New WotC product & review: Complete Mage

Complete Mage came out earlier this month. The official description reads

"Every sentient creature is born with some potential to work magic. However, true mastery of arcane magic requires skill, practice, and power beyond the reach of common folk—specifically, the power to harness raw magic and shape it into a desired effect. You are among those gifted few who have learned to channel arcane magic, shaping it to serve your creative or destructive whims.

This D&D supplement is intended for players and Dungeon Masters. In addition to providing the definitive treatise on arcane magic, it expands the character options available to users of arcane magic, including bards, sorcerers, wizards, assassins, warlocks, and wu jen. Herein you’ll find never-before-seen prestige classes, spells and invocations, magic items, alchemical items, heritage feats, and reserve feats (a new type of feat that grants special abilities to those who remain charged with magical power). Alternative class features give other character classes—from the barbarian to the rogue—a little taste of what it’s like to be an arcanist without sacrificing their core identities."

I've read a fair bit of this book and IMHO it is a very solid product. If you're playing a mage or one of the main badguys is an arcane type it's certainly worth picking up. If you are playing in a low mage or more "vanilla" campaign there are better books to spend your money on. As always please leave comments or questions. Yes, I do have some in stock if anybody wants one.

New WotC product & review: Tome of Battle

Here is the first of several products that came out during my house induced hiatus. The Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords was released in August and the official description reads "Tome of Battle: The Book of Nine Swords introduces new rules for players who want interesting combat options for their characters. The nine martial disciplines presented within allow a character with the proper knowledge and focus to perform special combat maneuvers and nearly magical effects. Three new martial classes allow a character to develop his or her discipline even further. Also included are new feats and prestige classes that build on the disciplines, new magic items and spells, and new monsters and organizations."


I first spent about 5-10 minutes glancing thru this and thought "It's a cool idea but nothing to get overly excited about." Then I really read it and starting playing around with the rules and concepts. The more I get to know these rules, the more I lke them. It looks overly complex at first glance but like so much of the d20 system once you mess around with it for a bit they aren't bad at all. These have much of the feel of the old AD&D Oriental Adventures martial arts rules but much better balanced and usable. A campaign that has been going for the last 2+ years is ending in the next few weeks and we have started developing our next campaign. I'm working on a character based on one of the classes in this book, so as the campaign goes on I will report back on the playability of these rules. IMHO, this is the best book WotC has published since the Spell Compendium and in sme ways I like this better. As always please leave comments or questions. Yes, I do have some in stock if anybody wants one.

Return of this Shadowdragon

I've been locked, tooth and claw, in battle with a truly insidious foe. (even more so than my dear Succubus) At long last I have achieved the upper hand in this situation. While it was never in doubt and I still have not completely vanquished the foe, it was and is a time consuming confrontation. I shall make a bit more time to wave, no not wave, perhaps flaunt, no, not flaunt, display, yes, I will DISPLAY my wares, insights (some say insane insights) and ramblings for any that care to peruse them.

OK, for those that don't know me, I moved a couple of months ago. We took the wall out between the kitchen and dining room as well as gutted the rest of the kitchen down to the studs. We installed all new cabinets, counter tops, sink and moved the steps going to the side door and basement. The bathroom was almost as intensively remodeled. I'm done with the major stuff. There is still plenty of finish work to do like baseboard moulding, touch up painting, etc. It is all functioning and looks pretty damn good, if I say so myself. Well, time to get back to work. I have a business to try to get back up and running as well as a house to finish. No rest for a weary Shadowdragon.