[RPG]: Dungeon Crawl Classics #35: Gazetteer of the Known Realms, reviewed by NPC Jeremy (2/3)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12850.phtml

Jeremy Reaban's Summary:

The setting created from the Dungeon Crawl Classics line of adventures from Goodman Games is perhaps less than the sum of its parts, bland, overly generic, and uninspiring. Good for DCC collectors, the average person wanting a d20 setting might want to look elsewhere (except this is perhaps the least worst choice, considering)

Go to the full review for more information.

[sugarman]

Nice review. I appreciate the pics, and wish more reviews would at least include the cover of the piece they are reviewing.

When it comes to specific issues, like the grey text / shaded background thing, it helps convey what the problems actually are. In this case, it becomes distracting enough that it merits a "no Sale" for me, and this is really the kind of thing I'd like to know, especially from box sets and sealed books.

Thanks,

--sugarman--

[Sirharrok]

"And for some reason, they aren't hex mapped, either. I don't know how you could have a setting that is supposedly old school, and not have hex maps."

So true, so very true. And hexes with numbers in them, to boot.

Cheers
Sir Harrok

[tldenmark]

I disagree with almost every point this reviewer made. There is something very charming about the Gazetteer of the Known Realms that I found quite appealing in an "old-skool" sort of way. Almost like what the original World of Greyhawk boxed set should have been.

Plus the quantity of content in it is greater than its price!

[mrswing]

What I don't understand is: why the disdain for Arcanis? It's one of the best ever campaign settings (granted, the adventures written for it are often pretty weak, concentrating far too much on interesting NPCs while having the PCs stand around and witness history in the making), but the worldbuilding is exemplary.

[FASERIP]

I really liked this review--- very informative, and the pics gave an insight into the product that most reviews don't offer.

I tend to love 'generic' settings, but I've never been sold on this one due to the inclusion of the modules and the ridiculous price-tag. After reading this review I definitely won't be getting this one, eBay or otherwise. Thanks.

BTW: the review summary indicates that "Jeremy Reaban has written 0 reviews, with average style of 0 and average substance of 0." There has to be some glitch there... not sure whom to report that to. I hope some kind soul passes it along to the powers that be.

[E.T.Smith]

Originally Posted by mrswing

What I don't understand is: why the disdain for Arcanis? It's one of the best ever campaign settings (granted, the adventures written for it are often pretty weak, concentrating far too much on interesting NPCs while having the PCs stand around and witness history in the making), but the worldbuilding is exemplary.

I think the reviewers disatisfaction comes from the same source as mine. While the setting may have tonnes of detail and a lot of words describing it, it really feels redundent. Its not distinctive from Greyhawk, Forgotten Realms, Kalamar, on most anyone's generic fantasy homebrew. For the sort of old-school gamers this product is allegedly aimed at, reading through it is like slogging through yet another iteration od something seen a dozen times before.