Coming in August 2007 from Erik Mona, James Jacobs, and Jason Bulmahn.
I didn't see a thread on this topic, so I decided to start one.
I'm not familiar with the original Castle Greyhawk adventure.
What do we have to look forward to?
(And who illustrated that awesome cover?)
Creative Director
|
This is, in fact, pretty much a brand-new adventure; it's not a remake of an older adventure (although it does draw upon elements from several older adventures).
For those who were following that other thread, BTW: This is indeed Erik Mona's Secret Project. And Jason Bulmahn's too. Oh, and mine as well.
I'm not familiar with the original Castle Greyhawk adventure.
What do we have to look forward to?
So this is Mona's secret project.
The original Castle Greyhawk was Gygax's own campaign and never saw publication (as far as I know). My understanding of it was it was built by Zagyg and has tons of levels with numerous monsters and hazards, including many prisons where Zagyg had captured demon princes like Fraz-Urb'luu and Iuz. Think Undermountain set in GH. Essentially its a huge dungeon crawl but one that holds many secrets and info regarding Greyhawk, so I'm very interested in it for that. The level range (8-13) is good but I think this is only a small portion of the dungeon.
They did publish two modules before about this, WG7 Castle Greyhawk which was a joke dungeon (don't waste your time) and WGR1 Grehawk Ruins. To be fair, I haven't given that one a serious read but what I did see didn't impress me. I like the writers behind this new one, so I'm looking forward to it.
|
Creative Director
|
We used WGR1 as a starting point for "Expedition," but honestly, that adventure reads much more like the outline to an adventure than an actual adventure. In addition, many of the iconic locations in Castle Greyhawk were simply not there at worst or underused at best.
"Expedition" makes no attempt to detail all of the dungeons below Castle Greyhawk. We focused only on the areas that were pertinent to the adventure as a whole (which itself doesn't take place entirely in the dungeons). There's a LOT left over for DMs to expand upon, which is as it should be.
WG7 Castle Greyhawk had pretty much no impact or influence on our design. Personally, while I was amused by it when it first came out, over the years I've come to really detest that particular adventure.
WG7 Castle Greyhawk had pretty much no impact or influence on our design. Personally, while I was amused by it when it first came out, over the years I've come to really detest that particular adventure.
Thank god for that!
James, any other bits of storyline or dungeon details you can disclose?
Threadjack
http://wizards.com/default.asp?x=products/dndlist&brand=All&year=20 07&tablesort=2
The above actually reads like a paizo's who is who, almost every adventure or accessory has someone at paizo attached to it.
end of threadjack
How much detail of the city will there be?
I take it that this is supposed to be part of a series of adventures to "classic D&D sites"? Series started with the recently released Expedition to Castle Ravenloft. Any hints as to what further additions there will be in this series? The old city of the Slavers? The Vault of the Drow? I looked through the Ravenloft book at Barnes & Noble and it looked very well done.
How much detail of the city will there be?Sounds like a great Dragon tie-in article. Not that you could fit the whole city into a magazine article, but certain points of interest could be re-fleshed.
From: http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=178244&page=4
"The extremely generic product description leaves me little room to discuss details without violating my NDA, but I think I can safely confirm that a significant section of the adventure takes place in the City of Greyhawk. Provided you are willing to 'port the Free City into your campaign, you could pretty easily run it in any campaign setting, but come on. It is written to be used in Greyhawk or as a stand-alone, primarily. I certainly didn't spend a lot of time thinking about how to plug it into Eberron or wherever.
And while there are some humorous elements to go along with Zagig's madness, it is not a joke module, and we did not bother to consult the joke version of Castle Greyhawk when researching the book.
We did include several elements from "Greyhawk Ruins," but that is a deeply imperfect adventure, and we certainly didn't follow it slavishly.
--Erik"
|
Creative Director
|
James, any other bits of storyline or dungeon details you can disclose?
It does indeed have a pretty strong storyline; the adventrue's not a standard "go into the dungeon and hack up monsters and take their treasure" type adventure (although I suppose you could certainly use the dungeon levels outside of the context of the adventure in that way). It utilizes characters, events, monsters, and history from Greyhawk in a very integrated way. It's certainly more Greyhawky than Age of Worms was, for example (and Age of Worms was pretty full on the Greyhawk lore).
This sounds great. And I'm not even a GH fan. I'm really pleased to see WotC back in the adventure-writing business and, even better, turning to the best to get it done.
Just out of curiousity, has WotC voiced any official policy toward the support of other campaign worlds (like GH, in this case)?
Recently, I mean.
Jack
It does indeed have a pretty strong storyline; the adventrue's not a standard "go into the dungeon and hack up monsters and take their treasure" type adventure (although I suppose you could certainly use the dungeon levels outside of the context of the adventure in that way). It utilizes characters, events, monsters, and history from Greyhawk in a very integrated way. It's certainly more Greyhawky than Age of Worms was, for example (and Age of Worms was pretty full on the Greyhawk lore).
That's what I wanted to hear! Consider at least one copy already sold.
This is, in fact, pretty much a brand-new adventure; it's not a remake of an older adventure (although it does draw upon elements from several older adventures).
For those who were following that other thread, BTW: This is indeed Erik Mona's Secret Project. And Jason Bulmahn's too. Oh, and mine as well.
Awesome, can't wait.
-Roth
James, any other bits of storyline or dungeon details you can disclose?It does indeed have a pretty strong storyline; the adventrue's not a standard "go into the dungeon and hack up monsters and take their treasure" type adventure (although I suppose you could certainly use the dungeon levels outside of the context of the adventure in that way). It utilizes characters, events, monsters, and history from Greyhawk in a very integrated way. It's certainly more Greyhawky than Age of Worms was, for example (and Age of Worms was pretty full on the Greyhawk lore).
This just keeps getting better....
Wheres my wallet? Consider that to be another copy preordered, and thanks from the Greyhawk DM's James!
As we talk about Greyhawk campaign & GH castle ruins, i just have a question about the old ruins.
Have any of you, DM, has resolve the Zuoken problem ?
Because in my campain ("the Urnst Duchy's Suellois"), the party will go to Castle Ruins, investigate the central Zagyg tower, and the monk among them is a follower of Zuoken (who has is own secret investigation directed by his own monastery in Cairn Hills).
I know that Erik Mona has is own solution in his campaign (i've got some articles on Canonfire but not the final decision).
I suppose this new GH ruins will not give me solution, and August 2007 is too late i'm afraid... ;o)
I take it that this is supposed to be part of a series of adventures to "classic D&D sites"? Series started with the recently released Expedition to Castle Ravenloft. Any hints as to what further additions there will be in this series? The old city of the Slavers? The Vault of the Drow? I looked through the Ravenloft book at Barnes & Noble and it looked very well done.
Hmmm, Re-Expedition to the Barrier Peaks?
Have any of you, DM, has resolve the Zuoken problem ?
What exactly is the Zouken "problem"? That he is suspected of being one of the nine prisoners in the Castle? Or something else?
Thanks.
Does Fraz-Urb'luu factor into the adventure in any way? I'm starting a campaign that has to do with my man Frazzy and there's a possibility that it might take them.. oh.. eight months to make it to level 8. Or perhaps the adventure has advice on scaling up the challenge?
Zuoken's status is a fairly major sub-plot (but merely one of many) in the adventure.
There's also the Robilar subplot, the Thieves Guild subplot, the Guild of Wizardry subplot, the Riggby subplot... There are a lot of subplots.
--Erik
Damn, you copy my own campaign ? ;o)
I've got the monk inquiry begun by a visit to Tenser Castle (i play in 576AC) to talk about rumours about a fight against Rob' & Iuz some years ago... And follow by a visit to Otto at GH.And the mage/priest of Boccob of the same party try to have news about Riggby (after his collapse at the same epoch) by his Clergy in Greyhawk City...
|
Creative Director
|
Does Fraz-Urb'luu factor into the adventure in any way? I'm starting a campaign that has to do with my man Frazzy and there's a possibility that it might take them.. oh.. eight months to make it to level 8. Or perhaps the adventure has advice on scaling up the challenge?
While the PCs won't be throwing down against Fraz-Urb'luu himself... the fact that he was once imprisoned in the castle does in fact play in to another subplot. Actually, it also plays into the main plot as well.
If you foreshadow Fraz=Urb'luu's one-time imprisonment in Castle Greyhawk before your PCs reach this adventure, it'll work out nice is what I'm saying.
Ooh.. sounds perfect. Cue Wayne's World impression... I'm not worthy!!!
Zuoken's status is a fairly major sub-plot (but merely one of many) in the adventure.
There's also the Robilar subplot, the Thieves Guild subplot, the Guild of Wizardry subplot, the Riggby subplot... There are a lot of subplots.
So will Iquander make an appearance?
So will Iquander make an appearance?
Erik:
We want stats for Iquander! :)
Or is he just a nom de plume for Mordenkainen?
Or Iuz? :o
So will Iquander make an appearance?Erik:
We want stats for Iquander! :)
Or is he just a nom de plume for Mordenkainen?
Or Iuz? :o
Iquander was an 11th level mage in CY 591. So in 5 years he might have only gained one level at most. Working in the library during the day and researching a Diet Dr Pepper recipe with his alchemy skills at night.
** I was always offended when the other players described me as Lawful neutral in temperment, until I saw Iquander (LN hm W11 hp23; int 18 cha 15; 5 ioun stones) It never hurts to be in good company.