Reviews of Martial Flavor
Reviews of Martial Cultures: Arytis
Reviews of the Kingdom Builder 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.
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 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
Reviews of 5 Minute Mini-Games
Reviews of 5 Minute Mini-Games, one of our totally free products! Nathan Collins' Review:
"An essential supplemental tool at any game table, regardless of the system"
5 Minute mini-games is an example of a well-conceived idea that is not necessarily important to the overall aspect of the RPG, but when given first star production and presentation, turns into an essential supplemental tool at any game table, regardless of the system.
5 Minute mini-games, by Chaotic Shiny Productions, is a brief 9-page collection of games designed to be played between players when the DM's focus is elsewhere. At first glance, this product seems non-essential, but looking underneath, it's a smart tool to keep the focus on the gaming sessions without having to nanny everyone all of the time.
- Read the full review by Nathan Collins, a featured reviewer at RPGNow.
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.
Interested in reviewing a product? Contact Hannah for a review copy.
Have a review of one of our products, for better or for worse, that we've missed listing here? Let us know.