Help me sort out Greyhawk support

[Irda Ranger]

I have decided to run the adventure path from Sunless Citadel up through Bastion of Broken Souls. I have decided to set them in the Greyhawk campaign setting for a change in pace.

Now, I think of myself as having been playing D&D for a while, but the truth is I started just as 2nd Ed. came out and have never played in Greyhawk before and have no module support for it.

Taking a loook at Amazon's Greyhawk selection is a little confusing since there doesn't seem to be a "Greyhawk Campaign Setting" book. Can anyone help me figure out what I need?

I just want the basics. The main maps, a brief description of each area and kingdom, an overview of recent history and pantheons. What I am trying to avoid is the Encylapedic categorization of Realms Lore.

This is what I have found:

Living Greyhawk Gazetteer by Erick Mona, $18.97

Player's Guide to Greyhawk (Greyhawk Returns), a paperback by Anne Brown, Used & New $7.00

Greyhawk Adventures, by James Ward, Used & New $7.99

World of Greyhawk by Gary Gygax, Out of Print.

World of Greyhawk by Roger Moore, Out of Stock, No Price Listed


What I want:

3rd Edition Rules

I am willing to buy 2 books, 3 if someone makes a good case for it. I don't plany on joining the RPGA or subcribing to anything.

Can anyone help me sort this out?

Thanks so much in advance.

 

[Darius101]

http://www.rpg.net/ehp/imrryr/greyhawk.html
Try this ..it is interesting and informative.

Robilar Message Board
This talks about the original Campaigns.

My absolute Favorite: "Gord's Greyhawk"

Gene Weigal's List of Pure Greyhawk: Published

Another Bibliography by Falconer

There are more but that should be a decent start....good luck.
Oh and Gary hangs out on this board and you could always ask him if you have any questions.

Later,
Darius

**Edit
Cannonfire Grey Talk

 

[DDK]

From what I can gather of your needs, as stated, the Gazetteer ($18.97) would be your best bet. If I understand this correctly, the gazetteer you are referring to is the shrinkwrapped, thin version, not the big (192) Gazetteer.

However, if you're willing to fork out just a little bit of extra money, then I thoroughly recommend going the bigger book as it has a MUCH better and bigger map and is MUCH better value for money. On top of that, I heard that they're no longer in print so if you can find one, it's best to grab it now while you can.

The small one, though, will provide you with a thorough and yet concise backdrop of all there is to know about Greyhawk, updated to the year 591 C.Y. (Common Year). It also includes a quite adequate map of about A3 size.

There are, however, other options as well, some of which you've mentioned. Greyhawk Adventures is a nice product however if you can get the World of Greyhawk (Gygax version) book, then I thoroughly recommend it. I think it's one of his best books and one where he shines as a creative writer and a setting creator. It also has in it information that you won't really be able to get anywhere else like the information on Ipt and Galda trees and all the nobility and knighthood heirarchies and the original write-ups of the gods (they've been somewhat corrupted over the years).

However, there is also another option that you haven't listed and that is Carl Sargent's works. In my opinion, he wrote the best Greyhawk material that has ever been put in print. Iuz the Evil, Marklands and From the Ashes as well as the unpublished manuscript, Ivid the Undying which you can download for free from WotC.

If you are focusing on a particular area of Greyhawk (recommended), then this is the best way to go as each of the books highlight specific areas of the Flanaess which have the most adventure potential, IMO. The best way to go if you're going to go in that direction is to get Marklands and From the Ashes. Marklands details the areas of Furyondy, Veluna and Nyrond as well as some information on areas that surround those nations. They all give massive adventure potential for levels 1 to 20 without being specifically suited to any particular level, like the Ivid or Iuz supplements are. Even if you're using modules only, Marklands is your best bet for being able to slot any generic (I consider the Sunless path to be generic) module into as it contains many different areas that are suitable for pretty much any type of adventure. From the Ashes will give you a general overview of all the areas and the effects of the Greyhawk Wars and although I'd consider it a must have for a GH campaign, it's not a must have for what I perceive your needs to be.

Aside from that, I recommend you scout through the archives of Canonfire (link in sig) as there is a LOT of free material that can be found there like maps and lots of fan material that can help in many unique situations where areas aren't detailed anywhere else as well as some class write-ups, interesting NPC's, histories and whatnot. It's a mixed-bag, but there's a lot of good stuff in there.

 

[DDK]

Gene Weigal's List of Pure Greyhawk: Published

*twitch*

Evil...

*twitch*twitch*

EVIL...

*blink*

*twitch*

EVIL!

 

[Tarek]

Greyhawk

For a basic overview of the setting go to SVGames.com and buy the ESD of the 1983 boxed set. There are two products listed with the same cover, though, so you'll have to read the description carefully.

For 3e, try to find a copy of the Living Greyhawk Gazeteer.

There's not a whole lot of edition specific information in the '83 boxed set, though, as the whole idea was to introduce people to the Greyhawk setting.

Also, you may want to visit living-greyhawk.com for the deity information. It should be in the downloads section somewhere.

Tarek

 

[Darius101]

It worked earlier ....when I posted it.

Sometimes the net can just drive ya nutz .....


Good luck,
Darius

 

[grodog]

http://www.rpg.net/ehp/imrryr/greyhawk.html
Try this ..it is interesting and informative.

Thanks for the plug, Darius101!

Posted by DDK:
However, if you're willing to fork out just a little bit of extra money, then I thoroughly recommend going the [Living Greyhawk Gaz.] as it has a MUCH better and bigger map and is MUCH better value for money.

I agree. For your $, the LGG is the best GH source still in print, and it's an excellent resource.

The [D&D Gaz.] also includes a quite adequate map of about A3 size.

I actually like the D&D Gaz. map better then the one that came with the LGG. That said, none of the contemporary maps can compare with with Darlene Pekul's fabulous E-size maps from the folio, 1983 box set, or FtA.

[The 1983 box set] also has in it information that you won't really be able to get anywhere else like the information on Ipt and Galda trees and all the nobility and knighthood heirarchies and the original write-ups of the gods (they've been somewhat corrupted over the years).

If you own the Dragon CD Rom archives, you'll have all of the gods from the 1983 box set, and more that weren't included. There are also a number of additional articles from Dragon about Greyhawk, written by Gygax, Rob Kuntz, Len Lakofka, and others. Well-worth checking out, esp. for the $30 price tag.

However, there is also another option that you haven't listed and that is Carl Sargent's works. In my opinion, he wrote the best Greyhawk material that has ever been put in print. Iuz the Evil, Marklands and From the Ashes as well as the unpublished manuscript, Ivid the Undying which you can download for free from WotC.

You can't beat the value for the money in Ivid the Undying: it is a great sourcebook, even if you're not into the world as changed during the Sargent-era Greyhawk products.

 

[DDK]

If you own the Dragon CD Rom archives, you'll have all of the gods from the 1983 box set, and more that weren't included. There are also a number of additional articles from Dragon about Greyhawk, written by Gygax, Rob Kuntz, Len Lakofka, and others. Well-worth checking out, esp. for the $30 price tag.

It's only $30? I thought it was like $70 U.S.? Is it purchasable online? $30 USD = $50 AUD... plus shipping... ooh, no die-hard GH fan should be without those Dragon articles... all the times I've looked through Zavoda's index and cursed the day I lost my metre high stack of Dragon mags... why did you make me a GH fan AFTER 2nd ed. God, why? You cruel, cruel woman...

 

[Alzrius]

I have to recommend the Living Greyhawk Gzeteer. It's a large book, and it's jam-packed with information. It has virtually every god worshipped on Greyhawk, as well as a pretty nice section on the history and major NPC's of the place. It's description of the various regions is very long, covering pretty much every kingdom/area in pretty good detail. You don't need to join the RPGA or play Living Greyhawk to use it. And best of all is that it's 3E already.

It's worth noting that the D&D Gazeteer is essentially a much, much thinner version of the same product.

 

[Darius101]

Cannonfire - Bin Nice listing of stuff

Living Greyhawk Gazeteer is a good resource and they did a real nice job on the map. The map is real pretty. I miss the Hexes though.
I am still looking for the online maps. I know that some of them can be found at the CC2 map site ..but I can't remember the URL.


Welcome,
Darius