I need a good sourcebook on Fey

[Kealios]

I've taken a leave of absense from all RPGs for the last year, but with 4E coming out, I'm getting the urge again. I've decided to take my DM cap off the shelf and give it another go, in the vein of how I introduced some of friends to 3.5 years ago. I'm actually quite excited.

I swore after my last 2 year stint as DM that I'd go with published modules next time around, but my creative juices, and all the work I've done on my own world just scream in agony at the very thought - yes, it may be easier, but its not what I was built to do.

SO then I started looking at all the themes of campaigns Ive run or played in over the last 20 years, and was figuring out what we've gone up against. We've done vampires and lycanthropes, dragons, orcs, demons to death...but it dawned on me that we havent explored the world of the seely and unseely court much. Coupled with the fact that I was in the middle of reading Bloody Bones by Laurell K Hamilton at the time, I think I want to try running a campaign based around fey (not just faeries, but the scary bad fey too).

SO I come to you, the knowledgeable public, asking for really good scourcebooks on Fey. I am using this for 4E, so stats would be cool but Im not as worried about that. I want lore, creature types, habitats and habits, etc. I want details on the unseely court and what bad things can happen to people who mess with the Fey.

Got any ideas?

Thanks in advance,

Kealios

 

[Afrodyte]

GURPS Faerie is a great sourcebook. No stats or anything, but a wonderful introduction into the creatures called fey. What's more, it's not focused on the British Isles, so you can use ideas from other cultures to throw players for a loop from time to time.

Another source is Carol Rose's Spirits, Fairies, Leprechauns, and Goblins: An Encyclopedia. It's an alphabetical listing and description of all kinds of creatures in all kinds of cultures. It's great if you want to get beyond the Celtic fey types.

Of course, you could always pick up Andrew Lang's "colorful" Fairy books and glean some info from there.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

If you want to explore Fey concepts that go beyond simply core mythology. Then I would say pick up Changeling: The Lost, it is a amazing series. You just need core nWoD book and core Changeling: The Lost book to play, but the supplements are good and it is a limited line so not hard to buy all the books as they come out.

In it you play Changelings, who are humans captured by the "True Fae" and have escaped back into the world, but their time in "Arcadia" (they Fae World) has turned you into a Changeling. Now you must find a new identity and a new life, amongst the Changeling Courts and hide from the peering eyes of the True Fae.

It has many, many new and old tidbits that you can use for 4e. It is also just a all around excellent horror game.

 

[Aus_Snow]

GURPS Faerie is a great sourcebook.

Yes. This is what I was going to recommend.

 

[Voadam]

A couple sources for inspiration

D20

Fairies by Bastion Press

Complete Guide to Fey by Goodman Games

Encyclopedia Divine Fey Magic by Mongoose publishing

The Little People, Celtic Fairies by Avalanche Press

The Underhill Court by Dog Soul Publishing

Imperial Age Fairies by Adamant Entertainment

Van Richten's Guide to the Shadow Fey by Arthaus/SSS/White Wolf

Iconic Bestiary Classic Fey by Lion's Den Press

Book of the Fantastical by Visionary Entertainment Studio

Children of the Fey by Clockwork Golem Press

Lands of Nevermore by Expeditious Retreat Press

The Sidhe Book of Nightmares by AEG

Non d20

PC1 Creature Crucible 1 Tall Tales of the Wee Folk (basic D&D product)

Faeries by Atlas Games, 3rd and 4th editions are quite different. I think the 3rd one is by White Wolf or maybe WotC when they were doing Ars Magica.

Faery's Tale by Green Ronin

Changeling the Dreaming and Changeling the Lost by White Wolf

Tuala Morn by Hero Games

The Undying Lands by Valent Games

Fairy Meat by Kenzer and Co.

The Memoirs of Auberon of Faerie by R. Talsorian Games for Castle Falkenstein