On this episode of Greyhawk '76, Ken talks about the essential books for running a World of Greyhawk campaign, including the new Dungeon Master's Guide (2024), the World of Greyhawk boxed set (1983) and the Expedition to the The Ruins of Greyhawk (2007).

Chapters

0:00 Introduction1:00 Greyhawk ‘76 Campaign Kickoff2:30 Reviewing the 2024 Dungeon Master’s Guide4:00 Updated Maps: Hits and Misses6:00 Exploring Greyhawk Lore: Classic Sourcebooks8:00 The Twin Cataclysms and Canon Debates10:00 Iuz, the Great Kingdom, and Major Conflicts12:00 Adventure Hooks and Iconic Locations14:00 Wrapping Up: Greyhawk Library Essentials

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Show Notes

Welcome to Greyhawk '76. Let's talk books!

Player's Handbook (2024)

The rules.

Dungeon Master's Guide (2024)

High-level overview of the Free City of Greyhawk and the larger campaign setting.

Loosely based on the 1980 Greyhawk Folio.

It's nice to see Greyhawk featured so prominently, but there are a ton of continuity, country, and NPC changes that don't make a ton of sense (except in the context of 1) updating Greyhawk for modern sensibilities 2) fitting all the things into Greyhawk … which doesn't really need all the things fit into it.

Like … why is Otto (long standing member of the Circle of Eight) now a … dwarf?

Sets up the primary conflicts as … Elemental Evil (they were defeated, but yeah, some cultists are still out there), the demigod Iuz (gathering his forces in the north; classic villain), and dragons … umm, yeah, dragons aren't world-shatteringly important in Greyhawk. The Scarlet Brotherhood and/or the dying Great Kingdom are better Big Bads.

BUT … it wouldn't be Greyhawk if we weren't arguing about canon … hell, it feels like coming home to be reading people passionately and thoughtfully arguing about how the latest release disrespects with their favorite setting (I'm looking at you, From the Ashes).

I'll link to some of that commentary in the show notes.

Fold-out map of the Flanaess, with the City of Greyhawk on the other side.

The World of Greyhawk (1983)

The true state of the World of the World in CY 576.

The original World of Greyhawk boxed set.

Greyhawk Adventures (1988)

Notes on Gods, Geography, Magic Items, Spells, and even Zero Level Characters

The City Of Greyhawk (1989) - Pre-Greyhawk Wars release

Gazetter of the Free City and the Surrounding Area - the city, plus some city-based things like the DM's guide to the Low City (random tables!)

Folk, Feuds, and Factions - a who's who of the free city, plus guilds, low life, mages and priests, economics, military, and law.

Expedition to the The Ruins of Greyhawk

The 3.5 update of the Greyhawk Ruins book, which itself documented a chunk of Castle Greyhawk.

Never ran it, but I might pull from it if the crew goes there.

Somewhere, i've got a copy of the original Greyhawk Ruins … but haven't been able to fi gure out where I put it.

Living Greyhawk Gazetteer

This book provided the foundation for the old Living Greyhawk campaign.

It takes place in CY 591, which is nearly two decades after our '76 campaign, but it's still a great reference (particularly for areas not covered extensively in earlier releases)

Castle Greyhawk

The joke version of Castle Greyhawk. Not recommended.

Two new fan-created resources

World of Greyhawk Gazetteer Revised

Classic Guide to Greyhawk

Greyhawk grognards take on DMG 2024

Canonfire - Samwise - Greyhawk 2024

Age of Great Sorrow - Entirely Unsolicited Grognard Opinions on the World of Greyhawk in the 2024 D&D Dungeon Master’s Guide