Themed Books

[Connorsrpg]

AS I have mentioned in another thread I loved the themed books and think this is a great idea from WotC.
BoVD, BoED = alignment themes, LOVE them (and we don't even use alignment). When are the chaos and law ones coming?
Frostburn, Sand'something' & upcoming Maelstrom = excellent. When playing in such environments these are superb. Our island hopping, pirate fighting campaign is looking forward to the Maelstrom
Monster-themed books are the coolest too: I only own Libris Mortis, but I LOVE the ideas in there. I just keep reading it. Exceptionally useful.
I even like the idea of the grouped racial books: Races of Stone and Races of the Wild are great and whilst the human one not up there it was still a good 'idea'.

And that is my point. They are good ideas in my mind whether well written or not (though I think they are). If playing a campaign in the deep bowels of the earth run by mindflayers = get "Lords of Madness". If playing an elf = get "Races of the Wild. For truly evil villains the BoVD (a personal favourite)...BUT

I don't think the 'Complete' series was as good an idea. The 'theme' for me just didn't work. I have the complete books and they are well-written, but I still wish I had spent the money on other better themed books. I find them a jumble of extra feats, spells etc that could go anywhere. The material is just too general for themed books.

The DMG II is a great book. I just think the Complete series would have made a better PBH II. Think it through... about the same amount of new classes as PHB, bunch of new feats, new skill uses, spells, equipment etc. Practically all same chapters from PHB could have been repeated with new material. Would have been much better to source than this 'for all classes who use arcane stuff'. So if I want several options for a genric fighter I need 4 Complete Books?? frustrating. I am not going to push the greedy for $ cash line. Not into bashing, I just think the DMG II was a cool non-themed book and a PHB II may have done the Complete series better.

Of course that leaves all the PrC to go somewhere. I don't see why a book of PrC couldn't be done (as a DM book with organisations and ideas for meshing them into campaign) or better yet just align them all with other themed books and put more in them. Or heavens above a chapter of them in the PHB II, I mean players make use of them.

I am not here to create arguments nor call WotC demons etc. I love the books they put out. I love the themed idea they started. I just felt the Complete series wasn't suited to this, despite MANY great ideas in them.

I welcome others' thoughts

Out. Connors

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

What themes would you like to see in books in the future that have not been covered yet?

 

[Mokona]

A book of Law versus Chaos (instead of one for each) might be interesting but frankly those sides don't really struggle against each other in current D&D (absent their good/evil axis). Frankly I think Elementals should be the vanguards of Lawful and they should be opposed by Fey, the vanguards of Chaotic.

 

[Connorsrpg]

What themes would you like to see in books in the future that have not been covered yet? The Grumpy Celt

Well there is a good question. I guess other threads have already done this re the lines from WotC already in production. I know there was a huge one on what monster book should be next.

For me I would like to see:
Orcs: I know some are sick of them, but I love the staple humanoids of the game and a whole book on them would suit me fine Goblinoids too. I guess several would have to be combined into a book of evil humanoids with a catchier title Races of the [insert own adjective here]

Monstrous Humanoids (reptillian): this would be cool. Kobolds, lizardfolk and the resurfacing of several subtypes: sligs were an old favourite.

I certainly would like to see the setting/terrain books continue: Swamps, more importantly Forests would be cool. A whole book on cities would be cool too. Some of the rules in DMG II are what I am after. Moving through crowds, trailing, chasing, random shops etc

I still see an easy couple of books out of law and chaos.

A book of Law versus Chaos (instead of one for each) might be interesting but frankly those sides don't really struggle against each other in current D&D (absent their good/evil axis). Mokona

Well, what better way to spice up the idea than with a couple of cool themed books. Law and chaos play a greater role, as each are weapon properties needed to overcome DR. So the Lawful Martial Strike etc are options. I also feel the need to push Law and Chaos, Good and Evil (especially) get a fair deal. Such a Law book could really add to characters such as Paladins & Monks. Chaos could do the same for Rogues and others.

Frankly I think Elementals should be the vanguards of Lawful and they should be opposed by Fey, the vanguards of Chaotic. Mokona

I am not sure I would go down that path, but each are sound themes. Do people prefer pairings like Kingdoms of Kalamar do? I kind of like the one central theme.

On the Complete series, I felt Arms & Equipment fell into that same problem. Parts of it would have been better divied up into more sound themed books. And what are people's thoughts on them being a PHB II instead?

 

[dvvega]

I like the environmental books that WOTC have produced. They're not perfect, and I'm sure others could "do better" however they have enough there to spark the imagination and make those climates interesting enough to play in. Even if it is just a showcasing of something from them - Even if it is a stuffed and mounted mammoth head in the home of a great warrior.

What I'd like to see is the continuation of this series. Shipwrack is the next and I'm assuming that is sea adventuring, however I would like a generic Jungles setting, the tropics haven't been done well enough.

From there what about themed books for certain planes? Higher level groups are plane hopping nowadays and a guide to specific areas (elemental planes for example) would be good. The current information (spread over many books and only snippets) is not enough for theming.

D

 

[Mark Plemmons]

For me I would like to see:
Orcs: I know some are sick of them, but I love the staple humanoids of the game and a whole book on them would suit me fine Goblinoids too. I guess several would have to be combined into a book of evil humanoids with a catchier title Races of the [insert own adjective here]

Dude, if you're looking for an book on orcs, you really should check out Fury in the Wastelands - you could very easily adapt it to whatever setting you're playing in. I really do think it's an excellent book (and I had nothing to do with it, even)!

Also Strength and Honor (hobgoblins) - PDF preview link.

 

[Connorsrpg]

Yeah, I like the Kalamar products. Should get more of those

Any other, non-monster themes others have in mind?

What about the PHB II concept?

Just hpoing for some comments.

 

[Mokona]

Now that we've seen Races of the Dragon for release in 2006 what should be next in line?

Races of Faerun (was this 3rd edition?)
Races of Stone (dwarf, gnome, goliath, and stonechild)
Races of Destiny (human, half-orc, half-elf, illumian, and many others)
Races of the Wild (elf, halfling, raptoran, killoren, and catfolk)
Races of Eberron (kalashtar, changeling, shifter, and warforged)
Races of the Dragon (I'm guessing kobold, lizardfolk, troglodyte, half-dragon, and dragonkin)

I'd like to see Races of the Horde (goblin, hobgoblin, bugbear, and orc) next.

We've seen Draconomicon, Libris Mortis, and Lords of Madness. Hopefully Giants will be next as they seem to be the most used foes after those already mentioned above.

 

[sukael]

I want to see a book of fey...

 

[Li Shenron]

I don't think the 'Complete' series was as good an idea. The 'theme' for me just didn't work. I have the complete books and they are well-written, but I still wish I had spent the money on other better themed books. I find them a jumble of extra feats, spells etc that could go anywhere. The material is just too general for themed books.

I just think the Complete series would have made a better PBH II.

I've never thought of the Complete books as themed books. They're very generic supplements, divided into 4 volumes more because of commodity than anything else.

A PHB II would have worked well. Without the skill chapter, the combat chapter, the general spellcasting chapter and with less spells than the PHB, I guess there would have been space for half of the PrCls in the Complete series. Anyway, they could still release this in the future as a sort of "best of" the complete series, but it's a little chance.