2006 WotC D&D Product Survivor - Round 4

[Cthulhudrew]

I voted Secrets of Xen'drik. Now, to be fair, I haven't really read it much, but the quick read through and reviews I saw before deciding whether or not to buy (I didn't) gave me the impression it was basically a sourcebook for a region that is largely and purposefully undeveloped so DMs can develop it for themselves. Seems like a contradiction to me, and in any case not very useful.

Now if I am off on my assumptions of what the book is/provides, feel free to enlighten me, but for now, it's getting my vote.

 

[Nikosandros]

Well, I keep voting for the Basic Game... let's hope we can get rid of it this time around...

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

I voted Secrets of Xen'drik. Now, to be fair, I haven't really read it much, but the quick read through and reviews I saw before deciding whether or not to buy (I didn't) gave me the impression it was basically a sourcebook for a region that is largely and purposefully undeveloped so DMs can develop it for themselves. Seems like a contradiction to me, and in any case not very useful.

Now if I am off on my assumptions of what the book is/provides, feel free to enlighten me, but for now, it's getting my vote.

I think a more accurate description of what Xendrik was supposed to be was that it filled the "Lost Continent" niche of the pulp genre. And as such a certain amount is obviously unknown and thus would be undescribed initially, or at the minimum wrapped in mystery. But a "Lost Continent" doesn't mean that it has to be the playground of the DM to fill in.

The sourcebook, IMO, does a good job of putting some more definition on the mystery of the continent without ever going outside the "Lost Continent" feel. I mean, Xendrik is bigger than Khorvaire and this relatively thin book barely puts any detail on what is going on there. Personally, I use it as inspiration to fill in Davania in my imagined Mystara.

 

[Crothian]

I think a more accurate description of what Xendrik was supposed to be was that it filled the "Lost Continent" niche of the pulp genre. And as such a certain amount is obviously unknown and thus would be undescribed initially, or at the minimum wrapped in mystery. But a "Lost Continent" doesn't mean that it has to be the playground of the DM to fill in.

I agree, I think it is very well done and one of the stronger Eberron books out.

 

[Glyfair]

I voted Secrets of Xen'drik. Now, to be fair, I haven't really read it much, but the quick read through and reviews I saw before deciding whether or not to buy (I didn't) gave me the impression it was basically a sourcebook for a region that is largely and purposefully undeveloped so DMs can develop it for themselves. Seems like a contradiction to me, and in any case not very useful.

Now if I am off on my assumptions of what the book is/provides, feel free to enlighten me, but for now, it's getting my vote.

Think of it more as a toolbox. Xen'drik is supposed to be something the DM develops largely on his own. It is supposed to be the mysterious continent. It covers the less mysterious areas (Stormreach being the main example) and gives bits and pieces to create adventures in the area.

When it was announced I was very leary of the product. It seemed ripe for WotC contradicting itself and creating large developed areas of Xen'drik. The product changed my mind and kept the mysterious continent feel while giving things DMs can use in their Xen'drik.

 

[mhacdebhandia]

I'm sticking to Fantastic Locations: Dragondown Grotto. The series isn't even a bad concept, it's just not useful to me.

 

[catsclaw227]

The Tome of series isn't very well-received it seems.

This is a shame - I liked it very much.

Can we get some votes for the terribly retarded "Fantastic Locations" series? We'll just vote them out in order, ok?

While I wouldn't call them "terribly retarded", I did vote for one of them, simply because I do have hav much use for them in my game and they appear to be more mini-centric. I think it was Glyfair last thread that described their rp utility, and that made me take a peek at my copy of Fane of the Drow (from last year), but it still looks like a mini-game with a lightly glossed over set of adventure notes. Two-sided maps with "victory areas" and other mini-game markings made it see like the RPG was an afterthought.

 

[Remathilis]

Still voting Bon Voyage for the Voyage. Good idea, not a great execution...

 

[Olaf the Stout]

Scourge of the Howling Horde for me. The text/background contrast is terrible in some parts. The cost of the adventure, especially compared to what Wizards have charged for 32 page adventures in the past was also a little too high in my opinion.

Olaf the Stout

 

[Cthulhudrew]

Thanks for the responses. I'll have to give Xen'drik a second (more in-depth) look, it seems.