Anyone else overall disappointed by D&D books?

[Turanil]

Two days ago I just got my copy of Unearthed Arcana, along Menace Manual, Tranhuman Space, and GR Psychic's Handbook. Plus I recently bought several other d20 books (including WotC stuff, and third party publishers products).

In getting my Unearthed Arcana, I went to the conclusion that it's the last D&D book that I purchase. I first wondered if it was for being a WotC product, but since I am quite happy with Menace Manual (much more than with Monster Manual for instance), I thought it's rather only with purely D&D products. For example, I was (and I am still) quite happy with Monte's Arcana Unearthed, but I am deceived with Unearthed Arcana. I was also deceived by Book of Exalted Deeds, and likewise by other products I did read but didn't bought in my LFGS.

It seems to me that D&D is now all about a very bland, vanilla, politically correct fantasy game, with much flavor (I speak of art here) intended toward teenagers (yes: I am an old gamer). It's not only Unearthed Arcana, but I got the same deception from MoP, Book of Exalted Deeds, or Book of Vile Darkness. I still like to play D&D, although in flavored hombrew worlds, not vanilla FR or Greyhawk, but I am not getting anymore any other D&D book. Finished!

So, are there others feeling like me around? Or it is just because i am burnt out after having DMed a D&D campaign for one year (and needing rest)?

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Edit: sorry, but I wanted to say "disappointment" instead of deception. (because in French to be deceived -être déçu- means being disappointed)

 

[BiggusGeekus]

I don't understand how D&D books "decieve" you. However....

It seems to me that D&D is now all about a very bland, vanilla, politically correct fantasy game, with much flavor (I speak of art here) intended toward teenagers (yes: I am an old gamer) .... I got the same deception from MoP, Book of Exalted Deeds, or Book of Vile Darkness.

If you felt the Book of Vile Darkness was bland and politically correct then I doubt WotC has much to offer you. I'm glad you are happy with those other publishers though!

Happy gaming!

 

[circuitloss]

You're burned out obviously.

I've been playing D&D for 6-7 years (surely not as long as you) but the quality of the new material overall is excellent. I haven't seen such high quality work from D&D in a long time. You think these books are letdowns? What about all that vapid trash they used to release for 2nd edition AD&D.

These books are expensive but at least there GOOD. And what do you think we have ebay for anyway?!

 

[Ibram]

Though i'd be hesitant to say that I have been "deceived" by WotC books I will say that I have been unimpressed with their offerings as of late. Now I spend most my money on 3rd party publishers, such as Mongoose (CONAN) and S&S (Ravenloft, Warcraft).

 

[JoeGKushner]

Maybe I'm just a gamign fool but I think that some of the newer products from WoTC, warts and all, have been some of the best overall in the industry.

Can you give a more detailed explanation of how you've been deceived? Perhaps a listing of what you were told and what you preceived to have received?

 

[Vindicator]

When you say "deceive," it implies that you were expecting one thing, and the book gave you something else. It also implies that the books *deliberately* led you to expect the wrong thing. Can you clarify what the deception in question was? What were you expecting, and why did you expect that?

 

[Crothian]

Huh?? How are the books decieving you? What was wrong with BoVD and BoED? Both these books are really good and I've gotten alot of good use out of them.

D&D has mostly always been politically correct. I'm really not sure what you are wanting here at all.

 

[Corinth]

In getting my Unearthed Arcana, I went to the conclusion that it's the last D&D book that I purchase. I first wondered if it was for being a WotC product, but since I am quite happy with Menace Manual (much more than with Monster Manual for instance), I thought it's rather only with purely D&D products. For example, I was (and I am still) quite happy with Monte's Arcana Unearthed, but I am deceived with Unearthed Arcana. I was also deceived by Book of Exalted Deeds, and likewise by other products I did read but didn't bought in my LFGS.

What do you mean by "deceived"?

It seems to me that D&D is now all about a very bland, vanilla, politically correct fantasy game, with much flavor (I speak of art here) intended toward teenagers (yes: I am an old gamer). It's not only Unearthed Arcana, but I got the same deception from MoP, Book of Exalted Deeds, or Book of Vile Darkness. I still like to play D&D, although in flavored hombrew worlds, not vanilla FR or Greyhawk, but I am not getting anymore any other D&D book. Finished!

The D&D rulebooks are intended to be just that: books that present the rules of the game. The flavor is intentionally kept to a minimum because the user is meant to use those books as a reference manual when playing the game; if you want flavor, then either you purchase setting-specific materials such as the Forgotten Realms product line or you create your own materials from scratch. This is because WotC recognized that creating a serviceable setting is rather easy, whereas creating a solid, robust set of tabletop role-playing game rules is very hard and most people couldn't do it to save their lives. So they went with where the evergreen demand was, and I can't blame them for doing the smart thing.

So, are there others feeling like me around? Or it is just because i am burnt out after having DMed a D&D campaign for one year (and needing rest)?

It just you.

 

[Ashrem Bayle]

Let me get this straight....

You bought a book (UA) that is essentially 101 ways to dramaticly alter your D&D experience and it convinced you that D&D is bland?

 

[Zappo]

I absolutely don't understand what you mean with "deceived".

I don't get what you mean with "politically correct", either. In that regard, D&D hasn't changed much (3.X with demons, devils and the BoVD, is probably slightly edgier than 2E actually).