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Message: <blockquote data-quote="HalWhitewyrm" data-source="post: 2010418" data-attributes="member: 4046">Ultimate Alien AnthologyI’m not a big fan of "race" books—books full of races and races for your game. Generally the ones included in the game’s core book are good enough, with sparse additions from time to time. So the concept of the Ultimate Alien Anthology was already flawed as far as I was concerned, except for one small detail: this is a Star Wars book. Star Wars is all about aliens in far-off worlds somehow getting along (or warring) with each other, so a book full of aliens for my game (and always-expanding reservoir of Star Wars trivia) was definitely worth a look, all bias aside. I am glad I did.The Ultimate Alien Anthology lives up to its name, providing over 180 races to enhance your game. Right away I have to say, the fact they included the core races was a definite plus to me; I much prefer something calling itself the Ultimate anything be precisely that. If anything, I would’ve liked to see Humans included in there as well, for completion purposes. But I digress. While by no means including all the various alien species ever to grace the Star Wars universe, the selection is vast and covers all eras of play. For the curious, here’s the complete list of races:Abyssin, Adarian, Advozse, Amanin, Anomid, Anx, Anzati, Aqualish, Arcona, Arkanian, Ayrou, Balosar, Barabel, Baragwin, Bartokk, Besalisk, Bimm, Bith, Blood Carver, Bothan, Caamasi, Caarite, Cathar, Celegian, Cerean, Chadra-Fan, Chagrian, Charon, Chev, Chevin, Chiss, Clawdite, Codru-Ji, Colicoid, Cragmoloid, Dantari, Dashade, Defel, Devaronian, Draethos, Drall, Dressellian, Dug, Duros, Ebranite, Elom, Elomin, Em’liy, Ewok, Falleen, Farghul, Feeorin, Filordus, Frozian, Gamorrean, Gand, Geonosian, Givin, Gossam, Gotal, Gran, Gungan, Herglic, H’nemthe, Ho’Din, Houk, Hutt, Iktotchi, Iotran, Ishi Tib, Ithorian, Jawa, Jenet, Kaminoan, Kel Dor, Kerestian, Khil, Khommite, Kian’thar, Kitonak, Klatooinianm Koorivar, Krevaaki, Krish, Kubaz, Kushiban, Lannik, Lepi, Menahuun, Miraluka, Mon Calamari, Morseerian, Mrlssi, Muun, Myneyrsh, Nagai, Nautolan, Nazzar, Neimoidian, Neti, Nikto, Esral’sa’Nikto, Gluss’sa’Nikto, Kadas’sa’Nikto, Kajain’sa’Nikto, M’shento’su’Nikto, Nimbanel, Noehon, Noghri, Nosaurian, Nuknog, Omwati, Ortolan, Pacithhip, Pa’lowick, Phindian, Pho Ph’eahian, Psadan, Quarren, Quermian, Qwohog, Ranat, Ranth, Rodian, Ruurian, Rybet, Ryn, Sakiyan, Sanyassan, Sarkan, Sauvax, Selonian, Shi’ido, Shistavanen, Skakoan, Skrilling, S’kytri, Sludir, Sluissi, Snivvian, Spiner, Squib, Ssi-Ruu, Sullustan, Talz, Tarasin, Tarro, Temolak, Thakwaash, Thisspiasian, Tiss’shar, Togorian, Togruta, Toong, Toydarian, Trandoshan, Trianii, T’surr, Tunroth, Tusken Raider, Twi’lek, Ubese, Ugnaught, Umbaran, Verpine, Vodran, Vor, Vratix, Vuvrian, Weequay, Whiphid, Wookiee, Woostoid. Xexto, Yarkora, Yevetha, Yinchorri, Yuuzhan Vong, Yuzzem, Zabrak, Zehethbra, and Zeltron.Each race is presented with a short introduction that places the race within the Star Wars universe (and provides some interesting tidbits of more Star Wars canon material), and with player race-style write-ups. A sample commoner is also included, as well as pieces of equipment and other race-specific items scattered all about. You can have an NPC ready to tangle with your PCs in less than a minute, and that is a great advantage for any Gamemaster.The next chapter has a few prestige classes somewhat tailored to the theme of Races. The prestige classes are nothing out this world (no pun intended) and are simply good to round out the whole package. Force adepts are probably going to be very happy about the selection of prestige classes, as will those playing strange archaic concepts (big game hunter, anyone?) or those seeking to enhance their new race’s abilities (aerobats and changelings are cool if you can fly or shapeshift, respectively). The feats introduced in the book are, again, specific to some of the races (or types of races) or prestige classes covered in the book, and are just okay. You don’t buy this book for the prestige classes or the feats, so they make nice additions without detracting from the value. At the end there is an Appendix on the Yuuzhan Vong, providing tips on how to modify the core classes to fit them, and general tips on running campaigns with this race.The most useful items the book has are the table of contents at the beginning, and the home-world index at the back; talk about usefulness for a gamer. I simply wish all game books were as well indexed as this one.The artwork is good enough; I’m not an artist, so I can’t comment much on the actual styles used by the different artists, though I appreciate the clear way in which each race was depicted (police line-up style), as well as each prestige class.I think my only complain with the book is the issue of balance. The races are wildly different one from the other, and for the most part, they are not balanced one against the other. As far as the book is concerned, a jawa and a hutt are equally balanced, stat-wise. This, of course, is not true. The d20 concept of Equivalent Class Level (or ECL), where a stronger race may actually have virtual class levels as part of its racial write-up in order to balance it against other, weaker races, would have gone a long way towards achieving pure harmony. As it is, it is up to each Gamemaster to determine a way to balance out the races if they happen to show up together in a party.If you are a Star Wars gamer, or even a Star Wars fan, then this book is for you, providing a great combination of value for both players and Gamemasters alike. I may still have my whole bias against Race books, but if they were all like the Ultimate Alien Anthology, I would probably change my mind.Title: Ultimate Alien AnthologyAuthors: Eric Cagle, Cory Herndon, Michael Mikaelian, Steve Miller, Owen K.C. Stephens, JD WikerPublisher: Wizards of the CoastPages: 224Cost: $34.95 (US)Available: Now</blockquote>

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