Al-Qadim: Arabian Adventures, by Jeff Grubb (with Andria Hayday), was one of the finest settings produced by TSR during the AD&D 2E (Second Edition) days.

“Magic carpets, ghoulish vixens, genies rising from the sand in a whirlwind of smoke and fire — such wonders, spin into tales by the fabled Scheherazade, enchanted a king for a thousand and one nights.”

The setting is inspired by Sinbad, Ali Baba, and other classics from Arabian Nights.

Maps and interior art for Al-Qadim: Arabian Adventures

As a huge fan of Sinbad – and especially the Ray Harryhausen stop-motion special effects – this setting really grabbed my attention as a young 21 year-old. It had rich flavor and culture, though was very D&D at the same time, with desert survival rules, special character classes, new spells, and (for me) the best part: a fully realized setting.

I think it’s excellent. And the embossed Jeff Easley cover painting is top-notch.

More interiors from Al-Qadim: Arabian Adventures

Do you have a favorite setting from the 2E era?

Back when I was a teenager in the 80s, running epic AD&D games in my basement for the other kids in the neighborhood, I never would have believed you if you’d told me that one day I would be working on Greyhawk materials with Gary Gygax, but to my great delight, it happened, and I will always remember those days (2005 – 2008) learning from and collaborating with a true legend.

Gary Gygax’s Castle Zagyg: The East Mark Gazetteer, by Gary Gygax and Jeffrey Talanian (Troll Lord
Games, 2007), and Castle Zagyg Yggsburgh (Troll Lord Games, 2005). Cover art by Peter Bradley

It seems like yesterday, but it was nearly 18 years ago that Gary Gygax and Stephen Chenault were asking me if the first installment of the Castle Zagyg series, The Upper Works, would be done in time for Gen Con 07. I knew that it wouldn’t, so I suggested a pivot — something in the vein of the old Greyhawk Gazetteer.

I called it The East Mark Gazetteer, and I was grateful that Gary approved. Using content from Gary’s Yggsburgh hardback, some of Gary’s unused content, and modest contributions of my own, the EM Gazetteer was born, presented as from sages of Yggsburgh.

The project didn’t have much of a lifespan, the reasons for which I don’t care to get into, because it is now a moot point: The East Mark Gazetteer eventually became available at Humble Bundle, along with several other Gygax related works.

I am biased, of course, but I feel that CZ: EM alone was worth the price of admission. Reading the ad copy that I wrote for this work (above) brings me right back to those halcyon days, reminding me of my earlier works and the sheer delight it was to work for and with Gary Gygax.

Also offered in this bundle was a book that I coauthored with Luke Gygax, called The Trouble at Loch Jineeva. It’s a fun one (a TPK machine!) that I had a blast running for fellow gamers. Oh, also pictured above is my personal copy of The East Mark Gazetteer. Cheers!

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Jeffrey P. Talanian’s last article for Black Gate was a look at B-List Heroes and More: Marvel Contest of Champions. 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.