Does anybody have Spells and Spellcraft ?

[Crothian]

Well, might as well jump on the band wagon. Spells and Spellcraft is FFG's best book to date. And truthfully, that is saying something.

I'm not a big fan of new spells, so I was really happy to see that there was a lot of other stuff in here. I like the rituals and improving the familiar the best. THe libreary rules are really good too.

 

[Valicor]

What kinda bard stuff do they have? Song Spell?, Poem Spells? Story spells?
Or meta-magic feats on this concept?

 

[Psion]

I have it. I thought it was really cool at first, but my opinion has cooled since then. If you are the sort of person who laments that magic in D&D is too combat oriented, this may be the book for you as there is a lot of more utilitarian magic.

The tragic thing about the book is that there are a lot of really good ideas in it, but some of them are really not mechanically well executed.

I started writing a review; perhaps I'll finish it up soon. I hate writing reviews of products that I have a split opinion about, and as it was not gratis, I have sort of been putting.

Bard stuff if pretty neat. I like how they try to EXPAND the bard vice channeling it down the same rut, like almost every other book does. It has rules for bards whose abilities are focusses around different types of performance than music.

 

[Corwyn]

Thanks for the reply’s.

Psion, as far as I can see you have posted some good sides of the book so what is the reason you have cooled down about the product???

Because I like to know if there are any downsides to it. So that I won't end kicking myself for the purchase as I did with Tome and Blood.

 

[Zarrock God of Evil]

I have it and have to say that it's quite good. I would probably put it in my 4,5 category using the EnWorld rankings (I really miss a Very Good category between simply "Good" and "Superb"). I like the utilitarian magic Psion mentions and I think the spell selection is very well done (I actually missed Dig quite a lot!!!) and the book manages to be not just another collection of magic feats, prestige classes, and items. The feats that are included are quite ingenious IMO - I absolutely loved the sorcerous feat concept and think they executed it quite brilliantly. Another thing I really liked is how the feats Compose Song of Power and Favored Instrument can be used seamlessly with Monte's new bard from the BoEMII as well. The ritual Cleanse the Taint (removing a sorcerer's ability to cast spells without preparation) is a devious creation as well . One I can see many cabals of wizards employing....

I am - though - a big fan of FFG, so you may consider me tainted on this - even though I have no affiliation with FFG whatsoever .

-Zarrock

 

[Psion]

Psion, as far as I can see you have posted some good sides of the book so what is the reason you have cooled down about the product???

As I have already said, many of the new mechanics are poorly executed and don't dovetail neatly with existing rules in some cases (in other cases, they seem to work well, so it seems to be the case of a few authors who aren't up to the task of writing d20 system material alongside some authors who are, a problem that FFG shares with AEG.)

 

[Clint]

This thread inspired me to write a review of the product. It's here:

http://www.enworld.org/d20reviews.asp?sub=yes&where=active&reviewer=Clint&product=SASC

Hope this helps.

-Clint

 

[d20Dwarf]

Thanks for the detailed review, Clint, I appreciate it!

You can find another review over at the other place....

http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_6503.html

 

[d20Dwarf]

Also thought I would post the link to the S&S errata page:

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/llsserrata.html

 

[Vanye]

Also thought I would post the link to the S&S errata page:

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/llsserrata.html

That was fast. i see they didn't correct the problem with the Globe of Disintegration, or whatever that spell is.