While I personally love undead of all kinds, I felt the Open Grave was lacking in a few things. For example, they had two "traps" that were haunting manifestations; I would love to see several pages devoted to those. Also, they mentioned Haunted Terrain, And I would like to see other types of terrain mentioned, such as plagued lands where the very land itself creates undead. Also, I wouldn't mind seeing a few other skill challenges such as the Zombie Horde or The Girl in the Cornerstone; good, creepy feeling and tension inducing examples of skill challenges can lead to people creating their own, once the bar is "set", as they say. Lastly, I'd like to see magical weapons and more Artifacts that contain a touch either of undeath or for fighting undeath.
Extra monsters is always good, but other non-combat foci would be wonderful. So what do you all think?
I agree, especially with necrotic zones and skill challenges. We need more skill challenge details.
Extra monsters is always good, but other non-combat foci would be wonderful. So what do you all think?
I could enjoy another book of undead, but Open Grave isn't even a year old and there are many other monsters/themes I'd rather see get that kind of expanded coverage first.
At this point I think that the best place for more focused info on the undead would be across a series of articles Dungeon magazine.
After a Book of Fey, a Book of Beasts and Legends, a Fiendish Codex, a book of The Life Aquatic, and an environmental book or three....sure.
But not right now. Too much else to do.
In addition to wanting books for some of the other monster types (particularly fey and goblinoids) before we see another undead book, I would also rather such a book wait until after the Shadow power source is printed, so that the monsters most closely associated with that power source could be tailored to match its themes more closely.
In addition to wanting books for some of the other monster types (particularly fey and goblinoids) before we see another undead book, I would also rather such a book wait until after the Shadow power source is printed, so that the monsters most closely associated with that power source could be tailored to match its themes more closely.
Now this I can see as a valid reason to delay another Undead Handbook. 
Codex Anathema / Lords of Madness next, please.
A delay is certainly acceptable and fine, however I sincerely hope it is something they end up doing. I love open grave. It's one of my favorite 4e books
You know what I think? I think though the book might be lacking something, that it can be a good thing.
I have not gotten this book yet (but I will!), but I thought the Manual of the Planes seemed to be sort of limited, so I get where you are coming from.
The cool thing about this is it plants the seed of an idea without the restrictions of having a fully fleshed out rules-lawyer reference, if you get what I mean.
For instance, your opening statement to this thread expands upon the ideas you found in the book. I think that's awesome. If a book grants you a good concept for growing your own ideas, it is a success to me.
This is why I ended up liking the Manual of the Planes in the end...
What do you guys think of that?