[RPG]: Materia Magica, reviewed by Craig Hatler (5/4)

[RPGnet Reviews]

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/9/9136.phtml

Craig Hatler's Summary:

Excellent layout, intensive story text providing background of items presented.

Go to the full review (http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/9/9136.phtml) for more information.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by ~BA at 2003-03-13 13:19:47
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What are some examples of the included magical items? How different are they from the huge number of other magic-item books out there?

~BA
pax

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Philip Reed at 2003-03-14 04:44:39
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I couldn't find the declaration of OGC and the OGL isn't correct. I've tried e-mailing the contact person on the website for help but haven't heard anything (it's been about three weeks).

Does anyone know what is OGC in this book?

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Tezrak at 2003-03-14 05:51:51
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This is Craig Hatler, I will post on the forums using this name. What isn't correct about the OGL? I saw it in the back of the book. I can try to find out what is/isn't OGC.

Craig, aka Tezrak

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Tezrak at 2003-03-14 05:59:37
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As soon as I get my copy of MM back (I lent it to someone playing in my campaign) I will pick out some examples. The majority of the book is comprised of magic items out of the traditional DMG magic item categories, but the thing to really look at (that I tried to emphasize in the review) was the two/three new categories of magic items: Synergy Outfits, Magical Cultivations, and Legendary Outfits (minor artifact versions of Synergy Outfits, which don't require a Synergy Ring for all the components to produce the Synergy Effect).

Craig, aka Tezrak

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Philip Reed at 2003-03-14 06:03:19
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NOTE: This comes from looking at it in the store. I decided not to buy it since I could not find OGC declaration.

The section 15 of the OGL was not updated to include their copyright information.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Tezrak at 2003-03-14 06:05:50
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As soon as I get my copy back from the guy in my campaign I loaned it to, I will take a look and then try to get in contact with the publishers. I will also compare the OGL as presented in MM with the OGL as presented in a Green Ronin or AEG product, and see where the discrepancy lies.

Craig, aka Tezrak

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Eugene Zee at 2003-03-15 19:30:01
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Philip,

Thank you for pointing that out and I am sorry that you did not purchase the book due to what you perceived as an OGL discrepency. I am currently checking our sources and fairly confident that it is correct. Please feel free to email me directly so I can provide some clarification.

Eugene Zee
Dark Nebulae

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Philip Reed at 2003-03-16 10:43:50
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I tried e-mailing the info address on the website.

Please contact me at:

philip@philipjreed.com

The first problem I saw was your section 15 was not updated.

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by abe at 2003-03-17 13:45:31
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this item style is called the graft(it is basically what it says it is)
tell me what you think of it & how you would use/improve upon it

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Tezrak at 2003-03-17 20:53:43
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Umm...how can I even begin to formulate an opinion when all I've got to work on is a single word? Especially how to use/improve upon it...

If I were to take a stab at it, it would sound to me as if the end result would be fusing a magic item to a person's body in some way? If that's the case, then I'd be willing to help flesh it out. But bottom line, what does this have to do with the book?

Craig, aka Tezrak

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Ron Edwards at 2003-03-20 07:30:14
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Hello,

I can respond in a general way, meaning that I'm not going to describe individual items.

Overall, the items in Materia Magica have a distinct anime, action-packed, almost manic quality. They remind me of the magic items from Tunnels & Trolls (which is a high compliment), in that the characters are going to be changed visually and drastically by owning these items, whether good or bad. They're zesty.

Coping with the whacked problems of the cursed items gets pretty surrealistic. OK, I'll give one away; they're gloves which nip off your hands, doing no damage, then trot about just out of your reach. Furthermore, the whacked coolness of the regular items is equally intense, visually.

So if you just want bonuses, like +2 daggers or +4 AC robes, Materia Magica is probably too much book. But if your game embraces color, wild visuals, and fast-paced events, then it's a great resource.

Best,
Ron

[RPGnet Reviews]

Post originally by Tezrak at 2003-03-20 08:31:48
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My sentiments exactly, Ron. I'm glad to hear another positive response to this book. I'd love to provide extensive examples for the book, but then, well, I'd be giving away the book :) The book needs to be experienced as a whole, there's too much flavor in it which is weaved back from rings to staffs, cursed items and wands and back again to just pick and choose. Find the book in your FLGS, give it a look, then buy it (Sorry, I couldn't resist, it's the bookseller in me :P).

Craig, aka Tezrak