Dragon & Dungeon Article reviews

[The_Fan]

Now that some articles are out, I think I will take this opportunity to rate them. Please feel free to criticize my entirely biased opinions:

KotS in Eberron:
I like this. Very interesting article. Lots of intrigue, good previews of how some things will work in Eberron. All done by not altering the framework of the adventure, just changing a few details here and there. Just one problem: How much intrigue can there possibly be in a town this small? Jeez, this place is worse than Casablanca. I remember one Eberron campaign where I seriously had to draw a diagram for my players so they could keep the plot straight after several adventures. Starting players off with a diagram plot? Mmm...maybe not such a good idea. Overall though, good article, but remember KISS.
Rating: B+

KotS in Forgotten Realms:
I'm not sure I'm qualified to review this. I've never been a big fan of Faerun, and I'm not sure the new version will help. I tried to look at it from the perspective of a Faerun fan, but even then I found a lot of problems. Why couldn't some of the extra encounters happen in the original? The characterization of Ninaran is pretty much the same, just expanded slightly, and the encounter at the hut is kinda tacked on. The cult is okay. The moonstone pendants seem inviting trouble by making the powerful effect of the dragon statues something that can be carried around. Maybe a fan of Faerun would like it more. I don't know, but I didn't care for this.
Rating: D

Shadowfell Sidetreks:
I'll give these an overall rating, but discuss them individually:

The kobold ambush seemed okay at first, but left me scratching my head over the kobold hurler. So...he only has two shots and then he's forced into melee? Ouch.

The hobgoblins are a nice varied mix. Gives a good hook and provides foreshadowing for the next adventure, more so than the random blue blob from the original module.

The graveyard exterior seems like a better followup than Ninaran's cabin, but it strikes me as a bit of a "gotcha!" when more undead show up. Also, what does Maw look like? Is it a ghoul? a large-mouthed zombie? Something else? A picture would be nice.

Hidden Victims also seems like a "gotcha!" Thought you beat the ghouls? Well, here's some crit-proof zombies that just appeared out of nowhere! There's no way to find out the backstory of them either, and the motivations just seem so...stupid. "We're safe in here, behind this nice sturdy brick wall. Yup. Nice and...air? Oh bugger."

Overall, they seem like nice ideas somewhat flawed in execution. Might be able to work with them and make something good, but for now it seems just a bit lacking.
Rating: C

Warforged:
This. This alone is worth the price of admission. I thought that the races in the back were only marginally playable, but by one article the warforged has been brought up easily to full PC status. The simple background is close enough to the Eberron one while also giving them a solid place in The World (needs a name). The paragon paths are interesting, being the first paths open up to more than one class. Only one role, but two classes. Interesting. I also like the new system of attached components. No extra cost? Nice. Though some (orbs!) the advantage is obvious and perhaps a bit too good, for others (weapons) the advantage is dubious and the penalty obvious. Also, why not make it embedded if possible? What is the downside?
Rating: A-

Yeenoghu:
I mentioned that they had a Demonomicon of Iggwilv article about Yeenoghu to a friend. He asked me what language I was speaking. I said Geek. I liked this article, despite the fact that, knowing a lot about zoology, humanoid hyenas are pure nightmare fuel for me. Especially the females. (Look it up on wikipedia. Or don't. You'll sleep better.) Moving away from that terrifying subject, Yeenoghu himself seems pretty solid. I like the extra background on The World and how exactly the Nerath empire was destroyed fighting gnolls, of all things. It was a little hard to believe in the backstory, but seeing some of the more powerful gnolls presented makes it believable. Particularly...oh god, ZAIDEN! RUN! As for his realm, I guess there's not much to say about it. It's pretty much your standard layer of the abyss. A very highly populated one it seems. Must have cheap rent.
Rating: B

Overall (not average): B+

Other than the Faerun article, this is looking good so far. The format is good and the landscape layout makes it much easier to read on a computer without scrolling all over the place. I'll amend this when future articles come out, but right now it's shaping up nice.

 

[Novem5er]

I agree on all accounts. I spent about an hour last night reading through the various articles and, overall, I was impressed.

I, too, wasn't attracted to the Faerun KotC article, but it's probably just because I don't know a lot about FR. The only thing that seemed "Forgotten Realmish" to me was that they changed the pantheon and a few of the enemies around from the original. I wouldn't say it was bad, but I didn't find it any more compelling that the original.

The Eberron article was really nice. I actually considered taking the more intrigue-laden plot and adding it to my own vanilla campaign... sort of running an Eberron adventure outside of Eberron.

And the Warforged? Nice! I didn't quite get the components thing, but it was late and I just skimmed it. I think I will add Warforged to my vanilla campaign, as well. I've already specified in my notes that there was an ancient civilization known only now as The Ancients, that had advanced magic and wisdom. I think the Warforged could be creations of The Ancients, but have been dormant for a thousand years. Perhaps my players will unlock a Vault of the Ancients and awaken a small group of Warforged inside. Instant NPCs, that open up more player options.

What's more, I'm very impressed with the production quality of all the articles. I don't know, but at first hearing that Dungeon and Dragon Magazines would be online, I thought they'd look like web articles... kind of like most of the info that's been on the Wizard's website for years. I was wrong.

These articles are full of art, sidebars, headers and borders. I like the landscape layout, as well, as it prevents me from scrolling around too much.

If the DDI tools can come online and prove marginally useful... that $15 a month isn't actually looking too bad.

 

[Rechan]

I thought the Eberron article was good, except for the old wizard. I think that would make the end fight even harder, even if it would be a nice climax. The dusk hag is a nice touch.

As for Yeenoghu, I'm disappointed that his status got dropped, that he lost the King of Ghouls (this occurred in 3e mind you). I've never been a real fan of the Demon Princes et al, but just saying that he is cool and I like gnolls.

The one thing I disliked about that article is the Crocatta. The Crocatta in mythology has a really nice shtick; listening to people talk, picking up on names, and then mimicing them, calling out for help until some lone victim is lured into the woods to be eaten. I think that's cooler than "DEMON HYENA!"

My sentiments exactly about the sidetreks.

 

[vazanar]

The realms did seem the weakest of the group. Some okay ideas but I did little realms in 3e (mostly 1st/2nd) and all they seem to use was Shar cult instead of Orcus.

The irony of course is that the 1st edition Throne of Bloodstone, in which you face the Witch King then go and kill/steal the wand of Orcus in Orcus's own realm, was a Forgotten Realms module series.

 

[ZetaStriker]

I just wiki'd female Hyenas, Fan. That was not something I needed to know. >_<

 

[The_Fan]

I just wiki'd female Hyenas, Fan. That was not something I needed to know. >_<

I warned you. I don't tell people to avoid knowledge unless it's serious Things Man Was Not Meant To Know.

 

[Graf]

Ok. I encourage critism, and I think a lot of the comments were on target.

I'm confused about the harsh treatment of the FR article... the major critcism of the adventure has really been that winterhaven is undeveloped (which is it is) and that the whole thing is really a big string of combat encounters.

Given her role in the adventure Ninaran was under developed, all the monsters fight to the death, there's no investigation or mystery component, it's hard to motivate PCs to go to winterhaven etc.
I think it's a strong piece. And they've bent over backwards to completely revamp the backstory and fit it in with FR.
On an objective level, as an adventure supplement, I think its strong. Even if you aren't in FR.
Certainly better than the side treks (which read like "bad ideas we left out of the adventure for a reason").

 

[Mithyx]

I just wiki'd female Hyenas, Fan. That was not something I needed to know. >_<

Reverse psychology FTW

-Also wiki'd
--*click click* deleted

 

[itcom]

I just wiki'd female Hyenas, Fan. That was not something I needed to know. >_<

Me, too....YIKES!

 

[Fobok]

I just wiki'd female Hyenas, Fan. That was not something I needed to know. >_<

I just did too. Certainly weird, especially if you think on the fact that it's the only mammal to evolve that way, but nothing to make a big deal about.