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lokilokust
Seeker
USA
61 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Feb 2007 : 15:59:09
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that's really all there is to say on that, i suppose.
while i do like the hardcover approach, i still pine for the old boxed sets full of maps, booklets, and piles of whatnots.
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yrs. in exile,
-s.j. bagley |
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boddynock
Learned Scribe
Belgium
258 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2007 : 16:49:08
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I must agree that I also miss the charm of boxed sets. At the moment I try to collect any boxed set of Forgotten Realms and Ravenloft. (I even have a french version of undermountain I because I couldn't find the english version --> and my french is not so good) *silly face*
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5701 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2007 : 16:52:54
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quote:
Originally posted by lokilokust
that's really all there is to say on that, i suppose.
while i do like the hardcover approach, i still pine for the old boxed sets full of maps, booklets, and piles of whatnots.
Well met
Indeed, boxed sets were a favorite of mine and always got me excited upon picking one up to rush home and see the delights within 
TSR pulled the plug on boxed sets back around 1997, stating that the expense of producing these was too great. However, there has been rumour of there bring a comeback for boxed sets. The Shattered Gates of Slaughtergarde may be the first step towards this, too. |
Alaundo
Candlekeep Forums Head Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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The Candlekeep Compendium - Tomes of Realmslore penned by Scribes of Candlekeep
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37010 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2007 : 17:41:11
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| The boxed sets were really cool... The only thing I didn't like was that they sometimes didn't seem to have enough real material. The maps and books were always cool, but I was always disappointed by cardstock sheets that had useless things like artwork and depictions of NPCs on them. I preferred the sheets that had useful things on them, like the stuff from the Undermountain and Myth Drannor boxed sets. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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Delzounblood
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
578 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2007 : 17:43:22
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On the whole I prefer 2e over 3e or 3.5e and IMO the boxed set was a great part of the Realms.
I'm lucky in what I do, in that I have now built up quite a collection of Boxed sets that I used to own when I sold up, and now have mint copies of Hahaha... as well as a couple I could never find back then but own now.
The rest I put on ebay, I have managed to get hold of Near Mint > Mint copies of alot of 2e products for my own collection as well as some 3e.
For some reason though (and boy have I tried!) I still can't get 100% behind the latest edition, I am currently running 2 characters,
a 2e Elven Blade (Bard). (using full 2e rules)
and as you all know
a 3.5e Dwarven Battlerager.
For me 2e will never die and neither will Boxed Sets...
Delz
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2007 : 17:47:29
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| I feel a certain sense of nostalgia for the box sets and some like Myth Drannor and Ruins of Zenthil Keep had a lot of interesting sheets, but in the end the boxes ended up one place, out of the way, and the books in some place of easy access. I am not sure if it is one of the things from the prior days of D&D I would most welcome back. |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2007 : 17:50:24
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| I used to stuff all of the softcover sourcebooks that I would need for a given night's DMing into a boxed set that was relevant and take it with me. This was especially handy with the "deep dish" boxed sets that started coming out mid second edition, which never had anywhere near enough contents to fill the boxed set up. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37010 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2007 : 19:10:41
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At the time I first started getting boxed sets, my dad's wife was very much anti-D&D. I put the books and other materials into folders, which meant I could keep it accessible. The boxes had to go, to keep her from finding them... So I don't have the all of the boxes from the sets, but I've got all the stuff that was in them. And, due to the habit, even after that particular step-mom was out of the picture*, I continued separating stuff from the boxes (though the contents eventually made it into magazine bags, instead, which I still to this day use).
*Note: for a while my dad was collecting ex-wives. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5701 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2007 : 09:48:14
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
See, this is part of the reason why I'm so in love with the Midnight campaign setting -- it's got boxed sets! 
Well met
Really? I've often been intrigued by the Midnight material (with a possibility of adapting to the Realms, of course  ). Perhaps we can talk about this through PM, Sage. I'd be interested to hear more about this setting and your thoughts on the products.
Furthermore, the Conan material by Mongoose Publishing (also with boxed sets in it's product line) is very nice indeed. |
Alaundo
Candlekeep Forums Head Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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An Introduction to Candlekeep - by Ed Greenwood
The Candlekeep Compendium - Tomes of Realmslore penned by Scribes of Candlekeep
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Ergdusch
Master of Realmslore
Germany
1720 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2007 : 10:08:11
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| While I have to agree that I do love the boxed sets as well, I have to tell you though that I prefer the 'style' of the maps (even though they are unfortunatelly rare) of the 3rd Ed. Even though then old maps where huge - sometimes even too huge to handle I might point out - and they looked kind of - now how shall I put it - well, they are not so colorful and detailed as e.g. the new maps that we see in the FRCS or SM, IMO. Unfortunatlley and I have said that before, WotC stopped the release of books with seperate maps in them but instead posted the maps inside the books.... a fact I am very disappointed about... and moreover steals a lot of flare from the newer published books as well. |
"Das Gras weht im Wind, wenn der Wind weht." |
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boddynock
Learned Scribe
Belgium
258 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2007 : 10:42:51
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| I have to agree with Ergdusch that the third edition maps were more atractive than their second edition counterparts. It's indeed a pity they stopped producing postermaps and put the maps now inside the books. A friend of me (which is a player in my group and my game master in my second group) has the intention to make a copy of the third edition map of faerûn and to print it on percament to give it a real old look. I'm still waiting for the result but I 'm sure it will something really nice to have |
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Markustay
Realms Explorer extraordinaire
USA
15724 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2007 : 21:58:21
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I definately prefer the 3e rules over 2e, being a 1e player I never got used to 2e, but I took to 3e like a duck to water. I do, however, miss most of the boxed sets. I say most, only because last night I was going through them and some of those boxes were quite empty. You know what I mean, one booklet and one map, not much call at all for the box except the mandatory 3-4 pages of TSR advertisments. Most of them were excellent though, and I even like looking over the cheesy useless cardboard cut-out thingies. Awhile back, I asked over at the WotC forums about pictures of flags/heraldry for the Realms like back on the old Greyhawk Campaign booklets. Everyone said there wasn't any, but guess what? I found some last night, exactly what I was looking for in my FR boxed set.
I also liked the CD's that came with the Red Steel and Mystara boxes, damn shame they stopped that.
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
I used to stuff all of the softcover sourcebooks that I would need for a given night's DMing into a boxed set that was relevant and take it with me. This was especially handy with the "deep dish" boxed sets that started coming out mid second edition, which never had anywhere near enough contents to fill the boxed set up.
This is what I do too. I only have a couple of Dark Sun accessories, so they go right in the DS campaign box, as do my Red Steel stuff go in its box (not much came out). Same with Ravenloft, although the Van Ritchen's guides don't fit. Sometimes all that extra room in the box comes in handy. |
"I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me" --- Dudley Field Malone
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Tyr
Learned Scribe
225 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2007 : 22:10:55
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| I wonder if Wizards will ever offer printed copies of that wallchart 3e FR map they have on the website. |
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Alaundo
Head Moderator
United Kingdom
5701 Posts |
Posted - 18 Feb 2007 : 23:06:15
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quote:
Originally posted by Tyr
I wonder if Wizards will ever offer printed copies of that wallchart 3e FR map they have on the website.
Well met
Tyr, I'm not sure which particular map you're refering too, but a large scale map of the Realms was produced over four issues of Dragon magazine, as shown in the Map Room here at Candlekeep. Hope this helps. |
Alaundo
Candlekeep Forums Head Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
An Introduction to Candlekeep - by Ed Greenwood
The Candlekeep Compendium - Tomes of Realmslore penned by Scribes of Candlekeep
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37010 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2007 : 04:00:59
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaundo
quote:
Originally posted by Tyr
I wonder if Wizards will ever offer printed copies of that wallchart 3e FR map they have on the website.
Well met
Tyr, I'm not sure which particular map you're refering too, but a large scale map of the Realms was produced over four issues of Dragon magazine, as shown in the Map Room here at Candlekeep. Hope this helps.
I believe he refers to the big one on the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting Map Gallery page. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Delzounblood
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
578 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2007 : 10:12:29
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It would be nice to see a full upto date poster map issued and published by Wotc even better if it was a BOXED SET!
3.5e version of the atlas deluxe Boxed set with the standard 4 Poster Maps and a few larger scale maps with any geographical updates. maybe a nice 128 page book with it!!
Ahh but wishfull thinking
Alas I do not belive this will ever happen, But IT SHOULD!!!
Games Designers.... You hve been begged, asked and pleaded with, now do we need to let the Space Hamster loose with Alaundo's Big +4 Knobbley Staff of Readers Feedback!!
Delz
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I'm Back! |
Edited by - Delzounblood on 19 Feb 2007 10:13:21 |
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Mace Hammerhand
Great Reader
Germany
2296 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2007 : 10:26:08
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As was said before, rule-wise 3.x is the best edition of the game yet. Artwork-wise´the 2nd edition books were far more fantastic and Elmore's dwarves are still the epitome of what a dwarf should look like. I have to say that the information and make-up of the boxed sets from back then are still my main source for lore, aside from novels of course. Most of the books nowadays are so rule-, spell-, feat-, PrC-heavy that you need the extra info from the boxes to really make things work.
Let's hope Shattered Gates will be successful and Wizards views this as incentive to, again, release "boxed sets" |
Mace's not so gentle gamer's journal My rants were harmless compared to this, beware! |
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see
Learned Scribe
235 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2007 : 17:58:12
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I liked boxed sets when they didn't skimp, and I'd be eager to see their return to cover overall geographic regions.
But you know what I'd really like? A series of four-lorebook sets in slipcovers.
Set one would be, oh, "Faiths of Faerun". Take Faiths & Avatars, Powers & Pantheons, and Demihuman Deities, add a fourth volume with all the monster deities, beast cults, planar lord cults, and the rest of the faiths not covered. Delete all the avatars, spells, classes, and monsters, and use the space to give extensive details of the actual practice of the religions on Faerun -- rituals, prayers, vestments, etc.
Set two would be "Cities of Faerun". Resembling the FRA entries, this would in its four 256-page volumes spend about one page on a keyed map and two pages on text for approximately 330 cities, towns, and villages of Faerun.
Set three would be "People of Faerun". About 1000 NPCs, with brief (one-paragraph) statblock and lots of character background and detail.
Set four would be "Powers of Faerun". Goals, motives, sketch of leadership, times over 200 groups, factions, trading houses, noble families, and the like.
Set five would be "Arcana of Faerun". "Volo's Guide to All Things Magical" updated and expanded to four 256-page volumes.
And so on. |
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Grehnar
Acolyte
United Kingdom
44 Posts |
Posted - 19 Feb 2007 : 22:41:46
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I own quite a few of the boxed sets (and appropriately they are here, in the box room, with the computer) but unlike the rest of my collection (downstairs on the bookshelves), they are generally out of the way.
Hardback books file better and so are better used in the long term.
Content is a different matter and so, though I love breaking out the City System maps or trying to piece together the various continent-wide maps on the floor, it very rarely happens.
Besides, although there were at least 3 different depths of boxes, they were never full. |
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Julian Grimm
Seeker
86 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2007 : 03:11:58
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| My personal system is Castles and Crusades. It's far less complex than 3e and can be picked up in about 10 minutes. Also it has the bonus of feeling like the older D&D editions. That said, I miss the old boxed sets as well. I have two copies of the original gray box and use them more than I do the new setting book. Plus it has more maps which is a plus. |
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MaxKaladin
Seeker
77 Posts |
Posted - 20 Feb 2007 : 19:11:36
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I never really got into the Kalamar setting, but one book I loved was their "Atlas" product. It's a hardcover atlas of their setting. They divided the setting into a grid and each page is one panel in the grid. The mapping style is very different from what the Realms uses, but it's still a very cool product and I'd love to see WotC do something similar.
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Julian Grimm
Seeker
86 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 01:04:49
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quote:
Originally posted by MaxKaladin
I never really got into the Kalamar setting, but one book I loved was their "Atlas" product. It's a hardcover atlas of their setting. They divided the setting into a grid and each page is one panel in the grid. The mapping style is very different from what the Realms uses, but it's still a very cool product and I'd love to see WotC do something similar.
I'd definately buy a set of maps or an atlas if they'd put one out. My only real complaint about the FRCS was that it only had one map that seems rather flimsy. |
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Mazrim_Taim
Learned Scribe
341 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 01:49:49
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I just hated having to unravel the map every time I wanted to look something up.  .
I know, I probably should have lamenated it and hung it up. |
And if the PCs DO win their ways through all the liches to Larloch, “he” will almost certainly be just another lich (loaded with explosive spells) set up as a decoy, with dozens of hidden liches waiting to pounce on any surviving PCs who ‘celebrate’ after they take Larloch down. As the REAL Larloch watches (magical scrying) from afar. Myself, as DM, I’d be wondering: “Such a glorious game, so many opportunities laid out before your PCs to devote your time to, and THIS fixation is the best you can come up with? Are you SURE you’re adventurers?” -Ed Greenwood
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37010 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 03:34:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Julian Grimm
quote:
Originally posted by MaxKaladin
I never really got into the Kalamar setting, but one book I loved was their "Atlas" product. It's a hardcover atlas of their setting. They divided the setting into a grid and each page is one panel in the grid. The mapping style is very different from what the Realms uses, but it's still a very cool product and I'd love to see WotC do something similar.
I'd definately buy a set of maps or an atlas if they'd put one out. My only real complaint about the FRCS was that it only had one map that seems rather flimsy.
I've actually got a bunch of extra maps. Someone put a bunch of maps up on eBay one day -- no sourcebooks, just maps. So I got duplicates of the maps from the 2nd edition FRCS, and duplicates of all 10 of the maps of Waterdeep from the City System boxed set. I've no place to put said maps, currently, but as soon as I have a room with a big enough wall (maybe even a basement converted to a game room), then I'm laminating those bad boys and slapping them up there! |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Mazrim_Taim
Learned Scribe
341 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 07:57:58
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| Good idea Wooly! I need a room just dedicated to FR and D&D-ness with Maps of Faerun on the wall and my favorite armchair in there too, for easier access while I am reading. |
And if the PCs DO win their ways through all the liches to Larloch, “he” will almost certainly be just another lich (loaded with explosive spells) set up as a decoy, with dozens of hidden liches waiting to pounce on any surviving PCs who ‘celebrate’ after they take Larloch down. As the REAL Larloch watches (magical scrying) from afar. Myself, as DM, I’d be wondering: “Such a glorious game, so many opportunities laid out before your PCs to devote your time to, and THIS fixation is the best you can come up with? Are you SURE you’re adventurers?” -Ed Greenwood
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lokilokust
Seeker
USA
61 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 19:42:02
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'then I'm laminating those bad boys and slapping them up there!'
why laminate?
i say just go with inexpensive poster frames.
they won't destroy the maps, and they'll look quite a bit better than laminated. |
yrs. in exile,
-s.j. bagley |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
37010 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 21:23:02
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quote:
Originally posted by lokilokust
'then I'm laminating those bad boys and slapping them up there!'
why laminate?
i say just go with inexpensive poster frames.
they won't destroy the maps, and they'll look quite a bit better than laminated.
With laminating, the maps will take up less room and I can put all the edges together. Besides, as I said, these are duplicates for me. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com -- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct
I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Dhomal
Senior Scribe
USA
565 Posts |
Posted - 21 Feb 2007 : 22:05:35
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Hello-
Ah - the joys of laminating maps! :)
Seriosly - I prefer laminating them, when able. I dont by any means have ALL my maps laminated - but a large number of the older ones are. I like it also because you can get the right markers and write on them and wipe it off. Ive also thought about putting thin sheet metal on the wall - allowing me to use magnets on the maps. A nice idea, if not a bit pricey. better however - that using pushpins! Ouch!
Dhomal |
I am collecting the D&D Minis. I would be more than willing to trade with people. You can send me a PM here with your email listed - and I can send you my minis list. Thanks!
Successfully traded with Xysma! |
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Julian Grimm
Seeker
86 Posts |
Posted - 24 Feb 2007 : 02:43:55
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| I always wanted a room big enough to laminate my mapes and hang them up. Especially the ones from my City Sytem boxed set. Has anyone ever had them all together? I tried but ran out of floor. |
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scererar
Master of Realmslore
USA
1618 Posts |
Posted - 25 Feb 2007 : 07:06:47
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| I used to have all of my maps up on my wall of the apartment. Then I got married . still have all of my maps, though they are kept within the box sets they came in. |
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by the gods i miss the boxed sets!
