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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Raven Crowking" data-source="post: 5551203" data-attributes="member: 18280">Before I jump into this review, here are some disclaimers:(1)  I am not a fan of 4e D&D.  Specifically, the emphasis on defining things by their combat prowess.  Of course, this was also a problem with 1e and 2e.  IMHO, 3e does the best job with non-combat creatures.  YMMV.(2)  As a direct result, I am unlikely to notice any small error vis-a-vis the 4e rules.  So, I am not going to focus on the "crunch" side here.  (3)  I greatly dislike giving any product a poor review.  I greatly enjoy, OTOH, telling people what I like.  Sharing good stuff is always more fun than stepping on someone else's efforts.With those things in mind:WHAT I LIKED:* Lore.  There are some good bits of usable lore in the product, although they are not given a full treatment.  I was glad to see Baba Yaga's servants being fleshed out in the product.* Skill Challenges.  The product includes two skill challenges that are appropriate for Baba Yaga.  One is getting info out of the old bony-shanks.  The other is brewing azure rose tea.  Both are appropriate for the folkloric Baba Yaga.* Combat Powers.  Some of the combat powers are interesting.  I particularly liked the image of an angry Baba Yaga smashing foes with her pestle.  The three versions of Baba Yaga given all would make interesting combatants, IMHO, but I am not completely certain how they stack up against PCs.WHAT I DISLIKED:* Interior artwork.  If you liked the very early TSR and White Dwarf artwork, your mileage will vary.  The preview in the link allows you to see the artwork  if you want.WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SEEN*  More Skill Challenges.  Few creatures offer the wide potential for skill challenges that the folkloric Baba Yaga does.  I would like to see an "Escape the Bony-Shanks" skill challenge, for example, that allows the PCs to acquire various objects that, when thrown down, impede her progress.* Iron Teeth and Skeletally Thin (or Bony Shanks) worked into her description or powers.  Baba Yaga is a cannibal spirit that represents (IMHO) Aging and Time.  Some of her combat powers reflect this, but not explicitly.* Baba Yaga's Fence included in the pdf.  It is mentioned as a freebie on the web site, though, so anyone who is interested ought to check it out.* Campaign Use:  A section about using Baba Yaga in actual campaign play.  How do you use the old witch, apart from fighting her or trying to get information out of her?  A section on this would be useful.* Folklore of Baba Yaga:  A section about the folkloric Baba Yaga, as well as sources used.  Overall, I would guess this pdf would be useful to 4e DMs, but only of moderate interest to others.  YMMV.EDIT:  Since EVG sent me a review copy, I feel duty bound to leave this review up, or it, too, would be removed.RC</blockquote>

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