Behind the Spells: Compendium brings together the first 36 volumes of the "Behind the Spells" series. Not only has the original material been corrected for errata but this book also includes brand-new material for select spells and behind-the-scenes commentary by the author for each spell. Whether you're a fan of the series or haven't quite gotten around to it yet, this is the book for you!
As always, for each spell you get a history of the creator, at least two “spell secrets” (new rules for using the spell), and “related research” (new magic items and/or spells which somehow relate to the spell or its creator). Game Masters and players will have a wealth of spell information in these pages just waiting to be unleashed at the game table.
Why buy books packed with new spells when there is still so much that can be done with the classics? Get back to basics with Behind the Spells: Compendium!
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Behind the Spells: Compendium offers three great ways to add some pizazz to your game.
First, each spell includes details behind where the spell came from. Everyone has heard of Tensor, but who recalls Nephar Poratis? Would you ever guess that prestidigitation was the precursor for "a catastrophic orgy of destruction"? These tidbits are great fluff to add depth to any campaign world.
Each spell also comes with some spell secrets. Spell secrets introduce a way for spellcasters to tweak castings (by beating a Spellcraft DC) to achieve different effects. Some of these are kind of cheesy but most of them are pretty cool. Spell secrets add a new dimension to the game without being overpowering or making other aspects obsolete.
Finally, there are variant spells and magic items that round out the book's features. Some of these are pretty useful - any party without a cleric must learn stall and I really like the blastbow.
Herewith a spell collection with a difference. Rather than the usual new spells (although there are a few), this work looks at the core spells of Dungeons and Dragons in a new light. In the Introduction, the author explains both how the series came to be and some of what he has tried to do with it: looking at familiar spells with an eye to how they might be used, and seeking to write about their background. Cross-referencing with earlier editions of D&D suggested how spells might have been developed by various mages over time; and the 'narrator' is the alter-ego of an ancient gold dragon, sharing his wisdom with curious seekers after magical knowledge.
As the first chapter, What's It All About, explains, each of the 36 spells covered has been given a chapter to itself in which firstly the background to the creation of the spell is given, replete with the sort of information which would fascinate anyone interested in the academic study of spells and spellcasting. Then there's a section of spell secrets detailing variants of the spell, and a section of related research which contains wholly-new but related spells and associated magic items. The idea behind spell secrets is simple: that by making small alterations to the way in which a standard spell is cast, the mage can unlease subtly different effects although the spell remains recognisably a fireball for example, it might be possible to make it cause sonic damage as well as burning, or make an enemy's fireball suffer premature detonation. Most spell secrets are recorded in spellbooks by the wizards who thought of them, but inspiration can come in many forms and even the spellcasters who don't normally work from books might record their thoughts.
In game, this book should be in the library of any serious mage or magic college worthy of the name; in the real world it's well worth having in yours!
These pdfs were one of my favorites, I could not wait for the next one to come out. But if you missed the originals, you can now get the compendium and there is added content for those of us that allready have all the pdfs, plus it is nice to have everything in one book.
If you have never read one of these, each one discuses the origin of a common spell, showing how it was first researched and created. Each entry also includes variant versions of the spell, an occational magic item or monster tied to the story. Oh and several of the stories tie together with each other, which does stand out more with all them together in one book.
Matthew Morris
(RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8)
—
The 5-star reviews have been rolling in since the July release of Tricky Owlbear Publishing's Behind the Spells: Compendium. Do you have your copy yet of one one of the last must-have books of the 3e era?
Now is the perfect time to join narrator Maxolt Alberiim as he traces the histories of the best-known spells of the world's most famous fantasy roleplaying game! Whether you want new/variant rules or just a good fiction read, Behind the Spells: Compendium is the right book for you.
The Compendium is available in PRINT at Lulu.com or in PDF format from right here at Paizo!
The 5-star reviews have been rolling in since the July release of Tricky Owlbear Publishing's Behind the Spells: Compendium. Do you have your copy yet of one one of the last must-have books of the 3e era?
Now is the perfect time to join narrator Maxolt Alberiim as he traces the histories of the best-known spells of the world's most famous fantasy roleplaying game! Whether you want new/variant rules or just a good fiction read, Behind the Spells: Compendium is the right book for you.
The Compendium is available in PRINT at Lulu.com or in PDF format from right here at Paizo!
Any chance on getting a page count on this? Sounds like a book I would enjoy but it is hard to cough up $15 for a digital copy without knowing how much meat it has to it.
Any chance on getting a page count on this? Sounds like a book I would enjoy but it is hard to cough up $15 for a digital copy without knowing how much meat it has to it.
You bet, mindgamez! The Compendium clocks in at 112 pages of magical goodness. Don't forget though that for a few dollars more you can grab a Lulu print copy in case pdf isn't your thing. For more information, if you can stand my nasally voice that is, you can also listen to an audio commentary I made for the book HERE.
Looks like more folks have been picking up the Compendium here. Any more comments or suggestions about the series or the book? In case anyone doesn't realize it, the "Behind the Spells" series is still going (albeit slowly) and we should see the issue on "Darkness" released in the next week or two. Thanks to everyone for checking out the Compendium!
I wrote a short review of this here. I want to see floating disk next.
Thanks, deinol! I dropped you an email as I did notice your Apathy Blog review...not sure if you got that. As for Floating Disk, that's on the KoboldQuarterly.com queue for early January as a free release!
I'm absolutely crushed that I didn't know about this product before now... what a great idea for a line! Count me as a satisfied customer, and one that's tickled pink to have it available in print!
I'm absolutely crushed that I didn't know about this product before now... what a great idea for a line! Count me as a satisfied customer, and one that's tickled pink to have it available in print!
I'm crushed too! ;) Glad you're on board now. Look for more issues in the future (I think Permanency will be next).
Great idea to bundle these together, but i have one question... which spells are included in this bundle? i haven't been able to find a list of which are in here and would rather know before i buy
