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Dungeons & Dragons 3e: Bandit Kingdoms Summary

Bandit Kingdoms Summary

One of the worst things about any shared or 'Living' campaign is how information rarely gets beyond those who are playing in it. Here is a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes of just one region in the Living Greyhawk campaign, administered through the RPGA at conventions and groups worldwide.

In the Foreword, the author - himself heavily involved in the Bandit Kingdoms as player, scenario author and in administration as a helper and eventually Triad member - gives a summary of the nature of the Bandit Kingdoms, perhaps unique amongst all of Greyhawk in being a place where lines were blurred and morality unclear, summed up by a quote from a paladin visiting from another region who was heard to remark that he'd "had to save the bad guys from the other PCs" - notable in a campaign where the PCs were generally supposed to be the good guys in any situation.

The scene is set in the first section, Behind The Curtain. This explains in detail how shared campaigns, and Living Greyhawk in particular work, and some of the problems encountered. It gets quite technical, especially when talking about game balance and encounter levels, but makes for fascinating reading particular if you find the underlying engineering that goes into scenario design of interest.

Next comes an index of all Bandit Kingdoms scenarios released, including the 'interactives' that were restricted to specific conventions and not on general release. This is followed by detailed summaries of virtually every one of these scenarios, including a commentary section that shows that scenario's contribution to the campaign as a whole, and often notes on the author's own involvement - even if perhaps hearing that his character has certed 'Whip Scars' from ending up in gaol for certain exploits that annoyed the Iuzian authorities falls into the category of too much information! It goes to show, however, how intense the best shared campaigns can be, with characters being remembered as fondly as those in home campaigns.

This is followed by an analysis of how the scenarios fit together into adventure paths, tracing plotlines throughout the campaign, and details of adventure locations and the things that happened in them. The work then rounds up with a timeline, a selection of quotes and a list of all those who served on the Bandit Kingdom triad through the life of the campaign.

If you participated in Living Greyhawk, particularly if you played in the Bandit Kingdoms, this is a treat, a wander down memory lane. If you like the setting, this region of Greyhawk, it may give you ideas for your own campaign, even though it is verging on impossible to get your hands on any of the actual scenarios (a shame, but that's another story!). As an archivist, delighting in cataloging everything written for role-playing games, this is a delightful and useful addition to my library. Wish all shared campaigns were as well documented!

Return to Bandit Kingdoms Summary page.

Reviewed: 27 May 2012