Upper Works review?

Posts: 66 · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:34 am

I might have missed it elsewhere, but has anyone posts a review of the Upper Works of Castle Zagyg? Thank you.

Posts: 1348 · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:45 am

I have not seen any review, per se, but there has been clamoring about it on the Troll boards -- I don't look at most other RPG-related forums (like ENWorld or RPG.net) so I can't say if they're talking about it. I think many people are waiting for the pre-orders to arrive, like myself.

Posts: 66 · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:28 am

Yeah, I'm still waiting for mine, too. I'm just surprised we haven't heard anything from anyone who picked it up at Gen Con. (Or maybe I'm just not looking in the right places.)

Posts: 1117 · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 1:37 am

There have been no official reviews posted at RPG.net. There may have been something posted in the forums, but I can't recall.

Posts: 177 · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 2:00 am

Okay can I have some clarification? What is the item everyone is waiting for and why is it such a bid deal (limited edition copies or something?)? I thought the Upper Works were already available or am I mistaken?

Damn: I hate being clueless 99.9% of the time. Smile

Posts: 2559 · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2008 9:02 am

PaulKM wrote:

Okay can I have some clarification? What is the item everyone is waiting for and why is it such a bid deal (limited edition copies or something?)? I thought the Upper Works were already available or am I mistaken?

Damn: I hate being clueless 99.9% of the time. Smile

Castle Zagyg: The Upper Works box set is what everyone is referring to. Troll Lord had a mess of them at GenCon but the item is currently listed for pre-order on their website so it isn't available to the rest of the populace yet. I dont believe that the one sold at GenCon will be any different than the one directly purchased from Troll Lords website unless they decide to shrinkwrap it for shipping (they werent shrinked at their booth). The big deal for most people, I assume, is that Castle Zagyg is supposed to be Gygax's definitive version of Castle Greyhawk...or at least that is what I have read.

Other publishers do the same thing with their pre-releases. Goodman brought a bunch of the 4th edition Dungeon Crawl Classic titles to GenCon but you aren't able to order them yet from their website and you can't buy them in stores yet either. Paizo is the one publisher that I can think of that already has new stock in stores that was previously only available at GenCon.

I bought it, but have only looked through it briefly. I havent had time to really delve into it that much.

Posts: 4 · Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:28 pm

Received it last week and am about halfway through reading it. Much better than Yggsburgh and probably the best module I have ever read. I loved all the old TSR stuff, especially Hommlet and the GDQ bonanza but this really blows that out of the water. Kind of sad though, because it reminds you of how much better Gygax's stuff was compared to some of the stuff published nowadays.

Posts: 1348 · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 8:09 am

Review (its the 6th post down.)

Apparently, it was posted to RPG.net too.

Posts: 51 · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:00 am

Any word on when The Upper Works will be available to the non-GenCon attendees?

Posts: 1348 · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 9:26 am

Pre-orders are being shipped, several people stating they've received their order -- so, right now.

If you're waiting to get it from a store -- no idea when that'll happen, since it depends on many factors which are not directly in the hands of the Trolls.

Also, Gustav has caused some slight delays, with it taking down the power for almost a week. This has caused Steve's inbox to fill, so he's working on sorting that out.

Posts: 2938 · Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2008 11:48 pm

I'll be posting my review soon (took a few days off from it to get a little extra time/perspective, and to have fun with the kids Very Happy

).

Posts: 4 · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:19 pm

I just posted a review on my blog:

http://greyhawkgrognard.blogspot.com

Joe

Posts: 2525 · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:07 pm

Anyone know if Troll Lord Games intend to make this available to the general public? They don't seem to take international orders and aren't distributing either. They also never answer e-mails, which is not surprising since they must be inundated with people asking whether they are gonna get their fingers out and actually publish something. Is this a US only release exclusive only for certain buyers through Troll Lords direct? Or is there someone in the know who may be able to explain their colleagues failings in a fluffy 'it's not really a failure' kind of way?

Posts: 1348 · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 1:28 pm

The release is in process of going to distributors -- it has been stated that they should have them near the end of November, and that is a should -- it depends on if the distributors have enough requests from their clients for them to justify the purchase from TLG. How long it takes to get to individual stores from there is unpredictable as it depends on where its going, how many were ordered, and so on and so forth. They have consistently had issues with the distribution channels (as have every other small press company,) which is why they've been looking for other means, like the book trade. Amazon is likely a non-option, but I wouldn't claim it is completely out of the question.

It is most definitely not "US only."

However, regarding the email issue -- this should have been resolved. I do know they were in process of switching over servers and systems so this would not happen. If there is a delay, or a non-response, it is likely due to the change not having happened, meaning Steve is still overloaded with emails. Its also possible he simply forgot to finish the switch due to work on other projects. I'll have to kick him.

Posts: 1200 · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 2:17 pm

I have the C&C PHB and MM and Castle Zagyg Vol. 1: Yggsburgh but have held off picking up other items until the CKG is available.

I'm pretty sure that there must be others out there that is waiting for the "complete" set of main rule books before attempting to run the system.

If I was a small FLGS owner looking at what to carry as inventory I would want a system that is complete before I started ordering supplements for it.

Posts: 2938 · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:27 pm

Work's been killing me the past 2+ weeks, so I haven't made much time for wrapping up the CZ:UW review. I want to complete it soon, though, if only to put the thing to bed! Rolling Eyes

Posts: 1348 · Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:44 pm

Quote:

They also never answer e-mails

The response I got was: it probably bounced (due to the email being full) so he never received the email. Doing a search through all received did not bring up the email I have for you (thanks to eBay) so that was verified. Please send it again. I have told Steve to watch out for it, and to make sure it gets answered.

Posts: 2339 · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 12:13 am

I've sent a few emails about the LA Essentials boxed set I paid for and did not receive but haven't got a response either. I filed a paypal dispute a few days ago as well and that doesn't seem to have warranted a response yet either.

I think TLG would really benefit with a better online shopping website that kept track of inventory and automatically calculated shipping.

Posts: 2525 · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 4:17 am

Yeah, I found that international buyers cannot buy online because you have to e-mail them first with your full order and get a shipping quote to add into the online shop at checkout. I think they could use a better customer experience all round. I know they're small but my understanding is that they do have dedicated staff. Someone should be focussing on getting money in through the door, and that means providing the products you already have to customers waiting to pay for them. TLG seems to be cracking under the strain, and it's not for wont of money. We are lining up to give them money. They just can't get organised enough to take what is being offered. Bigger companies have gone under for such things. They need to watch they don't go the same way.

So, I'm curious... Has anyone out there, outside of mainland America, managed to get a copy of CZ:UW mailed to them by TLG?

Posts: 1348 · Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2008 1:23 pm

Quote:

I know they're small but my understanding is that they do have dedicated staff.

No they don't. There is Steve (who process the orders) and who also does nearly everything else business related including product line management and writing for the game system (like the CKG.) Davis, who does more writing and other sundries like printing books. And Mark, who packages things up and ships them out... after he's been told by Steve what to pack and ship out. The other "staff" are those who manage the website, write products, do art, and so forth -- 99% of these (like myself as a freelancer, and not an actual employee) aren't even close to "company HQ" in Little Rock; they do have a few other people who sometimes come by and help with things like packing and whatever, but the notion there is a dedicated staff is a joke -- there are, at most, 10 people (this is a marked improvement from a few years ago when the number was about half that for "consistent employees,") and of those, half are doing other things, don't even know what else is going on, or have nothing to do with the "business" other than getting products available by writing them. That is not an excuse: it is fact. Sad fact, though. For all their good intentions, I do agree certain things could be managed better... one thing they've done recently is admit it needs change. Now, to actually do it.

And, yes, I know a few people in the UK who have copies of Upper Works, sent out by TLG. Also, I know a guy in Germany who received his as well.

And, Mars... I'll see what I can do about that. I'm not sure what can be done, if anything, since I hear those sets are sold out... but, I'll try to get Steve to respond -- same email as PayPal?

I make this statement: if you have an issue with TLG and cannot get it rectified, PM me. I will do all I can to make it better. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.