The Sigil
Mr. 3000 (Words per post)
Here's another informal poll, inspired by the "rank the classes" thread.
What sourcebook (WotC or 3rd party) do you think does the best job of helping to expand the options of each class, while maintaining game balance (use both criteria, please)? Here are my answers...
Barbarian - Path of the Sword - FFG (see Fighter, below)
Bard - Enchiridion of Mystic Music - S.T. Cooley (not trying to toot my own horn here - while Monte's BoEM2 certainly redefined the bard, I'm not completely convinced it expanded the bard's abilities)
Cleric - Defenders of the Faith - WotC (didn't like Quint. Cleric, haven't seen Book of the Righteous yet, so wins by default)
Druid - Masters of the Wild - WotC (wins by default as I haven't seen any other druid-enhancing supplements - yes, that sounded funny)
Fighter - Path of the Sword - FFG (fighting styles that aren't free like in Quint. Fighter which was otherwise very good)
Monk - Beyond Monks - Art of the Fight - Chainmail Bikini (balance concerns here, but expands better than Sword & Fist and I haven't seen Quint. Monk yet)
Paladin - Defenders of the Faith - WotC (see Cleric)
Ranger - Magic of Faerun - WotC (based solely on new ranger spells - again, while Monte redefines the Ranger, I don't know that he expands the ranger)
Rogue - Traps & Treachery II (Traps are a rogue's favorite thing, and the section poisons is nice, too, Quint. Rogue was too equipment-focused for my tastes)
Sorcerer - Relics & Rituals - SSS (sheer volume of new spells)
Wizard - Spells & Magic - Bastion Press (based on both new spells and new magic systems)
I'm not saying I'm right, but these are the first things that come to mind. I encourage discussion and disagreement - tell me what I don't have that I ought to pick up!
Obviously, some of these do a better expansion job than others!
I'd do one on races, but AFAIK, we've only seen race books for Elves and Dwarves, so that's kind of silly at this point.
Finally, what other additions to the system - not necessarily class-based - can you "not live without?"
For me, that includes Bastion Press' Alchemy and Herbalists - great stuff for low-magic worlds or low-level parties. Love that book.
Also probably includes the Stronghold Builder's Guidebook (WotC).
I'm done for now... go for it.
--The Sigil
EDIT: Changed title of thread
What sourcebook (WotC or 3rd party) do you think does the best job of helping to expand the options of each class, while maintaining game balance (use both criteria, please)? Here are my answers...
Barbarian - Path of the Sword - FFG (see Fighter, below)
Bard - Enchiridion of Mystic Music - S.T. Cooley (not trying to toot my own horn here - while Monte's BoEM2 certainly redefined the bard, I'm not completely convinced it expanded the bard's abilities)
Cleric - Defenders of the Faith - WotC (didn't like Quint. Cleric, haven't seen Book of the Righteous yet, so wins by default)
Druid - Masters of the Wild - WotC (wins by default as I haven't seen any other druid-enhancing supplements - yes, that sounded funny)
Fighter - Path of the Sword - FFG (fighting styles that aren't free like in Quint. Fighter which was otherwise very good)
Monk - Beyond Monks - Art of the Fight - Chainmail Bikini (balance concerns here, but expands better than Sword & Fist and I haven't seen Quint. Monk yet)
Paladin - Defenders of the Faith - WotC (see Cleric)
Ranger - Magic of Faerun - WotC (based solely on new ranger spells - again, while Monte redefines the Ranger, I don't know that he expands the ranger)
Rogue - Traps & Treachery II (Traps are a rogue's favorite thing, and the section poisons is nice, too, Quint. Rogue was too equipment-focused for my tastes)
Sorcerer - Relics & Rituals - SSS (sheer volume of new spells)
Wizard - Spells & Magic - Bastion Press (based on both new spells and new magic systems)
I'm not saying I'm right, but these are the first things that come to mind. I encourage discussion and disagreement - tell me what I don't have that I ought to pick up!
Obviously, some of these do a better expansion job than others!I'd do one on races, but AFAIK, we've only seen race books for Elves and Dwarves, so that's kind of silly at this point.
Finally, what other additions to the system - not necessarily class-based - can you "not live without?"
For me, that includes Bastion Press' Alchemy and Herbalists - great stuff for low-magic worlds or low-level parties. Love that book.
Also probably includes the Stronghold Builder's Guidebook (WotC).I'm done for now... go for it.
--The Sigil
EDIT: Changed title of thread
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