World Builder

[haiiro]

I haven't seen this book. How much does it cost? Is it as useful as the old world builders guidebook from tsr back in the good ol' 2nd edition days

You can always dive into EN World's reviews section for this info:

http://www.enworld.org/reviews/index.php?sub=yes&where=currentprod&which=wbug

 

[Nathal]

What's this one called, and when does it come out (and who is publishing it)?

It's called "Gary Gygax's Insidiae: The Brainstormers Guide to Adventure Writing", should be out about July and will be published by Troll Lord Games.

http://www.trolllord.com/insidiae.htm

 

[Hand of Evil]

a site I always find useful:

http://www.io.com/~eighner/world_builder/world_builder_index.html

 

[Nathal]

I haven't seen this book. How much does it cost? Is it as useful as the old world builders guidebook from tsr back in the good ol' 2nd edition days

Gary Gygax's World Builder is $30, and is at the printer for its second run.

http://www.trolllord.com/worldbuilder.htm

The 2nd printing was announced a while back, but was delayed by various common factors. However, rather than being a "how-to guide" on creating cultures and ecologies, like the old "World Builder's Guidebook", the World Builder Descriptionary contains lists, tables, and illustrated glossaries covering equipment, geography (including herbs and trees listed by biome and other stats), arms and armor (illustrated), populace (forms of address for nobility, etc), dwellings, etc. It also covers architecture, building types and construction materials, a gems and mineral guide, lists for stocking interiors of dungeons, castles, etc. I believe the contents are pretty extensive. As an aside, the original title had been "The Book of Facts & Things", but we felt the volume was a good aid to any world builder brainstorming for adventures or the creation of setting locations.

In any event, Monte Cook had this to day about it on one of his old Line of Sight columns:

"Gary Gygax's World Builder When Gary's name is on a d20 product, I'll always at least look at it. I've heard some people put down this product because it's not a guide to help you build a campaign, but instead a book of lists. Well, as it turns out, I think a book of lists is pretty cool. I used to love the appendices in the back of the 1st Edition DMG that were just lists of things, and that's basically what this book from Troll Lord Games is. They make for great idea generators when you're stuck as a DM or as a writer."

 

[Nathal]

a site I always find useful:

http://www.io.com/~eighner/world_builder/world_builder_index.html

No doubt most anything found in the WB can be found on the net or the encyclopedia. Nevertheless, I felt there was some value to compiling all of that sort of material into a single volume, reorganizing these elements into a format more useful to a DM wanting quick reference. It took me a year of digging up facts and compiling lists, but I have no doubt there are folks here who enjoy that kind of tedium.

Anyway, I thought the book would appeal to those who are a) not good at coming up with descriptive detail, and b) those who would rather have a quick reference to gaming facts and things in a single volume than do that sort of work themselves. Obviously, there are detail-oriented DMs out there who have already compiled such information, in their heads if not on paper, and are in no need of this work. So it's not for them.

 

[haiiro]

No doubt most anything found in the WB can be found on the net or the encyclopedia.

Take a glance at the site -- it's not lists, and it's not stuff that's in GG's World Builder. It's actually questions intended to get you thinking about different areas of your world, including some you've got ideas about and others you might not have thought of on your own.

Neat site, Hand!

 

[Nathal]

Ah, I see now...right you are.