Weird coincidence in the new Orc books

[Crothian]

Is the elf book also going to have a focus on Wizards since it's their favored class? If so, I'm real curious what a Wizard/Sorcerer prestige class will look like. Are you planning on adding in some new spells as well? I know you haven't been placing in a lot of "fluff", but it would be nice to see you expand upon the introduction and the role playing sections. I think you did a good job with both these sections in both books, I just wish they were longer. I really like that you have the Role in a society and role in an adventuring party as part of each prestige class. I really hope more writers adopt a similiar take to describing prestige classes.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Is the elf book also going to have a focus on Wizards since it's their favored class?

Oh, lordy yes. The mind boggles. I think this one will be in every wizard player's arsenal, elf or not. I am having a blast designing this one.

If so, I'm real curious what a Wizard/Sorcerer prestige class will look like.

He's a tough customer, I'll tell you that. Not particularly respected among his elven peers, though-- they are not big fans of "short cuts" where arcane studies are concerned, and sorcery seems like cheating to some.

Are you planning on adding in some new spells as well?

Space and time permitting, yes.

I know you haven't been placing in a lot of "fluff", but it would be nice to see you expand upon the introduction and the role playing sections. I think you did a good job with both these sections in both books, I just wish they were longer.

My objection to "fluff" is basically this: I don't want to redefine any of the races in any major way. The more fluff you put in, the more work a DM has to do to reconcile the race to his own campaign world. And ultimately these books are for players, not DMs-- that's why they look the way they do and are sized the way they are.

And I want players to be able to approach their DM with the books and say, "Can I use this?" I don't want to include any fluff in there that becomes an obstacle to the DM. I want people to actually be able to use this content.

Which is why, to a great extent, you'll find the rules balanced on the "weak" side. If I am waffling over how powerful a feat or ability is, I will err on the side of caution every time. However, I am making a bit of a change with Elves, bypresenting the rules and then saying, "If your GM feels the need to restrict this, here are a few recommendations..."

One last comment about "fluff" is that there's more fluff to these books than first meets the eye. The fluff is in the rules. It's in the battlerager's Against the Odds ability, or the fighter-rogue's Tunnel Fighting ability. It is lurking there under the half-orc wyrd's tendency to explode when other barbarians are raging around him. I like to present flavorful rules and let the DM worry about the fine details of why those rules work the way they do.

Wulf

 

[Crothian]

One last comment about "fluff" is that there's more fluff to these books than first meets the eye. The fluff is in the rules. It's in the battlerager's Against the Odds ability, or the fighter-rogue's Tunnel Fighting ability. It is lurking there under the half-orc wyrd's tendency to explode when other barbarians are raging around him. I like to present flavorful rules and let the DM worry about the fine details of why those rules work the way they do.

Wulf

Sounds great. I read some reviews that weren't glowing becaus of the lack of fluff. In my review I mentioned there wasn't a lot there, but tried not to criticize you for it. I made two early points in my Dwarf review. The first was that it was light on fluff (how I hate that word), the second being not a lot of rules changes. Each of those is liked and disliked by certain people, so I tried to keep it open and let the consumer decide on it.

I do like the approach these are made for PCs. However, I like them better for the DM becasue of all the great NPCs those books contain. Also, the alternate crafting options were great. I'm going to be adapting those into a world that has no dwarves or half orcs.

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Sounds great. I read some reviews that weren't glowing becaus of the lack of fluff.

I have just assumed that such reviews are written by folks who are primarily DMs-- in search of fluff (and if you hate that word, perhaps we can use "inspirational prose."

If their reviews prevent a DM from buying the book, I can't fault them for that: The books aren't for DMs.

Which is not to say that there aren't a lot of good ideas in there for DMs, as you point out. It just isn't my focus. The PHB is great for DMs too, but it is fairly light on fluff.

I'm light on fluff, not on ideas.


Wulf

 

[Crothian]

Which is not to say that there aren't a lot of good ideas in there for DMs, as you point out. It just isn't my focus. The PHB is great for DMs too, but it is fairly light on fluff.

I'm light on fluff, not on ideas.


Wulf

I hope DMs aren't buying just for a lack of Inspirational Pose. I think a half orc or dwarven civilization can be very well defined just through the use of your prestige classes. It would have the NPCs establish the importance of a favored class (which I think is great since I find many published NPCs lack this), and give the NPCs some unique abilities PCs aren't expecting.

 

[garyh]

I just wanted to chime in that I've gotten HALF-ORCS, Wulf, and that it's very cool. I've got to find a game to play a horde chieftain in.

(Random thought: Maybe you can run a PbP featuring just HO's and Dwarves with PrC's from HOHF. You can call it "Quest of the Uncharismatic." )

Anyway, I'm thinking I might do up a HO review, schoolwork permitting. I haven't done a review here, but if anything is going to motivate me, it'll be preachin' the gospel of HOHF!!

 

[Krug]

Definitely Orcish math.

A few people have also noted the Orcish editing.

Wulf
P.S. I'm still hoping for you to review my stuff, Krug...

Can't seem to find it in my FLGS, I'm afraid, Wulf.. Been asking for it but the staff seems clueless.

If you would *cough*splutter* want me to review it send me an email at krug_stormhammer*nadaspam*@yahoo.com

Remove *nadaspam* from above email to get my actual email address.

 

[Horacio]

Even as we speak, I should be working on ELVES... Ahem.

Wulf

Wulf is writing a book abou sissy elves?

 

[GruTheWanderer]

Wulf is writing a book abou sissy elves?

And then he's writing one about pecks ... er, halflings.

(Encountered the Story Hour two weeks ago and read through the whole thing in three days at work. Way to go, Wulf.)

 

[novyet]

I can't wait to see the halfings and gnomes book. Your take on it should be very interesting. Great job on the two so far!

BTW, what are your plans after the race books are done?