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<blockquote data-quote="IronWolf" data-source="post: 2008052" data-attributes="member: 21076">updated on 22-NOV-02I am a Dungeon Master at heart. For several years, I played other games (I could not stand D&amp;D2/e and I still feel that I have out-grown D&amp;D1/e) and so I have been called a Game Master, a Storyteller and a host of other things. But, at heart, I am still a Dungeon Master.So this is my book. And it is a good one. As the guide to running the game, it covers about every base you can imagine. From using monsters as Player Characters to how to create magical items of wondrous power.The only thing I miss is the Invulnerable Coat of Arnd... god did I love that item... Still, despite the same layout problems that plague the MM and PHB, this is a good solid buy. And it stands the test of time. I find myself reading it for pleasure sometimes. A really great book. Kudos to Monte Cook.In the end, however, I have to dock it one point. And it has nothing to do with the book itself. It has to do with the fact that WotC never took this book seriously.Consider the notes on the how and why of Prestige Classes. Yet we have an absolute glut of Prestige Classes that do not follow the simple guidelines for how and why they should be created. Even the Player's Handbook has a class that does fit this description, but is not treated as a Prestige Class! Yes, I mean the Paladin. WotC has produced book after book after book filled with many, many examples of Prestige Classes that all boil down to the bag-'o-ultimate powers concept rather than filling a role or simulating a specific organization. There are other examples of this book being seen as an un-needed component. So... I give it a 4.5 for content, -1 for a complete lack of respect from the publisher.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="IronWolf, post: 2008052, member: 21076"] [b]updated on 22-NOV-02[/b] I am a Dungeon Master at heart. For several years, I played other games (I could not stand D&D2/e and I still feel that I have out-grown D&D1/e) and so I have been called a Game Master, a Storyteller and a host of other things. But, at heart, I am still a [b]Dungeon Master[/b]. So this is my book. And it is a good one. As the guide to running the game, it covers about every base you can imagine. From using monsters as Player Characters to how to create magical items of wondrous power. The only thing I miss is the Invulnerable Coat of Arnd... god did I love that item... Still, despite the same layout problems that plague the MM and PHB, this is a good solid buy. And it stands the test of time. I find myself reading it for pleasure sometimes. A really great book. Kudos to Monte Cook. In the end, however, I have to dock it one point. And it has nothing to do with the book itself. It has to do with the fact that WotC never took this book seriously. Consider the notes on the how and why of Prestige Classes. Yet we have an absolute glut of Prestige Classes that do not follow the simple guidelines for how and why they should be created. Even the Player's Handbook has a class that does fit this description, but is not treated as a Prestige Class! Yes, I mean the Paladin. WotC has produced book after book after book filled with many, many examples of Prestige Classes that all boil down to the [i]bag-'o-ultimate powers[/i] concept rather than filling a role or simulating a specific organization. There are other examples of this book being seen as an un-needed component. So... I give it a 4. 5 for content, -1 for a complete lack of respect from the publisher. [/QUOTE]

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