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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Selvarin" data-source="post: 2013580" data-attributes="member: 6102">That's a fair question.  I'm probably being a stricter judge than I normally am, in the sense that a 3 to me = the product does what it's supposed to (without making any unforgivable blunders or omissions, etc.). If there were some aspects of the work that I found sub-par or distracting, but it had some great parts worth salvaging (the 'diamonds in the rough', as it were), then it would rate a 2. If the work as a whole was uninspiring, sub-par, *and* unprofessional (constant, blatant errors), it would be a 1.So, what would make a product a 4 or 5? Well, does the material grab me, and if so is it a little or a lot? Does it excite me, make me say to myself "I should've thought of that first!"...? Does it provide something that I have to have, or could I have waited? If I feel something's missing to make it a 4 or 5, what could it have been? Reviews are, admittedly, an art and not a science. In some ways, ES is a '4' product, depending upon which parts you look at. personally, I think chapters 1 and 2 are the better portions of the book. The dreaded old cliches about elves that I'm used to seeing didn't quite rear their ugly heads. They were discussed, yes, but they weren't allowed to completely define the material. The archetypes, the roles of elves and the various classes, etc., were well-done. When it comes to chapters 3 and 4, a '3' rating would be overall because the mechanics of the various core classes, PrCs, and feats were technically sound but as a whole the material didn't grab me enough (barring the Warder and a few feats). The same could be said about the spells and magic items, although I'm more lenient in that area considering how much more has been done in that area previously (What's left that hasn't been made into a spell or magic item these days?). Chapter 6 dealt with monsters and templates, which was fine but I felt something was missing. Chapter 5 dealt with Fairvus, and Chapter 7 Entaris (and the Elorii city of Seremas). While portable into other campaigns, it's nontheless setting-specific. In one sense it's good from a business standpoint (i.e., promoting Arcanis in the process), but I can think of a few other things which could've been covered in that same space which might be of more interest to those in the mood for an all-around elf sourcebook.As I've said, Eldest Sons is not a bad book. In fact, it does some things very well. In other areas it neither lagged behind nor stood at the head of the class.I don't feel let down by my purchase, but I do feel something was missing and that certain areas could've been improved upon. It isn't so much about going from point A to point B but how you get there. Which roads the stagecoach takes you determines how fondly you recall the trip.</blockquote>

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