Greyhawk Primary Source Material

[Eternalknight]

In other words: a good christmas present...

Yeah, but that is the only gaming product I've ever recied for christmas - thoug for my 21st birthday last year I got the 1992 TSR cCollectors Cards box set

 

[dcollins]

I voted for the 1983 Boxed Set. However, I use the 1980 Folio almost as frequently (in fact, keep my '83 books inside the much-taped '80 folder). Plus the Dragon-magazine articles by Gygax and Kuntz from the same era are an equally important component.

And yes, a previous poster's comment on the original adventure modules is valid, too.

 

[MerricB]

Well, 51 votes, the LGG getting most of the votes, with the '83 set the second most popular, but the other sources also getting a look in.

Okay, Erik, Gary, Sean and the rest - you did a good job.

Cheers!

 

[Erik Mona]

That recognition is all I ever wanted.

--Erik

 

[DDK]

Ask me this question a year ago and I would've said the LGG without hesitation, however in recent times I've found that the LGG just isn't enough, I want it all!

Currently Ivid the Undying is my primary source of info but that's only because I want to focus a campaign based in that area. I LOVE Carl Sargent's work and care less what all the die-hard's say about him.

But I've also begun collecting older GH material and am pouring over it all so I really don't have a primary source.

That said, I use the LGG as a yardstick, in more ways than one. All the gaps in it I fill and I use it as the template for my overall gaming in GH. But I also use it as a template for other material to measure up to. I care less what all the old timers say about how these books are crap, to me the LGG is what everything else should compare to, not the other way around. I came to that conclusion through my research and knowledge of writing, not through some elitist, over-weening, philosophy that just because Gary didn't stamp it with his approval, that it doesn't stack up.

 

[MerricB]

Piratecat, if you're browsing (ill and sleepless), you may find this poll/thread interesting in what people think of various sources of Greyhawk material today.

I wonder who voted for the 1980 folio?

Cheers!

 

[Vuron]

I'd have to say that besides some of the 13 modules which kinda captured the feel of Greyhawk I would say the first 2 Greyhawk novels and Nitescreed's rantings have most affected my viewpoint concerning greyhawk.

 

[Davelozzi]

LGG is the best as a general reference but some of the older materials are better as a straight read. Every version has its own strengths and weaknesses.

I only follow GH as a fan but have never run a campaign in it, so I didn't vote. I refer to all of the above sources fairly equally.

I did play, very briefly in a GH campaign once. It kicked off somewhere between From the Ashes era and the Adventure begins era (in real time just before the latter module was released).

If I was actually to run a GH campaign, it would depend on the game year that I was setting it in. If I wanted start a new D&D campaign and write my own adventures, I'd probably use LGG. I would use the folio and '83 box for a nostalgic run of the classic modules. And I would use From the Ashes for a darker, more political campaign, similar to what Lisa described above.

 

[smetzger]

What's good about ghe 1980 WoG Folio? Is it worth getting the ESD, if you have loads of later material?

I voted for 1980. If I am not mistaken it has the largest and highest quality maps. The actual information presented is pretty sparse. Since you won't get much out of scanned maps I would say its not worth it for ESD.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I voted 83 boxed set. The definitive Greyhawk sourcebook IMO. The LGG is good, but some of the 2e changes that are now cannon blow*.



*Vecna Lives has to be the worst thing I've ever read.