What's this about a plagiarized map in Conan: City of Shadizar?

[Arcane Runes Press]

I avoided the Quintessential books because they looked to much like the old Complete books from 2e. Yes, I judged a book by it's cover.

Who are you to deny the sensual feel of faux leatherish covers?

And faux gold leaf lettering?

Damn man, the lettering!!!

 

[Karl Green]

I made no such claim. We are discussing standards, which are subjective, and mine are clearly more exacting than others. That's fine. I won't force my opinions onto anyone. I was brusque before because I was angry. I spent quite a bit of money discovering Mongoose's lax editorial standards and hackish writing -- that will teach me for buying product sight-unseen over the internet -- and wish to warn discerning consumers about what they can expect from that publisher. Because most of the posts to this thread read like paeans to Mongoose, I felt the need to balance them with sharp criticism.

Hmm I have GURPS Conan and Mongooses, and I prefer the D20 WAY more... mostly due to the fact that the core book and the Scrolls of S(sp??) magic book ONLY take REH stuff and use them. GURPS included... <crude> ... from every sick puppy who ever wrote a Conan story but had no idea what Conan was about (RJ?? and others).
Yes Mongoose has some editing standard issues BUT damn so did the GURPS book, I would have to dig it out again but there were a number of typos and shaffos in that book also. AND the binding on my book failed within 6 months of when I got it and I had to re-bind it myself!!!

 

[Vigilance]

Edit: Nah...on second thought, I better stay out of this.

You know, I suspected Vig had inferior taste when he included Rooster Kung Fu in Blood & Fists II...

Yeah that's me

As for arkham's hat of d02... well what can you say to someone who calls everyone who disagrees with him (let me see if I have the litany down)... uneducated... with low standards... and a Mongoose apologist (I think I got it all)?

Well you certainly can't *debate* with him. Next he'll say those who disagree with him have moral issues, cheat on their wives and rob liquor stores.

As for the two books... it didnt bother me (much) that GURPs Conan drew heavily on the pastiches... I liked the L Sprague DeCamp stuff ok... and even the BAD Conan stuff frequently made for good gaming.

I also thought the GURPs combat system, which is gritty, was a great fit for Conan, and it was much easier to make a character fit the books under GURPs than the D&D edition of that time.

I also happen to think the OGL Conan is great work, and a great adaptation of d20 to Howard's world. It had some typos, but the rules were solid, and most importantly, captured the flavor of Howard's world imo.

In other words, both books worthy of a spot on any gamer's bookshelf, and hardly worth tossing insults around if you like one more than the other.

Chuck

 

[Crothian]

Whereas I thought of many as more average than good.

They used to be average but the general qualtiy of d20 books has risen nicely in the past few years so what used to be average is no below average.

 

[fanboy2000]

Who are you to deny the sensual feel of faux leatherish covers?

And faux gold leaf lettering?

Damn man, the lettering!!!

LOL

I can't help it, I prefer books with computer monitors and giant eyeballs.

some are even hit and miss inside their own covers

This is what I've heard from friends who's opinion I respect.

Which ones are worth buying? I'm interested in the psionics one, if it exists.

 

[Man-thing]

Wait. Then do we have to go back and re-rate older products?

The Quintessential Psychic doesn't we like a lesser book to be because the psionic rules changed and time has pasted. All the things I liked are still there.

101 Mundane treasure will continue to be one of may favourite DM resources.

Plus in many way I'm not sure things have gotten better, just shinier and more expensive.
Did the Complete X really improve on the earlier splat line or did they correct there self-manufactured errata, add colour to my pages and place it in a shiney cover?

Even Green Ronin, I'm not sure they have gotten better there just consistantly excellent in the materials they publish.

 

[Crothian]

Which ones are worth buying? I'm interested in the psionics one, if it exists.

I don't have the Psion or Phychic Warrior one, but I hear the Psychic Warrior one is like super graphic in violent content.

Ones I like pretty much all of: Wizard, Rogue, Monk, Sorcerer

Ones I got use of parts: Ranger, Druid, Dwarf, Halfling, Fighter, Bard

Ones I really didn't like: Cleric, Human

I don't have all of them, and I have more that are listed here I just don't recall them all.

 

[Crothian]

Wait. Then do we have to go back and re-rate older products?

I do, at least mentally. Some books are obsolete now as newer versions of the material are just better. Some are obsolete by rule changes. And other s have held up and are still damn good today.

 

[Man-thing]

I don't have the Psion or Phychic Warrior one, but I hear the Psychic Warrior one is like super graphic in violent content. .

I think it would be fair to say that the Quintessential Psion is dark in places.
Its probably more far to day that the Quintessential Psychic Warrior is the product of a disturbed mind. (Psionic cannibalism in particular)

 

[Crothian]

I think it would be fair to say that the Quintessential Psion is dark in places.
Its probably more far to day that the Quintessential Psychic Warrior is the product of a disturbed mind. (Psionic cannibalism in particular)

who wrote them? it would be interesting to see what else those authors have done and if they were also that dark