At least Kenzer can get it right.

[Shard O'Glase]

As a general rule I think a company has a reponsibility to se a product come out right no matter whose fault it is. But in the case of the dragon magaizne maps, I'm not disapointed. A monthly magiazine costing a few bucks, I don't expect perfection.

Now, a boxed set or something like that I would expect the maps to line up no matter whose fault it was.

 

[xjp]

I don't know who is to blame for the FR map bungling. But if it is not the cartographers/artists then they should be livid, the value of their work is being greatly diminished by someone else down the line.

 

[Hand of Evil]

I picked up Geanavue Saturday and I am very pleased with the material inside. The map is good, having an Shops and Services Letter code and Key (color coded). The back of the map is the sewer map (undercity), basic outline of city with the passages on them, nothing to write home about but always nice to have.

The art in the book is so-so some okay and some I thought was very good but the book uses a small font and packs a good bit of information into it.

My biggest issue is RumorQuest cards, I like the idea but I hate tearing stuff out of a book but that can be worked around.

 

[JacktheRabbit]

As I said I have 3 FR maps.

Origional Boxset
Replacement Boxset
Dragon Magazine

NONE of them line up for a damn. If that is a problem at the printer then someone needs to get their heads out of their butts because the problem has been around for close to 20 years now.

Doc,

Odds are the cartographers/artists on the FR maps are not to blame.

Most likely, the printer made the error (plates not checked for line up, for example), or the map data did not translate well in whatever medium used to create the plates, digital or film. Believe me, I work for a printing company and I've seen a high frequency of opportunities for challenging situations.

Have a great day!

machine.

 

[psionotic]

Haven't seen the Kalamar map...

....but I have played "Midnight's Terror", one of the worst published modules I have ever had the misfortune of being subjected to. I mean my God man, could there be any more random side treks, silly dungeons, cliched dream sequences, and throwaway traps and puzzles?? If so I'm greatly a-feared, but of course that's just one man's opinion.

And personally, I like the FRCS, map included.

 

[Scarogoth]

As a side item has anyone looked at the new Ed Greenwood city supplement for Kalamar? I glanced at it for just a moment and at the very least I must say the art in it sucked. I am definately of the opinion that no art is much better than bad art in a product.

So how is the city itself? Does the writing make up for the horrible artwork inside?

Then you "glanced" at the wrong bits, my friend. Most of the "photographs", if you catch my drift, are excellent, textured and detailed, and manage to give a very convincing impression of life in the city. Some of the line art, particularly that detailing badges of the guilds and nobles is a little basic in comparison, but do you remember the badges that cubs and scouts used to get -- there was never that much detail there anyway! [Do you have cubs and scouts and guides and things in America? I don't know...] And the pull out map is definitely a full-colour bonus (and there's no danger of its not lining up, because it's all on one sheet!). But like so much of what is excellent with all the Kalamar products from Kenzer, the devil is in the detail (pretend I'm not hopelessly abusing that metaphor), and to understand the detail you need to read the words. And there are many, many, thousands of those. Enough material for an entire campaign setting in itself, not just one city in one part of one continent of an already amazingly detailed world!

Love live the Kingdoms of Kalamar!

[And roll on the new Core Rulebook! ]

 

[machine]

As I said I have 3 FR maps.

Origional Boxset
Replacement Boxset
Dragon Magazine

NONE of them line up for a damn. If that is a problem at the printer then someone needs to get their heads out of their butts because the problem has been around for close to 20 years now.

Um, hey, ok.

Just thought I'd share my thoughts....

[backing away slowly]

 

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

I really loved the Geanavue city map art. There were no garish colors on the map like the old 2e FR city maps that hurt my eyes with the hideous neon orange, green and blue backgrounds.

Geanavue's interior art was fine--nothing special, but not "terrible" by any stretch of the imagination... at least IMO. It just didn't do much for me. I really don't like the cover painting with the big fat fire dopey-looking fire giant (I've shown it to five people and no one could figure out what it was supposed to be, LOL). But art is subjective, as they say. Just my two coppers.

 

[Sayburr]

My very highly opinionated view of the artwork with *** being average.

* -Page 41, where is the detail? Page 90.

** -page 10, very bland. Page 104, looks like it was exposed too long and all the detail was lost. 108, again it looks like something happened to the illustration. Page 111. Page 114

***- Page 9, no detail but amusing line drawing. Page 11. Page 16, perspective looked a little off. 106, average and expected. Page 113. Page 118. Page 121. Page 127. Page 129. Page 130. 143

**** - Page 6. Page 15, kind of dark. Page 20. Page 26. Page 47, nice shading but boring subject. Page 52. Page 71, the minimalist approach works very well for this as it makes Kevoorin a striking image while not detailing it too much, leaving some of the mystery in. Page 87. page 100, did well with the subject matter. Page 107. Page 124. Page 128. Page 132, could have been higher if it were not so dark. 135, nice subject but again, I found it too dark. 138. 140. 148

*****-page 18, very nice, I liked the way the adventures framed in the building and the detail is very nice. Page 25, wonderful, I wish it were bigger to allow more of the detail to come out and I usually don’t like artwork in sourcebooks because it takes up room that should be used for words. Page 34, 81, & 98, very nice portraits with Poat being my favorite. 94, wow, that took some work, nice shading but it is a little dark. 136, very nice, the haze over the water is a nice touch.

OH MY GOD, that is great! Page 91, the feelings of the characters are brought to life.


Now, to me, artwork is a nice addition and it is the words that I buy a book for. In my opinion this is one of the best city books I have ever seen. Don’t expect a dark city, this is a clean city and if you can give an alignment to a city I would say it is Lawful Neutral. Loona would be Neutral Evil but that is not given much detail in this book since it is another city all together.

 

[beta-ray]

Well, perhaps you should check your spelling doc... if you are going to do a rant at least look good doing it.