paizo.com Recent Reviews of GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspirationpaizo.com Recent Reviews of GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration2016-02-10T00:01:49Z2016-02-10T00:01:49ZGM Gems: A Collection of Game Master Inspiration—PDF: A collection of GM goodness (5 stars)Gorbaczhttps://paizo.com/products/btpy81qm?GM-Gems-A-Tome-of-Game-Master-Inspiration2008-11-22T22:06:48Z<p><b>GM Gems: A Collection of Game Master Inspiration—PDF</b></p><p>This book is a mix of various small articles, tables and aids that help GM solve most common problems in fantasy game - "Empty rooms worth describing" and "NPC Quirks" speak for themselves, but there is sooo much more to this small book ! Excellent value for the money, truly remarkable - no fantasy RPG GM should be without this gem.</p><p><b>GM Gems: A Collection of Game Master Inspiration—PDF</b></p><p>This book is a mix of various small articles, tables and aids that help GM solve most common problems in fantasy game - "Empty rooms worth describing" and "NPC Quirks" speak for themselves, but there is sooo much more to this small book ! Excellent value for the money, truly remarkable - no fantasy RPG GM should be without this gem.</p>Gorbacz2008-11-22T22:06:48ZGM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration: ] (2 stars)captramseshttps://paizo.com/products/btpy81qm?GM-Gems-A-Tome-of-Game-Master-Inspiration2008-05-24T08:39:29Z<p><b>GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration</b></p><p><b>GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration</b></p>captramses2008-05-24T08:39:29ZGM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration: Wonderful stuff! (5 stars)Fake Healerhttps://paizo.com/products/btpy81qm?GM-Gems-A-Tome-of-Game-Master-Inspiration2008-04-22T17:30:20Z<p><b>GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration</b></p><p>This product not only gives a GM so much cool material to use, but it also gives an imagination a kick in the pants! I find that just reading through this has inspired so much more detail in my games descriptions and added a truly unique style to my worlds. Thank you to all who worked on this and a hearty 'Good Job' to all of you!</p><p><b>GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration</b></p><p>This product not only gives a GM so much cool material to use, but it also gives an imagination a kick in the pants! I find that just reading through this has inspired so much more detail in my games descriptions and added a truly unique style to my worlds. Thank you to all who worked on this and a hearty 'Good Job' to all of you!</p>Fake Healer2008-04-22T17:30:20ZGM Gems: A Collection of Game Master Inspiration—PDF: Great Product (5 stars)Aberzombiehttps://paizo.com/products/btpy81qm?GM-Gems-A-Tome-of-Game-Master-Inspiration2008-03-18T13:59:09Z<p><b>GM Gems: A Collection of Game Master Inspiration—PDF</b></p><p>This is a great work-up. Just the kind of extra detail that can make a good campaign into a great campaign. Kudos to all the writers.</p><p><b>GM Gems: A Collection of Game Master Inspiration—PDF</b></p><p>This is a great work-up. Just the kind of extra detail that can make a good campaign into a great campaign. Kudos to all the writers.</p>Aberzombie2008-03-18T13:59:09ZGM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration: One Nitpick Prevents a 5 Star (4 stars)Don Northnesshttps://paizo.com/products/btpy81qm?GM-Gems-A-Tome-of-Game-Master-Inspiration2008-03-18T07:53:10Z<p><b>GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration</b></p><p>Where to start? I'll start with the negative first (very little), move through the neutral, and on to the positive.</p>
<p>The Ugly (negative): I really don't like the layout. This should not be attributed as fault of the writers. But it feels really cramped to me. “Clean” section breaks are rare, meaning if you aren't paying close attention as you flip through the book, you might not notice you left one section and are almost done with the next. And with most charts having one hundred separate entries, they often span several pages. Also, the Black print on Medium Grey background on every other chart entry can be hard to read for some. Now that thats over with.</p>
<p>The Bad (Neutral): This book, or PDF, will be most useful to those running Homebrew games, or those whose group never seems to follow a plotline. If you have those mythical groups of players that always follow the plot of an AP style game, or don't really care about the world around their characters, you won't have much need for this.</p>
<p>The Good (Positive): There is a ton, metric or otherwise, of material in here. While I pick on the layout, a “better” layout would require more pages, and therefor more cost. If you are the kind of person that loves window dressing your game, but have difficulty keeping it new and fresh – you really need this book. If you are the kind of person that found the Appendix section of the <a href="http://paizo.com/store/downloads/wizardsOfTheCoast/aDAndD1/rulebooks/v5748btpy7meo" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">1st Edition DMG</a> the most entertaining, this is a must have book. It ties in well with those charts, and doesn't replace them in any way.
<br />
I have enough space to write about one of the twenty five sections split between three chapters, roughly organized by type. Alternate “Wonders” for the Rod of Wonders – brings the item back into its chaotic glory.
<br />
I dare say that everyone will find something useful, or at least fun to read, in this book.</p><p><b>GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration</b></p><p>Where to start? I'll start with the negative first (very little), move through the neutral, and on to the positive.</p>
<p>The Ugly (negative): I really don't like the layout. This should not be attributed as fault of the writers. But it feels really cramped to me. “Clean” section breaks are rare, meaning if you aren't paying close attention as you flip through the book, you might not notice you left one section and are almost done with the next. And with most charts having one hundred separate entries, they often span several pages. Also, the Black print on Medium Grey background on every other chart entry can be hard to read for some. Now that thats over with.</p>
<p>The Bad (Neutral): This book, or PDF, will be most useful to those running Homebrew games, or those whose group never seems to follow a plotline. If you have those mythical groups of players that always follow the plot of an AP style game, or don't really care about the world around their characters, you won't have much need for this.</p>
<p>The Good (Positive): There is a ton, metric or otherwise, of material in here. While I pick on the layout, a “better” layout would require more pages, and therefor more cost. If you are the kind of person that loves window dressing your game, but have difficulty keeping it new and fresh – you really need this book. If you are the kind of person that found the Appendix section of the <a href="http://paizo.com/store/downloads/wizardsOfTheCoast/aDAndD1/rulebooks/v5748btpy7meo" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">1st Edition DMG</a> the most entertaining, this is a must have book. It ties in well with those charts, and doesn't replace them in any way.
<br />
I have enough space to write about one of the twenty five sections split between three chapters, roughly organized by type. Alternate “Wonders” for the Rod of Wonders – brings the item back into its chaotic glory.
<br />
I dare say that everyone will find something useful, or at least fun to read, in this book.</p>Don Northness2008-03-18T07:53:10ZGM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration: Good book, great ideas (5 stars)Kassilhttps://paizo.com/products/btpy81qm?GM-Gems-A-Tome-of-Game-Master-Inspiration2008-03-17T18:17:37Z<p><b>GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration</b></p><p>First, let me say that this is, indeed, an awesome resource full of all kinds of amusing, creative, and useful pieces of material. From alchemical mishaps through unique poisons to things in a pocket, there's a lot of cool stuff here.</p>
<p>One caveat: the book claims to be system-neutral, but there are a •lot• of things that directly reference the OGL/D20 system scattered through the entire book. While there are a fair number of genuinely system-neutral pieces, the overall book is very definitely biased toward the D20 system.</p><p><b>GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration</b></p><p>First, let me say that this is, indeed, an awesome resource full of all kinds of amusing, creative, and useful pieces of material. From alchemical mishaps through unique poisons to things in a pocket, there's a lot of cool stuff here.</p>
<p>One caveat: the book claims to be system-neutral, but there are a •lot• of things that directly reference the OGL/D20 system scattered through the entire book. While there are a fair number of genuinely system-neutral pieces, the overall book is very definitely biased toward the D20 system.</p>Kassil2008-03-17T18:17:37ZGM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration: Excellent reference with a old-style gaming feel (5 stars)Patrick Curtinhttps://paizo.com/products/btpy81qm?GM-Gems-A-Tome-of-Game-Master-Inspiration2008-03-09T15:26:27Z<p><b>GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration</b></p><p>I liked this book for two reasons. One, it has a lot of creative "fluff" to it, which is what I am all about. Second, it really has an old Judges Guild-type of suppliment feel to it, where the fantastical could erupt at any moment. Give me tattooed monks streetfighting and Goblins chanting 'Daddy!' at the hapless PC. When I get in a fix as to what to tell an adventuring party when they say 'now what?' I'll be reaching for this gem.</p><p><b>GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration</b></p><p>I liked this book for two reasons. One, it has a lot of creative "fluff" to it, which is what I am all about. Second, it really has an old Judges Guild-type of suppliment feel to it, where the fantastical could erupt at any moment. Give me tattooed monks streetfighting and Goblins chanting 'Daddy!' at the hapless PC. When I get in a fix as to what to tell an adventuring party when they say 'now what?' I'll be reaching for this gem.</p>Patrick Curtin2008-03-09T15:26:27ZGM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration: Smooth (5 stars)Kruelaidhttps://paizo.com/products/btpy81qm?GM-Gems-A-Tome-of-Game-Master-Inspiration2008-02-29T11:35:13Z<p><b>GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration</b></p><p>Here, folks, is a resource that speaks to new and experienced GMs alike. Diverse campaign embellishments in each chapter were worked, no doubt, by inflamed, rabid imaginations. There is no system here, it’s like a collection of classic Dungeon magazine support articles: generators, lists, locations, and sundry GM brain feed so good that this puny little review just can’t do it justice. I think even a first rate screen monkey brimming with creativity and wickedness will still find plenty in here to fire up a campaign; and if you’re a noob – this stuff will be priceless.</p>
<p>The layout is gorgeous, but then I bought the pdf and an opulent look like this could be a killer for your game laptop. If that worries you - you’re in luck - the download comes with two copies, one with and one without page background. Hey, I’m not a collector and this isn’t something I need to carry to my games, so I’m going to call this the best 9 dollars I’ve spent on pdf game supplements in ages, and that includes the stuff I nicked during Paizo’s clearance sale last year.</p><p><b>GM Gems: A Tome of Game Master Inspiration</b></p><p>Here, folks, is a resource that speaks to new and experienced GMs alike. Diverse campaign embellishments in each chapter were worked, no doubt, by inflamed, rabid imaginations. There is no system here, it’s like a collection of classic Dungeon magazine support articles: generators, lists, locations, and sundry GM brain feed so good that this puny little review just can’t do it justice. I think even a first rate screen monkey brimming with creativity and wickedness will still find plenty in here to fire up a campaign; and if you’re a noob – this stuff will be priceless.</p>
<p>The layout is gorgeous, but then I bought the pdf and an opulent look like this could be a killer for your game laptop. If that worries you - you’re in luck - the download comes with two copies, one with and one without page background. Hey, I’m not a collector and this isn’t something I need to carry to my games, so I’m going to call this the best 9 dollars I’ve spent on pdf game supplements in ages, and that includes the stuff I nicked during Paizo’s clearance sale last year.</p>Kruelaid2008-02-29T11:35:13Z