Anyone pick up the Liber Bestarius yet?

[The Sigil]

Re: Re: My thoughts...

Sigil
Thanks for the honest review

Thanks for taking it the way it was intended (not as a flame). I've seen flamewars break out for less than this.

The fact that you took it the way that you did speaks volumes - at least to me. I'm definitely going to be taking a look at future Eden Studios products - based solely on your response (I had been a bit turned off just by that foreword but your response tells me to re-think that). That may sound cheesy, but it's true.

--The Sigil

 

[Eden Studios Inc]

Re: Re: Re: My thoughts...

Thanks for taking it the way it was intended (not as a flame). I've seen flamewars break out for less than this.

The fact that you took it the way that you did speaks volumes - at least to me. I'm definitely going to be taking a look at future Eden Studios products - based solely on your response (I had been a bit turned off just by that foreword but your response tells me to re-think that). That may sound cheesy, but it's true.

--The Sigil

Thanks Sigil. All we ask is for people to at least take a look at our product --- granted we would like everyone to buy them as well

We also listen to all reviews and critiques and it will make our next product that much better
Thanks again Sigil.

 

[mattcolville]

Re: My thoughts...

Grabbed it, went through it over the weekend. Here are my quick thoughts (not trying to be good or bad, just honest)...

Author's Foreword... to be honest, I found it offensive and unprofessional due to the dropping of "s--- bombs and reference to "f bombs"

Bombs?

 

[alsih2o]

o.k., i gotta be honest here...sigils review makes me wanna get the product...no offesne to sigil, but i like immature work aimed at mature audiences..

i watch my language closely here on he boards, and around the children i teach, and around the old ladies who buy my work, BUT- my gaming table is a raunchy, rowdy cursing-like-sailors sexfest of debauchery.

one of my minor complaints about the industry is that everything has to be toned so that young peoples parents don't get upset.

more power to you folks for meeting old cusses like me halfway.


(note: i completely respect sigils review, and his views, i just ain't that guy )

 

[mattcolville]

o.k., i gotta be honest here...sigils review makes me wanna get the product...no offesne to sigil, but i like immature work aimed at mature audiences..

i watch my language closely here on he boards, and around the children i teach, and around the old ladies who buy my work, BUT- my gaming table is a raunchy, rowdy cursing-like-sailors sexfest of debauchery.

one of my minor complaints about the industry is that everything has to be toned so that young peoples parents don't get upset.

more power to you folks for meeting old cusses like me halfway.


(note: i completely respect sigils review, and his views, i just ain't that guy )

Sigil seems to like the things I spent 95% of my time on, so even though he's reasonable critical of some bits, I still hear "It rocks!"

But the part he's objecting to in the foreword is in regards to a certain style of play; "No , no ing around, we're playing for keeps," is the phrase. If this offends you. . .skip the foreword.

But, if you skip the foreword, this won't make any sense to you!

 

[The Sigil]

Sigil seems to like the things I spent 95% of my time on, so even though he's reasonable critical of some bits, I still hear "It rocks!"

But the part he's objecting to in the foreword is in regards to a certain style of play; "No , no ing around, we're playing for keeps," is the phrase. If this offends you. . .skip the foreword.

Hey, I myself use the "no quarter, no pussyfooting around, we're playing for keeps" style.

There was also the "oh no, he's pulling out a creature from THAT book again".

Glad you got the main point, though...

THE MONSTERS IN THIS BOOK ROCK!

I also happen to think that the choice of words in the foreword - and the choice of naming iconic characters "X badass" was a bit unfortunate.

There, I think that helps put things into perspective.

--The Sigil

 

[The Sigil]

(note: i completely respect sigils review, and his views, i just ain't that guy )

Same to you.

I completely respect alsih20's views, I just ain't that guy.

--The Sigil

-----------------------------
Just remember, if nobody ever screams at you, it's not that you did everything right, it's that people aren't buying/reading your product.

If both the left and the right are screaming at you, you're probably walking the perfect line down the middle.

 

[Tewligan]

Well, I mentioned elsewhere that I got the book, but I'll say it here too, since this seems to be the thread for it.

I like it a lot. The monsters are solidly usable, and few if any of them suffer from "Fiend Folio-itis", where a creature is so odd or goofy that you have no idea what to do with it. The art is consistently at least as good or better than that in most other third-party books. I like how some of the monsters have connections to each other - it makes the book seem more coherent to me, rather than just a hodgepodge of monsters all thrown together between the covers. The ECL provided for a lot of the creatures is nice, as are the numerous adventure hooks ideas. This is definitely a book I'll be using. Oh, and as for the foreword - hardly the Queen's English, but hey, I'm not buying my game books for the forewords.

Really, my only complaint (and it's a minor one) is intentionally making the CR's lower to "crank up the carnage." Of course, that's pretty easily fixed, so no big deal. Overall, very nice work. Any word on a volume 2 in the near future?

 

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

Hmm. I saw it yesterday, flipped through it, and shelved it. The art is mediocre and the monsters just don't grab me.

D&D doesn't need more monster books, IMO. Bastion's Minions was awful, Mystic Eye's Nightmares & Dreamscapes was awful, Creature Collection I was awful... Creature Collection II and Liber Bestiarus were mediocre but not worth the cover price. Every monster I ever wanted was in the Monster Manual or on Scott Greene's site.

These other books are unneeded fluff, and I think, central to the main problem with D&D: an emphasis on monsters, magic, and power ramping, instead of an emphasis on realism, character development and solid storylines. Maybe I'm just an old codger, but fancy new bells & whistles don't do the trick for me anymore... The "video game feel" of 3rd Edition is becoming a big turn-off.

[insert thread hijack here]

That's why I'm switching to Harn!
http://www.columbiagames.com

 

[Nightfall]

Obviously I don't agree with Kapt's take but that's just me. That said, I am interested in Liber Bestarius since I think from what I've read of the previews and the reviews, it sounds like a slightly lesser version of Legions of Hell, only with more than just mere devils!

Also I don't know if EVERY monster that I wanted came from WotC. But I know the ones on Scott site AND in the upcoming Tome of Horrors has me shivering with delight!