Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Xx Spider xX 03-25-04, 11:30 PM	Greets all. I'm considering the purchase of the following 3e books. A little input by those that own, or have been given ample time w/the books would be appreciated. In addition, if you were to rate these books on a scale from 1 to 5, 5 being the best. What would you rate each of these books at on over all content? 1)Underdark 2)Players guide to Faerun 3)Draconomicon Much thanks in advance for any/all input.
J. Grenemyer 03-26-04, 12:33 AM	Hello, Originally posted by Xx Spider xX I'm considering the purchase of the following 3e books… 1)Underdark: Own it and love it. I’ve gotten several good Epic Adventure ideas from this book and have used it a great deal to spruce up City of the Spider Queen. There’s a lot more flavor in this book than people give it credit for. Several excellent prestige classes for DMs to slap on their NPCs, as well as a nice selection of Magic Items and Spells. Buy it if you’re a DM, skip it if you’re a player. 2)Players guide to Faerun Don’t have it yet, but it’s on order. Looking forward to the new Cosmology information. 3)Draconomicon I bought this book as much for its cover and interior art as I did for the pages inside. Includes several examples of different age categories for each kind of Dragon found in the MM (as well as a few that are not) in addition to providing a map of a common abode for each listed dragon; all of which makes a DMs job a whole lot easier. The Meta-Breath feats are just vicious, and the spells and magic items aren’t bad either. Buy it if you’re a DM or an art lover, skip it if you’re a player (or not an art lover). :D
druid berrymore 03-26-04, 12:22 PM	Underdark (3/5 stars) For reference, I'll give an idea of what is good and bad to me. FRCS(5/5) Silver Marches (4/5) Underdark(3/5) Races of Faerun(2/5) Gold and Glory(1/5) The art in the centre is interesting, very interesting.
Torak Stoneweaver 03-26-04, 12:24 PM	Originally posted by Xx Spider xX I'm considering the purchase of the following 3e books. 1)Underdark 2)Players guide to Faerun 3)Draconomicon As requested: (1) Underdark - A value added book soley for the DM's arsenal. As the previous post stated, really good for epic play and making the bad guys a little bit unexpected. RATING 4 (2) Players Guide to Faerun - a very good book. The designers have updated most of what needs to be updated from the 3.0 version of FRCS, and indicated in the first few chapters what is still workable with the 3.5 edition. The web update fro monster updates is a nice suprise instead of making a whole new purchasable product! The cosmology section rocks, as does the inclusion of a few epic, Vile and Exalted items. Well worth the purchase.. RATING 5 (3) Draconomicon - Rally well put together book with references to everything that you need to know about dragons and such. It is a great book. RATING 4.5 Now thos e are the ratings for the books themselves as standalone items. In my opinion I tend to purchase books that enhance game mechanics first and then purchase the other non-essentila books to fill out the arsenal. Player's Guide is a must buy for those runiing a 3.5 edition Forgotten realms game... or playing in one where the DM has authorizwed the book. The underdark follows as it provides great dm crunch as well as eventual PC options for a delveing party. While the Draconomicon is a very good book and worth the, I buy books liek this when I have purchased everyting else that I have wanted ... it pretty just not entirley needed in a campaign... My 2 1/2 coppers..
ThePo 03-26-04, 01:07 PM	Underdark-A tool for DMs. Only good though if you plan on including the underdark in your campaign(s). Or want to fight some underdark monsters or societies encroaching upon the surface. Skip if your a player. Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting- Buy it even if your a player and plan on playing in the forgotten realms world. No world has so much back history as Toril. A must have. *note-I recommend Magic of Faerun if your get the FRCS. Magic of Faerun details the magic of a very magic-enriched world. Draconimicon- Come on, it's 1/2 of the name of the game! A must have if you ever play with dragons. However, as far as needed. Would have to say no. Skip this if your on a budget. You can supplement withe the Monster Manual and good old DM improvisation. Buying Order? 1. Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 2. Magic of Faerun (This is just too complimentary to #1 to skip IMHO) 3. Draconimicon 4. Underdark
Dawnspeaker 03-26-04, 01:52 PM	Well guess I'll stick to just the books you asked 1)Underdark: 4 2)Players guide to Faerun: 5 3)Draconomicon: 4.5
Lashan 03-26-04, 02:13 PM	1) If you are a DM and you aren't planning on running an Underdark game, then it is a must. If you are not really doing anything with the Underdark, then you really don't need the book at all. I've bought it and not used a single thing out of it. 3) Same thing with the Draconomicon. If you plan on using dragons in your game, then it is wonderful. It can help you make dragons an active force in your campaign. If you don't want to use Dragons much at all, then don't bother. I wouldn't say that these two are NECESSARY at all. I haven't gotten 2) yet.
Monsoon28 03-26-04, 08:38 PM	Don't have the first two (PGtF hasn't arrived here YET! grumble grumble!) But as for the Draconomicon, I think it's great, understandably if you are a player only interested in its PC value, it's ok but only if your DM has stated you WILL be fighting a lot of dragons, as well their are a bunch of really handy spells that are great against other powerful monsters like Balor and Pitfiends. ;) As a DM tool it reallly shines, lots of 'filling' here! Life cycles, anatomy, habitat and the art is wonderful. Plenty of ready made NPC's of all age categories, and of coarse Dragon specific Feats./PrC's. My only complaint was that they left out Gem/Neutral dragons (I really love them!) out of the book for the most part (i think there was only the rare reference). Hope that helps and once I by the PGtF i'll add my 2 copper on that as well ;) Cheers