What's up with all the 'evil' books lately?

[Voadam]

What are the other ones coming out now besides Book of Vile Darkness and Kalamar's Villains guidebook?

Are you talking about MMII and Tome of Horrors for their demon lords? Demons and devils were already covered in Legions of Hell and Armies of the Abyss and perhaps Demonology the dark road. There is the already published Forgotten realms villainous societies book (I forget the name) and Bastion Press's Villains, a book of NPCs as well as SSS's wise and wicked presenting npc villains? There was also Evil, to cover the evil genre as well.

However, I would not mind having all of them and more. Bad stuff can be fun reading and make evocative game material.

 

[jmucchiello]

Isn't it cheaper to pay a writer than pay a writer and pay for printing, only to have the book collect dust? Anyway, I don't really care. I was just curious as to why there were so many books with the same basic premise, rather than innovative ideas.

Since you won't care I won't get into it since I haven't published a print book yet but let me turn this around: Why do you feel there cannot be 5 books on evil? It's not like all 5 books are going to have the same table of contents. One book will focus on PrCs, others will focus on evil man does (slavery, prostitution, etc), another will detail organizations dedicated to evil (how they form, how they stay together), another might focus on extraplanar influence (such as Mongoose's Demonology). There is a large well of topics to work from when "evil" is your topic.

On a side note, great minds think alike is not just a proverb. It's literally true. Half a dozen different scientists "invented" radio simultaneously around the world in total ignorance of the other's works. It was bound to happen eventually. They all did it at once.

The same could be the reason for evil d20 books. It's just what is happening now. Besides, there are a bunch of evil books already out: Half a dozen necromancy books, AEG's Evil, Demonology, etc. Why care that a few more are coming.

Joe

 

[Nightfall]

the Divine and the Defeated (Deities and Demigods).

Uhm there's GREAT difference between THAT book and D&Dmg. D&Dmg just deals with generic gods. Divine and Defeated is more a sourcebook FOR the Gods and Titans of the Scarred Lands. There's really no GREAT overlap other than the appearance of avatars and a few small other items.

 

[Nightfall]

What are the other ones coming out now besides Book of Vile Darkness and Kalamar's Villains guidebook?

I was wondering the same kind of thing Vo. I mean those were the only two I could think of. They aren't really in the same league as one another, if the review of KoK's Villians book was any indication.

Are you talking about MMII and Tome of Horrors for their demon lords? Demons and devils were already covered in Legions of Hell and Armies of the Abyss and perhaps Demonology the dark road. There is the already published Forgotten realms villainous societies book

Lords of Darkness.

SSS's wise and wicked presenting npc villains

Which I think had some great villians. Course I can't wait for Calastia: Throne of the Black Dragon. I want to see what they've done with Anteas. He's a STILL a great villian and so is his king, Virduk.

 

[KingOfChaos]

I hope this is a trend that continues to be popular

 

[Maraxle]

I was wondering the same kind of thing Vo. I mean those were the only two I could think of. They aren't really in the same league as one another, if the review of KoK's Villians book was any indication.

My original post names one. It was announced in the publisher's forum.

 

[Nightfall]

Of things Dark and Sinster? I don't believe I know that one. Whose the publisher?

The only other one I saw that MIGHT be construed as evil is "The Hunt: Rise of Evil" from MEG. But they've had their stuff out for a while. Not to mention things like "Blight Magic" and "Of Places Fouls" and other such things.

 

[Voadam]

I can't find the anouncement, who is the publisher for _of things dark and sinister_?

Oh. Nightfall beat me to asking.

 

[Maraxle]

Here's the thread

 

[Nightfall]

I'm just the better typist is all Voad.

Children of the Grave huh? I must admit, I was interested in them...but then after a certain thread, I became...disinterested. In any case I'd hardly call THAT a lot of evil.