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Nokom
Learned Scribe
USA
109 Posts |
 Posted - 23 Aug 2006 : 19:51:36
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I am thinking of buying this. Before I do tell the this: Is it any good? Is it worth $4.95?
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 23 Aug 2006 : 20:53:32
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quote:
Originally posted by Nokom
I am thinking of buying this. Before I do tell the this: Is it any good? Is it worth $4.95?
In my opinion, it's the third best of the Volo's Guides, and one of the best sourcebooks around. The only Volo's Guides I like better are Volo's Guide to Waterdeep and Volo's Guide to All Things Magical (formerly a suppressed work  , now available as a free download from the Wizards downloads page).
In pdf or print (I have both), it's well worth the $5. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!  |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2006 : 01:29:02
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
Agrees with Wooly, though for me VGttSC ranks as second, above that of VGtATM.
Well, the Volo's Guides are the best regional sourcebooks available, at least for the inhabited parts of the Realms. Going for regional descriptions, Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast would be the second pick. But overall, I'd have to say that Volo's Guide to All Things Magical (formerly a suppressed work ) slightly edges it out, because of the wealth of magical lore -- especially the material on magical properties of various materials.  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Reefy
Senior Scribe
United Kingdom
892 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2006 : 01:36:21
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| I'd say all of the Volo's Guides are worth having, as would many people here. |
Life is either daring adventure or nothing. |
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Kalin Agrivar
Senior Scribe
Canada
956 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2006 : 02:07:44
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
In my opinion, it's the third best of the Volo's Guides, and one of the best sourcebooks around. The only Volo's Guides I like better are Volo's Guide to Waterdeep and Volo's Guide to All Things Magical (formerly a suppressed work , now available as a free download from the Wizards downloads page).
In pdf or print (I have both), it's well worth the $5.
I don't count Volo's Guide to All Things Magical as a "Volo's" guide..it was more like a "Tome of Faerunian Magic" with Volo's finger prints...it was a really good book but the "Volo Guides" are like travelogues that gave alot of flavour to the Realms, more than any other Realkms product IMHO
I just wish they would have continued into the East and South  |
Kalin Xorell El'Agrivar
- High Mage of the Arcane Assembly
- Lore Keeper of the Vault of Ancestors
- 3rd Son of the Lord of the Stand |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2006 : 02:14:05
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Well, the Volo's Guides are the best regional sourcebooks available, at least for the inhabited parts of the Realms. Going for regional descriptions, Volo's Guide to the Sword Coast would be the second pick.
Aye.
Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate II tends to come in before Volo's Guide to Cormyr for me, in terms of the regional Volo's Guides.
quote:
But overall, I'd have to say that Volo's Guide to All Things Magical (formerly a suppressed work ) slightly edges it out, because of the wealth of magical lore -- especially the material on magical properties of various materials.
In that case, I agree.
Though Ed's Spellfire section (and a few others -- like the material on the magical properites of various materials) ensures that it would rank second overall in terms of ALL Volo's Guides.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2006 : 03:29:18
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| To answer the original question, yes, this book is worth owning, especially if you love the Western Heartlands. The drawings in it are wonderful too. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2006 : 04:48:07
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quote:
Originally posted by Reefy
I'd say all of the Volo's Guides are worth having, as would many people here.
Indeed. I made a point of buying pdfs of the ones that aren't free for downloading, just so I'd have them handy at work.
I'm another who mourns the discontinuation of that product line. As I've said more than once, the Volo's Guides make the Realms come alive, unlike any other sourcebook before or since. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2006 : 07:32:32
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| I think other scribes have said what needs to be said about the Volo guides, but just for the record: In my opinion a Volo guide is among the best realms products you can find and Volo's guide to the Sword Coast is one of the best in the series. Yes its worth $4.95 |
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Eremite
Learned Scribe
Singapore
182 Posts |
Posted - 24 Aug 2006 : 08:38:03
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| It's a great book! I cannot tell you how many campaign and adventure ideas it inspired when it was first released... and probably would again next time I go back to it. |
Best
E |
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Ryss Firemaster
Acolyte
Denmark
30 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2006 : 18:50:38
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| I'll just take this chance to make my own little inquiry. Have the guide to Baldurs Gatet become available for downloading anywhere? |
"People lie. Online doubly so!" |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2006 : 18:54:44
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| If you mean Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate II, it came out too late to be part of the ESD programme. |
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Hoondatha
Great Reader
USA
2449 Posts |
Posted - 25 Aug 2006 : 23:23:50
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| I came late to that game, what kind of guide was it? We're not talking about the second half of the manual, are we? |
Doggedly converting 3e back to what D&D should be...
Sigh... And now 4e as well. |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2006 : 01:29:03
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quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
I came late to that game, what kind of guide was it? We're not talking about the second half of the manual, are we?
No. 'Tis a fully detailed Volo's Guide style sourcebook to Amn and some of the surrounding environs, some of which were featured in the game itself.
Overall, a worthy addition to the VG line.
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2006 : 01:29:04
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quote:
Originally posted by Hoondatha
I came late to that game, what kind of guide was it? We're not talking about the second half of the manual, are we?
Nope. You're thinking of Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate. Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate II was an actual product, a kind of regional sourcebook/supplement to the game combo. It's got some good stuff, but the thinnest page count of the proper Volo's Guides. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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Ardashir
Senior Scribe
USA
544 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 00:11:57
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Reefy
I'd say all of the Volo's Guides are worth having, as would many people here.
Indeed. I made a point of buying pdfs of the ones that aren't free for downloading, just so I'd have them handy at work.
Just where can you buy PDFs of the Volos? |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 00:32:31
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quote:
Originally posted by Ardashir
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Reefy
I'd say all of the Volo's Guides are worth having, as would many people here.
Indeed. I made a point of buying pdfs of the ones that aren't free for downloading, just so I'd have them handy at work.
Just where can you buy PDFs of the Volos?
rpgnow.com or paizo's web site, you know the Dragon/Dungeon people. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36803 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 00:56:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Ardashir
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Reefy
I'd say all of the Volo's Guides are worth having, as would many people here.
Indeed. I made a point of buying pdfs of the ones that aren't free for downloading, just so I'd have them handy at work.
Just where can you buy PDFs of the Volos?
I got mine from Paizo. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 01:10:21
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quote:
Originally posted by Ardashir
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Reefy
I'd say all of the Volo's Guides are worth having, as would many people here.
Indeed. I made a point of buying pdfs of the ones that aren't free for downloading, just so I'd have them handy at work.
Just where can you buy PDFs of the Volos?
Note however, there is no PDF for Volo's Guide to Baldur's Gate II, as Faraer previously noted.
If you looking for a copy of this particular Guide, you're going to have to try the sites Kuje mentioned, for printed copies at reasonable prices (US$).
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Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 29 Aug 2006 01:11:24 |
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Ardashir
Senior Scribe
USA
544 Posts |
Posted - 29 Aug 2006 : 17:44:39
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| Kuje, Sage, and Wooly: thanks to all three of you. |
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MerrikCale
Senior Scribe
USA
947 Posts |
Posted - 04 Sep 2006 : 03:36:47
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| i too love the Volo's Guides. For $4.95, its a steal. They really add backround to the various parts of the realms. If you campaign in that area, get it. If not, get it. |
When hinges creak in doorless chambers and strange and frightening sounds echo through the halls, whenever candlelights flicker where the air is deathly still, that is the time when ghosts are present, practicing their terror with ghoulish delight. |
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lowtech
Learned Scribe
USA
315 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2006 : 05:07:57
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I just bought Volo's guide to the North, Baldur's Gate 2, and the Sword Coast at the DragonCon dealers room for a combined total of $23. They're great!
Does anybody know a typical price for the "Faces of Evil" book? One dealer was offerring it for $65, but that was much more than I was willing to pay for a relatively thin book that I coudn't even leaf through... |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2006 : 05:32:03
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quote:
Originally posted by lowtech
I just bought Volo's guide to the North, Baldur's Gate 2, and the Sword Coast at the DragonCon dealers room for a combined total of $23. They're great!
Does anybody know a typical price for the "Faces of Evil" book? One dealer was offerring it for $65, but that was much more than I was willing to pay for a relatively thin book that I coudn't even leaf through...
65 seems to be a good price, the ebay store has it for 67, abe books has it for 100+, amazon has it for 67 to 100+. I forgot what I paid for it but most Planescape material, especially the box sets, cost you a bit. I paid 100+ for one of my Planes of box sets. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31772 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2006 : 05:40:11
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
quote:
Originally posted by lowtech
I just bought Volo's guide to the North, Baldur's Gate 2, and the Sword Coast at the DragonCon dealers room for a combined total of $23. They're great!
Does anybody know a typical price for the "Faces of Evil" book? One dealer was offerring it for $65, but that was much more than I was willing to pay for a relatively thin book that I coudn't even leaf through...
65 seems to be a good price, the ebay store has it for 67, abe books has it for 100+, amazon has it for 67 to 100+.
Agreed.
When nobleknight.com and dragontrove.com were offering near-mint copies of Faces of Evil for sale, they ranged between $55 and $70 US, so $65 US doesn't seem that far out of scope.
quote:
I forgot what I paid for it but most Planescape material, especially the box sets, cost you a bit. I paid 100+ for one of my Planes of box sets.
Which makes me so glad that I purchased the original boxed sets upon their initial releases.
Planes of Law is currently available at my local gaming store... though it carries a $150 AUS price tage.  |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium -- Volume IX now available (Oct 2007)
"So Saith Ed" -- the collected Candlekeep replies of Ed Greenwood
Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2006 : 07:56:03
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I never cared that much for Planescape, but seeing these prices it sort of annoys me that my Planes of Chaos and Campaign setting boxes (only opened once each) seem to have disappeared somehow.
Strange, except for one part of a three part module for another system its the only gaming material I own that I can not find. |
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Kalin Agrivar
Senior Scribe
Canada
956 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2006 : 14:34:03
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sagequote:
I forgot what I paid for it but most Planescape material, especially the box sets, cost you a bit. I paid 100+ for one of my Planes of box sets.
Which makes me so glad that I purchased the original boxed sets upon their initial releases.
Planes of Law is currently available at my local gaming store... though it carries a $150 AUS price tage.
wow!  I got that box set (Planes of Law) in a clearance at a comic shop for $15 canadian! 
I am always amazed how much these books go for now..I am afraid to tally my whole collection...may have to get an insurance policy for it!  |
Kalin Xorell El'Agrivar
- High Mage of the Arcane Assembly
- Lore Keeper of the Vault of Ancestors
- 3rd Son of the Lord of the Stand |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2006 : 16:33:37
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quote:
Originally posted by kalin agrivar
quote:
Originally posted by The Sagequote:
I forgot what I paid for it but most Planescape material, especially the box sets, cost you a bit. I paid 100+ for one of my Planes of box sets.
Which makes me so glad that I purchased the original boxed sets upon their initial releases.
Planes of Law is currently available at my local gaming store... though it carries a $150 AUS price tage.
wow! I got that box set (Planes of Law) in a clearance at a comic shop for $15 canadian!
I am always amazed how much these books go for now..I am afraid to tally my whole collection...may have to get an insurance policy for it!
As do I. I've had to spend at least 3k american on RPG sourcebooks if not more, and I'm still working on completing some things that I'm missing for Ravenloft, Dungeon, Dragon. Even some of the FR tomes I've paid 50 to 100 for like Code of the Harpers or Seven Sisters. This was before the PDF program and some of the prices seem to have fallen since the online versions have come out, but I'd rather have a hard copy because reading large pieces of text on the puter makes my eyes ache. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
Edited by - Kuje on 06 Sep 2006 16:35:38 |
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Kalin Agrivar
Senior Scribe
Canada
956 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2006 : 16:39:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
As do I. I've had to spend at least 3k american on RPG sourcebooks if not more, and I'm still working on completing some things that I'm missing for Ravenloft, Dungeon, Dragon. Even some of the FR tomes I've paid 50 to 100 for like Code of the Harpers or Seven Sisters. This was before the PDF program and some of the prices seem to have fallen since the online versions have come out, but I'd rather have a hard copy because reading large pieces of text on the puter makes my eyes ache.
I agree...a hard copy is much better...I ahve about 1/2 the Planescape collection and have supplemented it with PDFs...the most I have ever spent on one book is $100 american for the Throne of Bloodstone module..I guess I am lucky as I bought most of my collection when it was new...
is there a thread on comparing (ahem, bragging  ) about collections? There is a few things I would still like to get  |
Kalin Xorell El'Agrivar
- High Mage of the Arcane Assembly
- Lore Keeper of the Vault of Ancestors
- 3rd Son of the Lord of the Stand |
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Kuje
Great Reader
USA
7915 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2006 : 18:10:10
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quote:
Originally posted by kalin agrivar
I agree...a hard copy is much better...I ahve about 1/2 the Planescape collection and have supplemented it with PDFs...the most I have ever spent on one book is $100 american for the Throne of Bloodstone module..I guess I am lucky as I bought most of my collection when it was new...
is there a thread on comparing (ahem, bragging ) about collections? There is a few things I would still like to get
This thread seems to have turned into that bragging thread and yeah, well, I didn't buy many of the 1e and 2e D&D sourcebooks when they first came out because I didn't know about them until late 2e. :) Now, I've spent way to much, and I still am spending, to complete some of my sets. Sigh, I still need that 1 Bloodstone module, Bloodstone Pass, to finish the FR sourcebooks but not the Dragon/Dungeon/Polyhedron articles that were published for FR. |
For some of us, books are as important as almost anything else on earth. What a miracle it is that out of these small, flat, rigid squares of paper unfolds world after world, worlds that sing to you, comfort and quiet and excite you... Books are full of the things that you don't get in real life - wonderful, lyrical language, for instance, right off the bat. - Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium |
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lowtech
Learned Scribe
USA
315 Posts |
Posted - 06 Sep 2006 : 20:40:38
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quote:
Originally posted by Kuje
65 seems to be a good price, the ebay store has it for 67, abe books has it for 100+, amazon has it for 67 to 100+. I forgot what I paid for it but most Planescape material, especially the box sets, cost you a bit. I paid 100+ for one of my Planes of box sets.
I was afraid of that. Does anybody know where I can find Planescape PDF's (um, so long as its not against candlekeep policy)? |
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Volo's guide to the sword coast
