Oathbound - an overlooked setting?

[Teneb]

It is quite a bit of math, but it is significantly simplified from the way it was originally written. I agree that it's a pretty cool concept. Leads to a very "Island of Dr. Moreau" kind of feel (which there is an example of in the book, if you haven't reached it already).

I like the chase mechanic myself. When I first saw it in the table of contents, my gut reaction was "big deal". However, after reading through it, I thought it was pretty interesting and, more importantly, involving for the characters.

 

[Kanegrundar]

I just picked up Oathbound and Arena the other day off RPGNow. I like the books, though the art isn't so great in spots, but that's subjective in the extreme. I like the feel of the books and the fact that it's designed in a way that anything from any D20 fantasy book can easily fit into the setting. I doubt that I ever run it, but I may utilize it for quick adventures upon occasion. It's a decent setting, not the best, but definantly deserving of more looks than it gets.

Kane

 

[Teneb]

The art in the early books is probably one of the most numerous complaints Oathbound gets. The latter books (post Wrack and Ruin I think) have gone in a different art direction. I think a lot of the art for Wildwood is quite good.

 

[Ghostwind]

The dragon pic in Wildwood is so very cool...

 

[Kanegrundar]

I agree. I hope to pick it up soon. Overall, art doesn't influence whether or not I like a book. Pretty pictures are nice, but not essential. Minions is one of my favorite monster books and it had the same artist, for instance.

Kane

 

[DMH]

My most favorite piece of art is on page 66- a B&W look at the suns through some trees and a few faces of things hiding in the trees.

The hunting rules are interesting. I can see Midnight orcs using them to hunt down a party or a veloceraptor pack in Broncosaurus Rex using them to track down a stegosaur.

For those who are wondering about the races- lobsters, hornets, Aztecy humanoids, another humanoid (African maybe), and the urgoda. Strangely they use to be land bound bird people, but are now dog footed. And there are write ups and racial levels for the races from DOF that would be found in WW.

 

[Psion]

I agree. I hope to pick it up soon. Overall, art doesn't influence whether or not I like a book. Pretty pictures are nice, but not essential. Minions is one of my favorite monster books and it had the same artist, for instance.

I thought Minions Rebirth had better art, but they reverted to the original minions art for Minions 3.5, which I don't understand.

 

[Kanegrundar]

Maybe the commission was for use with ony that one book? I've wondered the same thing myself.

Kane

 

[DMH]

I agree that it's a pretty cool concept. Leads to a very "Island of Dr. Moreau" kind of feel (which there is an example of in the book, if you haven't reached it already).

I am already getting some ideas- upgrading your pet (Bad Fluffy! Give me the mailman.), punishment for crimes (maybe for Blackwall, but also for a Perdido Street Station adapation), making new prey for dangerous hunts (Yes, our fire breathing deer are in back.) and of course making champions better for their bloodlord's safety.

As for the art in Minions Rebirth, I found that Dr. Who like half-troll to be hillarious.

 

[DMH]

After rereading the locations and beings parts of WW, I have finally figured out what it reminds me of- Ravenloft. Creepy locations, powerful human and inhuman people, mad scientists and lost cities. The last directly relates to 3 RL domains that were described in the Books of S and the Undead Sea Scrolls (both series have tons of stuff that can be ported onto the Forge).

Tom, who are the Musai and Ologatu based on?