For me this was a great article, especially as James Jacobs on the Dungeon website has said more bits and pieces regarding Istivin are due to come in adventures based in Isivin in Dungeon 118 and 119 (personally I can't wait!)
The map of Istivin is admittedly sparse but on the map ratio given (roughly 1 inch = 600 feet) it give a good rough guide to how Istivin is laid out (which as AFAIK has never been mapped before).
I especially like the nod to history with certain NPC's (i.e Frush O'Suggill) this makes it all the more interesting for me. Sure we've all done our own thing with GH, but its always interesting to see what the powers that be have done as well.
To my mind this was a quality Greyhawk Article, and in all honesty the dearth of Greyhawk articles (regardless of quality) make this a more than welcome in the current wilderness that is GH.
Hopefully this will be a more friendly thread than the first one, if your just gonna b!tch and moan about the article, or turn it into a personal vendetta go elsewhere please.
For me this was a great article, especially as James Jacobs on the Dungeon website has said more bits and pieces regarding Istivin are due to come in adventures based in Isivin in Dungeon 118 and 119 (personally I can't wait!)
The map of Istivin is admittedly sparse but on the map ratio given (roughly 1 inch = 600 feet) it give a good rough guide to how Istivin is laid out (which as AFAIK has never been mapped before).
I especially like the nod to history with certain NPC's (i.e Frush O'Suggill) this makes it all the more interesting for me. Sure we've all done our own thing with GH, but its always interesting to see what the powers that be have done as well.
To my mind this was a quality Greyhawk Article, and in all honesty the dearth of Greyhawk articles (regardless of quality) make this a more than welcome in the current wilderness that is GH.
sounds like I might have to re-sub to Dungeon if they are going to up the actual Greyhawk content. Previously most articles dealt with Greyhawk by mentioning a few names and providing a rather generic adventure.
I do wish they'd provided a more detailed city map rather than a stylized representation. It gives an appearances of how the city might look, but actually doesn't show it when you consider the number of houses (as I mentioned in the other thread).
We should all lament the fact that no new 'quality' Greyhawk modules or supplements are being published. Without the title Greyhawk on store shelves newer players (and new ideas) are not being brought to the setting. There are great fan sources out there, many of them much superior to published material from the past, but they mainly attract players and DMs already familiar with the setting of settings.
Peopleat the boards and/or regular suscribers should judge which articles they consider worthy.
So, hopefully, they could do so again.
For me this was a great article, especially as James Jacobs on the Dungeon website has said more bits and pieces regarding Istivin are due to come in adventures based in Isivin in Dungeon 118 and 119 (personally I can't wait!)
The map of Istivin is admittedly sparse but on the map ratio given (roughly 1 inch = 600 feet) it give a good rough guide to how Istivin is laid out (which as AFAIK has never been mapped before).
To my mind this was a quality Greyhawk Article, and in all honesty the dearth of Greyhawk articles (regardless of quality) make this a more than welcome in the current wilderness that is GH.
All in all I felt that the map was the weakest link in the article, but did not detract from its overall worth too much, and in fairness most WOG city maps in various supplements over the years could hardly be accused of being detailed.
What really fired my imagination was the claustraphobic and moody atmosphere that the setting lends itself to. It would be easy to create a paranoia in the PCs if earlier in the campaign they interract with the city without getting to the bottom of the mystery but find themselves in a dangerous and chaotic location where even a trusted associate could turn on them......
I am certainly looking forward to the next articles and would welcome more overarching campaign themes - perhaps looking at other less developed areas of the Flanness like the Bandit Kingdoms etc (apologies in advance to LGers who would disagree with the less-developped tag
)What I really like to see in articles are the unique details which help make a setting memorable to the PCs - customs, building style, guilds etc. Not "War and Peace", but some nuggets that would add depth with minimal DM work.
Oh, they did it back in the days of TSR. Click here for an example.
So, hopefully, they could do so again.
Hell, yeah, this would be sooo great!
Kinda new adventure book for Greyhawkers!
We takes what we can get.
........................Omote
FPQ
Anyone noticed the original box was designed to accommodate up to 6 CD but contained only 5? I already dreamed of a issues#251-300 CD back then
Well, we can only hope Paizo will put up for sale a Dragon Mag. issues #251-350 CD to complete the first set.
Anyone noticed the original box was designed to accommodate up to 6 CD but contained only 5? I already dreamed of a issues#251-300 CD back then
Hell Yes! :D
There has to be some commercial mileage in that (hopes). In fact why not also release Dungeon in similar format (really hopes Eric Mona is reading....)
Well, we can only hope Paizo will put up for sale a Dragon Mag. issues #251-350 CD to complete the first set.
Anyone noticed the original box was designed to accommodate up to 6 CD but contained only 5? I already dreamed of a issues#251-300 CD back then
It is my understanding that the 1st CD collection got them sued, over rights to Knights of the Dinner Table specifically, and is why Kalamar became an "official" D&D setting (part of the settlement of the suit). If true, they may not be hot to try again. It would be nice, however. Hopefully, they could iron out the legal fine print before going to press.
GVD
To my mind this was a quality Greyhawk Article, and in all honesty the dearth of Greyhawk articles (regardless of quality) make this a more than welcome in the current wilderness that is GH.
I haven't read this particular article, and don't plan to, but I'd actually prefer no GH articles to bad GH articles. Call me strange.
It is my understanding that the 1st CD collection got them sued, over rights to Knights of the Dinner Table specifically, and is why Kalamar became an "official" D&D setting (part of the settlement of the suit).
Yes, Kenzerco did take action regarding the reprinting, without permission supposedly, but folks from Wizards and Kenzer, including David Kenzer himself, have stated that this is a myth, the rights for Kalamar and Hackmaster were not part of the settlement.
I haven't read this particular article, and don't plan to, but I'd actually prefer no GH articles to bad GH articles. Call me strange.
I would definitely agree with those sentiments, albeit I liked this particular article. I remember only too well the days when Greyhawk published material was rare and billing went to Pupeteers / Childs Play / Gargoyle etc Ugh!
IMHO the sort of Greyhawk material that is worth printing has well thought out material that has a tie to the setting and uses it to its advantage. Most of (but not all) the Dungeon articles have done that.
A few things. The article was okay. Likely it would have been better received if it was published shortly after the LGG. However, publication schedules precluded that from happening, so we must accept that these articles did not timely extend the plot lines of the LGG but instead come four years late.
The article was good in evoking the age of Istivin and distinguishing its feel by way of the basalt used to construct it. However, this execution was flawed by a map that fails to represent adequately either the cramped space of a quasi-medieval city or Istivin's growth over the centuries. Also, it doesn't make sense for the city walls to encompass the Effluvium or for any quarter within the walls to be abandoned for the past century.
Therefore I suggest changing the history of the abandonment: make it a result of Galmoor's conquest of Istivin and problems following the city's recovery. Put the Effluvium outside of any city walls, and create "internal" walls that mark the city's changing boundaries.
Finally, while some of the illustrations work well, that of Resbin Dren Emondav fails to comport with her description. As I've argued elsewhere, Greyhawk publications with good illustrations amplify the the piece's communicative power. Good illustrations are ones that evoke our imaginations about what is distinctive about the Flanaess. The illustration of the marchioness fails and instead seems generic, which might be okay except that it contradicts her written description.