Post originally by aeon at 2004-12-22 09:04:30
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http://www.gamegrene.com/node/419
I'd encourage anyone thinking about this book to actually look at it before buying it. This may be difficulty as the book is sold shrinkwrapped to prevent this. Some people will enjoy it. I hated it.
Post originally by Matt Drake at 2004-12-22 09:24:30
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Wow. I just read your review, and you really didn't like this one.
I understand your points - I can even agree with many of them - but I really did enjoy the heck out of this book. I had a good time reading it (once I started skipping the 'how I started gaming' anecdotes) and actually have it proudly displayed in my living room right now. I think it's a blast to look at, and I thought the cover was really cool.
But, as I said, I can definitely see where you come from. I also do lots of page layout, and while I thought the tilted pages were cool, I could see where they detract from the reading. It was probably a little overdesigned, and I could have lived without the 'I'd like to thank the academy' feel all the way through the book.
So the long and short is, don't buy the book based on my review, and don't ignore it based on aeon's. Check it out for yourself. This seems to be a little like George W - hate it or love it, nobody's in the middle.
Post originally by Matt Drake at 2004-12-22 09:28:27
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Interesting. I think a large part of the reason people might not like this book has to do with the sort of gloating, self-worshipping thing that the book has going. It's kind of like if an actor gave himself an award - the actor might be great, and the award might be gorgeous and well-deserved, but the total lack of humility can still be a mighty big turnoff.
But I will reiterate, I liked this book a lot, once I got past the writers slapping themselves on the back.
Post originally by Springheeledjack at 2004-12-22 10:16:19
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This is the review of this wreck of a product I sent over a month ago. I got an auto-response, so I know they recieved it. I have written them 3 times regarding my submission and they have REFUSED to respond. I guess RPG.NET is bias towards products they are SELLING in their Web store. In the future, take any positive review with a grain of salt. These are ads, NOT reviews.
So, here it is in it's UNCENSORED glory, the real skinny on this book.
PRODUCT: 30 Years of Adventure: A Celebration of Dungeons and Dragons
AUTHOR: Johnson, Winter, Adkison, et. al.
COMPANY: WOTC
STYLE: 3
SUBSTANCE: 1
SUMMARY:
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Oh what this book could have been.
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REVIEW:
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30 years of Adventure: A celebration of Dungeons and Dragons.
I have eagerly awaited the release of this coffee-table book for quite some time. I looked forward to the extensive lists and photos of every product produced by TSR for D&D; the year by year highlights of the products, just like the big displays WOTC set up at the major cons this year; a “Where Are They Now” section on the big names in the history of the game, Gygax, Arneson, Mentzler, etc.; Highlights of the major campaigns released for the game, like Forgotten Realms, Birthright, and Eberron; details about how D&D has made it into mainstream America; maybe even a mini-adventure written by Gygax and Arneson.
How much of this did I get after plopping down $50 bucks and cracking the cellophane? None of it. NO highlights, NO product lists, NO mini adventure, NOTHING. What I got was pretty pictures and very little words per page. I read the whole 284 page book in less than a day, and I’m not a fast reader. This is definitely NOT the “Celebration of D&D” I wanted or expected.
What did I get and is it worth the steep price of admission?
What I got was:
1. A history on how the game started. Pretty interesting and finally clears up the Arneson vs. Gygax as originators of the concept.
2. An overview of the history of GenCon. Tangential to D&D as far as I’m concerned.
3. Overviews of how and why Greyhawk, Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms, Mysteria, Spelljammer, Ravenloft, Dark Sun, and Planescape where developed. Wish they gave more detailed overviews of the actual campaigns or included some mention of Birthright or Eberron.
4. How and why of 2nd and 3rd edition. Kinda interesting, but nothing is mentioned about 3.5 and the uproar it created.
5. How and why on PHBR and Historical Sourcebooks. Not interesting at all.
6. A whole section on “Black Box” D&D. A single page would have done it justice.
7. Anecdotal reminiscences from some “famous” geeks who once played D&D. Computer Game insiders, actors/directors, some writers and musicians. Artistic, rich, geeky types. Nothing from mainstream “respectable” players like Doctors or Lawyers, or even the average gamers like you and me, further promoting the misconception that D&D is for “geeks”, “successful nerds” and “artistic types”.
From there, the book diverges into a sanitized business history of TSR, it’s acquisition by WOTC, and a paragraph on WOTCs acquisition by Hasbro. It all boils down to: TSR got itself in trouble; this CEO called that CEO; workers get worried; WOTC is full of really nice guys who save the company; YAY WOTC! Interesting stuff if you are a former business major like me. For the average D&D fans, YAWN! What the heck is this stuff doing in a “Celebration of D&D”?
This book should have been called “The history of the beginnings of D&D and the company that created it: TSR”. It certainly is not a “Celebration of Dungeons and Dragons”. Was it worth the read? I guess it was sort of interesting, but not what I think fans wanted or expected in a $50 book that bills itself as a “Celebration of Dungeons and Dragons”. Do yourself a favor and skip this book. It is not what you are looking for.
PS: I forgot to mention all the TYPOS and bad editing. This has all the appearence of a rushed, hack job. To bad with a little additional time and effort it could have been so much better.
Post originally by aeon at 2004-12-22 11:03:47
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I absolutely agree it should be up to the individual, which is why it upsets me that they're selling this shrink-wrapped. It's as bad as the old box sets.
SHOW ME THE PRODUCT FIRST so I can decide if I want to buy it.
Post originally by Matt Drake at 2004-12-22 11:15:16
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Agreed - it should not be shrink-wrapped. You don't buy a picture book without looking at the pictures. I didn't actually realize they were wrapping it - mine came in the mail, and didn't have any shrinkwrap.
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