Just realized the cover art is an homage to the original D&D basic set, even down to the detail where the elven sorceress is hesitating between fighting or fleeing!
This is the kind of book I've wanted for years. Sadly, the fact that Dark Sun remains in the Memory Hole makes it a no-buy from me. EDIT: Ditto Birthright
Pre-Ordered this book because of how interesting it sounded. As a newer D&D player I loved the high level walk through of the history of the game and the different worlds. Inspired me for my own campaigns for possible themes and idea. Thanks for reviewing.
A reality I have accepted about my newest players is that they will never sit down and read the rule books. Even the ones that have now launched their own campaigns at their schools tell me they emulate what I do as a DM and just fashion their own limited fantasy setting. These players are most likely at my table because of Stranger Things, and that is fine, it is great for the hobby. However, for me, one of the most compelling things about D&D is its cosmology of material planes and mythical outer planes that encapsulate the pure competing forces of Law, Chaos, Good and Evil. I have started slowly introducing these new players to these powerful concepts within the role play itself. NPC sages will recount to them bits and pieces of lore all drawn from material that’s right there in the rule books. The new players have left some of my sessions slack jawed, believing I made all of this up just for the campaign! 😀
I'm old and jaded and prone to spend 50 bones on ammunition before I fork over for a chronicle or overview. I think that on some level there's the DM that leans towards (read as: firmly in camp with) Gary's thoughts on campaign play in the 1e DMG, and those who go all in on a setting product. So, just chiming in to drive some engagement stats here I suppose. Rock on!
That is indeed a nice looking book. And I also appreciate that it's a second party book, if that's even a term. No Al-Qaadim, of course, but I've given up on it getting any attention. This was a neat video. I dig these product reviews.
Hey Joe, if you have a chance, you should get a new video camera. The one you had in your intro videos was of higher quality. Is doesn't change the quality of the content but it's nice. It's interesting to see the Greyhawk rebirth. :-)
@@GreyhawkGrognard Maybe it's the software you use or the setting you use to export your video file. It has more compression and the resolution is smaller. Look at you intro video compared to your new video at 2 minutes mark. :-)
@@Gangrel442003 Ravenloft is in the Shadowfell section, as the setting is about the Domains of Dread of the Shadowfell. It goes into special detail about Barovia and the time Mordenkainen spent there in Curse of Strahd.
Only if you make your own, alas. "Greyhawk" being trademarked by WotC, I wouldn't be able to sell such. Making them for yourself, though, is (and this is not legal advice, as I am not a lawyer), a different kettle of fish.
I got my copy yesterday evening, sat down and read it straight through. I enjoyed the book overall, but was particularly happy with the generous attention paid to greyhawk not just in the GH section itself, but throughout Mordy calls back to GH specific things as a frame of reference comparison to whatever he's currently talking about. There were also interesting tid bits here and there...like the narrative snippet of the rogue's encounter with the lady of pain on the matter of a very intriguing scroll.
Oh thanks so much for bringing this book to my attention. The Dungeon Master's Guide is getting the hype now. It is great so far. I am currently reading it. I didn't know that there was another book on the lore. I hope I can find it in Barns and Noble or something. I only buy from brick and mortar stores. I love DND. I love worldbuilding and lore. I even love the great wheel cosmology. That thing is hardcore. So this book is way up my ally. I am so interested. I only recently heard of Grayhawk. It is the very first DND setting. It was made by Gygax himself. It has a lot of important characters and creatures from DND. Grayhawk is getting a lot of love right now because it is included in the new Dungeon Master Guide. This came to a surprise to me. I thought Forgotten Realms was the main one. Whoops. Maybe DND settings have different themes going on like the planes in Magic the Gathering. Grayhawk is the basic one. Eberron is the aetherpunk one. Planescape is the cosmology one. Spelljammer is some mix of cosmology and space opera. Maybe Forgotten Realms is special for being the Vancian setting. I got confused as to which DND setting was the basic one. I had the same experience with Magic the Gathering. When I first got into the game, I first learned about Ravnica. I am very fond of it to this day. I thought that was the basic plane. Later I found out that Dominaria was the basic plane instead. Oops! Ravnica is the setting with political intrigue and an urban environment. I think of it as Magic the Gathering meets Game of Thrones. There is significance. Players always name color pairs after Ravnica factions, whether or not the cards are about Ravnica. There was another book release that got overshadowed. So I would like to give a special shout-out to it. I do get into other TTRPGs. I like to expand my horizons. Seeing different stuff help me homebrew, and I love homebrew. One game I got into is Tales of the Valiant. It is game that is really similar to DND. However it is made by Kobold Press instead of WOTC. This video shows some disdain about WOTC. I have no hard feelings to WOTC, but I realize that people feel this way. So for those people, they may want to try out Tales of the Valiant. I got all three core books. The Game Master's Guide recently been released. It is weird for Tales of the Valiant to release a Game Master Guide at around the same time as DND. It is very much overshadowed. I didn't read it yet, but I did flip through it. It does seem to take a different approach to guiding GMs. It focuses on different things. I think it is worth checking out.
Just realized the cover art is an homage to the original D&D basic set, even down to the detail where the elven sorceress is hesitating between fighting or fleeing!
Always liked Mystara and of course I adore Greyhawk so I ordered one to check it out. 35 bucks on Amazon.
Thanks for pointing it out GG 👍
I love and watch ALL of Greyhawk Grognard videos!
Joe "...and I wanted to focus on the Greyhawk section..." Me: "Hmmmmm, I wonder why?".🤔
Heh
This is the kind of book I've wanted for years. Sadly, the fact that Dark Sun remains in the Memory Hole makes it a no-buy from me. EDIT: Ditto Birthright
You seriously wanted an overview of Dark Sun inside of a book with several other established product "worlds"? Idk, seems odd.
Pre-Ordered this book because of how interesting it sounded. As a newer D&D player I loved the high level walk through of the history of the game and the different worlds. Inspired me for my own campaigns for possible themes and idea. Thanks for reviewing.
I was debating on picking this up, but it seems to be superfluous with the Art & Arcana collection. Thanks for showcasing it!
I think it’s really a great overview of lore, presented in a really engaging and accessible way, especially good as an introduction for newer players.
Sounds like a nice tour. I must confess there was a couple I hadn't heard of... I guess I'm mostly a Greyhawk guy from the 1980s.
A reality I have accepted about my newest players is that they will never sit down and read the rule books. Even the ones that have now launched their own campaigns at their schools tell me they emulate what I do as a DM and just fashion their own limited fantasy setting. These players are most likely at my table because of Stranger Things, and that is fine, it is great for the hobby. However, for me, one of the most compelling things about D&D is its cosmology of material planes and mythical outer planes that encapsulate the pure competing forces of Law, Chaos, Good and Evil. I have started slowly introducing these new players to these powerful concepts within the role play itself. NPC sages will recount to them bits and pieces of lore all drawn from material that’s right there in the rule books. The new players have left some of my sessions slack jawed, believing I made all of this up just for the campaign! 😀
“3rd, 4th or 5th edition book I never bought” same here
I just saw this book for the first time earlier today and wasn't sure if it was worth picking up, so a very timely review! Thanks for making this.
Can we get some info on the Judges Guild world Grognard.
And the White Dwarf realms.
I'm old and jaded and prone to spend 50 bones on ammunition before I fork over for a chronicle or overview.
I think that on some level there's the DM that leans towards (read as: firmly in camp with) Gary's thoughts on campaign play in the 1e DMG, and those who go all in on a setting product.
So, just chiming in to drive some engagement stats here I suppose.
Rock on!
Currently on sale for $35 on Amazon.
Great job with the review!
That is indeed a nice looking book. And I also appreciate that it's a second party book, if that's even a term. No Al-Qaadim, of course, but I've given up on it getting any attention.
This was a neat video. I dig these product reviews.
So no Dark Sun, no Birthright, no Ravenloft... kind of disappointing there.
Any mention of Athas (Dark Sun) or Kara Tur (Oriental Adventures)?
Just what was in the TOC
Does the Mystara section happen to mention The Isle of Dread?
Not that a quick skim (and look at the index) showed.
Hey Joe, if you have a chance, you should get a new video camera. The one you had in your intro videos was of higher quality. Is doesn't change the quality of the content but it's nice.
It's interesting to see the Greyhawk rebirth. :-)
Huh. It's the same camera I've always had.
@@GreyhawkGrognard Maybe it's the software you use or the setting you use to export your video file. It has more compression and the resolution is smaller. Look at you intro video compared to your new video at 2 minutes mark. :-)
If you don't mind my asking, but where is the entry for Ravenloft in that book?
Nada. Just the ones I listed from the TOC.
@GreyhawkGrognard Thanks for the info. Won't be buying that book. Ravenloft gets a lot of disrespect these days.
@@Gangrel442003 Ravenloft is in the Shadowfell section, as the setting is about the Domains of Dread of the Shadowfell. It goes into special detail about Barovia and the time Mordenkainen spent there in Curse of Strahd.
how can i get a Greyhawk Grognard T-shirt?
Only if you make your own, alas. "Greyhawk" being trademarked by WotC, I wouldn't be able to sell such. Making them for yourself, though, is (and this is not legal advice, as I am not a lawyer), a different kettle of fish.
Oh wow! I NEED THIS. Had no idea this was a thing. Thanks Joe!
I got my copy yesterday evening, sat down and read it straight through. I enjoyed the book overall, but was particularly happy with the generous attention paid to greyhawk not just in the GH section itself, but throughout Mordy calls back to GH specific things as a frame of reference comparison to whatever he's currently talking about. There were also interesting tid bits here and there...like the narrative snippet of the rogue's encounter with the lady of pain on the matter of a very intriguing scroll.
Oh thanks so much for bringing this book to my attention. The Dungeon Master's Guide is getting the hype now. It is great so far. I am currently reading it. I didn't know that there was another book on the lore. I hope I can find it in Barns and Noble or something. I only buy from brick and mortar stores. I love DND. I love worldbuilding and lore. I even love the great wheel cosmology. That thing is hardcore. So this book is way up my ally. I am so interested. I only recently heard of Grayhawk. It is the very first DND setting. It was made by Gygax himself. It has a lot of important characters and creatures from DND. Grayhawk is getting a lot of love right now because it is included in the new Dungeon Master Guide. This came to a surprise to me. I thought Forgotten Realms was the main one. Whoops. Maybe DND settings have different themes going on like the planes in Magic the Gathering. Grayhawk is the basic one. Eberron is the aetherpunk one. Planescape is the cosmology one. Spelljammer is some mix of cosmology and space opera. Maybe Forgotten Realms is special for being the Vancian setting. I got confused as to which DND setting was the basic one. I had the same experience with Magic the Gathering. When I first got into the game, I first learned about Ravnica. I am very fond of it to this day. I thought that was the basic plane. Later I found out that Dominaria was the basic plane instead. Oops! Ravnica is the setting with political intrigue and an urban environment. I think of it as Magic the Gathering meets Game of Thrones. There is significance. Players always name color pairs after Ravnica factions, whether or not the cards are about Ravnica.
There was another book release that got overshadowed. So I would like to give a special shout-out to it. I do get into other TTRPGs. I like to expand my horizons. Seeing different stuff help me homebrew, and I love homebrew. One game I got into is Tales of the Valiant. It is game that is really similar to DND. However it is made by Kobold Press instead of WOTC. This video shows some disdain about WOTC. I have no hard feelings to WOTC, but I realize that people feel this way. So for those people, they may want to try out Tales of the Valiant. I got all three core books. The Game Master's Guide recently been released. It is weird for Tales of the Valiant to release a Game Master Guide at around the same time as DND. It is very much overshadowed. I didn't read it yet, but I did flip through it. It does seem to take a different approach to guiding GMs. It focuses on different things. I think it is worth checking out.
For someone who wasn't supporting WOTC anymore, you seem to be doing it..
This isn't a WotC book, it's just licensed. But thanks for playing.