So, what are *you* doing with the WLC?

[jdrakeh]

So is Ptolus the better product out of the two? I have Ptolus, but not WLC.

I think it's safe to say that Ptolus is better suited for actual use in play due to the fact that it is extensivley indexed and cross-referenced. That said, both products are comparable in terms of actual content quality, IMO. That is, they both have a whole lot of cool, but due to presentation decisions, WLC works better as an idea mine or pre-play sourcebook, while Ptolus is what you want in your hands at the table. Or, at least, those are my thoughts.

 

[jmucchiello]

WTF is WLC?

 

[Asmo]

WTF is WLC?

http://www.rpgshop.com/product_info.php?products_id=38781 ?

Asmo

 

[DM_Jeff]

My copy is mined for ideas and locations to throw into Sharn and various cities that need fleshing out in my Moonsea game.

-DM Jeff

 

[Aus_Snow]

Is it pretty?

Yes, that's a serious question.

On the inside, what does it look like? I know, that's probably a bit shallow or something, but hey, I like good-looking books - particularly when it's a honking big, not-cheap RPG sourcebook you're talking about, like this one f'rex.

The artwork? Maps? Layout? Borders? Anything else that stands out?


Oh, and yeah: What's the writing like and stuff.

 

[DaveMage]

Mine's sitting on the shelf.

One day I'll dive into it...but not this year.

 

[jdrakeh]

Is it pretty?

The interior artwork (or all of it I've seen so far) is black and white but, yes, it's skillfully rendered.

Maps?

The poster maps are very similar to those in the WLD package where quality is concerned. So, yes, I'd say that they're good. That said, there are several mentions of sewers and catacombs in the book, but no maps for them. This, again, hinder's the product's use as a "pick up and play" sourcebook -- on the other hand, if you have the time to drop in your own maps for such things, it allows you to easily make the WLC uniquely your own.

Layout?

Utilitarian and easy to read. Not as cramped as WLD, but that's because they don't provide inline statblocks for encounters, instead providing only a few key aspects of any given NPC in the text and then referring you to an appendix of generic NPC templates to get the actual stats. Kind of a pain. What I miss the most in WLC are WLD's inline statblocks.

Borders?

Nothing remarkable.

Oh, and yeah: What's the writing like and stuff.

Very good. It's definitely vanilla, so very unlike Ptolus in that respect (IMO) -- no unusual assumptions about magic, technology, etc. No classes or races specific to the setting. None of that. It reminds me of the old City State of the World Emperor stuff from JG, but far more detailed (unike CotWI, WLC focuses less on stuff that can be generated using random encounter tables and more on actual NPC relationships with the city and its other denizens, established venues within the city, etc).

Reading the book is tremendously fun. I haven't had a chance to use it in actual play yet, but I'm certain that the lack of an index or itemized table of contents will make that significantly less fun. I need to pick up a box full of bookmarks before I attempt to send any adventurers through the streets of the WLC proper

 

[Odhanan]

So is Ptolus the better product out of the two? I have Ptolus, but not WLC.

In my mind, there is no doubt whatsoever: Ptolus is by far the better of the two. For me, Ptolus is one of the best RPG products ever published. WLC by comparison is "another d20 book".

Sure, the price is different, but when you compare the superior organization of Ptolus, its superior design, its superior art/maps/handouts, with all the additional content added via the CD included in the book... WLC really isn't in the same ball park at all.

Is WLC pretty/layout? Just like WLD. You like the WLD? You'd like the WLC layout then.
Maps? Monochrome, formatted by computer, one for each WLC district. Not a big fan of them. No maps of any particular building I could spot in the actual book. (!)

 

[Voadam]

Waiting for a pdf at a reasonable price.

I've got city stuff for: Lankhmar 1e, 1e Waterdeep, 2e City of Greyhawk Boxed Set, 2e Calimport, Hollowfaust, Burok Torn, Player's Guide to Sasserine, Player's Guide to Ptolus, and Cityscape. I might have a few more pdf things as well that I'm not remembering off the top of my head.

Freeport, WLC, Ptolus, Silver City, etc. all sound great, but are not high priorities for me. If Monte does his annual sale again this year on pdfs I might pick up Ptolus, but I might pick up Beyond Countless Doors, Complete Book of Eldritch Might and other smaller things instead.

 

[jdrakeh]

Maps? Monochrome

My maps were printed in full color. As to interior maps of buildings, nope -- not a one that I've seen. Of course, I'm not sure that, with dozens of generic building interior maps available for 20, including them in the book was prudent. I think that they made the right call there. That said, I did wish they had included interior sewer/catacomb/underground maps, since some of these places in the WLC conceivably link to others.