Planar Handbook: Buying?
- Thread starter Krug
- Start date
Incenjucar
Legend
I'm fairly certain I won't be getting it. I already have the more important PS books and boxed sets, a trio of PDFs, and my own imagination and preferences, and, if needed, the ability to convert monsters. I already have Planescape.
What the new designers are offering is Planescape: Alternate Dimension. If I wanted to get in to divergent lesser stories, I'd get more in to anime. The direction the designers are going irritates me to the point where I really don't see a reason to encourage them to continue. I would much rather hope that, in 4th edition, PS was revived, but not so utterly smacked-around by 3e that they have to leave the pointless changes in, or reintroduce planar players to what the real deal.
I just can't give my money to people who don't want it.
What the new designers are offering is Planescape: Alternate Dimension. If I wanted to get in to divergent lesser stories, I'd get more in to anime. The direction the designers are going irritates me to the point where I really don't see a reason to encourage them to continue. I would much rather hope that, in 4th edition, PS was revived, but not so utterly smacked-around by 3e that they have to leave the pointless changes in, or reintroduce planar players to what the real deal.
I just can't give my money to people who don't want it.
AFGNCAAP
First Post
I don't know.
From what tidbits I've seen, there's a fair mix of interest/uninterest for me. However, the key thing for me getting this book is if it's viable for me to use for my campaign, & it's Prime Material focus.
I never really was interested in Planescape or the like, because I didn't like the idea of advetures stomping around what effectively (for many of them) is equivalent to Heaven, Purgatory, & Hell. Don't really care for the idea of adventuring in the lands of the afterlife, so to say. For me, it sorta takes the "oooph" outta these planes & creatures from these planes.
Then again, I don't care for WW's WoD because PCs can be vampires, werewolves, & whatnot--sorta become the blah standard instead of the thrilling & scary unknown (which, IMHO, is what adds a lot of mystique & power to these creatures).
Still, there appears to be interesting tidbits in the book, but I don't know if the ratio of useful/unuseful material (for me) will be enough in favor for buying the book.
From what tidbits I've seen, there's a fair mix of interest/uninterest for me. However, the key thing for me getting this book is if it's viable for me to use for my campaign, & it's Prime Material focus.
I never really was interested in Planescape or the like, because I didn't like the idea of advetures stomping around what effectively (for many of them) is equivalent to Heaven, Purgatory, & Hell. Don't really care for the idea of adventuring in the lands of the afterlife, so to say. For me, it sorta takes the "oooph" outta these planes & creatures from these planes.
Then again, I don't care for WW's WoD because PCs can be vampires, werewolves, & whatnot--sorta become the blah standard instead of the thrilling & scary unknown (which, IMHO, is what adds a lot of mystique & power to these creatures).
Still, there appears to be interesting tidbits in the book, but I don't know if the ratio of useful/unuseful material (for me) will be enough in favor for buying the book.
Pants
First Post
Probably not. Money is slim and I have other purchases to worry about. the Planar Handbook looks really nice... but I question the amount of actual use I'll get out of it. As much as I like the planes, I have yet to use them extensively.
Iron Kingdoms: CG, MMIII, Frostburn, and Libris Mortis are much more important.
Iron Kingdoms: CG, MMIII, Frostburn, and Libris Mortis are much more important.
Derulbaskul
Adventurer
I bought it but I expect that it will see little use particularly after falling asleep on the first read-through. I liked some of the planar locations, spells and items. I have largely given up on new races and prestige classes so paid them very little attention.
Mercule
Adventurer
Likewise. Seems like all my "mad money" the last couple of months has gone towards D&D/d20 books. But the preview for this makes it look like Planescape 3.5 -- or at least a nod in that direction -- which is a bad thing IMHO. I honestly can't imagine wanting to do much adventuring beyond the Prime Material -- at least not still calling it D&D.Avouz said:
Halivar
First Post
I've only been gaming a few years (late late 2nd Ed.), and even though I never had an opportunity to play in a Planescape campaign, the setting fascinates me endlessly. What I loved most was just the tons of fluff you got in every book. You just don't see that in 3.0 or 3.5.
That being said, Planar Handbook is extremely disappointing. I won't complain too loud; it came with a free Borders gift certificate. I certainly am glad I didn't spend any real money on it.
The only redeeming bit in there, IMHO, was the post-Faction-War portrait of Sigil (I have only read pre-FW PS books). Even that was not enough; WotC needs to put out another book just as thick for Sigil itself. Others may disagree.
All told, my advice is: save your money. Better yet, go buy some old PS material and update the crunchy bits yourself.
That being said, Planar Handbook is extremely disappointing. I won't complain too loud; it came with a free Borders gift certificate. I certainly am glad I didn't spend any real money on it.
The only redeeming bit in there, IMHO, was the post-Faction-War portrait of Sigil (I have only read pre-FW PS books). Even that was not enough; WotC needs to put out another book just as thick for Sigil itself. Others may disagree.
All told, my advice is: save your money. Better yet, go buy some old PS material and update the crunchy bits yourself.
Aaron L
Hero
I am definately getting it. I hope it isn't TOO Planescapish, as I love planar things but dislike Planescape. I like my planes as the battlegrounds of angels and demons, not a place where angels and demons drink together at the planar bar while speaking to each other in bad pseudo British accents.
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