Return to the Road of Kings Review?
- Thread starter The King
- Start date
VincentDarlage
Mongoose
Well, I got my copy yesterday and I am pretty darn pleased with it - although I am biased toward my own writing somewhat.
I am really looking forward to what people think of the extra detail I gave the regions of the Black Kingdoms (good or bad). Amazon has ten pages to it, Atlaia has 12 pages, Darfar has 10 pages, Tombalku has 9 pages, the Southern Desert has 7 pages, and so on.
It has 272 pages, which is awesome (about 80 more pages than the original, for those keeping count).
For a long time, Across Thunder River and Ruins of Hyboria were my favorite books; this one now takes that spot.
Anyway, I can't give an accurate review of the text because of bias.
I am really looking forward to what people think of the extra detail I gave the regions of the Black Kingdoms (good or bad). Amazon has ten pages to it, Atlaia has 12 pages, Darfar has 10 pages, Tombalku has 9 pages, the Southern Desert has 7 pages, and so on.
It has 272 pages, which is awesome (about 80 more pages than the original, for those keeping count).
For a long time, Across Thunder River and Ruins of Hyboria were my favorite books; this one now takes that spot.
Anyway, I can't give an accurate review of the text because of bias.
The King
Cosmic Mongoose
Yes of course, but if you consider it one of your best work, this should be a standard.VincentDarlage said:
Page count may be important because the more pages you have, the more contents you can put in.
Well, it seems another great job. I just wait for the Player Guide's release to buy the 3 books (including the core) together.
I hope it is in color (I definitly prefer the sand-light yellow to B/W).
VincentDarlage
Mongoose
Strom said:
Return to the Road of Kings is in Black & White (well, grayscale, actually), just like the Core book.
A lot of the new artwork looks designed for a B&W presentation, which helps.
VincentDarlage
Mongoose
Yes, I can imagine a regional sourcebook in b/w. So long as the maps are designed in grayscale, that should work out (colour maps rarely transfer well, though). I have seen a lot of grayscale maps in textbooks, school worksheets, rpgs, etc.
I personally don't have an issue with grayscale books, so long as the artwork and maps are designed with that in mind.
I personally don't have an issue with grayscale books, so long as the artwork and maps are designed with that in mind.
VincentDarlage
Mongoose
Well, my favorite RPG books of all time (other than Conan) are the old 1st edition AD&D books - and they are black and white. Simple and effective. Even the old Monster Manual had b/w line drawings - and they are great, still evocative and - honestly, I get more inspiration from looking at the old b/w Monster Manual art than I do the 3.x colour versions of MM.
B/W works fine if the artwork is designed for B/W viewing.
B/W works fine if the artwork is designed for B/W viewing.
VincentDarlage
Mongoose
The world map on the frontispiece and the back cover is in full colour.
Admittedly, I don't have a lot of 1E modules - but the ones I do have, have black and white maps (or blue and white in a few cases).
Even some the 2E modules and sourcebooks had two colour maps, not full colour.
Anyway, I hope people will be pleased with the text, even in grayscale. I do think it is my best work.
Admittedly, I don't have a lot of 1E modules - but the ones I do have, have black and white maps (or blue and white in a few cases).
Even some the 2E modules and sourcebooks had two colour maps, not full colour.
Anyway, I hope people will be pleased with the text, even in grayscale. I do think it is my best work.
Lord High Munchkin
Mongoose
Dear All,
I remember the AD&D maps as being solid blue and white.
Regards
I remember the AD&D maps as being solid blue and white.
Regards
The King
Cosmic Mongoose
Lord High Munchkin said:
Blue and white maps were for the scenarios (e.g.: S1, Tomb of horrors). I can't remember when AD&D1 released some sourcebooks (they produced a lot of adventures though).VincentDarlage said:
The regional D&D sourcebook (gazetteer) were full-color (e.g. Duchy of Karameikos, The Principalities of Glantri, etc.) with hexagones.
I don't remember any AD&D2 sourcebooks in 2-colour. The setting for Birthright, Al-Qadim, Ravenloft, Dark-Sun, Forgotten Realms, DragonLance and Greyhawk were all full-color AFAIK.
Even most adventures had separate full-color maps.
But let's not argue about the past. I just think it is difficult to read mountains, forests, etc. if there are in B/W.
Lord High Munchkin
Mongoose
Dear All,
Mind you, if they are done à la the old B&W Ordinance Survey maps, they would be far easier to read than any colour map.
Regards
Mind you, if they are done à la the old B&W Ordinance Survey maps, they would be far easier to read than any colour map.
Regards
VincentDarlage
Mongoose
The King said:
I pulled my Al-Qadim setting book off the shelf, and (other than some gold leaf around the edges, and a few full color plates), it is in black and white. The map on page 13 is definitely black and white. The Al-Qadim boxed sets came with full colour map-posters, but the books were b/w.
I pulled the original Ravenloft boxed set out, too. Also black and white, except for some red added in. It had a handful of colour plates, but the majority is b/w.
My Dark-Sun box is in the attic, but I recall the map being printed on cloth and was not in full colour. It had some colour in it, but IIRC it wasn't full colour.
The Second Edition rule books were in black and white (with some blue thrown in). It had some colour plates, but most of the artwork looks like blue-white clip art. I just pulled it off my shelf to make sure, also.
aethelwulf22
Mongoose
...anybody got hold of a copy of RttRoKs yet? Still waiting for mine from Mongoose.
LucaCherstich
Mongoose
No, I got the same Dark Sun (was it the "renewed edition" setting? do not know about 1st edition) and the map on cloth was definitevely in colour.
In any case, I have no problem with B&W maps as long as they are drawn in grayscale and are not too dark.
Mine is missing too!
When Conan 2e came out I got a copy here in Italy exactly 7 days after the "pre-order" advise vanished.
Now RtthrRoK is a bit late, but I guess one cannot always be lucky with expeditions.
So I still wait my copy.
Ya, the original Monster Manual was hard to top. Sure, the art was crude and B&W, but they have personality. The funny thing about the art is how for something that is so black & white, they seem to have their own colour!VincentDarlage said:
The Type V Demon is my favorite mosnster. But look how horrible they make them now! Thats just wrong!
Lord High Munchkin
Mongoose
Dear All,
B&W is in many ways better than grayscale - it bypasses the "over-dark" printer problems, and is easier to read.
But it has to be well done.
Regards
B&W is in many ways better than grayscale - it bypasses the "over-dark" printer problems, and is easier to read.
But it has to be well done.
Regards
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