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Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Simon Collins" data-source="post: 2009267" data-attributes="member: 9860">Beware! This review contains major spoilers.This is not a playtest review.Librum Equitis Vol 2 (LEV2) is Ambient Inc's second foray into the realm of prestige-class-only .pdf releases (though this volume contains other rules information related to the prestige classes). The first received a level of critical acclaim, whilst others, including myself, felt the product was weak. I was interested to see if the second volume had improved on the first's weaknesses. This review is for the revised and enhanced .pdf version released directly by Ambient.LEV2 is priced at $5.95 and is a 984KB 58-page file. This is fairly average pricing these days for a .pdf file. The sparse mono artwork is average to good. Writing style is average, a little informal for my liking, though different styles distinguish the varied use of flavour text and rules information well. Different types of information are clearly defined and the layout is clear if not particularly imaginative. Editing seems good with only a few minor errors.The file begins with a short discourse on the benefits of electronic publication and some hints as to new releases followed by an introduction explaining the use of prestige classes with 3, 7 and more than 10 levels in the accessory and giving some advice on using and abusing the accessory. I found the explanations of the varied use of levels a bit wishy-washy - "7-level classes are the middle ground between 5 and 10-level classes. More than a pass-time or a sub-class, these classes still do not completely redefine the character who takes it". I'm not averse to the concept of different levels in a prestige class, this just seems an unnecessary and weak explanation.The first chapter is dedicated to the main thrust of the product - prestige classes. Unless noted, the prestige classes are 10 levels:* Bokor - a kind of evil voodoo witch doctor. Loses a spellcasting level every third level. Gains the ability to cast remote spells via a voodoo doll, use poison and has a terrifying presence. Also introduces a new poison, zombie dust, and a note on zombies in regard to Bokor. NPC PrC.* Bone Archer - crafts magical bone arrows with increasingly powerful necromantic effects as the PrC progresses. Has a sidebar covering rules on crafting bone arrows.* Brotherhood of the Golden Blossom - a 5-level paladin-monk cross with improved monk abilities against undead and evil outsiders. Unlike the previous two PrC's, this seems to return to the faults of LEV1 with restricted class access, and bending basic rules like stacking effects, and undead being immune to critical hits.* Children of the Snake - human or half-elf worshippers of a yuan-ti god. Gains limited psionic powers (which can be used as spell-like abilities in non-psionic campaigns), can produce venom, improves poison saves, gains sneak attack abilities, becomes inhumanly flexible, and gradually transforms into a yuan-ti whilst suffering Con damage in the process.  An imaginative NPC class, though the requirements allow a 2nd-level human fighter access. Also a new psionic power, SnakeForm. NPC PrC.* Circle of the Lute - a spy for the bardic college of Mac-Fuirmid introduced in LEV1. Gains spells somewhat like a wizard from limited spell list. Also gains extended Gather Information abilities, subliminal innuendo, bardic knowledge and spellcasting benefits from other spellcasting classes.* Earthbound - a 12-level dwarf/stone-giant based PrC. Casts arcane spells from a limited spell list using Wisdom for bonus spells and DC modifier. Gains various abilities related to stone and eventually changes to an earth-type creature. Includes a new feat, Rock Brother, which grants the dwarven Stonecunning ability or a +3 bonus if already possessed.* Elite Cavalry -   a 5-level standard soldiering class, which allows entry from 3rd level onwards and gives benefits to combat whilst riding. Probably an NPC PrC.* Forge Singer - normally dwarf-based PrC with benefits to aiding the manufacture of items. Loses a spellcasting level every 3rd level for various song-related abilities and access to the new Forge domain, listed here. There is also information on creating iron elementals, and a new monster, the Iron Elemental. Probably an NPC PrC.* Mad Tailor - insane tailor sews together different creatures to make horrific constructs, also using magic. The results, Mad Constructs, are listed in five different power ranges. NPC PrC.* Mind Thief - rogues with psionic powers. Abilities include ignoring the immunity of undead and constructs to sneak attacks, though this is explained logically as more of a psionic effect than a physical one. Class-based PrC.* Order of Cordun - the fighting arm (excuse the pun) of the Initiates of Cordun from LEV1. Gains spellcasting levels every odd level and various infernal paladin-like abilities. Also use a chitinous armour (made from creatures called Tirrics, who are described here) which can be imbued with magical powers. NPC PrC* Riders Of The Duras - a 7-level mounted ranger PrC, limited to elf, half-elf or human. Gains a more limited version of the Ranger's Favored Enemy ability and various abilities relating to mounted combat and tracking.* Sacred Paladin - a 12-level alternative paladin PrC with domain access, energy channeling, weapon specialization, and limited spellcasting. Military extension of a church rather than independent.* Siege Mage - gains abilities to enhance siege defence and building destruction. Loses a spellcasting level at 3rd ad 7th levels. Can imbue constructions with spells. Probably an NPC PrC.* The Society Of Heavenly Movements - sages and mages with an astrological focus. Members lose a spellcasting level at 3rd ad 7th levels. Gains spontaneous metamagical feats and arcane 'domains' based on zodiacal signs.* Timer - Use psionics to improve their physical prowess, especially in terms of speed. Think 'The Matrix'. Psionic-based PrC.* Tribal Berserker - another class-based PrC, this one restricts access to barbarians and the PrC worships a lycanthropic totem in a bestial cult. Gains modified rage abilities and ability to shapeshift into various predators. Probably an NPC PrC.* Troll Hunter - gains various combat abilities useful for dismembering creatures with regenerative powers such as trolls and d12 Hit Die. Contains the Hardcore feat, which adds Fort save totals +1 to hit points.* Venomous - this evil PrC requires the ability to create poison spontaneously or via the spell of the same name. Enhances poison-using ability and contains a new weapon enhancement - the ability for weapons to deal poison, as per the spell. NPC PrC.* Weapon Cult Paragon - leaders of cults focused on their deity's favoured weapon. Lose spellcasting levels at 3rd, 6th and 9th level. Gains smite, gains bonuses to Leadership score, and can make a limited number of automatic critical threat attacks per day. Probably NPC PrC.Unlike LEV1, these PrC's are more developed, taking up three to four pages rather than the single page of LEV1. Further, LEV2 has two further chapters.Chapter Two covers some spells and domains. Domains are Clouds, Forge, Horses, Negative Energy, Positive Energy, Stone, Traps and Weaponry. Spells are (levels in brackets): Befuddle (2/3), Blast of Earth (4), Claim from the Earth (2/3), Clay Step (1), Earth's Defender (3), Essence of Earth (5/7), Fox's Guile (2), Granite Arms (3), Guardian of Earth (4), Hands of Clay (1), Magnetic Covering (3/4), Minor Curse (2), Mountain's Fortitude (1), Murmur of the Earth (2/3), Oubliette (5), Stony Purge (1), Swim Through Earth (3), Tremor (2), and Wall Of Earth (2). As can be seen, most of these are low level. Most also relate to the PrC's in the product, though some can be used by standard classes.  Chapter Three, entitled 'Psionic Devices of the Duan Khat' is kind of a prelude to Ambient's forthcoming 'Jungles of the Mind', which will go into more depth on the fallen city-state whose inhabitants created the psionic devices in this chapter - Metashards (minor psionic crystals) and Dawnspheres (hovering metallic spheres that work as the equivalent of psionic ioun stones).  Conclusion: Whilst I still have some reservations about the PrC's in this product, this is a significant improvement on LEV1. It contains more depth, the rules are more balanced, the PrC's are more unique (i.e. not multiclass clones or fantasy standards) and most have standard prerequisites which allow all classes to (eventually) meet them. There are two or three PrC's which fell into the same mistakes as I felt LEV1 made, but on the whole this is much improved.I was disappointed with the quality of the writing, which I felt was not as atmospheric nor as well written (in terms of the flavour text in particular) as Mystic Eye's release of LEV1. Nor did it have the NPCs that were a nice feature of that release. A minor issue to note is that half of the PrC's are more suitable to NPCs and are unlikely to be appropriate for PCs. Note that the designation of NPC or probable NPC PrC's is my personal opinion, not a designation by the author.</blockquote>

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