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Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!
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Magic Merchants 3: White Bear's Den
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<blockquote data-quote="Ace" data-source="post: 2455260" data-attributes="member: 944"><p>Disclaimer: I was given a review copy</p><p></p><p>White Bears Den is a magic shop plug in from Clockwork Golem’s Workshop with an emphasis on cold and arctic survival magic. The supplement provides an interesting way for DM’s to introduce new magic items into the campaign, give tips about goblinoids or segue into an arctic milieu. </p><p></p><p>Appearance:</p><p>White Bear’s Den is a 15 page PDF. It is a half meg zip file, easily downloadable with dial up or cable. It cost $1.50, a very nice price.</p><p> The PDF is laid out in sections, each with an arctic blue header that is easy on the eyes and fits the theme quite nicely</p><p> It has a very few illustrations by Jupiter Images. While not professional quality in my opinion the illustrations do not detract from the book at all. The layout is clean, well organized and functional if a bit drab</p><p> I found the stat block material and charts to be especially readable (or printable) and Clockwork Golem’s Workshop deserves kudos for this.</p><p></p><p>Content: </p><p>This product contains all of the information a DM needs to plug it into a game. </p><p>The intro section, half a page or so, is both descriptive and well statted.</p><p> There is enough information for either a novice or an experienced DM and all of the needed stats are included. </p><p>The next section includes the history and location, not world specific in any way. </p><p>It is just a few paragraphs but enough for use right away as a magic shop in many campaigns</p><p>Following this are the magic items.</p><p> The first of these are four fully stated custom items</p><p>,the Cloak of the White Bear, Elixir of the Cold Mist, Orb of Cold Fire and the Spirit Sack. These descriptions include suggested uses and manufacturing information. The information has a good balance of flavor text and stat information. I like these items and would use them in my own game without qualm</p><p>Next are lists of wands and potions with cost, quantity and availability notes.</p><p>The alchemical section is laid out in the same way and also includes three new preparations, a poison called Frost Viper Ichor, a booze called Ghaar and Warming Salve. These seem fun and balanced. </p><p>There are also sections on spellcasting services and commissioning new items. </p><p>The next three pages are made up of examples of “one of” items that might be purchased at the shop. There are a wide range of things, weapons, rings, wondrous items and more. They range in cost from 32302 for The Eternal Shard (a +2 Icy Burst Dagger) to 300 for a potion of remove paralysis. The items are highly compliant with SRD price guidelines. </p><p>They also include interesting history and descriptions and are quite well written.</p><p>After these pages there is a write up of the eponymous White Bear himself .There is plenty of information in the write up to make using him as an NPC pretty easy. </p><p>He also has a nifty sidebarwith a couple of modified spells.</p><p>I do have a few concerns and cautions though. First a snake familiar makes little sense for an arctic game. Its just silly. A weasel or the like would have been much better. </p><p> Second this stat block suggests that the product should be used with players who aren’t slaughter oriented.</p><p> Even though the items are not especially powerful (if you leave out the “one ofs”) but they do make a tempting horde. </p><p>Frankly a crafty bloodthirsty party even of low or medium level could kill the old adept. This might put a lot of unwanted magic in the game and turn what is meant as a civilized encounter into a dungeon of mayhem.</p><p>The body of the adventure closes out with using White Bears Den and an Adventure Hook. </p><p>Pages 13 and 14 contain and appendix with weather effects, the polymorph spell (revised version I believe) and stats for a Polar Bear</p><p>The last page is the OGL</p><p></p><p>This product would be ideal for an arctic campaign and would especially useful for DM’s with access to Frost and Fur or similar products. While not useful for all sorts of games its ease of use and excellent rules compliance make it very nice value and decent a use of $1.50.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ace, post: 2455260, member: 944"] Disclaimer: I was given a review copy White Bears Den is a magic shop plug in from Clockwork Golem’s Workshop with an emphasis on cold and arctic survival magic. The supplement provides an interesting way for DM’s to introduce new magic items into the campaign, give tips about goblinoids or segue into an arctic milieu. Appearance: White Bear’s Den is a 15 page PDF. It is a half meg zip file, easily downloadable with dial up or cable. It cost $1.50, a very nice price. The PDF is laid out in sections, each with an arctic blue header that is easy on the eyes and fits the theme quite nicely It has a very few illustrations by Jupiter Images. While not professional quality in my opinion the illustrations do not detract from the book at all. The layout is clean, well organized and functional if a bit drab I found the stat block material and charts to be especially readable (or printable) and Clockwork Golem’s Workshop deserves kudos for this. Content: This product contains all of the information a DM needs to plug it into a game. The intro section, half a page or so, is both descriptive and well statted. There is enough information for either a novice or an experienced DM and all of the needed stats are included. The next section includes the history and location, not world specific in any way. It is just a few paragraphs but enough for use right away as a magic shop in many campaigns Following this are the magic items. The first of these are four fully stated custom items ,the Cloak of the White Bear, Elixir of the Cold Mist, Orb of Cold Fire and the Spirit Sack. These descriptions include suggested uses and manufacturing information. The information has a good balance of flavor text and stat information. I like these items and would use them in my own game without qualm Next are lists of wands and potions with cost, quantity and availability notes. The alchemical section is laid out in the same way and also includes three new preparations, a poison called Frost Viper Ichor, a booze called Ghaar and Warming Salve. These seem fun and balanced. There are also sections on spellcasting services and commissioning new items. The next three pages are made up of examples of “one of” items that might be purchased at the shop. There are a wide range of things, weapons, rings, wondrous items and more. They range in cost from 32302 for The Eternal Shard (a +2 Icy Burst Dagger) to 300 for a potion of remove paralysis. The items are highly compliant with SRD price guidelines. They also include interesting history and descriptions and are quite well written. After these pages there is a write up of the eponymous White Bear himself .There is plenty of information in the write up to make using him as an NPC pretty easy. He also has a nifty sidebarwith a couple of modified spells. I do have a few concerns and cautions though. First a snake familiar makes little sense for an arctic game. Its just silly. A weasel or the like would have been much better. Second this stat block suggests that the product should be used with players who aren’t slaughter oriented. Even though the items are not especially powerful (if you leave out the “one ofs”) but they do make a tempting horde. Frankly a crafty bloodthirsty party even of low or medium level could kill the old adept. This might put a lot of unwanted magic in the game and turn what is meant as a civilized encounter into a dungeon of mayhem. The body of the adventure closes out with using White Bears Den and an Adventure Hook. Pages 13 and 14 contain and appendix with weather effects, the polymorph spell (revised version I believe) and stats for a Polar Bear The last page is the OGL This product would be ideal for an arctic campaign and would especially useful for DM’s with access to Frost and Fur or similar products. While not useful for all sorts of games its ease of use and excellent rules compliance make it very nice value and decent a use of $1.50. [/QUOTE]
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