Castle Zagyg- what is out there?

[thenorthman]

Hi all,

Just generally interested since I joined the Kickstarter.

How many books are there actually. Is all 24 districts with their own little gazetteer? I noticed Nobelknight games has six or so different copies. Was throwing me a loop for a bit until I realized that each one was different...

Thanks in advance!

Sean

[thenorthman]

http://ww.trolllord.com/forums/viewtopi ... 15&t=11932

I did find this but not info on the little section of the town.

[TheMetal1]

thenorthman,

Welcome to the Crusade. The Trolls produced a few products for Castle Zagyg.

1. Gary Gygax's Castle Zagyg: Yggsburgh
2. Gary Gygax's Castle Zagyg: Upper Works

The first is a hardback book that detailed a free city similar to the Free City of Greyhawk and all the surroundings, plot hooks, and adventures.

The second was a box set, which had multiple modules within. This was the actual Castle Zagyg and the upper areas and 1st level cellars.

Other things done for CZ was a module called the Dark Chateau which was kind of the summer residence, or the home before and during the building of Castle Zagyg. In addition, there were a series of modules released that described the various areas of Yggsburgh in detail, with NPCs, plot hooks, adventure areas for specific sections of the city. I don't know off hand the names of each of them.

That's all they made as far as I know. And once Gary passed, his spouse made the decision to move the license from the Trolls, so it's all out of print and not sold in PDF either.

If your looking for something similar, consider this. Joesph Bloch of the Greyhawk Grognard blog

http://greyhawkgrognard.blogspot.com/20 ... -sale.html

went ahead and made sort of tribute/fan dungeon crawl based off the ideas that were out there on the plan of Greyhawk/Zagyg called The Castle of the Mad Arch Mage. Initially a free offering, he's now expanded it to full fledged dungeon crawl (not that the free one wasn't, he took it up to 11 with a map book, illustration book, and included additional levels). And re-imagined the Upper Works. It's made for his Adventures Dark & Deep (AD&D) by his company BRW Games, which is compatible with any OSR rules including C&C. It's offered in PDF and print on demand softcover or hardcover. (Sale going on now thru the 22nd of June for 30% off).

Anyone else have any thing to add?

[thenorthman]

Thanks!

[Lord Dynel]

Hello, thenorthman, and welcome tot he Crusade!

To expand on The Metal1, the following Castle Zagyg/Yggsburgh items, that I am aware of, are as follows:

Yggsburgh (hardback book)
Castle Zagyg The Upper Works (boxed set)
CZA1: Dark Chateau (adventure module)
CZ9: The East Mark Gazetteer (accessory)
CZ10: The Free Town of Yggsburgh: Town Halls (accessory)
CZ11: The Free Town of Yggsburgh: Moat Gate (accessory)
CZ12: The Free Town of Yggsburgh: The Storehouse District (accessory)
CZ13: The Free Town of Yggsburgh: East Corner (pdf-only accessory)

Hope this helps!
There were some other pdfs released, but if memory serves, they were just bits of the Yggsburgh hardback. As TheMetal1 noted, many people link the Castle of the Mad Archmage dungeon with Zagyg as the "spiritual" continuation of the line.

[Lord Dynel]

Oh, one more I just thought of!

"The Workhouse of Yggsburgh Town" was an adventure in the 2007 Quick Start rules for C&C that was a release for Free RPG Day.

[TheMetal1]

CZ13: The Free Town of Yggsburgh: East Corner (pdf-only accessory)

"The Workhouse of Yggsburgh Town" was an adventure in the 2007 Quick Start rules for C&C that was a release for Free RPG Day.

I just was doing some reorganizing in my game room today and took a look at my CZ stuff. I didn't know about CZ13. Very cool.

Spot on about the Workhouse. Always thought that was an odd adventure when I read it, but a good starting location an short adventure as opposed to meeting in a tavern.

[thenorthman]

I got a slip sleeve set with the players handbook and monsters and treasures along with Yggsburgh on eBay last night. $44 with shipping so happy about that.....or did I overpay?

Also picked up CZ11 up off eBay. Much less than what Nobleknight is asking for it....but Nobelknight sure has a few of them.

eBay a person just listed the Upper Works but it's a little out of my price range....$450 ish.

Plus I realized that RPGgeek probably had a lot of what is out their listed. Forgot about that source.

Thanks everyone for the replies!

Sean

[serleran]

Unfortunately, there is a considerable amount of work that is "out there" and never finalized into published form. For example, Jeff Talanian did a massive amount of goodness... and we will never see it. Or, some of us will, and have, but other won't. That's the saddest thing in all of this. Well, Jeff and all the others who labored and received an open bucket.

And that's not to put blame anywhere. Its just a statement of what sucks.

[Zudrak]

Unfortunately, there is a considerable amount of work that is "out there" and never finalized into published form. For example, Jeff Talanian did a massive amount of goodness... and we will never see it. Or, some of us will, and have, but other won't. That's the saddest thing in all of this. Well, Jeff and all the others who labored and received an open bucket.

And that's not to put blame anywhere. Its just a statement of what sucks.

Agreed. I was an author (Rivergate quarter), but after starting my mapping and beginning to fill in the sector, I had to bow out due to my first wife's deteriorating health. I planned on being the biggest cheerleader as the modules were released, but never got to see much of my colleagues' work see the light of day. The worst part (for me) is the sour taste left in the mouths of those whom I wanted to see write more for C&C/TLG/CZ.

[Breakdaddy]

Talanian did the setting so much justice it was very sad that so much of his labor will not see the light of day. Jeff is an awesome cat with top notch writing skills and more importantly was Gary's hand-picked scribe for all things Zagyg under the TLG flag.

[moriarty777]

The Upper Works is fantastic but I have actually considered selling my copy. Nothing close to a $450 pricetag... that's just ridiculous.

It's great but, without other material, it because somewhat of a precious gaming oddity.

It's what led me to sell other CZ material in the past and right now I have a copy of the Yggsburgh hardback, the Upperworks, the Gazetteer (signed), and the Dark Chateau. Yggsburg, the Gazetteer, and the Upper Works are three things I would never part with. As for the Castle (well the Upperworks), I suppose I could adapt my own if it ever game to it. Borrow from other elements as need be and whatever.

I think the way the license agreement was rapidly killed with nothing following in the wake of it was a shame.

I guess the same can be said about all things related to Lejendary Adventures.

M

[Buttmonkey]

The Upper Works is fantastic but I have actually considered selling my copy. Nothing close to a $450 pricetag... that's just ridiculous.

I know, right?! If I were going to sell my spare, shrink-wrapped copy of Upper Works, I would want at least $750 for it. $450 is definitely ridiculous.

[tylermo]

I'd be curious to see what the actual finishing bid amounts are for Upper Works. There are too many Ebay and Amazon vultures who over-inflate the "buy-it-now" prices. That said, I did see an open copy signed by co-author, Jeffrey Talanian, go for 241 dollars at an auction recently (North Texas rpg con). The auctioneers were Frank Mentzer and Tim Kask.

[Coleston the Cavalier]

I had a section of it too, but had to also bow out when we lost a son. I still have my emails from Gary.

[TheMetal1]

I had a section of it too, but had to also bow out when we lost a son. I still have my emails from Gary.

Agreed. I was an author (Rivergate quarter), but after starting my mapping and beginning to fill in the sector, I had to bow out due to my first wife's deteriorating health.

I ran into a game in Williamsburg, VA that had was working on a section as well. I'm intrigue to know more about how that worked if you all don't mind sharing. Was it an open call? Were you all playtesting it? How'd you get assigned a section?

[Zudrak]

I ran into a game in Williamsburg, VA that had was working on a section as well. I'm intrigue to know more about how that worked if you all don't mind sharing. Was it an open call?

IIRC, it was. I'm kind of hazy on that time now due to the circumstances that followed in 2007.

Were you all playtesting it?

No. At least, I was not. Gary was the overseer, though, and knew when something stood out of place.

How'd you get assigned a section?

I think, when responding to the open call, you put in a short list of sections you were interested in. It was first-come, first-serve, IIRC then based on what was preferred, and then what was available.

[Julian Grimm]

Unfortunately, there is a considerable amount of work that is "out there" and never finalized into published form. For example, Jeff Talanian did a massive amount of goodness... and we will never see it. Or, some of us will, and have, but other won't. That's the saddest thing in all of this. Well, Jeff and all the others who labored and received an open bucket.

And that's not to put blame anywhere. Its just a statement of what sucks.

There are some wounds that are best left closed.

[TheMetal1]

Thanks Zudrak. Very cool how Gary got the community together to make Castle Zagyg not just the dungeon he ran back in the 70s and 80s, but a world where everyone got a chance to contribute. I'm thankful for what we did get and glad to see an interest in new fans about CZ and the hobby. I'll remain ever hopeful for it to come back one day.

[finarvyn]

CZ is one of those things I can't decide what to do with. I really wanted to see Gary's original dungeon, warts and all. Had CZ been fully explored as the product line projected it might have been awesome as well, but as it ended up ... I just don't know what to think of it.

I'm not sure if I have a complete set of everything actually published, but I have a lot of stuff including a (non shrinkwrap) Upper Works. I just don't do anything with it -- it just sits in a box.

[Breakdaddy]

Man, my primary copy of upper works is a limited edition perfect-bound version of the box set (the box available to the retail chains was saddle stitch only) and I cant see ever parting with it. I might let go of my other retail copy but not anytime soon. I am sad to see folks jacking up the price to 400+ dollars on this product but the rarity of it will probably keep prices high for the foreseeable.

[Tadhg]

CZ Upper Works box is probably one of the best gaming adventures ever. I'm glad to have 2 copies.

I am looking to part company with 1 of them soon. I'll post up shortly.

If I sell, the price will be very reasonable for C&C 'ers on this forum.