Planar Handbook: Buying?

Pseudonym · Jul 24, 2004

I'm in the still pondering column. How compatable is the planar information with Eberron's cosmology?

Gez · Jul 24, 2004

Probably a lot.

What isn't compatible will be Great-Wheel-centric informations; and they're a minority in that book, since it's for players more than for DMs.

And even then, you should be able to incorporate most planar tidbits into Eberron's cosmology. I think.

ForceUser · Jul 24, 2004

Krug said:
Next on the product survey quiz...

I have every Planescape book ever published. So no.

Olive · Jul 25, 2004

ForceUser said:
I have every Planescape book ever published. So no.

Those two things aren't as an obvious link as you seem to think. I can easily imagine someone saying that they own every single PS book, so of course they will be buying it.

Anyway, I was in the definitely camp, then read the preview material and am now in the undecided camp. To PS-y for my tastes, and I love the planes.

Gothmog · Jul 25, 2004

Nope, was slightly interested when they announced it, looked through it at my FLGS, and its a definite no now. Nothing in it grabbed my attention and said "cool- you have to include me!" I never cared for Planescape, and this books is very Planescapy. I don't use the planes in my homebrew, never have, never will.

ForceUser · Jul 25, 2004

Olive said:
Those two things aren't as an obvious link as you seem to think. I can easily imagine someone saying that they own every single PS book, so of course they will be buying it.

I understand, but for me I couldn't see buying a Planescape derivitive book that lacks the art, soul & wit of Planescape, even if it is essentially the best 3.5 will ever do in that regard. As I flipped through the bland pages with lackluster art, full of yet more races/prestige class/etc. I felt downright offended. This was the best WotC could do with the legacy of my beloved Planescape?

You know what? Enough crunch. I've had it. For the first time since 3E hit the shelves, I put a D&D rulebook back (I mean the generic stuff, I don't often buy campaign-specific books). I may have reached my limit, and I think it was the drivel in the Planar Handbook that did it.

Olive · Jul 25, 2004

ForceUser said:
I understand, but for me I couldn't see buying a Planescape derivitive book that lacks the art, soul & wit of Planescape, even if it is essentially the best 3.5 will ever do in that regard. As I flipped through the bland pages with lackluster art, full of yet more races/prestige class/etc. I felt downright offended. This was the best WotC could do with the legacy of my beloved Planescape?

I understand totally... (although I don't undrstand when people say that they were 'offended' when Wot puts out a book they aren't into... disappointed? Sure, but offended?)

I'm more with Gothmog, I don't like the planescape-y ness of it all... I love planar adventures, but the prime is the centre of my campaign, and the way planescape changed that didn't appeal at all.

As far as your second comment goes, well I'm a bit crunched out as well... but more fluffy books wdon't appeal so much either! I'd like more fluff that explains how to do something rules-wise I'd like to do in my game. That's why I liked BoVD etc, cos they gave rules subsets for cool things, not just more PrCs and feats. To be honest I'm actually thinking I'm a bit burned out on fantasy at the moment. I've been plotting a d20 future campaign, and that's got me kind of excited without even having seen the system! I've never played a non-fantasy RPG (except CoC...) and I'm interested to try it. I'm gonna take a break from spells and monsters.

Creamsteak · Jul 25, 2004

I'm in the unsure market. I've spent my RPG $$$ this month on novels and software, and I likely won't be making any more purchases till September/October. This book, more likely than not, is going to be skipped over. It's neat, but I don't buy all that much, and so it will likely lack use in my game unless a player really digs it.

Doctor Futurity · Jul 25, 2004

Got it, am happy with it; nice to see some updates on Planescape material, although I've been generally wishing that they would have revived Planescape in it's true form. Unlike some others, I was more disappointed with the 3E Manual of the Planes: it was such a a let down in the wake of all the 2nd edition Planescape material, that to see the planes revived without the voice and feel of PS was a disappointment. The Planar Handbook helps bring a bit of that back, though.

I also picked up the Book of the Planes from Mongoose not long after; actually, a very nice book and emminently compatible with the MotP and the Planar Handbook. Yes, I believe my next campaign arc shall involve a new Tale of the Society of Planar Cartographers and their endless quest to map the planes.......

On the crunch-factor of splatbooks waning: yes, I feel that vibe, too. I have moved past the BoED, Draconomicon, Savage Species, and Arms And Equipment Guide as just not worth it. These days, I find I am only really using the Complete Warrior, Complete Divine (sort of), and BoVD (and the Planar Handbook/MotP, of course). UA gets a bit of mileage.....not too much, but enough to keep it around, just in case.

DragonLancer · Jul 25, 2004

I already have the Manual of the Planes, so I don't need it. Especially as a player's book. Player's should know that much about the planes to have their own book on it.

I'm glad that WotC didn't stick with the Planescape view of the planes all that much. Planescape took the planes, which were mystical and unfathomable realms of the gods, and turned them into just another campaign setting. Outsiders (as an example) such as demons & devils became just other races, rather than being the personifications of spiritual evil that they should be.