Quintessential Fighter/Arms & Armor/Sword & Fist: What books are you using?

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

We all remember the massive disappointment surrounding the release of Sword & Fist (what a mess that was!). Now, Mongoose has released The Quintessential Fighter and Bastion Press has released Arms & Armor.

I really like these two books. Between them, I have about a jillion new types of weapons and armor to unleash as well as cool feats and PrCs for fighter types. TQF isn't perfect, but I think it is everything S&F should have been. Arms & Armor delivered all it said it would and then some (and in full color!).

So, how many of you are using these sourcebooks and what is your opinion of them?

*** I just changed the title of this thread because I realized it was in direct conflict with the poll itself. Oops!

 

[Deranged Youth]

I looked over Arms & Armor, and I can't say I quite approved of some things. The fencing sabre is a small rapier; same statistics, but small. The armored robe is free AC for spellcasters with no downsides. However, the enchantments looked fine. But then again, I didn't really sit down with it.

I can't say I like Mongoose publishing, so I didn't look at their book.

Sword and Fist had some good weapons and what-not, but now whenever someone mentions "mercurial," I whimper and hide in my closet for half an hour. Sometimes an hour if there's a good book in the closet. If the book isn't those tiny one-shot adventures

 

[Nightfall]

Sword and Fist is the reason I'm glad I have R&R along with the Divine and the Defeated to help keep fighters and monks in check.

 

[Kamard]

What do you folks like in Arms and Armor and Quintessential Fighter that are better than S&F?

I agree that S&F had pretty poor production value, and that mercurial thing makes me want to harm myself and others.

 

[Psion]

The grousing about S&F is HIGHLY blown out of proportion. I haven't heard one complaint at the gaming table about it. Of the three you mentioned, it is the only one that I am currently using.

 

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

The grousing about S&F is HIGHLY blown out of proportion. I haven't heard one complaint at the gaming table about it. Of the three you mentioned, it is the only one that I am currently using.

I agree.

 

[Crothian]

In the QF I really like the presitge classes. They are nice, simple 5 level things. They don't force a character to be defined by them the way most prestige classes do. The feats are pretty good. Only one is a little confusing and one is a little too powerful. The fighting styles are really good and my favorite part of the book. However, the prequites are very severe, but I see that as a very good balancing issue.

I've yet to even see A&A in the store, so I have no opinion on it.

 

[Kaptain_Kantrip]

Really? My group groused about S&F the minute they read it and all of them don't even look at the messageboards. It was a poorly thought-out, sloppily written and edited rush job that left a bad taste in many gamer's mouths for the class books. Defenders of the Faith didn't help much, Tome & Blood gave us false hope for major improvements in the series that were dashed when Song & Silence released. Masters of the Wild was a surprise in that WoTC finally seemed to "get it right" with PrCs and feats that more people could use and far less glaring errors.

TQF was pretty good overall and a damn sight better than S&F for utility of content. A&A is hardly a necessity, but it is a nice luxury item to have if you have the extra bucks and are at all interested in new weapons and armor and enchantments for same. My players loved it, though they hated much of the art (I liked most of the weapon and armor designs but don't care much for Bastion's main artist's style when it comes to depicting people).

I forgot to include AEG's WAR book in the poll. This is probably even better than TQF, especially if you want to run a war campaign. Most of the PrCs are very cool and will work outside a "war" environment.

 

[Psion]

It [S&F] was a poorly thought-out, sloppily written and edited rush job

S&F had some problems, primarily stemming from the fact that it was released before R&D review was in place. The errata fixes the few problems. S&F has been the source of more innovative characters than any of the other classbooks too date. T&B, while better edited, didn't produce as many interesting characterss. The classes, while interesting, where a little to "out there" for most players.

TQF was pretty good overall and a damn sight better than S&F for utility of content.

I really don't think so. While I don't think its a bad book, it has more weaknesses than S&F as a product. (Edit) Rather than repeat my review, I'll just point you too it:

http://www.enworld.org/d20reviews.asp?sub=yes&where=active&reviewer=Psion&product=TQUF

TQF does have some interesting and useful material, but S&F is always at my table.

 

[Rashak Mani]

I said S&F but because I have never seen the quintessential fighter ... most groups use Sword and Fist because it is Official material and therefore should be "balanced"... which isnt exactly the case.

The reviews of the Quint Fighter arent exactly enthusiastic ... on the board we do have some fans thou...