Ultimate NPCs -- Any good?

[Ghostwind]

I am thinking about picking up Ultimate NPCs either at Gen Con or from work. But before I do, I need to know if it is any good? Is it affected by the Mongoose curse of bad editing and bad stats or is this a jewel? The cover says is it 3.5 compliant, but recall that Sheoloth, City of the Drow also said that.

So, what do the experts say?

 

[Psion]

I am thinking about picking up Ultimate NPCs either at Gen Con or from work. But before I do, I need to know if it is any good? Is it affected by the Mongoose curse of bad editing and bad stats or is this a jewel? The cover says is it 3.5 compliant, but recall that Sheoloth, City of the Drow also said that.

Heh... so I wasn't the only one soured by that book.

FWIW, I like my copy and get good use out of it.

I haven't scrutinized the stat blocks to the John Cooper level, but having used some in play, I haven't seen any rules-flub levels problems.

I also dig the NPC generation material, especially the alignment and class based personality traits. Cool stuff.

I wish he had done more of the DMG PRC classes, but the ones that are there are pretty decent. I could live without the dragon disciple though, as that is not one I use in my game.

 

[shaylon]

Thanks Psion. I was wondering what people thought as well.

Maybe I will thumb through it at GenCon.

-Shay

 

[Napftor]

I'll echo everything Psion said. I've used some of the hobgoblin stats as well as another sorcerer NPC so far and I was pleased. Anything to save us harried DMs time is a blessing. I also haven't scrutinized the stats for rules irregularities but I trust Lizard has done his best here and that's good enough for me.