Do you listen to reviewers?

[kenjib]

I would have bought Swashbuckling Adventures in a heartbeat, as the topic is of great interest, if not for all the complaints about it being one of the worst editing jobs and having numerous unbalanced mechanics. As a result I decided to pass entirely.

 

[Jarval]

I find the reviews really helpful, not only for books I'm already interested in (the consistent 5 ratings on Manual of the Planes really sold me on it, and I didn't buy Deities and Demigods after reading a few reviews), but also they can draw my attention to products I otherwise wouldn't know about (such as Mongoose's Shamans book).

 

[tsadkiel]

Speakin of reviews, anyone got a review of the Monsternomicon yet? All I've really heard so far is that it's pretty.

 

[Furn_Darkside]

I would have bought Swashbuckling Adventures in a heartbeat, as the topic is of great interest, if not for all the complaints about it being one of the worst editing jobs and having numerous unbalanced mechanics. As a result I decided to pass entirely.

*chuckle* I went down the path in the opposite direction. I was mildly interested, but then concerned when reading reviews.

However, when I flipped through it at the lgs- I realized most of those reviews were vast exaggerations. I am a happy owner of the book now.

FD

 

[tsadkiel]

*chuckle* I went down the path in the opposite direction. I was mildly interested, but then concerned when reading reviews.

However, when I flipped through it at the lgs- I realized most of those reviews were vast exaggerations. I am a happy owner of the book now.

FD

Yeah, SA was one of those examples of the reviewers worrying about things I don't care about. Swashbuckling Adventures rocks on toast.

 

[Krug]

Yeap I do. But I've been careful. I've bought one or two products I felt were duds after reading the reviews. It's always best to find a reviewer who matches your taste closely, so you know whether you really should be buying the product.

 

[kenjib]

I'll have to give it another chance then. I've been waffling.

 

[Buttercup]

Given the sheer number of D20 products that come out each month, I have neither the money nor the space to buy them all. So the reviews have become increasingly important to me. I have a pretty substantial D20 collection, and I must become more discriminating.

If I'm thinking of buying a book on Necromancy, say, I'll read all the reviews on all of the various necromancy books, and buy only the one, or perhaps two, that get the best reviews.

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

I agree. Swashbuckling Adventures was single-handedly responsible for turning my still-forming homebrew from a Renniassance-era world to a couple-hundred-years-post-Rennaissaance world. So much in that book just leapt off the pages and grabbed me by the shirt and screamed "USE ME!!!!"

I don't mind having to rebalance some of the mechanics since I'd have to do that even if they were perfect.

YMMV.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Wow. Lots of feedback. That's great.

A few notes about the way I review some products... I don't mind flavor text as long as its supporting, not supplanting mechanical information. I hate books that aren't proofread. I won't say bad editing because we might disagree on what editing it but when layout is horrible and the book has typos, it's getting a lower grade. Art is also important to me. I thought Pit of Loch Duranan was okay, very large module for the price, but the art, layout, and editing... ugh Mystic Eye's come a long way in terms of layout and art but the editing still takes a beating here and there.

As far as Swashbuckling Adventurers go, I'd say get it. I probably won't be doing a review of it (didn't get it free and I've got a few books I did get free that I need to review) but it's got a lot of great stuff in it despite some minor editing gaffs.


Thanks for the responses so far. Even when you disagree with the reviewer I'm glad to hear it. Interaction is always good to know about.