Question about Crystal Shard.

Arkansan · January 04, 2015, 12:11:04 AM

How useful is the setting material given outside the context the included plot lines? Is there enough there to really cover the region? I always loved the old Icewind Dale games and am thinking of grabbing this just for the setting stuff. Though I may run the actual adventure.

Natty Bodak · January 04, 2015, 12:41:24 AM

Quote from: Arkansan;807696How useful is the setting material given outside the context the included plot lines? Is there enough there to really cover the region? I always loved the old Icewind Dale games and am thinking of grabbing this just for the setting stuff. Though I may run the actual adventure.

I seem to recall that Skywalker was currently running this. Yep, in his sig. Sadly, that's the limit of what I can contribute.

EOTB · January 04, 2015, 01:01:21 AM

Quote from: Arkansan;807696How useful is the setting material given outside the context the included plot lines? Is there enough there to really cover the region? I always loved the old Icewind Dale games and am thinking of grabbing this just for the setting stuff. Though I may run the actual adventure.

If what you're looking for is setting material given in the novels, I'd probably forego the novels themselves and look for a copy of the Forgotten Realms Atlas on ebay or from one of the collectors on the Acaeum. IIRC it has all the lairs and other locations presented in the novels mapped and written out in a useful gaming fashion.

I'm loosely familiar with 1E FR material, but none later than that. I know that the Gateway to the Savage Frontier published in 1988 had information on the general area of the north, although I don't think it had a lot the books' locations per se (e.g., no map of Conyberry or whatever). The 2E stuff might have more in it, since that was the height of the Drizzt craze.

Aos · January 04, 2015, 01:52:24 AM

Quote from: EOTB;807700If what you're looking for is setting material given in the novels, I'd probably forego the novels themselves and look for a copy of the Forgotten Realms Atlas on ebay or from one of the collectors on the Acaeum. IIRC it has all the lairs and other locations presented in the novels mapped and written out in a useful gaming fashion.

I'm loosely familiar with 1E FR material, but none later than that. I know that the Gateway to the Savage Frontier published in 1988 had information on the general area of the north, although I don't think it had a lot the books' locations per se (e.g., no map of Conyberry or whatever). The 2E stuff might have more in it, since that was the height of the Drizzt craze.

I enjoyed the summary link in your sig immensely.

Arkansan · January 04, 2015, 02:54:44 AM

Oh I was talking about the newish module, Legacy of the Crystal Shard.

EOTB · January 04, 2015, 03:37:52 AM

Quote from: Arkansan;807718Oh I was talking about the newish module, Legacy of the Crystal Shard.

Ah shit; my bad.

Arkansan · January 04, 2015, 03:51:13 AM

No problem, I wasn't very clear. Thanks for the suggestions though.

Skywalker · January 04, 2015, 04:00:41 AM

Quote from: Arkansan;807696How useful is the setting material given outside the context the included plot lines? Is there enough there to really cover the region? I always loved the old Icewind Dale games and am thinking of grabbing this just for the setting stuff. Though I may run the actual adventure.

There is a 64 page setting book that is entirely usable as a mini-sandbox without the adventure. Some of the NPCs coincide with the story events but they work independently too.

It's set after 100 years after Crystal Shard but it would also be useful as a sourcebook for that earlier time if you were familiar with the book.

The other book is 32 pages and contains the adventure. It is very good, though more event focussed than location based.