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Character Customization $7.95
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Character Customization
Publisher: Throwing Dice Games
by Jeff H. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 09/03/2005 00:00:00

The main idea behind this book is to give more options and flexibility to every class in the game. For most classes, what he does is offer around half a dozen groups of related class abilities, called "tracks", from which a character of that class is allowed to choose three or four. You can recreate the core classes exactly as per the Player's Handbook by picking the "default" tracks, or you can customize your character in some other direction entirely. You can, to a limited degree, take tracks from other classes, so for example you could give your Cleric of the god of thieves less spellcasting ability and no turning undead, but more skills, limited Sneak Attack, and more suitable class skills.

That's just the first chapter, but to me it's by far the most important one. Another chapter many players will like gives a system for playing characters of unusual races that is interestingly different from the official ones; those who didn't care for Savage Species will probably find it worth a look. (Hey, the price is sure right.)

Some of the rest is hit and miss. A section of alternate uses for skill points fell flat, at least for me, but he has an interesting method for building prestige classes whose only serious fault - if it can be called that - is that it was not developed even further and worked into the core class modifications in the first chapter.

This is one of the more interesting "crunchy" D20 products ever and marked a promissing beginning for this small company. Pity they haven't followed it up with a significant number of other releases, but that doesn't make this one any less good. And did I mention that it's INSANELY cheap?<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: Many, many ways to tweak a class so that it's just right for your character concept, done by someone who clearly understands the D20 system like few other non-insiders. Also features my favorite rules for monster PCs, blowing those in Savage Species out of the water in my opinion.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: It's for 3.0 - normally that doesn't matter to me, but when you're diving this far under the hood of the rules the little changes start to add up. A 3.5 version was supposed to be on the way, and in fact at one point the author said it was nearly done, but it has yet to appear.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Character Customization
Publisher: Throwing Dice Games
by Malcolm M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 11/07/2004 00:00:00

This is a very well-crafted guide to custom-building character classes and abilities for Dungeons and Dragons. Unfortunately, it has yet to be "patched up" to incorporate the D&D 3.5 rules changes, so its usefulness is now severely limited.<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: - I was impressed with the amount of customization this book offers. Even though there are a lot of elements to be considered in custom character building, this book makes it all seem like plug-and-play fun<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: - some of the options may create unbalanced characters. I didn't see any of this myself, but I want to make plain here that I am not a "rules lawyer" type -- certain things may have slipped under my radar without my noticing.

  • this book is designed for Dungeons & Dragons version 3.0. Since basic character classes, like the Paladin and the Ranger, have been fundamentally altered since the release of D&D 3.0, this book is now more of a curiousity, or a possible example for those who wish to do something similar, than a useful gaming product.

While the quality is good, and the ingenious effort is clearly there, I cannot, in good conscience, give this book a passing grade. With the release of D&D 3.5, it no longer fulfills its basic function.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Disappointed<br>



Rating:
[2 of 5 Stars!]
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Character Customization
Publisher: Throwing Dice Games
by Travis P. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 03/21/2004 00:00:00

This is a great way to add a personalized unique twist to your character. I needed to read through a few times to fully grasp the concept, but definately worth the effort! So many ways to tweak a character you almost get lost. The groundwork is nice, but it uses 3.0 rules, so for us 3.5ers you'll have to do some upgrading yourself.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Character Customization
Publisher: Throwing Dice Games
by Van R. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 02/22/2004 00:00:00

I must insist that this is one of the most useful tools for character creation & options on the market.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Character Customization
Publisher: Throwing Dice Games
by Eric P. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 12/17/2003 00:00:00

GET THIS BOOK!

I found this to be a great play aid. I've always tried to make changes to the core classes since I made my own "Sea Ranger" for a waterborn campaign, but never had much of a methodology UNTIL NOW! My only complaints are that it needs a better index, should have some "see page XX for more information" kind of references, but that's it.

I hope a sequel comes with more tracks and class templates.

Once again, if you are a serios player or GM who want options to make your character fit your concept or yor game world: BUY IT NOW!



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Character Customization
Publisher: Throwing Dice Games
by aaaa a. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/11/2003 00:00:00

Excellent product. I am not giving 5 stars except to a perfect product as I think otherwise the star system makes no sense.

Lost star: the extremely large cover files included (colour versions of front and back cover) made it a much larger download than was necessary. They should be zipped on the home website of the publisher IMO.

The concept of "tracks" to develop characters in different ways and in different styles of play and campaign fits the WotC product line better than the WotC equivalents (Herobuilder, Epic Level).

Excellent - buy this product.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Character Customization
Publisher: Throwing Dice Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 09/09/2003 00:00:00

This is a truly amazing volume. As many people have pointed out, this is not a book for beginners, but if you have played D20 for a bit and feeling like doing some serious tinkering with the classes and prestige classes, this will give you all the ammunition you need to create balanced and innovative classes. It is not a fast read, it is not an "easy" read, but it is an incredibly powerful read and will leave you mind reeling with all the ideas that suddenly come to the surface!

This is the first product that I have left a review for, and I strongly feel it deserves high praise.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Character Customization
Publisher: Throwing Dice Games
by Jason L. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 08/16/2003 00:00:00

An interesting take on how to balance classes out, probably be best I've ever seen.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Character Customization
Publisher: Throwing Dice Games
by Mike L. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 08/06/2003 00:00:00

It took me a long time to plow through this one. It's long, and it's packed full of useful stuff. I liked most of the concepts of tracks, and adding them or removing them from existing classes to build new starting and prestige classes in a fair and balanced fashion. Overall I'd say my experience reading through the project has been very worth while, although I doubt I'll end up throwing it to my players and letting them explore it in all it's majisty. Then again, I probably will use it to craft a few home grown classes to spice up my games, and add some punch to my Campaign world, so there you go....



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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