|
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Arcana Unearthed: The way D&D should have been, 7 Oct 2003
Unlike a lot of people (that actually play D&D that is), I’m not a huge fan of D&D its self, I find it allows players to conform to stereotypes far too easily. It's restrictive to originality and well I just don't like the feel of it.Arcana Unearthed is now my most prized book and rarely gets a chance to just sit on my shelf and have the weekend off. It describes its self as an “Advanced Rulebook” and I’d have to agree with that. Monte Cook builds from the foundations that D&D (3e / 3.5e) as set in place, and develops on his own ideas and themes. It certainly is quite different from 3rd edition D&D, the classes leave you with a lot more freedom to take your own direction although all the classes are completely gone some of the new ones do represent the old quite strongly, like the Oathsworn are very much like the monk in principle; Magister is similar to the wizard. The differences are certainly big enough to warrant a new class though, and the idea behind them backs up the changes with justification. One thing I did notice straight away as that this is not a D20 product, nor on the cover does it even mention that its compatible with D20 or D&D. This is not a simple rehash of the players handbook with a few changes like 3.5, this is a whole new look at roleplaying, but with the same core mechanics that D&D players will be used to seeing and using. A few notable changes are: No alignment.
There is only one type of magic.
Feats, there are a lot of new feats and the introduction of ceremonial feats and talents, you can only get ceremonial talents if you have a true name, talents you can only get at first level…
All races can pick up racial levels where you advance your race like a class (for some races this means becoming another race, but the option is still there).
New equipment and weapons, including new properties. Finally to quote the back of the book: “Arcana Unearthed is a new roleplaying game that you already know how to play!” if your looking for something new that gives you more freedom in the game, without giving you too much to learn, look no further! Think outside the box/book
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
 
|
|
|
|
