5 comments about Race Series Collection (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying, 3 Book Slipcased Set).

1. This is a excellent collection, it has all the information you need about the core races, plus some new ones. Great deal rather then buying them individually. A must for D&D Players and DM alike.



2. These books are just an awesome resource for players. They give a little more information on typical life for the races (even humans, go figure). They also have some new subraces and some new prestige classes as well as racial feats and a few more tactical feats. Just an all around good resource for tweaking characters.



3. This box set of books is good for any player who wan'ts to make more specialized characters.



4. This a good set of books for experienced played who want more information about how different races work. The addition of other races a player can use is also handy. They are really nice source books.



5. this was an excellent buy. It came in plastic and was unopend and undamaged.

5 comments about The Mad Professor's Crapshooting Bible.

1. Unbelievable! This is probably the best book ever written on Craps! I have read 6 books on Craps and this one is head and shoulders above them all. For the beginner or the seasoned pro this book will help you at the Craps Tables. This book will assist you into making Craps a game of skill - not a game of chance. If you purchase just one book on Craps - this is the book!



2. Back in the nineties a handful of craps players came together in gaming chat rooms with a novel concept - that it was possible to influence the outcome of the dice roll in casino craps and gain an edge over the game. The Mad Professor - aka Tino Gambino - was right there in the heart of it all.
   
   Okay, before you head for the White Pages I'll just tell you that Tino Gambino is the pen name of one of the top dice controllers in the world. You aren't going to find our friend the Mad Professor in the phone book. But what you'll find in Mad Professor's book is just about everything you'll ever need to know about dice control and the game of casino craps. Among the subjects that caught my eye:
   
   The Pincer Grip and Its Variations; Two-Finger (Thumb and Middle Finger) Pincer, Two-Finger (Thumb and Ring Finger) Pincer. Four-Finger "Crab" Pincer. and the Five-Finger "Full-Balance" Pincer.
   
   You learn how to debug the Pincer Grip and eliminate double pitch bias. Then you'll move on to the Low, Slow and Easy Toss.
   
   Learn the dynamics of throwing speed, release and backspin, sweet spots and critical landings.
   
   There are sections on Palm-Up Tossing and Forward Spin, why it works so well and how to do it.
   
   You'll even find some timely tips suggested by the some of the other players who haunted those chat rooms in the nineties. You'll hear from the likes of Irishsetter, Shooter57, DiceDoc, Jeffry47 and (ta-da) yours truly - Heavy.
   
   And you'll get the inside scoop on how to tailor your bets to your skill levels, how to adapt to live casino play and adjust to different table types, and how to create shooting opportunities.
   
   Last of all, you'll get the classic "Tough Way to Make and Easy Living."
   
   Mad Professor's on-line articles and essays have drawn millions of hits through the years. The Crapshooting Bible brings you the Best of Mad Professor's essays plus a ton of brand new material you won't want to miss. It is jam-packed with information you can use to make more money at the tables. I highly recommend it.
   
   Stephen Haltom
   aka Heavy
   Axis Power Craps
   CrapsFest.com



3. This book is tremendous, the cutting edge on influencing the dice. Chapter six and the charts in the back are the definitive work on this subject.



4. This book is packed with so much information, it could easily have been a series of books. The author speaks to the reader in a coversational style,as if you are right there with him at the tables.
   
   Never has there been a more accurate book published on precision shooting. The author takes you inside the Only way to consistently beat the craps tables. Everything you need to know is right in this book, so take my advise and start with this one if you want to win consistently.
   
   If you read this book, and follow it exactly, you will be successful.



5. Hello Reader,
   
   I am new to Craps play. You must realise that this review is written by someone who has only started playing Craps a month or two ago and it is written in Dec. 2007.
   
   I would tell you that the Mad Professor has a good book here, but, it is not a book I would use to perfect my throw. There is plenty of knowledge in it. It is a good book. However, a person like me needs more concentrated information on the subject of making the dice level to the table.
   When I bought this book I also bought Frank Scoblete's Golden Touch Dice Control Revolution. The two, together, were the best case scenario for a starter such as me. Frank has the teacher's perspective and Gino Gambino has the endurance perspective. It was, I think, a good combination at this time.
   
   Personally, I would not call my book a bible. I think the Mad Professor made a mistake there. I am a Catholic and calling your book a bible needs to be backed up like the Pope backs up his liturgy - this book does not do enough to accomplish that. There were no Adam and Eve here, I need a book that addresses the fundamentals. And as far as I am concerned, the fundamentals are the physics of a rigid body. I am hoping the sharpshooter has the physics for a great new book.
   
   In short, this book is a good read. I would give it the compliment that it conveys a great deal about the sport of craps shooting for profit. It seems no book can do it all, and that is not a surprise. This book is one I want in my library. The author is fluid and determined, he has the spirit of a winner at the craps table, and that is inspiring.
   
   I guess I have said nothing with so much one one side and as much on the other. I think the author has been shooting craps so long he missed the basic instructional technique to bring a neophyte into the best case scenerio, but, still, it is a good book. I gave it a 4 of 5 stars as the result of I could not shoot the dice as well as the author expects me to without some mentoring from a teacher who writes to the novice.

No comments about Quests: Design, Theory, and History in Games and Narratives.

5 comments about The Pocket Book of Frame Games: Hundreds of Mind-Bending Word Puzzles from the King of Brain Teasers!.

1. Terry's Frame Games have made him world famous, and just when you think all of the possible phrases and ways to utilize them in Frame Games puzzles have been used up, he makes more! All 200 (count 'em) of these puzzles are completely new. The answer to each puzzle is found 2 pages later, upside down, in small print, right at the bottom of the page. This keeps you from having to hunt around at the end of the book for the answers, but also from seeing the answer too soon by accident. At $9.95 for 200 puzzles, that's less than a nickel per Frame Game. You can't beat that.



2. Excellent and fun set of frame game puzzles. Its fun for a wide range of ages and even fun to do in groups. My whole family enjoys these puzzles. My brother and I (11 and 23) worked on them together (or in competition as brothers do) -- it was amazing, he really took to them and got many of them before me! Of course, at our house, I'm still king of our other puzzle book, "Are you as Smart as you Think?" ;-)



3. I discovered the Frame Game phenomena about a year ago and have been busily buying up back issues. I find the puzzles deceptively challenging, and the Pocket Book addition lives up to that billing. I have been using this particular edition to introduce Frame Games to my friends. Everyone has found these brainteasers to be a real exercise in mental flexibility. Each time you solve a puzzle on a page, you feel a sense of accomplishment, but can't wait to get to the next one. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun challenge. A good time will be had by all who read.



4. Bought the book to while away the hours on a flight to the "Big Apple" it did a great job, I even ended up lending it to one of my fellow passengers :-)



5. Terry Stickels is a great entertainer for the mind--and his puzzles are both challenging and wonderful fun for the entire family!

5 comments about Gardener's Latin: A Lexicon.

1. Well, I'm a gardener and a wordsmith, and I think you must be both to really enjoy this book--and I don't recommend it to folks who like to garden but hate to worry about details. I can't picture someone who dislikes Latin, or questions why Linnaeus (they won't even know who he is) insisted on using Latin to develop his taxonomies, finding this book useful.

   I've known quite a few "garden artists" who call plants by their local colloquial names, and when you carry on a conversation with them they persist in calling Digitalus "Foxgloves" when we who know Latin know that Digitalus refers to digits as in parts of hands over which gloves fit--that foxes would undoubtedly wear if they wore gloves.

   I learned to forego showing off my Latin when I was asking serious questions of fabulous "old-time" gardeners. Latin terms are useful if you're trying to converse with horticulturists, gardening friends in other localities, or folks who have migrated from to your growing zone. Latin is also useful if you're looking up a name in a good garden book since all of them use Latin. "Gardener's Latin" contains a simple listing of Latin terms (135 small pages) and seems to have most of the more common terms.

   If your a poet, you'll still want to use "Foxgloves", "Bouncing Bet" and "Queen Anne's Lace in your discourse.




2. I teach gardening classes with titles such as "Seed Catalogs are Seductive" and "Saving Seeds" and have recommended this book to my students. It is fun, and informative. Let's face it, you can't get far with gardening for fun, hobby or business if you don't learn some latin. Gardener's Latin makes it easy and explains all those things you've been wondering about. This is a fresh and enjoyable book and I think one that will be enjoyed by most gardeners. Add it to your wish list - the weeding season will soon be over and the reading season will begin.



3. When I got into gardening and especially with planting with native plants I started to pay a lot of attention to the latin names - but I didn't really understand what they meant. Hanging out with an older, very wise friend and his wife, we got talking about ceratin plants and they were rattling off the latin names and their meanings. It was amazing and so poetic that I wanted to learn more so I found this book. Its really been a great asset. Its set up alphabetically by latin name, and for each word, its less of a definition, more of a translation, e.g. palliflavens = pale yellow, squamosus = full of scales. Its a neat book - not as poetic in the translations as I had hoped but interesting nonetheless.



4. For lovers of plants, language, and beautiful books, this is a perfect book. The translation of botanical latin is helpful to anyone interested in the origin of plant names. The sketches, marginal notes and quotations, layout and size of the book make it a pleasure to use. The task of memorizing hundreds of plant names, which is my burden as a horticulture student, is enjoyable because I have this little book as my interpreter and companion. I've convinced all of my gardening friends to buy this book.



5. This is a cute little book with interesting asides about selected plants. As fun as it is it lacks straight forward readability. It is not the best reference book because of this problem. If you are more into the reference mode then 'Stern's Book of Plant Names' is going to make you happier. If you just want a bathroom read that offers an engaging insight into a plant that you may never have considered looking up then this is for you.

1 comments about Better Bridge with a Better Memory: How Mnemonics Will Improve Your Game (Master Bridge Series).

1. This book is loaded with useful information for the slightly above average player but probably has to much jargon for the beginner.
   You may not care for all the mnemonics i.e the momory "keys" but quite a few are very useful. Mnemonics are not always used by the author, sometimes only a catchy phase provides the memory aid.
   In structuree - the situation is introduced in the heading. Usually a very condensed "condition" is presented. Next comes a tool and/or a memory aid to handle it. Each situation is quickly dealt with. Quite a few pages present more than one idea.
   Obviously the problem or tool is not always fully explained, you may have to go to other sources for that. However, the tools just keep coming and coming. It's also a nice introduction to a few advanced concepts.
   The best investment in a bride book that I ever made. A geat learning tool. It even has a table of contents and an index (far above many bridge books).

5 comments about Backgammon For Winners, 3rd Edition.

1. An interesting book for the semi-advanced player is destroyed by typo after typo, a fault that ultimately drives the reader mad. What's going on in the publishing world?



2. I've been playing chess since I was a little kid, but a group of friends at the local coffeehouse started to play a lot of backgammon. So this book was a first attempt at seeing how the pros approach this dice-based game.

   In short, the book is great if you want a quick read that outlines the best opening moves and gives you a feel for aggressive 'modern' backgammon. In addition to the rationale behind how to use opening dice rolls, the book gives you 3 sample games and lets you hear the pro's thoughts on possible moves. My favorite line is "He could play 14/20, moving the blot on the 14-point to safety, but this is a craven play, unworthy of a modern player." :) How could you not like such opinionated tutelage?? I could have used more exposition on why some seemingly valid plays (e.g. hitting an opponent's blot in your inner table even though its deep) are really less effective. Even better would be some statistical analysis showing why some moves make sense when looking at the odds, but I'm not sure there's such a book out there.




3. I wanted to get into playing backgammon at some of the online sites, but I hadn't played in years. I figured I needed some help so went looking for a book on backgammon and more or less at random picked Backgammon for Winners by Bill Robertie. And it turned out to be a decent choice.
   
   It's a fairly thin book, which I liked. I didn't want to spend 2 weeks reading about the history of the game (at least not right now). Robertie jumps right into the meat of the subject, first giving the rules and a bit of broad strategy as well as best opening moves for every possible first roll of the dice. But the bulk of the book is taken up with three different sample games, and Robertie analyzes each move of each game, giving lots of explanation for why something was a strong or poor move. While he suggests you set up a board and move the pieces yourself, there were enough illustrations that you don't have to do so (I didn't).
   
   By the time you work through these three sample games you'll understand backgammon notation, the different phases/styles of a backgammon game, why control of certain points is more important than others, and you'll even see examples of when the 'rules of thumb' should be broken. He does a good job of urging you to go back and reread a section if its covering difficult material, keeping you from glossing over it with an "I'll figure this out later" shrug.
   
   Overall, I'm thinking this is a good first backgammon book. Recommended.



4. A fine book by an author who obviously knows the game. Has improved my game, but can't help the role of the dice. My wife beats me all the time. But after this book, not by as much.



5. I learned to play backgammon in college. Then, 25 years later, I started playing again, online. I stunk. I really, really stunk. I was so bad that I decided to either learn to play the game well, or get out of Dodge. I picked up this little book, and my game began to turn around. Robertie writes clearly, and for beginners.
   
   If you want to play better backgammon, here's my formula: Read this book. At the same time, download and install the gnubg program. It's free, and it's the best. Use the "hint" mode in gnubg, and try to learn why it's recommending all those bizarre moves. Compare those moves to what Robertie says. Keep at it, then keep at it some more. Your backgammon will get better, I promise.
   
   I have two other Robertie books: Backgammon for Serious Players, and 501 Essential Backgammon Problems. I recommend them both, but it's Winners that got me started. Thanks, Bill!

5 comments about Xenosaga? EPISODE II: Jenseits von Gut und Bose Official Strategy Guide (Signature).

1. I got this strategy guid because I love playing these video games. I could have bought the strategy guide for 16.99 in store, but I bought it cheaper through amazon even with the cost of shipping. I got it in a few days and it was in excellent condition. My hats off to everyone involved in sending my package.



2. I received the product in under a week after I ordered it. It was received in bubble wrap and is in very good condition; there weren't even any creases on the binding. I would not have expected to find a copy in a bookstore in this great a condition.



3. I'm not a big fan of stradegy guides. But I sure know what's a good one. This book has alot of tips and good boss stradegies, such as enemy data and HP, type weakness, break zones, etc. However, I feel uncomfortable with the layout of the maps and how the key works. It's a bit confusing. Especially with the location of the items and sometimes I wonder why the GS quests couldn't have been put at the end of each section instead of making me flip all the way back to the book. It's a hassle there because most, if not all new proceedings in the next stage, a couple of new GS campaigns are avalible and it's very annoying to always flip to the back of the book and wondering which GS route you have to do.
   
   Also, there are confusing instructions making it almost impossible to find out what they're trying to make you do. Those are just one of the two major things that irks me. (It's not that bad but it's still confusing if you skip the key.) All in all, it gets you through the game, has amazingly good heads-up on notes you should keep in mind, and it has a lovely fold out poster. But I think you can get through the game just fine without it, it's just that it gets you through puzzles quicker. I'm one of those people who really hates game puzzles.



4. The best guides the buy are by Brady Games...they are the most helpful when stuck in a game...they stend to include lots of picures unlike some of the other guides. The signature series look espicially sharp!



5. I love Xensaga. I just finished the first one and can't wait
   to start on this one. If you like the thinking games, then
   this is for you!

5 comments about Urban Legends: 666 Absolutely True Stories That Happened to a Friend...of a Friendof a Friend.

1. 
   If you haven't heard of at least a dozen of these 'true' stories;you've been living in isolation for much too long.
   Craughwell has collected 666 stories and presents them in the largest resource of these unbelieable stories I've ever seen.I am sure you will find some that you will still believe as true no matter what the author tells us.Maybe you even know people who swear that some of the things in this book even happened to them and if not to someone they know.
   After reading 666 of these legends,you will be so versed in them,that you will be able to complete the story as someone tries to relate them to you.Just tell them the same thing happened to a friend of yours.They will believe you just as fast as they believed it the first time;maybe even faster.Only you will know the truth.
   You gotta wonder who makes these up in the first place.The thing that gets me is how up to date these legends are.As soon as a new product or invention appears,a legend is sure to follow.
   Sunscreen,computers,cell phones,organ transplants,etc.I don't think there was one about cloning or stem cell research yet;but pay attention ,there will be one soon.
   This reminds me of days in the Army,around college dorms,hanging out in the pool room,in the locker room,in the bar ,or just about anywhere a bunch of guys are hanging out.It also reminds me of that song:"Tell me another one,just like the other one,tell me another one doooo"
   A great gift for anyone who likes to spin a tale;it'll provide ammunition for years.



2. My son loved this book and shared the stories with his friends.



3. Loved this book...was surprised to see how many of the urban legends that I thought were true were exposed. Book is currently making the rounds of my college kids and I can't wait to get it back!



4. If you just have a few minutes to read here or there this is a great book. You can read through a few of these enjoyable, often hilarious urban legends. I have to confess that Mr. Craughwell has at least one in there that is fact rather than legend. "The Hall of Tortured Souls" about Excel 95 having a Doom look alike Easter Egg hidden within it. I remember reading that one 13 years or so ago and, since I was using Office 95 at the time, I checked it out. I saw that one with my own eyes so I know it is fact rather than Urban Legend. Most of these are so way out there though as to be hilarious. There are several great legends though that have just enough ring of truth to them to make you wonder.



5. I thought this book would be perfect for my nearly 15 year old granddaughter who requested short pieces to read. I thought the stories would be funny and a bit bizarre but the first one she read had to do with a sexual act and she just looked at me with horror. "Grandma, I don't think I can read this." Upon going through the rest of the stories, I realized that many of the subjects were of a sexual nature, okay if that's your bag but not appropriate for young adults. Back it went to Amazon and by the time I paid for shipping to and fro, I lost half of my money. Moral, if you aren't familiar with a book, go to a real bookstore and check it out before buying.

4 comments about Beadwork Creates Beaded Bags: 30 Designs (Beadwork Creates series).

1. Jean Campbell edits Beaded Bags, a survey of 30 bag projects designed to appeal to all levels of beadworkers. These aren't just the usual rectangular bags; they are especially notable projects in presenting a diversity of bag styles and designs, from clutches and drawstring purses to wrist bags and market bags. Techniques range from embroidery and loom weaving to bead crochet, with plenty of colorful photos and step-by-step clear instructons.



2. I have to first say that the photos and projects in this book, as well as the others in the Beadwork series, are gorgeous. They are not your typical jewelry items: they show unique colors and mixtures and ideas. Love that part. What I hate about the book is the format...it is long and skinny with a tough spine. In other words, extremely difficult to hold, much less do a project from. It's so narrow that the inside page closest to the spine often cuts off certain words. I tried going to office max to have one drilled to be loose leaf, with the spine cut off, but it still makes for awkward work. Why they couldn't make this a full size book with a lay flat spine is beyond me.



3. I agree with other reviewers that this shape of book is not the easiest to read, but I flattened my copy and put a weight on it to hold it open while working... no big deal. It's what's inside that counts!
   
   The 30 exquisite purse and bag designs in the book, shown in full color photographs, are contributed by different artists, and each is extremely unique in its design and method. Several of the purses are knitted, and some are crocheted. Some have strands of beads couched onto fabric. Some are created with peyote stitch or on a bead loom, then sewn together. One is sewn onto a metal purse frame. One I partricularly like has strands of beads glued (using special sticky tape) onto a purchased tote in a gorgeous design. Some are large and shopping-baggish, and others are small amulet bags or clutches. Every one of them is gorgeous, and you will not find anything like them in any store, unless it is an expensive boutique. They look like collectors' items.
   
   There are no quick and easy projects here. They require time, commitment to read through the instructions and follow them step by step, and skill with the hands. The written instructions are fairly easy to understand, but experienced crafters will follow them more easily. There are illustrations, but a few more would be helpful.
   
   The last section of the book shows how to do all the different stitches and techniques used in the projects, but for knitted bags, you will already need to know how to knit. Hand and machine sewing skills are required for some of the projects.



4. Another excellent book put together by Interweave, a must for all beaders, so many patterns, so little time to do them all.