Dungeons & Dragons: Tome of Magic—Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic Hardcover

[Fatespinner]

I've seen some conversations going on about the classes and abilities presented in this book and I had a general question for those who have this book (or at least know it well enough): Does this book add anything new for other spellcasting classes or is it pretty much exclusively based on the new classes and magic types being presented within? I'm a little reluctant to buy a book that's not going to enhance my existing campaigns but I might pick it up if I want to start something new. Thanks!

[Keno]

I believe its all new.

[ericthecleric]

FS, the three new classes are based on new concepts. Binders rock (especially if you ignore the class-based fluff, but not that of the vestige fluff); I just think “meh” about the shadowcasters and truenamers. But YMMV.
For the other side of your question, there are some pretty decent PrCs. For example, fiendbinders are pretty cool (although I’m not sure I’d allow it for PCs!); ie. as a wizard7/fiendbinder10 say, you cast spells as a wizard14 and could have an allied marilith for 34,000 gp! (But you’d probably need to give the character a feat that makes Truespeech a class skill first.) There are also some PrCs that enhance two classes (like binder and arcanist), for example. There’s a few new spells (that relate largely to truenamer-type stuff). The karsite race is pretty cool.

[Kelvar Silvermace2]

The addition of three flavorful new base classes would enhance anyone's existing campaigns, IMNSHO. :-)

I'm actually pretty fond of the Shadowcaster and Truenamer, at least conceptually. I've never played either one, but I hope to soon. The Truenamer in particular is just oozing with flavor. The very idea of Truenames and the power inherent in knowing a truename just has all kinds of potential for a DM. True, they look a bit underpowered, but I would play one just because they are cool. One might have to tinker with some house rules on making truename checks a tad less difficult, but overall I think the whole book is well worth it.

To answer the question you actually asked, as noted above, there are some prestige classes, but I think there are also some feats and a *few* spells that other classes could use. Oh, and some of the artwork in this book is wicked cool. There's a picture of this shadow spire thing that just rocks.