Zobeck Gazetteer: Volume 2—Dwarves of the Ironcrags (OGL)

Now available in PDF; we should have print copies in a couple of weeks.

This book is tight, even if you are not really into dwarves. The Kariv chapter in particular.

The map is pretty awesome, the new spells are pretty spectacular, if you like dwarves as a player or you want to change them up as the DM, this book does make them shine.

I'm Wolfgang, and I'm a dwarf-a-holic.

Really nice map too. Great book.

This whole project really changed my mind about how dwarves can be and typically are portrayed. While the fantastic work on dwarves certainly stayed true to its roots, there were awesome avenues and beautiful boulevards taken to make this book. There is a great unifying vision full of extraordinary details and nuances to dwarven culture, complete with all sorts of associated regalia and goodies.

I love the flavor elements too, but I have to confess the monsters like dogmoles, the spells like Armor of the Mountains, and the new Masonic-style secret society for dwarves are just as compelling.

It's flavor AND mechanics, all in one! Astonishing. ;)

I'm Wolfgang, and I'm a dwarf-a-holic.

Hi ! Wolfgang...

Thanks Watcher - I'm glad you like the map.

This was a great read, and a joy to work on. I always felt dwarves were a little under represented and this goes a long way to redressing the balance.

I'll be curious to see how it compares to the PF dwarves book later this year.

Jonathan, any chance of a review here? Publishers gotta ask these questions.

I thought that as one of the freelancers working on the product I was kind of barred from reviews due to bias, but I'm certainly willing to put some words down when I get a chance.

I thought that as one of the freelancers working on the product I was kind of barred from reviews due to bias, but I'm certainly willing to put some words down when I get a chance.

Well, I'd say you are biased if you reviewed the cartography, but otherwise, I think you're probably fine if you review the text and art.

As long as you disclose your role in the cartography. Maybe other gamers would prefer not to have the review, but I tend to think they can set aside the freelancing angle if you are upfront about it.

Fair enough. I'll take a shot at it. I'll be nice and clear about the areas in which I am wildly biased :)

I'm usually more verbose than I was in the post above. I'll give it a thorough reading this weekend and see if I can offer a review as well.

Without formally reviewing it yet.. but managing to say more than a three word sentence.. I can attest that it is a well rounded book, offering a fair amount of background that is easily portable to another campaign (law, marriage rights, society). Complimenting that is an equal part crunch, with magic, items, and monsters.

Assuming the good quality of the writing the purchaser should find themselves well equipped to gives dwarves a solid place in their campaign. This is appears to be solid and balanced resource.

The PDF is well put together, bookmarked, with hotlinks right in the expansive Table of Contents.. so each chapter is broken down into topics and with one click right on the page (not the border) you can jump right to one of those topics.

The famous Tolkien artist David Wenzel is on the cover. The interior maps, as I said before, is colored and of premium cartographic skill. The little art flourishes like the coat of arms are colored and really set the clan descriptions off well.

Not to knock any Open Design Product, but the production value of this book has taken an incremental step forward. Speaking plainly, it had a large number of patrons, and you can really see the budget was reinvested back into this, the publicly available book.

I can definitively tell you how good it is (or, in fairness, where it could be polished) in a few days.

(Wow, that's a lot of comments for saaying I'm going to be reviewing it soon. I guess I just had to apply myself.)

I just wanted to add a side note on maps..

DISCLAIMER: Sometimes, like many of us, I can be a fanboi. But I have certain amount of self-loathing when it happens, because I generally don't appreciate it. But I can lapse into it.

Having said that, I'm going to turn any fanboism OFF.

I was really impressed with Jonathan Roberts Cartography, not only in this product, but the companion adventure book which will never be publicly available.

I hope he gets a chance to do more work and is able to expand his portfolio

Wow. That's really kind. Thank you very much for the comments on this map, and the others in the patronage adventure. I've only been at this cartography game for just under a year so I'm very grateful for such a generous compliment. The maps were fun to work on, and the patrons were very helpful with comments as the maps were put together.

will there be a print version of this product?

I'll be curious to see how it compares to the PF dwarves book later this year.

Me too! Just love them dwarves. I think I'll wait for Dwarves of Golarion to be out before starting my group through the rest of Ironcrag's companion adventure.

will there be a print version of this product?

Yes there will be, but as I understand, it will be available in a couple/few weeks.

I spent last night reading through this. Quite impressive! Kudos to all who worked on it.

Thanks BenS! Any chance of a short review?

Thanks BenS! Any chance of a short review?

I could probably handle that in the next few days. Did you mean here at Paizo or somewhere else? I'll check back tomorrow for your answer...

I was figuring we're talking about it here, might as well post the review here as well.

I certainly would like to hear what you think of it. There's some elements that I think make it stand out, but you never know what folks think until it is published.

Hey, there's a review up at the Pathfinder SRD site and on the Cavernia Blog.

Hey, there's a review up at the Pathfinder SRD site and on the Cavernia Blog.

I just posted my review here at Paizo. Didn't realize I couldn't give half-stars, or it would have received 4.5 ;-)

I hope you like the art :D

I loved the product as a whole. My dwarf loving level went up like three notches!

My kuddos to Jonathan too, his maps ROCK!

Hey, there's a review up at the Pathfinder SRD site and on the Cavernia Blog.

Wolfgang - My buddy Ken was ecstatic to review it. I'll be honest, among our group he is known as the cantankerous old grognard who hates everything. He *loved* this book. An awesome book people, I highly recommend it.

@BenS: Nice review. Good work.

@Hugo: Thanks! It was great to get my teeth into the cantons and the heraldry. Good work on the artwork - some great stuff in there. I particularly like the crag drake - that gives an excelent concept of the beast.

JReyst, it always makes me happy when I hear about a cantankerous grognard who like KQ or an Open Design book like Dwarves of the Ironcrags.

Because if you can win over the grognards, yer onto something. Next up: winning over the fickle tweens! :)

Next up: winning over the fickle tweens! :)

Perhaps a dwarvish version of Hannah Montana?

JReyst, it always makes me happy when I hear about a cantankerous grognard who like KQ or an Open Design book like Dwarves of the Ironcrags.

Because if you can win over the grognards, yer onto something. Next up: winning over the fickle tweens! :)

Kobolds pulling sick ollies on their skateboards.

Wait, that's last decade...

Honestly, looking at the videogame culture(but not emulating it wholesale) would be a good idea. What beloved elements of The Legend of Zelda, Shadow of the Colossus, Castlevania, etc. would work in a PbP game(or have worked, considering all the crossover that already exists).

Man, I'd love to see some Shadow of the Colossus-style encounters written up, honestly.

JReyst, it always makes me happy when I hear about a cantankerous grognard who like KQ or an Open Design book like Dwarves of the Ironcrags.

Because if you can win over the grognards, yer onto something. Next up: winning over the fickle tweens! :)

Meh. I say 4E was designed specifically for the fickle tweens, so let them have that. The big boys like a fuller featured system, so don't try to appeal to everyone and water down your content. I know, not politically correct, and you (reasonably enough) have to straddle the 3.5/PF | 4E fence, but I don't :)

Shadow of the Colossus encounters would indeed be awesome. I'm running something like it on Sunday. We'll see how it goes.

As a teaser to whet people's appetite, here's the map from the Gazeteer:

The Map of the Ironcrag Cantons

This is 1/3 of the resolution of the map in the pdf. I hope you enjoy it.

Finally just started reading this. I like the take of the dwarves. cloistered females, 'ten years under the mountain' etc. Interesting.

Now available in print!

Woot, print edition is now available!

Not that I expect folks to notice among all the Pathfinder hubbub. :)

EDIT: Ninja'ed by Vic! Who's supposed to be on a plane, which makes him an airborne ninja.

Now available in print!

What distributors are carrying it?

Vic Wertz wrote:

Now available in print!

What distributors are carrying it?

I'm not sure if *any* are. We buy directly from Wolfgang.

As both a patron and fan, this is an awesome book folks. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Shadow of the Colossus encounters would indeed be awesome. I'm running something like it on Sunday. We'll see how it goes.

I gotta ask. How did it go? :)

I was really impressed with Jonathan Roberts Cartography, not only in this product, but the companion adventure book which will never be publicly available.

Never say never!

Vic and others, the only distributor carrying it is IPR.

Regarding the companion adventure, it is STILL AVAILABLE for a few more days. The limited edition runs to the end of the month, basically.

Then we move on to Pathfinder-y adventures.