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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Glyfair" data-source="post: 4770105" data-attributes="member: 53">I picked up the PDF of the first issue of "Level Up" (I was curious, otherwise I would take the intentionally cheaper option of picking it up at my FLGS).I am going to give an overview, without going into any issues with game balance, etc.  I don't feel strong enough in 4E to be making any balance calls quite yet, unless it is 100% clear one way or another.The editorial gets down to brass tacks, and lists the columns you can expect to see in each issue and what the theme is.  Nice, direct, and to the point.Andy Collin starts things off in Wizard's Corner which is reminiscent of Paizo's editorials when they did Dungeon & Dragon.  It's basically an anecdote from his games, and applying a gaming concept (in this case "never split the party.")  I enjoyed it, but I know some won't as there isn't anything directly useful here.Roads to Adventure will be a complete adventure in each issue.  This issue's is "Rift of the Hill Giant Thane."  Nice flavor, pretty brief (7 pages) and not too much beyond a short dungeon crawl.  Not bad for a first installment on first glance.PC Pearls are columns covering PC options (sort of like the old "Class Acts").  This issue's article is "Weapon Focused Warriors."  It has three paragon paths focusing on a different weapon.  We have the Arablestier for rangers (with stats for the arbalest), Crimson Cleaver (an axe figher) and Cudgel Thug (club or mace wielding rogues).  Blackdirge's Bestiary are monster stats.  This issue covers new dinosaurs/behemoths, and expansion of on the second of the Critter Cache series.  Some of the creatures were featured in the Hill Giant Thane adventure (the lizardwolves).Deities of Aereth covers the deities of Goodman's campaign for the 4E Dungeon Crawl Classics.  This issue we have Gorhan, the god of war, valor and chivalry.  The article is about two thirds fluff, and one third rules bits (with fluff mixed in here as well).  We get about 4 1/2 pages of this article before the rules bits.  Then we get a divinity feat, a magic item, and the paragon path the Revenant Saint (a paragon path for Gorhan's paladins).Azagar's Advice for Adventurers has a hobgoblin general dispense tidbits on military matters for adventurers.  This issue we have "Choose Your Weapon Part I."  We have feats for each tier for the axe, the flail, the hammer and the mace.  Presumably next issue will have more.GM Gems will have material for GMs.  This issue's installment is "Fiendish Foes."  We have templates for the Demon Knight, Hell Beast and the Hellfire Adept, with examples of each.Power Skins is a series that focuses on reskinning powers to fit certain types of campaigns.  This isn't listed in the opening editorial so this might be limited or irregular.  This issue focuses on reskins first level fighter powers to fit into Goodman's upcoming Frazetta's Death Dealer series of adventures.A Picture Tells a 1,00 Words will have a fantasy illustration and build a short, 1,000 word encounter around it (sounds very contest worthy).  This encounter is set at 5th-6th level in a market square.We have a bunch of reviews in "Jack's Ultrashort Reviews."  I haven't checked to see if these are identical to those posted here, or if they are different.  I suspect the first.D20 Questions is an interview column.  This issue's subject is Adrian Pommier, writer and community events manager for Goodman.  We have the "Semi-Random 4E Monster Name Generator," a table for generating names in the "4E style" like Deathjump Spiders orBloodspike Behemoths.  I have to admit, this is the lamest part of the issue, IMO.  Dear Archmage Abby is your straight forward advice column.  Not sure how useful this will be.  Questions for the first issue cover gaming with your fiancée and staying with 3.5 or switching to 4E.While I haven't tried to judge balance, this first issue is promising.  A nice mix of crunch and fluff.  Only a few wasted pages.  Even the ads are on topic (WotC even has the back cover).</blockquote>

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