What Mystara products are there?

Settembrini · October 22, 2006, 02:43:00 PM

More precisely, which ones should I own?

I got hold of a mint copy of the "Kingdom of Adventure" boxed set, and it is all kinds of awesome!

I really dig what they did with the layout, handouts etc.
And the setting materiel is also extremely adventure friendly.

Akrasia · October 22, 2006, 05:33:02 PM

Hmmm ... the 'Kingdom of Adventure' box set was part of the (significantly inferior) 2e AD&D 'reincarnation' of Mystara.

You're far better off sticking to the original D&D Gazetteers. Here is a list:
http://www.mbertenshaw.plus.com/Mark/RPG/gazetteers.html

Personally, I like GAZ1 (The Grand Duchy of Karameikos), GAZ3 (Principalities of Glantri), GAZ 11 (Republic of Darokin) and GAZ13 (Shadow Elves) the best. Opinions differ on which Gazetteers are the best (though most think GAZ1 is very good), but converge on which ones are the weakest, namely, GAZ4 (Ierendi) and GAZ14 (Atruaghin Clans).

I also highly recommend the module B10 Night's Dark Terror for any Mystara-phile.

Sosthenes · October 22, 2006, 05:37:43 PM

Does Red Steel count? That's a mighty fine setting for swashbuckling adventures with a touch of superheroics. Kinda like Midnight turned around 180 degrees...

Settembrini · October 23, 2006, 03:28:31 AM

QuoteHmmm ... the 'Kingdom of Adventure' box set was part of the (significantly inferior) 2e AD&D 'reincarnation' of Mystara.

You're far better off sticking to the original D&D Gazetteers. Here is a list:
http://www.mbertenshaw.plus.com/Mark...azetteers.html

At least Kingdom of Adventure has actually the same subjects covered as the Grand Duchy of Karameikos Gazzeteer, and it looks way better.
I really dig the goodies and illustrations of the 2nd Ed box. Which other 2nd Ed Mystara stuff is there?
Are the Audio-CD-Adventures any good?

Settembrini · October 23, 2006, 03:39:42 AM

Found a complete bibliography: http://www.pandius.com/prodlist.html

RPGPundit · October 23, 2006, 04:50:17 AM

To me, Red Steel (or more accurately, the Princess Ark articles from the old Dragon Magazines), the Gazeteers, Dawn of the Emperors, Hollow World, and Wrath of the Immortals are the fundamentals that make up the Mystara setting. You can choose to subtract that last one from the list if you want; or you can add the "Poor Wizard's Almanacs" to that.

RPGPundit

Casey777 · October 23, 2006, 11:07:14 AM

I'm only familiar with the early stuff, back when it was the Known World. :pundit:

X1: The Isle of Dread. Has a concise writeup of the setting, a workable 1 page map, and the adventure's a fun wilderness romp.

X2 Castle Amber is based on Clark Ashton Smith's Averoigne stories then kinda squashed into Mystara.

Nostalgic nods to B1-B3, which fit in Mystara as well as Greyhawk.

Akrasia · October 23, 2006, 01:11:41 PM

Quote from: RPGPundit... the Gazeteers, Dawn of the Emperors ...

I would say that this is the 'core' of Mystara/Known World.

Personally, I think most of the other stuff is inferior. I just really dislike what TSR did to Mystara when they advanced the timeline beyond 1000 AC (including Wrath, all the 2e stuff, etc.).

Akrasia · October 23, 2006, 01:13:56 PM

Quote from: SettembriniAt least Kingdom of Adventure has actually the same subjects covered as the Grand Duchy of Karameikos Gazzeteer, and it looks way better...

The box set describes Karameikos after the events of Wrath, etc. I.e., when the setting had gone down the tube.

As for 'looking better' ... :confused: I think that the original Gazetteer is beautiful. The internal art is really evocative, and while I'm not a big Caldwell fan, I think he did a fine job on the Gaz covers.

Akrasia · October 23, 2006, 01:14:37 PM

Quote from: SosthenesDoes Red Steel count? That's a mighty fine setting for swashbuckling adventures with a touch of superheroics. Kinda like Midnight turned around 180 degrees...

I've always regarded Red Steel as a separate setting. Its connection to the Known World seems tenuous at best.

Sosthenes · October 23, 2006, 02:57:24 PM

Quote from: AkrasiaI've always regarded Red Steel as a separate setting. Its connection to the Known World seems tenuous at best.

Well, Mystara had several settings that were only loosely connected. But you're right, it was almost as distinct as the Hollow World.

RPGPundit · October 23, 2006, 03:44:37 PM

The gazeteer covers are awesome, and you guys are pretty fundamentalist about your Mystara. Red Steel, Hollow World; these places are absolutely cook patchwork gonzo settings in the same sense that the "Known world region" is a patchwork gonzo setting; just each with a slightly different flavouring. I love them all.

As for the post WoTI situation; I don't know; I'm not a big fan of metaplot at all, but I do think that on the whole the WoTI is a truly great campaign and the Poor Wizard's Almanacs (at least the first two, which were the ones I owned) were pretty cool products.

RPGPundit

Settembrini · October 23, 2006, 03:50:08 PM

QuoteAs for 'looking better'

Full parchment background, full colour "in-game" paintings, wood cut style graphics, illuminated chapter beginnings, charcoal player handouts etc.

Casey777 · October 24, 2006, 01:03:46 AM

Dunno how they compare to the printed Gazeteers in quality, but there're some free fan Gazeteers (4 so far). (shrugs) Free stuff.

(kudos to a post over at DF)