(SL) Ghelspad Atlas Hardcover
- Thread starter Glaurung
- Start date
Nightfall
Sage of the Scarred Lands
No more than you usually are Druid old friend! 
After all, you have every right to be proud of a book, that I feel, will garner us and the Scarred Lands a GOOD measure of respect. 
Btw, Eric does that mean I can consider you a convert or do you need more convincing? I think you'd enjoy reading Warrens of the Ratmen. It's not a perfect book but it's got some REALLY great stuff in there.
After all, you have every right to be proud of a book, that I feel, will garner us and the Scarred Lands a GOOD measure of respect. Btw, Eric does that mean I can consider you a convert or do you need more convincing?
I think you'd enjoy reading Warrens of the Ratmen. It's not a perfect book but it's got some REALLY great stuff in there.Knight Otu
First Post
It certainly is out (and it seems as if it has been out for at least one week now, though I only got I yesterday. I don't have the time to read the whole book at the moment, but what I've read looks mostly good so far. The history chapter gives a few nice rumours (titanic epochs, divergent druids, a killed ninth god), it has a few prestige classes (including the Gold and Iron orders of Corean), a compiled list of the Eight victors, "mayor" demigods and titans, along with their domains and invocation benefits (from Divine&Defeated - the domains are not reprinted), where appropriate.
Some things that I disliked were:
Drendari does officially not get the Trickery domains, which I found an odd choice.
The information about the PC races of Ghelspad printed in the DM screen is not reprinted - personally I think that this book would have been a better fit for this information than the screen (but since I have both, it doesn't hurt me too much, but other people might think different).
Some things that I disliked were:
Drendari does officially not get the Trickery domains, which I found an odd choice.
The information about the PC races of Ghelspad printed in the DM screen is not reprinted - personally I think that this book would have been a better fit for this information than the screen (but since I have both, it doesn't hurt me too much, but other people might think different).
EricNoah
Adventurer
Nightfall said:Btw, Eric does that mean I can consider you a convert or do you need more convincing?
I actually now have all of the SL stuff. A fringe benefit of being an ENnies judge.
As far as being a convert, well... not yet. Let's put it this way... years ago the Dark Sun setting came out. I bought it, I liked it. I have never played a game in it though. There's lots to do and so little time, it's hard to imagine me having time to actually figure all of the SL stuff out (I mean, really, two books of new monsters? How am I going to keep that straight?). But I might lift an idea or two, or use it as an alternate prime world in a Planescape game or something.
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My copy FINALLY arrived today. It was shipped on Monday, so I was really expecting it yesterday, but okay.
A quick overview of the contents:
1. The colored maps inside the front and back covers are exactly like the map in the Gazeteer (though obviously not as big) with the major exception that they have a lot more cities and locations placed on them, which is nice for those who have long wondered exactly where in Vesh the capitol is...
2. 24 pages of history, which a skimming reveals to add a bit more flavor and detail to the history provided in the Gazeteer. In particular, there is a lot about the major empires which once flourished across Ghelspad, so we know more about where ruins are likely to be located and what those ruins might be like.
3. 10 pages on the gods, doesn't seem to be anything new, but there shouldn't be since there is a god book out (Divine and Defeated)
4. 75 pages on the nations of the continent, including some maps of various cities (not terribly detailed but 100% better than no maps at all!)
5. 60 pages on the city-states of Ghelspad. Four of them also have city maps -- again, not very detailed.
6. 40 pages on "important locations", mainly major geographical features and areas (the forests, the deserts, etc.)
7. 8 pages on "other places of note" which are minor terrain features; the thinking here was apparently to give us just enough to know a little bit about these features, making them excellent for adventure hooks which a DM can use to fit his/her needs.
8. Prestige Classes: Aerial Cavalier, Brother of the Scarred Hand, Forgemaster, Gold Knight, Iron Knight, Keeper of the Eternal Flame, Knight of the Morning Sky, Renewer.
9. A two page black and white copy of the color map, perfect for photocopying. Thank you Sword&Sorcery!
10. 6 pages of ads for other products...
Looks great. Can't wait to read more of it in detail!
A quick overview of the contents:
1. The colored maps inside the front and back covers are exactly like the map in the Gazeteer (though obviously not as big) with the major exception that they have a lot more cities and locations placed on them, which is nice for those who have long wondered exactly where in Vesh the capitol is...
2. 24 pages of history, which a skimming reveals to add a bit more flavor and detail to the history provided in the Gazeteer. In particular, there is a lot about the major empires which once flourished across Ghelspad, so we know more about where ruins are likely to be located and what those ruins might be like.
3. 10 pages on the gods, doesn't seem to be anything new, but there shouldn't be since there is a god book out (Divine and Defeated)
4. 75 pages on the nations of the continent, including some maps of various cities (not terribly detailed but 100% better than no maps at all!)
5. 60 pages on the city-states of Ghelspad. Four of them also have city maps -- again, not very detailed.
6. 40 pages on "important locations", mainly major geographical features and areas (the forests, the deserts, etc.)
7. 8 pages on "other places of note" which are minor terrain features; the thinking here was apparently to give us just enough to know a little bit about these features, making them excellent for adventure hooks which a DM can use to fit his/her needs.
8. Prestige Classes: Aerial Cavalier, Brother of the Scarred Hand, Forgemaster, Gold Knight, Iron Knight, Keeper of the Eternal Flame, Knight of the Morning Sky, Renewer.
9. A two page black and white copy of the color map, perfect for photocopying. Thank you Sword&Sorcery!
10. 6 pages of ads for other products...
Looks great. Can't wait to read more of it in detail!
Wolfen Priest
First Post
I'm thoroughly pumped. I'll be buying it as soon as I see it, and I'll probably cave and buy all the other SL products I don't yet own as well (Warrens of the Ratmen, Divine & defeated).
Nightfall
Sage of the Scarred Lands
EricNoah said:
I actually now have all of the SL stuff. A fringe benefit of being an ENnies judge.
Cool!
I know two monster books ARE a lot, but hey, consider the fact CC1 DIDN'T have templates. I'm glad though you get some of the stuff occasionally.
Nightfall
Sage of the Scarred Lands
Wolfen Priest said:
DEFINATELY get Divine and the Defeated. I have D&Dmg and DIv&Def, and I have to say, I LOVE Div&Def more than the D&Dmg.
Warren is also very strong product, at least for fleshing out the Ratmen/Slitheren. But I do think there are some mechanic issues to deal with. Regardless, this WAS a great little sourcebook. Reminds me of the others d20 books for different races.
Nightfall
Sage of the Scarred Lands
Knight Otu said:
Is that Ninth god the son of Belsameth? I knew he died, plus the Elven god along with the goddess of Lore/Magic.
Knight Otu said:
Agreed, she definately deserves trickery.
Knight Otu said:
There was some talk about this over on the S&SS forum. Apparently they had a choice, reprint some old stuff and eliminate some new stuff, or put all the new stuff in there and forget the old stuff.
Wolfen Priest
First Post
The way I look at it, the more material you have at your disposal, the less work you actually have to put into it. The monster books just give you more to work with. All I did was read through the Ghelspad Gazeteer, and then read through a few of the city supplements (Hollowfast, Mithril, Burok Torn)...
These products are so full of good ideas, that adventures pretty much come up with themselves. Granted, the monster CRs are a little off; but if you have played much, all you have to really do is glance at the creature's hit dice, attack bonuses, and damage (I often nix the spellcasting abilities altogether...... you'll probably need to in order to avoid slaughtering a four-person party outright), and generally you can come up with the 'correct' CR.
I guess everyone's DMing style differs, and I'm by no means an expert, but the city books have NPCs already statted out so the only thing you really have to do is come up with a story.
Personally, I don't run my campaign around the gods much. The background story is the same as in the books, but the time period is like 700 hundred years since the Titanswar.That way no character (even an elf) could have been around druing the Titanswar.
Hey I'm rambling like an idiot! Sorry!
These products are so full of good ideas, that adventures pretty much come up with themselves. Granted, the monster CRs are a little off; but if you have played much, all you have to really do is glance at the creature's hit dice, attack bonuses, and damage (I often nix the spellcasting abilities altogether...... you'll probably need to in order to avoid slaughtering a four-person party outright), and generally you can come up with the 'correct' CR.
I guess everyone's DMing style differs, and I'm by no means an expert, but the city books have NPCs already statted out so the only thing you really have to do is come up with a story.
Personally, I don't run my campaign around the gods much. The background story is the same as in the books, but the time period is like 700 hundred years since the Titanswar.That way no character (even an elf) could have been around druing the Titanswar.
Hey I'm rambling like an idiot! Sorry!
