3 comments about Star Wars Miniatures: Bounty Hunters (Star Wars Miniatures Product).

1. "Bounty Hunters" is the sixth expansion set in the Star Wars Miniatures Universe, which started with the Rebel Storm Starter set back in September, 2004 (see more about the minis game itself in my addendum below). There are 60 different figures in this set. These are "huge packs," so each booster comes with seven durable, pre-painted figures (including one rare OR one very rare figure), one of which will be a large OR very large figure.
   
   The first thing I look for in any expansion set are how many characters I recognize from the movies (vs. those that appeared only in the books). I am particularly interested in figures from the original trilogy, and am happy to say there are at lest 25 figures from the original trilogy in this set. Some are very interesting variations of figures released in previous sets (for example, Luke Skywalker, Dagobah and Princess Leia, Hoth Commander), some are simply more powerful versions of earlier figures (for example, Chewbacca with C-3PO, Han Solo Scoundrel, Boba Fett and most of the other bounty hunters), but some have never been released before (for example, Bib Fortuna, Garindan, and Zuckuss just to name a few). Notably, there are even a few great new common and uncommon figures from the original trilogy in this set (for example, Rebel Captain, Rebel Heavy Trooper, Snowspeeder, Gamorrean Thug, Tusken Raider Sniper, and Weequay Leader)
   
   Further, though I am not a big fan of the prequel, there are several figures from these movies as well (say +/-10 - with one of the best being the new version of Jango Fett). The rest are either from the books, or generic/minor characters that I have never seen or heard of before.
   
   In sum, this is perhaps the best expansion set for those interested in the original trilogy since Rebel Storm was first released in 2004 (with the Universe expansion set being a close second in this regard). Those who like the Star Wars minis game and those who use the figures for the Star Wars RPG will likely be very happy with this set.
   
   ADDENDUM: (Please note that I include this addendum at the end of all my Star Wars minis reviews, so if you've read it before, there is no need to read it again.) If you want to play the Star Wars minis game as it was designed to be played, it is best to have at least one starter (each starter comes with game instructions, a map, a D20, terrain tiles that are very helpful and add great variety to the game, and more). I like the Rebel Storm Starter the best because it's from the classic era/trilogy, but the Clone Strike and Revenge of the Sith starters from the newer movies will also work. If you don't want to invest in a starter, you can also get one of the three "Ultimate Missions" books, as each comes with a double sided map and a few smaller terrain tiles (again, I like the Rebel Strom Ultimate Missions book the best because it is also from the classic era/trilogy). Or, you can buy the "Attack on Endor" scenario pack, which comes with TWO double sided maps (in addition to a scaled AT-ST that is fully usable in play). The main point here is that you'll need some type of map/grid. If you don't want to buy a Star Wars one, generic ones are also available at most gaming stores (you can use your imagination to set the scene, or draw terrain with an erasable marker right on the grid). Of course, the minis are also useful for the roleplaying game (RPG) - in which case you may not need a starter or map, but will likely need the "Core Rulebook" instead. Finally, they are just fun to collect for those who like all things Star Wars!



2. BE CAREFUL!. The first review says there are 60 figurines and the picture associated with this item shows 3 boxes. you get only 1 box with only 6 miniature figurines and 1 large ship. we like the item though.



3. My nephew (10)was very excited to receive this SW product for his birthday as an accompaniement to his Revenge of the Sith board game. He especially liked the "big piece" in the box (a giant crab droid, I believe). I'm a Star Wars purist (Episodes IV - VI), but he likes the prequels and this was a nice mix of characters from the entire series.

No comments about The Power Gamer's 3.5 Wizard Strategy Guide (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying).

5 comments about Resident Evil 2: Prima's Official Strategy Guide.

1. just what i said, this is not as extencive as the other nad more expencive, but if you know the game ok, it is a good reference guide, but to people that plan on using it for the whole game shouldnt get this



2. The Evil has returned and the book has come to save the day it brings everything, maps, files, walkthroughs,a nd codes it's a gamers dream pick this up whenever you get the game because you'll need it.



3. This or anygame now a days is really hard to beat. If you buy a book like this strickly for the perpose of walking through the game, the you've wasted money on the game. However if you by it to simply help you through the impossable areas then you bought wizely and got your money out of the book, and game.



4. It is a great book to read and has alot of helpful information included in the book. If you are at a tough spot in the game chances are this book could really help you out.



5. When I first bought resident evil 2, I thought that the game was going to be to hard and that I would need a guide book to tell me everything. I couldn't have been more wrong. I beat the game 4 times before I finally got the guide book and when I did get the guide, it was useless. It tells you all the basic things that a guide book should tell you, the characters (just Leon and Clare, but not the other characters that you will meet during your journey) weapons, enemies, and the walkthroughs. That's it. It dosen't tell you where to get the weapons and it dosen't give you enough information on the a and b walkthroughs, it dosen't even have pictures for the a and b walkthroughs (except one or two!). Don't get me wrong, this guide book wasn't that bad. I just think that the publisher could have done a lot more. One more thing, it gives away the ending completely.

5 comments about The Art of Warcraft.

1. This is an excellent book featuring original art from all of the warcraft games including Warcraft3. I'm studying to become a character designer for games/movies and I love this book as a reference and ispiration for various weapons and clothing/armor pieces as well as characters. The book gave me a glimpse at the production proccess of the games. This book will also be good if you're into drawing/illustrating since it features the original works of the designers of the games before they've became the final product. Would probably also make a nice collection piece for anyone who is interested in the warcraft series, but I'm not sure about that.



2. I think this is the best Art Book i've Every seen. Because the images inside is very cool and colourful. I prefer every one will like this book. Don't even think about it , just buy it!!



3. I ordered it. But after a week i got an vague e-mail reply from Amazone that the book couldn't be shipped because they couldn't purchase it from anyone.
   On the Amazon website it still can be ordered, strange.... Not even an update of the page with an "out of stock" message.
   
   Maybe it has something to do with the upcoming "Worlds of Warcraft"-special edition. The game and The art book.
   
   Nice going, Publisher. I just want the book, not the game. How much fun it may be....



4. This book is totally awesome.
   lots of great art work. buy it you'll like it. I promise yopu wont be disappointed.



5. I spent 7 Dollars for expedited shipping on this product. Product showed up bended in half ruining the artwork. And then crammed into a 5,5 mail slot rather then left in the office... Good book but I don't recommend anyone use priority mail shipping. Nor bother with expedited shipping use a real delivery service not USPS.

5 comments about *OP Kindred of the East (For Vampire, the Masquerade).

1. Gorgeous artwork. Fantastic new world. Great reinterpretations of things. Wonderful use of mixing history with the World of Darkness. They promised to deliver a vampire alien to the kindred of Caine, and they succeeded; the setting is exotic, interesting, and definitely recommended. I especially liked their take on lycanthropes. I didn't like the lack of information on India, which would have been a great setting and prime conflict ground with British vampires. The Russia/Mongolia/China boundaries could have been interesting as well. It's impossible to play without the original Vampire book, which irks me; a completely new setting could use a reexplanation, I think. Lastly, the nature/demeanor/dharma split isn't quite clear. It's obvious that some traits are connected to and sympathetic with others, but what this sympathy does in terms of the game is never well-explained.



2. I love this book even though I'm more of a Mage type player. I have played and ST'ed all but Wraith and this BUT! it would definately be my next choice.

   I think the KotE are some of the most defined characters a player can make. That said, the KotE are also some of the more complicated to play because the book KotE is not a stand alone game. It was produced to add more flair and versatility to VtM.

   There were only a few questions I had. Agravated damage was never covered.. or not that I saw. I read about them being able to do it with several of their powers but I could only find 2 ways that they could soak it. the lvl 2 or 3 bone shentai and the demon shentai with the armor. ohh well something else to e-mail WW about.

   Definatly a game for intermediant to advanced players. I'm not sure if I would suggest it as a starter though.




3. Hey, this book is pretty awesome. The art work is amazing, the concept is very intriguing, and the entire idea of a race of vampires in no way relate to the curse of caine is wonderful. But, my only problem is, i can't figure out the dang thing! I love the fact that there is more to worry about than blood, health, and willpower; but i can't figure out what the heck you do with the rest of it! P'o? Hun? Yin Chi? Yang Chi? Gee, one day i will figure it out, and then i will have a good ol' time. But until then, i'm gonna play with my new fav (Vampire: The Dark Ages) until the great day when the epiphany hits me, and it is all made clear.



4. This book is simply amazing.
   Even if you don't like vampires or the entire White Wolf line of monster rpg's this is a very interesting book. The subject matter is unique and it isn't just European vampires transplanted to Asia.
   Before this book came out I was skeptical that W.W. would do Asian "vampires" justice but they exceeded my wildest expectations.
   It mostly focuses on N-E cultures (China/Japan/Korea) but there is even a bit on Malaysian "vampires".
   W.W. has even done an excellent job of putting out supplements for the game.



5. The Cathayans are quite unique since they aren't like Cainites. All the secrets that you wish you knew about the Eastern vampires that could quite possibly occupy areas like Chinatown or even back at the mainland of Asia are now yours to share once you have this book. The system regarding Cathayans is quite unique, it's impossible to not recommend this book. If you're throwing Cathayans into your campaign for other Kindred to tango with, YOU MUST GET THIS BOOK!

No comments about Babylon 5: Ship Builders Manual (Babylon 5 (Mongoose Publishing)).

3 comments about Trigun D20.

1. This book is mainly a review of what occurred in the anime series, And Gives little for a campaign, other than setting, and thrown in stats for the main characters. If you do plan to buy this though, make sure you already own the Big Eyes Small Mouth book(s)



2. I'll admit to not having played BESM yet, but the system intrigues me, especially the d20 variant. That said, I paged through this book at my local borders and was incredibly dissappointed. 80% of the book is nothing but a synopsis of the anime series. It focuses entirely on the anime and doesn't include anything from the manga. I can bet money that the only people interested in Role-Playing in the Tri-gun universe are folks that have watched the anime, read the manga and are true fans. This book will tell these people nothing they don't know already. It only serves as a very nice reference and episode synopsis which I will admit is useful for GMs, especially for details like the more minor characters in the series, which is why it gets at least 2 stars. However, almost no game content is in the book and if you really want to role-play Trigun, you're better off buying the BESM d20 book and using your episodes and manga as reference material. At the very least they could have included an adventure module to give novice GMs a push. Nice try, but not enough to warrant the price by any means.



3. I first picked up this book in the light it would help my recreate the Trigun feel for my BESM games, however I was sorely mistaken. The book spends 145 of its 194 pages dealing with character and the anime episodes description before it even starts on any D20 material, although when it does finally get round to it the content isn't exactly great. It mainly focuses on the main characters of the series and how you would go about making them using the BESM system. This is alright, although I don't really consider it very necessary seeing as I don't ever intend to use any of the characters in my games. So really, it's acceptable as a base or comparison for any characters you may create, but that's about it. Once you have gotten past that, more problems arise, as to be honest 90% of the D20 material IS the characters stats for the BESM system. And that means your more or less left with a few pages dealing with other topics, it helps you with transport and a bit of description for the towns as well as and a couple of recommended rules for cybernetic implants. But really that's it, that's all the D20 material you get in the book. It isn't sounding to great now is it?
   
   In conclusion; the book lacks content for role-players using it with the BESM system, rather its more suitable for the Trigun fanatic that wants to be able to spitfire facts about the anime series at will. Not for someone wanting to recreate the Trigun universe using the BESM system.
   
   I got the book thinking it would be devoted to D20 as the books name would suggest, but face facts; it isn't. If you are looking at getting this purely for your role-playing needs, don't. If your getting this purely for the information on the characters and the anime series, rather than the role-playing content then this book is perfect for you. In my opinion this should never have been made as a D20 book, no, more along the lines as a Trigun reference book.
   
   I was lucky in that I got the book online, at a cheaper price I got a legal copy of the book in PDF format, so I was lucky. But if I were able to go back knowing what this book really contained, I would never have bought it. I love Trigun to bits and everything but this book is a terrible disappointment.
   
   (I gave it three stars really because the artwork was nice I thought, that and even know the content isn't what I wanted I can't deny its still well done.)

5 comments about Coruscant and the Core Worlds (Star Wars Roleplaying Game).

1. One of the most memorable things about Star Wars is in just how unique the worlds are, and that is definitely the case here. The worlds in this book have one thing in common: they are Core planets. Other than that, they are as different from each other as Hoth is from Tatooine.

   This wonderfully illustrated hardcover book details no less than 29 Core worlds. Coruscant gets the most space at nearly 30 pages, and most of the other worlds, including Alderaan and Corellia, get three to five pages each. In general, each world has brief sections on its description, history, people, and important locations. Changes from the time of the Old Republic up to the New Jedi Order are also discussed.

   At the end of each planet's profile there is a "GM-only" section for each world with adventure hooks and a selection of important NPCs. There are also several new species, six new feats, about a dozen items of new equipment, over a dozen new vehicles and starships, four new droids, and more new creatures than you can shake a stick at (my favorite was the fearsome Coromon Headhunter). Sadly, there is only one new Prestige Class, the five-level Seyugi Dervish.

   While I really would have preferred to see a greater selection of PrCs, the book's other qualities largely make up for this deficiency. I should emphasize that while each planet receives a generous amount of information, it is by no means a complete description. The focus of the book seems to be on providing GM's and players with ideas for their own campaigns and characters, rather than on being an exhaustive resource.

   As a GM I found the plot hooks and NPC sections to be the most useful. And boy, there are a lot of NPCs, over a hundred of them in fact. Even better is the fact that the plot hooks and NPCs are often connected to each other, which makes for easy adventure creation.

   My main complaint regarding this otherwise excellent book is that some of the maps are a bit lacking. Specifically, many of them don't have a scale, which makes it difficult to tell if the map of this or that location covers hundreds of meters or dozens of kilometers. The maps are also far too small for tabletop use, but a trip to the copy shop should solve that problem.

   As others have pointed out, a GM would probably get the most use out of this book, especially in a Core-based campaign. Of course, a player could still find this book to be a valuable tool for fleshing out the background of a favorite character. Even so, there is so much variety, information, and so many ideas in this book that I'd recommend it to anyone. Overall I'm giving Coruscant and the Core Worlds a very strong 4 out of 5.

   And besides, what campaign could possibly be complete without the main characters visiting Coruscant at least once?




2. Prior to the release of this sourcebook, there were only three decent sources for information on Star Wars worlds. The first was the Star Wars Encyclopedia, which is filled with so much other stuff that unless you know the names of these worlds already, it's unlikely you'll find them. The second is the Guide to the Star Wars Universe, which additionally has no illustrations and little enough description. The third, and the one I used, is the Essential Guide to Planets and Moons, which provides some useful background info but was obviously not written with the RPG in mind (in fact, it predates it by several years). It's therefore a great relief to see that purpose-written hardcovers are being released that detail parts of the galaxy.

   The Core Worlds include many of the worlds mentioned in the movies and expanded universe- Corellia, Ralltiir, Duro, Alderaan, Chandrila, Kuat, and other notables. The systems are listed in alphabetical order save for Coruscant, which is first, and each section has the following parts: General stats (general trivia regarding the system), Description (basic description useful for introduction), History (summary of notable events in all SW periods), People (species and how they behave), Locations (some notable spots and cities, with at least one map).

   Additionally, there is a 'For the GM' section with adventure hooks, NPC heroes and villains from various eras that can easily be adapted to any of them, and various stat blocks for said NPCs, creatures, and unique vehicles and starships. There is only one new prestige class- the Seyugi Dervish (an unarmed fighter) but this book isn't really meant to detail those in the first place. Several new feats and species are added, most of which are obviously meant for NPC locals (the Brachiation feat, for example, lets you swing through trees at your speed).

   Perhaps the best thing about this book are the illustrations, which are numerous, original, and inspiring. Just getting a glimpse of the Core Worlds is often enough to describe them and plan a few nasty surprises for your players, and the sourcebook does a fine job of providing visual cues. The corresponding information is thorough but not long-winded, and ideal for getting your adventure going with minimal fuss. Coruscant and the Core Worlds really sets the standard for ease of use and value. I am looking forward to seeing similar ones that will describe the other parts of the Star Wars galaxy.




3. I for one can't imagine playing the Star Wars universe without it. I just reciently started playing using the core book and I have to say that world design is the tough part foe me. I don;t lack imagination but I like to have a little consistance from game to game and be able to create a sense of "reality". You know, plot continuity from the movies and all that. Without this book that would be an impossibility for me. I am not a die hard star wars fanatic so I really don't have the info on the entire universe memorized, and even though I don't know tons of facts, I find that usually my players can sense when we're just winging it. Making stuff up and it really doesn't make much fun. This books has what you're looking for. It has all the core worlds and info on each, carefully detailed and well written in a professional way. Weith plenty of NPC and plots tossed in. Just buy it. You won't go wrong.



4. Each Planet listed in this book has details on length of day, length of year, species, population, size, climate, terrain, & much more. Each one also has a picture of the planet accompanying it.
   
   There's also a map of the core worlds along with key location / site maps on nearly every listed planet(very cool).
   
   Coruscant has a huge 29-page entry to it. It also has the GM character Dexter Jettster, info on the Jedi Temple, and many more spots on this planet. Great for many, many adventures.
   Alderaan & Corellia get around 7-pages.
   
   There's also a few new species, many new creatures, and a lot of GM characters to throw at Players.
   
   Some starships are also in here, inlcuding : TIE/Ad Defender prototype & E-Wing.
   
   My only complaint is, there AREN'T more of these Planet books out there for this RPG. WotC could have done a series of Secrets of... books for each system (or something like that.)
   
   Otherwise, there ARE a lot of things in this book that will make players believe that their characters are in STAR WARS.
   
   So, yes, buy the book! Support this space fantasy RPG!



5. I'm not a big fan of the WotC SWRPG -- it's simply too complicated mechanics-wise for my tastes -- but this book is an excellent supplement and could be used obviously by its intended audience or by the old d6 WEG crowd with very little modification. It goes into substantive detail on a number of worlds and is well worth the price, especially for what Amazon charges.

2 comments about Ruins of Adventure (AD&D/Forgotten Realms Module).

1. Ask any veteran about their favorite, shamelessly "pulp" adventure, and they'll undoubtedly mention this rarity at some point in their answer (getting a short answer is the tricky part... :) It's the pen & paper adaptation of the first classic SSI Gold Box computer adventure, Pool of Radiance. The town of Phlan in the Forgotten Realms is falling into ruin... evil besets it on all sides, and the few scattered survivors of the trauma have emboldened themselves enough to do something about the evil that lurks within - they're going to cry havoc, charge in, and hire some foolish PCs to mop the place up! Yeah! A classic, amusingly intense dungeon crawl that will keep your players (levels variable, I'd say 1-8!) occupied for months.



2. This adventure book and I do mean book is a series of various adventures set in the city of Phlan in the Forgotten Realms setting. The adventures do not all have to do played so you can jump into the town with a range of adventurer levels. You can even run more than one adventuring group in the town at the same time on different missions. Can we say rivals? Or even evil PCs vs good PCs. Hmmmmm...the possibilties are endless. This adventure allows a group to grow and make a name for themselves(if they survive of course) and have a lot of fun in the process. Definitely Recommended.

1 comments about Battlestar Galactica Quickstart Guide (Battlestar Galactica).

1. I purchased this and ran it for my group. Not bad at all. It uses the same system as Serenity the RPG. It is just a module for starting off the series. Not real heavy on setting. Rules lite.
   
   My group had a lot of fun escaping Caprica during the initial Cylon attack.