| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Purple Dragon Knight |
Posted - 07 Jan 2006 : 05:20:20
I got it today!!! wee!! :) :) :)
This books is just... so... FILLING!!!!!!! I GORGE MYSELF OF FINE 5 TO 30 YEAR OLD "CRUNCH-MADE-3.5" AS I SPEAK!!!
O_O O_O O_O O_O O_O O_O O_O O_O O_O O_O
 
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| 15 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 21 Apr 2006 : 11:15:49
In case anyone hasn't see this yet, Paizo has posted errata for the Dragon Compendium Volume One here:
http://paizo.com/download/dragon/compendium/DragonCompendiumVolumeIErrata.pdf |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 02:39:08
Prestige Classes
Aerial Avenger . . . doesn't really do much for me, but interestingly they have used it in the Age of Worms adventure path. It just seems to undefined for me . . . if you can fly and fight, here you go.
Arcanopath Monk . . . monks that I don't immediately see as related to an order of Realmsian monks don't really grab me, and no monk orders really spring to mind when I read about these guys.
Blessed of Grummsh . . . how many warrior type "of Grummsh" prestige classes are there? Doesn't really strike me to use for NPCs or the like.
Cerebrex . . . alright, I don't picture a ton of these guys running around, but I can easily see dropping them into a city or two, having been founded recently, or even just being a small exclusive order of wizards.
Fleet Runner of Ehlonna . . . too speicific to Ehlonna, not really cool enough to make me want to adapt to a "Fleet Runner of Meilikki."
Flux Adept . . . another cool arcane PrC that is a bit different than other ones that have shown up, that would be fun, either to let PCs take, or to come up with unique NPCs that use it.
Force Missle Mage . . . maybe not inspired per se, but really logical. An arcane caster that specializes in getting better at casting magic missles. Given that its the most common arcane spell for offence, it makes sense. Of course, using that logic, somewhere out there I wonder if there is a "Fireball Hurling Mage" PrC.
Monk of the Enabled Hand . . . Interesting for presenting more esoteric martial arts moves and powers to the monk class, but falls under the same issue as the Arcanopath monk above. Still, I'd be more inclined to use this one than the above.
Osteomancer . . . yeah, another cool arcane caster PrC. I like this one as well, even if I always think of Marrow from the X-Men when I think about it (hm . . . a party with an Osteomancer and a Soul Knife . . . ). A good bait-and-switch PrC to give a sinister by not really NPC that the PCs might perceive as evil due to appearance.
Shaper of Form . . . Kinda like the Force Missle Mage, a wizard really good at the polymorph family of spells. Which is cool and logical, but might give kiniptions to DMs that have decided to adopt the "restrict the polymorph" optional rules on the WOTC sites.
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| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 17 Apr 2006 : 02:22:50
I like the divine origin for the Dvati, though I'm not sure I would use the fertility angle for them. I was trying to think of some god that has a dual nature. I'll pound my head against the wall until something turns up, perhaps something with Tyche . . . thanks for at least pointing me in this direction though. |
| Purple Dragon Knight |
Posted - 16 Apr 2006 : 18:47:49
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
Any ideas on Dvati in the Realms? Its an interesting race (summed up, one soul, two bodies), but I'm having some trouble coming up with a "Realms hook" to tie them to Faerun.
Idea number 1: they are not from Faerun but from another plane, and you add the extraplanar subtype to them. This is a little drawback but small considering the sheer amount of abuse a player can do by taking this race.
Idea number 2: (my favorite) they are the offspring of a human and a doppleganger while in his true form.
Idea number 3: the gifted twin sons of a farmer follower of Chauntea who prayed for twins to help on the farm... (or other human god associated with fertility) These Dvati would be identical to humans in appearance. |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 16 Apr 2006 : 16:58:32
I already posted some thoughts on how to incorporate the Diabolus into the Realms in the Running the Realms forum. But this tome definately spurred a lot more thoughts in my hyperactive little mind.
Races
As far as races go, Diopsid are pretty easy to incorporate. Underdark mercenary race of insectile barbarians . . . okay, that's not too hard to fit in.
Lupins and Tibbits also don't seem too hard to fit in either, as long as you aren't trying to justify large populations of them.
Any ideas on Dvati in the Realms? Its an interesting race (summed up, one soul, two bodies), but I'm having some trouble coming up with a "Realms hook" to tie them to Faerun.
Classes
Battledancers . . . these seem like an easy fit into Chult, perhaps Tashulta as well. Not too difficult.
Deathmaster . . . well, Orcus is in the Realms, so this is an easy one as well.
Jester . . . not too difficult. The only thing that makes things problematic is that there is the whole "jester tradition" feats for bards, and I kinda just picture these guys as alternate bards. In the end its generally a matter of what mechanics you want to use, I guess.
Mountebanks. I love these guys. I love the idea that you could be a neutral Mountebank constantly struggling against the influence of your patron, and I like that they get much more subtle powers. Besides the demon lords (I definately picture Graz'zzt having these), I can picture Mask and Shar dabbling with these as well.
Savant. Another idea I really like, and I don't think is too difficult to fit into the Realms. As someone that just studies tons of different things and learns a little of everything, they seem to fit in pretty well. The only thing worth noting is that per FRCS and other Realms cannon, they would have to have a divine patron before they received their divine spells.
Sha'ir. These are pretty easy, since they originate in Zhakara.
Urban Druid. I like the concept, but I don't like the name. Druid to me implies nature, and its used here more as a sort of "terrain and ecosystem" term. I can't think of a good alternate, and I am also having a hard time thining of divine patrons for them. I think that in some cases I am having a hard time mainly because "druid" doesn't fit with some of the gods that "urban" fits with.
For now, I'll leave off with that. Any ideas my fellow scribes have would be appreciated, and I definately recommend this product.
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| Dhomal |
Posted - 28 Feb 2006 : 22:35:09
Hello-
Aye - understandible. I am thinking along the same lines KEJR!
However - mayhaps you can spend some of your 'away' time looking through it once it does arrive - and making notes that you can share with us upon your return!
Dhomal |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 28 Feb 2006 : 17:43:15
Unfortunately I'm not going to get my copy before I go on hiatus from Candlekeep. I was hoping it would be here today, but it looks like I'll not see it until later. I'm looking forward to seeing this thing and getting a chance to disect it for potential Realmslore expansion. |
| Mystery_Man |
Posted - 19 Jan 2006 : 17:32:43
quote:
Originally posted by Purple Dragon Knight
The book is worth picking up for a thousand reasons...
Picked it up today and I agree. It's very well done with a little something for everyone. I'm kind of going backwards looking thru the appendices:
I now know how to pronounce Erinyes correctly! I like the Instant Adventures ideas, Fumble Tables (some of the Fumbles made me giggle at the mental image), 101 Wonderous Whereabouts...
I can use all of this. |
| Purple Dragon Knight |
Posted - 09 Jan 2006 : 06:39:59
The book is worth picking up for a thousand reasons... but I would have picked up this book for the Dvati race alone!
Picture this: you play a character, as usual, with one soul, one mind, class levels... but this time, that character has two bodies that are in constant telepathic link with each other, regardless of distance, and even across the planes.
Examples:
1. Your Fighter/Rogue always flank the enemy, placing his two bodies on each side of the foe...
2. Your Cleric never wastes time healing himself, as he keeps one of his bodies in the temple while the other goes out adventuring. The one in the temple casting Shield Other on himself and his cohort (or any other fellow priest at the temple), and then using his "Spell Conductor" ability to shift the Shield Other to his adventuring twin. Half of the damage taken on the adventuring twin is suffered by the cohort, which can heal himself every round, drink potions, etc.
3. Your Wizard has now three sets of eyes: the twins plus a familiar. The applications related to this simple concept are endless, so I will stop here. Of a less mind-boggling nature, however, we have the simple fact that one twin can levitate or fly while the other can stay on the ground, allowing optimal uses of spread effects or line effects, depending on the situation (i.e. lighting bolt or fireball?) There's also the cases like mirror image, where your twin will simply step out of the other images, if he/she wants, and walk around, adding to the confusion. Another deadly combo is the use of Invisibility via the Spell Conductor ability: twin1 cast invisibility on himself, then fly, then infiltrates fortress; after avoiding all guards, monsters, traps, twin1 comes upon the leader of the fortress, the tyrant, which is unescorted at the moment; twin1 uses Spell Conductor to shift his invisibility spell to twin2, far outside the fortress at the moment, relaxing at the inn; twin1 unleashes a deadly array of spells on the tyrant, ending his days; twin2 reshift his invisibility to twin1; twin1 leaves the fortress. Much spell 'savings' achieved in this manner (i.e. here, no attacks were made to end the invisibility spell... :P )
And the Dvati is but one of the treasure found in the Dragon Compendium!!! :) |
| Mystery_Man |
Posted - 07 Jan 2006 : 16:35:03
Dammit, why did I just look in this thread? If would have just minded my own business I wouldn't have to go out and spend more money! |
| Sanishiver |
Posted - 07 Jan 2006 : 10:32:51
I just picked this book up last night…have to say I like it so far.
I almost didn’t get it, but like others have said there’s not much coming down the pipe that’s worth waiting for.
For me the stuff in the back of the book (from the monsters onward) is worth the purchase price. I’ll probably never use any of the feats or class stuff (except maybe the pictures if they suit something I’m trying to describe in game).
J. Grenemyer
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| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 07 Jan 2006 : 06:04:44
By the way, here is the link with the table of contents pages:
http://paizo.com/download/dragon/compendium/TableOfContents.pdf |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 07 Jan 2006 : 06:02:52
Local distributors should have it, and I would assume that if your FLGS has Dragon or Dungeon that they could order it from Paizo. If not, I usually order anything I am patient enough to wait for from FRP Games online. |
| Arivia |
Posted - 07 Jan 2006 : 05:54:50
Is this an online-only product, or can I order it through my FLGS? |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 07 Jan 2006 : 05:47:12
Oh my . . . but seriously, since I am caught up on FR 3rd/3.5 material, this is looking much more tempting than, say, Races of the Dragon, or even the "spell neutering" Spell Compendium. There is so much random stuff in it that I am sure I could find a few things that are worthwile to add to my campaign. Anyone that gets this, let me know what you think. |
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