The Best 2e Stuff? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

The Best 2e Stuff?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
merrikcale
Sep 13, 2007 22:15:17 I have probably half of the old gazetteers when I played OD&D back then. I then moved to the Forgotten Realms. I'm curious as to the best stuff released on Mystara and the Known World in 2e. Trying to complete the Gazetteers seems an expensive task
#2
agathokles
Sep 14, 2007 2:16:26
I have probably half of the old gazetteers when I played OD&D back then. I then moved to the Forgotten Realms. I'm curious as to the best stuff released on Mystara and the Known World in 2e. Trying to complete the Gazetteers seems an expensive task

There isn't much. Two Gazetteer-like boxes, Karameikos: Kingdom of Adventure and Glantri: Kingdom of Magic. The Red Steel and Savage Baronies sets, later updated into the Savage Coast and Orc's Head online books. Some adventure modules: Mark of Amber, Hail the Heroes and Night of the Vampire. Two Almanacs (PWA III and Joshuan's), and two monster compendium appendices (Mystara and Savage Coast).

That's all, more or less.

The Savage Coast stuff is very good (especially the use of character kits is, on par with Al Qadim, the most successful in all AD&D 2e), and can be found on the Vaults of Pandius.

The Almanacs are very different -- PWA III is basically the same as the OD&D Almanacs, but with AD&D stats, so it is definitely more useful if you play 2e.
The Joshuan's Almanac is generally inferior, as it tried to refocus the line on KW only (so for new players rather than for existing Mystara fans). It has some more art and a more in depth covering of KW, but removes all mentions of other regions, especially the HW.

The MCA is an average book, with some well known OD&D monsters (e.g., the Thoul) and some redundant ones (e.g., the Agharat).

I don't have G:KoM, but it should be more interesting than K:KoA -- at least the rules conversions for the Secret Arts should be useful. K:KoA has some nice color art (not all of it is good, though), but doesn't really add much to the world. The application of character kits is uninspired, and the updating to 1012 AC is not perfect either.

BTW, you'd probably be better off getting the Gazetteers as PDFs from Paizo.
They sell all of them, with the unfortunate exception of GAZ10 Orcs of Thar.
#3
havard
Sep 14, 2007 8:24:22 I agree that the Savage Coast stuff is the best Mystara 2e stuff. If the rest had been on par with the SC boxed set I might have converted to 2e right away myself.

IMHO Karameikos:Kingdom of Adventure is much better than Glantri: Kingdom of Magic. As Agathokles points out there are some interesting rules there and new spells and player options, but overall K:KoA is much better executed. That one also has a nice overview of the Known World region which will be useful if you are a newcomer to Mystara.

I second Agathokles remark about getting the Gazetteers. They have AD&D conversion rules included so they should be easy to adapt to your campaign.

Enjoy!

Havard
#4
merrikcale
Sep 14, 2007 11:19:12 Thanks

I know I'm behind the times, but I much prefer books to pdfs
#5
havard
Sep 14, 2007 13:46:55
Thanks

I know I'm behind the times, but I much prefer books to pdfs

Me too friend. If you are able to get the dead tree version thats the best ofcourse. But if not, pdfs are a great alternative, if even just while youre waiting to get your hands on the books

Havard
#6
agathokles
Sep 15, 2007 3:09:19
I know I'm behind the times, but I much prefer books to pdfs

Me too, at same price. But when paper books come at 10x price (see the Gazetteers on Ebay, e.g.), I'll take the pdfs ;)
#7
merrikcale
Sep 15, 2007 8:19:12
Me too, at same price. But when paper books come at 10x price (see the Gazetteers on Ebay, e.g.), I'll take the pdfs ;)

that is a valid point

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 merrikcale Sep 13, 2007 22:15:17	I have probably half of the old gazetteers when I played OD&D back then. I then moved to the Forgotten Realms. I'm curious as to the best stuff released on Mystara and the Known World in 2e. Trying to complete the Gazetteers seems an expensive task
#2 agathokles Sep 14, 2007 2:16:26	I have probably half of the old gazetteers when I played OD&D back then. I then moved to the Forgotten Realms. I'm curious as to the best stuff released on Mystara and the Known World in 2e. Trying to complete the Gazetteers seems an expensive task There isn't much. Two Gazetteer-like boxes, Karameikos: Kingdom of Adventure and Glantri: Kingdom of Magic. The Red Steel and Savage Baronies sets, later updated into the Savage Coast and Orc's Head online books. Some adventure modules: Mark of Amber, Hail the Heroes and Night of the Vampire. Two Almanacs (PWA III and Joshuan's), and two monster compendium appendices (Mystara and Savage Coast). That's all, more or less. The Savage Coast stuff is very good (especially the use of character kits is, on par with Al Qadim, the most successful in all AD&D 2e), and can be found on the Vaults of Pandius. The Almanacs are very different -- PWA III is basically the same as the OD&D Almanacs, but with AD&D stats, so it is definitely more useful if you play 2e. The Joshuan's Almanac is generally inferior, as it tried to refocus the line on KW only (so for new players rather than for existing Mystara fans). It has some more art and a more in depth covering of KW, but removes all mentions of other regions, especially the HW. The MCA is an average book, with some well known OD&D monsters (e.g., the Thoul) and some redundant ones (e.g., the Agharat). I don't have G:KoM, but it should be more interesting than K:KoA -- at least the rules conversions for the Secret Arts should be useful. K:KoA has some nice color art (not all of it is good, though), but doesn't really add much to the world. The application of character kits is uninspired, and the updating to 1012 AC is not perfect either. BTW, you'd probably be better off getting the Gazetteers as PDFs from Paizo. They sell all of them, with the unfortunate exception of GAZ10 Orcs of Thar.
#3 havard Sep 14, 2007 8:24:22	I agree that the Savage Coast stuff is the best Mystara 2e stuff. If the rest had been on par with the SC boxed set I might have converted to 2e right away myself. IMHO Karameikos:Kingdom of Adventure is much better than Glantri: Kingdom of Magic. As Agathokles points out there are some interesting rules there and new spells and player options, but overall K:KoA is much better executed. That one also has a nice overview of the Known World region which will be useful if you are a newcomer to Mystara. I second Agathokles remark about getting the Gazetteers. They have AD&D conversion rules included so they should be easy to adapt to your campaign. Enjoy! Havard
#4 merrikcale Sep 14, 2007 11:19:12	Thanks I know I'm behind the times, but I much prefer books to pdfs
#5 havard Sep 14, 2007 13:46:55	Thanks I know I'm behind the times, but I much prefer books to pdfs Me too friend. If you are able to get the dead tree version thats the best ofcourse. But if not, pdfs are a great alternative, if even just while youre waiting to get your hands on the books Havard
#6 agathokles Sep 15, 2007 3:09:19	I know I'm behind the times, but I much prefer books to pdfs Me too, at same price. But when paper books come at 10x price (see the Gazetteers on Ebay, e.g.), I'll take the pdfs ;)
#7 merrikcale Sep 15, 2007 8:19:12	Me too, at same price. But when paper books come at 10x price (see the Gazetteers on Ebay, e.g.), I'll take the pdfs ;) that is a valid point