Recommend a Campaign Setting Book

[KnowTheToe]

As metioned above WoT is an excellent choice and KoK is a superb setting, but the world book is a bit dull to read. Once you start playing in the world, you will be glad they included so much detail. I can't recommend it enough.

 

[barsoomcore]

Okay, I'm jumping in.

Wheel of Time -- give it a look, but it's not really the sort of thing that can just a "part" of a campaign world, which is what it sounds like you're looking for.

I think your two best bets, by far, are Oriental Adventures and Nyambe. Both present very different cultures that still fit within the ground rules of standard D&D so that your characters could, in effect, walk to these places and not find that the rules of physics (or rather magic) have changed all that much. They could learn some cool stuff, maybe take a prestige class or learn some new spells or weapons or whatever, and go home if they liked.

Both books are spectacular, well-written and illustrated, full of ideas and inspiration and thoughtful rules to make adventuring in their settings a completely unique experience.

Take a look, see if they capture your imagination.

 

[Sagan Darkside]

Salutations,

It is not a campeign, but since I just got it.. I want to suggest it as supplement to almost anyone you pick.

I got Living Imagination's Streets of Silver yesterday- a 300+ page book on one city. It is massive, and from the light reading I have done.. very very nice.

So- if you want a well developed city, then go buy this and Bluffsides. Why both? Well, a second well developed city is not going to hurt you, is it?

SD

 

[Nightfall]

On to some more specific responses.


* Scarred Lands: I am very tempted by the many devout followers of this cult. Although I had planned on a nice, all-in-one-book setting I may have to get something from SL just to get a taste. Perhaps Relics and Rituals is the way to go, a lot of crunchy with a taste of the setting. Does that make sense? Or should I start with SLCS: Ghelspad?

Sure. Not to mention you could always have a place outside of your city of Thain that's been warped and twisted and therefore insist that "arcane magic has been subtly altered here" Not quite wild magic but now arcane magic generates heat. Oh and probably might want to send in for some Slitheren/Ratmen or perhaps Assathi (smarter, more dangerous, warrior like lizardmen) Or even better, has some deranged sorcerer summon rather clumsily a pack of Feral. (Ferals are a special breed of demon, kill one, the other 15 get stronger. Kill a lot, the rest get EXTREMELY stronger. Did I mention how much I love Ferals? )

Also try out spells like "Dar'Tan's Shadow Bolt, or Shockwave Strike." Another favorite of mine is Beetle Swarm (If you seen the Mummy, you'll know what I'm talking about. )

 

[JoeBlank]

Doing my homework here, researching some of the suggestions about which I knew little, and happened across quite a find. Anyone else who wants to learn more about Nyambe need just look here:

http://www.nyambe.com/PlayersLorebook.pdf

From the Atlas Games site for Nyambe:

http://www.atlas-games.com/nyambe/index.html

As the site says: "The single best internet resource for newcomers to Nyambe is the Player's Lorebook, the free document which started it all. Written by Nyambe creator Christopher Dolunt and available for download right now from the original Nyambe website (www.nyambe.com) presents information useful to all roleplayers interested in African adventures and is the perfect lead-in to the rulebook."

Think I solved my weekend reading problem without having to make a final decision on buying a campaign book yet.

Anyone who is familiar with this document, can you tell me what extras are to be found in the rulebook? Is the information in the .pdf accurate, or is it an early draft?

Thanks.

 

[Nightfall]

Think you might have luck if you ask the headman, John Nephew or maybe Michelle Nephew, as they are both solid people and they do good work.

 

[Samothdm]

Hi - I downloaded the player's lorebook for Nyambe long ago and also picked up the hardcopy at my FLGS.

The lorebook is great, but the rules are tighter in the hardback, of course. And, the hardback actually has complete new character classes and PrCs designed from scratch rather than just slightly modifying the existing classes as was done in the free lorebook. One specific thing I can recall (I don't have the hardback here at work) is that the free lorebook talked about how Paladins could have a lion as a companion rather than a Paladin warhorse mount. This isn't even discussed in the hardback because the Paladin concept is totally reinvented for the hardback.

The hardback has tons of information on the different human cultures of Nyambe, most of which is missing from the lorebook. It also has monsters, a history of the land and its gods (called, IIRC, "orisha") and just a bunch of other cool stuff.

I highly recommend picking up the hardback, if for nothing else to support the guy who took a chance by putting such a great deal of info. up on the web for free before he got a publishing deal from Atlas.

 

[psionotic]

I can't believe no one's mentioned Green Ronin's Freeport yet! The Freeport: City of Adventure hardbound is just terrific, and Denizens of Freeport is one of the best straight NPC books I've ever seen. The setting also has several good modules for it. (Madness in Freeport and Hell in Freeport are the strongest, in my opinion)

Plus, if you like Paradigm's Codex Arcanis, Freeport and the pirate isles have been dropped right in there for ya, as a kind of cooperation between both companies.

 

[Mystic Eye]

I can't believe no one's mentioned Green Ronin's Freeport yet! The Freeport: City of Adventure hardbound is just terrific, and Denizens of Freeport is one of the best straight NPC books I've ever seen. The setting also has several good modules for it. (Madness in Freeport and Hell in Freeport are the strongest, in my opinion)

Plus, if you like Paradigm's Codex Arcanis, Freeport and the pirate isles have been dropped right in there for ya, as a kind of cooperation between both companies.

Both Freeport and Bluffside can be found already plugged in to The Hunt: Rise of Evil setting as well.

 

[Desdichado]

If you're looking for a good read, don't pick up SS for that. It's a good book with lots of options, but I had graduate level economics textbooks that were more interesting to just sit down and read.

I'd also really recommend Oriental Adventures, even though it's not on your list. Also, Manual of the Planes if you don't have it yet.