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Title: Masters of the Wild: A Guidebook to Barbarians, Druids, and Rangers (Dungeons & Dragons Accessory) by Mike Selinker, David Eckelberry ISBN: 0-7869-2653-8 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: February, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.32 (22 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: One of the better class books
Comment: Finally, the last of the class books has been released. This one is unique in that it tackles three classes, instead of the standard two. On top of this, two of the classes -- the druid and ranger -- are considered by many gamers to be in need of some serious work. How well did WotC do in answering this challenge? Here's my breakdown:
1) Barbarians: Considered by the majority of gamers to be a pretty well balanced class, but perhaps lacking a little diversity.
New Feats: Most new barbarian feats revolve around rage. You can rage more times, for longer duration, and destroy stuff even better, along with intimidating opponents in battle. Other barbarian feats explore their toughness. These include greatly increased hps, better damage reduction, and even elemental resistance.
Prestige Classes: Most of the barbarian prestige classes are pretty interesting. Power gamers will enjoy the frenzied berserker. The forsaker would make a memorable NPC. The other barb PrCs are decent too.
Overall: An already solid class now has more options. Well done.
2) Druids: Many gamers (including myself) consider wildshape to have been nerfed (ruined) under the polymorph rules. Well, no longer! Wildshape has been redone, and definitely for the better. Animal companions (which you can now advance) are expanded on, and awakened animals are detailed. Finally!
Feats: Most of these pretain to wildshape. You can now cast while wildshaped (though using foci is still tricky)! You can take the scent feat from the DMG -- that is huge. All in all, the new druid feats are quite nice.
Prestige Classes: Also well done. Most have a unique feel. My only grumble about the druid PrCs is that several of the cool ones require that you be evil! In other words, fine for NPCs, but not as useful for the average adventuring group that tends to be good or neutral. Look for the verdant lord, geomancer, and shaper to become instant favorites.
Overall: Essential upgrade for druids. DMs - don't be surprised when your druid players want to majorly retool their characters after reading this book.
3) Rangers: Another class that many gamers consider to be seriously lacking. In fact, of all the core classes, I've seen more ranger rewrites than any other.
Feats: Most revolve around favored enemies and two-weapon fighting. You can now get critical hits on otherwise immune creatures, such as undead. That's really nice. The other ranger feats are decent too.
Prestige Classes: The sniper is a solid archer PrC. I think a lot of ppl will really like that one. The bloodhound is the ultimate tracker -- good for PCs and would make a wicked NPC too. Power gamers will appreciate the foehunter. The other ranger PrCs are decent too, aside from the tempest, which I found to be a bit stale compared to its great-sounding name!
Overall: Excellent upgrade for rangers. Just my opinion, but I don't like the 3E ranger (3 feats at first level encourages taking just 1 level in it). I'd take the upgrades from this book and use them on Monte Cook's variant ranger in my game.
4) Other Features:
New magic item type: Infusion. Cool idea. Could be especially useful in a low magic campaign, or if you wanted a more shamanistic feeling to your curative magic.
Legendary animals: Powerful animals for high-level druids and rangers to enlist as companions. It's hard to not be impressed by the dire elephant!
New equipment: Some neat things there, but pretty thin.
New spells: I really like the new spells. They add to the druid and ranger's natural magic. I'll be adding just about all of them to my campaign.
Overall: Thumbs up for Masters of the Wild. I'd rate it up there with Tome & Blood -- the only other class book I consider fairly solid. Anyway, enjoy! As with all WotC's products, keep your eye out for the downloadable errata on their website!
Rating: 4
Summary: Better even than Tome & Blood
Comment: This is truly the grand finale to this hit-and-miss series. Some great advice is provided on when your barbarian should rage, what favored enemy will give your ranger the most mileage, and on what animal companions to pick up. Don't bother playing a druid without this book. The book provides a snotload of handy feats, though some of these are repeats. Legendary animals are detailed. (These are like dire animals, but better. Check out the Legendary Tiger!) The spells are on a par with those from Tome & Blood. The prestige classes are better than those found in Sword & Fist. The rules update on the Druid's wild shape ability is as good as the trap rules in the relatively disappointing Song & Silence. This is the best paperback product out of WOtC since the advent of 3e, including Hero Builder's Guidebook!
Rating: 4
Summary: Barbarians, druids, and rangers.
Comment: 3 classes noticably underplayed in the d&d world are represented here.
The barbarian comes out the poorest in this book, because much of it focuses on the druid. But all in all, it's a good book for me, because I play druids and bards best.
The new classes are interesting variations on the way the game works. Queen of the woods, beastmaster . . . it's most interesting to say the least.
If you play druids and rangers, buy the book. You might want to buy the book if you're playing a barbarian and are stumped for ideas.
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Title: Song and Silence: A Guidebook to Bards and Rogues (Dungeons & Dragons Accessory) by John Rateliff, David Noonan ISBN: 0786918578 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: December, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Sword and Fist: A Guidebook to Fighters and Monks (Dungeons & Dragons Accessory) by Jason Carl ISBN: 0786918292 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 13 January, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Defenders of the Faith: A Guidebook to Clerics and Paladins (Dungeons & Dragons Accessory) by James Wyatt, Rich Redman ISBN: 0786918403 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: May, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Tome and Blood: A Guidebook to Wizards and Sorcerers (Dungeons & Dragons Accessory) by Bruce R. Cordell, Skip Williams ISBN: 0786918454 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: July, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Player's Handbook: Core Rulebook I (Dungeons & Dragons, Edition 3.5) ISBN: 0786928867 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 18 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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