Reviews of Martial Flavor
Reviews of Martial Cultures: Arytis
Reviews of Martial Cultures: the Ikanoi
Reviews of the Kingdom Builder Generator Pack
Reviews of the Treasure Hoard Generator Pack
Reviews of 5 Minute Mini-Games
Reviews of Tavern Tables
Reviews of Martial Flavor
Here are some reviews of Martial Flavor, Chaotic Shiny Productions' debut product. Dungeon Brew's Review:
"This book belongs on your digital bookshelf"
If you have a martial character, or you plan on playing one then this book belongs on your digital bookshelf. The sheer number of new feats and powers and other goodies contained therein means you WILL find something of use even if you never use the martial traditions that are linked to them. As just one example you can easily mine out the entire mounted combat tidbits (like the Mounted Fighter talent and the list of racial rider feats) and use them as is. As for GMs, since the GSL came out I've purchased my fair share of products, and I haven't seen many that come to the level of dedication, balance, and just plain cool things to put in your game. The text is well written and evocative, the sidebars are placed well and are informative. Here's the gist of things, if I was to write about all the great things in this lengthy pdf I would have to go on for pages, because there is so much great material contained within.
- Read the full review by Francis at Dungeon Brew
Dice Monkey's Review:
"I can't praise this book enough"
These are cultures that can be dropped into literally any campaign setting and used as is, simply incorporating in the history of the world to make it match their specific culture. ... If you are playing 4e right now, I can't praise this book enough. It's got everything you need to introduce new and fascinating cultures to your current game.
- Read the full review by Mark at Dice Monkey.
Spirits of Eden's Review:
"These cultures can serve as good inspiration"
Because of the relatively light-on-rules nature of the book, it could serve as a useful tool for people playing other editions of D&D as well. Ultimately whether you buy this book or not really depends on what you feel about buying RPG setting and story material. These cultures can serve as good inspiration for you and your players. If you like setting material, system be damned, then this book is right up your alley. If you only want it for the 4e powers, you already know what your opinion of this book is. Personally I had a rather good time of reading it, so I recommend it.
- Read the full review by Wyatt at Spirits of Eden.
Living Dice's Review:
"Utility for any 4e campaign that needs some fresh ideas"
Editing is clear and the writing style easy to read. The layout is also very well done. There are no power cards for the powers in the PDF, but it comes in a separate download included with the purchase. There is also an included printer friendly version of the PDF in black and white and no color art.
A preview of Chaotic Shiny's upcoming Martial Cultures supplement comes with the download as well.
I enjoyed this supplement and think it has utility for any 4e campaign that needs some fresh ideas for cultural backgrounds.
- Read the full review by Trask at Living Dice.
NEUROGLYPH Games's Review:
"The five backgrounds ... add some real flair to any Dungeons & Dragons 4e Campaign"
I enjoyed Martial Flavor by Chaotic Shiny Productions quite a lot, and I really think that the five backgrounds, particularly the Ikanoi and the Legions of Arytis, could add some real flair to any Dungeons & Dragons 4e Campaign. The Author did an excellent job of adding Power, Feat, and Class Feature options which would enhance a Character’s development without being unbalancing. And there is plenty of “fluff” material to allow a Player to create mannerisms of speech, dress, and attitudes to satisfy any die-hard role-player.
- Read the full review by the Editor-in-Chief of NEUROGLYPH Games.
NewbieDM's Review:
"A great mix of cultures ... each one unique and different"
The strength of the book, in my opinion, isn’t really in the mechanical aspects of the cultures, but more so on the fluff. This is not to say that the mechanics are bad, but not having playtested them, I can’t obviously judge them too harshly, or give them too much praise, I can however comment on the fact that they do not look too unbalanced. Hannah has created a great mix of cultures though, each one unique and different from the other, and on that alone, the book has worth. They can obviously also be translated to other games using only the fluff. Good stuff.
- Read the full review at NewbieDM.
The Most Unread Blog's Review:
"It is easy to take these cultures and drop them into a different game"
The interesting part about this book, is that it is weighted more towards fluff than crunch, meaning that its easy enough to take these cultures and drop them into a different game system if you so chose.
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The author does a great job giving important details to the cultures, while providing information in broad enough strokes that a) you can drop it into your game easy enough and b) she doesn't bore you to death.
- Read the full review by Tommy at The Most Unread Blog on the Internet.
Reviews of Martial Cultures: Arytis
Reviews of Martial Cultures: Arytis, a book about the militant city of Arytis. Dice Monkey's Review:
"Definitely pick this up"
A simple but effective map of the city, as well as information about important NPCs wraps up the book, featuring an actress, smith, city hero, really bad legionaire, cheif justice, a few council members, as well as the leader of the city. All very well thought out and intriguing.
If you have been looking at picking up this book, and still aren't sure, I highly recommend it. Right now, for the next couple of days, you can even get this book in the Gamers Help Haiti bundle! Definitely pick this up.
- Read the full review by Mark at Dice Monkey.
Reviews of Martial Cultures: the Ikanoi
Reviews of Martial Cultures: the Ikanoi, a book about the people of ice and legend. NEUROGLYPH Games's Review:
"An amazing job of creating the little details"
There is just an vast abundance of "fluff material" in this supplement which can allow a Player to create and portray a truly unique, dynamic Ikanoi Character.
The Author does an amazing job of creating the little details which make a fantasy society “feel” real, ranging from Ikanoi naming schemes and ancestral worship, to their unique dress and body tattoos.
- Read the full review by the Editor-in-Chief at NEUROGLYPH Games.
Reviews of the Kingdom Builder Generator Pack
Here are some reviews of the Kingdom Builder, Chaotic Shiny Productions' first generator pack. Stargazer's Review:
"A great tool for GMs"
Overall the Kingdom Builder is a great tool for GMs, either for preparation or at the game table. As I’ve mentioned before the tool is pretty easy to use, the interface is clean and it even runs great on netbooks (which is definitely a plus). When I think about it, it could be possible to create a whole campaign setting just using this toolbox. That’s definitely something I have to try out in the near future. But even if you just need some inspiration, the Kingdom Builder is a great resource.
- Read the full review by Michael at Stargazer's World
Neuroglyph's Review:
"A very nifty tool for any Dungeon Master's computer"
Overall, the Kingdom Builder Generator Pack is a very nifty tool for any Dungeon Master’s computer, and of particular use to and DM trying to break into world-building. Even for those campaigns using pre-packaged "official" settings, the Kingdom Builder Generator Pack can offer the ability to develop nations or even whole continents not detailed by the original authors, allowing for greater exploration possibilities by Player-Characters.
- Read the full review by the Editor-in-Chief at Neuroglyph Games
Spirits of Eden's Review:
"A product like this is long awaited"
Chaotic Shiny is well-known for its many generators, so a product like this is long awaited. While opening up a web browser is not exactly inconvenient, having a bunch of generators in one place is a lot better an option, so the Kingdom Builder from Chaotic Shiny is a neat little thing. At $3.95, I think it's worth the expense if you need a quick little source of inspiration, especially for sandbox campaigners.
- Read the full review by Wyatt at Spirits of Eden
Stargazer's Review:
"A great tool for GMs"
Overall the Kingdom Builder is a great tool for GMs, either for preparation or at the game table. As I’ve mentioned before the tool is pretty easy to use, the interface is clean and it even runs great on netbooks (which is definitely a plus). When I think about it, it could be possible to create a whole campaign setting just using this toolbox. That’s definitely something I have to try out in the near future. But even if you just need some inspiration, the Kingdom Builder is a great resource.
- Read the full review by Michael at Stargazer's World
Reviews of the Treasure Hoard Generator Pack
Here are some reviews of the Treasure Hoard, Chaotic Shiny Productions' treasure generator pack. Gothridge Manor's Review:
"The best treasure generator available"
A quick math question: What do you get when you add a treasure generator and Chaotic Shiny Productions? Answer: Treasure Hoard Generator Pack, the best treasure generator available. This is not hyperbole, nor puffery. I've tried several online treasure generators, and all have their merits, but lacked the depth to keep me interested. Hannah "Swordgleam" Lipski has developed a treasure generator that any GM will be thrilled to have in their arsenal.
- Read the full review by Tim at Gothridge Manor.
Neuroglyph's Review:
"Create really interesting and unique treasures"
Treasure Hoard Generator Pack offers a chance for Dungeon Masters to create really interesting and unique treasures to offer to their Player-Characters, and are likely to both entertain and spark role-playing amongst the group. I could easily see Players wanting to keep certain strange and unusual items found in some of these hoards to decorate their homes, or keep as little mementos of their campaigns.
- Read the full review by the Editor-in-Chief at Neuroglyph Games
Newbie DM's Mini-Review:
"This product is really, really neat"
This product is really, really neat. It generates all sorts of treasure in 4e style parcels. ... For $3.95, the price isn’t bad, in fact it is very generous, and the product works rather nicely. I recommend it.
- Read the full mini-review at Newbie DM
Reviews of 5 Minute Mini-Games
Reviews of 5 Minute Mini-Games, one of our totally free products!Reviews of Tavern Tables
Reviews of Tavern Tables, a pdf full of dice tables for rolling up a tavern that is another one of our great free products! Gothridge Manor's Review:
"A great little supplement"
I found this fun little product free on RPGNow. If you get a chance it is well worth a look no matter what genre you're playing. Tavern Tables has a series of random tables to help a GM pull together a tavern in a few rolls. The first two tables (d100) are to name the tavern. The first table is the adjective and the second is the noun. An example I rolled was "The Mournful Stableboy". Sounds like a Monty Python skit. A simple mechanism that can create 1000s of names.
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My recommendation is get Tavern Tables. It's a great little supplement. Oh, and did I mention it's free. Hannah "Swordgleam" Lipsky of Chaotic Shiny Productions did a great job. Give their webpage a look and download Tavern Tables.
- Read the full review by Tim at Gothridge Manor.
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