This is part of my 'recovery effort' from the old NightLive website.
Years ago I did review a number of TSR / WOTC products, so I've dusted off the old review scheme. You'll run into some TSR / WOTC / Hasbro reviews from now on...
This is my default review / scoring scheme.
Contents / Introduction / Description / Bla bla / ...
A description of the product. An introduction. What it's all about. Stuff like that. I might throw in some images.
Data
Here you'll find hard, crunchy numbers, based on subjective opinions (mine) 🤣
Generic
Name:
Number:
- list only when relevant
- ...
Alias:
- list only when relevant
- PHB
- DMG
- MM
- ...
Setting:
- Forgotten Realms
- Oriental Adventures (Forgotten Realms)
- Kara-Tur (Forgotten Realms)
- Al-Qadim (Forgotten Realms)
- Mystara
- Savage Coast (Mystara)
- DragonLance
- PlaneScape
- Ravenloft
- Spelljammer
- Birthright
- Greyhawk
- StarDrive
- ...
- Generic
Type:
- I show both TSR's and mine when they differ
- rulebook: PHB, DMG, etc.
- rules supplement: kits, complete book of villains, etc. (sometimes it's really an accessory)
- setting: basic campaign background and world setting, starting point for DM's
- expansion: more details about a certain (geographical) area
- accessory: additional information (sometimes not much difference with a rules supplement)
- guide: detailing background, like the Volo's Guides
- adventure
- introduction: a product that is designed to introduce (A)DD to new players or DM's
- other: description
System:
- most game products are using a certain rules set
- fast play
- first quest: simplified add2
- add2: advanced dungeons and dragons 2nd edition including first quest products
- add1: advanced dungeons and dragons 1st edition
- dd: dungeons and dragons
- 3e: dungeons and dragons 3rd edition
- 4e
- 5e
- 5e 2024
- alt (alternity)
- other: specify
Author / design:
- Name(s) of the author(s), separated by forward slash
Copyright / Publication:
- Copyright date dd.mm.yy (not always listed, duh!)
About:
- short description of 'what it is all about'
Package
Format:
- box: like the FR campaign setting, more than 3 cm thick, roughly A4 / letter sized
- slim box: less than 3 cm thick
- small box: similar to those in which computer games are often sold
- hardcover
- softcover: a 'real book'
- shrinkwrap: often a 'booklet' combined with a cardboard folder and / or some maps etc.
- pocket: for example the 'Volo's guides'
- download: (only) available in digital form
Booklets:
- number of booklets, identifiable as such, including those without 'colour printed' covers
Pages:
- total pages in these booklets
Maps:
- number of foldout maps (don't count small maps)
Other sheets:
- I count all additional useable material, in sheets 1/2 A4 / Letter or larger
- Example: two 'hexmaps' in the FR setting box, four sheets with all the small cutout cards for runes, only count material that can be used for the game, a booklet of sixteen pages of compendium stuff I count as 8 sheets, or as a booklet, depending on the type of information
Audio CD:
- how many, if any (products that are basically the cd itself will get 0 points for this item)
- Does anybody still know what a CD is? 😎
CD Rom:
- how many, if any (electronic products that are basically the cd rom without anything else will get 0 points for this item)
Other:
- a poster, dice, figures, etc. - I don't count promotional material!
Score
Pages:
- You should at least get some amount of paper, depending on the package...
- based on package, -2 when smaller, +2 when bigger, add up total page count
- box: 230..345
- slim box: 153..230
- hardcover: 152..230 - like softcovers, only better
- softcover: 102..153 - a real 'book'
- shrink-wrap: 32..64 - one or more booklets with(out) cardboard folder)
- pocket: 192..288 - A5 or smaller
Positive:
- basically +1 for each positive item
- +1- Free
- +1- CD
- +1- DM screen, character sheets
- +1- hardbound / hardcover
- +1- full sized maps
- +1- handouts, gadgets - useful cardboard characters, cards, DM reference cards, don't count if you think usability is limited
- +1- separate player section / booklet
- +1- includes low level adventure? - includes a level 5 or lower adventure? (Of course, if the type is an adventure, no points are to be gained for including a low level or high level adventure...)
- +1 - includes high(er) level adventure? - includes a level 6 or higher adventure?
- +1 to +5 - play value - did I ever use it, and was it useful or fun?
Negative.
- basically -1 for each negative item
- -1 - missing index / vague table of contents - a penalty of 1 point if an index is missing and the table of contents is not detailed enough to replace one, of course only if there is any need for one
- -1 - minimal new information - very subjective, and depending on my knowledge - I'll refer to a better product, if known
- -1 - too many references / forces to buy another product
- -1 - bad partitioning
- -1 - not enough / too many booklets / loose sheets / cards etc.
- -1 - other rule system
- -1 - using different rules - not if it's a typical D&D product - yeah, I know this will reflect poorly on non-D&D products, but this is a D&D score after all...
- -1 to -5 - play value - did I ever try it, and was it meh, or totally awful to use?
Opinion: (very subjective, I know...)
- -4 - very bad - way too expensive, not worth its money, full of errors, awful
- -2 - bad - only if you're desperate
- -1 - could be better - but hey, there is worse...
- 0 - okay
- +1 - good - well, above average, at least
- +2 - very good - does what it says on the tin, and does it well
- +4 - exceptional - way better than could be expected
Total score: x
Notes
- anything else, additional info, general comments, whatever...
- remove this section when not applicable
- Suggested (additional) buys - material you could buy to expand the contents of this product
- Other reviews / websites - including eventual links and / or mail addresses
The Verdict
My honest opinion on the product. And I'll be very, very honest...
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