3 comments about Exalted BoS 1 Wonders of the Lost Age (Exalted).

1. This book is packed full of incredible devices for any one who enjoys Exalted. The book has a wealth of knolage from the first age as well as the age of sorrows.
   
   The book has a few sections in it that divide the items by uses, that is the only way i can discribe it. There is a giant amount of artifacts that have nothing to do with combat, and then others that are. There is a section on warstriders, basicly single man "death machines" that basicly look like Large Metal Robots.
   
   Most of the items in this volume are very well detailed and all have pictures that show you what they would more that likely look like. I don't like saying that IS what they look like because, well, this is RPing people, things change by a player/GM's perception.
   
   Anyway, enough of my ramblings, This book rocks and has items that range from pens to armor to boots to Royal Class Warstriders. This book is about gear in the world of Exalted.
   
   P.S. It looks like there is going to be about 4 more of these books. My best guess is that one will be for Sorcery, but that is just one book. If you think of anything else, post it here to give me some ideas on the other ones.



2. Ah, magical artifacts...and when they're technomagical artifacts, all the better. This is a very imaginative collection of items--combat and noncombat--for Exalted Storytellers to tempt their players with, or to equip opponents with. Vehicles (for getting around the enormous distances of Creation), armor and weapons, battlefield equipment, and a great many things to make life easier (or in some cases, much harder). The section on warstriders is particularly tasty.
   
   This book also expands the Exalted backstory, letting us know how magical-technology developed and was used in the goldan age of the Solar Deliberative, and how it has fallen to its current state.
   
   There are only two things keeping this from getting five stars: First, I was hoping for more detailed rules on artifact construction, to help me figure out exactly how many background points an item is worth. Second, I was *really* hoping for a lot more Sorcery spells! As in the 1st edition, the 2nd Edition core rules have only a few spells, and you would think the first Book of Sorcery would rectify that. Nope: this volume has only artifacts.
   
   For what it is, it's great. We'll just have to wait for a later volume to get those spells.



3. Ok the idea to divide the book in 5 aspects that are the Maidens purviews was an excellent move. The one that came with that idea is a genius, really. I thought something like that and when I saw it done, it was WOOOOOAW.
   
   The idea to have technomagic is great. Final Fantasy inspired no doubt.
   Creating some sorcerous craft as to be able to manufacture scientific advanced gadgets also a clean move. That they can be repaired and maintained and have high-level power in exchange of certain rituals, oils, reargents and periodic tune ups is great idea. The warstriders rule.
   
   The idea of been able to have Genetics and mutate life is also a nice idea, yet it lacks many more examples, many more rules and somehow needs more clarification cause somehow I felt it small in comparison to all the combat-related artifacts.
   
   The book has over 100 examples ready to use and also ready to tamper with and even enahcing and mixing em.
   
   A must have in the Exalted collection.
   Worth every cent! [or peso]

No comments about THS High Frontier (Transhuman Space).

2 comments about GURPS Religion: Gods, Priestly Powers and Cosmic Truths.

1. GURPS Religion provides a thorough (almost too thorough!) framework for roleplayers to create religions for their campaigns. Although it is very complete, it needs to have more direction for the novice campaign creator. I felt lost trying to determine the best place to start. I still recommend it for game masters creating campaigns.



2. This book is the one that convinced me that SJGames had things really, thoroughly on the ball. Like most of their other sourcebooks, this book is the product of thorougly researching a subject and distilling out the information which is needed to write immersive scenarios and stories in that context.

   The GURPS Religion book takes this task seriously enough that it is usable not just as a role-playing supplement but more generally as a handbook of comparative religion for storytellers. It has everything from roles of clergy to creation myths to the meaning of religious symbols, told from the perspective of how religions perceive themselves.

   The one caveat is that this book will not walk you through the process of designing a religion for a campaign. While the chapters are essentially a checklist for any religion's design, each chapter contains a large reservoir of ideas rather than a step-by-step instruction list. For the experienced GM who wants a steady fount of inspiration, or for anyone who wants a good introduction to the varieties of religious symbolism, this book is a valuable tool.

   Definitely one of the most useful items on my GM's workbench.

No comments about GameMastery Module: The Demon Within (Gamemastery Module).

5 comments about Skies of Arcadia Legends (Prima's Official Strategy Guide).

1. The person selling this used book ($59 for a $15 book) is a rip off! Go to PRIMA GUIDES on-line and order an e-download for about $10. Screw profiteers!!!



2. This guide was useless. The story of the game is pretty straightforward as is and does not require a guidebook to help anyone. The only reason a person, like myself, would be interested in such a purchase would be if they could not find the missing discoveries. The book does not list any of these within its bindings. Waste of money.



3. Pros:
   - Detailed walkthrough
   - Good images
   - Decent info about most of the game, including Crew members, weapons, armor, attacks and magic attack
   
   Cons:
   - No maps
   - One page in the enemy section is mixed up
   - Not enough enemy info
   - No info on most sidequest



4. One of the mysteries of life. How can a substandard strategy guide for a game that most people have never heard of sell for 100 plus dollars? I lucked out on E-bay, and bought the game and guide together for 45 dollars. But my friend has been searching endlessly on ebay, amazon, and all over the net for this stupid guide and has yet to find it at a reasonable price. One of the third party sellers he found tried to sell it for 700 dollars!! What the hell is going on?
   
   At any rate, this guide is probably worth 10 dollars. There are all sorts of errors in the walkthrough, grammatical errors throughout, and they don't even tell you everything a guide should, like the location of all the hidden treasures and items. Sure, it tells you where to find the discoveries, but anyone can find that information in greater detail on the web.
   
   Certainly I can sympathize for the gamers who discovered that Skies of Arcadia is probably one of the most underated games for the gamecube, but if these high priced sellers are tempting you, don't even think about it. You won't even be able to afford the gun and bullets required to off yourself once you realize the stupidity of your purchase.



5. I thought i was seeing things when i seen this book advertised for $399.99. This is a 'VIDEO GAME/STATEGY GUIDE',NOT A 1ST EDITION COPY OF 'SHAKESPEER'S "HAMLET"' OR ANY OF THE GREATEST 'LITERARY' WORK'S OF THE PAST CENTURY!!! WHAT KIND OF 'NUT' WOULD BUY (OR TRY TO SELL...FOR THAT MATTER) a 'VIDEO GAME STRAREGY GUIDE FOR $400.00??? I am a 'HUGE' Gamer and a collecter of all things that have to do with 'PC & CONSOLE' GAMES, but there is no way in 'THIS LIFE TIME OR ANY OTHER' that i would pay the kind of COMPLETELY "OUTRAGOUS' price that this seller is asking for. WORD TO THE WISE TO THIS SELLER:' LAY OFF THE CRACK COCAINE'.........................

2 comments about Hellsing: Ultimate Fan Guide #1.

1. The first Hellsing: Ultimate Fan Guide covers the first six episodes of the bloody-good vampire anime Hellsing. The guide includes a fair amount of artwork--some promotional art and some scans lifted from the videos--and descriptions of each of the episodes, plus character bits and items on various aspects of the world in which the series is set.

   The episode summaries are okay if a bit thin; I suggest simply watching the anime itself. Overall, fans of the series probably already know everything in the book, but it's still a neat accompanyment if only as a book filled with visuals and concept drawings from the series. Roleplayers may find the bit at the end for incorporating the characters and world into the BESM game system useful as well.




2. The Hellsing Ultimate Fan Guide, #1, is not as ultimate as it could be. With summaries of the first six episodes, character bios, details on the setting, info on the locations, data on the organizations, and character sheets for using the Hellsing background within the anime RPG game _Big Eyes, Small Mouth_ plus all the extras in images and pictures you would think I would give it 5 out of 5. But the whole book is kind of weak. For example, the episode summaries only take three pages per episode, leaving out much of the cool dialogue and lots of the details. Some sections, like the page on Arucard's gloves, the pages on Hellsing's equipment and the page where they compare Vampire Myths and Vampires within the Hellsing Universe have little or no depth. But at 80 pages there isn't really a lot of room to hold much more.
   As I have BESM and other books by Guardians Of Order, I plan to get Fan Guide #2. I hope it has more details.

5 comments about Classic Battletech: Field Manual: Capellan Confederation (FAS1717) (Battletech Field Manual).

1. Its nice to see FASA release a Field Manual on the CC. They always seem to be overlooked. The book is good at providing the in-depth information that you would expect from a Field Manual, but seems to be lacking some of the refinement that is present in the other House Field Manuals. A definite addition to any hardcore BT fan's library.



2. This addition to the field manual series is easily as good as the Draconis Combine book. A couple of things prevent a full 5 though. First, there's almost no information on the Mariskova(sp?) and there is a problem with the Marshall variant that supposedly uses the stealh armor(the problem being, in addition to not having stealth armor, it can't - not enough open crits due to ferro-fibrous and jump jets). The new tech is pretty extreme, but well balanced. Definitely a must buy.



3. This is a must-have for anyone who reads the Battletech novels. This catches you up on all the events that are going on that the authors don't write about in the novels, including the Death Commandos, who are a fearsome unit that get very little novel space.



4. Truly a must read. The Cappellan Confederation is stronger now than it had been since the devastating 4th Succession War. As the old ways are swept aside by the new Chancellor Sun-Tzu Liao, the Cappellan state has used its recovery to take back what is theirs. With new weapons, ships and units that are better trained and motivated. The Cappellan Confederation is poised to reinvent itself as a new power. Although the manual did not discuss the impact of the Trinity Alliance with the Magistry of Canopus and the Taurian Concordat, the lack of information on the Maskirovka still could not blunt the book from giving the Confederation an impressive standing.

   Where the Confederation will strike next is uncertain. With the Federated Commonwealth on the verge of Civil War, I am sure Sun Tzu will take advantage of the opportunity and exact his revenge.

   This Field Manual will show you just what he has as his tools.




5. The Capellan Confederation is going through a "Xin Sheng" movement, which means "Rebirth" in Chinese. Led by the wise and, surprisingly, sane Sun-Tzu Liao, the future is bright for the Capellan Confederation.

   The Field Manual includes information on Capellan Confederation Units (including Warrior Houses and the Death Commandos), the St. Ives Compact and the Free Capella movement. Along with this are a load of new MW 3rd Edition things, like the St. Ives Compact affiliation, loads of new life paths (like Warrior House aspirant or Death Commando covert tour).

   Plus, the new Stealth Armor, new missile munitions, new 'Mechs and 'Mech variants, and the Feng Huang Cruiser.

   Buy this, even if you aren't a Cappie! Its so cool!

No comments about SPQR: The Official Strategy Guide (Prima's Secrets of the Games).

4 comments about GURPS Compendium I : Character Creation.

1. Steve Jackson Games have managed to do for GURPS 3rd edition what the D&D Rules Cyclopedia did for D&D. A literally breath taking book that expands and supplements the GURPS 3rd edition Basic Set beyond it's comparatively humble origins. Almost a decade of GURP character generation material and advice have been lovingly compiled. I recommend this book. Guy Robinson



2. It's the nature of RPG publishing to generate more books for the games published. If all you need is 1 book and every potential customer has that book, you're out of business.

   The drawback to this is new material tends to duplicate and even contradict older material unless the game maker keeps a tight reign over it.

   GURPS generally has had such supervision but even so you have rules in one book that are useful in another but not found there.

   In ten years of existence, a good list of new rules, character skills, advantages and disadvantages have cropped up. GURPS line Editor Sean Punch took ahold of this and compiled the newer rules into one book, making it far easier for players and game masters to generate characters.

   Reconciling some contradictory material took some effort but not too much and Punch does invite his readers to note similar advantages, such as Universal digestion and Cast Iron stomach.

   The first lets you eat anything non-poisonous, the second makes you resistant to an upset stomach and fights off poisons.

   Overall a must for any serious GURPS player.




3. This book has all, or at least the vast majority of the things you need for character creation all under one cover. It has all the disadvantages, all the advantages, and a good number of skills.

   If you are one of those people who buys GURPS books to read for entertainment, you might not want to bother, but this book is very helpful (almost a must have)if you are actually playing the game.




4. With the dozens of books on the market for GURPS, it gets really tiresome to have to look through all of them to find the skill, advantage, or disadvantage you want. This book makes that worry a thing of the past. I can not imagine making a character without it anymore.

No comments about Cities of Hyboria.