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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Khur" data-source="post: 838131" data-attributes="member: 5583">Rules! We got some rules around here!Chris Sims here.Double HD: Like Sir Whiskers (Bruce R. Tillotson, an editor on this project) pointed out might be so, the "double HD" issue is taken care of completely. It won't be any harder to add a class to a half-giant than it is to add one to an ogre or a hill giant. Many creatures that had double HD no longer do, while at one that didn't now does (with very specific definitions). How these HD function within the scope of affecting advancement is solidly clear in each case. Doubling of HD was not really as "within the rules" as I like game writing to be, so I eliminated it where I felt it was confusing and/or too over the top (many places).Damage Reduction: We've taken liberties with DR where it makes sense, as Frilf (Ian Johnston, author and prime unit for Silverthorne Games) points out. There's nothing stopping us from using 3.5e-like DRs, and many of the DRs in the book tend toward my impression of what 3.5 will look like based on reading everything I can get my hands on with hints and innuendo (Dragon articles, and etc.). On the other hand, though I know a stone golem's DR is going to be lower in 3.5e, I didn't lower it in the first run of the Book of Templates: Deluxe Edition where the creature was used in a sample.What's in it for you: The book has plenty of examples that show how the template applies and can be nudged in the direction a DM wants the creature to go. It has ways to help the user think about how he or she wants his or her game to feel when it comes to certain monsters. That necessitates three things: options, options, and options. Oh, and flexibility. That's four things, I know!What I mean by flexibility is that many of the templates now take the base creature more into account and scale to meet that. Many abilities that were static in the original Book of Templates now function on a sliding scale. Challenge Rating, always an art, has also been mucked about with to see if it can't give a better picture of this variability.What I mean by options is that when Ian says 60 templates, he means it—but there's another factor at work. Some of the templates offer possibilities that make them more than one template by themselves. I can think of one example at the moment that offers DMs the opportunity to make four slightly different creatures with one template. A few others allow combinations that make determining just how many differing critters someone could create with the template a mathematical uncertainty (at least to me). (They told me algebra would be useful someday, but I wouldn't listen!)BotDe also takes it to the table by giving some options for players. I personally wouldn't want a player running a Dreadnaught pixie, but hey, it's your game. In all seriousness, there are crunchies for both sides of the screen, though the book does favor the DM.We all know, being DMs ourselves, that DMs love to tinker, so we've tried to facilitate that aspect of meta-game within the game. We've also facilitated the DM in knowing just how a monster came to be, with one or more options in many of the templates. Of course, some are still just cursed or blessed creatures. Further, unique creatures are just a few steps away, and there are samples of those in the book too!Art: The artists are outstanding. (I've always been impressed with Ian's ability to get great art.) Look the artists up online if you haven't seen their work. You won't regret it.Shamelessly Self-Aggrandizing Conclusion: (They say it ain't bragging if it's true, but I beg you to be the judge. Send me hate mail if I'm wrong.) Those of you who get the new PDF for free need to be sitting down when you open it. It'll knock you down if you aren't. In my opinion, this offer is super-generous, considering what the new book has to offer in the way of upgrade. This isn't a mere revision; it's an overhaul with all new parts, a shiny paint job, and a red ribbon for gift giving. It's like trading in a car you've driven for a couple of years for a new one at no extra charge! (I'm given to hyperbole, but hopefully you'll forgive me.)It may be that some of the free material is included in a print version, if I may be so bold. Ian will correct if I'm wrong. It all depends on the final page count. I definitely want to see this book in print.Let me just say, I'm a hard-nosed and picky when it comes to some things (which anyone who reads my reviews or editing annotations <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f61b.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue    :p"  data-smilie="7"data-shortname=":p" /> knows). Even though I'm the editor of this project, along with Bruce, and a contributing author, I can honestly say this book would be one I'd take pride in owning. I sincerely hope those who end up with one feel as good about their copy.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f600.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":D" title="Big grin    :D"  data-smilie="8"data-shortname=":D" /></blockquote>

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