Song and Silence

[Dargesh]

I picked this up on Friday afternoon and frankly, was quite dissapointed with it. I was expecting something along the lines of "The Complete Book of " series, I suppose, but there seemed to be something lacking from S&S.

Edited by: Dargesh at: 2/24/02 9:36:36 pm

[EZ_Matheren]

I think all of their class books are a bit disappointing, aside from occasionally decent feats.

one of my main problems is the direction they've gone with prestige classes - where they started out as something with wide applications that a variety of classes could fill, they've now become nothing more than kits.

want a fire mage? make a fire lord prestige class. a druid that likes shapechanging? shapechanger prestige class. a paladin who focuses more on clerical aspects than battle? become a hospitaler!

I totally agree with monte cook, wotc is already slipping back into TSR "let's print anything and everything we possibly can, and milk every single idea possible until there're so damn many books out that DMs get sick of all the random feats that they have to go back to only allowing the core books!" syndrome.

the best stuff is coming off the independent publishers, particularly monte's malhavoc press.


Math

[ShadowCross]

Dargesh, I guess you didn't look at the other class books yet then. In fact, I think S&S is rather one of the better ones. ShadowCross Bladesong
-Teir'dal Assassin, Antonious Bayle


- Saracen Infiltrator, Albion, Guinevere
- Kobold Rogue, Midgard, Morgan le Fay
- Vaes Bladesong, Briton Tracker, Albion, Guinevere

Safehouse Moderator
The Most Holy One, ShadowCross, First Saviour of the Muffins
Lord Dominar and High Priest of the html help InquisitionEdited by: Shadowcross at: 2/25/02 2:32:37 am

[Elerion]

I assume it's the 3rd ed bard class book?

[EZ_Nyssa Rainwhisper]

Yes, Elerion it's the 3rd ed Bard/Rogue book. I've found it pretty useful so far, but then again I just started playing pen & paper D&D back in July so I'm not really one who is qualified to critique on the book. My character isn't even high enough to use half the skills mentioned in the book, but sifting through it helped me understand my character class a bit more than just the general player's guide.

[EZ_namelessshaman]

I've found most of the prestige classes to be hit or miss. Some flat stink, some are good, and some are only good for as specific campaign.

Overall, I think they are better than kits, since kits tended to be so off-kilter balance-wise. Some of the prestige kits do that, but at least you're always "paying" with a level of your character to get the abilities.

Pretty much, I just use a few prestige classes to fit my campaign world, and make up a few to fit the niches I need.

and, Masters of the Wild is the best of the class flatbooks so far. It is more well rounded and has some more interesting and useful classes and feats and such than the other books.

Wyrdrune Mythseeker
Oracle, Nameless Server

[EZ_Telurinon]

The brown books are not very good. On the other hand, the Forgotten Realms books are very good. I'm hoping the quality of thoses stays high. Telurinon Aelvenborne, 50th Rogue of Black IsleMangore Orcsplitter, 39th Warrior of Black IsleDewin gan'Bran, 24th Wizard of black Isle
Skating away on the thin ice of a new day.

[Dargesh]

Yeah, this is the first of the 3ed class books I have had a look at. It seemed to lack any real heart or imagination. It was more just another way to get more Prestige classes out into circulation I think.

Oh well. I guess I will just stick with what I am doing now and make stuff up as I go along.

[Jeters]

some of the stuff is pretty cool.

<--fang of Lolth...woo 10 attacks a round!

[EZ_Arafain]

<-- Dungeon Delver

DM - Okay, you see a Bodak around the tunnel.

Me - Okay, I shut my eyes and go beat on it.

DM - You what? Uh, okay, but you realize you'll be at like -20 to hit...

Me - Well, I would be, except for my Blindsight. I don't think I'll bother the party, they've got better things to do.

DM - You can't solo a Bodak!

Me - I just did. -- Veteran Arafain Entreri, 60 Assassin
-- Arafein Soulstriker, 54 Champion Relic
-- Arafax Kokorozan, 20 Monk Giantfriend
-- Requiem of Souls
-- Formerly of The Rathe Server, now of Zebuxoruk
"Once, in the old west, a gentleman shot a professional gunfighter in the back. When asked why he didn't give the other chap a chance to draw, he replied, 'Well, he's dead and I'm alive and that's how I wanted it to be." -- from <u>Red Planet</u>, Robert A. Heinlein[i]

[EZ_Swipey]

What the hell is a Bodak?

Fiend Folio flashback! AHHHHH



/em hugs his AD&amp;D (1st ed) monster manual

[EZ_Kehvrynne]

Methinks they appeared in the ill-named Monster Manual II. Seems they were either a minor demon or one of the nasties of the Underdark, but I don't recall for sure. Kehvrynne Quickblade, Professional Damsel of Distress
No matter how subtle the wizard, a dirk between the shoulder blades will seriously cramp his style.

[EZ_Arafain]

Bodaks are a particularly nasty type of Undead. Their primary mode of attack is a Gaze attack which causes Instant Death, SV Fortitude with a DC of I think 15.

Their only other mode of attack is relatively weak melee, but that's okay - when you can instantly kill anything you look at, you don't need to carry a big sword too. One failed save = doom.

And Kev - nah, they were in Monster Manual I, from 3rd Ed.