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A very nice product.
I was looking for a ready made battle map of a keep of castle and this one one works out very nicely.
Pros
1. Black and white only. Many would claim this is a disadvantage but at 113 pages this saves a lot of color toner. Also, the detail is much cleaner than if it would have been filled with color.
2. This is a full size castle ready to be printed and invaded! Great job Darkfuries!
Cons
1. Why is the PDF not named 'vaugrox.pdf'??? Are the designers still running 8-bit file system? Modern computer can handle very long file names why not use them.
2. Resolution is a bit blurry. I think they must have scaled a smaller image up to usable size.
So far it's been hit or miss with their products, but this one is worth the cost because it's a real time saver.
| Wertung: | | [4 von 5 Sternen!] |
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A very disappointing product.
I was looking for a large keep or castle that I could print out as a set of battle-maps and this product was not usable.
Cons
1. The scale is not in 1 inch squares. I have to manually scale each image.
2. Images are named with numbers not by the name of the keep. Really, how hard would it have been to use human readable names. Each keep has only a handful of images but put them all in the same directory and it becomes very time consuming to work with.
3. GIF format not PDF! Really? How hard would it have been to include both?
4. Not pre-broken into printable sizes! Yes I can do this manually but it takes time and the only reason I buy items like this is to save time not add to my work load.
5. A clumsy web interface is used to access the images. See comment #2 above.
Pros
1. They are very nicely drawn maps.
| Wertung: | | [2 von 5 Sternen!] |
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Another fine Darkfuries product, this is well drawn, extensive floorplans, good descriptions.
It falls short, however, in not offering full-size maps of the entire structure in both a GM and a Player version. This hurts the product because it's such a large castle. It wouldn't hurt to also include a drawing from the outside, to 'set the mood'. It's annoying to only be able to print out half a map at a time.
Still, as usual, lots of bang-for-buck at $5. Recommended.
| Wertung: | | [4 von 5 Sternen!] |
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Darkfuries hits a huge home-run with this one. Yes, it's $10, but YES, you get your money's worth! Richly drawn maps, 34 of them, from ornate and extensive to simple and clean. With descriptions of each room, and prominent NPCs, as well as the Dieties.
The only downside to this is that I'd really love to have a player's version of each map, a bare-bones map that has no detail, just walls and doors, no secret places shown. That would be nice, that would take a great product and move it to the next level.
But this is a great product. If you want a slew of temples, this will not disappoint.
| Wertung: | | [5 von 5 Sternen!] |
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There are only 3 map settings in this book, however, the level of quality in the first two is extensive and well thought out, with a lot of detail and plenty of substance for to build a scenario around. That detail and intelligent design merits 5 stars.
| Wertung: | | [5 von 5 Sternen!] |
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Good quality product, you get a nice selection of floor plans and the layouts suggest that some thought went into the placement of the rooms and the prospect of what's in each one. Recommended.
| Wertung: | | [5 von 5 Sternen!] |
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Outstanding value for the price. The floor plans are nicely detailed and extensive, this is a product I can recommend.
| Wertung: | | [5 von 5 Sternen!] |
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Originally Posted At: http://diehardgamefan.com/2012/02/13/tabletop-review-masterw
ork-maps-temples-and-shrines/
This 98 page supplement by Darkfuries Publishing was designed as a D20 product for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game for both the 3.0 and 3.5 versions that have been released by Wizards of the Coast. Temples and Shrines can be used in any fantasy gaming system that has a wide array of deities and other powers that are worshipped by the inhabitants of that specific rules set.
There are thirty-four unique temples and shrines contained within this supplement for the gamemaster to utilize in his specific campaign world. Each of the temples/shrines described within are generic in nature therefore making it easier to place in a DM’s world. Each of the temples/shrines is covered in great detail to include fully illustrated floor plans, descriptions, and worshippers that reside there. Each of these structures is devoted to a deity with its specific domains, influence, and areas of interest. All alignments from the Dungeons & Dragons Player’s Handbook are covered in this supplement so there is no lack of any temple/shrine dedicated to a deity. The gamemaster can take these structures and utilize other deities that may mirror the ones assigned to those within this supplement. The buildings are supported by a well designed map key that will highlight all contents contained within them to include, stairs, alters, bookcases, beds, coffins, crates, and whatnot. The list of all structures is on page two and the generic deities assigned to them on both pages 2 and page 3. Also included within this supplement, are descriptions noting the differences among various religious structures such as shrines, temples, chapels, churches, and cathedrals. The majority of the maps contained are numbered with descriptive notes to reflect rooms of special importance to the inhabitants and maybe those of those players who are exploring the structure. As each of the structures are described, the gamemaster will find a chart assigned to that specific building that will cover its interior contents to include the feature, description, hardness, and its hit points like doors, roof, ceiling, windows, wall exterior, wall interior, floor, etc…
A gamemaster who is in need of a fully fleshed temple or shrine can simply peruse through the list and pick one that resembles the closest to what he desires to represent the building in his game. As mentioned earlier, the structures are all dedicated to a deity of a specific alignment. With that said, the domains of this deity and its worshippers are also identified with that particular building. For each temple/shrine in this supplement, there is a broad description of it to include the number of worshippers and their class level that live within the structure. All of the structures contained within also have a number of major NPC(s) who are literally the religious leaders of that specific deity and will be the ones player characters might encounter to conduct business if need be. The stat blocks for all NPC’s that can be encountered are in both the 3.0 and 3.5 D&D rules set.
This is a well designed supplement that provides a great amount of resource material for a gamemaster trying to flesh out his campaign setting by providing thirty-four unique religious sites such as temples, shrines, cathedrals, chapels, and churches. The maps are solid, easy to read, and easy to utilize in any campaign setting. It contains a very diverse list of thirty-four generic deities of every alignment and includes domains of each, their worshippers, plus their standard, symbols, favored weapons, associated animals, associated colors, holy days, and sacrifices (if any). The artwork contained is well done and kudos to the interior artists Shafali Anand and Segio Villa Isaza. The rules setting for this supplement is 3.0/3.5 therefore making it very easily compatible with other major fantasy rpgs such as Paizo’s PATHFINDER. An experienced DM can easily use this supplement for earlier edition of D&D and other generic fantasy game systems. The PDF is $10.00 at DrivethruRPG, which is an outstanding price for a product of its unlimited enhancement value in a fantasy game setting.
Gamemasters who own this supplement will probably prefer a PDF of this because it will be easier to print the maps of the various structures contained within. The location of the some of the structures and the less than flexible binding will make it extremely difficult to copy them on a copy machine without damaging the spine in some ways.
This is an excellent item for a gamemaster who needs to fill his own campaign world with structures dedicated to any deity of his choosing from the supplement or use his own from his campaign world. The supplement is very well written and very easy to utilize. The maps of the structures and the map key are all printed in black and white which makes for easy visual representation if used in such a way. The supplement is easy to read, well formatted, and presented in such a way that there is no difficulty finding any needed reference within.
| Wertung: | | [5 von 5 Sternen!] |
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A long time ago TSR was running out of setting ideas for Dungeons & Dragons. In the manner of the Leprechaun and Hellraiser franchises, eventually they settled on the one remaining unexplored world: SPAAAAAACE! Spelljammer was a gonzo, kitchen sink kind of world that allowed every other setting to fit into it, from Greyhawk to the Forgotten Realms. The clever twist was that space travel was filtered through a medieval mindset, complete with crystal spheres and phlogiston. It was both corny and brilliant.
A little too corny for 3rd Edition. There were some attempts to bring Spelljammer into 3rd Edition rules in Polyhedron, but for the most part the setting was criminally neglected. Third parties took up the mantle; Aether & Flux is the closest to the original Spelljammer setting. Like Spelljammer, there is an aether and spellcasters are required to "sail the traverse." Unlike Spelljammer there is also Flux, a form of electrical energy that can be harnessed by mechanical flux cullers.
Spelljammer was also known for its alien races, particularly the Neogi, a cross between spiders and eels. Aether & Flux has the Ravin, an eight-legged bug-like race resembling ticks. The rest of the book is fleshed out with different types of ships – remember, since fantasy space bends the laws of physics, all manner of ships are possible. New equipment, feats, spells, ship-to-ship combat, weapons, and worlds round out the book.
Aether & Flux is basically an updated Spelljammer. While it's not an official product, it's the next best thing for 3rd Edition.
| Wertung: | | [4 von 5 Sternen!] |
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Originally published at: http://diehardgamefan.com/2012/02/09/tabletop-review-masterw
ork-maps-inns-taverns/
This 98 page supplement by Darkfuries Publishing was designed as a D20 product for the 3.0 version of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game by Wizards of the Coast. Inns and Taverns can be used in any fantasy game system that utilizes villages, towns, hamlets, and cities.
Within this supplement are twenty unique inns and fifteen taverns that a gamemaster can place as needed inside civilized areas of that particular campaign setting. Every inn and tavern is covered in great detail to include information on the owner, host, and/or hostess, the working staff, a huge list of meals and food served at different times of the day, and a detailed floor plan of the structure in question. The inns/taverns that are utilized will have important information as far as what kind of clientele frequent the business such as lowly commoners, merchants, craftsmen, scholars, criminal elements, nobility, or even specific classes such as warriors, barbarians, wizards, etc. With this kind of information, this will allow players to frequent those establishments that will fit their character’s personal needs. A good portion of those NPCs who are owners of these places will have stat blocks while others are just simply generalized and left open for the gamemaster to fill in the details. There is a sizable amount of information on patrons in the last chapter of this supplement which provides a host of NPCs, occupations, social ranking, background information, and an attributed adventure hook that could play into the current player’s game. Each of the inns and taverns are represented by a black and white floor plan detailed with all the typical furniture normally found in such establishments. The features would include the roof, floor, stairs, exterior/interior walls, windows, chests, balconies, and doors. The features of the buildings also is coupled with a chart that gives a simple description of the item, its break DC, thickness, hardness, and its hit points. Another chart that is found towards the front of the supplement provides an extensive list of furnishings such as beds (common/luxury), casks, crates, tables (large, small, hewn bench), barrels (all sizes), bar counters, desks, and dressers. As per the aforementioned features of the building, the list of furniture also comes with their physical description, Break DC, thickness, hardness, and hit points. Information on lodging capacity and seating capacity are given for each establishment if needed. Each of the taverns is assigned between a 1 to 5-star rating with 5 stars as insanely high prices to frequent the opulent establishment, 3 stars as good quality, expensive prices, and 1 star as cheap prices and poor quality.
A gamemaster can provide hours of roleplaying experience with use of this supplement and the information provided. The establishments are fully detailed and most important of all are the wide array of NPCs that can be encountered and dealt with. In the event of the players who are adventuring and travelling around, if they come across a large city, it would not be uncommon to find an unusually wide diversity of inns and taverns they can frequent specifically for their class or even race. This opens the door for the players to find more adventures to go on especially with the wide list of NPCs that can be encountered and their adventure hook stories.
There is no key to read the floor maps for the inns and taverns. It is quite obvious to those that are familiar with such floor maps, but it would be very useful if it was added to help identify questionable furniture or other items. I was impressed with the extensive list of food products that can be served in the various locales but WHERE are the costs for ordering such food? It is highly recommended to get the PDF in order to print out various establishments because the binding is nowhere flexible enough to get under a copy machine
The maps are solid, well detailed, and easily compatible for any fantasy game setting. The rules setting for Inns & Taverns is for 3.0 Dungeons & Dragons. However it easily compatible with other D20 systems such as Paizo’s Pathfinder. An experienced gamemaster can easily utilize this supplement in any fantasy gaming setting if need be with little to no modification. The PDF is $10.00 at RPGNow.com, which I find to be an outstanding price for a product of its unlimited enhancement value in a fantasy game setting.
This indeed is an excellent supplement for a gamemaster who lacks the time to flesh his campaign world due to other considerations. The supplement is well written and easily utilized. The maps of the structures are all printed in black and white and very easy to modify if need be. The supplement is easy to read and formatted with ease that there is no difficulty in finding the needed information on any of the establishments contained within the supplement. This is a supplement I totally recommend to any gamemaster who wishes to fill out his cities with interesting establishments for the players.
| Wertung: | | [4 von 5 Sternen!] |
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"Inns & Taverns is a Darkfuries sourcebook with a simple mission. Provide maps and ideas and let the GM fill in the blanks. It's got a few other sweet spots to it, but it's not an ultra detailed book with tons of adventures and NPCs running around.
In terms of pricing, the book costs roughly half of what the print version does, which is a fair price. The downside of this download though, is that while there are preview panes, there are no bookmarks. A shame as this doesn't take advantage of the format. In addition, when I looked through the table of contents, I didn't see any hyperlinks for quicker navigating of the product.
The images scale well. I view most of my work on a large (27 inch Gateway monitor) and there isn't a lot of loss of detail. It's not pixilated.
Masterwork Maps includes 20 inns with 45 maps as well as 15 taverns with 26 maps. Unlike Necromancer Games book of Taverns, these areas range from the simple 1 page Inns like the North Wall and Copper Coin Inns, to more elaborate and expansive ones like Brass Covey and Kamdin House.
Inns are rated with stars with explanations. A two star inn for example, have average quality and average prices. Usual Patrons are listed by general profession so we've got entries like merchants, messengers, and peddles. Another line list the owner, and another the cook. After the 'stat' block is written out, the Introduction gives the GM a quick overview of what the bar is and what it's about. This allows the GM to quickly read the first few lines and help determine where he's going to put it.
For example, the large Redmoon Hospice Inn, has seen border conflicts and provided education, work and a place to life for some children. This allows the GM to get a feel for where this might go in whatever setting he's running. It could also work as a quick hook for a character. "You remember the tales of your father, working in the Redmoon when times were dire."
The owners are described with history and background as well as current events. These are often a paragraph or two with any hidden secrets noted here.
Another stat block occurs away from the text and that's the features, including descriptions, break DC, thickness, hardness and hit points. The Redmoon for example, has a lodging capacity of 54 double beds and two floors and windows of glass pane with wood shutters and bolt locks. Quick and dirty information when you need it.
My personal favorites are those that go beyond the minimum descriptions like Bindiddle Gambling Hall. A five star tavern of opulent quality and outrageous prices, the gambling hall has descriptions for it's main areas and details on it's Cellar Club where the high rollers come to gamble. The owner, Brikker Bindiddle is a gnome of no small taste but is no illusionist, but rather, an aristocrat with ties to many influential people in the city, gathering information and keeping the patrons happy all at once.
In addition to the locations, there is a Hall of Patrons section, broken up into character types, Adventurers, Aristocrats, Working Middle Class, and Lower Working Class. Each has name, title, game stats, description, background and adventure hook allowing the GM to easily insert them into the appropriate bar or tavern. Some of the adventure hooks are secrets that would ruin the characters if brought to light while others are potential campaigns in and of themselves. For example, Urabi, the first Viscount of the Pale Marsh, is in need of adventurers to clear our the swamps and marshes in his land in order to farm it. A perfect opportunity to bust out Atlas Game's Dynasties and Demagogues.
One of the things I enjoyed about the book that has nothing to do with d20 is at the start of the book, in the section, "What's on the Menu." Broken up by status, it shows what people eat in the morning and evening so we see that a merchant may start his day with apple fritters made with ale batter while a noble may end his day with veal meatballs, roasted and butter glazed.
Some things I didn't like include the lack of art for the patrons and owners. I understand this isn't one of Flying Buffalo's old city books though and it's primary purpose isn't NPCs but maps. Another thing I didn't like was the briefness of some of the locations While the Black Cat Inn has over twenty locations marked off on the maps, there are no descriptions for those areas. Not vital as the main description covers the most common areas but it would've been nice to have.
If you're looking for detailed adventures and rooms with detailed inventories down to the last carpet, then this book isn't for you. This is for the GM who wants a skeleton map and owner with some patrons that he can fully flesh out and in that aspect, it does it's job well."
| Wertung: | | [4 von 5 Sternen!] |
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The maps themselves are great, but I don't like the HTML format. I think this could have been a better product as a straight pdf. It would have gotten 5 stars from me if it were.
That said, I will likely buy the rest in this series.
| Wertung: | | [4 von 5 Sternen!] |
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I enjoyed both my time reading the Maelstrom setting world book, as well as printing out & assembling the great map that's provided (in black and white). The map went to games and hung on my wall for two years during the campaign.
The setting is innovative. Instead of just making another world of orcs and elves and dwarves etc in a different landscape, the team created world where the landscape can change at any time just by one of the mysterious fog-cloud like things that exist... when they move the terrain under them is destroyed, when they move on the terrain is totally different from what was there. Before Eberron and 'The Mournland' we had Maelstrom.
If you are looking for a fantasy campaign world that is rich, well thought out, and is original... Get Maelstrom that's all I can say.
| Wertung: | | [4 von 5 Sternen!] |
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After reading the Malestrom main book and assembling the fantastic map, sitting down to read this only continued my enjoyment of the setting. Well done, good layout and provided a fantasy pantheon that would benefit any group playing a campaign in Malestrom
| Wertung: | | [4 von 5 Sternen!] |
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Even in 2002 the graphics were simplistic and poor - they have not aged well. This makes the price a very poor reflection upon the use and quality of the product. Somewhere between $1.00 and $1.50 would be better suited for these graphics.
The layout themselves are decent, if rather uninspired. At least they manage to cover the basis for a traditional "fantasy" manor house.
If the price was a better reflection of the quality then I would rate this product as 4 stars, but given the high price for such low quality I cannot see giving it that rating.
| Wertung: | | [2 von 5 Sternen!] |
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