Blandest d20 Product?

[DaveMage]

That's a tough call - blandest.

Worst is easier to decide than blandest. Hmmm....

I'll go with Codex of Erde. It's not bad, but it's not exciting (IMO) either.

 

[DaveMage]

Staying on topic is for the weak and the sober.

(but you're right, I should have paid attention)

No, I got rid of it about ten years ago. If memory serves, it started out thanking everyone who helped with the product and then went into acknowleding the deadline and went on from there. But when I say it was a full page, I mean the guy literally went on for a full text page. Of course, in hindsight, he probably was put under pressure with 2e coming out around that time. I just wish he'd been able to pull it off.

The author was Scott Haring.

"When I think of this project, I don't think of it as a labor of love, or a labor of duty, but just a labor. Deadlines fell victim to procrastination and self-doubt, and soon even my friends began to shun me like a leper. Friendly (and not-so-friendly) hints were dropped with the subtlety of a falling brick. Office supplies were destroyed. There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth." -From the Introduction to Empires of the Sands (C) 1988.

He does go on to say that despite this, he feels it turned out to be a pretty good product. I'll say this, though, it's the only introduction which ever made a lasting impression on me.

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Deadlands (the original game) had oodles of spaghetti-western flavored goodness. Deadlands D20, on the other hand, had about as much flavor as wet cardboard.

 

[coyote6]

I'm going to go with the Book of Exalted Deeds and Kingdoms of Kalamar campaign setting as my top picks.

Many of the other books mentioned here at least sparked *some* interest in me, gave me at least one neat idea -- even WotC's challenge & stronghold books. The best BoED could do was mildly annoy me, and KoK made me long for a good executive summary of the setting or a strong, flavorful hook -- anything to drag me in. But no.

 

[demiurge1138]

I'm going to have to go with Dieties and Demigods for bland-i-tude, but Masters of the Wild does have its moments.

Oh, and AEG's Evil? Not bland.

Not good either, but not bland.

Demiurge out.

 

[Pants]

The 3.0 PHB. Like reading VCR instructions.
Dieties and Demigods. Blandness that is only eclipsed by its pointlessness.
The Splat Books. Pretty mundane fare really.
Epic Level Handbook. Actually there is only one portion of this book that I like, the monsters. That's it. The rest is a waste of a tree.

 

[FireLance]

Orc and Pie .

I mean, that has to be the absolutely least imaginative adventure out there. The basic premise must have been done thousands of times. The BBEG is nothing more than a generic opponent with no personality or motivation, the plot is practically non-existant, there are several gaping logical flaws (

Spoiler

How do the PCs get into the room? By magic?

) and the PCs are just railroaded through the adventure .

Seriously, though - my vote goes to Enemies and Allies. Why would I need page after page of pre-generated NPCs when I can make my own?

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Complete Warrior. I tried to read it and be excited by it, but after a 1/3 of the book, I was already thinking about putting it up on half.com, which I did a week later. Anger of Angels is another one that I found unexciting, but I don't know if I'd call it bland -- just really not to my taste.

Best,
Nick

 

[Prince of Happiness]

Any of the "Complete" series and the splatbooks.

 

[RichGreen]

Easy.
Empires of the Sands (1988)
http://www.svgames.com/tsr9224esd.html

That's harsh! Although the product wasn't amazing, it was good enough for me to use it as the backdrop for my FR campaign for a year or two.

I would tend to go with the Hero Builder's Guidebook like a few others have suggested.

Cheers


Richard