Necromancer's City of Brass

[grodog]

Was Rob Kuntz's City of Brass for Hackmaster a serious book? I heard that it isn't the satire that much of the Hackmaster stuff was and that it was pretty darn good.

The fact that it was called Sir Robilar's City of Brass tells me something about it. This will hardly answer your question but this is what I remember about it.

I don't have the product but as I, albeit vaguely, remember the Sir Robilars CIty of Brass was planned to be authored by Rob Kuntz but due to some issues it ended up being co-authored by Kuntz and another writer (the cover lists two authors), and the final version contained less of Kuntz's version than originally intended.

Kuntz's own 1e City of Brass adventure has been floating around the internet for years (with his permission I believe).

Rob had actually plotted out several City of Brass adventures/sourcebooks over the years. The first one was "(To the) City of Brass" which was run as the 1987 RPGA AD&D Open at DragonCon #1 (and was where I first met Rob); that version is available on both the Acaeum (in its first online format) at http://www.acaeum.com/library/citybrass.html and on Canonfire! at http://www.canonfire.com/cfhtml/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=getit&lid=7 (this is the old NG freebie version). This was going to be followed-up by more adventures that took the PCs into the CoB itself (the first just brings them to the gates).

Rob later contracted with Kenzer to write his full treatment of the CoB sourcebook, but he broke his leg in 7 places and was hospitalized and then offline for about 6 months, so Kenzer had a second author step in to complete the ms. The version published by Kenzer is probably about 40% RJK and 60% Jeff Knight. The horrible irony of the project is that Rob had nearly completed the ms. while offline, and was in the process of turning in the 89K word ms. when SR'sCoB was published. This version was sold at auction by Rob awhile ago, for about $200 or so IIRC.

In terms of quality, I rank the Sir Robilar's City of Brass book as one of Hackmaster's best books, since it's much less parody than most other books in that line. Rob and I have been talking to Kenzer off and on for a year about buying the rights to CoB back, so hopefully Rob's full version of the City of Brass will be published in due time as well.

 

[johnsemlak]

City of Brass on amazon.com for $44

Is this the boxed set? 'Cause it says paperback. If yes it's quite the bargain isn't it...

I think Amazon technically labels many of the D&D mini products, including the DDM Icons, as
'Hardback books'. It's just which pigeonhole they put them into. Presumably, Amazon.com doesn't have a 'RPG boxed set' category . The closest thing would be a boxed board game.

All in all, I'm happy with Amazon's categories. It allows me to order (some) d&D minis and the boxed sets online and have them shipped to Russia. Products in all their toy categories are not eligible to be shipped here, but books are.

 

[Shemeska]

Nice to see that Necromancer is supplying us with the first decent Planescape product since that line got canceled.

Necro's CoB doesn't actually have any links to the Planescape / Al-Qadim / 3.x WotC details for the City of Brass. They're based on the same original concept from mythology, but with IP issues etc, Necro's take was their own thing rather than being based on the 2e and 3e development of the city by TSR/WotC.

That, and Necro's "old school" design philosophy is probably a wee bit different from Planescape

 

[RichGreen]

Necro's CoB doesn't actually have any links to the Planescape / Al-Qadim / 3.x WotC details for the City of Brass. They're based on the same original concept from mythology, but with IP issues etc, Necro's take was their own thing rather than being based on the 2e and 3e development of the city by TSR/WotC.

That, and Necro's "old school" design philosophy is probably a wee bit different from Planescape

I need to dig out my copy of Secrets of the Lamp and see if I can use the two boxed sets together!

Cheers


Richard

 

[Varianor Abroad]

You can easily use this with Planescape. I mean, this is D&D after all! I read more of it last night. I really like the environs around the City. They are nasty and dangerous - appropriate for L10+ adventures.

 

[grodog]

My copy arrived from Amazon today; it's weighty, that's for sure

More details later!

 

[GVDammerung]

Just to add one more voice to the chorus - this is an outstanding product in almost every way. I got my copy at Gencon and it is far and away the best CoB thart has been done to date (The AQ and Hackmaster releases being the others). It is also far and away superior to anything in the Planescape line, IMO. THIS is the planes done to near perfection. The only quibble I have is with the city map; it seems too "small" but I suppose it works when the outer city is considered. As stated, a minor quibble. I have never before purchased a gaming product for over $50. I took a flyer on this one and I'm pleased I did so. Necro's CoB is actually worth every penny of the asking price. A VERY fine product!

 

[Treebore]

You can easily use this with Planescape. I mean, this is D&D after all! I read more of it last night. I really like the environs around the City. They are nasty and dangerous - appropriate for L10+ adventures.

Very, VERY easy to tie into Planescape. Incredibly easy.

 

[Grazzt]

Necro's CoB doesn't actually have any links to the Planescape / Al-Qadim / 3.x WotC details for the City of Brass.

Doesnt have to. The entire campaign as well as surrounding area (including the Plane of Molten Skies) is "open" enough ('generic enough' if you prefer) that it could easily be dropped into any of the above campaigns if you wish.

 

[Grazzt]

Very, VERY easy to tie into Planescape. Incredibly easy.

Yep. Should definitely be easy. Kind of designed with the whole 'open' thing in mind (so DMs can drop the setting into their own world easily). (Wasnt designed with Planescape in mind..at least the stuff I wrote...never been a fan of Planescape at all...just me tho )