Top Twenty Print Products

[trancejeremy]

Well, I would like an IMDB style voting system, though it's probably not feasible. A lot of people do have an opinion, but don't want to write a review.

Still, I do think EN World needs more reviews/reviewers.

Ideally, companies could send out copies to review - many companies do, and are generally responsible for 2-3 of the reviews of a product, but not all do...and companies could also do it beyond the staff reviewers - do like Chris Aylott did for Demagogues & Dynasties - ask for volunteers. But, having asked many companies for them, they seem to be reluctant to do so (though it could just be my charm )

I've also thought that perhaps EN World could give out prizes every month to a reviewer. Basically, a raffle. It doesn't have to be something expensive, maybe just a PDF (this would also generate reviews for their own PDFs). Couldn't hurt, anyway

 

[Olive]

I think Book of the Righteous is vastly overrated. I haven't really been able to use much (or, come to think of it, any) of the content in my games, and its treatment of alignment left a bad taste in my mouth. I thought the creation story was fair, but no different from other creation stories I'd seen; I liked the portrayal of evil cults of nonevil gods, but not much else.

This is more or less how I feel about it. Well writen book, interesting but more or less useless to me. And I agree on the alignment issue.

 

[Ghostwind]

In defense of the 5 review rule, it makes perfect sense. Yes there are some outstanding books out there that would likely make the top 20 if more folks got involved in writing reviews. If more of the thousands of people who use EN World as a source of information contributed to the review database by writing only a single review each month, I would be willing to bet that you would see a top 20 that changed and altered more frequently than it does now.

So, consider this a challenge to anyone who reads the reviews and contributes to EN World. Write a review of a gaming product! Tell the community what you think. Was the book great? Merely ok? Did it totally suck? For everyone that complains about the reviews that others post (especially the staff reviews), this is a prime opportunity to make an impact. Are you up to the task?

 

[roytheodd]

5. Tome of Horrors Necromancer Games 4.85 13
6. Manual of the Planes Wizards of the Coast 4.85 13
7. Spycraft Alderac Entertainment Group 4.83 6
11. The Tomb of Abysthor Necromancer Games 4.71 7
12. The Monsternomicon Vol. I Privateer Press 4.71 7
14. Scarred Lands: Ghelspad Sword & Sorcery Studios 4.67 9
17. Legions of Hell Green Ronin Publishing 4.58 12
18. Madness in Freeport Green Ronin Publishing 4.57 7
19. The Book of Taverns Necromancer Games 4.56 9
20. Counter Collection II Fiery Dragon Productions 4.50 6

Wow, I own more of these than I thought. I still the list is missing some quality products - Skull and Bones anyone?

 

[jaerdaph]

Interesting.

I own 9 of the top 20, only 1 in the top 5, and 5 in the top 10.

And I'm glad to see Nyambe is still on this list.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

Monsters Handbook already has 3 "5" ratings and Freedom City is weighing in at 4.5 with 4 reviews. A few more reviews and they could be up there. Go write one!

You guys set the bar pretty high... I wrote one review here before ( "bfg" ) and learned through that process to really respect the work you do...

 

[Zarrock God of Evil]

1. Book of the Righteous, The Green Ronin Publishing 5.00 9
2. 2000AD: Sláine RPG Mongoose Publishing 5.00 6
3. Midnight Fantasy Flight Games 5.00 5
4. Mutants & Masterminds Green Ronin Publishing 4.91 11
5. Tome of Horrors Necromancer Games 4.85 13
6. Manual of the Planes Wizards of the Coast 4.85 13
7. Spycraft Alderac Entertainment Group 4.83 6
8. Hammer & Helm Green Ronin Publishing 4.80 5
9. Plot and Poison Green Ronin Publishing 4.80 5
10. Call of Cthulhu d20 Wizards of the Coast 4.75 8
11. The Tomb of Abysthor Necromancer Games 4.71 7
12. The Monsternomicon Vol. I Privateer Press 4.71 7
13. Starfarers Handbook Fantasy Flight Games 4.70 10
14. Scarred Lands: Ghelspad Sword & Sorcery Studios 4.67 9
15. Judge Dredd RPG Mongoose Publishing 4.67 6
16. Nyambe: African Adventures Atlas Games 4.60 5
17. Legions of Hell Green Ronin Publishing 4.58 12
18. Madness in Freeport Green Ronin Publishing 4.57 7
19. The Book of Taverns Necromancer Games 4.56 9
20. Counter Collection II Fiery Dragon Productions 4.50 6

I only own Legions of Hell, Manual of the Planes, Starfarer's Handbook and Call of Cthulhu D20 but these are all top-notch products. Personally it pleases me to see the Starfarer's Handbook on this list, it's a very special product to me.

A list such as this doesn't really tell that much, though, but I cannot comment further on the other products even though I've heard much praise being lavished about Midnight, Spycraft, Scarred Lands and Nyambe and most of it justified I am sure. Personally, I believe top lists were the products are grouped against products of the same kind are more informative since comparing these products directly which each other is both difficult and not terribly useful (so groupings in "core books", "monster manuals", "class books" etc is something I'd find much more interesting and useful).

-Zarrock

 

[diaglo]

In defense of the 5 review rule, it makes perfect sense. Yes there are some outstanding books out there that would likely make the top 20 if more folks got involved in writing reviews. If more of the thousands of people who use EN World as a source of information contributed to the review database by writing only a single review each month, I would be willing to bet that you would see a top 20 that changed and altered more frequently than it does now.

So, consider this a challenge to anyone who reads the reviews and contributes to EN World. Write a review of a gaming product! Tell the community what you think. Was the book great? Merely ok? Did it totally suck? For everyone that complains about the reviews that others post (especially the staff reviews), this is a prime opportunity to make an impact. Are you up to the task?

i wrote several reviews for this site back about 1.5 to 2 years ago. they mysteriously vanished right after i posted them.

i don't trust the reviewers. they are a bunch of backslapping fanboys as far as i'm concerned.

 

[Uruush]

I only own BotR, Midnight, Hammer and Helm, Scarred Lands: Ghelspad, and Nyambe - I don't buy a lot of products outside the core books. They are all excellent. BotR and Midnight are both deserving of the A+s they are accorded. It intrigues me to see Mutants and Masterminds rated so highly. The "good ole daze" Champions-playin' part of me would like to play some d20 superhero stuff someday if it was good. (Off to read reviews...)

 

[Nightfall]

Forgive my ignorance but isn't Magical Medieval Society a PDF? And thus not eligable for this?

Also I agree with most if not all the ratings here. And if you people feel there needs to be others in place, my advice, write a review. And Diaglo no of these guys are fanboys. Trust me. If anything I'm a bigger fan boy.