Nobles, Knights, And Necromancers Review

[ghost-angel]

A review of NKN is now up at RPGNet

Super Quick Version: Good solid book of villains for a Fantasy game.

[Curufea]

Dang that's quick.
Well, I'll pick it up in a few months when it makes it's way downunder.

[ghost-angel]

I don't wait for 'em to hit the LGS, and books only take 4-5 days to get to me from the wharehouse in Nevada.
(and as the RPGNet review notes, this one happened to be a comped copy of the book specifically for a review)

[cndblank]

A good review and I agree with most of your points.

The Substance however is at least a 4 (Meaty).

This is exactly what I was looking for a Fantasy Hero GM. I expect to get years of play out of these NPCs.

Plenty of tactics and behaviors to make sure your player will have no trouble remembering their encounter with the NPC. Good magic items and clear suggestions on how the NPC will use them magic items and any spells they have.

Plenty of suggestions on plot seeds to use them in your campaign. Also plenty of suggestions on variations of the NPC and how to make them a little weaker or more powerful.

The Style is plain but dense and easy to use.

A minor quible on the art work, I did notice that two of the non humans NPCs where shown as human on their character sketch.

I can't wait for the hero design files to come out for this book. These NPCs can be used again and again with just a few changes. Just as long as they don't charge 25 or 30 dollars for it. After all the NPC "Character Sheet" only make up about 1/3 of the information on each NPC.

[ghost-angel]

A good review and I agree with most of your points.

The Substance however is at least a 4 (Meaty).

I have to say I almost gave it a 4 on the sheer quanity of NPC goodness, and the quality thereof.

But I couldn't get past the brevity of Chapter 2. Had just one of the either the Slavers or Thieves Guild descriptions been expanded upon I would have easily given it a 4.

And really, fleshing out one of those two could have put it at the same length as the Pulp enemies book (Masterminds And Madmen), another 10 pages or so.

All in all, it's a good solid book of NPCs.

[cndblank]

Then give it a 3.5 because this book is way better than a 3.

I would have liked to have seen more on the groups too, but I think they left it out more so the GM can make his own group to fit the needs of the campaign.

You also have the SOP and tactics for several members of each group. All the GM has to do is fill in between the lines, he is going to do so in a way that best fits his campaign.

Any thing more would be more TA background information than NPC info.

[ghost-angel]

3.5 isn't an option. But it really is a 3.5.

But I was disappointed enough to round down instead of up.

It would have been simple, an example: for the Slavers created a basic Cell that operates in any given city. A "leader", some underlings and a few henchmen. Just something a little more would have been nice. Don't even need great detail (summaries instead of full writeups).

It's just my opinion and thoughts on the book. From where I stand to get a 4 or 5 on the RPGNet scale I have to put the book down and go "are my downside's quibbles or genuine detractors from the book as a whole?"

In this case it was a detractor from the book for me. I really wanted more out of Chapter 2. I mean, I know why it's as short as it is, it's just a gabillion bad guys in it. Which is truly cool. I just kept coming back to chapter 2 and thinking, "I need more here."

In the end reviews are opinions. I try and provide objective information on the book, but the actual "how good is this" aspect is filtered through what I want, what I expect, what I got and what can reasonably be done.

[Steve Long]

This is exactly what I was looking for a Fantasy Hero GM. I expect to get years of play out of these NPCs.

That's just about the highest compliment an RPG author can receive. Thank you!

[Steve Long]

I would definitely have liked to expand on just about everything in the book, including some of the organizations -- unfortunately, there just wasn't time. As it was I ended up cutting a bunch of characters from the outline to ensure I made the deadline (one of whom I ended up creating for TUM, actually). Perhaps if time and circumstances permit I can delve into, say, the Red Talon Guild a bit more in a DH article or something.

[ghost-angel]

I would definitely have liked to expand on just about everything in the book, including some of the organizations -- unfortunately, there just wasn't time. As it was I ended up cutting a bunch of characters from the outline to ensure I made the deadline (one of whom I ended up creating for TUM, actually). Perhaps if time and circumstances permit I can delve into, say, the Red Talon Guild a bit more in a DH article or something.

That would be freakin' awesome.

BTW: I love Zelatar's Blades. Never have I seen a more interesting NPC adventuring group put together. Especially their introduction. Had me laughing so hard my sides hurt.

[Steve Long]

Thanx! I figured coming up with a group of anti-PCs and poking fun at some of the cherished old Fantasy gaming tropes would work out well, and it did.

[ghost-angel]

Maybe the Red Talon guild could become an HPA?

[cndblank]

That's just about the highest compliment an RPG author can receive. Thank you!

You earned it.

Now for bonus points, when will the Hero Designer pack come out and how much will it cost?

Keep up the good work!

[cndblank]

I have to say I almost gave it a 4 on the sheer quanity of NPC goodness, and the quality thereof.

I guess you prove my point here because it is a Fantasy Hero NPC book and not an organization book.
It would have been great if it was and had twice the page count, but its not.

Also after you have the leaders and specialist and their MOs, any more information is going to be getting more and more setting specific which the GM is going to have to change any way. We already have stock fantasy thieves and thugs from MMM so no low level members are really needed to be included.

I guess I just feel that you are not judging the book by what the intended audience is going to value.

But that is just my opinion and I do appreciate you taking the time to do your reviews.

By the way are you running a Fantasy Hero campaign currently?

[Steve Long]

Ben has the HD pack and it should be available soon, but I'm not sure offhand what price we've assigned to it.