Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Darazel 07-13-06, 09:52 AM	Greetings community, I'd like to ask for some information on 'Savage Species'. I often surf on amazon.de (hello fellow germans in here^^), and it seems that 'Savage Species' is more expensive than some products that are late released (e.g. the Complete-Books or the Races of...-Books). So I decided, that before I'm going to spend my hard earned money, I should get some feedback from these wise people hanging around here^^. I think it is 3.0, isn't it? If yes, how much of the crunch in it needs how much work to be updated? Especially these whole Racial-Class-Level-Thing... What else in the book is worth reading? After all... what else is in it? The Wizards-Page says something about PrCs, Feats and Spells (no surprise so far)... are they well-written? Just give me some comments on your experience with 'Savage Species' please, so I can judge if I buy it now, or if I spend the money on other books waiting on my list (whew, I still don't have the MM II, and they just released number IV. No, I KNOW I don't have to buy them all... I just want to ;-) ). Thank you very much for your answers and advises. Edit: Bad spelling...
babysamurai 07-13-06, 09:57 AM	SS is sort of 3.25, as it came out just before 3.5, so there isn't much conversion needed (if at all). Great book, IMO. I would recommend picking it up before more recently released books.
Bluehero 07-13-06, 12:23 PM	I have savage species. An interesting book, especially if your PC's want to play as monsters. I also found many of the templates very useful in designing custom monsters. The book is interesting and I would reccomend it if you want to have PC's run monsters.
Starchaserva 07-13-06, 12:42 PM	I've personally never used the savage species myself, though I do own it. If I remember correctly, it's one of those books that comes under fire sometime for the material ending up unbalanced or something, as in players using it to give themselves an advantage, but usually those people are full of hot air. If you like what's in it, and you want to buy it, and you're going to use it, I see no reason not for you too buy it. No matter the book, a good DM/Player can find a good way to use it
Grand Theft Otto 07-13-06, 02:30 PM	Savage species is INTENTIONALLY poorly designed. IMO, that alone makes it the worst 3.x book I own. The designers came out and said they intentionally made the monster classes inferior to what a PC of a standard race/class combo of the same level could do in order to act as a deterrant to players making monster characters in order to keep them rare. Ahem, if I want to keep them rare, I wont let PC's be one. Furthermore, what if I'm running an all monster game? Then PC's of that race SHOULDNT be rare, so why do they need to be inferior? If I'm shelling out cash for a book, I expect it to be usable. Savage species for the most part isnt. Try taking an ettercap on a a 9th level adventure, or an umber hulk on a 15th... its a slaughter and they contribute jack squat with their pathetic HP, saves, skills attack bonus etc.
Darazel 07-13-06, 05:17 PM	First of all, thanks for the replies. I think I'll sleep over it (european time, you know), and will decide tomorrow for what book I'm gonna waste... ehm... spend my money ;-) I'm considering the Races of Wild/Stone/Destiny-Books instead (probably not all at once). Maybe any comments on them, befor I do the ordering? Last chance to convince me to get this 'book-with-racial-class-that-needs-to-get-updated-first-but-still-are-underpowered' besides some templates? For further information: I don't think my players will actually play any monsters with huge LAs soon... but on the other hand, they also don't use much of the stuff in my other books. This is no valid argument, since I just enjoy reading the book, and knowing I have some good stuff at hand for later use (I like to think I'm still playing good old third edition when I'm old and gray, ignoring D&D 8.75 which is played by all the cool kids then^^). It just should be... well... good^^ Ah, and don't wonder: I'm posting the same thing in both threads (there is one at the new, and one at the old boards... it seems kind of complex here at the moment). And again: Thank you for your attention and help.
Grand Theft Otto 07-14-06, 11:51 AM	First of all, thanks for the replies. I think I'll sleep over it (european time, you know), and will decide tomorrow for what book I'm gonna waste... ehm... spend my money ;-) I'm considering the Races of Wild/Stone/Destiny-Books instead (probably not all at once). Maybe any comments on them, befor I do the ordering? Last chance to convince me to get this 'book-with-racial-class-that-needs-to-get-updated-first-but-still-are-underpowered' besides some templates? For further information: I don't think my players will actually play any monsters with huge LAs soon... but on the other hand, they also don't use much of the stuff in my other books. This is no valid argument, since I just enjoy reading the book, and knowing I have some good stuff at hand for later use (I like to think I'm still playing good old third edition when I'm old and gray, ignoring D&D 8.75 which is played by all the cool kids then^^). It just should be... well... good^^ Ah, and don't wonder: I'm posting the same thing in both threads (there is one at the new, and one at the old boards... it seems kind of complex here at the moment). And again: Thank you for your attention and help. If its not for players to use, then savage species is doubly bad IMO. NPC's dont have level adjustments, so the monster class rules are more useless than normal. Theres a lot of feats and spells in the book, which could be useful. The prestige classes are hit or miss. If the book isnt for players to use, I'd suggest Lords of Madness or Hordes of the Abyss over the "Races of X" books, both of which were great reads, with a few interesting options for players as well.
Grand Theft Otto 07-14-06, 11:51 AM	First of all, thanks for the replies. I think I'll sleep over it (european time, you know), and will decide tomorrow for what book I'm gonna waste... ehm... spend my money ;-) I'm considering the Races of Wild/Stone/Destiny-Books instead (probably not all at once). Maybe any comments on them, befor I do the ordering? Last chance to convince me to get this 'book-with-racial-class-that-needs-to-get-updated-first-but-still-are-underpowered' besides some templates? For further information: I don't think my players will actually play any monsters with huge LAs soon... but on the other hand, they also don't use much of the stuff in my other books. This is no valid argument, since I just enjoy reading the book, and knowing I have some good stuff at hand for later use (I like to think I'm still playing good old third edition when I'm old and gray, ignoring D&D 8.75 which is played by all the cool kids then^^). It just should be... well... good^^ Ah, and don't wonder: I'm posting the same thing in both threads (there is one at the new, and one at the old boards... it seems kind of complex here at the moment). And again: Thank you for your attention and help. If its not for players to use, then savage species is doubly bad IMO. NPC's dont have level adjustments, so the monster class rules are more useless than normal. Theres a lot of feats and spells in the book, which could be useful. The prestige classes are hit or miss. If the book isnt for players to use, I'd suggest Lords of Madness or Hordes of the Abyss over the "Races of X" books, both of which were great reads, with a few interesting options for players as well.
Darazel 07-14-06, 12:33 PM	Thank you for your advise, but its to late anyway. I just ordered Savage Species after I found it in another game-store... for a fair price of course. Guess I'll see myself if its worth the money. Lords of Madness is on my must-have list already ;-) Thanks to everyone for the input.