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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="Messageboard Golem" data-source="post: 2009239" data-attributes="member: 18387">This review is for Van Richten’s Arsenal: Volume 1, a Ravenloft campaign supplement.  Published by <a href="http://www.swordsorcery.com/" target="_blank">Sword and Sorcery</a> under White Wolf’s Arthaus imprint (confusing, isn’t it?), this 160-page book retails for $24.95.After a brief introductory section, chapter one looks at various equipment that are of great use to a hunter of the night.  All of the items are mundane but have interesting qualities that would add flavor to campaigns other than Ravenloft.  New weapons include a dragon pack, which is essentially a large backpack sprayer that can shoot any liquid up to 20ft. in distance.  A pack filled with holy water or alchemist’s fire can be a devastating weapon.  New tools include flour (for detecting invisible creatures), magnetic compass, tripwire alarm, and straitjacket as equipment used in hunting foes.Chapter two is a collection of arcane and divine spells tailored towards aiding a monster hunter in his investigation (identify spoor), offensive spells (awaken guilt), and defensive spells (wall of gloom).  Chapter three delves into magical weapons and magic items that are of great use to undead slayers and monster hunters.  New magical weapon properties are binding, death bane, fey-forged, heartseeker, and protection.  Items imbued with magic powers include:  coffin of eternal rest, eye of the wicked sight, ring of reversion, and wolfspaw.  Items of faith and worship include: bed of meditation, icon of the eternal order, and witch pin.  A few relics (similar to artifacts) are addressed, some of which include Hands of the Dawn Healer and Skull of the Seventh.Chapter four is devoted to the science of alchemy and how it relates to Ravenloft.  New substances, feats, a template and potions are discussed as they relate to alchemy.  Chapter five is a broader base of information for all players.  Thirteen new general feats are listed for players to utilize provided they meet the requirements.  My personal favorites here are logical mind, nine lives, sworn enemy, and warding gesture.  Ten new prestige classes round out the chapter.  The Alchemical Philosopher is basically a pure alchemist in mature and more of a NPC rather than player character.  Anchorite of the Mists are clerics of Erza who control the mists.  The Avenger lets revenge guide his life, committed to the destruction of a single nemesis.  Crypt Raiders are the stereotypical tomb raiders.  Dirgist is a bard with exceptional knowledge of the undead.  Guardian Seekers specialize in the knowledge of cursed items and evil relics.  A Hallowed Witch draws upon her power from the land itself, gaining incredible spell resistance as she progresses.  A Knight of the Shadows is a type of paladin devoted to combating evil and protecting the innocent.  Pistoleers are masters of gunpowder weapons.  Stygian Attendants are spellcasters who use mercy and compassion to help undead pass onto the other side.Chapter six is an in-depth chapter on using techniques and tactics in pursuit of monster/undead hunting.  There are several good strategies for many kinds of undead such as vampires, ghosts, liches, and other monsters such as lycanthropes and constructs.  The information in this chapter is quite useable outside of Ravenloft and should fit into other campaigns with little modifications.  The appendix is a collection of NPCs that may lend valuable aid to players in Ravenloft.Overall, Van Richten’s Arsenal: Volume I is a good sourcebook for people who adventure in Ravenloft.  There is good material that can be used outside of this setting but the bulk of it is best served when in Ravenloft.  For a campaign-specific Ravenloft GM or player, this book is a good buy.  Anyone who doesn’t adventure in Ravenloft, however, should take a close look at it first before buying it.To see the graded evaluation of this product, go to The Critic's Corner at <a href="http://http:www.d20zines.com" target="_blank">www.d20zines.com.</a></blockquote>

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