Menu
News
All News
Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
Pathfinder
Starfinder
Warhammer
2d20 System
Year Zero Engine
Industry News
Reviews
Dragon Reflections
Columns
Weekly Digests
Weekly News Digest
Freebies, Sales & Bundles
RPG Print News
RPG Crowdfunding News
Game Content
ENterplanetary DimENsions
Mythological Figures
Opinion
Worlds of Design
Peregrine's Next
RPG Evolution
Other Columns
From the Freelancing Frontline
Monster ENcyclopedia
WotC/TSR Alumni Look Back
4 Hours w/RSD (Ryan Dancey)
The Road to 3E (Jonathan Tweet)
Greenwood's Realms (Ed Greenwood)
Drawmij's TSR (Jim Ward)
Community
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Resources
Wiki
Pages
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Downloads
Latest reviews
Search resources
EN Publishing
Store
EN5ider
Adventures in ZEITGEIST
Awfully Cheerful Engine
What's OLD is NEW
Judge Dredd & The Worlds Of 2000AD
War of the Burning Sky
Level Up: Advanced 5E
Events & Releases
Upcoming Events
Private Events
Featured Events
Socials!
Twitch
YouTube
Facebook (EN Publishing)
Facebook (EN World)
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Podcast
Features
Top 5 RPGs Compiled Charts 2004-Present
Adventure Game Industry Market Research Summary (RPGs) V1.0
Ryan Dancey: Acquiring TSR
Q&A With Gary Gygax
D&D Rules FAQs
TSR, WotC, & Paizo: A Comparative History
D&D Pronunciation Guide
Million Dollar TTRPG Kickstarters
Tabletop RPG Podcast Hall of Fame
Eric Noah's Unofficial D&D 3rd Edition News
D&D in the Mainstream
D&D & RPG History
About Morrus
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
Forums & Topics
Forum List
Latest Posts
Forum list
*Dungeons & Dragons
Level Up: Advanced 5th Edition
D&D Older Editions
*TTRPGs General
*Pathfinder & Starfinder
EN Publishing
*Geek Talk & Media
Search forums
Chat/Discord
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
I'm reading the Forgotten Realms Novels- #202 The Howling Delve by Jaleigh Johnson (Dungeons 2)
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8437654" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p><strong>#142 The Sorcerer by Troy Denning (Return Archwizards 3) </strong></p><p><strong>Read 19/10/21 to 25/10/21</strong></p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]145733[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>Well, what it did it did really well- all the characters do their thing, and their stories are mostly all resolved at the end, significantly the central guys and girls, and there's lots of cool ideas in the final skirmish. That said about two thirds of this one is all action- dispensing with the Shadovar (sort of) and then winning the war against the Phaerimm, so- lots and lots of action.</p><p></p><p>Towards the end I was in a Vietnam movie, with the Cold Hand playing the special forces style patrol, leading the line, and taking the battle to the bad guys. The Vaasan's obviously steal the show, and Khul's last run... just glorious, particularly the idea that he sacrifices himself to his dark blade. Very nice.</p><p></p><p>But...</p><p></p><p>You knew there was going to be one.</p><p></p><p>It's really well written, and a page turner- I had lots of work on so I didn't get time to sit down with this one, I could have easily read it in just three days.</p><p></p><p>But, Phaerimm, beholders and mind flayers by the dozen. There's so much CR inflation for the various fights here that... I just got a bit tired of it. Particularly when, for example, Valla, with a little help, takes on six, or eight, or else ten, Phaerimm. So, the next encounter, in which just one Phaerimm (a leader type), and with an army up against the foe- well, I don't care because the Valkyrie with the magic blade just took down more bad guys than that without getting a hang-nail.</p><p></p><p>If you keep throwing very high level enemies into the mix, beholders getting killed by a single sword thrust, same illithid etc. It just gets a bit... meh! For me.</p><p></p><p>I think there's some of my fear and trepidation about high level play here, I've been DMing for 40 years, and I can still count on the fingers of both hands the number of D&D games I've DMed beyond about 12th level.</p><p></p><p>But, here's a positive- at least we get to talk to the Phaerimm in this one, the treat however is short-lived, and a bit underwhelming. The Phaerimm do not work together, and so... they're all emotionless, unconvincing, as super-villains I mean. The thing about the maulgrym (although I dislike these too), or the Zhent, or Dragons (or the Cult of the same vain), or the Shadovar, or the various terrible high level undead, or the Drow, or... and on it goes. The thing about all of these other villains is they come alive, they're bastards, and/or clever, and/or lots of other stuff. They're interesting folk, good to get to know- particularly for a DM making mental notes.</p><p></p><p>Then there's the Shade denouement, what next- I take it there's a follow up to this somewhere along the way? Is there?</p><p></p><p>But (again) it all seemed a little easy. In the end.</p><p></p><p>I liked Denning's handling of the Chosen, they're remarkably palatable in this one, but still... a bit easy.</p><p></p><p>I guess you can't mess with another author's creations though, and nor do you want to give your own creations up. If the author really wanted to up the ante, and make it seem much more credible/tougher then you need to bury a significant N/PC. One of the Chosen maybe, Galaeron possibly- making the ultimate sacrifice, or Aris, or... anyone significant.</p><p></p><p>My point, I think, both enemies seem to be fatally flawed, the thing they do- kill, kill, kill; is pretty much all they do (for the Phaerimm). The Shadovar are much more twisty-turny, but they miss several clues and... they've been on the back foot since the end of the last book. Galaeron's accepting the shadow side of himself is... okay, but I guessed that a while back, or else that was one of the several theories I had going on. The favourite being some sort of ultimate sacrifice to save the mythal/Evereska/Faerun. That kind of thing.</p><p></p><p>Read.</p><p></p><p>A much better series than I expected, well written- all the characters pull their weight and come across as good D&D. But... 50% of the bad guys were much weaker, less interesting.</p><p></p><p>Stay safe and well.</p><p></p><p>Cheers goonalan</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 8437654, member: 16069"] [B]#142 The Sorcerer by Troy Denning (Return Archwizards 3) Read 19/10/21 to 25/10/21[/B] [ATTACH type="full" width="203px"]145733[/ATTACH] Well, what it did it did really well- all the characters do their thing, and their stories are mostly all resolved at the end, significantly the central guys and girls, and there's lots of cool ideas in the final skirmish. That said about two thirds of this one is all action- dispensing with the Shadovar (sort of) and then winning the war against the Phaerimm, so- lots and lots of action. Towards the end I was in a Vietnam movie, with the Cold Hand playing the special forces style patrol, leading the line, and taking the battle to the bad guys. The Vaasan's obviously steal the show, and Khul's last run... just glorious, particularly the idea that he sacrifices himself to his dark blade. Very nice. But... You knew there was going to be one. It's really well written, and a page turner- I had lots of work on so I didn't get time to sit down with this one, I could have easily read it in just three days. But, Phaerimm, beholders and mind flayers by the dozen. There's so much CR inflation for the various fights here that... I just got a bit tired of it. Particularly when, for example, Valla, with a little help, takes on six, or eight, or else ten, Phaerimm. So, the next encounter, in which just one Phaerimm (a leader type), and with an army up against the foe- well, I don't care because the Valkyrie with the magic blade just took down more bad guys than that without getting a hang-nail. If you keep throwing very high level enemies into the mix, beholders getting killed by a single sword thrust, same illithid etc. It just gets a bit... meh! For me. I think there's some of my fear and trepidation about high level play here, I've been DMing for 40 years, and I can still count on the fingers of both hands the number of D&D games I've DMed beyond about 12th level. But, here's a positive- at least we get to talk to the Phaerimm in this one, the treat however is short-lived, and a bit underwhelming. The Phaerimm do not work together, and so... they're all emotionless, unconvincing, as super-villains I mean. The thing about the maulgrym (although I dislike these too), or the Zhent, or Dragons (or the Cult of the same vain), or the Shadovar, or the various terrible high level undead, or the Drow, or... and on it goes. The thing about all of these other villains is they come alive, they're bastards, and/or clever, and/or lots of other stuff. They're interesting folk, good to get to know- particularly for a DM making mental notes. Then there's the Shade denouement, what next- I take it there's a follow up to this somewhere along the way? Is there? But (again) it all seemed a little easy. In the end. I liked Denning's handling of the Chosen, they're remarkably palatable in this one, but still... a bit easy. I guess you can't mess with another author's creations though, and nor do you want to give your own creations up. If the author really wanted to up the ante, and make it seem much more credible/tougher then you need to bury a significant N/PC. One of the Chosen maybe, Galaeron possibly- making the ultimate sacrifice, or Aris, or... anyone significant. My point, I think, both enemies seem to be fatally flawed, the thing they do- kill, kill, kill; is pretty much all they do (for the Phaerimm). The Shadovar are much more twisty-turny, but they miss several clues and... they've been on the back foot since the end of the last book. Galaeron's accepting the shadow side of himself is... okay, but I guessed that a while back, or else that was one of the several theories I had going on. The favourite being some sort of ultimate sacrifice to save the mythal/Evereska/Faerun. That kind of thing. Read. A much better series than I expected, well written- all the characters pull their weight and come across as good D&D. But... 50% of the bad guys were much weaker, less interesting. Stay safe and well. Cheers goonalan [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Community
General Tabletop Discussion
*Dungeons & Dragons
I'm reading the Forgotten Realms Novels- #202 The Howling Delve by Jaleigh Johnson (Dungeons 2)
Top