Why must the Spell Compendium be innovative?

[MerricB]

So as not to derail the other thread:

Useful, because they were scattered over a LOT of books.

But, once again, lacking imagination.

Attention WotC: Hire someone with an imagination, ASAP! You just made something with less new and innovative material than the Arms and Equipment Guide 3e! Wake up!

I'm missing something here. The Spell Compendium is, to me, a really useful resource that I'm very much looking forward to. Having 1000 spells in one place instead of scattered over 20+ sources is going to be *useful*. I hope they repeat the process once another 1000 spells get designed, so us magic users can reduce the number of books we need to tote round.

New spells are being designed all the time. (The proof of that is in the Spell Compendium. 1000 spells not in the PHB? Wow!) As the resource that is used most in actual play, as opposed to feats and prestige classes, this is very useful.

Feats and prestige classes tend more to be creation-based; spells are play-based. Looking up spells during play happens much more often; and by the sheer number of spells, may require many sources. Far better for them to be in merely two books, rather than 20+magazines+web articles.

So, to my eyes, this is an *excellent* product.

Why then, is Wizards being attacked for it?

 

[SteveC]

Simple answer: because no product will ever please everyone.

Correlary: gamers just want something to complain about!

 

[Turjan]

I don't think this topic is really worth discussing. The book is called "Spell Compendium". The title says it all. A "Compendium" is not a thing where you expect imgination, that's why any criticism in this regard is moot. If you think it's useful, you may buy it, if you don't think so, you won't.

I think it will be a very successful product.

 

[Dragonhelm]

What's great about it, beyond what Merric said, is that it provides material that is potentially new to people who don't have all those various resources.

This isn't a product that's meant to be innovative - it's a compendium, collecting spells from all over.

 

[Crothian]

I don't know what spells are in the book but I imagine some of them actually are innovative. I have no problem asking Wizards to be imaginative, but I'm not sure that complaint fits this book.

 

[IronWolf]

I agree with you Merric. This looks like an *excellent* product to me. Consolidating spells from numerous sourcebooks and magazines into one volume will make it quite nice for spellcasters.

 

[Crothian]

I have a feeling when this book hits my game's table the spellcasters are going to be frozen in indescion

 

[I'm A Banana]

Just to clarify, I'm not knocking it for what it does. What it does it does sublimely. I love what it does. I look forward to other books that do the same thing (class compendiums? feat compendiums? sure! bring it!)

However, you can't say that it's particularly imaginative. Or innovative. It's not trying to be, but that's really part of the problem -- WotC, as the industry leader, SHOULD be trying to be.

It took some effort, it took some design skill, but it does nothing to inspire a game. It's a toolkit. It's not like the game NEEDS more spells.

I am a demanding gamer. I demand quality design and a rich tapestry of fantasy from which to cut my games. I don't think it's particularly WRONG to demand that, especially since this hobby is overloaded with both creative and exacting people, who excel at mechanics and at imagination. There are companies which definately tap that on a fairly regular basis (Green Ronin, Bastion Press, even Mongoose has their shining moments, almost despite themselves ). WotC, I would think, would be leading the pack in both, since they should be rather representative of the population of gamers. In terms of production values, they lead. In terms of sound mechanical design, they're on a whole other level. In terms of rich imaginary creative juices, they're scattershot at best. Heroes of Horror was pretty nice, but before that the most creative thing out of them was the Samurai class from Complete Warrior and a few select ideas from the Environment supplements.

It never set out to do more than compile and update spells. Which is something like Bach composing a jingle for toaster waffles. Yes, it is a GREAT toaster waffle jingle. But you can't help but think one of the most powerful composers could do something more than "Leggo my Eggo."

 

[MerricB]

However, you can't say that it's particularly imaginative. Or innovative. It's not trying to be, but that's really part of the problem -- WotC, as the industry leader, SHOULD be trying to be.

This is absolute madness.

Wizards should only produce innovative products because actually useful products are boring?

 

[Crothian]

However, you can't say that it's particularly imaginative. Or innovative. It's not trying to be, but that's really part of the problem -- WotC, as the industry leader, SHOULD be trying to be.

With every single book? If you want to take all the books Wizards has produced and look at them all together and say none of them are imaginitive or innovative, then you might have a point. But to take one single book out of the hundreds Wizards has produced and complain that it is not innovative is not proving anything. Not all the books should be innovative. THough some could argue that making a place for 600 spells to be found is very innovative in design and convience.