tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post6765651989027117221..comments2024-02-18T09:32:16.703-06:00Comments on The Semi-Retired Gamer: [Used Gaming] Monte Cook's Arcana Unearthed Charlie Warrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07899037807693796298noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-74350697322713956502012-10-19T19:53:54.164-05:002012-10-19T19:53:54.164-05:00Good points all around, Darius. I definitely see ...Good points all around, Darius. I definitely see what you are saying. I will check out that review.Charlie Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07899037807693796298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-5338454345532815782012-10-19T19:35:09.294-05:002012-10-19T19:35:09.294-05:00I have no idea about the fiction. I suppose if yo...I have no idea about the fiction. I suppose if you find the game world interesting, you might like the books. <br /><br />To me. the feel of a game comes from the basic rules such as character creation, combat, dice rolling, need for miniatures, etc. Pathfinder is the same as 3.x D&D. Yes there are changes and maybe some things are rougher/smoother, but it all feels the same to me. Arcana Unearthed is no different. In fact, since Monte is largely responsible for 3E, one should not expect something drastically different. <br /><br />There are different races, different classes, some tinkering with spell casting, no alignments, additional "level" systems, an additional type of feats, and a few other changes. To me, that is just adding more stuff on top of 3E. It isn't going to feel any different. <br /><br />AD&D and 2E feel the same to me, just that 2E is a moralized stripped down version. Character creation is still the same, you still use THAC0, etc. 3E+ does not feel like AD&D because of the fundamental mechanic changes. You may feel differently about tweaks. Perhaps some tweaks will make it feel like a different game, but it doesn't to me. So Monte's game may feel different than 3E to you, but without a mechanics change, it cannot feel different to me. (Such as Cyberpunk v3 does not seem like the same game as Cyberpunk 2020 to me.) <br /><br />If you want a detailed examination of each chapter of Arcana Evolved, you can read the review here: http://www.amazon.com/Monte-Cooks-Arcana-Evolved-Handbook/product-reviews/1588467805/ref=cm_cr_dp_text?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=0#R3G7EH4G1ESZJ6 Dariushttp://www.perilousjourneys.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-88333120844640013722012-10-19T07:02:01.023-05:002012-10-19T07:02:01.023-05:00Hmmm....I was hoping it would at the least "f...Hmmm....I was hoping it would at the least "feel" noticably different from 3E. Not because I hate 3E or anything but just because I had the impression that it was designed with that intent. Thanks for the info, Darius. <br /><br />Now I am wondering if the fiction series is any good. I seem to read a lot more books than game these days. Charlie Warrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07899037807693796298noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3099843600141430373.post-23560310382928972172012-10-18T19:30:41.443-05:002012-10-18T19:30:41.443-05:00It is a 3E game. It will play pretty much like ev...It is a 3E game. It will play pretty much like every other 3E game. Not saying that is good or bad, just that is what it is. The book is just a mild variance of 3E combined with a setting. <br /><br />Arcana Evolved is about twice the size. It is updated for 3.5 and expands the content. It adds The Diamond Throne and the Player's Companion to the original book. There is a series of fiction that goes along with the setting as well. Dariushttp://www.perilousjourneys.com/noreply@blogger.com