5 comments about Win at Checkers.

1. I began playing checkers at YAHOO a few months ago. Got killed. When I was a young boy (48 now) I remember getting beat at checkers by my older sisters to the point where I would get so angry that I'd throw the board across the room during the game. And so, once again I was getting stomped by 15 year old Austrailians. I read this book. And re-read it. And studied it. Now I WIN most of the time. It's a very fast way to become a good intermediate player. Buy it!



2. If you know little about "real" checkers this is the book to get you started. It is entertaining and witty and helps you learn conceptual thinking about the game. It covers tactics ("pitches" and "shots") and important endgame positions. I didn't rate it 5 stars because it is really light on opening play; you'll need another book such as Reinfeld's for that. The book is inexpensive yet contains hours of useful instruction. If you've played on-line, stared at the board and wondered "what next" or if you're losing because of blunders, this is THE book to read first.



3. The strategies and tactics in this book are great; however, the writing style of the author is a little stiff and makes it a bit more difficult to follow through parts of the book.
   
   It should be noted that there are actually few good checkers book published at all. Chess is more complex, and therefore tomes upon tomes have been published about it. However, the relative simpleness of the game of checkers should then draw many more people to learn how to play this game.
   
   Becoming skilled at checkers, then, is one of the objectives the author has achieved (the book was first published in 1956 and is a revision of the work originally published by A.S. Barnes in 1941).
   
   This book, truly, is a classic.



4. Here's my story:
   My brother is a chess Master...but he also is an accomplished checker player. It was checkers that helped us become, what I consider, "best friends". He used to beat me all the time at checkers, but it didn't bother me, because I was learning. Then I found this book. The tables turned.
   
   Now, as a lifetime member of the American Checkers Federation, I look at the 100+ books and can honestly say that this one is the best.



5. This is a great book for the "serious" checker player. You can really show off with the moves in this book.

4 comments about Random House Webster's Large Print Crossword Puzzle Dictionary.

1. I received this crossword dictionary last week & I am very disappointed in this book. It doesn't have all the words and it did not help my crossword puzzles at all. The letter are very large which helps my eyes.



2. This was for a gift for my mother. She is reaching 90 and her sight is failing but she loves to do crossword puzzles. The last dictionary she had was too small and falling apart. The new one is bigger, easier to handle and better print. She loves it. We also use it alot when playing scrabble, another of her favorite activities. When I ordered it, it came quicker than expected and in perfect shape. I have ordered from Amazon befor and will again. Thank you.



3. This large print crossword dictionary is wonderful for my 85 year old mother. I had not been able to find a satisfactory one at Borders and was grateful to be able to send her this one from Amazon.



4. Bought this for my wife, but she didn't like it at all! An older dictionary had was more usable, so ordered an updated version of the older crossword dictionary. I was able return it for a full refund-no problem-thanks.

5 comments about Brain Teasers.

1. I have been going through job recruiting for the past 3 months and I only wish this book had come out earlier. Not only has it helped me sharpen my skills but it contains a lot of the identical questions that I am being asked.



2. hi! i just wanted to let everyone out there whos interviewing for any investment banks or other jobs that this book will definitly help you out. the author worked in the best investment banks on wall street and gives you common interview questions that will have you very prepared. also, the book is really interesting, and just really fun to read through.



3. I've alredy been thru the typical i-banking and consulting interview rush and I only wish I had this book back then. Not only will it introduce you to the type of questions you may be asked, it will also get you to start thinking in a smarter way. I highly recommend this book.



4. The puzzles and brain teasers presented in this book have been enormously helpful for my recent interviews! i was astonished when top banks asked me the EXACT same puzzles that were illustrated in this book! i HIGHLY recommend this book to ANYBODY who is interviewing at any banks, it will help you tremendously!



5. Excellent book, especially for those who are preparing for a case interview, I would recommend it for everyone. Easy reading and superb explanation!

5 comments about Zobmondo: The Outrageous Book of Bizarre Choices.

1. Zobmondo is a hilarious book of with thousands of bizzare choices. The choices come from would u rather marry your first boyfriend/girlfriend or marry someone your parents chose for you? And would u rather take a bumpy two-mile ride sitting wedged (feet hanging out) in the main compartment of a small metal shopping cart or take a 25-mile ride in the empty but rotating bin of a cement truck? It's the perfect book for somebody who likes reading comedy books because this is the funniest book I have ever read.



2. Book arrived right on time for my daughters birthday party. It was in excellent condition when it arrived and the hit of the party!
   Thanks!



3. I bought this years ago from one of those wonderfully quirky book stores that you stumble across. My copy is now well worn. I bring this out at dinner parties, car trips, random boring waiting places etc. and it always receives a great reception. This illicits fantastic conversations with personal points of view and rationalisations being given. It really gives you an insight into your friends minds with questions you would never, ever think to ask but love to hear the answer of. Some questions are rather crazy but on the most part fabulous. One of the highlights of this book that noone else seems to have mentioned is the fun facts on each page relating in some way to the question. These are almost worthy of their own book but just make this one. I also own a copy of one of the Zobmondo board games which is also very fun. This one is a must have for the coffee table or car and is often carried around in my bag, which may explain its dog-earedness.



4. Zobmondo has proven to be a beneficial purchase due to its ability to entertain the reader & company. This book has broken awkward silences, opened many opportunities to learn more about my friends & left many friends & myself in hysterics! A great ice breaker & fun time with Zobmondo!



5. GR8 travel or relaxation fun book to share or read alone. Always an ice breaker too at a party!

5 comments about Heroes of Might and Magic V (Prima Official Game Guide).

1. Don't buy this. There's more accurate information online about HOMM5. This is the poorest Game Guide I've ever bought.



2. Overall the book is useful, but like most of Prima's game guides it is a mass of errors and typos. They really ought to consider hiring an editor.



3. With a complex game like Heroes you want some good fold out tables and charts of the different troop-types and heroes. You dont get that. The entire book is in black and white. Most of the guide is simply a walkthrough of the Campaign missions. Bleh. That would have been fine to include that but fans of this game want tables and charts in a readable format. Very unfortunate how bad this "guide" is. I regret buying it.



4. The game looks nice but except from the graphics nothing else has been changed from the previous version.You should by this game only if you missed playing heroes but do not expect much from it.



5. I read the reviews here and hesitated to buy this guide. So I went into a game store and looked at it in person. It had everything I expected it to have: monster descriptions, spell descriptions, ability descriptions, campaign walkthroughs, and even some stuff I didn't expect, like what all the "Week of..."s meant.
   
   It's certainly a grand improvement on what the game's rulebook gives you. Now I know in mechanical terms what items like "Battle Dive" and "Shield Bash" mean, and can use them properly--not hit a button and not know how the outcome was determined.
   
   I still don't know what a Crystal Dragon is yet, but maybe it will turn up. :)

5 comments about Revised Core Rulebook (Star Wars Roleplaying Game).

1. Overall, Star Wars RPG is a good system. Its very easy to learn if you've played D20 Modern especially. I wouldn't say that there are any big problems with the game system, but there are certainly a lot of minor problems that would be very confusing/frustrating to someone without a rules lawyer who understands game balancing. Its a fun game for roleplaying, but I'm not sure Wizards had any really competant game-balancing rules lawyers actually look over the system, or maybe they didn't play test it enough. Either way, the system has a number of very minor game unbalancing things that spring up in game from time to time that require a comptetant GM to resolve. Nothing especially terrible, and overall I enjoy the system as do many of the people I play with. So I would recommend the system to any Star Wars and roleplaying enthusiasts (in that order).
   
   The book itself is well-laid out, I can find the info I need with relative ease.



2. So, When the revised book came out for Star Wars roleplaying I was excited. I thought the first release by wizards of the coast was way to much like D&D. Everything was about the same other then the 3-D Space combat. I was very disapointed when the second one released prior to the Revenge of the Sith, leaving not thought out plot holes regarding the books. Other then that what makes Star Wars so interesting is not the feats, skill, or items but the fact that 'you' can play a Jed i Knight. I believe this is the only thing going for this game and the fact that it is a copy of Dungeons and Dragons. So if you like 3.5 and love Star Wars this game is great but you will find it may limit your game play and I would rather play D&D which invites more world building rather then a fully established universe and plot line. I mean come on if Luke and his gang are already saving the galaxy, what do your characters have to do, Shot some low level stormtroopers and get some data?



3. I recently came to d20 from AD&D (which I think is HACKMASTER now) and I was often confused when trying to play d20 D&D. I think the old and new ways of resolving saves and ability and skill checks were warring in my mind. I don't know if STAR WARS RPG does a better job of explaining the core rules or if it was just a fresh perspective, but I understand the system much better now. Everything is very clearly spelled out so that it is easy to follow.
   
   STAR WARS RPG is a great adaptation of the STAR WARS universe to d20 roleplaying. It captures the epic combats, both individuals and spaceships. It covers play in the three STAR WARS eras, the Old Republic, the Empire, and the New Republic. All of the well-known species are there, available for play, and player classes that cover scouts, scoundrels, nobles, and jedi of multiple stripes. There are rules governing lightsaber creation, starfighter combat, and interstellar travel. I particularly appreciated that all the rules for play are included, so you do NOT need to buy the D&D PHB separately. There's only one experience table for all classes (a big simplification in my mind). I also really like the replacement of hit points with wound and vitality points. Vitality is like D&D hit points, increasing with level, and cover blows in regular combat. Wound points are determined by your Con. score and remain constant and represent real damage.
   
   I think there are some big issues with the system, though. It isn't clear why anyone would want to play a non-jedi character. The jedi have no real disadvantages and so many overwhelming advantages that the only purpose to non-jedi PCs is to add flavor to a game. As others have noted, the vehicle rules are pretty clunky. Hint: if you need a whole chapter to describe rules for something fast-paced like a chase scene or space combat, a rules-summary at the end is in order. All in all, it's a good game and an interesting alternative to d20 FUTURE.



4. Unfortunately this product feels a lot like Dungeons & Dragons in space. I guess with the transferability of the d20 rules that was always going to be more or less the case, but there are just elements of this book that don't really feel like they're grounded in the Star Wars universe; instead, they feel like they're bits of the D&D universe that have been altered and retrofitted to make sense in a Star Wars context. The book is even laid out in a similar fashion to the D&D Players' Handbook.
   
   I would have much preferred to see something that was all Star Wars from the ground up. I don't know what licensing arrangements Wizards have with Lucasfilm and the other Star Wars franchises, but seeing crossover from all the various elements of Star Wars to this book would have been preferable.
   
   Putting those disappointments aside, the book presents workable rules to run a Star Wars campaign, and it's quite clear in most of its descriptions and detail.
   
   There's nothing better out there to run a SW campaign (although I haven't read the Saga edition), but it's not hard to imagine something that could be better.



5. The purchase was performed without problems. The delivery was fast, and the article was exactly as expected. 100% reliable, 100% satisfaction.

5 comments about D&D Player's Kit with Free Miniatures Booster.

1. The PHB is a necessity to any D&D adventurer. You really need your own so your not fighting over them every time you level up or gain some treasure. You also really need your own dice. This set combines the two for cheaper than you could get them separately. You even get some miniatures to boot. EXCELLENT!!!



2. This set is probably one of the best bangs for your buck around. Not only do you get a copy of the Player's Handbook (worth the whole cost of the set by itself), there is a really nice set of dice and a booster pack of discontinued minis. If anyone needs a PHB, this is the way to go.



3. I just started playing a couple of months ago. There are no superstitious *don't touch my dice* kind of gamers in the group, and up until getting this, I had been borrowing dice and the PHB as needed. It got really annoying and I even missed out on bonuses as I leveled up because I didn't have time to do it right. (Of course, I didn't know what I missed until I actually got my own book and could take the time to look stuff up.)
   
   The soft-cover handbook is just like the hardcover except it's not as easy to write on (the table is often full of snacks). I like the feel of the dice and how they have several D6 so I don't have to borrow them from others. I don't like that the colors of the dice don't match exactly and that they come in only a plastic zip-lock type bag which pops open in my pocket.
   
   I agree with what someone else said about the character sheets-it would have been nice to have more of them although I can always copy what's in the book. I don't use the minis, either, but, I like them.
   
   Overall, for what I needed, this worked and even though I was just looking and wasn't really planning to buy, it was a good package deal that had everything I needed at a good price. I'm happy with the purchase.



4. The Player's Handbook is the main advantage, I had the 3.0 Ed, this way I got the 3.5 version.
   The dice set is not quite very good, dark colors, not so visible in dim light.
   Didn't try yet the adventures, the miniatures pack is a bonus, still, they are not suited to represent the characters.



5. This box is literally all a player of D&D needs. There are other necessary books, but those are the DM's responsibility. For twenty bucks you can get the necessities for players: the Player's Handbook and a full set of dice. The PHB, while softcover, is otherwise identical to the hardcover version, and the dice are excellent and very cool. Since the list price of the softcover PHB is the same as Amazon's price for the Player's Kit, everything else in the box is essentially free.
   
   That being said, all you really need is the PHB and the dice. If you're just starting, though, the other stuff is helpful too. The miniatures can be fun and useful, even though they're technically for a separate game.
   
   I recommend this kit to absolutely any D&D player, old or new

5 comments about World of Warcraft Bestiary (Brady Games Official Strategy Guide) (Brady Games Official Strategy Guide).

1. Why do most folks want from a book like this? Well, you would expect to see a fairly comprehensive listing of the monsters that you meet in World of Warcraft, but you should get more. An effective book would not only provide very basic information, but indicate where these monsters roam and maybe a line or two of information about what/who they are. You won't find any of that extra information here and it is very disappointing. Thumbing through the book, you stumble upon interesting creatures and you wonder, "Hmmm where will I see this one?" yet the book provides zero information in this regard.
   
   The book's organization is rather odd, they don't put similar monsters together because they state that more significant mobs of that species deserve their own entry. Nice concept, but in the end that means there is zero reference that those other significant mobs exist if you only read the main entry for that species. To make matters worse, they have placed an index in the back of the book requiring you to look up mobs by other names that aren't indicated by those other names in the main listings.
   
   Part of the biggest attraction to Warcraft is the extensive lore, and Brady missed a large opportunity to provide fans with lore/context/history on all of these monsters. In the end, it is more of a pretty picture book with information that could have been gleaned online with much more detail. Brady Games really missed the point of a book like this and how valuable it could have been. It just leaves you wanting more than it offers and doing more research on WowHead or Thottbot to get that info. For that reason, the book loses two stars in my review. It might be better to pick up this one on the markdown table somewhere.
   
   One interesting item that it does show you is how often Blizzard utilizes the same character models with just a few different colors!



2. Excellent product and is a pretty good help for looking up beasts info in the game. It does help to let you know what you may be up against in a given area.



3. This book is purely academic, with no applicable use in the game. Yes, it gives you the stats, etc, but nothing else. If the book was going to be of any use, it needs to include the location of the mobs, what they drop, and any quests (if any) they're the target of.



4. I concur with the other reviews of this book. Without disclosing the actual location of NPC this book is not very useful. Considering the other Dungeon manuals also include the loot that drops from bosses this information could also have been included.
   
   Pass on this book and get the strategy guide or the dungeon guides instead.



5. When I heard Bradygames was making this guide, I was excited! Wow, comprehensive information about all the denizens of World of Warcraft in my lap! No more looking them up individually online!
   
   Sadly, this guide is woefully lacking such key information as:
   - Where they are located (even a general zone would've been helpful)
   - Immunities/weaknesses
   - Elite/Non-Elite
   
   Because of this, I find myself not looking anything up in this guide, and still go online for all of my bestiary needs.
   
   If you just want to know how many different creatures inhabit World of Warcraft, and want to see what so-and-so boss looks like, then this guide is an interesting read. If you need any crucial information to keep you alive in an encounter, or even just to FIND a creature, this guide is really no help at all.

5 comments about Dungeon Tiles (Dungeons & Dragons Accessory).

1. The tactical nature of 3.5 D&D combat begs for miniatures. A gridded surface to put those miniatures on is almost essential. Dungeon Tiles provide that surface in an attractive and durable package.
   
   You get 6 full sheets of cardboard tiles. Each tile is protected with a finish that has a bit of 'tooth' to keep it from slding around on the tabletop. The art on the tiles is excellent and the first set strikes a good compromise between generic tiles and speciality bits.
   
   I really do think these tiles give the best 'bang for the buck' of any D&D product out there. I don't know of a single DM that wouldn't benefit from a set or two of these in his/her collection.



2. These are high-quality, well produced and very helpful aids to the D & D game. Almost indestructible and in a variety of formations, these can be readily used in most dungeon delving situations. The only drawback noted is that there are no cave/cavern tiles. I have been told that further editions will remedy this. These tiles make miniature use a hundred times easier than it was before. Being that miniatures are being pushed heavily by the 3.5 game, this tile release makes perfect sense and it is nice that "perfect sense" actually meant something to someone at WOTC.



3. Nice to use, but not absolutely necessary. Helps to design your dungeons.



4. I bought this set along with Arcane Corrridors Dungeon Tiles, Set 2 (Dungeons & Dragons Supplement) and Hidden Crypts Dungeon Tiles, Set 3 (Dungeons & Dragons Accessory)and I love them! While they are useful for playing D&D they are very fun to just arrange on the floor. The artwork is fantastic and they are very durable. I have always wanted tiles where you can build your own rooms and hallways; now I can! I can't wait for more sets to come out.



5. If you can find any set of tiles for under $10 (including shipping), it's a deal hands down. I was expecting 6 sheets of glossy like tag-board about half the size of a sheet of paper each. What I received really blew me away for the value. Each tile sheet is the full size of a standard hardback D&D book. They're printed on very durable cardboard like you find in a kid's floor puzzle. And while they're glossy, they're also textured slightly with a kind of subtly raised crosshatch pattern that "zings" when you run the sharp part of your finger nail over it quickly. This keeps whatever markers you use from sliding all around on it. Now instead of each tile being the same size as the full piece of cardboard it's printed on, (other than 2 of the 6) each card is comprised of various sized individual tiles that you punch out of the cardboard, so when you're all done you have a stack of 38 separate tiles. 2 of the 38 tiles (a tavern and a house) are the full size of the sheet (8x10 squares), but all the rest range from 4x8 squares down to a 1x1. They all are double sided with various features on one side and mostly all blank dungeon floors on the reverse.
   
   I was really surprised to find such a nice product, I'm looking forward to acquiring the rest of the set (up to 6 now!).

5 comments about Fantasy Football The Next Level: How to Build a Championship Team Every Season.

1. This book is a fantastic guide on how to play fantasy football and actually win! Author David Dorey is co-founder and co-owner of www.thehuddle.com. He has been following Fantasy Football for 20 years and is very knowledgeable about it.
   
   In this book you will learn how to:
   
   * Do mock drafts
   * Build a winning team
   * Make a cheat sheet of players to use for your draft
   * Research your players
   * Base your picks on this year, not last year, by calculating a player's value
   
   This is the ultimate book for any Fantasy Football fan. I read it at the perfect time because after reading it I drafted my team for this season. I had notes about each player and was aware of which players were injured, what players were having contract disputes, and which players had a new head coach or coaching staff that could affect a player's playing time.
   
   While fellow drafters laughed at my choices of players, I am very satisfied with my team as none of my players are injured or sitting on the sidelines, they're all starters. After passing on Clinton Portis, injured, Larry Johnson, holding out on a contract, I instead chose running back Thomas Jones who is healthy and will be starting.
   
   This book is very informative, the information is easy to use and understand, and the graphs and charts were very helpful. I credit this book with making the draft a success for me this year and will suggest it to all my friends.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Fantasy football fans who want to win, better read this book.



2. I have played fantasy football since 1989, and this book taught me things I didn't know, reminded me of things I once knew but had forgot, and sharpened my focus heading into my redraft leagues' 2007 drafts. Buy it.



3. I have followed David Dorey at The Huddle for many years now. His insight and advice have always impressed me as down to earth and on the money, yet his words were never preachy. He always seems to explain concepts as if he were your friend beside you at the draft, not the jerk Champion who knows everything and tells you so. It is with this same refreshing style that Dorey presents all of the best of his many years of wisdom.
   
   This book really could be titled the 'Best of David Dorey'. And that is precisely why you should pick up a copy, because it is the best from one of the best in the business. He explains how to draft for a team not just individual stars. Perhaps more important is his analysis of what to look for when creating your own projections and rankings. But personally I think his LAG analysis is the most effective way to really see what effect your leagues individual scoring system has on your draft.
   
   One last point that must be mentioned. Not only does 'Fantasy Football: The Next level' give tons of great advice, but it also explains why these concepts are valid and................illustrates this with the numbers to prove it. This is truly a great book and one you need to own if you want to win at Fantasy Football consistently.



4. very well written. YOu will have to make excel files for your players so be prepared.



5. David Dorey is man. If you are serious about Fantasy Football then you need to read this book. It does'nt matter if you are new to Fantasy Football or are a seasoned vet. This book is a good read.