally? Is there a title for this upcoming work?

 

[Mean Eyed Cat]

REally? Is there a title for this upcoming work?

The Cradle of Life: The Explorer's Guide to the Jungle. No info on its contents or release date yet.

 

[Razuur]

Frost and Fur is well worth the money. It has more of a real world slant with close-ups on Inuit, Nordic, and Slavic cultures. I would be the WOTC book will cover more of a DnD fantasy.

I loved Frost and Fur, and would highly recommend it if you are looking to run adventures in cold climates.

Micheal Tresca has done well.

Razuur

 

[MerricB]

I was wrong. Frostburn will cover just the arctic.

From Andy's boards:
http://pub36.ezboard.com/fgameschat19968frm10.showMessage?topicID=831.topic

Frostburn is a bit of an experiment for us in a new type of sourcebook. As advertised, it's the first in the "Environment Series" which explores the aspects of a particular terrain/climate (in this case, arctic).

It includes info on adventuring in that environment, as well as tips on how to bring aspects of that environment into your existing campaign (so you don't have to travel to Antarctica or the Great Glacier to use what's in there).

The book was written by Wolfgang Baur, James Jacobs, and George Strayton.
--
Andy Collins
Senior Designer
Wizards of the Coast Roleplaying R&D

Cheers!