Anyone else overall disappointed by D&D books?

[Greg K]

Looking at the thread on what one would want for a deities type book, I wonder how many people here on ENWorld also post on WOTC's boards when they dislike the approach taken on WOTC products. I know Ranger REG and I do (although I don't post nearly as often)

 

[Faraer]

It would take another thread to debate it, but I think Incenjucar is quite wrong about the Realms: Ed is more creative than most people can imagine being, as well as giving those elements he does visibly take from the cauldron of story a very distinctive spin; and his worlds are quite coherent thematically and logically, though some aspects of the connecting web are non-obvious and non-explicit.

 

[RFisher]

Looking at the thread on what one would want for a deities type book, I wonder how many people here on ENWorld also post on WOTC's boards when they dislike the approach taken on WOTC products.

Hmm. My first & maybe biggest disappointment in a D&D product since 2000 was probably the D&D Gazetteer. I recall the responses to my criticisms from people at WotC was a complete failure to understanding my criticisms & little desire to do so.

I also recall spending time critiquing WotC products on the WotC boards only to have a multitude of non-WotC people tell me how WotC wasn't interested in my opinion.

But, yeah. I'm still doing things to let WotC know what kinds of products will earn my money.

 

[Incenjucar]

I think the grand majority on the WotC boards are well aware of the failures of WotC, especially in regards to editing and stuffing the books with bad PrCs. I think, perhaps, the biggest conflict is on the CW (If only because the ELH isn't taken seriously by the majority), because of that bloody Samurai class. I think some people would actually -like- that book if that class had been named something different. Alas, bile seems to spread beyond its origin. But that's my assumption, and merely that.

 

[Ranger REG]

Technically, the CW Samurai class is not PrC. And yes, I vehemently disagree with that particular class markup. I disagree about it so bad, that I overturned my earlier opinion about the OA version of the Samurai character class and currently endorse it in a positive light.

It also make me wish they expedite the material from OA (removing all Rokugan trappings) and add it into the SRD ... preferably BEFORE d20 Future OGC.

As for their editing performance, I'm not yet impressed. Then again, I've yet to see the new Eberron campaignbook as well as the Complete Divine, where a lot of people have praise the Spirit Shaman class to be just as good if not better than the OA version of the Shaman.

 

[Incenjucar]

A note: I didn't call it a PrC.

I think the main problem was -calling- it a samurai.

With samurai, I'd frankly just think they should do a fighter varient with some adjustments to allow them normal access to noble-type skills. Maybe just a general "Noble Warrior" or the like. The rest could be handled via feats, especially now that Ancestral Weapon exists.

 

[Greg K]

I saw the new Shaman class and I was not impressed. I think Green Ronin's version is better, but again as with the Psionics handbook vs. the Psychic's handbook it just personal preference.

 

[MDSnowman]

I saw the new Shaman class and I was not impressed. I think Green Ronin's version is better, but again as with the Psionics handbook vs. the Psychic's handbook it just personal preference.

Hey I'm with you Greg, Green Ronin did the Shaman and Psychic right. I also think that mongoose has the inside track on doing the Samurai right.

 

[Psion]

Hey I'm with you Greg, Green Ronin did the Shaman and Psychic right. I also think that mongoose has the inside track on doing the Samurai right.

Well, they did Shaman right.

I really see nothing wrong with the Spirit Shaman mechanically, but I think the Green Ronin shaman nails the flavor better, and supports it better.

As for psionics... well just have to agree to disagree. If there were no other casters in the setting, I could see using Green Ronin's psychic, but in D&D as is, the XPH psion fits much better.

 

[Ranger REG]

A note: I didn't call it a PrC.

I think the main problem was -calling- it a samurai.

With samurai, I'd frankly just think they should do a fighter varient with some adjustments to allow them normal access to noble-type skills. Maybe just a general "Noble Warrior" or the like. The rest could be handled via feats, especially now that Ancestral Weapon exists.

That brings up another good point. There were 3-part Dragon issues that focus on variant classes. I was especially fond the variant fighter rules. Why didn't that make into the Complete Warrior? What flaws did they spotted that made the R&D Group rejected the variant fighter rules and such, allowing Paizo to pick them up for their magazines?