11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Introduction to D&D 4e and Follow-Up to the Previous Preview Book., 29 Jan 2008
By Roman - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Wizards Presents: Worlds and Monsters (Dungeons & Dragons) (Paperback)
"Wizards Presents: Worlds and Monsters" managed to be one of the most enjoyable Wizards products I've read in years. The goal of the book moves beyond merely presenting changes in cosmology and combatants as they transition from 3.5 to 4e. Most importantly, the contributors, all of whom are helping to shape D&D 4e, have shared their reasons for these changes, and explicate why this should help improve the gaming experience for players and GMs. (In fact, it would be nice to see this insider's perspective in other gaming products.) The contributors seem genuinely excited about the results of their efforts to streamline game play, make monsters more interesting (and less time-consuming to stat up), and create a new space for the D&D gaming community.
Why 3 stars, then? Because while the artwork is lovely and the prose seems serves well to generate interest, I do feel that the contents of this volume could have either appeared for free on the Wizards of the Coast website, or could have been bundled with the previous book, "Wizards Presents: Races and Classes" for a far less ridiculous price.
Be that as it may, I can honestly say that, after reading this book, I am as excited about 4e now as I was about that red box Basic D&D game I bought with my allowance money when I was 10, and THAT hasn't happened in a long time.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
It does what it says on the label, 19 May 2008
By Beau Yarbrough - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Wizards Presents: Worlds and Monsters (Dungeons & Dragons) (Paperback)
Most of the negative reviews don't seem to be about the product itself, but rather what they wish Wizards of the Coast would have done instead.
Like the other 4th Edition preview book, Worlds & Monsters does exactly what it promises: It gives a snapshot of what's to come in the new edition of Dungeons & Dragons, but from the vantage point of September 2007. This time, instead of hearing about various classes and races, we get a glimpse into the assumed setting of the game world. In previous editions, there were these assumed settings as well, but rarely were explicitly articulated.
Even moreso than its predecessor, there's a lot of great pieces of art in this book, very evocative of mysterious lands and ominous vistas. The writing also paints a picture of a world where darkness threatens to swallow the remaining light and where heroes are all that prevents evil from triumphing. Like all the best game books, it makes me want to play and now.
This sort of book has a built-in shelf life, however, and if you don't want to pluck down the bucks on a book that will mostly be obsoleted in a matter of weeks, pass it by. If your budget has the room, however, it's a beautiful and evocative little preview.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
No reason to buy this anymore, 23 Sep 2008
By Eric Collins "Wondering around" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Wizards Presents: Worlds and Monsters (Dungeons & Dragons) (Paperback)
Unless you are just a huge fan of game design, there is no point to this product anymore. I borrowed one from a friend, it was very much a sneak preview, read it once and be done with it kind of product.