Anyone seen the book of challenges...

[Celebrim]

For those of you that where hoping for more trap variations, it will probably be a disappointment.

Instead, the book has more in common with the old Book of Lairs, only the challenges tend to be more original. In many ways it is the equivalent of 50 sidetreks from Dungeon magazine.

At best, it will inspire you to create interesting twists, and at worst you have 50 plug and play encounters to test PC's (who haven't read the book).

I'll pass, but this might be a good thing for a young DM.

The puzzle they posted on the website seemed to me to be one of the more inferior ideas, both because it seemed so contrived and because there didn't seem to be alot to it.

 

[mmadsen]

Instead, the book has more in common with the old Book of Lairs, only the challenges tend to be more original. In many ways it is the equivalent of 50 sidetreks from Dungeon magazine.

At best, it will inspire you to create interesting twists, and at worst you have 50 plug and play encounters to test PC's (who haven't read the book).

Sounds intriguing. And I'd think DMs could use interesting encounters more than another 50 monsters...

 

[KnowTheToe]

Sounds intriguing. And I'd think DMs could use interesting encounters more than another 50 monsters... [/

I agree, I was not going to get it because I thought it would be similar to other trap books I have. I think I will order it from buy.com tonight. A new idea or angle is worth more to me than new feats and PrCs like in all of the splat books and new race books.

 

[mmadsen]

The encounters themselves often use monsters whose abilities radically alter the puzzle for would-be heroes. Perhaps my favorite of the entire book is "Pool of Endless Froglings" (though I wonder if its really EL3).

The "Pool of Endless Froglings" sounds...amusing.

Many of the underlying principles of a challenge (such as the dreaded logic puzzle) are detailed explicitely so that DMs can create their own logic puzzles. In addition, there are a number of sidebars throughout the text that give DMs ideas on such topics as challenging high level characters, how to prepare for high level characters, and fighting in cramped spaces. My favorite however is the section on "Making a Deceitful Sales Pitch", which covers how to lie, cheat, and steal from your party while still putting a positive spin on it. lol

Sounds excellent.

I'll admit there were a number of the challenges I downright hated but overall the book accomplishes what it set out to do - stir the devious imaginations of the DM.

That sounds like how I expect to feel about the book if I sit down and read it. Nice review, DSC-EricPrice.

Now, why isn't there more buzz on this product? Not enough Prestige Classes in it? Needs more Feats?

 

[mmadsen]

RPG.net has a review up:

http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_6726.html

The “Book of Challenges” is the latest release from Wizards of the Coast for 3rd Edition D&D. It is the first soft-cover accessory with a blue cover, indicating the book is for dungeon masters. At 128 pages, it is slightly longer than the character class guidebooks such as “Sword and Fist.” It is also slightly more expensive with a cover price of $21.95 (US)....

 

[ColonelHardisson]

Now, why isn't there more buzz on this product? Not enough Prestige Classes in it? Needs more Feats?

Yeah, you're probably close to the mark, even if you're half-kidding. The more I've been able to read of it, the more like a classic it looks. This is a genuinely useful book for the DM.

 

[Wolfen Priest]

a superior alternative, IMHO...

I saw it at my hobby shop in Minneapolis yesterday, flippedthrough it, and promtly bought the LAST REMAINING COPY of...

Traps and Treachery II...

Yes, now I have them both. All I can say is, the second one has NOTHING but traps! It truly rocques!

 

[ColonelHardisson]

That really wouldn't be an alternative, since Book of Challenges isn't primarily focused on traps. It's more a book of tricks, traps, puzzles, and unusual circumstances which the DM can trot out when he needs an impromptu challenge. Some of the best scenarios I've seen in BoC have been more along the lines of moral/intellectual dilemmas, rather than "stick-in-an-appendage-and-get-it-chopped-off" traps.

 

[mmadsen]

The more I've been able to read of it, the more like a classic it looks. This is a genuinely useful book for the DM.

ColonelHardisson, you've convinced me. I just ordered it up.

It's more a book of tricks, traps, puzzles, and unusual circumstances which the DM can trot out when he needs an impromptu challenge. Some of the best scenarios I've seen in BoC have been more along the lines of moral/intellectual dilemmas, rather than "stick-in-an-appendage-and-get-it-chopped-off" traps.

Sounds good. Not that we don't all enjoy a good "stick-in-an-appendage-and-get-it-chopped-off" trap...

 

[Wolfen Priest]

Well, for the record, I looked closely at Traps & Treachery II last night, and it too has a decent number of real puzzles in it. A whole, if minor, chapter in fact.

It also contains a chapter on poisons, which I found intriguing.

However, I'm sure I'll eventually buy the Book of Challenges as well. Probably when I buy the Stronghold Builder's Guide.

There's a lot of stuff out worth buying right now.