This is a site for discussing roleplaying games. Have fun doing so, but there is one major rule: do not discuss political issues that aren't directly and uniquely related to the subject of the thread and about gaming. While this site is dedicated to free speech, the following will not be tolerated: devolving a thread into unrelated political discussion, sockpuppeting (using multiple and/or bogus accounts), disrupting topics without contributing to them, and posting images that could get someone fired in the workplace (an external link is OK, but clearly mark it as Not Safe For Work, or NSFW). If you receive a warning, please take it seriously and either move on to another topic or steer the discussion back to its original RPG-related theme.

[Fireborn] A good deal?

Started by Ian Absentia, October 13, 2007, 01:07:56 PM

Previous topic - Next topic
Print
Go Down Pages1
User actions

Ian Absentia

October 13, 2007, 01:07:56 PM
So, at my local Half-Price Books, I had the opportunity to pick up mint copies of the game Fireborn, both the player's and GM's books, for about US$8.00 each.  I had considered buying them at retail about a year ago, and I had them in hand, but then I figured that there was nothing about the game that I couldn't cobble together easily with at least half a dozen games that I already own.

Was this a good deal?  I really don't want a new game that's going to sit on a shelf unread until I decide to unload it on someone else.  Any experience with this game?

!i!

(P.S. I also saw multiple copies of the limited edition, embossed cover, gilt-edged 3.5 Dungeon Master's Guide for $39.95.  No Player's Handbook or Monster Manual, just the DM's Guide.)

alexandro

#1
October 13, 2007, 03:47:18 PM
I picked up the players book and while I really dig the setting, I personally can't recommend the system.
It is quite complicated with checks and counter-checks, stance changes, alternate forms and what have you, which are probably very neat once your players got them down (once ALL of your players understand them- explaining the rules mid-game doesn't work really for this game), but which basically slow the game to a crawl.

The designers obviously didn't know, if they wanted to make a playable game, a "realistic" game or a cinematic game and so they produces a weird mix of all three.
Why do they call them "Random encounter tables" when there's nothing random about them? It's just the same stupid monsters over and over. You want random? Fine, make it really random. A hampstersaurus. A mucus salesman. A toenail golem. A troupe of fornicating clowns. David Hasselhoff. If your players don't start crying the moment you pick up the percent die, you're just babying them.

Consonant Dude

#2
October 13, 2007, 04:22:48 PM
I only had the player book. Yeah, it sucks. There are seeds of good mechanical ideas but the implementation is lacking and turns what should be an action-packed system into a crawl.

If you intend to give this a try, check out if the errata can be found. It will help.
FKFKFFJKFH

My Roleplaying Blog.

Ian Absentia

#3
October 13, 2007, 05:26:37 PM
Hmm.  Errata.  That's not a good way to start things off.

Anyway, yeah, the concept appeals to me, but as I stated above, there are any number of systems that I already own that I could use to bang the setting out in play (a streamlined version of Nephilim leaps to mind, as do some of the alternate races and prestige classes from my son's copy of Draconomicon for 3.5).

I'm rather relieved that I passed.

!i!

alexandro

#4
October 13, 2007, 06:23:10 PM
Almost forgot: the GM guide is actually quite good (mainly because it is 90% setting and only 10% even more rules).
Why do they call them "Random encounter tables" when there's nothing random about them? It's just the same stupid monsters over and over. You want random? Fine, make it really random. A hampstersaurus. A mucus salesman. A toenail golem. A troupe of fornicating clowns. David Hasselhoff. If your players don't start crying the moment you pick up the percent die, you're just babying them.

Nicephorus

#5
October 13, 2007, 06:47:10 PM
At my Half-Price Books, there was also Fireborn and the fancy version of the DMG.  Also a bunch of Eberron and other WOTC books.  They looked like they'd been remaindered, not buybacks so they're probably at most locations.

Ian Absentia

#6
October 13, 2007, 08:12:44 PM
Quote from: NicephorusAt my Half-Price Books, there was also Fireborn and the fancy version of the DMG.  Also a bunch of Eberron and other WOTC books.  They looked like they'd been remaindered, not buybacks so they're probably at most locations.
Yes, yes!  A HUGE mess of Eberron books.  Looks like they're spreading them out nation-wide.

!i!
Print
Go Up Pages1
User actions