Topic: Where would you start a campaign in Shadow World?

[Terry K. Amthor]

Although Norek isn't cannon, that is my favorite place to start new campaigns.

I do like Norek as well; it has a lot going for it. It could easily be integrated into SW canon with a few GM adjustments.

(Enjoying this topic!)

[Terry K. Amthor]

The Izar map is fantastic.  I'm not sure who made it.  Glad to hear it's coming in the new Emer I.

It is a nice map, but I have no idea who did it either. The only cartography credits are Rick Britton and Elissa Martin. Rick always signs his work with initials, and I think Elissa's credit is for the windows of the old hemisphere map.

[tbigness]

For me Norek was a great place to start with many intrigues from criminal activity to adventure around the area... The Political situation was neutral to intrigue and it has opportunity at all levels of play. Mid-to High-level characters usually went to Sel-Kai for that requires a little experience to play in that arena but did well overall.

[adanost]

I would star in Haalkitaine for fresh players to SW. You can send them in politics, frontier troubles or exploration as they begin to discover the full extension of SW. If the players have made contact previously with SW I would try a more cosmopolitan city, like Lethys or anywhere on Emerian Northern coast. Cities and sea are a good mix.

[mac]

Although Norek isn't cannon, that is my favorite place to start new campaigns.

Norek wasn't cannon? why not? it was a shadow world book after all.
it was one of my favorite cities in SW.
last time I ran a SW campaign, it started in a village of sullenmill(own creation), and ended up at Norek.
It worked very well, as Norek was very well detailed and the maps were fantastic. the group later moved on to the jaiman sourcebook.

Terry, if you are here, I would very much like to see these 2 books rreprinted(Norek and Jaiman).

[egdcltd]

Unfortunately, no-one seems to know where Norek's author is, and without finding him, the book can't be reprinted.

[Terry K. Amthor]

Although Norek isn't cannon, that is my favorite place to start new campaigns.

Norek wasn't cannon? why not? it was a shadow world book after all.
it was one of my favorite cities in SW.
last time I ran a SW campaign, it started in a village of sullenmill(own creation), and ended up at Norek.
It worked very well, as Norek was very well detailed and the maps were fantastic. the group later moved on to the jaiman sourcebook.

Terry, if you are here, I would very much like to see these 2 books rreprinted(Norek and Jaiman).

mac, I consider Norek to be more-or-less canon. There's another thread on here that lists the books I consider to be canon. Back when ICE was first producing SW books in the 80's, we were cranking out anything we could get, and there are several that I don't consider part of the world.

As for reprints, yes egdcltd is right, we can't find the author to get approval to reprint Norek or we would (at least as a scanned book). Jaiman is scheduled for a major revision.

[RandalThor]

I guess you could redo the city-state, keeping the base concept, but changing enough not be a conflict. (I wouldn't know what exactly that entails, but I have a feeling you do.)

[Terry K. Amthor]

I guess you could redo the city-state, keeping the base concept, but changing enough not be a conflict. (I wouldn't know what exactly that entails, but I have a feeling you do.)

Well, I wouldn't be the one to do it, and seems like way too much work for anyone to redo it.

[RandalThor]

It should be less work than doing one from scratch, I would imagine.

[Terry K. Amthor]

It should be less work than doing one from scratch, I would imagine.

I don't think it would be fair to the original author... someone try looking for him! It's partly why I don't want to revise Iron Wind; I don't want to tinker with the other authors' work. Plus, I have so much on my plate already.

"So much time; so little to do! Wait a minute. Strike that; reverse it!"

[Old Man]

I took a thwack at googling for him (also checking on FB as well) with no luck ... Will try again.

[egdcltd]

I took a thwack at googling for him (also checking on FB as well) with no luck ... Will try again.

Yes, that just tends to bring up lots of results for Norek. It's a fairly unusual name, too; the inability to find him doesn't bode well for the author.

I guess ICE had a different agreement with him to Quellbourne's author.

[Old Man]

I checked onward and found 2 leads:
1) He may have also been a contributor to Swashbuckling Adventures, an 2002 AEG D20 book. Sent them a note via their FB page.
2) and he may be a registered voter in Ohio:
 KEVIN GENE HOSMER CASEY
was born in 1967 and registered to vote, giving the residential address 190 LONGVIEW HTS RD , , ATHENS, OHIO 45701 U.S.A.

[Terry K. Amthor]

I took a thwack at googling for him (also checking on FB as well) with no luck ... Will try again.

I took a thwack at googling for him (also checking on FB as well) with no luck ... Will try again.

Yes, that just tends to bring up lots of results for Norek. It's a fairly unusual name, too; the inability to find him doesn't bode well for the author.

I guess ICE had a different agreement with him to Quellbourne's author.

Yes, that just tends to bring up lots of results for Norek. It's a fairly unusual name, too; the inability to find him doesn't bode well for the author.

I guess ICE had a different agreement with him to Quellbourne's author.

I would be very surprised if the current ICE people (Nicholas) had access to ICE contracts from the 80's.I suspect that those were all lost in the bankruptcy (but I could be wrong; I was not at ICE when that happened). I am guessing that they track down the old author, find out their agreement and if necessary, offer compensation. I know that some authors got a royalty and some a flat payment contract.

[Valkrist]

Has anyone considered that the difficulty in finding this guy stems from possible use of a pseudonym? Many writers use them. Since he was obviously a contract writer, it's possible Terry won't know if the name is real, though a record of payment for his work and the original contract would reveal that.

[Terry K. Amthor]

Has anyone considered that the difficulty in finding this guy stems from possible use of a pseudonym? Many writers use them. Since he was obviously a contract writer, it's possible Terry won't know if the name is real, though a record of payment for his work and the original contract would reveal that.

That's certainly possible. God knows I used enough pseudonyms during my time at ICE, for various reasons.

Personally, if after doing due diligence and unable to find the author, I would be tempted to put a PDF reprint out there, and if the author contacted us, negotiate then. I'm not sure how copyrights work when the corporate owner goes Chapter 7.

It's a very popular book, and I liked it. But it's not my call.

[Norek Lord]

Hang On!

I'm the author of Norek, and I've contacted the company once every two or three years.  How about you contact me, Terry, and let's have a little chat?

I've not even read this thread other than to see "The author can't be found."

[Norek Lord]

Holy Crap!

I've read the thread and that is exciting stuff!  The company and the economy went to hell in a handbasket right when Norek came out.  The only feedback I ever got was... nothing.  A few minor sales, then silence.

The fact anyone knows the work and actually likes it is nearly the best Christmas present I can imagine.  Dancing harem girls withstanding.

It isn't canon?  How did I have weekly contact with John and Terry and end up with a book not canon?

[Terry K. Amthor]

Holy Crap!

I've read the thread and that is exciting stuff!  The company and the economy went to hell in a handbasket right when Norek came out.  The only feedback I ever got was... nothing.  A few minor sales, then silence.

The fact anyone knows the work and actually likes it is nearly the best Christmas present I can imagine.  Dancing harem girls withstanding.

It isn't canon?  How did I have weekly contact with John and Terry and end up with a book not canon?

Hi Kevin,

Nice to hear from you!

I forwarded your PM to Nicholas, so look forward to an email from him. As far as canon... I thought it was on the list, or at least semi-canon. I did think it was a great module!

I'd love to be able to add it to the list of available modules, so let's see what Nicholas has to say.