Scarred Lands Setting question

[Valar]

Hiya. I am planning on running a game for my players based in the Scarred Lands setting by Sword and Sorcery. I am just trying to find people who are familiar with the setting to help me pick out which books are most needed to run a campaign set there.

I currently own Relics and Rituals, and I am planning on buying Ghelspad, Tome of Horrors, and The Divine and the Defeated. I think these should do nicely as a framework which I can then build on, but I am wondering if there are any other books I might need that hold important information. I feel that the Monster Manual and Tome of Horrors will probably suffice for monsters at the moment, but here's my questions....

1. Is Relics and Rituals 2 important, or just "extra" stuff for the setting?
2. Do I need the Gazeteer of Ghelspad if I have the Campaign Guide?
3. Do the Creature Companions have anything of utmost importance to the setting, or will the other 2 guides be enough?(edit: The other 2 guides being MM and Tome of Horrors)
4. Are the small supplements on individual cities and areas worth getting?

I will be adding my own flair to the setting, I just don't have time to create my own world, and from the reviews I have seen, the Scarred Lands setting is very good and fleshed out. Also, if there are any other books of importance that I have overlooked, feel free to tell me about them. Thanks!

Valar

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

Hiya. I am planning on running a game for my players based in the Scarred Lands setting by Sword and Sorcery. I am just trying to find people who are familiar with the setting to help me pick out which books are most needed to run a campaign set there.

I currently own Relics and Rituals, and I am planning on buying Ghelspad, Tome of Horrors, and The Divine and the Defeated. I think these should do nicely as a framework which I can then build on, but I am wondering if there are any other books I might need that hold important information. I feel that the Monster Manual and Tome of Horrors will probably suffice for monsters at the moment, but here's my questions....

1. Is Relics and Rituals 2 important, or just "extra" stuff for the setting?
2. Do I need the Gazeteer of Ghelspad if I have the Campaign Guide?
3. Do the Creature Companions have anything of utmost importance to the setting, or will the other 2 guides be enough?(edit: The other 2 guides being MM and Tome of Horrors)
4. Are the small supplements on individual cities and areas worth getting?

I will be adding my own flair to the setting, I just don't have time to create my own world, and from the reviews I have seen, the Scarred Lands setting is very good and fleshed out. Also, if there are any other books of importance that I have overlooked, feel free to tell me about them. Thanks!

Valar

1 -- although a fine book RR2 can wait
2 -- No, but the MAP it comes with is nice to have - The DM Screen product has some racial info you cannot find anywhere else - not essential, but nice to have
3 -- you will probably want to have CC1 and CC2 in addition to the MM. ToH is also nice, but not directly for SL. CC1 is being re-released soon, so you may wanna wait on that one as it will include updates
4 -- Yes! My favorite so far have been Hallowfaust, but check out the reviews for yourself!

 

[Valar]

Thanks for the advice

Thanks! I was actually considering buying the Hallofaust and Mithril books, so your reccomendation may just push me to get them sooner than later. I will probably still hold off on the Creature collections, though, as I generally run lower-level campaigns, and the ToH and MM should have plenty. Plus, I'm on a budget!

Thanks for the advice!

Valar

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

You are welcome!

I also have the Mithril book, and actually base my current campaign from there.

IMHO, Divine & Defeated can wait too - It's basically a stat book for Gods their avatars/servants, and I don't use it as much as others.

You will run into some problems if you don't have stats for common CC1/CC2 monsters like Slitheren, Asaathi, The Proud, Gorgons etc.., so plan on doing some heavy modifications from the Campaign setting descriptions.

Hope your campaign goes well,

BFG

 

[Valar]

CC1 and CC2

I know definitely I could buy CC2 instead of Divine and Defeated....would that be a wise choice, and more useful than the gods and Titans book?

Also, I am pretty sure I am getting the DM screen just for the race info(and it is less expensive.....). Thanks for the help!


Valar

 

[Kamard]

Both of the CC's are pretty flavourful and convey the feel of the setting.

Divine and the Defeated is a waste of cash, IMHO.

 

[Nightfall]

Afraid Biggie is right. While the Creature Collections may not seem necessary (and I DO want you to save your money!) they are a neccessary part of the world, especially for Ghelspad. While I love Tome and MM, they can't replace the goodness of an Assathi, a low Gorgon or even just Blood Flies or Blood Moths. (These will be seen in Ghelspad). I'd hold off getting CC 1 and just get CC2. I'm sure you can find it half price some where or if not, go online and get it. CC 1 is being revised and will probably fulfil a LOT of your basics needs, since it's more than a mere monster book. It will have stats for all the races of the lands in Ghelspad and Termana. Plus some entries will have stat modififers and ELC mods for some monsters. Plus an appendix about how MM monsters fit into the Scarred Lands. Each monster will recieve a short paragraph or two about how it fits into the Scarred Lands. Examples:

Arana(sp) arepriestesses blessed by Sethris, the Lady of Spiders, that have changed over to show their veneration to this dark goddess.

Beholders are considered special guardians and were created by Mesos to guard points of arcane power as well some of his shrines. With his passing and the Divine War, few remain, but those that do are still found guarding their site.

Allips were spirits that were especially devoted Belsameth before they were killed. Now they roam among the living spreading their fear and death everywhere.

Those are just some examples of what will be in Creature Collection Revised coming in January of 2003.

 

[Kamard]

That sounds like its worth the admission price to get the Revised CC1 alone.

 

[Nightfall]

Re: CC1 and CC2

I know definitely I could buy CC2 instead of Divine and Defeated....would that be a wise choice, and more useful than the gods and Titans book?

Also, I am pretty sure I am getting the DM screen just for the race info(and it is less expensive.....). Thanks for the help!


Valar

If you're already set to get the SLCS: Ghelspad, then you can pass on the Divine and Defeated for now. It will have stuff on religion in the Scarred Lands. (At least about the Gods and Titans. The Demi-gods, think of more as regional gods, save Nemorga (God of the Dead) and Drendari (Goddess of Shadows).

I would say do GET Hollowfaust. You'll find it's not your typical necromantic city. Plus there's more to it than just playing in a city setting. Trust me.

 

[Sanackranib]

what books . . .

CC I&II are nessicary, Ghelspad is VERY helpfull. the Gaz will help you as well. R&R II has a lot of usefull info, I use it a lot in my game. If you don't already have R&R I&II then wait until the second printing comes out early next year before you buy them. there are a few errors schedualed to be fixed and IMO it would be worth the wait. Hollowfaust is usefull if you plan to run the game there but Ghelspad is ESSENTIAL

good luck with your game