Blandest d20 Product?

[MDSnowman]

It's difficult for me to tell, since I only have 40 D20 books or so. However, I have been relatively disapointed by two books:

- Relic & Rituals: Excalibur. There are interesting things in it, especially the description of the various races, that I would be prone to use in a pure D&D game instead of regular elves, dwarves, etc. There is also interesting feats and spells, and a few other things. Nonetheless, despite not being bad, the overall feel taste bland to me. In fact it just doesn't convey an Arthurian ambiance as I would have expected from this product. Don't get me wrong: this is not a bad product, it has many things usable; but overall it lacks a real Arthurian feel.

I'll admit that this book was somewhat bland... certainly not on my list of crazy bland products however. I think part of it is tbhe book wants to cater to everyone, those who want Arthurian feel, and those who want just a low magic alternative to normal D&D. It stumbles because of this... but in general it's a good book and I'm inclined to give it a 3/5

- Book of Exalted Deeds. I will soon sell this book on ebay. For me, how to say it, it's like the Christian Angelic mythology seen through a Walt Disney lense, plus terribly simple. This book has been a big disappointment to me.

This I couldn't agree with more... and some of the stuff in here was just drivvle. Ravages and Afflictions.... gee poisons and diseases that only work on evil creatures... you're still using poisons and diseases, doesn't matter if they changed the names. Me I enjoy two "colors" of D&D either Dark or Shades of gray... needless to say this book doesn't do much for me. At least the Book of Vile Darkness had an edge to it...

 

[Arnwyn]

I'm sure there are others that I find more bland, but I can't think of them right now (because they're so bland! ), but here's what immediately came to mind:

- 3e PHB - extremely useful, obviously - but boring as hell. The quintessential textbook.
- Epic Level Handbook - never knew epic levels could be so blah.
- Sword & Fist

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Hero Builder's Guidebook

 

[Galethorn]

Gonna put in another vote for the Hero Builder's Guidebook. It's more of an "Idiot's Guide to Roleplaying Backgrounds" than anything.

 

[RangerWickett]

- Sword & Fist

You're telling me you could read the Halfling Outrider, and not be amazed by the heroism of a class with no Base Attack Bonus? Or that the sheer munchkin power of a mercurial greatsword didn't get your heart all aflutter? What kind of gamer are you?

 

[Arnwyn]

You're telling me you could read the Halfling Outrider, and not be amazed by the heroism of a class with no Base Attack Bonus? Or that the sheer munchkin power of a mercurial greatsword didn't get your heart all aflutter? What kind of gamer are you?

Those admittedly stunning components of S&F, while raising my blood pressure, did not compensate for the complete blandess of the entire middle of the book (the combat description stuff, and uh... uh... other info that has evaporated from my memories into the world of dull and bland...) which sucked the life out of me when reading it.

 

[Desdichado]

At least Sword & Fist had some good artwork...

And prestige classes were still interesting and a fun novelty back on those heady early days of 3e's release.

 

[Shemeska]

3e Dieties and Demigods: I haven't so much as opened this waste of shelf space since I purchased it. Art was good but the concept behind the book was utterly useless.

BoED: The start of the 'every book on anything planar must have yet another Bariaur statblock' trend. Poisons, but they were good poisons... right... The guardinal lords except talisid got replaced because Wyatt had "had a heck of a time finding that old Planescape material." and "didn't like their names." Monstrously overpowered gobledygook. Etc.

ELH: The monsters are this book's only saving grace.

 

[WizarDru]

Deities and Demigods. Utterly devoid of anything resembling interest. Yawn. Quite possibly the only d20 purchase I actively regret from Wotc (the other being a module not to my taste, though I get the impression it is generally well received).

 

[renbot]

Book of Exalted Deeds gets yet another vote. It had such a 'must churn out antithesis of BoVD', yet had none of the creativity.

But how about ALL of the Kalamar books? Kalamar has the worst spells (esp. the Villain Design Handbook...shudder), feats, and then the most pointless monstrous manual ever. My roommate bought them all for a campaign that went nowhere, and to this day I think of all the Kalamar books of being treatises on how NOT to write a gaming supplement.