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Post by Scott on Sept 24, 2017 10:28:48 GMT -5
Has anybody ever tried using the geomorphs as a Greyhawk City, or areas within the city? There really isn't much detail there, but the Greyhawk tidbits Gary drops in the Keying Your City section are pretty cool. Anybody ever put any thought into the City in the Lake?
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Post by grodog on Sept 24, 2017 11:21:42 GMT -5
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Post by GRWelsh on Sept 25, 2017 8:06:35 GMT -5
I have a homemade map of Greyhawk in a binder, and it is similar to Gene's as it is also based on the CITY OF HAWKS map. It has notes written for it including detail from various EGG sources such as the Gord books and this Geomorph set. You're right, Scott, there's not much in the Geomorph set, but the flavor is just right for the city of Greyhawk. It's tantalizing and a bit frustrating to read, as it makes one wonder: what if? The advice on color coding and numbering makes me nostalgic, because when I first started playing that was the common practice on DM maps in those days. I noticed Rob used color coding on his "Sunken City" map to show different building heights, and therefore how submerged buildings are. The color coding is an easy way to get additional "at a glance" information on a map, and I'm not sure why people don't do that more. It is still good advice, IMO.
I have given the "City in the Lake" rumor from this Geomorph set thought, and my first inclination was to tie it back to the sunken Isles of Woe. I was surprised by the mention of the freshwater mermaid, since the MM says they live in seas and oceans, and the DMG doesn't include them in the freshwater encounter tables. So, the fisherman is probably wrong, and it was something else, like a nymph, nixie, nereid or new monster like the Rhinemaiden (Dyrnmaiden?). The crystal steps lead down to their watery realm, including a city of sunken columns, fountains, temples and terraces, surrounded by flowing weeds and fronds. Parts of the city may be preserved by magic and yet sealed, still containing treasure and lore from the ancient and lost civilization.
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Post by geneweigel on Sept 25, 2017 10:35:31 GMT -5
The math is to me is that Gary intended GHC for D&D publication exclusively and all this CASTLE ZAGYG material was something to promote the possibility of such at a future date.
This is really all I know. The city is loaded with large amounts of play areas per quarter. That was the only thing that I was interested in and he ultimately would not provide it "until its all finished". Nothing that he had hinted at was present in the Zagyg/Yggsburgh series. When I had finished the Thieves Quarter map he had wanted to have all of them done before saying what was what and what the unknown landmarks were. Gary had edited my Thieves Quarter map about 20 times but never included anything that I didn't already know location wise. So that is why it was never put on the website because he said there was going to be more for the Thieves Quarter. So I said lets wait then all this threatening shit from the Greyhawk mafia made me back off. Plus the fact the map was going to be handed over to the comics guys for the mini-series and that fell through as well so what was the point?. If I had published it now it would be a disaster because I know its missing major parts and no one could check it off as legit. I don' want to make something thats false and present it as GHC although I could do it but what would be the point?
I could make a scientific breakdown of all Gary's commentary about sizes, proportions and styles but you're never going to get the "wonders" of Greyhawk as he was calling them.
You would just end up with another generic fantasy city of 0 worth.
Now what I could do is put Ernie and Rob in a bed and break their feet with a sledgehammer then...
"NO! NO! GORD WOULDN'T DO THAT! YOU'RE NOT GETTING ANY DINNER TONIGHT, GUYS!"
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Post by Scott on Sept 25, 2017 10:42:42 GMT -5
I still color code dungeon maps, steps up/down, teleporters, access to surface.
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Post by Scott on Sept 25, 2017 21:28:34 GMT -5
Gary, you need to DM more. You should co-DM a campaign with me.
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Post by GRWelsh on Sept 26, 2017 10:36:10 GMT -5
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foster1941
Warlock
Duke of California, Earl of Los Angeles, Knight Bachelor
Posts: 475
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Post by foster1941 on Sept 26, 2017 17:39:52 GMT -5
To me the City Geomorphs are one of the "lost gems" of D&D. In the same way that the Dungeon Geomorphs and Monster & Treasure Assortments are a sort of "build your own Greyhawk Castle" kit, the City Geomorphs are even more of a "build your own Greyhawk City." Because this product was never reprinted, both the maps and the city-building advice and examples were pretty much lost - there wouldn't be another city product from TSR until 1985's Lankhmar book, which was the product of a much different sensibility. I feel like if this product had remained in print and been more widely known, we could have seen more good D&D city adventures, which would have been a nice counterpoint to the surfeit of rustic villages we got in T1, L1 & 2, N1, etc.
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Post by Scott on Sept 26, 2017 21:23:13 GMT -5
Get a Google account and I'll set up a folder on my Google drive where we can started. |
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Post by GRWelsh on Sept 27, 2017 7:47:30 GMT -5
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Post by Scott on Sept 27, 2017 10:11:29 GMT -5
It's a free shared drive so we can both add/view/edit files. I already have one set up. I'll send an invite shortly.
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Post by Scott on Sept 27, 2017 12:34:15 GMT -5
Your AOL email address is on that, which is why I couldn't find you before. I sent an invite. |
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Post by GRWelsh on Sept 27, 2017 13:11:35 GMT -5
Got it. How about if I use a different colored font for anything I put on one of your documents?
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Post by Scott on Sept 27, 2017 14:07:53 GMT -5
That's good. That's how I've done it in the past. You should be able to add documents too.
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