CAMPAIGN CLASSICS - This special issue returns D&D gamers to their roots. We're presenting an article from nearly every D&D campaign ever produced, from Al-Qadim to Taladas. Each article takes some part of these campaigns settings and presents it updated for D&D 3.5. This issue also features a history of the D&D campaign settings by Stan!
Dragonlance by Jamie Chambers - This article gives you information on playing a draconian character, as well as some feat options for your favorite draconian.
Greyhawk by Erik Mona - Resident Greyhawk guru Erik Mona gives us dozens of regional feats for the Greyhawk setting, usable whether you play in Oerth or not.
Al-Qadim by Dean Poisso - The sha'ir class returns to D&D! Harness the power of magic through your gen with this new 20-level class.
Ravenloft by David Noonan - You fought Strahd in 1st Edition and 2nd Edition, now battle the most legendary vampire in D&D in revised 3rd Edition. Plus, revisit Castle Ravenloft with a brand-new map of Strahd's lair.
Kara-Tur by James Wyatt - This article provides ancestor feats and martial arts styles for the regions of Kara-Tur.
Red Steel by Frank Brunner - Witness the return of cinnabar and red steel, the affected, and tortles.
Plus, Blackmoor, Dark Sun, Planescape, Hollow World, and more!
I'll pass.
We've been doing a lot of campaign background stuff in the LGJ, and I wanted to grab the chance to put out some rules for long-suffering Greyhawk DMs. If I've done my job correctly, the feats in the article will help to give players a Greyhawk "feel" to their character backgrounds.
We'll see what people think in a few weeks.
--Erik Mona
Editor-in-Chief
Dungeon Magazine
), and would require campaign documentation of some sort to take them.It begs the question: Why not have it as a LGJ article? I was led to believe the absence of LGJs from Dungeon was due to lack of articles submissions yet they put what sounds like a cool GH item in Dragon instead. Curiouser & curiouser.
We put this article in Dragon because the boys on that magazine decided to do an issue with one article from every campaign setting, and I'd be damned if I'd let that opportunity pass by without a good article for Greyhawk (and I sincerely hope mine qualifies). I don't really get to write anything in Dungeon (a "Critical Threat" here and there excepted), so I took the chance to write an article that I think should have been written about two years ago when I was specifically asked by the staff to contribute to the issue.
Running that in the LGJ would have involved me writing for my own magazine (generally a no-no), sending 62 feats for approval to nearly as many Triads, each of whom would have their little quibbles and suggestions, and incorporating or deciding against each and every one of those changes. It also would have meant a review process with the Circle. All of that would have taken an enormous amount of time--time we didn't have.
So, instead, we're running the article in Dragon. If the campaign ultimately decides that it would like to include those feats, that's just great, and I'd be pleased as punch. But by putting it in Dragon, we're not forcing anyone to accept rules that make them uncomfortable without giving them a chance to review them. It's still my hope that we can eventually put together some kind of "LGJ Compilation" that might also include the regional feats article, with any post-publication changes mandated by the LG Circle.
--Erik Mona
Editor-in-Chief
Dungeon Magazine
The article sounds great. I'll be picking up a copy as soon as it becomes available. The LGK compilation also sounds like a good idea, one that I hope will see fruition.
SF
Originally posted by Erik Mona
We put this article in Dragon because the boys on that magazine decided to do an issue with one article from every campaign setting, and I'd be damned if I'd let that opportunity pass by without a good article for Greyhawk
Thats the kind of attitude that may get us some new product one day :D
If the campaign ultimately decides that it would like to include those feats, that's just great, and I'd be pleased as punch. But by putting it in Dragon, we're not forcing anyone to accept rules that make them uncomfortable without giving them a chance to review them. It's still my hope that we can eventually put together some kind of "LGJ Compilation" that might also include the regional feats article, with any post-publication changes mandated by the LG Circle.
--Erik Mona
Editor-in-Chief
Dungeon Magazine [/b]
Fair enough Erik, makes a lot more sense put that way, I'm looking forward to getting hold of it
and the LGJ compilation will be out when? ;)Originally posted by Erik Mona
For people who don't use third edition (Rich), the article will probably hold little of interest.
Contrary to popular belief, I am not the only greyhawk fan who doesn't use 3rd edition. Lose the smug grin and take your criticism like a good little editor, mmkay?
Originally posted by Greyhack
Contrary to popular belief, I am not the only greyhawk fan who doesn't use 3rd edition.
Excellent. We have found another fan with which to repopulate the species. Looks like you're on the next plane to Mongolia...
I honestly didn't mean the slam. Sorry to have offended you. Obviously lots of other people won't care about the article, but I'd like to think the bulk of the stuff I publish in the LGJ is useful no matter what system you use.
--Erik
I happen to be happy at least the 3rd ed. users will have something new in any form, although I will not be picking it up myself.
Originally posted by abysslin
----->I am a 2nd Ed. only DM<------
I happen to be happy at least the 3rd ed. users will have something new in any form, although I will not be picking it up myself.
Keep in mind that, for the most part, the Living Greyhawk Journals are still pretty useful, containing a lot of detail and "fluff" work that can be used without the accompanying stat blocks to great extent in any game.
My complaint about the 3e specificness of the "Campaign Classics" article is more a complaint about Dragon in general, which Johnny Wilson has succesfully driven right back into the house rag role that Gygax was wise enough to abandon. It's frustrating to see the only magazine for D&D completely ignore anything that isn't currently available in WotC's catalog.
Keep in mind as well that "Campaign Classics" is not a new feature, these debuted during 2e's swan song with material for the settings that weren't recieving as much material as Forgotten Realms. Slapping a nostalgic name on something that is solidly not traditional or in any way related to the "classic" campaign annoys me. At least the other worlds mentioned in the teaser are getting a revisit of something from their past. We're getting completely new material that has absolutely no use if you don't play 3.5e D&D (which you can purchase now at your local Wizards of the Coast retail store! :D )
Perhaps with the rumored departure of Mr. Wilson from the day to day operations of Paizo, we'll get a directive vision that will start forcing a little true homage to the dead games and their players, but I really can't bring myself to hold my breath.