Hi guys,
Another book due out this coming week - The Quintessential Human, written by Adrian Bott. We have been saving this one for quite a while - after all, what can be said about the most popular race in fantasy gaming? We all know what it is to be human, right? Well, read on. . .
The Quintessential Human begins by following the standard Quintessential format, now giving humans the same benefits the other races have enjoyed for all this time. Character Concepts, templates applied to 1st level characters to give them immediate depth and roleplaying opportunities, provide new choices for players - the Cunning Lad, Noble in Disguise, Elf-Friend, Malcontent, Farmboy, Homemaker, Subject of Prophecy, Displaced One, and Enigma. The Prestige Human takes this a step further, focussing on ideas and concepts that make Humans what they are - the Daredevil, Giant-Killer, Monster Captor, Princely Hero (I love the quote that goes with this one - my next Paladin is so going for this!), Fakir, Holy Fool, Cult Leader, and Lothario.
Tricks of the Humans provides some new takes for this race beyond the simple bonus feat and skill points. Pushing an Ability allows humans to extend their capabilities temporarily under times of great stress (like the woman who suddenly finds new-found strength when trying to turnover the car wreck that is trapping her child - wonder where I remember that story from?), while Clinging to Life permits humans to have just one more go at staying alive when reduced to -10 hit points. New Uses For Old Skills abound, with variations such as Detecting Fakes, Courtly Flirtation, Spread Rumours and a whole host of new Craft skills.
Human Feats are primarily based around the concept of survival - Blocking parry, for example, or Intercept. However, there is also Jack-of-all-Trades and Greater Soul Tenacity that reflect a human's inbuilt desire to succeed and strive on.
Tools of the Humans looks at both the mundanity of this race, as well as their inventiveness. New rules for using agricultural tools as weapons are covered, as well as those weapons that come from cultures other than strictly western. The human desires for exploring, travelling and nurturing are covered, with items such as caravans and limb plasters. There is also a look at the more inhumane aspects of humanity, with a variety of torture and execution devices.
The next chapter, Human Cultures, looks at giving your new human character a more fully rounded personality and background - rather than just saying, 'yup, I went with human to get the free feat'. There are plenty of cultures and background to choose from - the Crime Family, Desert Nomads, Highway Nomads, Water Rats, Northerners, Jungle Dwellers, Plainsmen, Religious Colonists (strangely appropriate for this time of year), Savannah Hunters, Seafarers, Steppe Raiders, Street Raised and Urban Sophisticates.
Humans are among the shortest lived of all races and yet they have the greatest desire to live on beyond their own mortality. This is covered by the Dynasties chapter, providing rules for creating your own character's dynasty (no matter how humble) and potentially playing your character's children - which could be very useful if the rest of the party consist of dwarves and elves who think nothing of spending 50 years creating the latest magical artefact. Added to this are guidelines for handling human fertility, social stigmas, raising children, fostering, the transfer of wealth and property - even guidelines on handling pregnant characters during adventuring (plenty of fantasy literature to draw on there).
The Limits of Mortality takes a look at the possibility of humans acquiring ghost companions, of friends and mentors long gone - again, the roleplaying opportunities abound. The Quintessential Human winds up with Adrian's own thoughts in the ever-popular Designer's Notes, a fully featured index and a complete character sheet (which will soon be available for download on our web site).
The Quintessential Human is a 128 page sourcebook priced at $21.95, and will be available from your local store from the middle of this coming week.
Another book due out this coming week - The Quintessential Human, written by Adrian Bott. We have been saving this one for quite a while - after all, what can be said about the most popular race in fantasy gaming? We all know what it is to be human, right? Well, read on. . .
The Quintessential Human begins by following the standard Quintessential format, now giving humans the same benefits the other races have enjoyed for all this time. Character Concepts, templates applied to 1st level characters to give them immediate depth and roleplaying opportunities, provide new choices for players - the Cunning Lad, Noble in Disguise, Elf-Friend, Malcontent, Farmboy, Homemaker, Subject of Prophecy, Displaced One, and Enigma. The Prestige Human takes this a step further, focussing on ideas and concepts that make Humans what they are - the Daredevil, Giant-Killer, Monster Captor, Princely Hero (I love the quote that goes with this one - my next Paladin is so going for this!), Fakir, Holy Fool, Cult Leader, and Lothario.
Tricks of the Humans provides some new takes for this race beyond the simple bonus feat and skill points. Pushing an Ability allows humans to extend their capabilities temporarily under times of great stress (like the woman who suddenly finds new-found strength when trying to turnover the car wreck that is trapping her child - wonder where I remember that story from?), while Clinging to Life permits humans to have just one more go at staying alive when reduced to -10 hit points. New Uses For Old Skills abound, with variations such as Detecting Fakes, Courtly Flirtation, Spread Rumours and a whole host of new Craft skills.
Human Feats are primarily based around the concept of survival - Blocking parry, for example, or Intercept. However, there is also Jack-of-all-Trades and Greater Soul Tenacity that reflect a human's inbuilt desire to succeed and strive on.
Tools of the Humans looks at both the mundanity of this race, as well as their inventiveness. New rules for using agricultural tools as weapons are covered, as well as those weapons that come from cultures other than strictly western. The human desires for exploring, travelling and nurturing are covered, with items such as caravans and limb plasters. There is also a look at the more inhumane aspects of humanity, with a variety of torture and execution devices.
The next chapter, Human Cultures, looks at giving your new human character a more fully rounded personality and background - rather than just saying, 'yup, I went with human to get the free feat'. There are plenty of cultures and background to choose from - the Crime Family, Desert Nomads, Highway Nomads, Water Rats, Northerners, Jungle Dwellers, Plainsmen, Religious Colonists (strangely appropriate for this time of year), Savannah Hunters, Seafarers, Steppe Raiders, Street Raised and Urban Sophisticates.
Humans are among the shortest lived of all races and yet they have the greatest desire to live on beyond their own mortality. This is covered by the Dynasties chapter, providing rules for creating your own character's dynasty (no matter how humble) and potentially playing your character's children - which could be very useful if the rest of the party consist of dwarves and elves who think nothing of spending 50 years creating the latest magical artefact. Added to this are guidelines for handling human fertility, social stigmas, raising children, fostering, the transfer of wealth and property - even guidelines on handling pregnant characters during adventuring (plenty of fantasy literature to draw on there).
The Limits of Mortality takes a look at the possibility of humans acquiring ghost companions, of friends and mentors long gone - again, the roleplaying opportunities abound. The Quintessential Human winds up with Adrian's own thoughts in the ever-popular Designer's Notes, a fully featured index and a complete character sheet (which will soon be available for download on our web site).
The Quintessential Human is a 128 page sourcebook priced at $21.95, and will be available from your local store from the middle of this coming week.
