Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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The Dragon Compendium is full of excellent material. There is a wealth of it available, in all eras of the magazine. The book collects material from all of those eras (including the first issue of the Strategic Review!), but there is definitely a focus on newer material, as we own all of the rights to the writing and art. This first product is proof of concept, and if it is profitable we will go further and further back until we are out of good material (this will probably happen some time around Volume 11).
--Erik
Will there be any online previews available, aside from the table of contents. Any web enhancements?
The Dragon Compendium is full of excellent material. There is a wealth of it available, in all eras of the magazine. The book collects material from all of those eras (including the first issue of the Strategic Review!), but there is definitely a focus on newer material, as we own all of the rights to the writing and art. This first product is proof of concept, and if it is profitable we will go further and further back until we are out of good material (this will probably happen some time around Volume 11).
--Erik
as least people around here haven't grabbed the torches and pitchforks like they have on enworld... :)
hopefully next time you will have the time to make volume 2 be more balanced as to the eras it draws from, as i'm sure you wanted #1 to be in the first place. :)
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Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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I've been line editing the book all this week, and there is _plenty_ of material from all eras of the magazine's history. I appreciate people's feedback and opinions, but once folks get a look at the actual book, I think they'll be surprised. Yes, there is a large amount of more recent material, but there is a good deal more "classic" material than people seem to think.
What I'm trying to say is that paging through the book itself gives a much better impression that just looking at the ToC.
--Erik
What I'm trying to say is that paging through the book itself gives a much better impression that just looking at the ToC.
i tried suggesting that... some people thought i was crazy. :)
well, give it 2 weeks, and people can judge for themselves...
Personally this is something I am extremely pleased with. I have been trying to find the time to do this myself but have yet to find the time. Besides, even if I could, I would like to have it in hardcover format because I don't always enjoy sitting at my computer.
I will look the book over before buying it, however I am really looking forward to purchasing a copy.
Something I would like to see in the future for the compendiums would be a stronger focus on a particular theme. You mentioned a planar or oriental theme. I would also like to see something like a Book of Races, Book of Classes, Book of Arcane, Book of Divine, etc.
This would not only make it easier for me to find what I want in the books, but also make it easier for people to decide what books they want. If someone doesn't want/need more prestige classes, then they can skip that particular book. A book focused on "fluff" would sell very strongly to that crowd. I would pay top-dollar for any book that compiled all the DM-aid articles.
All-in-all, I think that you have yourself an excellent product concept and I look forward to seeing exactly what you do with it.
Good luck.
Two points though. This particular compendium is VOLUME ONE. Its not meant to cover everything, its meant to whet your appetite and make you want to get Volume Two on down. Just like the magazine, not everything may appeal to you, and hey, you may or may not buy this or that Volume, especially depending on themes and the like.The second point is that having these articles consolidated, indexed, and hardbound does make these articles easier to use in a game setting. The span of Dragon Magazines that the "recent" articles in the Compendium entails is prohibitive to bring to the table, becuase they slide around, get damaged, and it takes forever to remember what issue this or that was in. A hardcover or two is much easier to deal with at the gaming table.
I completely agree. Lugging the mags around, which are far more fragile than hardcovers, can be a pain. The compiled feats alone are enough reason for me to buy this book.
Drat. I was hoping to see the Mind Mage from issue 313 in there. Brilliant class, but doesn't quite work with the revisions in 3.5. Ah well, a bit late now for volume one.
Still, there are some of my favorites; the Deathmaster (I loved this class), Lupin, Diabolus.. I'm definitely getting this book.
Two words:
E TOOLS!
That would make me vibrate with happiness.
I'm sure the book will be mighty fine, too. I'll be snapping it up myself instanter.
One question: Would you prefer a sale through the website, or the FLGS?
-The Gneech
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Chief Technical Officer
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One question: Would you prefer a sale through the website, or the FLGS?
Tricky question. Casting aside all political issues, we make more profit on each copy sold through the website, but having copies sell at retail gets retailers to order more copies, which results in exposing the product to more people who wouldn't otherwise be aware of it. That's a value that's hard to translate into dollars. Plus, retail sales help support your favorite retailer, which helps keep them in business, which helps keep the industry alive.... Man, that question is even tougher than "paper or plastic?"
-Vic.
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I'm looking for a second edition class, I can't remember the name. It was in the 300's, and was in an article about wilderness classes..it was a mage who's specialty was turning mere animals into exotic beasts and eventually creating new creatures entirely..does anyone remember what this class is called...I'm trying to update my old highschool campaign world and would like to do it right rather than fake it.
It was a kit called the Merlane. It's issue 237, page 12.
Without beating a dead horse, I also am disappointed that there are so many prestige classes, races, and the like in this. I would have rather seen a selection of some of the "non-crunchy" articles from this great magazine.
I will, however, buy this product as I'm sure it will be of the highest quality.
I still like having many prestige classes, races, and the like as this gives me more and more to choose from, both as a Player and in the creation of my NPC's.
Andrew
(from Australia)
Without beating a dead horse, I also am disappointed that there are so many prestige classes, races, and the like in this. I would have rather seen a selection of some of the "non-crunchy" articles from this great magazine.
I will, however, buy this product as I'm sure it will be of the highest quality.
WOW, looks increadible!! Cant wait for them to come out!! From what I saw it looks like it is going to be a great addition to many a player's collection! Hope all is well with the crew, KEEP up the great work!
WOW, looks increadible!! Cant wait for them to come out!! From what I saw it looks like it is going to be a great addition to many a player's collection! Hope all is well with the crew, KEEP up the great work!
Hey, Patrick!
Fear the devastating power of the dwarfalope!
The Orbs of Dragonkind article didn't make it because it's currently in a folder with all of the other Greyhawk articles Dragon has ever printed. A compilation of that material, while unlikely in the current environment, would be absolutely glorious.Absolutely! That one article is quite possibly my favorite out of the history of Dragon, and definately my favorite of the pre-3rd ed. articles. But at least now I understand why it didn't make it into this book.
My hope remains kindled that we'll see it make the light of day with other Greyhawk materials.
I want to chime in here and say that that was a big thing I was looking for also. Dragon and Dungeon have published many articles over the years that I would love to get my hands on in this kind of condensed form that a compendium offers.
Please, my two coppers are that the next compendium bring together all of the great campain specific "fluffy" artcles that let me as a DM expand the world for my players.
Tanks - Rath
I still like having many prestige classes, races, and the like as this gives me more and more to choose from, both as a Player and in the creation of my NPC's.
Andrew
(from Australia)
Thank you! Those are part of my thoughts exactly (along with many other pros of having more crunch than the pros of having less of it in my head).
I think I managed to catch onto a trend with this "no like crunch, or too much of it" group. They're either DMs or both DM and player but with the mindset of a DM. You never hear a player complaining about "this has too much crunch". At least, I haven't heard one say that yet.
I was starting to feel like I was the only DM that enjoyed more crunch for my own sake along with my players, whose eyes lighten waiting to see if there's some material to enhance or better their character ROLE PLAY wise. Of course, they have kick-in-the-door reasons why also, but as a group we balance out story, RP, and kick-in-the-door style of play. We mix in and balance out many other issues.
Which leads to another peeve of mine. The fact that those who hate "too much crunch" already labeling them as "munchkin-material." Last I checked, not every player is a munchkin (least most of mine aren't) and the DM can rule zero whatever he or she wishes in their games. Least, I hope DMs have realized that?
I've been line editing the book all this week, and there is _plenty_ of material from all eras of the magazine's history.
Do the various articles list where the original source material comes from (I liked the way Necromancer Games did that with Tome of Horrors 1)?
Either way, I'm sold. Thanks for the sneak peak!
- Chris Shadowens
Do the various articles list where the original source material comes from (I liked the way Necromancer Games did that with Tome of Horrors 1)?
that would be super sweet! :)
i guess we will all find out in a few days... :)
Do the various articles list where the original source material comes from (I liked the way Necromancer Games did that with Tome of Horrors 1)?that would be super sweet! :)
i guess we will all find out in a few days... :)
As shown in the preview spread, they do. Do bad we won't see it in print until December though. Uber-Boo!
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Honestly, I am looking forward to the compendium, partially because I like having option for myself and players available, and partially because I like having things "all in one place". I had bought a lot of back issues when I started on DnD, and still went and bought the cd-rom when it came out so that all the articles were easier to find (without me having to sift through and write up my own indexes ... "oh, I need to dig in that box for issue 17 to find ..."). There is newer stuff, true, but I don't see that as being a problem either. Has anyone noticed "Best Hits" albums tend to have the more recent hits? I look forward to volume 2 (possibly with an online poll to choose some of the articles? Hint, hint Eric).
As shown in the preview spread, they do. Do bad we won't see it in print until December though. Uber-Boo!Do the various articles list where the original source material comes from (I liked the way Necromancer Games did that with Tome of Horrors 1)?that would be super sweet! :)
i guess we will all find out in a few days... :)
quite right! i didn't notice that before! :)
"by James Jacobs, Dragon #270, April 2000"
I'd just like to join in the crowd who are rejoicing at the content in this book. I could honestly care less about the esoterica. I'm more interested in the crunch. I'm hoping to see things like the Kerpca and the Merlane. I also like the inclusion of the Jester as a Class rather than a PrC. That's something I've been waiting on for quite some time now.
I'm hoping to see things like the Kerpca
in the meantime. :) [url]http://www.enworld.org/cc/converted/view_c.php?CreatureID=875[/url]
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Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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I believe Erik that it's full of excellent material and will give it a good look.
Yeah, I don't think you'll be disappointed, honestly. It's not "Dragon Presents the Forgotten Realms," or anything, but it is full of cool material to be sure, and vast portions of the book are not crunchy at all.
--Erik
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Chief Creative Officer, Publisher
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It looks wonderful and I am chomping at the bit to get the book. When can we expect to see the book on our local gaming store shelves?
Probably pretty soon, since we started shipping Paizo preorders on Thursday, which is probably the same day it went to distributors. I'm no expert, but I suspect you should start seeing it in stores in a week or so.
--Erik Mona
yay! :)
Unlike most here I LOVE extra races and classes! The more the better. Prestige Classes are great (particularly if they're not dedicated to Greyhawk-only deities, near impossible to qualify for, or if they're not the uber-weak "THAT'S an Archmage??" type classes).
The big problem I see is that of the races, I recognize not a blessed one. I guess a "Diabo"lus is some kind of demony tiefling thing? Still I'd like to see races that seem more recognizable, particularly ones from now discontinued game settings (Red Steel, Darksun, etc. etc.)
Likewise, though some of the classes sound interesting, I don't recognize any of them and am dubious as to their value in my games. It'd be nice to have classes that filled more obvious niches (for example I loved the variant rogues and rangers, as well as the paladins and blackguards of other alignments!) The classes listed seem okay, but I'm a bit standoffish until I get a better look at them. It'd be neat if there were new versions of some old classes: like the old vengence based fighters from Ravenloft, or the Gladiators from Darksun--just a thought.
Anyway I'll probably look for the product in the store. I'll probably buy it if only for the promise of more volumes to come!
Future reference. If you did reprints of stuff like the alternate alignment paladins/blackguards, any of the ecology articles (I LOVE those), variant rangers and thieves, races from old 2nd edition settings (like the Red Steel and Darksun stuff I once saw). That'd be stuff I'd snatch up in a second!
You'd better snatch it up, then, since the lupin race appeared in Red Steel. ;)
(It also includes the sha'ir class from Al-Qadim)
You'd better snatch it up, then, since the lupin race appeared in Red Steel. ;)(It also includes the sha'ir class from Al-Qadim)
Hey I remember that article! I didn't catch the name glancing through the races. Never got a chance to play Al-Qadim, though I always liked it...hmm well I'll definitely keep an eye out for the book when it shows up. Could be cool!
P.S. What, by the way, is the difference between crunchy vs. non-crunchy content? Just curious.
P.S. What, by the way, is the difference between crunchy vs. non-crunchy content? Just curious.
Crunchy = generally rules, mechanics n'such.
Non-Crunchy or Fluff = Background stories, character histories, information that doesn't rely specifically on rules.Mr. Mona has stated a preference for the term "flavor" rather than "fluff" in the past (which I agree with). ;-)
Yes, more prestige class. Just perfect my campaign. I love variety in my games and I want tons of it. Always surprises, always more options for my players, and always more options for me when I make NPCs and monsters.Don't hate on the crunch people. Not everyone is so professional and gets together in teams everyday, getting paid for it, to come up with new crunch material to bring to the game that's balanced enough to play. Fluff is way easier to create, since all you need is a---*gasp* oh no...a freaking IMAGINATION!
*gasps* Oh my...does such a thing exist in a D&D game anymore? I sure hope so...
IMO the imagination of the player is being crunched by power-gaming options upon options -- new feats, skills, spells, and prestige class galore.
I disagree with your assessment of imagination vs crunch. Of course, this is subjective, but I believe that creating "crunch" materials, while tedious, is not nearly as challenging as setting up a campaign with characters that breathe verisimilitude. I am tickled pink by the Shackled City HC, but this Dragon compendium I will not pre-order. I'm not saying I won't buy it; rather, I'll check it out at my FLGS and then decide. I'm just not excited about more character options. I've got volumes of them that I'll never use, nor will my players.
Here's my take, as I step into the morass:
The condition of D&D nowadays is pretty amorphous. There's a few solid settings out (namely Forgotten Realms, Greyhawk, Eberron, and Dragonlance) but for the most part things either abort to Greyhawk or else are in the floaty limbo that is the "core setting" which is largely Greyhawk with anything else the DM wants lumped in. Hard to use for guys like me who are interested in keeping their settings clean.
So when there's an article that presents an event, or a place, or an artifact or guild I kinda' go..."Yeah, but where is this event taking place in?" If I can have a straight answer, then I can use it. If the answer is "wherever you want, cause you're the DM!" I tend to trash it.
Races and classes, however, can be used anywhere...well most of them. Therefore it is of the greatest use to me in my games.
Let us know what you think!
- rob