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Need info on Mystara

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
zombiegleemax
Apr 06, 2005 22:35:31 So, after feeling nostalgic for some time, I remembered that there used to be this D&D world I played in as a kid. I couldn't remember the name of it, I just knew it was the world in the original D&D rules (pre-AD&D). After doing some research, it turns out this is the world of Mystara.

So I feel like I would like to create a Mystara campaign for my players, but I feel hopelessly lost as to where to begin.

Is there a place where I could get a brief summary of Mystara setting, history, and important people? I've tried many sites but haven't found anything that doesn't just flood me with information, leaving me so turned around I don't know where I'm at.
#2
zombiegleemax
Apr 06, 2005 23:55:20 How about the Mystara 3e site? It gives a general description of the setting to new-comers - so it might be handy, even if you are not playing 3e.
The site is yet to be complete - but in your case, it just might be an advantage... This way, you won't be drowned by info.
#3
culture20
Apr 07, 2005 1:10:35 What fun is it being a DM without a flood of info at your fingertips?
I would suggest focusing on one country from the Known World (Grand Duchy of Karameikos is the one you probably remember best), and let your players learn more about the outside world as you read more.
The Vaults of Pandius (http://www.mystaranet.jamm.com/) is the name of the official Mystara fan site. Check out the Atlas for some data sorted by country.
#4
zombiegleemax
Apr 07, 2005 11:18:30 Well, that kind of helps.
I was really just hoping that there was a convenient summary somewhere.
#5
culture20
Apr 07, 2005 19:12:39 There are always the ESDs (electronic scans that are sold for $5 a pop), but I'd suggest using thorf's maps since the map scans are reportedly often bad or missing.

What rule set are you going to use?
#6
zombiegleemax
Apr 07, 2005 21:36:41
Well, that kind of helps.
I was really just hoping that there was a convenient summary somewhere.

The best summary is probably the ESD for "Dawn of the Emperors", since it covers two world-spanning empires so it naturally goes into quite a bit of the history of the world. Apart from that the most general info in one place is in the Rules Cyclopedia, I think, but it's only a very brief summary.

That's assuming you're interested in the traditional Known World area. The two later campaign settings in the same world, the Hollow World and Red Steel, weren't assembled piece by piece in the same way so they each have core sets you could get. The Hollow World box set's available in ESD, and the Savage Coast and Orc's Head books for Red Steel are available for free download from http://www.mystaranet.jamm.com/vaults/html/svgecst.html (I believe they have all the info from the original Red Steel set, since they were intended as a replacement - someone correct me if I'm wrong?)
#7
culture20
Apr 08, 2005 18:45:41 The original files for the Savage Coast (an area west of the Known World, south of Hule) can be found here:
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads
I don't know which is superior, the free rtf/txts & images from Wizards, or the free PDFs which were made from them; Since they're both free, why not download both? :D
I prefer playing/DMing on the Savage Coast when a restricted environment is desired (parties with an inheritor never seriously consider leaving the Haze).

If you're lucky enough to find some new or used copies of an edition of The Poor Wizard's Almanac, they tend to have good summeriesof the Known World, along with providing a few characters. You could easily base a campaign off of the information in one of the Almanacs, but they're pretty much all "fluff" according to the 3E fans.
#8
agathokles
Apr 09, 2005 2:38:57
Is there a place where I could get a brief summary of Mystara setting, history, and important people? I've tried many sites but haven't found anything that doesn't just flood me with information, leaving me so turned around I don't know where I'm at.

It's a bit difficult to give a summary of Mystara without excluding something -- that's why there isn't a single summary.
I'd recommend to start with one of the three main areas:

1) Known World: get the Mystaran Almanac, year 1014 (or 1015)
http://mystaranet.jamm.com/almanac/content/1014pdf.zip
They're comprehensive, but not too large (as the later MAs);
you can also get the smaller Mystara Newbie Guide here:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/mystara_newbie_guide
(you'll need to join the group, then go to files->nation_summaries and get the last item)

2) Savage Coast: as suggested by Culture20, get the Savage Coast book.

3) Hollow World: get the Hollow World ESD.

Known World is more diverse, and has some pretty ``traditional'' regions (e.g., Karameikos), while Savage Coast and Hollow World are more thematically-oriented (respectively, the former has a ``new world/colonization'' theme, the latter a ``lost world/ancient empires'' theme).
#9
Hugin
Apr 09, 2005 14:23:41
Known World is more diverse, and has some pretty ``traditional'' regions (e.g., Karameikos), while Savage Coast and Hollow World are more thematically-oriented (respectively, the former has a ``new world/colonization'' theme, the latter a ``lost world/ancient empires'' theme).

This is why I think Mystara is so awesome; it is hard to create a style of game that does not fit in somewhere on (or in) Mystara. You gain a lot of freedom and variety when, as a DM, you don't have to start a new campaign to change up styles.

The down side is that there is no single campaign sourcebook. But of course, once you have much of all these various sources, it makes the trouble of finding them worth it (IMHO naturally).

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 zombiegleemax Apr 06, 2005 22:35:31	So, after feeling nostalgic for some time, I remembered that there used to be this D&D world I played in as a kid. I couldn't remember the name of it, I just knew it was the world in the original D&D rules (pre-AD&D). After doing some research, it turns out this is the world of Mystara. So I feel like I would like to create a Mystara campaign for my players, but I feel hopelessly lost as to where to begin. Is there a place where I could get a brief summary of Mystara setting, history, and important people? I've tried many sites but haven't found anything that doesn't just flood me with information, leaving me so turned around I don't know where I'm at.
#2 zombiegleemax Apr 06, 2005 23:55:20	How about the Mystara 3e site? It gives a general description of the setting to new-comers - so it might be handy, even if you are not playing 3e. The site is yet to be complete - but in your case, it just might be an advantage... This way, you won't be drowned by info.
#3 culture20 Apr 07, 2005 1:10:35	What fun is it being a DM without a flood of info at your fingertips? I would suggest focusing on one country from the Known World (Grand Duchy of Karameikos is the one you probably remember best), and let your players learn more about the outside world as you read more. The Vaults of Pandius (http://www.mystaranet.jamm.com/) is the name of the official Mystara fan site. Check out the Atlas for some data sorted by country.
#4 zombiegleemax Apr 07, 2005 11:18:30	Well, that kind of helps. I was really just hoping that there was a convenient summary somewhere.
#5 culture20 Apr 07, 2005 19:12:39	There are always the ESDs (electronic scans that are sold for $5 a pop), but I'd suggest using thorf's maps since the map scans are reportedly often bad or missing. What rule set are you going to use?
#6 zombiegleemax Apr 07, 2005 21:36:41	Well, that kind of helps. I was really just hoping that there was a convenient summary somewhere. The best summary is probably the ESD for "Dawn of the Emperors", since it covers two world-spanning empires so it naturally goes into quite a bit of the history of the world. Apart from that the most general info in one place is in the Rules Cyclopedia, I think, but it's only a very brief summary. That's assuming you're interested in the traditional Known World area. The two later campaign settings in the same world, the Hollow World and Red Steel, weren't assembled piece by piece in the same way so they each have core sets you could get. The Hollow World box set's available in ESD, and the Savage Coast and Orc's Head books for Red Steel are available for free download from http://www.mystaranet.jamm.com/vaults/html/svgecst.html (I believe they have all the info from the original Red Steel set, since they were intended as a replacement - someone correct me if I'm wrong?)
#7 culture20 Apr 08, 2005 18:45:41	The original files for the Savage Coast (an area west of the Known World, south of Hule) can be found here: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/dnd/downloads I don't know which is superior, the free rtf/txts & images from Wizards, or the free PDFs which were made from them; Since they're both free, why not download both? :D I prefer playing/DMing on the Savage Coast when a restricted environment is desired (parties with an inheritor never seriously consider leaving the Haze). If you're lucky enough to find some new or used copies of an edition of The Poor Wizard's Almanac, they tend to have good summeriesof the Known World, along with providing a few characters. You could easily base a campaign off of the information in one of the Almanacs, but they're pretty much all "fluff" according to the 3E fans.
#8 agathokles Apr 09, 2005 2:38:57	Is there a place where I could get a brief summary of Mystara setting, history, and important people? I've tried many sites but haven't found anything that doesn't just flood me with information, leaving me so turned around I don't know where I'm at. It's a bit difficult to give a summary of Mystara without excluding something -- that's why there isn't a single summary. I'd recommend to start with one of the three main areas: 1) Known World: get the Mystaran Almanac, year 1014 (or 1015) http://mystaranet.jamm.com/almanac/content/1014pdf.zip They're comprehensive, but not too large (as the later MAs); you can also get the smaller Mystara Newbie Guide here: http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/mystara_newbie_guide (you'll need to join the group, then go to files->nation_summaries and get the last item) 2) Savage Coast: as suggested by Culture20, get the Savage Coast book. 3) Hollow World: get the Hollow World ESD. Known World is more diverse, and has some pretty ``traditional'' regions (e.g., Karameikos), while Savage Coast and Hollow World are more thematically-oriented (respectively, the former has a ``new world/colonization'' theme, the latter a ``lost world/ancient empires'' theme).
#9 Hugin Apr 09, 2005 14:23:41	Known World is more diverse, and has some pretty ``traditional'' regions (e.g., Karameikos), while Savage Coast and Hollow World are more thematically-oriented (respectively, the former has a ``new world/colonization'' theme, the latter a ``lost world/ancient empires'' theme). This is why I think Mystara is so awesome; it is hard to create a style of game that does not fit in somewhere on (or in) Mystara. You gain a lot of freedom and variety when, as a DM, you don't have to start a new campaign to change up styles. The down side is that there is no single campaign sourcebook. But of course, once you have much of all these various sources, it makes the trouble of finding them worth it (IMHO naturally).