[Wheel of Time] So, I have a few questions...

[Aaron L]

The second book is To the Blight.

Big Bad Book of Art! HAHA! I'm gonna use that Kriegspiel!

If you want to run the game, you really should read the books. Cultures, speech patterns, dress, all kinds of things. (For those people that have read the books, imagine playing an Illianer without having read them. It do be lacking in flavor much, it do.)

 

[Desdichado]

Well, I like the books a little bit further out than most: I was a bit disappointed in five, but I loved six. Seven and Eight were sub-par and I still haven't even read nine yet: I may wait until he's closer to done and then reread the whole shebang.

The game is really good though. A completely new magic system is a big part of the reason I bought it, but its so tied to the setting that I probably won't use it anywhere else. Some of the other classes are really neat too: great for a less combat intensive game, perhaps, as some have pointed out. A lot of borrowed mechanics (and classes) from Star Wars.

 

[drothgery]

Well, I like the books a little bit further out than most: I was a bit disappointed in five, but I loved six. Seven and Eight were sub-par and I still haven't even read nine yet: I may wait until he's closer to done and then reread the whole shebang.

I'm a bit of a contrarian in that I think A Crown of Swords (book 7) and The Fires of Heaven (book 5) were much better than Lord of Chaos (book 6); I think they're the two best books in the series. On the other hand, I've never even heard of anyone who thinks The Path of Daggers isn't the worst book in the series, or close to it.

Of course, I'm one of those people who will have a pre-order for Crossroads of Twilight (Book 10, forthcoming) within days of Jordan turning in the manuscript...

 

[Enforcer]

As a fan of fantasy, I think you owe it to yourself to at least give the first novel a shot. Yes, the beginning is slow, but then it really picks up speed. And if you love character development, well then Jordan's your man.

I love the books, I'm in the middle of re-reading the whole series again--I'm somewhere in book 6. I love all of them, even book 5, which made me mad because Perrin (one of the main characters) wasn't in it.

As for the game, I like it. I was scared at first, because I didn't think it'd be possible to put the magic system into a game, but they did it quite well. There's minor issues with accuracy to the novels, but since you haven't read them, you won't care.

Feel free to give my story hour a lookover, I think that one person said that it decently captures the feel of the novels; though you won't know what most of the terms I take from the books mean.

Also, drothgery (Dave) has started an online game, you can find it in the in-character forum--it's just gotten off the ground. That might be interesting as well.

 

[Tolen Mar]

Cool! Thanks!

Because of all the comments here (and elsewhere) I have picked up the whole shebang. As soon as Gandalf and Bilbo leave for the grey havens, I'll start WoT.

If it is character-driven as you say it is (the game), then it should be a welcome change from the Monster of the Week games I have been in so much lately.

On the other hand, I am still fuzzy on the differences between magic systems. It seems to me that it looks the same as in DnD (Remember, I havent read any of it yet, just scanned over it), except that wizards can work together on spells. What makes it so much different?

 

[drothgery]

Re: Cool! Thanks!

On the other hand, I am still fuzzy on the differences between magic systems. It seems to me that it looks the same as in DnD (Remember, I havent read any of it yet, just scanned over it), except that wizards can work together on spells. What makes it so much different?

First, there's no mage/cleric split, and no minor spellcasters, which substantially changes the 'feel' of magic; the person you rely on for area-effect damage magic is the person you rely on for healing.

Secondly, everyone casts on the fly (like sorcerers or psions). This is quite a bit different from D&D, where only Socerers and Bards can cast on the fly.

Third, almost all weaves (WoT 'spells') have sliding levels. To give an example, Fireball varies from a 2nd-level weave that does 2d6 + level in a 5 ft radius to a 6th-level weave that does 6d6+level in a 50 ft radius.

Fourth, you can overchannel to get a weave when you're 'out', or to use a higher-level weave than you have slots for, if you're willing to risk losing the ability to channel forever, or death.

Fifth, the 'feel' of the setting is that the One Power is very mysterious except to channelers and those who work closely with them. It's not like D&D, where even the Barbarian has some idea of what the wizard is doing.

 

[Tolen Mar]

I have only two words for that...

OH COOL!

That sounds more like magic as I always wished it could be. Maybe I'll have to try and play a wizard now...

 

[Dragonblade]

I really love WoT and think it is an excellent series. Here is my personal take on all the books without revealing any spoilers.

1. Eye of the World: Very deep and literary. Takes several reads to grasp everything and some scenes make infinitely more sense after having read the other books in the series. Perhaps the single best book to date in the series.

2. The Great Hunt: Suspense and adventure. Good book. Introduces some of the political intrigues which will dominate the later books.

3. The Dragon Reborn: More suspense and adventure but now with an increasing emphasis on political intrigue. Good book.

4. The Shadow Rising: More politics, backstory, and world history are revealed. Excellent character development really begins to shine. Good book.

5. The Fires of Heaven: Lots of politics and intrigue. IMO, a little slow but has a good ending. Average book.

6. The Lord of Chaos: Starts off slow but begins to pick up steam and really ends powerfully. IMO, the best ending of any of the books. Good book.

7. A Crown of Swords: Comparable to book 5. Nothing special. A little slow with a good but not spectacular ending. Average book.

8. Path of Daggers: Comparable to book 5 and 7. Ending was decent but slightly unrewarding. The story seems a little stagnant as if Jordan fell in love with his own storyline so much he couldn't decide how he wanted to resolve certain issues. Average book.

9. Heart of Winter: The story really begins to pick up the pace again here. Jordan obviously finally figured out where he wants to take the story. Lots of excitement and an awesome ending. Good book. My second favorite book of the series after book 6.

Anyway, I highly recommend the series and I think WotC did a good job with the RPG too.

 

[Kriegspiel]

Big Bad Book of Art! HAHA! I'm gonna use that Kriegspiel!

Make sure you ignore my typing dyslexia & go with Dagger75's correct version...

ie The Big Book of Bad Art or alternately The Big White Book of Bad Art

...My humble apologies for any confusion.