[RPG]: Celtic Age, reviewed by Lisa Padol (2/5)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/10/10473.phtml

Lisa Padol's Summary:

Carefully researched and well written, Celtic Age is full of interesting details about its subject, describing a world more fascinating than most fantasy worlds out there.

Go to the full review for more information.

Post originally by Sam_Lowry at 2004-07-16 01:26:47
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... Gurps Celtic Myth which doesn't have that "9th grade history book" flavor and is very well documented. So, unless you're a d20 fanatic...

Post originally by Kester Pelagius at 2004-07-16 09:38:58
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Post. But as a review, I am sorry to say, this was very lacking. Full of opinion, but not a lot of actual substance dealing with the product itself.

You rate this as excellent. Why? What it is about the product that is excellent?

What are the contents of this manual?

For that matter, why should any of us care? You need to move us to either want find the product or know exactly why we are shunning it.

You mention, in passing, how the Celts are to blame for their defeats. Why? What is it about the text that made you come to this conclusion? Are their maps of historical Celtic territories, or does this product attempt to fit the Celts into existing product lines?

You say the interior art is appropriate to the subject matter. In what way? Is it appropriate, historically, from a textbook's perspective; or is it appropriate, as in being internally consisten with the material that the authors have outlined?

You say you encountered contradictory statements? What kind of contradictory statements? Do they impact the rules presented int he manual?

For that matter is this a manual or is it a supplement?

Does it require the use of the core rulebooks?

Just because you identify this as a D20 product isn't enough to go on. I've reviewed some products that require more than just the core rulebooks to flesh them out for play.

Are their any new core classes? Prestige classes? Feats? Items? Magic?

What about rules?

Is their any attempt to create a unique ruleset for Celtic magic?

As it stands you have said this reads like a textbook, it has the strengths of a textbook (and the weaknesses), and you had a great deal of trouble reading this book. . . presumably because of it's textbook format?

So why should we care about this product?

That said, you included the ISBN. That's good, it means those who want to can take that to their bookstore or library to find out more about the book. And you did leave me questions about the product, so that can't be all bad.

Post originally by Patrick Riley at 2004-07-16 09:43:15
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They saved their cheesecake cover for the d20 Celtic Age Faeries supplement. I would have done a review of that book but decided that I neither liked it nor hated it (except the cover) enough to spend the effort.

Post originally by Alkzndr (alka-seltzer) Phtzhu at 2004-07-16 09:51:51
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I know! This is the only avalanche book I've ever even considered buying.

Too bad about the ludicrously horrible stripper fairy.

Post originally by SimonCollins at 2004-07-16 10:42:09
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In addition to the other comments on what the review is lacking, I feel it necessary to point out that the book is full of d20 rules gaffes such as:
Missing information on duration and special ability type for status levels
Information lacking on the amount of XP that can be channelled into weapons
Lack of balance of the new classes (given they can be played alongside core D&D classes)
Giving new stats to animals already presented in the Monster Manual
Incorrect CRs for characters such as the Roman Legionnaire
Combination of Power Points, level-gaining weapons and status levels can be hugely overpowering in terms of game balance

The book is at best a (fairly dry) academic introduction to one view of the Celts. It is poor from a rules point of view, does not offer a toolkit approach that would help offset its somehat focused point of view, nor does it offer as exciting a campaign setting as something like Slaine by Mongoose Publishing. How it got an Origins award is beyond me.

Post originally by Interested Gamer at 2004-07-16 11:51:15
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What, an Avalanche product without cheesecake? Whats gone wrong with Avalanche? I... I know! Its all Martha Stewart's fault!

Must... have... cheesecake... cover... drool...

Post originally by Wombat at 2004-07-17 07:18:14
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Actually, the GURPS supplement is much better in that regard. The Avalanche book may be researched, but it is not actually WELL researched. Instead it is a very strange mish-mash of small details out of Julius Caesar (1st c. BC) through Brian Boru.

The assmuption in this book, as, sadly, is true of many other books on the same topic, is that the Celts in all times and all places are a monoculture. Instead, "Celts" is a convenient title that may be used an interrelated group of peoples who speak similar languages with vaguely similar religious practices ranging from Turkey to Ireland and dating from roughly 1000 BC to the present.

In the GURPS book there is some attempt to recognize at least some changes due to time and place; in the Avalanche book there is none.

Post originally by Conall Kavanagh at 2004-07-17 16:24:08
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>>>Instead it is a very strange mish-mash of small details out of Julius Caesar (1st c. BC) through Brian Boru.

So, it's more similar to the AD&D 2e sourcebook "Celts"?

Post originally by Conall Kavanagh at 2004-07-17 16:29:08
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Simon, I found your post more informative and telling about the book than the Review. I haven't seen or thumbed through Celtic Age, but it has slipped down several pegs on my "to buy" list.

If it is indeed a rather homogeneized treatment of the "Celts" (which another post has said), then I will indeed pass until it's in a "Must Sell" bin.

Conall