Spending gift money: What are some good D&D buys? (Publishers, pimp here!)

[ColonelHardisson]

Re: Kenzer matching

Scarred Lands is pretty popular here on ENworld which is why I don't come too often.

I think the setting is well done, but just isn't exactly what I was looking for in a setting. I've never noticed Scarred Lands being so popular as to keep people like me away from the boards.

 

[Mathew_Freeman]

I know it's not what you were asking for, but I'm slowly working my way through most of the Quintessential... Series at the moment, and each one I've looked at or bought has been excellent.

Got Quint Monk and Dwarf for Xmas, to add to Quint Wizard and Cleric. They not only have good ideas for PC's, but also for NPC's, and general world and plot making sparkiness. Made me have interesting thoughts anyway.

So go read, they're available all over the place.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I'd like to toss in a recommendation for Hall of the Rainbow Mage also. It's a very interesting adventure, quite in the mold of classic adventures.

I also recommend, if you can find it, NeMoren's Vault by Fiery Dragon. A very good, early d20 module, which set the standard by which I judged later modules. Fiery Dragon also produced The Silver Summoning and To Stand On Hallowed Ground, both of which are very strong, well-constructed modules.

 

[V_Shane]

Well I'll just have to pimp Arcane Creations here too. Blank magical item cards, even if person does draw thier own stuff, sometimes its just easier to buy 60 completed images for like $5. and at 200 dpi. Sure its a PDF, gut then again its a master copy of unlimited printing items for your games.

Ok hope that didn't sound too pushy....

V Shane

 

[Nightfall]

Re: Kenzer matching

Holy cr*p!!!! Where was that deal when I bought all the Kalamar product! What if I buy it all again?!?!


Scarred Lands is pretty popular here on ENworld which is why I don't come too often. I found Kalamar after trying out a few settings that just didn't fit my style (including FR, Greyhawk, numerous homebrews and Scarred Lands). I have been pleased with the decision ever since. A detailed world that allows me as the DM to manipulate it to my whim without having to overhaul the entire thing to make it work.

...oh, and the committment and interaction th staff have given to the product is unbelieveable and inspiring.


--Joe

Funny I think people hear have changed the world a lot, ranging from invasion from beyond to journies into mirror worlds. But hey, what ever floats your boat Joe.

As for what books you need, Guilt, firstly pick up the Scarred Lands Campaign Setting. It's pretty much all you'll need to understand the history and depth of the first and pretty much main continent, Ghelspad. It also has stuff from other books. Then after you understand that, Relics and Ritual 1 &2 are also pretty solid buys and add to the rich understanding. Pass on CC1 for now since it will be revised in January of 2003. (Hopefully it will be released then but no later than Feburary.) CC2 is a solid buy for most DMs. If you want more player material, pick up the first Player's Guide, Guide to Wizards, Bards and Sorcerers due out in Feburary of 2003. Hope that was helpful.

 

[Nightfall]

Re: Re: Kenzer matching

I think the setting is well done, but just isn't exactly what I was looking for in a setting. I've never noticed Scarred Lands being so popular as to keep people like me away from the boards.

Agreed Coln. While I admit I have a strong voice here, I don't see this as "haven" for Scarred Lands fans only.

 

[Pramas]

Checked up on most of this... Stuff that really caught my eye:
Freeport: Lots of good reviews for it, and the three intro adventure modules are nice... How well does it drop into other settings (let's use the Scarred Lands as an example: I'm at least going to run something similar to that)? Do you need the guide to the city to effectively run the trilogy? Are the gaps in the trilogy enough to fit in side-adventures (and scaleable, at that?)

Freeport was designed to be dropped into just about any fantasy campaign setting. Gods are referred to genericly (God of War, God of Knowledge, etc.), Freeport is part of a small chain of islands that is easy to plop down, and the assumed mainland is referred to as the Continent and left vague.

You do not need the hardback to run the Freeport Trilogy. The adventures were published first, so they had to stand alone. The hardback assumes the events of the adventures have come to pass, in fact. And yes, you can easily intersperse some other adventures between chapters of the trilogy.

Other GR books you might consider:
Book of the Righteous: This massive tome provides you with a complete cosmology and pantheon, with lavish detail paid to the churches. If you want a fantasy religion with depth and lots of player options, BotR is for you.

Plot & Poison: This is our big drow sourcebook, due out the first week of January. Oh, this book is evil and I love it. Packed with stuff too (we had to use 8 pt. type to fit it all in).

Witch's Handbook: The latest of our Master Class series, this book gives you a new Witch core class and all the support material you need to add the Craft to your game.

Mutants & Masterminds: This is our OGL superhero game. If you like supers at all, check it out. Full color, gorgeous art, extremely playable, and the core system is familiar to anyone who has played 3E.

If you play d20 Modern, you want Ultramodern Firearms. And that's all this mack daddy has to say!

 

[Outlaw]

Agreed Coln. While I admit I have a strong voice here, I don't see this as "haven" for Scarred Lands fans only

I've actually had this discussion with people on other boards. First impressions are crucial. And my first impressinos of ENworld were not positive in the slightest. I was under the impression that it was a gaming forum in general. What's my favorite? Kalamar but a long shot. It is my setting of choice in all my campaigns but one.

So I came here and entered a conversation. Of course, I made reference to the Kingdoms of Kalamar, which is where I play D&D. A person (and it's been so long that I don't remember who) told me it was a crap setting, I was only on the boards to push it and that if I wanted to talk about Kalamar I should go to the Kenzer boards. He then proceded to talk about the Scarred Lands. This happened the first three times I ever came to ENworld which is why I've only come back on rare occassions.

So, from my first experiences, it was not a very positive place to be. Whether that is "right" or "wrong" is subjective. Perhaps if I hung out more often I would have more positive experiences. But, over Christmas break, I've been popping my head in from time to time and haven't gotten my head ripped off yet. I guess we'll see.

--Joe

 

[Sanackranib]

ignorant people

I've actually had this discussion with people on other boards. First impressions are crucial. And my first impressinos of ENworld were not positive in the slightest. I was under the impression that it was a gaming forum in general. What's my favorite? Kalamar but a long shot. It is my setting of choice in all my campaigns but one.

So I came here and entered a conversation. Of course, I made reference to the Kingdoms of Kalamar, which is where I play D&D. A person (and it's been so long that I don't remember who) told me it was a crap setting, I was only on the boards to push it and that if I wanted to talk about Kalamar I should go to the Kenzer boards. He then proceded to talk about the Scarred Lands. This happened the first three times I ever came to ENworld which is why I've only come back on rare occassions.

So, from my first experiences, it was not a very positive place to be. Whether that is "right" or "wrong" is subjective. Perhaps if I hung out more often I would have more positive experiences. But, over Christmas break, I've been popping my head in from time to time and haven't gotten my head ripped off yet. I guess we'll see.

--Joe

there are a few of us here who post a lot about the Scarred lands. I havn't seen any of the regulars trash someone because they didn't use the same setting (at least I havn't yet) but I believe you when you say it happened because I have run into a lot of those folks over the course of my life. its sad really, because what it really comes down to is what setting is best for you and your players. So if you see met touting the SL it's because that setting is currently the best for me, and my players are having a blast in it.

Don't let a few bashers get to you. there are a long list of people I have come into contact with here from all over the world and most have been both helpfull as well as informative. I don't know much about the Kingdoms of Kalamar setting but I'm sure that you will get some reponces from those who play it if if start a new thread on it. I hope that you do because I would enjoy reading about it.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I've actually had this discussion with people on other boards. First impressions are crucial. And my first impressinos of ENworld were not positive in the slightest. I was under the impression that it was a gaming forum in general. What's my favorite? Kalamar but a long shot. It is my setting of choice in all my campaigns but one.

So I came here and entered a conversation. Of course, I made reference to the Kingdoms of Kalamar, which is where I play D&D. A person (and it's been so long that I don't remember who) told me it was a crap setting, I was only on the boards to push it and that if I wanted to talk about Kalamar I should go to the Kenzer boards. He then proceded to talk about the Scarred Lands. This happened the first three times I ever came to ENworld which is why I've only come back on rare occassions.

So, from my first experiences, it was not a very positive place to be. Whether that is "right" or "wrong" is subjective. Perhaps if I hung out more often I would have more positive experiences. But, over Christmas break, I've been popping my head in from time to time and haven't gotten my head ripped off yet. I guess we'll see.

--Joe

I dunno. If anything, EN World can seem like a KoK fansite at times to me. I don't know who you were in a flame war with, but I don't think they're representative of the community in general. Not by a long shot.