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Directory:Spellbinder Games/Dreadmire (view source)
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The author used this phrase to describe the book:
The author used this phrase to describe the book:
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"Think of Dreadmire as the Atchafalaya Swamp meets Lord of the Rings, with Cajun hobbits, weregators, undead mosquitoes, monstrous plants, fungus demons, and giant cockroaches thrown into the mix."
"Think of Dreadmire as the ''Atchafalaya Swamp'' meets ''Lord of the Rings'', with Cajun halflings, undead mosquitoes, weregators, giant cockroaches, fungus demons, man-eating plants, slime dragons, cannibal elves, sunken ruins, mud dwarves, dark water, and evil trees thrown into the mix."
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Dreadmire is a guidebook to a large swamp setting that forms the basis of a campaign. The book includes chapters not only with background material for the swamp but detailed encounter tables, new spells, character classes and magic items.
Dreadmire is a guidebook to a large swamp setting that forms the basis of a campaign. The book includes chapters not only with background material for the swamp but detailed encounter tables, new spells, character classes and magic items.
The goal of the book is to provide a setting for which many adventures can be played out, not just a book on how to run a swamp adventure (which it is, as well). This is why a number of locations are noted, but not detailed within the book, so the GM can have an idea of how to develop more involved campaigns.
[[Image:DreadmireBookBackCover.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The back cover of Dreadmire.]]<!--fair use rationale: book cover used to note the book itself and to illustrate its subject in compilance with WP fair use policy.-->
[[Image:DreadmireBookBackCover.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The back cover of Dreadmire.]]<!--fair use rationale: book cover used to note the book itself and to illustrate its subject in compilance with WP fair use policy.-->
==Factions==
==Factions==
Many fantasy races populate Dreadmire, in the same vein as J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. However, the typical races were adapted to Dreadmire's amphibious wetland setting.
Many fantasy races populate Dreadmire, in the same vein as J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. However, the typical races were adapted to Dreadmire's amphibious wetland setting.
==Adventures==
==Adventures==
There are three adventures contained within the book. One serves as an introduction to the setting and the others two offer more advanced campaign-style play.
*'''The Great Bayou Halfling Boat Race''': This scenario is for beginning level (1st-6th) Player characters. The players are asked to crew a ship in a celebrated halfling boat race, which takes them on a winding adventure through the swamp. The adventure is designed to introduce new Dreadmire players to the various factions and new monsters of the swamp. The adventure features encounters with giant catfish, monstrous mosquitoes, deadly plants, lizardfolk, anthroaches, and evil serpents.
*'''The Great Bayou Halfling Boat Race''': This scenario is for beginning level (1st-6th) Player characters. The players are asked to crew a ship in a celebrated halfling boat race, which takes them on a winding adventure through the swamp. The adventure is designed to introduce new Dreadmire players to the various factions and new monsters of the swamp. The adventure features encounters with giant catfish, monstrous mosquitoes, deadly plants, lizardfolk, anthroaches, and evil serpents.
*'''Bog of the Fungus Demon''': This scenario is for intermediate level (7th-13th) Player characters. The players uncover a diary that leads them on the trail of an old friend that searched for the lair of a demon. At the top of a dark waterfall they discover a giant fungi forest and the lair of a lost demonic force. The adventures features a score of monstrous fungus creatures, black slime, vampire mushroom folk, a lycanthropic ooze, slime dragon, and a smut demon.
*'''Bog of the Fungus Demon''': This scenario is for intermediate level (7th-13th) Player characters. The players uncover a diary that leads them on the trail of an old friend that searched for the lair of a demon. At the top of a dark waterfall they discover a giant fungi forest and the lair of a lost demonic force. The adventures features a score of monstrous fungus creatures, black slime, vampire mushroom folk, a lycanthropic ooze, slime dragon, and a smut demon.
*'''Xodakite''': a flying poisonous plant that uses its leaves as wings
*'''Xodakite''': a flying poisonous plant that uses its leaves as wings
==Notability==
==History==
In 2002 there was a dispute between Necromancer Games, who was scheduled to publish ''Dreadmire'', and the author Randy Richards[http://spellbindergames.yuku.com/topic/365]. The author said, "There were some false starts and delays before Dreadmire came to print. First I submitted it to Necromancer, but we had creative differences and parted ways. Later... I was contacted by Spellbinder Games. They gave me a lot of control over the project. After my other experiences that was very important to me.'"
In 2002 there was a dispute between Necromancer Games, who was scheduled to publish ''Dreadmire'', and the author Randy Richards<ref>http://spellbindergames.yuku.com/topic/365</ref>. The author said, "There were some false starts and delays before Dreadmire came to print. First I submitted it to Necromancer, but we had creative differences and parted ways. Later... I was contacted by Spellbinder Games. They gave me a lot of control over the project. After my other experiences that was very important to me.'"
Dreadmire was unique in that it was the first D20 book to place an entire campaign in a swamp setting. It also contained nearly 220,000 words, more than any other D20 System book as of its printing date. With 264 monsters, 124 spells, 136 magic items, 49 weapons, 18 classes, 19 deities, 37 factions, 47 mysteries, and 266 illustrations, Dreadmire had more content than any other 224-page Dungeons & Dragons book ever published up to that point.
Dreadmire was unique in that it was the first D20 book to place an entire campaign in a swamp setting. It also contained nearly 220,000 words, more than any other D20 System book as of its printing date. With 264 monsters, 124 spells, 136 magic items, 49 weapons, 18 classes, 19 deities, 37 factions, 47 mysteries, and 266 illustrations, Dreadmire had more content than any other 224-page Dungeons & Dragons book ever published up to that point.
Dreadmire was distributed in the U.S. through Alliance Games and in Europe via Esdevium Games Ltd., but is now out of print. Copies are sometimes available on eBay and Amazon.com.
==Book Reviews==
* A review in Knights of the Dinner Table magazine<ref>http://www.kenzerco.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_23_24&products_id=366</ref>, via Kenzer & Company. The review itself is not available online, but it is listed as being in the magazine (near the bottom under the heading "Departments" and then "Brian's Small Press Picks")
* SpeilXpress, a gaming magazine in Germany. The review<ref>http://www.spielxpress.com/download/06_06/P17_dreadmire.pdf</ref> is available both in their magazine and online.
* A staff review at EN World<ref>http://www.enworld.org/forum/reviews/244338-dreadmire.html?ltr=D</ref>.
*http://www.Dreadmire.com Dreadmire on the publisher's author site.
* Game Trade Magazine, the gaming industry's leader in game books and accessories, featured Dreadmire<ref>http://www.gametrademagazine.com/PDFS/GTM_74_PDFs/GTM74_GAMES.pdf</ref> as a "Spotlight Item" on page 38.
*http://www.kenzerco.com/product_info.php?cPath=22_23_24&products_id=366 A review in Knights of the Dinner Table magazine, via Kenzer & Company. The review itself is not available online, but it is listed as being in the magazine (near the bottom under the heading "Departments" and then "Brian's Small Press Picks")
*http://www.spielxpress.com/download/06_06/P17_dreadmire.pdf SpeilXpress, a gaming magazine in Germany. The review is available both in their magazine and online.
* A staff review<ref>http://www.gamingreport.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=2110</ref> at GamingReport.com, an industry leader in game reviews.
*http://www.gametrademagazine.com/PDFS/GTM_74_PDFs/GTM74_GAMES.pdf Game Trade Magazine, the gaming industry's leader in game books and accessories, featured Dreadmire as a "Spotlight Item" on page 38.
* A fan review<ref>http://www.gamingreport.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=2055</ref> at GamingReport.com, an industry leader in game reviews.
*http://www.gamingreport.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=2110 an internal company review at GamingReport.com, an industry leader in game reviews.
* Readers Reviews, in independent book review<ref>http://www.readerviews.com/ReviewRichardsDreadmire.html</ref> company.
*http://www.gamingreport.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=2055 a fan review at GamingReport.com, an industry leader in game reviews.
* On Amazon.com, primarily an online book store with reviews<ref>http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/worldofgreyha/0977338339/qid=1133364328/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-2600850-9005646?s=books&v=glance&n=283155</ref> by customers.
==External Links==
*Dreadmire on the publisher's author site: [http://www.Dreadmire.com Dreadmire.com]
==References==
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