Frost & Fur and Frostburn--A Comparison

[johnsemlak]

Incidentally, Frostburn does cover blizzards, avalanches, crevasses, and icebergs, but it does so from a gamist perspective, not from a simulationist perspective. (Or the DMG covers them...)

Yeah, I agree Frostburn and the DMG probably combine to cover all or most of those topics, and I wasn't trying to say that they don't cover any of thos topics. But I found Frost and Fur handier I guess. I looked through Frostburn to find the effects of being in a Blizzard and didn't find much. They are discussed in the DMG but I find it confusing--you have to consider (and look up) the effects of the cold and wind separetely. Frost and Fur has it all in one place--PCs are in a Blizzard, go to page x and find out what happens.

The DMG covers avalanches quite well. Where are crevasses discussed?

 

[MerricB]

See the back of the terrain cards included with Frostburn!

More seriously, page 21 of Frostburn, under Frostfell Wilderness Terrain. (The information is repeated on other pages for the terrain types were crevasses may occur).

Cheers!

 

[Keoki]

I am glad that Frostburn doesn't cover the associated cultures that you describe in F&F. That would be a sizeable chunk that I would have no use for personally.

I agree, although some of the creatures in Frostburn are derived from Slavic mythology, notably the Rusalka and Vodyanoy. I have a similar complaint about WotC's Races of Stone, which I recently acquired when John brought it back from the US for me (thanks again, John!). While I liked the book in general, I would've preferred less fluff about dwarf society. Since demihumans (how many of you remember that term?) tend to differ in every D&D setting, I wonder how useful it is for players to know how one type of dwarf, presumably a Greyhawk dwarf, combs his hair... I's also against the gratuitous space-filler full-page illos.

Speaking of Races of Stone, John, now that you have both it and Hammer and Helm, maybe you should compare them too?

 

[HalWhitewyrm]

Too bad about MGG. I'd have liked to have seen more stuff like this from them.

Don't bury MonkeyGod yet. Think of them right now as hibernating only. There may still be life for the simian deity.

 

[Wraith Form]

You had to do it, din't you John??? I was only gonna get Frostburn, but no you've made me wanna buy them both!

Or you could just live in Upstate New York (or Canada) for the past 20-odd years. That'll give you a very abrupt feel for what cold-weather/snow cultures have to endure. (grumbles to self while looking at the calendar, realizing that snow could be falling in a matter of WEEKS for the luv of Pete)

(Nice compare/contrast, John - thank you!)

 

[MrFilthyIke]

This is why I'm interested in it. I'm putting together a Grim Tales low-magic homebrew at the moment. Frostburn just seems like crunchy stuff with a cold theme whereas F&F has info you can use to develop your world.

I think that would be trivalizing Frostburn. I think BOTH are good books, and each could compliment each other quite well.

 

[johnsemlak]

See the back of the terrain cards included with Frostburn!

More seriously, page 21 of Frostburn, under Frostfell Wilderness Terrain. (The information is repeated on other pages for the terrain types were crevasses may occur).

Cheers!

upon looking this up in the book...

Well, the (very short) bit on page 21 doesn't list game effects of a crevasse (though a good DM would probably figure them out; plus in a realistic world each crevasse would be rather different anyway). The terrain card is actually more useful in that regard.

Frost and Fur, on the other hand, gives relavent search/spot DCs, Reflex DC, etc.

 

[johnsemlak]

I think that would be trivalizing Frostburn. I think BOTH are good books, and each could compliment each other quite well.

Totally agree. Both are good books, but suit distinct needs.

One thing I'd have to say Frostburn is much better at is the production values. I don't normally rate art much one way or the other, but the (full color) art is fabulous. E.g. the full-page piece of Icerazor City near the back. The artwork in WotC products in general has been excellent lately.

Frost and Fur is good as well, but, well, it's like comparing a Ford (or maybe a Peugeot) and a BMW.

 

[johnsemlak]

Don't bury MonkeyGod yet. Think of them right now as hibernating only. There may still be life for the simian deity.

Oh, very cool, that's great to hear

For the record, I am aware that MonkeyGod's boardgame division, called Face 2 Face games IIRC, is still alive and well, and doing quite well actually. Hopefully this will allow MKG to awake from its hibernation!

 

[GlassJaw]

I think that would be trivalizing Frostburn. I think BOTH are good books, and each could compliment each other quite we

Ok but let's assume for a second you have no interest in new PrC's, spells, feats, monsters, or magic items. Is it still worth it?