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Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Vanuslux" data-source="post: 2011930" data-attributes="member: 937">Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of Unorthodox Rogues.  However, despite the fact that I didn't pay for it I will still be reviewing it as though I had paid for it.  Unorthodox Rogues is a short PDF aimed at giving us a selection of variations on the rogue class.  Originally the Unorthodox series just contained core classes but sometime since Unorthodox Rangers, the last Unorthodox product I reviewed, they started bundling in some prestige classes with a small assortment of other stuff.  This new material apparently led to a serious price increase too. Appearances: We get three different files in the download. There is a landscaped PDF for screen viewing, a portrait PDF for printing, and an RTF file for those who want to edit in a word processor. I love that The Le Games does this.  All the art is clip art, mainly from Mongoose Publishing's Character Portraits products.  Fortunately the clip art here works pretty well and doesn't detract from the product.  Content: As for content, we get five core classes, three prestige classes, 14 artifacts, and three appendixes.  We'll get to the appendixes later, but first we take a look at the meat of the book, the classes.* Fabricator: Though I dislike the name of the class, an expert in traps and locks is a decent way to start off a book of Rogue variants.  At least that's what I thought until I saw the repeating slingshot a weapon that the Fabricator receives free proficiency with.  Over the course of future levels the Fabricator occasionally receives new abilities to improve the usefulness of his firearm substitute.  While that may fit into some people's campaigns giving the Fabricator class abilities in a particular weapon all but assures that weapon will almost always be a part of any self-respecting Fabricator's arsenal. I would have much rather had a more broadly useful trap focused class that didn't have a wonky gizmo weapon inherent to the class in such a way, but for campaigns unlike mine that don't mind such a weapon the class is pretty solid so I'll give it a reluctant thumbs up.* Layabout: It seems odd that the "masters of avoiding work and responsibility of any type" would ever amass so much experience that there'd be a 20 level class devoted to them. They get roguish stuff like evasion and backstab (which is basically sneak attack, except that instead of the additional damage being a set number of dice it is a multiplier of the weapon used) and charisma based abilities like seeming harmless and making friends easily.  For the most part, however, the class is pretty much tailor made to be useless.  It's practically a joke class without a punch line.  Thumbs down on this one both as a player and a DM.* Seductress: It seems like anytime variant rogue classes come up this concept comes to the table.  We've seen this concept done several times before...so how does the Unorthodox Rogue version hold up?  Not too well but its not a dismal failure either.  The Seductress gets a lot of abilities, most of which are used through being intimate with their target which is reasonable enough, but sometimes the ability descriptions are vague.  For example, the Addictive Kisses ability does ability damage to lovers deprived too long of the Seductress's affections but doesn't specify which ability score takes damage.  With a little house ruling, however, the Seductress would be a quite viable class in a city based, role-playing oriented campaign.  She would just be a poor man's rogue, however, in campaigns that didn't allow much use of her seduction abilities.  Another reluctant thumbs up.* Shroud: Some rogues rob from the rich and give to the poor.  Shrouds steal from the dead to give to the living, though often case that just means giving to themselves.  Of the core classes in this product, this one is the highlight.  They receive an interesting array of abilities that make them exceptional in certain circumstances.  They're a little underpowered in situations that don't involved undead, but how many campaigns don't at least have semi-regular appearances of undead?  This class is a real standout and gets a hearty thumbs up.  * Skulker: This appropriately named class is all about going unseen.  For example, at 5th level the character gains the ability to use paints to gain a +10 camouflage bonus to hide checks as long as he or she is completely naked.  While certain abilities might raise a giggle when used, the class really is both interesting and useful.  I like this class a lot and give it a thumbs up.* Backstabber: This is a five level prestige class.  I'm always leery of prestige classes that a character will almost always meet the requirements for without trying if they're a certain class.  This class is the master of daggers, particularly in their application as a sneak attack weapon.  A Skulker/Backstabber would be a nightmare for pretty much anyone.  It's a very one-dimensional class but seems reasonable in regards to balance.  * Saintly Thief: This is a seven level prestige class.  The requirements are a little more diverse than for the backstabber, but it would still be easy to take as low as 3rd level.  That's really not too problematic, though, since the class doesn't really do much except a handful of modest disguise based abilities.  The idea is that the Saintly Thief is a thief who only steals from other criminals but really he's just a chaotic good disguise specialist who has to give away 90% of his ill-gotten gains to charity.  * Ward Boss: This is a five-level prestige class is kind of like crime world middle management.  He's just another run of the mill crime boss class that every rogue supplement just has to have.  Again, the requirements are easily met by a third level rogue. Baubles and Urus of Ancient Powers (artifacts) - This appendix is about small gem-like stones with a bit of power that can be infused into items.  There's 25 of them and some are pretty interesting.  Appendices: There are three appendices.  The first is a summary of Rogue abilities and their progression chart.  The second is spells, which is really only one spell.  The last is weapons, which is only one weapon...the aforementioned Repeating Slingshot.In Conclusion: This product is a seriously mixed bag.  A few of the base classes are really good, but the prestige classes are pretty weak.  The baubles and urus are kind of cool but feel out of place in a product about rogues.  The appendices don't add a lot.  Ultimately I'm disappointed, but it's a cheap product and not without its value so it squeaks by with a rating of three.</blockquote>

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