Have you been disillusioned by the latest WotC books?

[Plane Sailing]

It is a hit and miss for me, was disappointed with Races of Eberron but pleased with Five Nations and it has been that way for most of this year. So, maybe this is a personal issue.

My experience exactly. Although races of eberron had a few nice feat ideas and substitution levels and prestige classes, I thought that major section - treatment of the races - was very blah. IMO they missed some real opportunities with the changelings and kalashtar, and I preferred the original idea of warforged being built as an initial class rather than being built tabula rasa and then trained up.

Five nations I hadn't intended to buy but I picked up DMG II, flipped through it and thought 'Meh'. Then I picked up five nations, flicked through it and thought 'Wow', and I've still got that Wow thought right now. Very cool.

Cheers

 

[Kanegrundar]

I prefer logical progression to big innovation - which often means something like, "Hey, let's ditch the D&D system and go to SAGA!"

In that stance, I agree wholeheartedly.

Kane

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

I loved DMGII, and can't wait for my copy of Weapons of Legacy. I may tweak the rules a bit where the penalties to PC's are concerned, but that waits to be seen. I don't own any of the environment or race series, so I can't comment on those.

Heroes of Battle would see no use in my games. Ever. Nor would anything FR (except Magic of Faerun, which I use occasionally). I'm not interested in Eberron or FR fluff. Just give me books of crunch. I love love love Libris Mortis and Lords of Madness, but don't own Draconomicon. I've actually purchased it twice, and returned it for refund both times. It would just never see any use in my games, I'm afraid.

 

[Plane Sailing]

but don't own Draconomicon. I've actually purchased it twice, and returned it for refund both times. It would just never see any use in my games, I'm afraid.

Twice ?!? I could understand once, but twice? There must be an interesting story behind that!

 

[Desdichado]

Well, I didn't have any interest in the three books you mentioned, so I can't say that I'm disappointed in them. The latest WotC books that I have bought I liked quite a bit; Lords of Madness and Races of Eberron.

 

[Evilhalfling]

My book buying experiance cycles as well - there is the intial indecision where I read reviews, follow the "I have X book" threads etc. I either dismiss or get very excited by the new book.
After I get it there is initial excitement then buyers remorse - what am I going to do with this.
Then I settle down and start squeezing for uses.

Results:
Unearthed Arcana - few uses. Complete Arcane few uses.
Draconomicon the basis of a campagin (constant use), Lords of Madness - some use.
I thought Complete Arcane looked very good, but have worked little of it into my campains (2 on-line, or as a player and DM locally) So really although I liked CArc more than LoM it gets less use.
I am on a tight gaming budget, so while I still intend to get DMGII. There isn't anything else that I am looking forward to getting.

 

[DungeonmasterCal]

Twice ?!? I could understand once, but twice? There must be an interesting story behind that!

First time I bought it I was recovering from back surgery, and thought it'd be a good read while recuperating. It's easily one of WotC's best put together books, content and art-wise. But, my gaming group just wasn't getting together enough to merit spending the money on a book that might or might not get used. So I returned it.

A year later, I got a gift card for the local chain store (Hastings) and bought it again. I thought maybe looking at it again might change my mind on its usefulness. My group went through another slump. After thinking about it, I returned it for the cash, took that cash and went to Walmart.com and bought Complete Adventurer and Complete Arcane (total about 50 dollars for both). I've gotten more use out of them than I think I ever would have Draconomicon.

 

[Khairn]

I'm not disillusioned about the latest books, because I didn't buy them. Two of the books are singularly focused on gaming elements that I have no interest in spending money on, while the previews and reviews of DMG 2 never "grabbed" my interest in any appreciable way.

 

[Jarrod]

I certainly haven't been disappointed, but my buying is limited.

DMGII: While everything in there I could have come up with, having it presented to me meant I could get on with running a game. I'm already using the apprenticeship rules, and plan to use most of the rest. Yummy.

Five Nations: A book 'o fluff. I love it. My wife devoured the Breland chapter (mmm tasty leather binding). That's the sort of thing that makes Eberron come alive. And goodberry wine... WHY CAN'T I COME UP WITH THAT? Argh. Perfect. From game last night: "Well, you could drink some of the healing wine, but you're underage. Sorry."

Heroes of Battle, Weapons of Legacy: No thanks, not interested, and so not disillusioned.

 

[GlassJaw]

Merric, is there anything WotC has put put that you haven't liked?