Scarred Lands, What to get?
- Thread starter trilobite
- Start date
. With out going into debt (I have about $100 to burn), what books should I get first.
Desdichado
Hero
Personally, I'd go for some of the stuff that's more easily adapted into any campaign setting, especially if you're not sure you're going to actually run a Scarred Lands game anytime soon. For instance, I have the first two Creature Collections, Hollowfaust and the Ratmen book, and all are fairly portable while still giving me a good idea of what the setting itself is like.
Trickstergod
First Post
I've possibly responded to about half a dozen of these threads at various times and places. I should really just whip out a general "Scarred Lands Starter Kit" post and save it for every couple of months when someone pops up this question.
Heh.
With that said, my suggestsions are, and in order of importance:
1) Scarred Lands Campaign Setting: Ghelspad. This hardcover book details the most supported, most detailed, central hub of the Scarred Lands, the continent of Ghelspad. It describes the various nations, city states, and geographic regions throughout the continent, showcasing religious beliefs, local law systems, and offers up an idea of just what kind of monsters one might find lurking in areas, with other plot points to boot. It also briefly goes into the pantheon of the setting, the gods and the titans, a bit of the settings history (in particular, the druidic epochs, if I remember correctly), as well as a few of the settings organizations. As much as the setting has a core book, this would be it. Following that...
2) The Creature Collection Revised: While this monster book has a few kinks left over from the first, even more haphazard Creature Collection, it's a fairly well done monster book that fleshes out the various unique creatures of the Scarred Lands. It's all well and good that you have a place to play, offered up by the Ghelspad hardcover, but if you're just running into orcs, kobolds and hobgoblins, you're missing some of the Scarred Lands flavor. Those creatures exist in the Scarred Lands to be sure, but so do the sleek, deadly snakemen asaatthi, the teeming hordes of the ratmen slitheren, the deadly reaver, the darkly tempting dweller at the crossroads and more.
3) Divine and the Defeated: Some others may take issue with this later in the thread, but for my part, Divine and the Defeated is the third most essential Scarred Lands book out there, and I feel that you could still capture the essence, the heart of the setting with this book alone and toss the first two out if you really just wanted what made the Scarred Lands the Scarred Lands. This book goes into the history of the gods and titans, it details some of the wars between them and other creatures, and heck, it even stats out the gods, if that's your thing. It's not mine personally, but hopefully that works to sell the book better - I really do like it, and find it integral to the setting. In addition to what I've already said, it goes into the details of each gods and titans faiths to varying degrees, and it also acts as the primary source of information for Scarns demigods, such as Hwyrdd, patron to the halflings and a trickster excelled by few, or Nemorga, the gatekeeper, who sees all souls pass through his realm to go onto the next - deities who really aren't adequately described in any other book (the Player's Guide to Clerics and Druids just doesn't offer up enough on them, in my opinion). It goes into just how some of the gods and titans interact or interacted with one another, as well as their sects. On top of that, some of the writing is just snazzy and draws you in, such as the forsaken elves stand against Chern, or Coreans confrontation with Golthagga.
All told, after taxes and what not, those three likely run up around $100, all fairly hefty, hardcover books. If however, you've a bit more cash to spare, there's one more book I'd toss in there as part of the Scarred Lands starter kit:
4) Relics and Rituals: This collection of spells, magic items, prestige classes and artifacts, while it certainly has its faults, was one of the books that first established the setting in the first place. Some of the prestige classes portrayed within represent some of the most important organizations in the setting, and you may feel a bit left out in the dark without the information this book presents on them. Furthermore, the artifacts presented within create some of the biggest plot hooks the settings has - be it the Bells of Non in the ruins of Aurimar, or the Autumn Blade, there's likely something in there you could find and decide to base an entire Scarred Lands campaign around.
Conversely, if you'd rather dip your toes into the water first before really looking into the setting, I would recommend the Ghelspad Gazetteer. All of $10-15 maybe, it has a map, and offers up a brief overview of Ghelspads nations and city-states, a few of its organizations, as well as a brief bit on the settings history and the pantheon. A good place to start if you're interested, but not certain you want to invest $100 right away.
Heh.
With that said, my suggestsions are, and in order of importance:
1) Scarred Lands Campaign Setting: Ghelspad. This hardcover book details the most supported, most detailed, central hub of the Scarred Lands, the continent of Ghelspad. It describes the various nations, city states, and geographic regions throughout the continent, showcasing religious beliefs, local law systems, and offers up an idea of just what kind of monsters one might find lurking in areas, with other plot points to boot. It also briefly goes into the pantheon of the setting, the gods and the titans, a bit of the settings history (in particular, the druidic epochs, if I remember correctly), as well as a few of the settings organizations. As much as the setting has a core book, this would be it. Following that...
2) The Creature Collection Revised: While this monster book has a few kinks left over from the first, even more haphazard Creature Collection, it's a fairly well done monster book that fleshes out the various unique creatures of the Scarred Lands. It's all well and good that you have a place to play, offered up by the Ghelspad hardcover, but if you're just running into orcs, kobolds and hobgoblins, you're missing some of the Scarred Lands flavor. Those creatures exist in the Scarred Lands to be sure, but so do the sleek, deadly snakemen asaatthi, the teeming hordes of the ratmen slitheren, the deadly reaver, the darkly tempting dweller at the crossroads and more.
3) Divine and the Defeated: Some others may take issue with this later in the thread, but for my part, Divine and the Defeated is the third most essential Scarred Lands book out there, and I feel that you could still capture the essence, the heart of the setting with this book alone and toss the first two out if you really just wanted what made the Scarred Lands the Scarred Lands. This book goes into the history of the gods and titans, it details some of the wars between them and other creatures, and heck, it even stats out the gods, if that's your thing. It's not mine personally, but hopefully that works to sell the book better - I really do like it, and find it integral to the setting. In addition to what I've already said, it goes into the details of each gods and titans faiths to varying degrees, and it also acts as the primary source of information for Scarns demigods, such as Hwyrdd, patron to the halflings and a trickster excelled by few, or Nemorga, the gatekeeper, who sees all souls pass through his realm to go onto the next - deities who really aren't adequately described in any other book (the Player's Guide to Clerics and Druids just doesn't offer up enough on them, in my opinion). It goes into just how some of the gods and titans interact or interacted with one another, as well as their sects. On top of that, some of the writing is just snazzy and draws you in, such as the forsaken elves stand against Chern, or Coreans confrontation with Golthagga.
All told, after taxes and what not, those three likely run up around $100, all fairly hefty, hardcover books. If however, you've a bit more cash to spare, there's one more book I'd toss in there as part of the Scarred Lands starter kit:
4) Relics and Rituals: This collection of spells, magic items, prestige classes and artifacts, while it certainly has its faults, was one of the books that first established the setting in the first place. Some of the prestige classes portrayed within represent some of the most important organizations in the setting, and you may feel a bit left out in the dark without the information this book presents on them. Furthermore, the artifacts presented within create some of the biggest plot hooks the settings has - be it the Bells of Non in the ruins of Aurimar, or the Autumn Blade, there's likely something in there you could find and decide to base an entire Scarred Lands campaign around.
Conversely, if you'd rather dip your toes into the water first before really looking into the setting, I would recommend the Ghelspad Gazetteer. All of $10-15 maybe, it has a map, and offers up a brief overview of Ghelspads nations and city-states, a few of its organizations, as well as a brief bit on the settings history and the pantheon. A good place to start if you're interested, but not certain you want to invest $100 right away.
Trickstergod
First Post
And Joshua's advice is certainly good, too.
The Creature Collection Revised may potentially be the best place to start. Even if you don't like the setting, you're likely to get some use out of it, and in the mean time, many of the creatures in it provide a good overview of the setting.
Relics and Rituals also does much of the same; however, the book is fairly sloppy in places, and if you're not playing in the Scarred Lands, some of its worth may be diminished for that fact.
The Creature Collection Revised may potentially be the best place to start. Even if you don't like the setting, you're likely to get some use out of it, and in the mean time, many of the creatures in it provide a good overview of the setting.
Relics and Rituals also does much of the same; however, the book is fairly sloppy in places, and if you're not playing in the Scarred Lands, some of its worth may be diminished for that fact.
Nightfall
Sage of the Scarred Lands
Trickstergod said:
You're not the only one Trick!
I'd most agree with Tricks stuff but would add I consider R&R1 and R&R2 core. But you can probably get away with just R&R1. CC 2 and CC3 are nice but not as neccesary as the rest. (Though there are times I don't use Divine and the Defeated. But that's also cause I know all their histories by heart. Advantage of being a Sage I suppose.
) The other sourcebooks are best served in my opinion if you are focused on a specific area/race/idea.
Welverin
First Post
White Wolf is currently selling Ghelspad and the DM screen/companion as a two pack for $20. If you're interested follow the link click on special sales to the left and scroll to the bottom of the list.
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