IS Gary Gygax's World Builder Hardcover any good?

[jgbrowning]

Here's a trivia question, just for the heck of it: What is the difference between a glen, dale, and a dell? Off the top of your head, no reference peeking permitted. Be exact and precise. Such minor distinctions can be interesting when drawing maps and creating towns or cities. Then again, some won't give a crap, and others have an encyclopedic mind to begin with. "Usefulness" in reference material is truly subjective with gamers.

I'm not really trying to "convert" anyone, just pointing out these subtleties.

Actually, your example is probably not the best. If the majority of people don't know the difference between a glen, dale, and a dell, the majority of players wont know the difference. Hence, if i use them in my discriptions they are defacto synonymns. My (as a DM) attempt to convey the minor distintiction is lost on my players.

this is not to deride the book, i've actually been waiting for it a while and i think it will probably be quite useful, but just to let you know how examples can be sometimes taken to "prove" a point they weren't trying to make.

joe b.

 

[kenjib]

Actually, your example is probably not the best. If the majority of people don't know the difference between a glen, dale, and a dell, the majority of players wont know the difference. Hence, if i use them in my discriptions they are defacto synonymns. My (as a DM) attempt to convey the minor distintiction is lost on my players.

I'm not sure that I agree. Knowing the difference between a glen, dale, and dell would suggest certain terrain features that you might not have been aware of or that might not have readily come to mind when building an encounter or area in the first place. I don't have the book, so I'm referring to Merriam Webster's online dictionary. Let's say you were going to put something in a valley-type area and then you looked up all the different types of valleys:

Main Entry: dell
Pronunciation: 'del
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English delle; akin to Middle High German telle ravine, Old English dæl valley -- more at DALE
Date: 13th century
: a secluded hollow or small valley usually covered with trees or turf

Aha! Now that gives me the idea of making the valley narrow and dense with trees that obscure it's presence. It is hard to find and might hide secrets or a lair. I've just added some new and interesting detail to the area that could have significant game-story relevance, whether or not the players know what a "dell" is and whether or not I even refer to it as such. This idea might not have occured to me had I not a list handy of various geographical features from which to draw inspiration.

The important thing is that they are all in one place and I don't need to seek them out explicitly. I wouldn't even have thought to try and find out what a dell was if not for this juxtaposition.

EDIT: In the information age, information is becoming increasingly easy to come by. Presentation, organization, and delivery suddenly become critical, because information is useless if you can't get to it efficiently. IMO that's what you are paying for with a book like this.

 

[Nathal]

If the majority of people don't know the difference between a glen, dale, and a dell, the majority of players wont know the difference.

I didn't mean to imply that the book ought to be pedagogic! Entertainment is the first priority of the group, of course, and if it suits the DM not to know the difference...well certainly no harm comes of it.

[this is not to deride the book, i've actually been waiting for it a while and i think it will probably be quite useful, but just to let you know how examples can be sometimes taken to "prove" a point they weren't trying to make.

You are certainly correct in that! Heck, this board is filled primarily by the most experienced "grognards". I have no doubt my example can be taken as another puzzle of CR 1.

But really I'm not trying to be overly clever. I'm a fellow gamer, not superior to any other. My example was a simplistic illustration of how the organization of the book may aid in the common tasks of DMing. My defense of this work stems (although only in part) from my rather obvious connection to it, and so I should shut up before it becomes "overkill", so to speak.

 

[mythusmage]

Glen: First name of Glen[n] Curtis, an early aviation pioneer. Inventer of the flying boat.

Dale: The dumb chipmunk.

Dell: Computer manufacturer. Dell TV advertising features the most annoying group of dweebs you'd never want to meet.

 

[Gez]

aha! Another hair-brained idea! He's french. Everyone knows french is primarly restricted to speaking about food or love. I was generous in my "soup" interpretation because i didn't want to go anywhere near the love version of "serpent"....

joe b.

However, you do know that serpents are, symbolically speaking, sexual and sensual creatures.

 

[Col_Pladoh]

aha! Another hair-brained idea! He's french. Everyone knows french is primarly restricted to speaking about food or love. I was generous in my "soup" interpretation because i didn't want to go anywhere near the love version of "serpent"....

joe b.

Joe...

LOL!

I'd add to your cmment, but I have way too many French friends and associates, and I'd never get any more wine and cheese if they caught me in the act of bashing Frenchmen

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

One of the big things to remember about this series is that even though you could presumably do the research yourself to create all the lists and suchlike, the amount of time and research actually needed becomes quite significant vs. the time required to use the book.

I'm still debating whether it is worth my limited money to procure these books instead of something else, but the idea behind them is good.

Cheers!

On target, Merric!

Fact is at times when I was researching and compiling, I questioned my sanity in undertaking the work

What you should do to acquire the material gratis is sign up as a reviewer, heh-heh-heh. Seems the main motivation for most of that ilk, and generally admitted. "Free stuff" is always great in the eyes of a true gamer.

Ciao,
Gary

 

[Deadguy]

I took the opportunity to review this book - okay I spent a good while reading it in my local FLGS.

I will say straight off that a lot of work has gone in to the product. There were lots of little things that caught my eye as I browsed though it.

However I also decided it wasn't for me. Why not? Simply that I have been DMing for long enough that I've picked up books, references and notes to fill most of the niche that the book fills. But for a newer DM I think it could help you consider things that you wouldn't otherwise. It isn't a must-have, but it sure makes life simpler when used well.

My only criticism was that there wasn't enough advice on actually using the information. I think some more discussion and advice would've gone down well. That said, that would make a good online resource from TLG!

 

[Col_Pladoh]

WB Review

EarthsShadow,

You did a thorough job of it, and I do believe that you might make it an avocation, reviewing. What Merric added was excellent advice, right down to the suggestion of re-reading the material--and I too HATE to go back and do than

BTW, note that I suggested Merric might want to become a reviewer to get goodies for free, but the fact is that his critique and suggestions sure do make it likely he'd be great at it. Maybe you two can team up

Cheers,
Gary

 

[Col_Pladoh]

I took the opportunity to review this book - okay I spent a good while reading it in my local FLGS.

I will say straight off that a lot of work has gone in to the product. There were lots of little things that caught my eye as I browsed though it.

However I also decided it wasn't for me. Why not? Simply that I have been DMing for long enough that I've picked up books, references and notes to fill most of the niche that the book fills. But for a newer DM I think it could help you consider things that you wouldn't otherwise. It isn't a must-have, but it sure makes life simpler when used well.

My only criticism was that there wasn't enough advice on actually using the information. I think some more discussion and advice would've gone down well. That said, that would make a good online resource from TLG!

Howdy Rich,

Sure can't disagree with what you have to say. There is a distinct advantage to having att the material in one book, though.

As for online material, I for one just hate it. I'd rather have it in printed form. Guess I'm old-school

There is an exception. I much prefer to compose material in an electronic file that working with paper and pencil--or typewriter. Haven't toughed a typewriter in a decade.

Cheers,
Gary