Faiths and Pantheons (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Setting) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Faiths and Pantheons (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Setting)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Faiths and Pantheons (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Setting). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Faiths and Pantheons (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Setting) ReviewIt's gotten to the point that now when I see a new product for Forgotten Realms, my reaction is summed up in one word:
Gimme.
The Forgotten Realms products are the most consistently well-done supplements third edition D&D has to offer. Gorgeous artwork and ever-expanding detail have made a believer out of me.
That said, this product is a product with a very narrow focus - and if Faiths and Pantheon's focus falls outside of your gaming style, you should save your money for other supplements.
The real core of this product is the full descriptions and stats for the major deities of the Forgotten Realms setting. The descriptions are in the standard format outlined in the Deities and Demigods supplement. The artwork is inspired (with the possible exception of the non-human pantheon artwork), and the overall feel of the Realms is maintained throughout. The pantheons are described in detail and the stat blocks for any of the divine powers will make 20th level characters look downright milquetoasty.
It's worth stressing one thing about the deities: These folks are dangerous. This is why this book is not for every campaign. One harsh encounter with the divine can destroy all your players and/or their respect for the Dungeon Master. Many DMs will find their Forgotten Realms pantheon to be little more than trophy-NPCs that are kept on the bookshelf. That being the case, I'd make sure you want to use these NPCs before you buy this book.
The extras in this book are nice as well: Twenty prestige classes that are tied to the various religions. Some of these classes have additional minions that are described complete with stat blocks.
Three sample temples are mapped out and described with NPCs, and there are numerous sidebars placed in the book offering extra detail on the surrounding material.
To be fair, many of the sidebars are material found in other books, but the FR crew can be forgiven for duplicating them in the name of easy reference.
My biggest quibble with this product is that while the thirty main deities of the realms are given full stat blocks and avatar descriptions (and stats, where necessary) - the lesser deities of Faerûn are not.
Sure, full stats for all the many deities of Faerûn would take up a lot of space, but so does reprinting summaries of deities already described in Deities and Demigods (Like Tiamat or Loth, for example: Each gets a "Realms-specific" write up in Faiths and Pantheons - but the stats for each are only in Deities and Demigods). DMs looking for stats for Realms-only deities like Lovitar will NOT find them in this book (Lovitar's entry, like all the entries under "Other Deities," contains her Bio, History/Relationships, and Dogma.)
All in all, however - this book provides what it sets out to: provide a detailed and working pantheon to add to a Realms campaign. The descriptions are rich, the artwork is inspiring and the continuity of the setting is maintained while being enhanced. This is not a book for you if you don't use divine NPCs in your worlds, but if you do - this book will be essential.Faiths and Pantheons (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Setting) OverviewReligion in the RealmsWhether cleric or commoner, wizard or warrior, nearly everyone in Faerûn pays homage to at least one patron deity. Some of those divine powers inspire respect, while others elicit fear. Good or evil, all of them coexist within these pages. Complete information for key gods, along with the powers and abilities granted to their most dedicated followers, and descriptions of supporting deities combine to provide this look at all the gods of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.Over 115 gods 20 specialty priest prestige classes Maps of four temples This collection details the thirty most important gods in the Forgotten Realms setting and expands upon the profiles of the rest of the deities.To use this accessory, a Dungeon Master also needs the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, the Player's Handbook, the Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual.

Want to learn more information about Faiths and Pantheons (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Setting)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...

Deities and Demigods (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying Supplement) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Are you looking to buy Deities and Demigods (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying Supplement)? Here is the right place to find the great deals. we can offer discounts of up to 90% on Deities and Demigods (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying Supplement). Check out the link below:

>> Click Here to See Compare Prices and Get the Best Offers

Deities and Demigods (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying Supplement) ReviewOne thing I like about the 3E core rulebooks is it seems like WotC play tested the hell out of them. Nearly everything is fairly well balanced. Many aspects have been simplified from the 2nd addition in a good way (though sometimes too much.) Overall, I really like 3E and consider it worth buying.
Enter supplemental materials like Deities & Demigods. Let's take a look:
Chapter 1: Deities in Your Game -- Here's an abbreviated list of the sections:
Monotheism, Dualism, The Nature of Divinity, Why Mortals Worship Deities, Why Deities Use Mortals, Building a Pantheon, etc.
For me, this was the strongest aspect of the book. First, it explains different types of pantheons -- one God, vs. multiple gods/goddesses. Then it addresses a very key point: Why do divinities and mortals need each other? What is the relationship? As a DM, this part really helped cement that important concept.
Chapter 2: Deities Defined
The next section is another winner: How to make your own pantheon. In the previous chapter, there are tips for formulating your pantheon conceptually. How many? What domains? This chapter leads right into an explanation of the mechanics used in the book. So, you can take your idea for a new pantheon, and put it into d20 game terms.
Chapter 3 and on through the rest of the book:
I've heard complaints that there are only four pantheons in this book, compared to dozens from previous editions. Let me take a stab at why. Do you have a 3rd edition character, say, 10th level? My 10th level gnome druid takes up four pages worth of character sheet. Each of the gods & goddesses in this book are around 30th level or higher! Their stats take up a LOT of room! Thus, we are only given the Greyhawk, Olympian, Pharaonic (Egyptian), and Asgardian (Norse) pantheons.
Pantheon Strengths:
1) Some GREAT art: Ehlonna, Aries, Athena, Pan, Heimdall, Sif (yay!), Thor, etc.
2) Fully detailed d20 stats for each deity.
3) Maps for some deity-related dwellings.
4) We are told the deities will work well with the up and coming Epic Rules.
Pantheon Weaknesses:
1) Some painfully BAD art: Aphrodite, Dionysus, Ptah (and he is so cool!), Loki (this one really hurt me, I'm a big Loki fan), etc.
2) Very limited information about the deities themselves. This, to me, is the major shortcoming on this book. The info for dogmas, clergy & temples, etc., are each a short paragraph only. What does this tell us? Perhaps the game designers went a little overboard being able to actually make legal d20 stats for the deities, and didn't think enough about fleshing them out. I would have loved more background, more rituals, and more mythology for each deity. Granted, if you want to put these deities in a brawl, you've certainly got the stats!
Overall:
The 3E Deities & Demigods book has some vital information -- namely, the first few chapters. DMs and players alike will enjoy learning more about the place of deities and mortals within a D&D world. The rules for making your own pantheon are also very cool. After that, we have many, many stat blocks (with fairly limited background) for insanely powerful NPCs. Personally, I'm a stat fanatic, and enjoyed pouring over them. If they had only added another few paragraphs for each deity's background, religious holidays, expectations for their clerics, etc. I'd have given Deities & Demigods 5 stars. As it stands, it only gets 4.Deities and Demigods (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying Supplement) OverviewSource of All Divine PowerThe names of Pelor, Loki, Athena, Osiris, and their kind are invoked by the devout as well as the desperate. With abilities that reach nearly beyond the scope of mortal imagination, the splendor of the gods humbles even the greatest of heroes.This supplement for the D&D game provides everything you need to create and call upon the most powerful beings in your campaign. Included are descriptions and statistics for over seventy gods from four fully detailed pantheons. Along with suggestions for creating your own gods, Deities and Demigods also includes information on advancing characters to godhood.To use this supplement, a Dungeon Master also needs the Player's Handbook, the Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual. A player needs only the Player's Handbook.

Want to learn more information about Deities and Demigods (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying Supplement)?

>> Click Here to See All Customer Reviews & Ratings Now

Read More...