What I like in a sourcebook

[IronWolf]

Whether or not you like the specific content, I think many people would agree that the Eberron Campaign Setting hardcover is the perfect setting sourcebook.

What?

 

[mhacdebhandia]

I mean in terms of the level of detail, balance between setting flavour and necessary setting-specific crunch . . . liking or disliking Eberron, the setting, is one thing, but I think that the book is the best presentation of a setting ever.

 

[IronWolf]

You didn't like the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting? I always thought it was pretty well laid out.

 

[pogre]

Adventure hooks on top of adventure hooks!

 

[Shemeska]

You didn't like the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting? I always thought it was pretty well laid out.

Indeed. That book by itself got me hooked on the setting and willing to dig around in used bookstores for the older edition sourcebooks. They did a brilliant job on that book.

 

[Steel_Wind]

Thick book. Well laid out. Good art. Color pages. Good regional data and flavor. Solid NPCs. Tons and tons of adventure hooks. A few deliberately placed "non-detailed" sites on regional maps where I can place what I want as if it was always intended to be there.

All of these qualities abound in Sovereign Press' War of the Lance. I was not a fan of either the DLCS or Age of Mortals that much - but they got it absolutely right with War of the Lance.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I mean in terms of the level of detail, balance between setting flavour and necessary setting-specific crunch . . . liking or disliking Eberron, the setting, is one thing, but I think that the book is the best presentation of a setting ever.

I'd agree that it's pretty darned good, but I can't say it's perfect. At least, not for me - I'd have preferred a bit more crunch. However, it's a very good example of how I feel a setting sourcebook should be done.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I find the FR setting slightly less appealing than a body cavity search, but I gotta say, if the FRCS isn't the best setting book ever, my head will probably explode if I ever read the title-holder.

Eberron, while I like the content, isn't put together quite so well.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

I find the FR setting slightly less appealing than a body cavity search, but I gotta say, if the FRCS isn't the best setting book ever, my head will probably explode if I ever read the title-holder.

Eberron, while I like the content, isn't put together quite so well.

I can understand and respect your opinion. It's a dead heat between these two books, in my opinion, for the title of best setting sourcebook for D&D.

 

[Dark Psion]

The one flaw with the Forgotten Realms Campaign book is that it is trying to be all three core rulebooks in one.

For a new setting, I would like four core rule books;
Player's Handbook, DM's Guide, Monster Manual and Campaign Journal.

The Player's Handbook should have everything a player needs alone.

The DM's Guide should cover all the technical aspects of the world.

The Monster Manual should have some interaction between the monsters, Predators and Prey.

The Campaign Journal should have all the needed fluff to flesh out the world and have all the Little Details that will bring it alive.