(Click on "smiley" for the link.)
It doesn't look like a rulebook to me. The cover art shown doesn't have any indication that its a DnD book at all...not sure what to make of it.
Its a children's biology book detailing D&D-inspired Faries. Lots of colorful art and flowery flavor text. The Dragon book was the same. Up until now, I had no idea WotC produced the stuff, though it makes sense (why not make extra money off your intellectual property?).
Repeat: THESE ARE NOT RULEBOOKS! They're D&D-based fantasy written in a nonfiction style, aimed towards children, with the probable intention of getting them interested in D&D. FWIW, having had a good look through a couple of them, I would probably buy them in I had a 9- to 11-year-old or whom I wanted to groom into a D&D fantasy fan.
These books must be selling reasonably well, too, based on the number of them that have been released or are scheduled for release:
[indent]Practical Guide to Monsters
Practical Guide to Dragons
Practical Guide to Dragon Riding
Practical Guide to Dragons Collector's Set (Box set of the previous two books)
Practical Guide to Wizardry
Practical Guide to Faeries
Red Dragon Codex
Bronze Dragon Codex
Black Dragon Codex
Brass Dragon Codex
Green Dragon Codex[/indent]
Also, a couple of these books have won some kind of children's literacy award. Additionally, Mirrorstone, the WotC brand responsible for these books, has also recently published a number of young adult Dragonlance novels.
If I was 12 years younger, I'd probably be way into this stuff.
It doesn't look like a rulebook to me. The cover art shown doesn't have any indication that its a DnD book at all...not sure what to make of it.
lol In October, there was a link to a book called, "Rani and the Wedding Ghost".
Big surprise, it wasn't actually supposed to have shown up on the D&D page, on account of not being a D&D book.
Fey power would be perfect for beguiler/ilusionist 4th ed, and dragon class for a new dragon shamam/adept of dragon fire.
These books must be selling reasonably well, too, based on the number of them that have been released or are scheduled for release:
...
Also, a couple of these books have won some kind of children's literacy award. Additionally, Mirrorstone, the WotC brand responsible for these books, has also recently published a number of young adult Dragonlance novels.
If I was 12 years younger, I'd probably be way into this stuff.
Every since Wizardology, Dragonology, Piratology came out (not from WotC) this kind of book has been a big seller, and WotC's got all this IP in their past that's perfect for that kind of treatment.
When i was growing up, I had the Gnomes book. It was the first of this kind of thing, i think it was published in the 60s, and that was just about the coolest book I've ever owned. It was gorgeous too, and set up like a field guide so you weren't quite sure if the book was really a field guide about these rare creatures, or just fiction (at least as a kid I wasn't sure, but it definitely tried harder to look believable than they do today).
I love seeing these come out now to continue that tradition, even if the Gnomes one did it better IMO.
My daughters love this series. They are going to positively squeal when they see the Practical Guide to Faeries.
Kids' products + squealing with joy = money.
Honestly, this makes me really happy, knowing there's a whole new generation of literate fantasy-fans growing up out there, particularly D&D-based fantasy-fans; these are the easiest ones to introduce to gaming! (And you can probably bet your house that's exactly what WotC is aiming to accomplish over the long term, too.)
these are the easiest ones to introduce to gaming!
My older daughter also squealed when I showed her the druid preview. She's already a gamer.
My older daughter also squealed when I showed her the druid preview. She's already a gamer.
Nice work! She must be 11? 12? I'm guessing based on what I think the most likely age is for a kid to enjoy both of those things, but I'll admit I could be way off.
Do you think fay and dragon could be a new power soucer for future classes?
Fey power would be perfect for beguiler/ilusionist 4th ed, and dragon class for a new dragon shamam/adept of dragon fire.
There already is the Fey Power source.
More specifically, the Fey Pact Warlock.
Dragons... well, there's refluffing, although a dragon-based class might be awesome...
Nice work! She must be 11? 12? I'm guessing based on what I think the most likely age is for a kid to enjoy both of those things, but I'll admit I could be way off.
She's ten (but I think she's quite mature for her age, squeals of joy notwithstanding). :D (And her younger sister -- aged 7 -- plays a dragonborn ranger we've reflavored into an actual medium-sized sparkly dragon)
-wrecan, proud papa.
She's ten (but I think she's quite mature for her age, squeals of joy notwithstanding). :D (And her younger sister -- aged 7 -- plays a dragonborn ranger we've reflavored into an actual medium-sized sparkly dragon)
-wrecan, proud papa.
That's totally awesome! :D