This issue had its highpoints and lowpoints. I wanted to take this opportunity to express which things hit and miss in my opinion.
First was the cover art. I gotta list it under lowpoint. I can't really articulate what is wrong with it - the composition, detail, etc are all there. It just lacks oomph, I guess. It's boring and what's more it leaves me wondering what exactly is it supposed to be? Just a close-up of some adventurer? Trophy hunter the inner description says. I say yaawwnn. With all the recent discussion on cover art I'll be interested to see how this one ranks in the sales curve. If I didn't have a subscription I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have bothered to pick this issue off the rack, which is a shame because the issue is packed with goodies.
The biggest high point was in the least expected article for me - Music in D&D. I rolled my eyes when I saw the cover tag line and actually intended to just flip past it. The dragon wearing the ipod caught my attention and I'm glad! This article was well written and useful, breaking things down in a clear concise manner for those who aren't as hip as we'd like to be while at the same time not seeming to "talk down" at the reader. The automatic playlist hook-up just plain rocks!(pun not intended)! The suggestions on how to create one's own was excellent and tips on the how, whens, and whys was just the tool for the busy DM.
The editorial was a slight lowpoint. It was a great topic and well written but at the same time kinda a frustrating teaser. It's like those party games when you're asked a complex question but you can only answer in three words or less. We love to hear opinions on favorite monsters and the complex processes of compiling the special Ecology issue but word count and space restrictions made the whole thing choppy and unfulfilling - just when you start to get excited, it's over (never a happy situation!).
Speaking of Ecologies, the Ecology of the Devourer was excellent. Again, this was unexpected for me since it's *not* one of my favorite monsters. I especially liked the sidebar containing past adventures that included the devourer (has this been going on for a while and I've just been overlooking it?).
The Creature catalog was great. Again, not necessarally my usual fare but this time I found it interesting and useful. Some of the art wasn't as crisp as I'd like to see but I especially liked the write-ups on the madedar, the cave fisher, and the scarecrow (I have a phobia of scarecrows so kudos for drawing me in despite my fear!).
I don't "do" Forgotten Realms but found Volo's Guide an interesting read. I skipped the Eberron article and so can not comment on it.
The Adventurer Class Act was superlative! I've got a player who loves to equip his characters with garrots & such. I'm so pleased to see this game mechanic its due.
The other Class Act articles slide into lowpoints for me. They're either too specific for my personal use/tastes (psion, eldritch warrior) or so general as to be practically useless (druid).
Anyway, #355 might be a bumpy ride but overall it doesn't disappoint. Keep up the good work!
RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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I had a nice review, then the website ate it *sigh*
Anyway, I'm in agreement with Lady Auora about the cover and the devourer. My players will regret that I pulled two of them in my Dethknell cases. It blew me away.
Creature Compendium was hit and miss. It was nice to see some old friends, including the Maedar. I'm pretty sure I saw the Cannon Golem on Operation Overdrive two weeks ago.
I want the iPod dragon on a T-shirt. as well as the Nodwick line "She's Lawful Evil on social issues, Chaotic Evil on moral ones."
Mr. Jacobs, is the Alu-fiend Template still a +4 ECL? I'm thinking the lost of some of the offencive spells might drop it to a 3
The Creature catalog was great. Again, not necessarally my usual fare but this time I found it interesting and useful. Some of the art wasn't as crisp as I'd like to see but I especially liked the write-ups on the madedar, the cave fisher, and the scarecrow (I have a phobia of scarecrows so kudos for drawing me in despite my fear!).
you're welcome! :D
I skipped the Eberron article and so can not comment on it.
*sniff* ;-)
The issue was a bumpy road for me too. In fact, Aurora, your review says almost exactly what mine would say.
Creature Catalog wasn't my favorite this time, it seemed to have more vermin and weak bugs for my tastes. I like Dragon magazine for really strange monsters or really creepy ones. (Which is why I really liked the scarecrow and the springheel.)
(Giant slug was actually a cool giant vermin. I actually like that one, and I'm ususally not one for giant vermin.)
I like Dragon magazine for really strange monsters or really creepy ones. (Which is why I really liked the scarecrow and the springheel.)
sounds like a lot of folks are glad to see the scarecrow back. :)
I skipped the Eberron article and so can not comment on it.*sniff* ;-)I liked most of the shifter stuff, except for the silverstuff.
My worry is that since some of the feats can be taken as fighter loading up on shifter feats and getting some large bonuses
Good point...but those poor poor fighters need all the help they can get. They are so sad looking at higher levels. ;-)
But you're right someone else could do a ring and run of the fighter class (grab those tasty first two or four levels) and get a distinct power-up from this.
I've been learning not to skip over any of the articles in Dragon. Right now, I don't play Eberron, but I do allow shifters, warforged, and changelings in my campaign (especially since they put 'em in MM III). I've already warned my people that if they meet up with a shifter monk, they should prepare for an ass-kicking.
As an aside, working these races into a campaign like Greyhawk isn't that hard. Races of the Dragon has already established the precedent of new dragon-flavored races appearing here and there.
Having shifters showing up in the Wild Coast, or changelings appearing in Greyhawk city, or warforged wandering out of the Blackmoor region are easy to set up and fun to play.
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RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8
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Having shifters showing up in the Wild Coast, or changelings appearing in Greyhawk city, or warforged wandering out of the Blackmoor region are easy to set up and fun to play.
I took a warforged Fighter/Shaper as a cohort in an oerth game.
He spoke Ancient Suloies instead of common, and he background was he was a survivor to the reign of colourless fire, knocked to -3 HP.
I enjoyed him almost as much as the character he ws the cohort for.