WoTC products, going downhill?

[Deset Gled]

I keep reading either that SW Saga is amazing or its riddled with errors and mechanics issues.

I also find it very interesting that one of the products getting the most focus in this poll is SWSE, and not a D+D product. From the question asked in the poll, it's certainly a valid consideration, and it is WotC latest big release. I just would not have expected it considering this is (primarily) a D+D board.

I wonder if the poll would change at all if people were only allowed to consider D+D material.

Bringing up the magazines is entertaining to me, since they're not WotC products. Can we have a Dragon's Law on ENWorld, since Godwin's Law is basically prohibited by the "no politics" rule?

 

[Flynn]

I keep reading either that SW Saga is amazing or its riddled with errors and mechanics issues.

It is likely both. Yes, there are some errors (although not as many as have been portrayed) and some people don't like the mechanics. However, I have played it and I think it's a good, solid, streamlined system. It's definitely worth trying before making a snap judgement.

For me, I am pleased I made the purchase. It allows you to play a non-Jedi and still be effective in the game, and it's fun based on the experiences of myself and those I've played with. That's all I can really tell ya straight out on that matter.

With Regards,
Flynn

 

[Flynn]

Bringing up the magazines is entertaining to me, since they're not WotC products. Can we have a Dragon's Law on ENWorld, since Godwin's Law is basically prohibited by the "no politics" rule?

I'd rather it not be on ENWorld. You could do it in a specific thread or forum, but I'd rather not see the connotation of Godwin's Law applied to Dragon magazine, if that's okay with the Powers That Be.

With Regards,
Flynn

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

MIC..are just reprints of already exsisting material, so I can't really give WotC props for them...

I'd guess that at least half the MIC items are new, or at least they were new to me. Considering the insane number of d20 books I own, I'm fairly confident its not just a pure re-hash. Its a great book IMO, the best I've purchased this year.

Its hard for me to rate this year opposed to last. This year has seen a ton of modules come out, none of which I've purchased, so I cant comment on their quality. The Magic Item Compendium is great, and I'm fairly satisfied with Complete Champion. Other than that, I dont have much to compare. The two books I'm most looking forward to, Elder Evils and Exemplars of Evil havent been released. We'll see what the rest of 2007 holds.

Last year saw the Tome of Battle, PHB 2 and Complete Mage, which brought solid new mechanics IMO, and Fiendish Codex 2, which was a blast to read. On the other hand, it had the conceptually awesome but poorly play tested Tome of Magic and the fairly mediocre Complete Scoundrel to drag down its crunch offerings. For me at least, 2006 had some great books, better than 05.

Mini-wise, 2007 is already in the lead. At this time, we'd seen War Drums and War of the Dragon Queen. Comparing those two against Unhallowed and Night Below, I have to give the edge to 07. WODQ flat out sucked aside from a few commons/uncommons, and War Drums had some serious paint issues. While Blood War is a GREAT set, Desert of Desolation will have to be abysmal to lower 07 down to the depths that WODQ sunk 06. The icons of 06, as can be expected of initial offerings, were a tad sub par. The gargantuan blue benefits from a better sculpt and paintjob than the red and black. We'll see how the garg white pans out.

I'd say overall things seem to be improving. Theres some new blood in the mechanics (synergy spells, stacking spells, reserve/ceremonial feats, etc) that I enjoy, and some designer commentary that I agree with (ie, overpriced crap compared to the big six in magic items, too many loser feats/prcs etc).

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

The only WOTC books I've checked out in the last year was FC2 and I liked it a lot whic is saying somethign since I don't really care for the way 3.5(outside the core) does D&D. Not my style and all that. Both FC books were fabulous, even if the Demon Lords in FC1 were lame as hell.

 

[diaglo]

...even if the Demon Lords in FC1 were lame as hell.

well that's b/c they took the Divine ranks away from Demon Lords and Devils.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

well that's b/c they took the Divine ranks away from Demon Lords and Devils.

Naw, just making Juiblex a 19 HD demon while the more common Balor is 20 HD smacks of idiocy. The work done in FC2 was better, but best of all is the Demonomicon articles (RIP).

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

I keep reading either that SW Saga is amazing or its riddled with errors and mechanics issues.

It is amazing.

It also has more errors than such a high-profile project really should have been allowed to have. With that said, a majority of the errors are in the sample stat blocks (Darth Vader being, IIRC, a particular offender), not in the actual rules.

The most substantive errata, rules-wise, seems to be that area effect attacks miss entirely on a 1 or a total of less than 10. IIRC, the equipment list also had some fixes.

 

[Treebore]

I also find it very interesting that one of the products getting the most focus in this poll is SWSE, and not a D+D product. From the question asked in the poll, it's certainly a valid consideration, and it is WotC latest big release. I just would not have expected it considering this is (primarily) a D+D board.

I wonder if the poll would change at all if people were only allowed to consider D+D material.

Bringing up the magazines is entertaining to me, since they're not WotC products. Can we have a Dragon's Law on ENWorld, since Godwin's Law is basically prohibited by the "no politics" rule?

Apparently you don't even know what the magazines are. Or did you just never notice that their content was WOTC official?

 

[Hussar]

Online is not the same as print. The mags have been effectively cancelled. Wizards just wants to use their name to garner support for their new pet project.

So, even if the material available online is the same as what was in the print magazines, and there are indications that it will be (mentions of Demonomicon articles), the online version is in no way related to the print version?