Goodman Games wrote:
The specific episode is at:
http://thetome.podbean.com/2008/02/11/the-tome-ep-44-greer-and-gm-gems/
And you, of course, can check out the show in general, the link is in my sig.
If it matters I may be getting a review copy soon so I can do a review for the show in the near future.
Joseph Goodman tells me he's sending a review copy anyway, and I'm apt to believe him. ;)
Well good.
If it matters I may be getting a review copy soon so I can do a review for the show in the near future.
Joseph Goodman tells me he's sending a review copy anyway, and I'm apt to believe him. ;)
I'd love to read the review. I'm usually not one to be easily swayed by an author's telling of the contents of the book. I like to hear from a reader (DM) about how useful the book is, not just the quality of production either.
I've seen reviews that talk a lot about the quality of the product (the book itself), but not about the quality of the content (the words written within).
Thinking about getting this. How is it?
Well, keep in mind that I'm highly biased. :D
I do, however, think this is a fantastic book. It provides a wonderful resource for GMs, providing things like "100 pick pocket results," "unique sources of light," "interesting campsites" and so on.
The book has lots of cases where it'll provide you a new twist on things you might take for granted in your games, like campsites and names of inns and NPC frills (just little things to add flair and flavor to an NPC, such as "The NPC blasphemously wears metal holy symbols as knee and elbow adornments.").
If you go to the page I linked in the first post, Joseph Goodman was kind enough to make a sample entry available for download as a PDF file.
I'd love to read the review. I'm usually not one to be easily swayed by an author's telling of the contents of the book. I like to hear from a reader (DM) about how useful the book is, not just the quality of production either.
I've seen reviews that talk a lot about the quality of the product (the book itself), but not about the quality of the content (the words written within).
Here's two reviews from Paizo: (I wish we had more reviews considering how many of these have sold already)
Smooth
Five out of five stars
Reviewer: Kruelaid
Fri, Feb 29, 2008, 06:35 AM
Here, folks, is a resource that speaks to new and experienced GMs alike. Diverse campaign embellishments in each chapter were worked, no doubt, by inflamed, rabid imaginations. There is no system here, it’s like a collection of classic Dungeon magazine support articles: generators, lists, locations, and sundry GM brain feed so good that this puny little review just can’t do it justice. I think even a first rate screen monkey brimming with creativity and wickedness will still find plenty in here to fire up a campaign; and if you’re a noob – this stuff will be priceless.
The layout is gorgeous, but then I bought the pdf and an opulent look like this could be a killer for your game laptop. If that worries you - you’re in luck - the download comes with two copies, one with and one without page background. Hey, I’m not a collector and this isn’t something I need to carry to my games, so I’m going to call this the best 9 dollars I’ve spent on pdf game supplements in ages, and that includes the stuff I nicked during Paizo’s clearance sale last year.
An excellent resource for any GM
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewer: Randy Saxon
Saturday March 8th
I just finished reading this book and my mind is full of ideas. Clever, well-written material can be found on every page, and no matter what style of campaign I run, I'm sure I'll return to this book again and again.
If any Gleemies can find a GM Gems review anywhere else, please let me know here. I'll be forever grateful.
5 out of 5 stars
Terrific ideas and great fun
Reviewer: Trey
01:30 AM
More fun than a blue glass bottle full of elfin nail clippings (p. 62, Unique Treasures).
More fun than a night at the Reasonable Kobold Inn (p. 23, Memorable Inns).
More fun than the Night of the Red Fireflies (p. 20, Unusual Holidays).
GM Gems is more fun than all these things only because it contains all of them and thousands more ideas on how to add mystery, humor, and magic to a lull in your game. These concise little ideas really are beautifully faceted gems that will add sparkle to any setting.
4 out of 5 stars
I Have One Nitpick, That Prevents a 5 Star
Reviewer: Don Northness
12:40 AM
Where to start? I'll start with the negative first (very little), move through the neutral, and on to the positive.
The Ugly (negative): I really don't like the layout. This should not be attributed as fault of the writers. But it feels really cramped to me. “Clean” section breaks are rare, meaning if you aren't paying close attention as you flip through the book, you might not notice you left one section and are almost done with the next. And with most charts having one hundred separate entries, they often span several pages. Also, the Black print on Medium Grey background on every other chart entry can be hard to read for some. Now that thats over with.
The Bad (Neutral): This book, or PDF, will be most useful to those running Homebrew games, or those whose group never seems to follow a plotline. If you have those mythical groups of players that always follow the plot of an AP style game, or don't really care about the world around their characters, you won't have much need for this.
The Good (Positive): There is a ton, metric or otherwise, of material in here. While I pick on the layout, a “better” layout would require more pages, and therefor more cost. If you are the kind of person that loves window dressing your game, but have difficulty keeping it new and fresh – you really need this book. If you are the kind of person that found the Appendix section of the 1st Edition DMG the most entertaining, this is a must have book. It ties in well with those charts, and doesn't replace them in any way.
I have enough space to write about one of the twenty five sections split between three chapters, roughly organized by type. New and Unusual Light Sources – lights ranging from the semi mundane, to the weird, to the truly mystical.
I dare say that everyone will find something useful, or at least fun to read, in this book.
5 out of 5 stars
Great Product
Reviewer: Aberzombie
7 hours, 54 minutes ago
This is a great work-up. Just the kind of extra detail that can make a good campaign into a great campaign. Kudos to all the writers.
5 out of 5 stars
Good book, great ideas
Reviewer: Kassil
First, let me say that this is, indeed, an awesome resource full of all kinds of amusing, creative, and useful pieces of material. From alchemical mishaps through unique poisons to things in a pocket, there's a lot of cool stuff here.
One caveat: the book claims to be system-neutral, but there are a *lot* of things that directly reference the OGL/D20 system scattered through the entire book. While there are a fair number of genuinely system-neutral pieces, the overall book is very definitely biased toward the D20 system.
5 out of 5 stars
Great
Reviewer: Ross Byers (RPG Superstar Top 32)
Sat, March 15, 2008
If the only bad thing I can say about something is 'I wish there was more of it', you know it's got to be good.
I demand that the WereCabbages start on GM Gems 2: Electric Boogaloo
5 out of 5 stars
Smooth
Reviewer: Kruelaid
Fri, Feb 29, 2008
Here, folks, is a resource that speaks to new and experienced GMs alike. Diverse campaign embellishments in each chapter were worked, no doubt, by inflamed, rabid imaginations. There is no system here, it’s like a collection of classic Dungeon magazine support articles: generators, lists, locations, and sundry GM brain feed so good that this puny little review just can’t do it justice. I think even a first rate screen monkey brimming with creativity and wickedness will still find plenty in here to fire up a campaign; and if you’re a noob – this stuff will be priceless.
The layout is gorgeous, but then I bought the pdf and an opulent look like this could be a killer for your game laptop. If that worries you - you’re in luck - the download comes with two copies, one with and one without page background. Hey, I’m not a collector and this isn’t something I need to carry to my games, so I’m going to call this the best 9 dollars I’ve spent on pdf game supplements in ages, and that includes the stuff I nicked during Paizo’s clearance sale last year.
5 out of 5 stars
An excellent resource for any GM
Reviewer: Randy Saxon
Sat, March 8th, 2008
I just finished reading this book and my mind is full of ideas. Clever, well-written material can be found on every page, and no matter what style of campaign I run, I'm sure I'll return to this book again and again.
5 out of 5 stars
Excellent reference with a old-style gaming feel
Reviewer: Patrick Curtin
Sun, Mar 8, 2008
I liked this book for two reasons. One, it has a lot of creative "fluff" to it, which is what I am all about. Second, it really has an old Judges Guild-type of supplement feel to it, where the fantastical could erupt at any moment. Give me tattooed monks streetfighting and Goblins chanting 'Daddy!' at the hapless PC. When I get in a fix as to what to tell an adventuring party when they say 'now what?' I'll be reaching for this gem.
http://astore.amazon.com/thtosh-20/002-4932834-2914423?%5Fencoding=UTF8&node=15
Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble both seem to have it in stock as well.
