Old School Renaissance – Dungeon Crawl Classics – DCC Lankhmar Boxed Set

Dungeon Crawl Classics, Old School

Publisher: Goodman Games

If you are a fan of the classic fantasy genre of sword and sorcery, you are probably familiar with the works of Fritz Leiber, one of the pioneers and masters of this style. His stories of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, two rogues who roam the world of Nehwon and its most notorious city, Lankhmar, are full of action, humor, magic, and adventure. They have inspired countless authors and game designers, including the creators of the Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG (DCC RPG), a game that celebrates the old-school spirit of fantasy role-playing.

Goodman Games, the publisher of DCC RPG, has recently released a boxed set that brings the world of Nehwon and Lankhmar to life for DCC RPG fans. The DCC Lankhmar Boxed Set is a product that contains everything you need to run a campaign in this rich and immersive setting. It includes four books, two maps, a judge’s screen, and an issue of the Goodman Games Gazette. In this review, I will give you an overview of each component and share my thoughts on why this is a must-have product for any fan of Fritz Leiber or DCC RPG.

The Judge’s Guide to Nehwon

This book is the core of the boxed set. It provides an overview of the setting, its history, geography, cultures, religions, magic, and more. It also includes rules for character creation, new classes, occupations, alignments, patrons, spells, and equipment. You will find everything you need to run a DCC Lankhmar campaign in this book.

The book is divided into seven chapters:

  • Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter gives a brief introduction to Fritz Leiber and his stories, as well as some tips on how to capture the tone and style of his writing in your game.
  • Chapter 2: Character Creation: This chapter covers the rules for creating characters for DCC Lankhmar. It introduces new classes (such as thieves, warriors, wizards, clerics, dwarves, elves, halflings, and ghouls), new occupations (such as beggar, cutpurse, fence, gambler, rat-catcher, etc.), new alignments (such as lawful good (Lankhmar), chaotic evil (Nehwon), neutral (Fafhrd), etc.), new patrons (such as Issek of the Jug, Sheelba of the Eyeless Face, Ningauble of the Seven Eyes, etc.), new spells (such as cloudkill, dimension door, flyby attack, etc.), and new equipment (such as black toga, cloak of invisibility, luck stone, etc.).
  • Chapter 3: Magic: This chapter explains how magic works in Nehwon and Lankhmar. It covers topics such as spellburning (using physical or mental attributes to power spells), corruption (the negative effects of using magic), mercurial magic (the random effects of casting spells), patron bonds (the relationships between wizards and their patrons), patron taints (the marks left by patrons on their servants), patron spells (the special spells granted by patrons), patron quests (the tasks assigned by patrons to their servants), patron items (the magical items given by patrons to their servants), etc.
  • Chapter 4: Fleeting Luck: This chapter introduces a new mechanic called Fleeting Luck. This is a system that rewards players for role-playing their characters well or doing something cool or funny in the game. Players can earn Fleeting Luck points that can be used to modify dice rolls or activate special abilities. However, Fleeting Luck points can also be lost if something bad happens or if the judge decides to invoke bad luck. Fleeting Luck adds an element of fun and unpredictability to the game.
  • Chapter 5: The World of Nehwon: This chapter describes the world of Nehwon and its surrounding lands. It covers topics such as the geography (the continents, oceans, islands, mountains, rivers, etc.), the climate (the seasons, weather, etc.), the cultures (the various peoples, races, languages, customs, etc.), the religions (the gods, demons, spirits, etc.), the history (the major events, wars, rulers, etc.), and the bestiary (the monsters, animals, plants, etc.) of Nehwon.
  • Chapter 6: The City of Lankhmar: This chapter describes the city of Lankhmar in detail. It covers topics such as the districts (the various neighborhoods, quarters, streets, etc.), the landmarks (the important buildings, monuments, bridges, etc.), the personalities (the notable characters, leaders, criminals, etc.), and the dangers (the threats, traps, curses, etc.) of Lankhmar.
  • Chapter 7: Running a DCC Lankhmar Campaign: This chapter gives some advice on how to run a DCC Lankhmar campaign. It covers topics such as the tone (the mood, style, humor, etc.), the themes (the motifs, ideas, messages, etc.), the structure (the types, lengths, complexity, etc.) of the adventures, the rewards (the treasure, experience, reputation, etc.) for the characters, and the resources (the books, websites, podcasts, etc.) for the judges.

The Judge’s Guide to Nehwon is a well-written and well-organized book that provides a lot of information and inspiration for running a DCC Lankhmar campaign. It is faithful to the source material and captures the essence of Fritz Leiber’s stories. It also adds some new elements and twists that make the setting more interesting and compatible with DCC RPG. The book is full of tables, charts, diagrams, and illustrations that make it easy to use and reference. The book is also full of quotes from Leiber’s stories that add flavor and atmosphere to the text.

Compendium of Secret Knowledge

This book is a collection of secrets and lore that can be used to enhance your campaign. It contains information on the gods of Nehwon, the Thieves’ Guild, the Mingol hordes, the Great Salt Marsh, and other places and factions. It also includes tables for generating random encounters, events, rumors, treasures, and more.

The book is divided into five chapters:

  • Chapter 1: The Gods of Nehwon: This chapter gives an overview of the gods of Nehwon and their domains, portfolios, symbols, alignments, worshipers, temples, rituals, etc. It also includes rules for clerics who serve these gods and their patron spells.
  • Chapter 2: The Thieves’ Guild: This chapter gives an overview of the Thieves’ Guild of Lankhmar and its history, structure, rules, ranks, activities, etc. It also includes rules for thieves who belong to the guild and their special abilities.
  • Chapter 3: The Mingol Hordes: This chapter gives an overview of the Mingol hordes that roam the lands north of Lankhmar and their culture, society, warfare, religion, etc. It also includes rules for creating Mingol characters and their special abilities.
  • Chapter 4: The Great Salt Marsh: This chapter gives an overview of the Great Salt Marsh that lies south of Lankhmar and its geography, ecology, inhabitants, dangers, etc. It also includes rules for exploring the marsh and its special features.
  • Chapter 5: Other Places and Factions: This chapter gives an overview of other places and factions that can be encountered in Nehwon and Lankhmar, such as Ilthmar, Quarmall, Rime Isle, Simorgya, Tovilyis, etc. It also includes tables for generating random encounters in these places.

The Compendium of Secret Knowledge is a useful and interesting book that provides more depth and detail to the setting. It expands on some aspects that are only briefly mentioned or hinted at in Leiber’s stories or in the Judge’s Guide to Nehwon. It also offers some new options and challenges for the characters and judges. The book is full of tables that can be used to create variety and surprise in your game. The book is also full of illustrations that depict the places and factions described in the text.

Lankhmar: City of the Black Toga

This book is a detailed guide to the city of Lankhmar, the most important location in Nehwon. It describes the various districts, landmarks, personalities, and dangers of the city. It also includes a map and a gazetteer of over 100 locations that can be used as adventure hooks or inspiration.

The book is divided into four chapters:

  • Chapter 1: Introduction: This chapter gives a brief introduction to Lankhmar and its history, geography, politics, economy, culture, etc.
  • Chapter 2: Districts: This chapter describes the nine districts of Lankhmar in detail. Each district has its own map, description, atmosphere, population, landmarks, personalities, and dangers. The districts are:
    • The Inner Sea Wall: This is the oldest and most prestigious district of Lankhmar. It is home to the royal palace, temples, mansions, gardens, etc.
    • The River Gate District: This is the main commercial district of Lankhmar. It is home to the docks, markets, warehouses, shops, etc.
    • The Park District: This is a wealthy residential district of Lankhmar. It is home to villas, parks, fountains, statues, etc.
    • The Plaza District: This is a lively entertainment district of Lankhmar. It is home to theaters, taverns, brothels, gambling dens, etc.
  • The Street of the Gods: This is a religious district of Lankhmar. It is home to temples, shrines, cults, priests, etc.
  • The Marsh Gate District: This is a poor and crowded district of Lankhmar. It is home to slums, tenements, beggars, thieves, etc.
  • The Foreign Quarter: This is a cosmopolitan and exotic district of Lankhmar. It is home to embassies, inns, bazaars, travelers, etc.
  • The Outer Sea Wall: This is a newer and more fortified district of Lankhmar. It is home to barracks, watchtowers, cannons, soldiers, etc.
  • Chapter 3: Gazetteer: This chapter provides a gazetteer of over 100 locations in Lankhmar that can be used as adventure hooks or inspiration. Each location has a name, a description, a map reference, and some possible encounters or events that can happen there. Some examples of locations are:
    • The Silver Eel: This is a famous tavern where Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser often hang out. It is known for its strong ale, lively music, and friendly atmosphere.
    • The House of the Black Toga: This is the headquarters of the Thieves’ Guild. It is a secret and well-guarded complex that houses the guild’s leaders, members, and treasures.
    • The Halls of Never: This is a mysterious and ancient ruin that lies beneath the city. It is said to contain secrets and dangers beyond imagination.
    • The Tower of the Elephant: This is a tall and slender tower that stands in the Park District. It is owned by a mysterious and wealthy wizard who collects rare and exotic animals.
    • The Street of No Name: This is a hidden and twisted street that connects different parts of the city. It is frequented by smugglers, assassins, and other shady characters.
  • Chapter 4: Appendix: This chapter contains some additional information and resources for running a DCC Lankhmar game. It includes:
    • A timeline of Lankhmar’s history
    • A list of important characters from Leiber’s stories
    • A list of recommended reading and viewing for judges and players
    • A bibliography of sources used for this book

Lankhmar: City of the Black Toga is an excellent and comprehensive guide to the city of Lankhmar. It provides a lot of detail and flavor to the setting and makes it easy to run adventures in the city. It also includes a beautiful and detailed map of the city, drawn by Doug Kovacs. The map shows all the major locations and landmarks of Lankhmar, as well as some hidden secrets. The book is also full of illustrations that depict the city and its inhabitants.

Dungeon Crawl Classics Lankhmar #0: No Small Crimes in Lankhmar

This book is an introductory adventure for 1st level characters. It involves a heist gone wrong, a chase through the city streets, and a confrontation with a powerful enemy. It is designed to introduce the players to the setting and the rules of DCC Lankhmar.

The book is divided into three parts:

  • Part 1: The Heist: This part describes how the characters are hired by a mysterious patron to steal a valuable item from a noble’s mansion. It covers topics such as the briefing, the planning, the infiltration, the theft, and the escape.
  • Part 2: The Chase: This part describes how the characters are pursued by guards, thugs, and other enemies after they complete the heist. It covers topics such as the chase rules, the obstacles, the encounters, and the outcomes.
  • Part 3: The Showdown: This part describes how the characters are confronted by their patron and his true motives. It covers topics such as the reveal, the fight, and the aftermath.

Dungeon Crawl Classics Lankhmar #0: No Small Crimes in Lankhmar is a fun and exciting adventure that showcases the features and challenges of DCC Lankhmar. It has a simple but engaging plot that can be easily adapted to different groups and situations. It also has some twists and surprises that can keep the players on their toes. The book is full of maps, diagrams, illustrations, and handouts that make it easy to run and play.

The Judge’s Screen

This is a three-panel screen with tables specific to the DCC Lankhmar setting. This screen has useful information for running a DCC Lankhmar game, such as Fleeting Luck rules, patron effects, corruption effects, critical hits and fumbles tables, and more.

The judge’s screen is a handy and practical tool that helps the judge to run a smooth and efficient game. It has all the essential information and rules that are specific to DCC Lankhmar, so the judge does not have to flip through the books or look up online. The screen also has some beautiful artwork by Doug Kovacs that depicts scenes from Lankhmar and Nehwon.

The Goodman Games Gazette

This is an exclusive issue of the Goodman Games newsletter. This issue contains articles on DCC Lankhmar, such as tips for judges, new monsters, new magic items, and more. It also includes previews of upcoming products and news from Goodman Games.

The Goodman Games Gazette is a bonus and fun item that adds some extra content and value to the boxed set. It has some interesting and useful articles that can enhance your DCC Lankhmar game, such as:

  • How to Run a Heist in Lankhmar: This article gives some advice on how to plan and execute a heist adventure in Lankhmar, using the example of No Small Crimes in Lankhmar.
  • New Monsters of Nehwon: This article introduces some new monsters that can be encountered in Nehwon, such as the blood-drinking bat, the giant spider crab, the ice worm, and the shadow cat.
  • New Magic Items of Nehwon: This article introduces some new magic items that can be found or created in Nehwon, such as the cloak of shadows, the eye of Ningauble, the ring of Fafhrd, and the sword of the Gray Mouser.
  • Previews and News: This article gives some sneak peeks of upcoming products from Goodman Games, such as DCC Lankhmar #1: Gang Lords of Lankhmar, DCC Lankhmar #2: The Fence’s Fortuitous Folly, DCC Lankhmar #3: Acting Up in Lankhmar, and more.

Conclusion

The DCC Lankhmar Boxed Set is a must-have for any fan of Fritz Leiber or DCC RPG. It is a high-quality product that captures the spirit and flavor of Leiber’s stories. It offers endless possibilities for adventure and fun in one of the most iconic fantasy settings ever created. I highly recommend it!

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