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Jade and Steel
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<blockquote data-quote="trancejeremy" data-source="post: 2008891" data-attributes="member: 924"><p>I've always been a bit leery of buying Avalanche Press products, mostly because the first product of theirs (Last Days of Constantinople) was awful in terms of using the d20 rules. Still, it was mentioned that they've improved, so I bought 3 of their books on ebay for about half-price. And I was leery because of their covers are a bit on the embaressing side, another benefit of buying mail order. </p><p></p><p>Anyway, the last of the 3 is <span style="color: green"><strong><strong>Jade and Steel</strong></strong></span>. This is set in mythic China, apparently during the period known as the 3 Kingdoms, of which there is a fairly famous PC and Console strategy game series (Romance of the 3 Kingdoms). I always found those games interesting, but could never get into them. So I wasn't completely sure if I wanted this. But I'm glad I bought it.</p><p></p><p>Like all of Avalanche Press's early books, it's 48 pages with a MSRP of $12.95 (they're now apparently moving to 64 pages, though with a hefty price increase), and has a cover by some semi-famous artist. In this case, the cover is of a barely dressed somewhat asian looking woman. Unlike most of his other covers, she's not about to tip over due to gravity, which is perhaps why it's the only cover I actually like, even if it is a bit sleazy. (I paid $8 or so for it)</p><p></p><p>Inside though, the artwork is more mundane, and somewhat sparse. The font used is fairly large, but there is little margin, either on the side or top, so the amount of text is pretty decent.</p><p>The book is divided into 3 parts - the first an overview of mythic China, the second on playing apropriate characters (rules, mostly), and lastly an adventure for fairly high level characters (11th - 14th).</p><p></p><p>The first part, on mythic China, is fairly short at 6 pages. It gives a very brief overview of the history (very brief) than some info on culture and different religions. While they do seem to have covered most things, it's really very brief. Makes me want to look up a history book on ancient China (which I plan to).</p><p></p><p>The second part (which is all open content) is on making apropriate characters and is about 11-12 pages long. It starts off by saying all characters are human, and should probably be Chinese for the best effective. It then introduces a number of prestige classes...</p><p></p><p><span style="color: green"><strong><strong>The Alchemist</strong></strong></span></p><p>- An arcane spellcasting prestige class who specializes in making potions, and potion like things (paints, oils, pills, gases that act like potions), as well as the ultimate power of making the Elixir of Life. At 6th level, it can also substitute expensive material for xp in potions/items at the rate of 5 gold per xp. </p><p></p><p><span style="color: green"><strong><strong>The Dim Mak Practicioner </strong></strong></span></p><p>- basically a monk prestige class. The special powers all deal with special types of nerve strikes. </p><p></p><p><span style="color: green"><strong><strong>The Diviner </strong></strong></span></p><p>- an arcane spellcasting prestige class that specializes in fortelling the future.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: green"><strong><strong>The Geometer </strong></strong></span></p><p>- a divine spellcasting prestige class that specializing in harmonizing with nature, or Feng Shui. Good at arranging furniture for the best benefit.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: green"><strong><strong>Iron Hand Disciple </strong></strong></span></p><p>- another monkish prestige class. This one specializes in hardening his body so that it takes less and gives out more damage</p><p></p><p><span style="color: green"><strong><strong>Sword Saint </strong></strong></span></p><p>- One of the cooler and more desireable (for players) classes, I think. It essentially is a fighter prestige class, with some monkish abilities. The ultimate power is that of 'Spellcleaver', which allows the character to deflect ray or energy spells with his weapon of choice by making a reflex save against 15+ the caster level of the spell. Pretty cool.</p><p></p><p>After this, there are 10 or so new feats. Most are combat related, and don't seem too appealing. There's a handful of new weapons, and some new names for new weapons, including the rocket</p><p></p><p>Lastly, and taking up over half of this book, is an adventure. Essentially, the PCs are wandering heroes, and are hired by the local warlord to find his daughter, who has apparently been kidnapped.</p><p></p><p>So, it's up to the PCs to find her. This is rather complicated though, with a fair amount of duplicity. It's a pretty good adventure, with lots of room for roleplaying, freedom on the players part, and is interesting in both terms of plot and in characters. The trouble is, it's for rather high level characters (and I haven't had a chance to use it yet). I think it would have been more apropriate to have a low level or introductory adventure.</p><p></p><p>All in all, this is a pretty good book though. I would really have liked to have seen more on the history and culture of China. And perhaps a better adapation of the various chinese religions to the d20 system, rather than them just giving potential domains. But still, it's definitely enough material to get you started on a mythic Chinese campaign, though you'll really need to also hit the history books.</p><p></p><p>I also liked the prestige classes, though some seem ill suited for players. In general, the use of the d20 rules is quite good (there are some gaffes/confusion regarding the tables for the monkish prestige classes), and the open content is generous. So I think this product is a pretty solid <strong><span style="color: red"><strong>4.</strong></span></strong></p><p></p><p>Update 4/15/02:</p><p></p><p>It dawned on me that this book completely fails to mention what sort of armor was used then. It covers weapons, but not armor. Looking at the NPC stats in the adventure is not much of a help either. This is a big gaffe, so I'm downgrading my score to a 3.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="trancejeremy, post: 2008891, member: 924"] I've always been a bit leery of buying Avalanche Press products, mostly because the first product of theirs (Last Days of Constantinople) was awful in terms of using the d20 rules. Still, it was mentioned that they've improved, so I bought 3 of their books on ebay for about half-price. And I was leery because of their covers are a bit on the embaressing side, another benefit of buying mail order. Anyway, the last of the 3 is [color=green][b][b]Jade and Steel[/b][/b][/color]. This is set in mythic China, apparently during the period known as the 3 Kingdoms, of which there is a fairly famous PC and Console strategy game series (Romance of the 3 Kingdoms). I always found those games interesting, but could never get into them. So I wasn't completely sure if I wanted this. But I'm glad I bought it. Like all of Avalanche Press's early books, it's 48 pages with a MSRP of $12.95 (they're now apparently moving to 64 pages, though with a hefty price increase), and has a cover by some semi-famous artist. In this case, the cover is of a barely dressed somewhat asian looking woman. Unlike most of his other covers, she's not about to tip over due to gravity, which is perhaps why it's the only cover I actually like, even if it is a bit sleazy. (I paid $8 or so for it) Inside though, the artwork is more mundane, and somewhat sparse. The font used is fairly large, but there is little margin, either on the side or top, so the amount of text is pretty decent. The book is divided into 3 parts - the first an overview of mythic China, the second on playing apropriate characters (rules, mostly), and lastly an adventure for fairly high level characters (11th - 14th). The first part, on mythic China, is fairly short at 6 pages. It gives a very brief overview of the history (very brief) than some info on culture and different religions. While they do seem to have covered most things, it's really very brief. Makes me want to look up a history book on ancient China (which I plan to). The second part (which is all open content) is on making apropriate characters and is about 11-12 pages long. It starts off by saying all characters are human, and should probably be Chinese for the best effective. It then introduces a number of prestige classes... [color=green][b][b]The Alchemist[/b][/b][/color] - An arcane spellcasting prestige class who specializes in making potions, and potion like things (paints, oils, pills, gases that act like potions), as well as the ultimate power of making the Elixir of Life. At 6th level, it can also substitute expensive material for xp in potions/items at the rate of 5 gold per xp. [color=green][b][b]The Dim Mak Practicioner [/b][/b][/color] - basically a monk prestige class. The special powers all deal with special types of nerve strikes. [color=green][b][b]The Diviner [/b][/b][/color] - an arcane spellcasting prestige class that specializes in fortelling the future. [color=green][b][b]The Geometer [/b][/b][/color] - a divine spellcasting prestige class that specializing in harmonizing with nature, or Feng Shui. Good at arranging furniture for the best benefit. [color=green][b][b]Iron Hand Disciple [/b][/b][/color] - another monkish prestige class. This one specializes in hardening his body so that it takes less and gives out more damage [color=green][b][b]Sword Saint [/b][/b][/color] - One of the cooler and more desireable (for players) classes, I think. It essentially is a fighter prestige class, with some monkish abilities. The ultimate power is that of 'Spellcleaver', which allows the character to deflect ray or energy spells with his weapon of choice by making a reflex save against 15+ the caster level of the spell. Pretty cool. After this, there are 10 or so new feats. Most are combat related, and don't seem too appealing. There's a handful of new weapons, and some new names for new weapons, including the rocket Lastly, and taking up over half of this book, is an adventure. Essentially, the PCs are wandering heroes, and are hired by the local warlord to find his daughter, who has apparently been kidnapped. So, it's up to the PCs to find her. This is rather complicated though, with a fair amount of duplicity. It's a pretty good adventure, with lots of room for roleplaying, freedom on the players part, and is interesting in both terms of plot and in characters. The trouble is, it's for rather high level characters (and I haven't had a chance to use it yet). I think it would have been more apropriate to have a low level or introductory adventure. All in all, this is a pretty good book though. I would really have liked to have seen more on the history and culture of China. And perhaps a better adapation of the various chinese religions to the d20 system, rather than them just giving potential domains. But still, it's definitely enough material to get you started on a mythic Chinese campaign, though you'll really need to also hit the history books. I also liked the prestige classes, though some seem ill suited for players. In general, the use of the d20 rules is quite good (there are some gaffes/confusion regarding the tables for the monkish prestige classes), and the open content is generous. So I think this product is a pretty solid [b][color=red][b]4.[/b][/color][/b][color=red][/color] Update 4/15/02: It dawned on me that this book completely fails to mention what sort of armor was used then. It covers weapons, but not armor. Looking at the NPC stats in the adventure is not much of a help either. This is a big gaffe, so I'm downgrading my score to a 3. [/QUOTE]
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