A small interesting community founded around a swamp. Actually this was something I was looking for. This has interesting hooks for around the community and outside the community. I liked this one the best so far in the series, though all are really good. This would be an excellent startinmg point for 1st level characters.

The third book in the Fantasy Community series, Swampwoode is bigger then Applehaven but smaller then Riverport. It's also in a more dangerous (swampy) area, so most of the threats to the town come from without, rather then from within. Nasty things do come crawling out of the swamp sometimes.

This book is 11 pages long, and there is almost no artwork within besides the map - it's mostly dense information from cover to cover. Swampwoode is a generic fantasy setting that's not system specific, so the descriptions are details on the info of the people and businesses in the area, right down to their spouses and kids. There's no stat blocks here, rather there's suggestions of how to adapt things to your world and game system - like suggesting what kind of God/dess you might wish to select for the town's temple, based on the history and outlook of the cleric there. The people in town are well described and have personalities instead of stat blocks. The businesses are well detailed, and "make sense" with the setting. It's also noted which businesses are most dependant on outside trade and which are more community specific, and I found that helpful in prepairing possible side adventures.

Did you ever notice how many pre-made settings never have any buildings for sale? Not so here - there's a empty building in town available for purchase. I think it makes the town a bit more realistic, and it also adds an option for players who might wish to establish a more permanent base. The building is two stories tall with a chicken coop, and can be used as either strictly as a large residence or to convert the downstairs into a shopfront while keeping the upstairs living space. (Interestingly, my players bought the building for a family they had rescued from the last dungeon crawl. The family was the last survivors of a scaked town who had no place left to go home to, so the PCs helped to establish them in town.)

I'm really happy with this book. I was pleased it required almost no effort to drop into my game setting, and it was used immediatly in my game world. It's become a place my players visit frequently. It was a good value for the money.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>