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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nail" data-source="post: 2009739" data-attributes="member: 224">There's really only one problem with this book: Epic Expectations.You've bought the book (or are thinking about it) because you expect to play Epic characters, and you've been told that once yer characters are past 20th...(poof!)...they become Epic.  Whatever that is, you're not sure, but you're hoping that once you open this book, you'll find out.Well, you're going to be dissappointed.  No two ways about it.This is a solid book, a good book, a well-crafted book....but it's just not going to meet your definition of Epic.  That's mainly because (I'm guessing) you don't really know what an Epic D&D system looks like.   (But, you say, "that's why I'm buyin' th' book!")  The problem is compounded by the fact that this book has alot of different roles to fill, and a very wide spectrum of people to please.  The book tries to please both the "more power!" people and the "game balance!" people, while at the same time continuing the feel and rules progression we've all come to expect from D&D.  That's one big bill to pay.A Peek Inside:As usual for me, this is not a play-test review, and I will not go over the structure in detail -- just those parts that catch my eye.**********************************************Chapter 1: Characters, Skills, and FeatsThe first thing to notice is that a 21st level character is not much different from a 20th.  Just about 1 level of different, in fact.  So, there's no "shazzam!"  The skills have higher DCs, and the feats are more powerful, but much of the time you'll be saying (as I did): "Hey, that's not Epic...."   But it does have a wider scope than pre-21st levels, and the rules here are well-balanced and occasionaly (dare I say it?) inspiring.For example, in the epic feats section you can find Two-Weapon Rend next to Vorpal Strike.  While the first might raise cries of "that's not epic!", the second brings out whispers of "Hey..not bad!".  An informal survey of players (actually, of just me), shows opinion is that there's a ratio of 2:1 "truely" epic feats in this section.  The rest of this book follows that trend....and I'm not convinced that's a bad thing.Chapter 2: Epic SpellsVery cool, actually.  If more of the book could have been like this, I'm sure there would have been more "5-stars" in the ratings column.Chapter 3: Running an Epic GameI'm not sure what everyone's trouble is with this chapter.  It's intelligent, concise, and covers all of the bases.  The fact that this advice is also useful for lower level games is irrelevent, IMHO.  There's really very little wasted verbage here.Chapter 4: Epic Magic ItemsA decent chapter, but probably one of the more dissappointing ones.  It is true that most of this chapter seems a mere extension of the core rules, rather than a pronounced shift to epic items.  And many of the items (like Staff of Mighty Force, or Ring of Adamantine Law) seem like they could be made just as easily with pre-epic rules.  On the plus side, the Everwhirling Chain kicks some serious arse.Chapter 5: MonstersVery cool.  This chapter ranks up there with the Epic spells chapter.  Example?  Undead infant-abomination gods .   End of discussion.Chapter 6: An Epic SettingNot a good chapter, and especially dissapointing after reading thru Chapter 5.  I was especially dissappointed by the Planar Metropolis of Union, which seems to be Sigil, times two.  Ah well.  But to be fair, I may use bits and peices of this, at least as I think through how epic characters can fit into my home-brew universe.**********************************************Scores:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Production: 5 Very good.  As is the standard for WotC, word-density, editing, organization (there's an index, for example) and format are all excellent. Artwork: 4 Good.  Some peices are not so good, and over all many don't have that undefinable Epic quality to them. Game Mechanics: 5 Excellent.  As far as I can tell (without playing it), it all seems very solid and balanced. "Cool" Factor: 3 Here's were it lost alot of people.  There are some great ideas.....but they're surrounded by "more of the same".  In a way, perhaps that's good......considering it's just epic levels of the same game we've played since 1st level. Overall: 4 Good, but not awe-inspiring</li> </ul>I think if you're thinking of post-20th level playing, you'll find this book complete and useful.  If you think this book is going to be somehow different, you're going to be dissappointed.  All-in-all, I'm glad I've got it, and I imagine I'll be even more glad as time goes by.  I'll place bets with anyone interested: this book will improve with age.</blockquote>

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