En World Reviewers- a question

[Greg K]

I am looking at possibly purchasing several 3rd party products. After reading a review in which the reviewer expressed a desire to go back and reevalute his earlier reviews, I began wondering as to whether or not the various reviewers here, here still hold to their original ratings on the following products or if time has altered their opinions (3.0 or 3.5 compatability aside).

1. AEG
Wilds
Toolbox
Mercenaries
Magic
Dragons
Feats

2. Fantasy Flight Games
Traps and Treachery
Seafarer's Handbook
Spells and Spellcraft
Monster's Handbook
Wildscape
Portals and Planes
Draconic Lore
Elemental Lore
Giant Lore
Necromantic Lore
Path of Faith
Path of Magic
Path of Shadow
Path of the Sword
Book of Illusion

3. Mongoose
Seas of Blood
The Book of Dragons

4. Sword and Sorcery
Relics and Rituals
Relics and Rituals II

 

[Crothian]

I reviewed a bit of the FFGG stuff and it still gets used in the game. Feats is also a book I use a lot but that is also because I give out feats every level.

I do try to review older titles when I have the timebut its hard enough keeping up with the current stuff I get. But the following books from that list have been used in my latest campaign


Wilds
Toolbox
Dragons
Feats
Spells and Spellcraft
Wildscape
Portals and Planes
Draconic Lore

 

[genshou]

I reviewed a bit of the FFGG stuff and it still gets used in the game. Feats is also a book I use a lot but that is also because I give out feats every level.

I do try to review older titles when I have the timebut its hard enough keeping up with the current stuff I get. But the following books from that list have been used in my latest campaign


Wilds
Toolbox
Dragons
Feats
Spells and Spellcraft
Wildscape
Portals and Planes
Draconic Lore

I didn't know AEG produced a book of feats! Awesome! The things you can learn by browsing through threads entirely unrelated to what you actually find out in them...

I may go back and edit past reviews when I gain some levels in the Enworld Reviewer advanced class, but I'll probably be too busy. As long as my overall opinion hasn't changed, I shouldn't need to for anything other than making it look more "professional" after attempting a new Craft (Writing) check with my latest PrC-given competence bonus.

 

[Crothian]

And a genral comment about my old review, a few months ago I did go through all the five star wones and concluded that even the early ones I'd still give 5 stars to now. But to do that for all of them is just not something I'd care to do.

 

[JoeGKushner]

1. AEG
Wilds
Toolbox
Mercenaries
Magic
Dragons
Feats

I was never too impressed with Dragons but the others were all pretty good. Depending on your 3.0/3.5 tolerance, either a lot of stuff in books like Mercenaries and Wilds will have to be changed or you'll shoulder shrug it.

2. Fantasy Flight Games
Traps and Treachery
Seafarer's Handbook
Spells and Spellcraft
Monster's Handbook
Wildscape
Portals and Planes
Draconic Lore
Elemental Lore
Giant Lore
Necromantic Lore
Path of Faith
Path of Magic
Path of Shadow
Path of the Sword
Book of Illusion

Lots of stuff here. The 3.0 bit becomes more noticible in the various monter books. The Path books doesn't suffer too bad in comparission and have legendary classes. The Book of Illusion still has some great bits for an illusionist including the old shadow master bits.

3. Mongoose
Seas of Blood
The Book of Dragons

Too long since I've actually used either of them. I believe Psion actually prefers some bits in Seas of Blood over the revised Book of the Sea. I recall the Book of Dragons being okay, but still prefer WoTC Dragonomicon.

4. Sword and Sorcery
Relics and Rituals
Relics and Rituals II

[/QUOTE]

I think the first book probably has a lot more that needs to be updated in terms of keeping the balance than the second one. Now only is it older, but it was during a time when game balance by third party companies didn't seem to be a priority. Having said that, I did allow the Vigil in my game unchanged and well, the player still did due to his own stupidity. Having a d12 hit die is not guaranteed survival when you're a dunce.

 

[Mr. Patient]

For what it's worth, I stand by my three star rating of Toolbox. There's a lot of really fun stuff in there, and a lot of worthless stuff, especially those encounter tables. If you're a stat block stickler, you'll go insane.

I didn't review Seas of Blood, but it's pretty decent. The Traps & Treachery books are very good if you're into that sort of thing, but they'd be better as one big book, minus the feats, prestige classes and generic guild information. I'd go with T&T II, since it delivers only the good stuff.