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Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Messageboard Golem" data-source="post: 2009393" data-attributes="member: 18387">EverQuest RPG PHB is a 392 full coloured hard-bound manual.  It is written such that it there is no need to refer to the D&D 3rd edition PHB, being a complete PHB tailored for the EverQuest world. Introduction-    Explanation for the various types of people who the game is targeted at and how the manual will apply to them.  The targeted audience is separated into people who roleplay, play EverQuest on-line, and people who do both.-    Overview of creating a character.The World of Norrath-    Details history of Norrath.-    Brief geographical descriptions.  The main continents are covered.  World maps are located inside both the front and back cover and are very well presented.Book One:  Creating a Character-    Abilities, Races, Classes, Skills, Feats, Description, Equipment.Races include:-    Barbarians (larger and stronger humans)-    Dark Elves-    Dwarves-    Erudites (very intelligent humans with high foreheads)-    Gnomes-    Half-Elves-    Humans-    Iksar (lizardmen)-    Ogres-    Trolls-    Vah Shir (bipedal felines)-    Wood ElvesMost of the races are fairly standard for D&D.  My only critique here is the Barbarians Race.  Essentially they are large humans and could have been emulated with humans themselves, perhaps with minimum physical attribute requirements.  It is good to see Ogres and Trolls made playable races.  Whilst certainly physically powerful, they are offset with experience penalty of 20%.  A bit unbalanced to a beginning party but would even out in the long run.  Trolls do not regenerate per round but heal at twice normal rate.  Because of their size, both Ogres and Trolls have AC penalties but have reach, making them very deadly in combat.Classes include:-    Bard-    Cleric-    Druid-    Enchanter-    Magician-    Necromancer-    Shaman-    Wizard-    Monk-    Rogue-    Warrior-    Beastlord-    Paladin-    Ranger-    Shadow KnightMost of the classes are similar to the D&D PHB.  The noteworthy difference is that all advancement tables go up to level 30, making for 10 levels of epic advancement.  This is a great compromise for people who do not have the Epic Handbook!  Finally, a class which really addresses summonings – the Magician.  Spells are totally revamped and the Magician’s Spells List number numerous summoning spells.The Beastlord, Paladin, Ranger, and Shadow Knight are seen as combinations of other classes.  For example, the Shadow Knight is a combination of Necromancer and Warrior.  Each of these also get their own spell lists.Alignment is basically the same as the nine we know.  The only difference is cosmetical with Chaotic replaced by Discordant, and Lawful replaced by Orderly.  For example, Lawful Good is Orderly Good.Multiple attacks depend on your base attack bonus and the speed category of your weapon.  Weapons in the equipment listing have speed categories as a result.Book Two:  Songs and SpellsBoth Bard Songs and Spells use mana.  Approximately half the manual is devoted to spells and songs description.Bards have Bard Songs and they operate differently from spells.  On the whole they are less powerful than spells but are more flexible and subject to more tailoring.  As long as the Bard plays and pays a nominal mana cost, the song is in effect.  Several songs can be combined into one for stacking effect, of course, this would need to overcome progressively higher DC with the Perform skill.  This is called Song Twisting.Spells still need to be memorised but the process operates a bit differently.  The caster memorises eight spells of which he can use as many times as he wants subject to mana limitation and the amount of minimum time to lapse before the spell can be recast.  Feats such as Silent Spell adds to the mana cost of the spell.  A spell by itself and the same one with the feat are considered two separate spells that for memorisation purposes.Book Three:  Playing the Game-    Details Combat, Gaming Logistics such as movement, encumbrance, vision, and experience.  These are essentially the same as the D&D PHB.ConclusionI saw this product as more of a “Revised and Expanded” D&D PHB with a great selection of classes, races, and an excellent mana spell system.  There isn’t enough of a flavour though, to give the reader the feel of the world unique to EverQuest.  For its price of US$29.95, it really is a bargain and I would recommend it.  If not for using in EverQuest, it would also make a great PHB.</blockquote>

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