4e / GSL 4E Creature Collection from Fiery Dragon

Glyfair · 15th April 2009, 09:58 PM

I just picked up the 4E Creature Collection from RPGNow. I scanned through it, and mostly focused on things I would use now (the party in my game is 4th).

The creatures seem to be of sound design, although only using them in play would be a fair test. I did notice a seeming focus on shifting 3 squares as an ability (a couple of times in a small sample size).

The levels of creatures seem to be well balanced. At the high end we have the Mithril Golem (32) and Athentia, the Great Sphinx (33). At the low end we have ratmen and the various goblin races.

We do see a lot of the classic Scarred Land creatures. As mentioned above, we have the Mithril Golem and ratmen. We also have a section for the Slarecian Legacies, wrath dragons, the proud and unhallowed.

One touch I like is the appendices. Appendix 1 contains templates, appendix 2 contains basic NPCs (more on that later), Appendix 2A has race templates and appendix 3 is the mandatory "creatures by level" section.

The Basic NPCs appendix has an NPC from each of the core classes every 5 levels. So, we have a 5th level wizard, and one at 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th and 30th. The could be quite useful and I felt unexpected for this book.

The PDF is toward the higher end of PDF prices ($17.50 now at RPGNow). Still, I think the value is great. Monster books lend themselves well to PDF, since you really only need the monsters you are using at the table.

Anyone else grab it?

Jack99 · 15th April 2009, 10:29 PM

I did, but its Champions League night, so my review is a tad delayed. Overall, it doesn't look bad.

catsclaw227 · 15th April 2009, 11:55 PM

I added it to my shopping cart.

I love the Scarred Lands additions.... it bodes well for a 4e Scarred Lands, a campaign setting PERFECT for 4e.

I'm looking forward to this one.

Glyfair · 16th April 2009, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catsclaw227

I love the Scarred Lands additions.... it bodes well for a 4e Scarred Lands, a campaign setting PERFECT for 4e.

Oddly enough, I will be using the monsters in an Eberron campaign. They might not be the most diametrically opposed campaigns, but there are major thematic differences.

alleynbard · 16th April 2009, 04:02 AM

Edit: A rather silly misunderstanding on my part. That will teach to me to skim while reading something else. Nothing to see here.

alleynbard · 16th April 2009, 04:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catsclaw227

I added it to my shopping cart.

I love the Scarred Lands additions.... it bodes well for a 4e Scarred Lands, a campaign setting PERFECT for 4e.

I'm looking forward to this one.

That would definitely turn my head. I really enjoyed Scarred Lands. That would be a guaranteed sale for me.

JoeGKushner · 16th April 2009, 04:20 AM

Looking forward to seeing it at the FLSG.

Glyfair · 16th April 2009, 05:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alleynbard

I have a ton of minis (when I say a ton what I really mean is a metric butt tonne) so I am not sure how much use I would get out of this product.

It's not a counter collection. It's a 4E monster book. Many of the monsters (most?) are classic Scarred Lands creatures.

alleynbard · 16th April 2009, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glyfair

It's not a counter collection. It's a 4E monster book. Many of the monsters (most?) are classic Scarred Lands creatures.

Wow, don't mind me. I am not sure how I misread that. My only excuse is I was multitasking at the time (very poorly it seems) and I didn't read the entire post/thread.

I feel rather silly now. Actually, I feel just plain stupid. I apologize for being a brainless twit.

But the book sounds exciting, now that I have properly parsed what you were talking about. I need to check it out.

Glyfair · 16th April 2009, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alleynbard

Wow, don't mind me.

Understandable, since 95% of D&D product Fiery Dragon has released in the past few years has been Counter Collection material.

Now for the 4E Relics & Rituals.

catsclaw227 · 16th April 2009, 06:14 AM

With the SL Ratmen, I can whip out my Warrens of the Ratmen supplement for Scarred Lands and start converting encounters.

This bodes well....... I have been mulling an online only 4e campaign running Maptools and was contemplating setting and adventures. WotBS 4e? WOTC H-P-E?

But if this means a Scarred Lands campaign will be coming? Maybe I'll wait and see how that will shape up.

alleynbard · 16th April 2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glyfair

Now for the 4E Relics & Rituals.

Those are some magic words, right there.

Glyfair · 16th April 2009, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catsclaw227

But if this means a Scarred Lands campaign will be coming? Maybe I'll wait and see how that will shape up.

I have been browsing the Fiery Dragon site. It seems there is almost nothing there about upcoming products or lines.

Very odd.

According to this post (in a thread where I pointed out that these products were coming out):

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack of Shadows

Fiery Dragon has taken over the Sword & Sorcery imprint from White Wolf. It does not include any of the Necromancer, Malhavoc or World of Warcraft material but I suspect that hardly comes as a surprise. It DOES include all the Scarred Lands stuff so expect to see new material for this setting being produced for 4E.

JoeGKushner · 16th April 2009, 12:43 PM

Small operation with lots of delays with product in the past? Check.

Well, don't know what to say after that.

If they can get Relics and Rituals out the door before Gen Con (another four months), I'd be surprised. Happy but surprised.

avin · 16th April 2009, 01:06 PM

Finally! Do you have the complete monster list???

Zaukrie · 16th April 2009, 03:31 PM

Short review:

Art is the same as from the original books mostly. I was hoping some of it would be upgraded. Some is quite good, some just isn't.

Good range of monster levels.

Very true to the scarred lands and the original versions of these monsters.

No playtesting yet, so I won't comment on the balance issues, if there are any.

Some fluff, could use more, but enough for the most part to be useful.

I'd recommend it, especially if you are a DM that likes lots of monsters.

Nebulous · 16th April 2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaukrie

Short review:

Some fluff, could use more, but enough for the most part to be useful.

How much fluff do you think was chopped out compared to the original CC? Does it otherwise follow the 4e Monster Manual format to the last letter?

catsclaw227 · 16th April 2009, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glyfair

I have been browsing the Fiery Dragon site. It seems there is almost nothing there about upcoming products or lines.

Maybe Claudio or FieryJames can pop in and give us an update or maybe even share with us his pie-in-the-sky ideas? Even if they are just thoughts and not any actionable items yet, it would help give us an idea what they WANT to do with SL.