Rpgfiend’s Weblog


SpellJammer – The best AD&D Campaign Setting?
August 22, 2008, 3:16 pm
Filed under: Accessories, Books, dungeons and dragons, role playing games | Tags:

Ok, this is one that’s up for grabs… is it the Spelljammer (Adventures in Space) Campaign Setting or the Planescape campaign setting the best campaign setting for advanced dungeons and dragons?

For those of you that don’t know, Spelljammer was a weird idea that characters could travel between worlds using “spelljamming” ships. These had a false gravity and oxygen bubble around them and used a magical “helm” that allowed the navigator to move between the galaxies. Players could hitch a ride on a ship (or own their own) and a few new races were included. Various accessories and expansions were added to describe different galaxies (for example Spelljammer Realmspace – spelljamming in the Forgotten Realms universe) but none had the excitement or writing of the original.

Jeff Grubb is at his best in this book (well boxset to be precise) and although it was made for 2nd edition Advanced Dungeons and Dragons it’s easy to create a conversion to use 3.5 or 4th edition. It’s still available from various sellers (admittedly secondhand/used but in varying conditions) so check it out at ewelike (and don’t forget to press the “auctions” tab incase ebay has it at a better price).

Ok, it seems like a naff idea, but it’s truly a D&D classic (from the days when they were TSR – oh and the novels aren’t too bad either!)

barcode is 978-0-88038-762-0 for those of you who like your isbns :) , and before anybody asks… no i’m not selling you my pristine copy!



Argghhh! Why do books like this exist? Complete Idiots Guide to Creating Dungeons and Dragons Characters..
August 22, 2008, 2:57 pm
Filed under: Accessories, Books, dungeons and dragons, role playing games | Tags:

Ok, this isn’t a full review of
The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Creating Dungeons and Dragons Characters it’s more a moan..

I was lucky. When i first started wargaming and playing RPGs I was guided by a wargaming club, this ensured that I understood the main point was to enjoy the games and to not become a rules-lawyer. Also that no set of rules is definitive so there’s always grey areas that have to be worked out.

Books like the idiots guide.. try to ensure that people outside of gaming groups get reasonable advise to start off with… but really the first few pages should just read “join a gaming group” in a large font on each page

Overall it’s not a bad book and the author Matt Forbeck does a pretty good job and if you can’t find a gaming group then it’s worth a read.

Incidentally the barcode is 978-1-59257-688-3 or 1-59257-688-5 incase you want to find it



Can D&D Dice be any more of a Rip Off?
July 3, 2008, 10:41 am
Filed under: Accessories, dungeons and dragons | Tags: , , , ,

I recently bought fourth edition dungeons and dragons core books (more on that in a later post) and I also bought the Dungeons and Dragons Premium Dice at the same time (they were cheap..ish).  I just wish I hadn’t of bothered now :(   Ok, they look nice, but there’s nothing “special” about them.  Instead I’d just wait until your next wargaming / role playing (like Reading’s Warfare wargaming show or Newbury’s Colours Wargaming Show)

So, let the buyer beware (caveat emptor) – you’ve been warned!