Review by Bill Voharas
This was a good sourcebook and setting which I'd try out if the opportunity arose. There are a lot of things I like and only a few I don't.
The setting itself is varied and interesting enough as to be a good place to adventure in. I particularly like an area that is deserted and full of ruins of ancient powerful (pre-human?) civilizations just waiting to be explored, with wonderous powerful things to find.
In addition to the standard stuff in the PHB, they have extra stuff, such as new races/hybrids as PCs. Changelings - hybrids of humans and dopplegangers (forget about halfling bards - this is my new fave PC race - the art makes them look stunning). Kalashtar - hybrid of extraplanars/Outsiders and humans, born this way (their evil NPC monster counterparts are the Inspired - humans who are bred and trained to later be temporarily possessed by evil extraplaners/Outsiders). (The art for both look cool.) (In fact, the activities of Outsiders and possession is more prominent in this setting than in other D&D settings.) Shifters - part human and lycanthrope. The warforged - metal warrior constructs given life by magic.
In the game there is more magic to empower objects. They also have a floating fort city and magic-powered train system (which is what I don't like about it magic powered hi-tech to me is incongruent with a fantasy feudal setting, and weakens my belief in the setting.
Still, worth buying.
(Originally posted to the RPGSIG Message Board 07/21/04.)
Pat's Web Graphics
