The Hobby Shop Dungeon, by Benoist Poire and Ernest Gary Gygax Jr.
The Hobby Shop Dungeon Marmoreal Tomb Campaign Starter
The Hobby Shop Dungeon, by Benoist Poire and Ernest Gary Jr. Gygax is a marvel to behold.
One can utilize these books and maps for years — a complete setting loaded with maps, histories, set pieces, dungeons (arguably a mega-dungeon), wilderness, factions, heraldry, unique monsters, unique magic items, and adventure hooks abounding. It is quite a feat and an enormous labor of love.
Poring through it all, I’d say my favorite parts are the heraldry (very Greyhawk in spirit), the wilderness and dungeon maps, and the Prismatic Maze (sounds very Vancian).
I’ve assembled some photos from the box set below for you to enjoy. You can order copies from Troll Lord Games or from Isle of Games.
[Click the images for dungeon-sized versions.]
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Left: The Marmoreal Tomb of Garn Patuul. Right: Hexes of the Midlands. Maps by Benoist Poire
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Left: The Prismatic Maze. Right: Grim Wood and The Duinnsmere. Maps by Benoist Poire
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Dungeon maps by Benoist Poire
Maps by Benoist Poire
Jeffrey P. Talanian’s last article for Black Gate was a review of Michael Moorcock’s Elric the Dreaming City by Julien Blondel, Jean-Luc Cano, and Julien Telo. He is the creator and publisher of the Hyperborea sword-and-sorcery and weird science-fantasy RPG from North Wind Adventures. He was the co-author, with E. Gary Gygax, of the Castle Zagyg releases, including several Yggsburgh city supplements, Castle Zagyg: The East Mark Gazetteer, and Castle Zagyg: The Upper Works. Read Gabe Gybing’s interview with Jeffrey here, and follow his latest projects on Facebook and at www.hyperborea.tv.
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This looks awesome!
I don’t care who you share a surname no way I’m dropping 99 USD on a PDF. Plenty of other dungeons and settings on the market for a fraction on that.
Hi, I’m interested in this product, but I’m curious about the overall makeup of the megadungeon. What I need to know is what % (roughly) are the foes, undead?
The dungeon is designed to put in play a wide variety of monster types. There are more than 100 new monster types in the boxed set (and like 130ish with the Maze), and most if not all the classic critters are represented, one way or another. There are quite a few undead, including all types, some new ones like black bones, ogre zombies, giants and the like. There are vampires, liches, mummies, and they are spaced strategically to play at their advantage without causing instant TPKs (meaning for instance, for the vampires, you have advanced warning you’re setting foot into dangerous areas, and the like). Ballpark I’d say it respects the proportions of the Monster Manuals, so that’s quite a few. Cheers, and thanks for your interest !