Re: Initial Impressions of the Epic Level Handbook
Upper_Krust said:
Hi all! 
Okay I have had the book for a couple of hours now, so time for initial observations.
- Epic Class Extensions: straightforward
- Epic Prestige Classes: nothing particularly grabbing - but maybe I need to read over them a few times.
- Epic Skill Uses: straightforward
- Epic Feats: some interesting choices, though I am not sure about Improved Metamagic and Multispell.
- Epic Spells: I think the mechanics are great. The example spells are interesting.
- Epic Campaign Advice: I need to read this closer - 100 Epic Adventure ideas were good though.
- Epic Magic Items: Covers all the bases. More evolution than revolution. Thought the artifacts could have been much better.
- Epic Monsters: Overall good - though there were a few that were a bit flat but everyone has their favourites I imagine.
Glad that you finally were able to get the book, Upper_Krust!
Be careful with the Epic Spells. They are fun to create, fun to read, ... and riddled with errors!

One in particular is the question when the Permanency is applied. For me, it seems obvious that it is applied as the last factor before the mitigating factors, but the sample spells often do it differently.
Some seeds that may be useful or neccessary are missing (Magic Equipment, for example. I posted a possible version twice here on the boards, in the IC forum and the Rules forum).
There is no real way to create instantaneous spells, other that "ad hoc"ing it and hoping that the DM allows it.
But yes, it is a fun chapter, and I'm hoping to unleash my Rain of Jade upon the hordes of shdaowlands oni in the Rokugan IR.
I like most of the monsters presented (I was quite shocked when I read the Xixecal - I have a very similar god planned for my homebrew (and I had already statted him, just for fun)!

).
The abominations are quite interesting, and I would have wished to see a wolf-like abomination instead of the brachyurus.
I think some CRs may be in line with your CR method (before the recent adjustment).
The City of Union is nice, and despite the fears of other posters, has a different feel than Sigil. The sample epic adventure seems to be quite "hack and slay", and is possibly too hard for characters of the proposed level. It seemed more like "Introduce as many epic critters as possible in as few words as possible". I like the epic adventure from Dungeon Magazine better in that respect.