What's in the Gazeteers? - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

What's in the Gazeteers?

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Mar 04, 2004 16:26:28 I just ordered all four Gazeteers from Sword and Sorcery Studios. I know the domains that're detailed within, and that I'm likely gonna get some juicy 3.0/3.5 darklord write-ups, however, I'm kinda curious as to what else is in the gazeteers. Monsters? Expansive maps? Local NPC write-ups? Details we've never recieved before about each domain? New prestige classes? New spells? New magic items?

--as a 2e Ravenloft fan, I decided to get off my butt and collect again NB
#2
Matthew_L._Martin
Mar 04, 2004 17:31:36 All of the above--although the maps are hit and miss. We learn more about each domain than we've _ever_ learned before; even the much-detailed Barovia gets some new wrinkles in its history and locations.

Matthew L. Martin, Ravenloft and Kargatane Fanboy
#3
zombiegleemax
Mar 04, 2004 22:28:06 Eek!! Blind-buying four books? Don't do that! All it does is increase the chance of buying garbage, which, when bought, increases the chance that more of said garbage will be written! Gah!

That said, in this case, at least, the gazetteers are well worth the money, excellently written, whether just for fun or for the numerous plot-hooks within.

Most of the books are devoted to actually detailing the domains; the geography, the history and the like. However, the back of the books contain a scant few spells, a wee bit of magic items, and about half the NPCs statted out and given a background represent the important figures of the various domains, while the other half would be the darklords themselves. I also think there's about one new prestige class per book.
#4
ylem
Mar 06, 2004 2:51:20 The Gazetteer's are supposedly written by a Darkonian woman known as "S" who is working for Azalin. Azalin writes an occasional comment about the text in the margins. The Gazetteer's help to advance Ravenloft's metaplot, because some of the information S is collecting for Azalin will apparently be needed when Azalin launches his next major effort to alter Ravenloft's status quo in a few years time.
#5
zombiegleemax
Mar 07, 2004 18:46:07 Gazzetters is probaly worth each cent!!
#6
zombiegleemax
Mar 09, 2004 12:59:03 What you get for your Money is something quite Unique ?!?! I must admit I love the Gazetteers You also get a Shed load of Prestege Classes. A List od which I have compiled. The Downside however, for a GM is that they work clockwise from the original maps of the core, hense Nova Vassa will probably be in the last book

I think they all give a lot of background, however, there is an awfull lot of stuff that is repeated, although slightly expanded upon, but all in all worth the Pennies. Better than some of the abstract dross I have seen lately !!!!

However One book has arrived on my desk that has astounded me AEG's Monster, worth a look. Get it from your library

and save the money to buy Core Rulebook 5 (Yes Laughs, but mark my words there will be a CRB5., eventually)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Mar 04, 2004 16:26:28	I just ordered all four Gazeteers from Sword and Sorcery Studios. I know the domains that're detailed within, and that I'm likely gonna get some juicy 3.0/3.5 darklord write-ups, however, I'm kinda curious as to what else is in the gazeteers. Monsters? Expansive maps? Local NPC write-ups? Details we've never recieved before about each domain? New prestige classes? New spells? New magic items? --as a 2e Ravenloft fan, I decided to get off my butt and collect again NB
#2 Matthew_L._Martin Mar 04, 2004 17:31:36	All of the above--although the maps are hit and miss. We learn more about each domain than we've _ever_ learned before; even the much-detailed Barovia gets some new wrinkles in its history and locations. Matthew L. Martin, Ravenloft and Kargatane Fanboy
#3 zombiegleemax Mar 04, 2004 22:28:06	Eek!! Blind-buying four books? Don't do that! All it does is increase the chance of buying garbage, which, when bought, increases the chance that more of said garbage will be written! Gah! That said, in this case, at least, the gazetteers are well worth the money, excellently written, whether just for fun or for the numerous plot-hooks within. Most of the books are devoted to actually detailing the domains; the geography, the history and the like. However, the back of the books contain a scant few spells, a wee bit of magic items, and about half the NPCs statted out and given a background represent the important figures of the various domains, while the other half would be the darklords themselves. I also think there's about one new prestige class per book.
#4 ylem Mar 06, 2004 2:51:20	The Gazetteer's are supposedly written by a Darkonian woman known as "S" who is working for Azalin. Azalin writes an occasional comment about the text in the margins. The Gazetteer's help to advance Ravenloft's metaplot, because some of the information S is collecting for Azalin will apparently be needed when Azalin launches his next major effort to alter Ravenloft's status quo in a few years time.
#5 zombiegleemax Mar 07, 2004 18:46:07	Gazzetters is probaly worth each cent!!
#6 zombiegleemax Mar 09, 2004 12:59:03	What you get for your Money is something quite Unique ?!?! I must admit I love the Gazetteers You also get a Shed load of Prestege Classes. A List od which I have compiled. The Downside however, for a GM is that they work clockwise from the original maps of the core, hense Nova Vassa will probably be in the last book I think they all give a lot of background, however, there is an awfull lot of stuff that is repeated, although slightly expanded upon, but all in all worth the Pennies. Better than some of the abstract dross I have seen lately !!!! However One book has arrived on my desk that has astounded me AEG's Monster, worth a look. Get it from your library and save the money to buy Core Rulebook 5 (Yes Laughs, but mark my words there will be a CRB5., eventually)