BoED without BoVD?

[Particle_Man]

Would it be unbalanced to allow the BoED without the BoVD? Can one still create "Bad guys" that provide those in the BoED a challenge?

 

[reiella]

Would it be unbalanced to allow the BoED without the BoVD? Can one still create "Bad guys" that provide those in the BoED a challenge?

My opinion is, you can still create Bad Guys that provide a challenge, although they wouldn't have nearly as much 'flavour' or interest as the Good Guys. They'd just be the min/maxes Master of Chains etc Sultan style, rather than doing it with Evil Style and having Vile Feats.

Although, my opinion is, even with BoVD you need to do a bit of number crunching and 'power squeezing' to get a reasonable challenge for the good guys in BoED.

 

[heimdall]

I have BoVD and I perused BoED in the bookstore last night. I've decided that most of the material in BoVD is nice, but for the most part I will probably never use it. I agree with reiella. You don't need it to create big baddies even with BoED in play. After all, some of the most "evil" characters are the ones who are basically decent but with some fatal flaw... something sinister and disgustingly evil. Think Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde.

 

[Olive]

I thinkt hat the BoED complement each other, but there is absolutely no need for the BoVD just because you're using the BoED.

 

[thundershot]

No. There isn't. Because I sure as hell didn't buy the BOVD. If the Dragon article was any indication, I don't particularly want that kind of ickyness in my campaign. Evil I don't mind, as long as it doesn't border on gross. (to me, at least)



Chris

 

[reiella]

No. There isn't. Because I sure as hell didn't buy the BOVD. If the Dragon article was any indication, I don't particularly want that kind of ickyness in my campaign. Evil I don't mind, as long as it doesn't border on gross. (to me, at least)



Chris

To be fair, the Dragon article wasn't indictation of it.

The Dragon article from what I've heard was greatly worse than the BoVD (At the very least, the 'worst' of BoVD doesn't approach the worst of the dragon article).

 

[thundershot]

To be fair, the Dragon article wasn't indictation of it.

The Dragon article from what I've heard was greatly worse than the BoVD (At the very least, the 'worst' of BoVD doesn't approach the worst of the dragon article).

Okay, well... I did flip through the book at the bookstore, and it didn't "do it for me" like I thought it would. As it is, I'm fine without it. If I ever found a really good deal, I might get it, but I've already got two full bookshelves of d20 stuff..



Chris

 

[Olive]

I didn't mind the article in Dragon 300, but just to echo Reiella, that article and the BoVD aren't really indicitave of each other.

 

[MrFilthyIke]

...but I've already got two full bookshelves of d20 stuff..

Chris, take this in jest, but all I can think of at your comment is..."Amatuer!"



(looking at what borders on 5 selves of d20 stuff, "Damn WotC's store and it's 50% off closeout sale!")

 

[frankthedm]

You don't need the BOVD, but you will need to inflate the potency of your foes if the characters Max Out on stuff from the book of vile goodness.