Matthew A. Cicci's page

At the risk of sounding ignorant, I recently downloaded the latest version of PCGen, but I have been unable to correctly load the APG source. I can get either the Core rules and the traits OR the core rules and the bestiaries.

I'm sure this is operator error -- any suggestions?

Curious as well - "Keeping the Band Together"

Just throwing my two cents in - a week, two weeks, three weeks -- for anyone who's submitted any written work, the wait on this contest is really minimal.

I'm surprised and impressed by the rapid turnaround.

The FIFTH 5-star review (25 out of 25 possible so far) for the Fey Folio. Why haven't you picked it up yet? ;)

If there was a single word that I’d use to sum up the fey (in the context of a Pathfinder game, at least) it’d be “lame.” Other contenders for the top spot are “suckitude” “craptastic” and “eye-rollingly-boring.” After all, how many cool fey can you really think of? Sure, nymphs and dryads are nice eye-candy, but there aren’t any fey who could honestly be called badass; that distinction goes to the demons, the dragons, the undead, and pretty much every other monster type that isn’t fey.

It’s that perception that Allura Publishing apparently set out to combat with their second monster book – Fey Folio: Clans of the Fey. And if its use of the word twice in the title didn’t clue you in, this book is about fey monsters.

A twenty-seven page PDF, the book’s technical presentation lives up to the high standards that Alluria has set for itself. Full nested bookmarks are included, and everything is easily copied-and-pasted. The book has a table of monsters by Challenge Rating, and continues its use of their own set of symbols to indicate type, terrain, and environment.

Of course, I have to mention the artwork. Alluria’s emphasis on gorgeous interior illustrations is second-to-none among the third-party companies, and this book carries on that tradition. Even beyond the evocative cover, each monster has a full-color illustration from the inimitable Vasilis Zikos, which should tell you just how superb the art here is. Each page is also set on a slightly off-white background, which darkens to a parchment-color at the edges, making it look like the PDF is written on an old book. It’s a great way to color the background without drawing attention to it.

But enough with the technical commentary, what are the book’s monsters like? Well, of the thirteen monsters here, these aren’t your typical fey – or rather, they are. A significant number of these fey (maybe all of them, since I didn’t research the mythology) are taken from actual myths and legends – the dullahan, the erlking, the sylph, etc. Of course, the book doesn’t seem to feel constrained by these restrictions, as it paints a fairly interconnected backstory between various fey. For example, several fey are related through being former servants of the book’s big bad evil guy, the Jack-in-Irons. It’s an effective way to make these creatures seem like members of a society, instead of a group of individual monsters.

It should be noted that almost all of the fey here are meant for lower-level play. The book has a table breaking down the monsters herein by CR, and very few hit the double-digits.

Following this is a helpful, albeit brief, guide of things to keep in mind that make fey distinctive from other monsters. After that, a campaign overview is given, separated into three sections (low-level, mid-level, and high level) regarding the fey trying to free Jack-in-Irons while the PCs attempt to prevent it. A single page of new magic items rounds out the book.

Overall, I found myself surprised with just how good of a job this book did of making the fey seem not just interesting, but rather kickass. Both in terms of presentation and mechanics, most of these creatures seemed like a legitimate threat to any party that encounters them; even the ones that aren’t threatening seem that way by design, rather than a failure on Alluria’s part. I actually could see using these fey in my Pathfinder game, as challenging antagonists no less – that’s the highest compliment that I can give the Fey Folio: it makes the fey frightening again

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For more reviews check here.

Also available here on Paizo.

Latest Review From RPGNow Featured Reviewer Peter Ingham: 5 Stars --

I've never been a large fan of fey creatures, largely because the treatment they get in the core fantasy books is often weak and without that specialness that attracts or appeals to many GMs. As a result, many publishers have brought out various books on the fey in an attempt to do them justice, and I have to say that Alluria Publishing's Fey Folio: Clans of the Fey is hands down the best treatment for fey I've yet seen on the market. This product shines - it's got fantastic production values, with mind-blowing art, and vivid and descriptive writing that leaps out of the page. But that's not all - the creativeness behind the design and implementation of the mechanics, and the unique and novel background material are top quality. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this book - if you're looking for a book on fey creatures you can look no further than this product.

The product details 13 different kinds of fey, and gives them the royal treatment by allocating enough page space and descriptive/background material to make each creature unique. I was very impressed by the ingenuity and handling of the fey - as twisted and dark creatures that aren't entirely evil. The fey creatures just leap out of the page and scream to be used. The interaction and hierarchy between the fey creatures creates a novel and interesting culture of fey creatures, complete with the dark and malevolent lord of the Fey, Jack-In-Irons. The product even includes an interesting campaign that builds on the material presented, and one that I suspect many GMs will itch to run as is, or with some minor modification. I thought the special abilities and attacks that the fey creatures had were fabulous, really integrating neatly and elegantly with the fey creature's personality and background. On top of that, the product also includes a handful of fey related magical items. Overall, it's hard to beat a product like this - excellent all round.

So that makes 4 reviews, and 20 stars! I'll post more reviews as they come in.

The Fey Folio is, of course, sold here at Paizo too.

A new edition of D&D was needed, and now there are two. These two editions are competing directly, and it's not as if the player base is mutually exclusive and composed entirely of haters and die-hards.

This +1000!

I've played with the mechanics of both games, I run a PF game on Wed nights, a 4e game on Thursday nights, I follow both communities, I have friends who prefer 1 over the other and vice versa . . . 2 awesome games is better than 1 awesome game.

Only bad part, is I am now a junkie for two systems. And all the older WoD stuff I can find . . . getting into Warhammer too . . . Savage Worlds is cheap at least . . . can't forget about Mutants and Masterminds . . .

... but the Fey Folio is really very good.

Its a little short for a monster book (17 monsters in 27 pages including 5 pages for cover etc...) but its well focused. It doesn't try and change your whole setting.

It gives you some good monsters. I enjoyed it.

S

Glad you enjoyed it. If you like the Fey Folio, keep your eyes on Alluria. I wrote that one, and have something else coming down the pipeline.

Hate to recommend that people purchase products elsewhere, but over on RPGNow you can purchase all of Alluria's Pathfinder Compatible products (the Fey Folio, Creepy Creatures, all those exotic races . . .) for only $25. Info is here. Sale ends when GenCon does.

Clans of the Fey Realms has a multitude of cool special abilities that make these monsters more than your average dry stat block.

The link to the full review is here. Again, if I notice any other reviews out there, I'll just link them here.

can you post a link to the review?

I'm wanting a good fey rescource.......

Dark Mistress's review can be found at the top of this discussion. Simply hit the tab for reviews. Also hers, and a few others, can be found HERE.

Hope that helps, Old Nekron.

And reviewed.

Thanks for reviewing this DM --

I'm glad to see you enjoyed it.

As for the amount of fluff per monster, I whole-heartedly agree. The myths and legends that inspired these fey enticed me to write insane amounts of fluff, background, and concepts regarding them.

However, and end product needs to be streamlined . . . still I like to think that thanks to the electronic nature of this piece, I was able to fit a generous amount of fluff per monster compared to the bestiary (limited by the constraints of print, of course).

Well, if you liked this, I think/hope you'll truly enjoy my next PFRPG offering.