Crothian
First Post
Dragon Magazine Annual
The Dragon Magazine Annual is a book that I can see many people not getting. Everything in here is available on line through D&D Insider and many people playing D&D 4e already have that. These articles are were available their first and these are said to be the best of what was written for Dragon between June 08 and March 09. I enjoy having something in print and hardback to pass around the gaming table. Plus books look nice all lined up on the book shelf. But for most gamers I think this will be useful for the ones that do not have Insider or want to look at what a sampling of Dragon Magazine articles is like.
The book includes a wide variety of material. I am pleased to see not as much rules information and plenty of creative writings. The book begins with a section on Yeenoghu. I like that it builds off of everything that has come before as the author has done some significant research to find out how the Demon Prince of Gnolls has been defined in the many past editions of the game.
One of my favorite articles in the book is Mithrandir a city of Eladrin in the Feywild. It reads as a very magical and majestic city though people who do not like the quintessential high magic of the Eladrin won’t find this particularly enjoyable. It has some well done magical defenses and good thoughts on law enforcement.
Looking ahead to the Darksun campaign I find a few articles in here that will be useful. There is a section on arenas, gladiators, and the art of the kill. All three of these have a big place in the Dark Sun Campaign setting. I really like the way the articles use non lethal weapons and make them worthwhile. They won’t be the best choice when killing orcs but it is good to see staple gladiatorial weapons getting good D&D treatment.
It’s not all good though. I was not a fan of the Dhampyr, a way to play a vampire of any race. I like the way the they did it, but the choice of a vampire like creature is not the way to go. It’s way over done and the game doesn’t need them. There are new planar epic destinies. I like the idea and what is in here but I think they should go farther. Perhaps more detail or a little more customization is needed.
Over all the book is well done and filled with creative options. For people that have D&D Insider this book is not needed. But for gamers without it I think it is a good mix of options and it goes places other books so far do not.
The Dragon Magazine Annual is a book that I can see many people not getting. Everything in here is available on line through D&D Insider and many people playing D&D 4e already have that. These articles are were available their first and these are said to be the best of what was written for Dragon between June 08 and March 09. I enjoy having something in print and hardback to pass around the gaming table. Plus books look nice all lined up on the book shelf. But for most gamers I think this will be useful for the ones that do not have Insider or want to look at what a sampling of Dragon Magazine articles is like.
The book includes a wide variety of material. I am pleased to see not as much rules information and plenty of creative writings. The book begins with a section on Yeenoghu. I like that it builds off of everything that has come before as the author has done some significant research to find out how the Demon Prince of Gnolls has been defined in the many past editions of the game.
One of my favorite articles in the book is Mithrandir a city of Eladrin in the Feywild. It reads as a very magical and majestic city though people who do not like the quintessential high magic of the Eladrin won’t find this particularly enjoyable. It has some well done magical defenses and good thoughts on law enforcement.
Looking ahead to the Darksun campaign I find a few articles in here that will be useful. There is a section on arenas, gladiators, and the art of the kill. All three of these have a big place in the Dark Sun Campaign setting. I really like the way the articles use non lethal weapons and make them worthwhile. They won’t be the best choice when killing orcs but it is good to see staple gladiatorial weapons getting good D&D treatment.
It’s not all good though. I was not a fan of the Dhampyr, a way to play a vampire of any race. I like the way the they did it, but the choice of a vampire like creature is not the way to go. It’s way over done and the game doesn’t need them. There are new planar epic destinies. I like the idea and what is in here but I think they should go farther. Perhaps more detail or a little more customization is needed.
Over all the book is well done and filled with creative options. For people that have D&D Insider this book is not needed. But for gamers without it I think it is a good mix of options and it goes places other books so far do not.
