How much of Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed do you use?

[Ashanderai]

It has been a year since Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed (AU) was released and I was wondering how many of you utilize it and how much of it you use.

Basically, I am wondering how many enjoy AU and in what capacity you enjoy it in. Do you use it in your games or does it sit on your shelves as a good/bad read or sourcebook for inspiration?

I am wondering because I am writing an oriental setting that combines AU with AD&D and am curious as to how many others are doing something similar in their games.

 

[haiiro]

I use very little of AU in my current campaign: just the Tumble skill (with the modifiers for terrain type from the PHB), and the notion of synergies between related Perform subskills.

If I started up a new game right now, I'd probably take another look at AU to see what catches my fancy these days, and also look at using some goodies from Grim Tales.

 

[EricNoah]

A year already, eh? My players are at 4th level (started at 2nd) in my AU campaign begun about a year ago. We haven't really even scratched the surface of the classes, races, rules, setting, monsters, etc. Lots of mysteries left to explore. I do bring in stuff from outside sources, and I houserule some key stuff (hit points, what causes subdual damage, how healing works, how the heal skill works, herbal remedies, some other related topics).

When we go on to our next D&D campaign (and I'm sure we will within the next year or so, that's just how my group tends to be), we may snag some of the better features of AU back into D&D, but I don't anticipate a lot of crossover between the two.

 

[teitan]

I had AU on pre-order about three months before it came out and at that time I was the only player willing to GM anything... well now EVERYBODY wants to run something whereas back then all I could get anyone else to run was Vampire and I hated the rules system. I think AU is probably one of the best RPGs released let alone D20 games and I have another group that is willing to forge ahead on an AU campaign since the others have gotten so diverse and just want my FR campaign... sigh... I filled up 200 pages of notes for my AU game. It is gonna rock on toast with cinnamon and brown sugar and hot stripper dancing on the table...

Jason

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

I've used the classes and some of the equipment in D&D games, and one of the Diamond Throne monsters (the mutant frogs, I don't remember the name offhand) in a d20 Modern game.

 

[Crothian]

oops, wrong book

Switch that to we use the whole thing

 

[Razz0putin]

I've used it a little bit. I'm a big fan but my game started when I was just going to teach some co-workers the game and the next thing I new I had a whole campaign so I've been modifiying it slowly to what I really want (you have to teach them the basics first then change it). however in reverse dungeon the other game I've been running when possible I've used some of the classes that are going in to deal with the powerful undead menace. unfortunately/fortunately they are powerful so I keep getting to try new classes.

 

[X-Marks!]

Titles

I think we have some confusion about AU or UA... .

Plus, you can't really mean AD&D do you? Is anyone still playing that.

Okay, maybe I'm being picky.

 

[satori01]

I use almost all of AU with my 3.5 game, and frankly I love it. The classes are designed with so much flavor, and the possibilites of having both options can really lend itself to some intresting characters.

My favorite thing as a DM are hero points. Not only can I reward players for original thinking, that can directly impact the game, but I can take off the gloves and not be afraid about random deaths due to the hero point factor.

 

[Inconsequenti-AL]

I finished an AU mini campaign a few months ago. Lasted 4 months. Was mostly AU with a few bits cherry picked from DnD and a few bits of homebrew. Was in a homebrew setting, which used the AU races.

Found the AU magic system a little much - very dissimilar to Dnd and while we got the rules right, it never felt 'comfortable'. Had some very cool ideas in it though.

Next campaign will be regular DnD, with elements picked from AU. Mostly class details and a few feats.