DM: Do you allow Mongoose Publishing Books into your game?

[Sanackranib]

Of course I do. Mongoose has some of the best class books out there. Not everything fits because of the game and style we are playing, but I would no sooner disallow all Mongoose books then disallow all Green Ronin, FFG's books or even Wizards books.

Ditto! I really liked most of the quintessintial series but all stuff has to be considered on a case by case basis. its a game balance issue for each DM to determin for their own game. overall I thought the Mongoose stuff was better then the WotC Splat stuff for 3.0

 

[baseballfury]

I do not allow Mongoose books in my game. They are generally so shoddy that I would have to allow rules and feats on a case by case basis (or fix them myself) and that is not time well spent in my opinion. I would much rather buy books from companies that actually care about putting out quality releases, not just filling the shelves with hastily written, poorly edited, lowest-common-denominator tripe.

Thankfully, everyone in my group stopped getting Mongoose books long ago (for the reasons above), so it isn't really an issue.

 

[Mithriltooth]

My biggest concern from independants is game balance. As long as it isnt too powerful, I'll consider using it, especially if a player of mine asks me to look it over.
I did examine a few Mongoose books, but saw nothing warranting a purchase as of yet.

My favorite indeps in order are...
Necromancer Games - Well put together modules, a little work to incorporate them into my FR campaigns. I've even just finished incorporating some of the deities Freya, Orcus, Tsathogga, and Set (which may remain as a primarily Mulhorandi deity) into FR. I also recreated Muir (and her portfolio) into a goddess by the name of Lysari into the realms. Thyr, Arden, Hel and Hecate are basically Tyr (without the edged weapon restriction), Lathander, Shar and Talona.
By far, this publisher puts out my favorite non-WotC products.

Whitewolf/Arthaus - Excellent job so far with the Ravenloft d20 line, I just wish they would build a few modules. I may even do a Feast Of Goblyns conversion in my spare time.

Green Ronin - Currently looking into these books, so far I like what I see. I'm seriously considering incorporating the city into the Realms somewhere, most likely as another port on the Sword Coast or on an Island Region just off the sword coast.

Malhavoc - Odd company for me, two of my favorite developers are here (Monte Cook and Bruce Cordell), yet I only consider Malhavoc for psionic gaming which unfortunately my group doesnt care for. I own the Psionic stuff from Malhavoc but am hesitant in using some of it.
Arcana Unearthed seems interesting but I cant see my group going that route anytime soon.
So far the only Malhavoc product I may use would be "The Banewarrens". I'll be moving Ptolus to the Realms as well when I have the time. Too many variant rules with their products to keep me interested, as well as references to these variant rules/classes in their modules making them a little more expensive as well as time consuming to prepare.

Just my $0.02

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

My copy of The Slayers Guide to Dragons, an excellent book btw, has Gary Gygax's name on the front cover at the bottom.

That's the only Mongoose book I own and it's very nice.

 

[GuardianLurker]

I don't have a lot of Mongoose - what I do have I like. Of course, I did pick the ones I have after researching them. Of course, the only publisher that I blindly buy things from is Malhavoc.

But everything gets reviewed by me before I allow it in. If I can't find the time to determine it beforehand, it falls into the "ask me" category.

Stuff that I *know* my players will have access to I go over carefully in advance - for instance I can tell you exactly which of the WotC splatbook PrCs I allow in unchanged, which ones changed (and how much), and which ones are right out.

On the other hand, for something like Mongoose's Ultimate series (which I recommend to people who want to sample the non-WotC d20 market), I do a cursory review, and then put it in my "ask me" pile.

Personally, the best Mongoose book I have is also one of the most used - the Ultimate Equipment Guide. Lots of *really* cool mundane (non-magical) equipment. Well worth the $35-40 I spent. And all OGC....

 

[Crothian]

I picked up Quint Sorcerer today by Patrick Younts. Another very fine Mongoose book.

 

[Aeolius]

A bit of impulse shopping today netted "Blood Magic". As a sea hag in my game is about to return as a blood magus, it seemed appropriate.

 

[Ravellion]

Because of some of the crap I've seen by the,, I decided it was easier to just say no to Mongoose. Before you know it your fighter player gets peeved at the idea that you allow QWizard but not QFighter, because one needs to much work while the other is nearly good to go.

Since I don't want to make one class more attractive than the other apart from how thay already are, th Quint. series is right out. Slayers wasn't too amazing either.

Rav

 

[Gez]

The only Mongoose book I really use is SOB.

However, I found some of their Slayer's Guide rather interesting. Medusa, troglodyte, and winter wolf, notably. They fit well their purpose: to provide more interest to monsters that aren't usually the stars of the game.

 

[Derulbaskul]

Re: Re: "Let your yes be yes, and your no be no"

Just curious as to which books you saw, guessing some of the Slayer's Guide to... as they have been of a mixed standard.

Yes, I based my decision after reading the four (or more) of the Slayer's Guides and two of the Quint books (Fighter and Psychic Warrior). A blanket ban seemed appropriate in the light of these.

Anyway, for rules I stick with WotC (yes, I know they're not perfect and things like Sword & Fist will never get a guernsey in my game) and Malhavoc (Mindscapes psionics definitely). Otherwise, I am only really interested in campaign settings as I like large-scale, plot-driven games with loads of background so that my preparation time is as much, or more, fun that actually playing.

I have become a completist for the Oathbound, Midnight and Kalamar settings, and soon-to-be a completist for Diamond Throne. I also buy almost all Necromancer Games and Fiery Dragon modules, although I rarely use them holus bolus, but they help me prepare when I run 3-4 campaigns concurrently. I also will pick up Green Ronin products from time-to-time, but they're not "must-haves", IMO.

Cheers
D