I've started campaigns all over Greyhawk. My favorite way as (typically after a party died somewhere else) was... I'd get the players to roll dice and then use the number/letters across and down the map to find a random hex -- rerolling if off the map. I'd then have players read from the Gazetteer the descriptions of the nation/area and on-the-fly make up some inkling of a starting situation -- "Your in a secret caravan transporting furniture for the Sultan.", "You're floating on driftwood out in the bay after your ship was attacked by pirates in the middle of the night.", or "You knew a wealthy halfling family in your youth and you've been invited to his wedding in the town he lives in in these hills." They'd then make up characters suitable to that area and I'd make up the campaign. It was a blast as Greyhawk is so diverse. You never knew if you'd be playing as eastern merchants in Ekbir, or northern horse barbarians, or deep in the elven woods, sailing in the jungles to the south, or a non-good campaign set in the Great Kingdom.
Will be doing Hommlet for the first time. Everytime I have player's start in town I use Tristram theme from diablo 2. I once got a 'oh S***' from a new player. For me it's been a great way to give an idea of the game at the beginning.
A strangely overlooked locale is Perrenland. I ran one helluva campaign out of the Mounds of Dawn once, maybe my favorite (even over the one I ran the Giants in). So much potential there, and even some great old modules there in the Yatils (Tsojcanth, Tharizdun). The Bakluni lands are close by for some exotic stuff, the nomads/Burneal/Cold Marshes/Blackmoor to the north, Highfolk/Veluna/Furyondy/Vesve right down the Velverdyva, plenty of city adventures in Schwartzenbruin. Lots of fun to be had for a DM looking for a place that isn't overdone already by others.
I had a chance to play through 5e's "Ghost of Saltmarsh" when it released, as a human cleric of Wenta - I event attempted to learn a bit of German to represent her native "Keolandish" tongue. 🍻 Unfortunately the group I was with wasn't familiar with _Greyhawk_ (at all!), so I pieced together a "Player's Guide to Saltmarsh" to help familiarize them with the setting (which one appreciated, at least).
If you search the _D&D_ subreddit (or just my username, "Amesang"), you should be able to find a post for it from years back, the "1.3" version of the .PDF - just replace the "3" with a "4" for the most recent version. (The only reason I haven't changed the link is 'cause I don't like how the "new" faction emblem for the Scarlet Brotherhood turned out. 😅)
Great advice. I started a Greyhawk campaign 3 years ago with the Saltmarsh trilogy. I expanded the campaign with Walk Beneath the Waves, Tower of Zenopus and the Sea of Blood sahuagin trilogy. Now, my players are in Monmurg, and I am DMing On the Town (Treasures of Greyhawk). It is all around the Bay of Jawan with lots of sea adventures. Really cool.
Shout out for Orlane, with the Dim Forest to the north, the Rushmoors to the south and the giants in their mountains to the west. My personal favorite starting location.
In high school, I started a group out in the Village of Hommlett. Later, when I started playing again after university, I started with a different group in the City of Greyhawk. If I ever started yet another in group in Greyhawk, I'm thinking I might try Saltmarsh.
I still have the 2nd one of Giants. TOEE and several of the early modules. Greyhawk is a large arena. You have vast knowledge of Oerth , Grognard. I wish I had some of the novels. I do have the first Gord book though. Keep the videos coming.
I love the Giants series of modules. I went through twice as Faenor the Magic User/Fighter Elf level 6/6 at the start and as a Human Fighter level 7, Gavin Slayer. Then I was DM for 2 runs for 2 different groups of players.
Back in 1980 we played the the Giant Series G 1-2-3 during my gap year before university. We had so much fun that I still play TTRPGs to this day and still quote epic things that happened when we played it.
Greyhawk is cool and all but I saw that Wizards movie on your shirt when I was 9 or so in a double feature with My Bodyguard. We rode our bikes there and we didn't get carded!
Love the selections. Currently running one of my favorite Greyhawk campaigns I've ever ran based in the Wolf Nomads, which is often overlooked. The players started in Eru Tovar, and are currently tracking agents of Iuz towards Burneal Forest, who stole the Great Yassa of Ogobanuk during the commotion of the Bellringer's Feast. 666 CY timeline - and like mentioned in the cooments in one of your previous videos, this one will be including lots of demons
Steading of the hill giant chief, 1st adventure of my highest level character. He died in the G2 module and was brought back. I knew you would bring in the G series modules. Oh the memories 😄
Excellent video as always. In my personal opinion, I agree with everyone of your suggestions except for the giant series of adventure modules due to the fact of them being for high level characters and experienced players but that's just me. Other than that I agree with your suggestions.
U1 is a top 5 all-time adventure for me, but I really disliked (to put it mildly) the expansion of the plot with U2 and U3. I always weave it into the plotline of the Slavers. I've run it that way in several O/TSR versions, 13th Age, and there's a very cool "adventure starter" for Dungeon World out there on DTRPG that was a blast as well.
I really enjoyed t0 and t5. I've got your full set from the castle of the archmage and it's absolutely fantastic! I would like to see you put your unique spin on the giant modules p and come out with maybe a G4 or G5 on your own
Recommendations for hexcrawl rules in Greyhawk? As in random encounters, weather, hunting, etc based on the territory & terrain of each hex? I assume there are small towns and villages not depicted on the larger map - does the DM fill those in himself?
I've started campaigns all over Greyhawk. My favorite way as (typically after a party died somewhere else) was... I'd get the players to roll dice and then use the number/letters across and down the map to find a random hex -- rerolling if off the map. I'd then have players read from the Gazetteer the descriptions of the nation/area and on-the-fly make up some inkling of a starting situation -- "Your in a secret caravan transporting furniture for the Sultan.", "You're floating on driftwood out in the bay after your ship was attacked by pirates in the middle of the night.", or "You knew a wealthy halfling family in your youth and you've been invited to his wedding in the town he lives in in these hills." They'd then make up characters suitable to that area and I'd make up the campaign.
It was a blast as Greyhawk is so diverse. You never knew if you'd be playing as eastern merchants in Ekbir, or northern horse barbarians, or deep in the elven woods, sailing in the jungles to the south, or a non-good campaign set in the Great Kingdom.
Will be doing Hommlet for the first time. Everytime I have player's start in town I use Tristram theme from diablo 2. I once got a 'oh S***' from a new player. For me it's been a great way to give an idea of the game at the beginning.
A strangely overlooked locale is Perrenland. I ran one helluva campaign out of the Mounds of Dawn once, maybe my favorite (even over the one I ran the Giants in). So much potential there, and even some great old modules there in the Yatils (Tsojcanth, Tharizdun). The Bakluni lands are close by for some exotic stuff, the nomads/Burneal/Cold Marshes/Blackmoor to the north, Highfolk/Veluna/Furyondy/Vesve right down the Velverdyva, plenty of city adventures in Schwartzenbruin. Lots of fun to be had for a DM looking for a place that isn't overdone already by others.
Saltmarsh is my favorite starting place since it first came out.
I had a chance to play through 5e's "Ghost of Saltmarsh" when it released, as a human cleric of Wenta - I event attempted to learn a bit of German to represent her native "Keolandish" tongue. 🍻 Unfortunately the group I was with wasn't familiar with _Greyhawk_ (at all!), so I pieced together a "Player's Guide to Saltmarsh" to help familiarize them with the setting (which one appreciated, at least).
I would love to see your Player's Guide.
If you search the _D&D_ subreddit (or just my username, "Amesang"), you should be able to find a post for it from years back, the "1.3" version of the .PDF - just replace the "3" with a "4" for the most recent version.
(The only reason I haven't changed the link is 'cause I don't like how the "new" faction emblem for the Scarlet Brotherhood turned out. 😅)
I remember G1 to G3 and discovering the Drow and embarking on D1 to D3. Awesome story arc made even better by having an awesome DM.
Sheldomar Valley my favorite area in Greyhawk.
I still have the original giant trilogy, but I had no idea it had been rebooted THAT many times!
Castle of the Mad Archmage is a great stand in for the original Castle. Very well done.
Great advice. I started a Greyhawk campaign 3 years ago with the Saltmarsh trilogy. I expanded the campaign with Walk Beneath the Waves, Tower of Zenopus and the Sea of Blood sahuagin trilogy. Now, my players are in Monmurg, and I am DMing On the Town (Treasures of Greyhawk). It is all around the Bay of Jawan with lots of sea adventures. Really cool.
Tower of Ivernes ?
@@AAron-gr3jk no, Tower of Zenopus is one of the oldest dungeon/ mini adventure, which was later located near Saltmarsh. You can get it for free.
Shout out for Orlane, with the Dim Forest to the north, the Rushmoors to the south and the giants in their mountains to the west.
My personal favorite starting location.
They were also redone in Dungeon magazine under 4th edition with an addition of Stone Giant scenerio.
LET’S KEEP GREYHAWK ALIVE!
In high school, I started a group out in the Village of Hommlett. Later, when I started playing again after university, I started with a different group in the City of Greyhawk. If I ever started yet another in group in Greyhawk, I'm thinking I might try Saltmarsh.
I still have the 2nd one of Giants. TOEE and several of the early modules. Greyhawk is a large arena. You have vast knowledge of Oerth , Grognard. I wish I had some of the novels. I do have the first Gord book though. Keep the videos coming.
I was blessed with the 25th anniversary 2nd edition advanced dnd g1-g6 modules, absolutely beautiful.
Thank you for the time stamps.
I love the Giants series of modules. I went through twice as Faenor the Magic User/Fighter Elf level 6/6 at the start and as a Human Fighter level 7, Gavin Slayer. Then I was DM for 2 runs for 2 different groups of players.
Back in 1980 we played the the Giant Series G 1-2-3 during my gap year before university. We had so much fun that I still play TTRPGs to this day and still quote epic things that happened when we played it.
Greyhawk is cool and all but I saw that Wizards movie on your shirt when I was 9 or so in a double feature with My Bodyguard. We rode our bikes there and we didn't get carded!
Love the selections. Currently running one of my favorite Greyhawk campaigns I've ever ran based in the Wolf Nomads, which is often overlooked. The players started in Eru Tovar, and are currently tracking agents of Iuz towards Burneal Forest, who stole the Great Yassa of Ogobanuk during the commotion of the Bellringer's Feast. 666 CY timeline - and like mentioned in the cooments in one of your previous videos, this one will be including lots of demons
Currently introducing my 5e players to Saltmarsh! After a quest or two, I think I might run them through the Forge of Fury. Having a great time!
Steading of the hill giant chief, 1st adventure of my highest level character. He died in the G2 module and was brought back. I knew you would bring in the G series modules. Oh the memories 😄
Great video Joe, your information on Greyhawk is endless. Thanks for posting very helpful
I had not known you had a book on it... gotta check that out!
Every time you mention something, I have to go to my hard drive, and make sure I have it.
Great video, great list. Personally I use ToEE and the Castle Zagyg stuff along with Yggsburgh.
Excellent video as always. In my personal opinion, I agree with everyone of your suggestions except for the giant series of adventure modules due to the fact of them being for high level characters and experienced players but that's just me. Other than that I agree with your suggestions.
U1 is a top 5 all-time adventure for me, but I really disliked (to put it mildly) the expansion of the plot with U2 and U3. I always weave it into the plotline of the Slavers. I've run it that way in several O/TSR versions, 13th Age, and there's a very cool "adventure starter" for Dungeon World out there on DTRPG that was a blast as well.
Very nice overview! ❤
Saltmarsh is a great analog for Innsmouth I'd you want to Lovecraft the dungeon.
I really enjoyed t0 and t5. I've got your full set from the castle of the archmage and it's absolutely fantastic! I would like to see you put your unique spin on the giant modules p and come out with maybe a G4 or G5 on your own
Thank you so much!!
Recommendations for hexcrawl rules in Greyhawk? As in random encounters, weather, hunting, etc based on the territory & terrain of each hex?
I assume there are small towns and villages not depicted on the larger map - does the DM fill those in himself?
At the risk of sounding self-serving, my Book of Lost Tables has incredible wilderness random encounter tables, plus weather (and a ton more).
Could you maybe go over your favorite one card inserts if you did start a campaign in the city? Like a level 1 going up from there. Thanks
I am a huge Wastri fan, so "Bath Time for the Hopping Prophet" comes to mind.
Great job!
Never ever adventured in Greyhawk city proper in all the years of playing in Greyhawk.
Don't you think Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk, for 3e, a good suplement for the City of Greyhawk and the ruins?
Yes, but these videos are aimed at newcomers, and that one can be a bit hard for a beginner to follow.
Please do a video on mega dungeons!
Ask and ye shall receive!
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Also...
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@@GreyhawkGrognard Well now I know what I am watching next! Thank you kindly!
Have you chatted with Rob Kuntz lately?
No, it's been a while.
🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉