No comments about The Game Inventor's Guidebook: How to Invent and Sell Board Games, Card Games, Role-Playing Games & Everything in Between!.

3 comments about Out in the Black (Serenity Role Playing Game).

1. I love this book the serenity RPG is the closest thing at this time to a new movie or series and is full of adventure. RPGs are not infantile as much as the other review says search After Serenity and The Signal in iTunes Podcasts and you will see that I am right



2. This is a fantastic addition to the Serenity RPG. It is half adventure and half sourcebook. If you are a browncoat but not an RPG player, I still believe there is a lot you can get out of this work. One of the favorite recurring characters from Firefly is central to this adventure and it is great to see what sorts of complications she can work up in a different setting. I particularly enjoy the appendix on the authentic old-west card game Faro.



3. This is a good adventure for Browncoats who RPG. Love the verse and love the game.

2 comments about Inz The Warrior: Interactive Novel One.

1. One of the most exciting books I have read in a very long time. As soon as I opened the book, I was lost in a make-believe world of intrigue, suspense, warriors, and dragons...I felt very empowered as I could change/choose the outcomes in the next section of the story. I was almost the author of the story...or a movie director that could alter scenes at will. Strongly recommend to anyone looking for some excitement in life.



2. I bought this book for my nephew, but thought I would skim it before giving it to him. The next thing I knew, I couldn't put it down! It was exciting how I could help Inz make decisions and change his course of action. I actually went back a couple times to try out all the options to see what would happen. Overall, it was definitely an entertaining read!

No comments about Pathfinder #7 Curse Of The Crimson Throne: Edge of Anarchy (Pathfinder Curse of the Crimson Throne).

5 comments about FORGOTTEN REALMS CAMPAIGN (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 2nd Edition).

1. I've like some of the FR stuff in the past, but this is the best it's ever been.

   A TRUE powergamer at heart, this book blew me away because I read it past the character changes and new game material.

   This book has all the characters you've read about, and they're no longer munchkins. A fairly complete history (finally!). It has all the geography instead of little bits and pieces. Complete maps. An explanation for most obscure things. Adventure hooks for almost every geographical area. God descriptions, organizations, etc... Some spells, character classes, prestidge classes (the new kits).

   It truly feels alive! It's like having all the old boxed sets, the F&A series, and the FR Adventures book all rolled into one!

   The best D&D product that I have bought in a loooooong time (12+ years) -- ranks up there with the 3e PHB, but without the typos (and ranger!).

   I only wish they would have detailed Karatur, Maztica, and Al-Qadim in enough detail to adventure there once in a while (if they only gave as much as they did to each of the Dalelands to each of those I'd be happy: an NPC or two, a couple cities, and a couple adventure hooks as to why the PCs would go there...)




2. Ed Greenwood and Jeff Grubb-Need I say more?
   This is the second Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting following in the tradition of providing vital information concerning the magical world of Toril. Ranging from background history, to city and social descriptions, to important people and characters, to the respective gods and pantheons, to adventure hooks and encounter tables, to magical items and artifacts, to new spells and monsters, to maps and specialty classes, this accessory has it all and more!
   For the FR enthusiast, like myself, I also strongly recommend the previous edition, which by the way is also in boxed set form (it will take a bit of searching, but it's well worth it), as well as the Third Edition Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, which even though is quite expensive, is still very useful to all FR fans, in providing an update of events. In short, if you don't have it, GET IT! It is so worth it!



3. This is it! The first Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, by Ed Greenwood and Jeff Grubb, whom I, like so many other fans out there, owe our thanks to for creating this wonderful, fantastic world. This first Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting is the one that began the tradition of providing vital information concerning the magical world of Toril. Ranging from background history, to city and social descriptions, to important people and characters, to the respective gods and pantheons, to adventure hooks and actual adventures-like the great adventure in the ruins of Myth Drannor-included in the set, to magical items and artifacts, to new spells and monsters, to fantastic maps and transparent hex overlays, this accessory has it all and more!
   For the FR enthusiast, like myself, I also strongly recommend the next, second FR Campaign Setting (Second Edition AD&D), which by the way is also in boxed set form (it will take a bit of searching, but it's well worth it), as well as the latest (so far) Third Edition D&D Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, which even though is quite expensive, is still very useful to all FR fans, in providing an update of events. In short, if you don't have it, GET IT! It is highly addictive and so worth it!



4. A quick commentary: in my humble and deluded opinion I think the introduction of numerous supplements and add-ons dilutes the power of the imagination...
   
   Having said that, this boxed set hit the mark with a vengeance. Not only does it leave a ton of stuff to the imagination by providing a basic fantasy framework; but the framework it does provide is just the type needed that can explode in the imagination to thousands of possibilities. Extra books and more detailed boxed sets simply draw more boundaries - even if it seems there's more material in the box it's just more boundaries and more guidelines...
   
   This set is highly recommended and high quality!



5. Twenty years old this year, the Forgotten Realms Gray Box is still impressive today.
   
   On the heels of their success with Dragonlance, TSR cast about, looking for a more open-ended, less-scripted, and traditional AD&D-style campaign setting. For years, Ed Greenwood and friends had been playing his campaign world, and early Dragon magazine readers were frequently tantalized with articles such as Pages from the Mages, calendar-building, and magical treasures, all hinting at Greenwood's setting, the Forgotten Realms.
   
   TSR released this set (and also began the excellent FR-series modules) in 1987, the last years of AD&D 1st edition. Packed with 2 books, 4 poster maps, and 2 clear hex overlays, the Gray Box is chock-full of information and adventure hooks. Of course, you'll be wanting more, but there's plenty here to get started.
   
   CAUTION: It's been a long time since this set was in production, and the boxes were often the first to be lost. Read seller descriptions with care, as the first dozen listings for sale are typically missing books, maps and/or box. Do yourself a favor and get a complete set.
   
   
   Wayne Gralian
   Wayne's World of Books

2 comments about Nightmares of Mine (Rolemaster Standard System).

1. I came across a recommendation for this book while I was preparing to run a few horror scenarios in my AD&D campaign. While it is a Rolemaster supplement, I have to say that it's absolutely the best piece of writing I've ever encountered on running a game of any sort!

   The author cleverly and masterfully breaks the horror genre down into its more basic elements and gives the GM clear and easily-grasped ideas on combining them into effective horror adventures. I recommend this book for GMs using any gaming system.

   One thing to keep in mind is that this book contains no game stats. It is compatable with pretty much everything.




2. Being the Rolemaster fan that I am I purchased this book just on the notion that it would be a quaint little collectors piece. I was far from being correct. Horror fantasy is one of my best run games thanks to this book. This book covers every kind of horror from the typical creepy kind to the gory blood splattering grotesque kind. It will help you define what kind of horror to place in your game. This book is a must for horror gamers for any RPG on the market!
   
   Bruce

3 comments about *OP Laws of the Wild (Mind's Eye Theatre).

1. If you want to LARP with Garou and other shapeshifters, this is a necessary supplement. Unfortunately, it is full of errors and internal contradictions as well as some _extremely_ bad mechanics. With moderate effort this can be cleaned up into a respectable and usable book, but it really needed to have been playtested and edited a lot better.



2. this book is great all around. for being small it is not only a great reference, but also a a great guide for beginers. a must have for begining MET or LARP players.



3. Thankfully, the much better thought-out and edited Laws of the Wild Revised has come out. Don't bother with this edition.

4 comments about *OP Transylvania By Night (Vampire: The Dark Ages).

1. It is really fascinating, how american people think about our region... I have to tell, that I have some wrong feelings about reading this book, but it is far better that I excepted. In the In-game terms everithing is all right. I find the story quite well. But there is some great problem with the history... If someone is interested in early Hungarian history, I gladly tell to him/her more about it, but just the core: 1) the so-called dako-roman continuity theory - whichis in the book, too - is laughable. The first sign of the "roman" really: vlach people is about the 13th.century in Transylvania. they were sheperds not serfs, and have quite wide liberties. 2) i know, that the ethnical struggle is because of dramatically purposes, but I waited for a short column, which said about the true problem: that there was no "race" "ethnicum" before the 18th. century. Nationalism in hungary was invented by that time. Before that there was a "Hungaro-mind": every people in the country regardless of nation(this word was not exsist), language, religion were the part of the Crown of Hungary. Rivalies were bethween nobles and peasants, or bethween nobles, or bethween different countries, but NOT in bethween "races". this is the inventment of the modern area, and sorrowly it affects most of the people of this region -today... But despite of this the book is really great!

   Ps.: If you want to make an other book, which contains hungarian names, please try to find somebody, who can write them right down.:)) Ps2.: Sorry for my wrong English - I know it far to be acceptable in high societies.




2. Transylvania by Night is a remarkably informative source material for White Wolf's Vampire: the Dark Ages. It indulges the reader in the lifestyle, religion, daily life, and many other factors within Eastern Europe in the Dark Ages. This is a must have for storytellers who wish to set their chronicle in Eastern Europe.



3. This is an great source book for anything in the dark ages. It has anything that you will need for any Dark age chronicle you would be running. Has all the important charcters from the Dark ages in it including the stand point of two of the most powerful clans in it.



4. This book provides a ton of material about what the various vampire clans of White Wolf's Vampire: The Masquerade RPG were up to in Eastern Europe at just around 1200 AD. Geographically, the countries and regions that we know as Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Transylvania, and Bohemia are covered, and some small amount of their histories (retrofitted to factor in how they were influenced by vampiric machinations) is included. Details about certain major cities such as Prague and Budapest are also presented, along with assorted minor adventure seeds.
   
   There is a ton of profiles on major vampires of the time. Practically every clan is represented (except the Giovanni, since the Cappadocians are still extant at this time, and I don't believe anyone from Toreador or Followers of Set made it in, either). The most famous figure is Lucita of the Lasombra. Vlap Tepes/Dracula does NOT make an appearance, since this is set before his time. Most of the vampires are of the sixth through eighth generations, but there are a handful from the fourth and fifth.
   
   The major focus is on the newly-formed Tremere and especially on the loathsome Tzimisce, including their cultivation of revenant families.
   
   The best feature, to my way of thinking, is that each profile ends with a Destiny section, a "Where are they now?" blurb to tell readers what became of these creatures. A few make it to the 20th Century and beyond. A lot do not, especially the Cappadocians, and some just disappear into legend. I would've liked to have something similar in the "London By Night" book for the Victorian Age setting.
   
   An enjoyable book with a lot of value and fairly good art. It probably would've benefited from more plot hooks, city information, and non-vampire NPCs (the golem-controlling rabbi is one of the few to be described). Worth it, though, for the vampire profiles alone, which are quite detailed.

3 comments about Crimson Skies: Aircraft Manual.

1. The Crimson Skies Aircraft Manual is a must for anyone remotely interested in the Crimson Skies universe. The manual details the history and armaments of each aircraft as well as any weaknesses. The only problem I have with the book is that the diagrams of each aircraft are far too similar. If the planes were really made by competing manufacturers and countries, the designs would reflect that. Other than that, the book is fantastic for casual enjoyment or hardcore gameplay.



2. This book nicely rounds out the 'Crimson Skies' series, but an actual fighter pilot should have been consulted -- in my case, my brother in the Marines. None of the aircraft depicted had good situational visibility, like the real-world P-51 Mustang. Worse yet, the large number of models is inconsistent with the series' premise of an America split into several countries, because of the enormous engineering manpower and production capital required for even a single plane. America's vast warplane production of WWII came nowhere near having this many different planes. A multi-countried America certainly could not.



3. It should be noted that this book does not contain any information on the planes found in the video games (Crimson Skies (Jewel Case) and Crimson Skies). I bought it hoping to find schematics/profile views of those planes so that I could build an RC model. Unfortunately, this book is really only useful to fans of the miniatures game or those who are fans of the Crimson Skies universe in general. Still an interesting read, but I was disappointed.

3 comments about Jerusalem by Night (Vampire: The Dark Ages).

1. I must admit a book like this has been needed long ago. I myself prefer to play Vampire, the Dark Ages over Vampire, the Masquerade. The book shows Jerusalem as the center of faith in the dark ages, which is somewhat true since to all of the three main religons in the world, Jerusalem is a city of holy importance. How can a vampire survive with all this faith around? How much of the vampire's faith is twisted for the character to survive? The book gives a decent picture of the past situation of the religons involved with some twists. Highly recommended.



2. As an avid player of Vampire, a history major specializing in the ancient near east as an undergraduate, and now as a graduate student studying biblical studies, I was very excited when I got my hands on Jerusalem by Night. Jerusalem certainly is a great place to set a vampire game, and I thought this book would open up the door to a lot of ideas for a campaign.

   However, the book is lacking in many key areas. Most specifically, the history section of the book, in which over 2000 years are summed up in a few dozen pages, is some of the most dry and uninspiring writing I have ever read in a white-wolf product. Concepts are sketchy at best, mostly glossed over, and of questionable accuracy. In addition, there is almost no attempt by the author to tie vampires into the history--only some feeble mentioning of vampiric activity that was misinterpreted as acts of God or the introduction of a character only to say that said character came to the city at this time. The vampires do not seem to manipulate Jerusalem as they do other cities.

   Another complaint I have is the way in which the author defines the religious groups of mortals who live in the city without going into detail on any of them. We don't know who controls the groups, what they want, how they operate, etc. And some ways in which they are defined is not only incorrect, but offensive to those groups. Take, for example, the name by which the author refers to Jews. He routinely calls them "Followers of Yahweh". While technically that may be correct (as God's name is given as Yahweh in the Torah/Old Testament), Jews are forbidden to use the name of God in speech and would refer to him only as God (in Hebrew: Elohim) or Lord (Hebrew: Adonai). If they were reading God's name, they would say only "The Name" (Hebrew: ha-Shem). When referring to them, you should say Hebrews, Israelites, Children of Israel, or Jews, depending on when in their history you are referring.

   My final complaint is that in one of the oldest cities in the world, the author does nothing with the myriad of possibilities tying vampires to the religious world. I am not sure if he was afraid to offend or if he just lacks true vision of what could have been.

   All in all, this book takes what could have been a great concept for a campaign and does not do anything with it. It is dry and inaccurate, and doesn't really give you too much to work with. The only value I see in it is that it does give you some non-player characters to steal for your game, but that is not enough to make it worth it. Do yourself a favor, if you want to run a game in medieval Jerusalem, go and by a basic history book on the city and make up your own stuff about the vampires who populate it. Your money will be much better spent.




3. This slightly outdated setting book for Vampire: the Dark Ages covers Jerusalem before the Fourth Crusade. If your following the Dark Ages metaplot (as presented in Dark Ages: Vampire and the Bitter Crusade) then this book might need a bit of an overhaul. If your just using it as a general guide book, then its not as big a deal. Anyway, after an average peice of fiction the book gives the standard introduction. A short list of recommended reading and some common Arabic terms are given as well, but nothing you couldn't find elsewhere.

   The bookest strongest point is the first chapter, a very brief history of Jerusalem from the Hebrews onward to the Dark Ages timeframe from a vampire point of view. Brief mention is made of periods of Roman, Muslim and Latin rule, and its chock full of interesting little quotes and sidenotes. However, I really feel like such an ancient city deserved to have a bit more... mystery, exoticism or even more supernatural elements. The next chapter focuses on society and religion, going into overviews of Judaism, Islam and Christianity (including mention of the non-Catholics in the Middle East such as the Nestorians, Greeks and Armenians). The most interesting part was some information on how Cainites follow Islam and Judaism, particularly about getting around the prohibitions about consuming blood.

   The next chapter, Geography, was another strong point for the book and detailed the many sites infused by True Faith in the city. It then goes on to give profiles and stats for a variety of Cainites in Jerusalem, sorted by clan. It was interesting to see how the clans are almost all split between Muslims and Christians and some characters (like a dog-like Gangrel methusaleh, an out of place Viking, al-Hakim and the Bashirite Ravnos) were quite interesting. Most however struck me as so-so but thats just me. The book then closes out with some useful advice for running chronicles set in Medieval Jerusalem.

   With the writing of the Bitter Crusade, games set in Jerusalem are going to be a little different. Still this is a decent book for running games in Jerusalem before the fourth Crusade. My only comments are that it doesn't cover enough culture, history or religion. Other supplements (like Veil of Night and Libellus Sanguinus III) cover the region even better, or better yet you could even go to your library and do research on the Middle East, Jerusalem and the Crusades and come up with more stuff. But if you come across this book its still worth taking a look.