Planar Handbook Review (Broad)

[reanjr]

I have to say, the Planar Touchstone stuff really is a waste of space. I just picked my copy up tonight, and I have to say, that was 33 pages I'll never read again. That could've been spent on more magic items, more feats, more PrCs, more description on Sigil, more monsters...ANYTHING.

OTOH, I hadn't quite realized that Sigil was shaped like that. I rather thought it was a ring, but the surface was flat. Funky.

Brad

I agree wholeheartedly. In addition, the aasimar and tieflings could have gone as well as converting them to player races is already covered in the core books. I think Wizards needs to find a happier medium between those who never want to buy a support book and those who never want to buy the same information twice.

Did you never play Planescape, then? It was pretty clear in Planescape that Sigil was shaped like the inside of a tire.

 

[reanjr]

I think the book is aimed for people who are playing games that are almost entirley on the planes.

Things that make you go *hmmmm...*

 

[The Black Kestrel]

- Planar Touchstones:
This is just my opinion but I think this idea is stupid. If the designers want to give a free power-up in return for a feat, they should just give a spell-like ability instead of making you cross planes to touch base to get the ability. I don't see how forcing the PCs and the DM to suffer through a campaign long game of tag with a planar location just to get an ability is all that interesting or worthy of the large amount of space it wastes in the book. I would've preferred more detail on planar cities and locations that are interesting to adventure in or just visit or are somehow unique. Since the book is supposed to be a player's book, how about more planar feats, spells, magic items or even prestige classes?

Read some of Zelazny's Amber books, the Font of Power (used by Brand) meets the description of a Planar Touchstone, not to mention the Pattern itself. If you don't like using them on the Planes perhaps adapt a couple for your campaign world.

 

[dave_o]

I think our Pirate themed admin has it. Whaddya think about that?

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What's the matter?

This is probably way off-topic, but I must say this. I was in Asheville just a few days ago (I was up at Lake Toxaway on vacation) looking desperately for the now out-of-print CoC d20. The BAM there HAD THE BASTARD, and I called my friend Whim and asked "Dude, why does Asheville, NC have this book?"

Whim: "It's, like, the Wiccan capital of the US."

Is there any truth to that? AND THANK YOU ASHEVILLE FOR HAVING CoC d20.

PS: The Planar Handbook will never compare to 2E Planescape. So it is written, so it is truth.

 

[Pielorinho]

This is probably way off-topic, but I must say this. I was in Asheville just a few days ago (I was up at Lake Toxaway on vacation) looking desperately for the now out-of-print CoC d20. The BAM there HAD THE BASTARD, and I called my friend Whim and asked "Dude, why does Asheville, NC have this book?"

Whim: "It's, like, the Wiccan capital of the US."

Is there any truth to that? AND THANK YOU ASHEVILLE FOR HAVING CoC d20.

First, on behalf of Asheville, YOU'RE WELCOME! GLAD TO HELP!

Second, BAM? Huh?

Third, yeah, there's a lot of Wicca etc. here in Asheville. Right now, though, there's mostly just Floridians on vacation .

Glad you enjoyed the city--I love it here!
Daniel

 

[Pielorinho]

BAM: Books a Million. Right?

Daniel
off to Chapel Hill for the weekend

 

[Dark Psion]

Anyone notice the Sensate PrC, the Ardent Dilettante has rewriten PrC Requirements?

The PrC has 1st level requirements, 4th level, 7th level and 10th level requirements!

Yes, you have to keep taking specific Skills, weapons, spells and accomplish specific tasks, including that you must have died and been brought back to reach 10th level.

Good side: This prevents Prestige class poaching, 1 level of this one, 2 levels of that one.

Bad side: More numbers to crunch and stats to keep track of.

 

[John Q. Mayhem]

I was looking desperately for the now out-of-print CoC d20.

Really? I didn't know it was out of print. There's about three stores around here that have it.

 

[Gez]

I wonder why they keep inventing new Familiar feats when the Improved Familiar feat is Core now.

Even though it shouldn't exist in the first place. All other classes with pets (druid & ranger's animal companions, paladin & healer's mount) can get better pets at the price of a few level late in special abilities; but for familiar, there's a different mechanism. What happened to streamlining, avoiding the YAM syndrom, and KISS?

 

[cignus_pfaccari]

IDid you never play Planescape, then? It was pretty clear in Planescape that Sigil was shaped like the inside of a tire.

I'm playing in Tzarevitch's campaign now, but this is the first description I've read of Sigil itself. I haven't gotten a chance to look at the DM's Planescape materials.

I'd been kind of wondering why people didn't just fly across the ring, and I suppose they still could, but I just never got around to asking.

Brad