Karameikos

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:03 am

The 2nd Edition Box Set Karameikos:

Good, Bad, Worst Set Evar!!!??!

Whats the scoop?

Rigon · Post by **Rigon** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:03 am

I had it for a while then sold it. It basically justs updates the info in the Gaz of the same name to 2e and pushes the timeline ahead by some years (can't remember how many exactly), but over all I thought it was a very good introduction for those who never played in the Basic Known World setting.

By the way, I sold it to Tree, so maybe he can stop by and fill in more detail.

R-
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 11:45 am

I find it to be a good box set, but IMHO it's incomplete - incomplete in the regard when condiering the setting as a whole. I found that if you want to update Karameikos to kingdom status, thus advancing the timeline past the Thayatis Alphatia war then the box set is the way to go. It really updates the campaign setting (and Karameikos in particular) very well.

Outside of that, it is well written (iirc, as I haven't actually looked at the box set in many years - so ones with more recent knowledge may be able to help you better), the adventures contained therein are pretty decent little adventures. The Explorer's Guide is good. Like many 2e box sets it comes complete with a couple full-color poster maps, 6-10 cardstock reference sheets, and a CD. I'm a big fan of the art, too. It would work well if taken outside of the setting, too. I don't know if that would be your intention, but it's complete enough to use on its own. Overall a solid buy and worth the money.

Barrataria · Post by **Barrataria** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 12:33 pm

It looks very nice. The maps are nice, the player handouts are on fake parchment type paper, and the books are littered with artwork. There are all sorts of things like heraldry for the various noble families, a royal family tree and for some of the noble houses, There are also a lot of encounter maps (typical tavern, noble house, etc.) It's probably the second-nicest looking campaign setting (after Birthright).

Didn't it come with a CD? I got mine used, so I never heard it.

I did not like, at all, the change in flavor. Specularum is now "Mirros" and its population is 70,000 instead of 5,000 (as it was in the original Expert rulebook, although to be fair that was changed in the revised X book when Mentzer upped all the populations). Karameikos (did you know there really is a Keramikos in Greece ) is now a Kingdom, and Grand Duke Stefan Karameikos is now King. Finally, the halflings of the Five Shires have overthrown the Black Eagle Baron and his Barony. All the NPC levels are 2E-ified (i.e. jacked up).

So, that's really more a personal view than a real criticism. All those things can be easily ignored, and if I ever ran a public/pickup C&C game I'd probably use it as the default setting.
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 2:29 pm

It's a pretty cool box set. It is colorful, and has a good amount of information to it. The one thing that the Karameikos box set does well is, is that it really presents the tone of the setting well. While reading the material presented within, you'll know how the setting is supposed to expressed to players, at least in my opinion. For the setting, I like the Basic D&D Gazetteer of the same name better, but the latter is only better for more info per page.

It's a toss up. I use both sources to generate that setting. Both have their merits.

-O
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Plaag · Post by **Plaag** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:29 pm

Yeah I liked the Original Gazetteer better, but the Box set does update information that had been published after. Have looked at it recently as I've been cleaning up the Threshold map.

CD: yeah, and its for the adventures I believe (haven't heard it in a while though)

For some good old TSR settings discussions, there is the Piazza

ShaneG.

bighara · Post by **bighara** » Wed Sep 24, 2008 5:29 pm

I like it OK, but I don't use the advanced timeline (I believe it's about 20 years ahead of GAZ1, so circa AC 1020). I like the color maps OK, and there's some decent fluff, but everything you need for GDK is in GAZ1

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 3:16 am

The boxed set is nice to have if you really like Karameikos, as I do. However I prefer the GAZ, over all. Like I usually do with updated timelines, I selectively updated/changed things to my liking.

I would love to run a paladin/knight/cleric heavy party in Karameikos. Or play in it with a CK good at running political/religious heavy games.
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Thu Sep 25, 2008 2:40 pm

Treebore wrote:
I would love to run a paladin/knight/cleric heavy party in Karameikos. Or play in it with a CK good at running political/religious heavy games.

I've run this a few times in Karameikos, an even played in a campaign with heavy religious tones set in The Grand Duchy. This is an amazing setting for just such types of RPing.

-O
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DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 1:07 am

Cool, thanks for the info.

I've got the GAZ, was just wondering if this was any good as well.

I'll probably pick it up.

Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 7:58 pm

DangerDwarf wrote:
Cool, thanks for the info.

I've got the GAZ, was just wondering if this was any good as well.

I'll probably pick it up.

I think it'll be a great addition to your 2nd Edition collection, DD. If you can find the other 2E Mystara setting, Glantri: Kingdom of Magic, I recommend that as well. I was really disappointed when they stopped support for Mystara. Sadly it drowned in the sea of 2e campaign settings.

Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Fri Sep 26, 2008 8:05 pm

The Glantri boxed set was just full of awesomeness! So I highly recommend that!
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 1:11 pm

On to Glantri! Yes, the Glantri Box set is damn good, and IMO very unique. Supplement that with the Glantri GAZ and you have two more great products for the setting.

-O
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Duke Omote Landwehr, Holy Order of the FPQ ~ Prince of the Castles & Crusades Society

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 1:12 pm

Hmmmm, I'll have to check that out too.

Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:35 pm

DangerDwarf wrote:
Hmmmm, I'll have to check that out too.

We take our job of making you spend more money very seriously!

DangerDwarf · Post by **DangerDwarf** » Sat Sep 27, 2008 2:37 pm

So I've noticed.
'preciate it.

Troll Lord Games

Karameikos

Karameikos

methinks