Post by Gilvan Blight on Nov 15, 2005 10:26:28 GMT -5
Quickly - good book, great new careers, 99% background 1% rules.
Summary: basically a history book and gazetteer to The Empire. A history of the Empire from pre Sigmar to current times is given, a chapter on each province, details on the political system and laws, the role of religion, two cults, new carreers, and more. A short adventure is also included.
The Good - this is the most in depth book about The Empire that has ever been published. Each province is looked at in great detail. This is the first book I have read that made each Province feel distinct. The Empire is not the great solid whole I thought it was. You also learn how the Empire is doing now that the Storm of Chaos has broken. The new careers are great and well done. The new rules for starting provinces (where humans from different provinces get different starting skills) just enhances the feel that each province is a separate entity with it's own character and feel. The law rules with the cout and trial process were a nice addtion. The short adventure is great. It takes place in Bogenhaffen, and actually continues the story from the original Shadows Over Bogenhaffen from the old Enemy Withing Campaign.
The bad: This is not the easiest read. It is basically a history book for a fantasy world. It can be as dry as any grade 10 history book at times. There is very little in the way of new rules. Maybe a total of 4 pages of the book gives new 'game' content. This was disapointing.
The Ugly: the maps (again!). What is with Black Industries, or Green Ronin, or whoever with horrible maps. Okay first off the map is smack in the middle of a hardcover book, spread over two pages. Not the easiest to read, not removable, and spreading it flat enough to see the middle cracks the spine. Dumb! Secondly the map does not even match the descirptions of the towns and provinces in this same book!
Overall: a worthwile book to add some flavour to your game. Well worth it if you don't have 20 years of background products already, and still worth it if you like to enhance the scenery and realism in your game. The new game content is great, but there is so little, it could have easily been put in another product (say the GMs kit). The adventure is great if you played the old Shadows over adventrue, and probably still fun if you didn't. Worth it for players and DMs alike who want to know more about The Empire.
Summary: basically a history book and gazetteer to The Empire. A history of the Empire from pre Sigmar to current times is given, a chapter on each province, details on the political system and laws, the role of religion, two cults, new carreers, and more. A short adventure is also included.
The Good - this is the most in depth book about The Empire that has ever been published. Each province is looked at in great detail. This is the first book I have read that made each Province feel distinct. The Empire is not the great solid whole I thought it was. You also learn how the Empire is doing now that the Storm of Chaos has broken. The new careers are great and well done. The new rules for starting provinces (where humans from different provinces get different starting skills) just enhances the feel that each province is a separate entity with it's own character and feel. The law rules with the cout and trial process were a nice addtion. The short adventure is great. It takes place in Bogenhaffen, and actually continues the story from the original Shadows Over Bogenhaffen from the old Enemy Withing Campaign.
The bad: This is not the easiest read. It is basically a history book for a fantasy world. It can be as dry as any grade 10 history book at times. There is very little in the way of new rules. Maybe a total of 4 pages of the book gives new 'game' content. This was disapointing.
The Ugly: the maps (again!). What is with Black Industries, or Green Ronin, or whoever with horrible maps. Okay first off the map is smack in the middle of a hardcover book, spread over two pages. Not the easiest to read, not removable, and spreading it flat enough to see the middle cracks the spine. Dumb! Secondly the map does not even match the descirptions of the towns and provinces in this same book!
Overall: a worthwile book to add some flavour to your game. Well worth it if you don't have 20 years of background products already, and still worth it if you like to enhance the scenery and realism in your game. The new game content is great, but there is so little, it could have easily been put in another product (say the GMs kit). The adventure is great if you played the old Shadows over adventrue, and probably still fun if you didn't. Worth it for players and DMs alike who want to know more about The Empire.