Scarred Lands -- required texts

[Aus_Snow]

So, what are the *required* books, for a DM who is looking at Scarred Lands as a potential candidate for a campaign, at some stage?

For example, what are the differences between the 2 gazetteers and the 2 hardcover campaign setting books? Which region books are great, and which ones not? Anything else that is particularly commendable / worth avoiding?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Turjan]

If you buy the Scarred Lands Campaign Setting: Ghelspad, you are mostly set. One or two of the Creature Collections don't hurt (the second is the best one) because the monsters are quite specific.

The Divine and the Defeated is an excellent introduction to the gods and titans (the main conflict of the setting), though not strictly necessary. Relics and Rituals (the first one) gives you specific spells, rituals and magic items for the Scarred Lands; it's a very inspiring book, though not very balanced.

Mithril: City of the Golem might work as a starting city. Hollowfaust: City of Necromancers has a very unique flavor, though it's not really suitable as starting base. Other nice supplements are The Hornsaw: Forest of Blood, Wilderness and Wasteland: Scarred Lands Encounters (a very good book), Vigil Watch: Secrets of the Asaatthi and Shelzar: City of Sins. Keep away from Blood Bayou, The Penumbral Pentagon or some of the newer stuff.

Most books are very cheaply available directly from White Wolf.

 

[Aus_Snow]

One or two of the Creature Collections don't hurt (the second is the best one) because the monsters are quite specific.

That's where I'm starting from actually - I own all three CCs, have done for a while, like them, and am now (finally) curious enough and with enough time in hand, perhaps, to check out the SLs proper.

Thanks, I'll look into those you've mentioned. Termana's not so much a given then?

 

[Turjan]

Thanks, I'll look into those you've mentioned. Termana's not so much a given then?

All those supplements that I recommended are specific for Ghelspad. Termana is a different continent, and the book itself and some of the supplements have a very liberal way of dealing with some of the fundamental setting assumptions, even if seen on their own merit, they might not be bad (frex, Blood Bayou is a Mike Mearls supplement). For me, that destroyed the charm of the setting.

 

[Nightfall]

Required for DMs:

SLCS: Ghelspad, CC revised, Divine and the Defeated and Relics and Rituals I & II.

As for a good place to run, hey Hollowfaust might be unique but it's certainly very player friendly.

DO NOT get Penumbral Penatagon. It is the only book that I felt did a true dis-service to the Scarred Lands. Faithful and Forsaken was meh but at least alright.

 

[Seeten]

Divine and Defeated has great setting material. The gazetteers are worth a look too. As others have said, all the books are pretty cheap on WW's online store.

 

[awayfarer]

I'll second the Ghelspad book as a good buy. "Divine and Defeated" and "Relics and Rituals" are both nifty too, as are the Creature Collections. I greatly enjoyed the Vigil Watch:Asaathi book. The flavor text is great but some of the stuff in there is a little extreme mechanically.

 

[smootrk]

If you and your players want to fight on the side of good (in a basic sense) then Mithril is a good starting point. If a few players have a penchant for Dwarves, then Burok Torn is a great starting locale. If you/players fancy being dark/mysterious and prefer the setting accomodate them, then I really suggest Hollowfaust which is very good (and my favorite). If you/players want a swashbuckling or hedonistic setting, then Shelzar will work nicely, and it almost borders on a place like biblical Gamora or a City of delights like an Arabian Nights type of place.

Another very nice book that really details how/why arcane magic is different from each other (bardic/sorcerous/wizardly) then you really ought to read the Player's Guide to Wizards, Sorcerers & Bards. It really does a good job of making the types of arcane casters very distinct from each other, and I really suggest it for making really good background bios for character.

 

[Psion]

Thanks, I'll look into those you've mentioned. Termana's not so much a given then?

Termana's a fine book. I'd lean towards Ghelspad myself because it's got more supplements I'd use (Hollowfaust, Vigil Watch Asaathi, Hornsaw), but Termana's a good book too. You'll have a bit less support, but if you want to play with the Carnival Crew, Demons, or Charduni as villains, or elves as tragic protagonists, or want some jungle-tromping action, it may be the way to go.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

I have quite a few SL books. I've run one campaign and played in one campaign in that setting, and enjoyed both. I'd say that must have books for the setting, if one is going to DM, include: the SLCS (Ghelspad), Relics and Rituals I, the Creature Collection revised, and Divine and Defeated. You'll want those four.

Many of the others make my recommended list but aren't must-haves for basic functioning within the setting. I like and often used (and in some cases still refer to even for other campaigns) the following: RRII, CCII, Burok Torn, Hollowfaust, Calastia, and Mithril. The last four there are location-specific splatbooks that are all pretty useful and interesting.

I have the thin little Ghelspad Gazeteer and you don't really need it. I bought mine used at a bookstore on the cheap and don't rue the couple of dollars I dropped on it, but I'd classify it as somewhat unecessary. The CS book covers what you need.