IS Gary Gygax's World Builder Hardcover any good?

[Crothian]

I just got this one today and at some point I'll be doing a full review of it. My casual glance and spot reading though told be this much: a good book for detail referenceing. Sure, some of this info can be found at other places, like a dozen or so different places, but it's all right here in one book. I like the little bit of details this can add. But so far the best section is the bit about the money in the note from editors at the front. I really like that someone has finally put that into words.

In the weapons section I love that there is a picture of each weapon right there next to the weapon describtion. However, I did notice some rules problems like bearded axe, martial medium sized weapon, doing 2d6 damage. For the most part weapon damages seem fine, there were a few exceptions like that one.

 

[Aitch Eye]

There's a DM I've been playing with for 15 years now, and I can say with pretty good authority that this book will be incredibly useful for him. He doesn't have a great deal of historic or technical knowledge, and since a lot of what goes on in his games is off the top of his head, it's not unusual for him to ask us questions during the game about a lot of the things this books covers. It hasn't hurt the game any, but having this on hand would have been a real convenience in a number of instances. And he won't have to drag Unearthed Arcana around to know what polearms look like (but will anyway).

I would've gotten it for our other current DM for Xmas if it had been out. She bought it as soon as she saw it.

 

[optimizer]

Howdy!

I just bought a copy of the book last Friday. I have only had a chance to glance through the book, but I thought that it will be a great tool for me as a DM. So far I am glad that I purchased it!

Mike

 

[Psion]

How minor are the details in this book? I just got AEG's Toolbox and am wondering how their content compares. So far, Toolbox has been useful for me.

(As always, review forthcoming...)

 

[d20Dwarf]

Hey jgbrowning!
Where are you at? What is your LGS? I am in Irving, right next to the Donut Dome, so I usually shop at the Lone Star over here. But I am always looking for a good LGS...

I live in Southwest Arlington, and as a result go to the SWA Lone Star, as they have always called it. Unfortunately SWA seems to be one of those dumping ground stores where they offload excess stock from the busier stores. Oh well, they still have Heroclix tournaments and I won the back issue contest after my first purchase when I moved back, so I can't complain. If I gamed in store more, I would definitely make the drive to my old stomping grounds up on Abrams.

You guys are lucky to have a non-chain game store nearby, all the ones that have ever existed down this way end up closed....R.I.P. Fantastic Worlds....

 

[SHARK]

Greetings!

I picked up the Gary Gygax's World Builder over the weekend, and I can say it is a great book. In brief, it is like a very cool extension of the 1st edition Dungeon Master's Guide. It provides exactly what it declares--a wealth of routine and obscure information that can benefit a Game Master's campaign, both during play, and while drawing up details of a campaign. Very good stuff, and I highly recommend it.

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

 

[Utrecht]

I have to say that I was very underwhelmed by this book. I went in to buy it on Sunday, but decieded to flip through it before purchasing and ended up leaving it on the shelf.

The first chapter was all about arms and armour - and I found myself thinking while this is interesting, there is little here not covered by the PHB.

The second chapter was about nature/weather - and while ther herb information seemed interesting, I question the true value of it since any DM with some preperation can create something similar.

Finally, there was the section on dwellings. Again, while this was interesting, It seemed to be inforamtion that can be easily created by the DM.

Finally, the tables - these were good (and were almost enough to get me to buy it) - and are perhaps the real reason to buy the book after all if you ever wanted a table on randomly determining the shape of an NPC's nose - here is the book for you.....

I guess that it came to to utility vs. cost and at $29.95 I had a hard time mentally justifying it. However, I do plan on letting it settle and look at it the next time I in the game store.

 

[Xeriar]

How minor are the details in this book? I just got AEG's Toolbox and am wondering how their content compares. So far, Toolbox has been useful for me.

(As always, review forthcoming...)

It gives definitions for hills, knolls, and so on... laughably silly at many points. I picked it up mainly to just have a book with this information printed and in one place.

If you are strapping for cash, their are many, many better books out there.

 

[Col_Pladoh]

Gygaxian Fantasy Worlds Series

Howdy!

Just thought I'd post a relatively brief comment here in regards the WB.

While I hope many gamers will like the book, find it useful, I have no quarrel with those who do not. It is a part of a series of reference books of mainly generic sort that I have long envisioned for use by GMs and fantasy writers in need of source and reference material. Troll Lord Games was good enough to agree with the concept, and to the line began with the CANTING CREW, now the WORLD BUILDER is there. WB is a combination of lists, tables, and facts. Dan Cross called it a "Descriptionary," and that's a fair term for much of the contents. It's a one-volume work that makes the GMs life easier in describing and detailing something he is creating. It facilitates development of a setting and encounter areas therein.

I have submitted the FANTASY LIFE ms. to TLG, it being the third volume in the series. This work covers the socio-economic classes in a fantasy world with active deities and at least moderate level of magic. It is a who-what-where-when-why-how reference book that discusses in depth the roles and interrelationships of secular rulers with the spiritual ones (clerics), and then works on down through the classes.

Other volumes in the series will cover the main places for adventurers to enter--inns, taverns, temples, traders shops, etc. It is named ESSENTIAL PLACES, and Jon Creffield is the principal author. Next come Malcolm Bowers fantasy perons/creatures/places anmes book, including ethnic names, this work not yet titled, and Alan Kellogg's NATION BUILDER. the series will then add a work dealing with seas and ships and adventures there, and likely one on fantasy plots and plot twists for adventures. More might be included if there is need and interest.

In short, the line is meant to provide the gamer with a complete reference library that will make creating material easier and the end result better.

It is not meant for everyone, and I keep the following in mind whenever I write any work:

"He who publishes a book runs a great hazard, since nothing can be more impossible than to compose one that may secure the approbation of every reader."
Cervantes


Thanks for following along.

Ciao,
Gary

 

[Troll Lord]

Amazon

Hey all, I don't want to hijack or otherwise dive into this thread (as a publisher I try to restrict myself to our own boards and the d20 publishers forum), but I would like to thank all for the kind words. We do feel that this book has finally set the tone for what TLG (and Gary and Dan ) can do.

Just to let you know, the warehouse we ship through decided to close for two week during christmas then move in January and the book wandered around KY for a couple of weeks. Needless to say we were not at all amused our Christmas release didn't get to shops until late Jan, and still hasn't arrived in the UK, France and Germany.

I'm am bothered about that Amazon mess. You should be able to type Gary's name in and come up with all three products he's done through us. We'll look into it (by we, I mean Todd, that his job LOL). Thanks for the heads up.

It is in full distribution now though and if you can't get you local shops to order (or they say it isn't out) please drop me an email at troll@trolllord.com and we'll get right on it.

Thanks and have a great day!
Steve