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Two books in this download, the campaign book and an introductory adventure. Length: Campaign book: 207 pages Included adventure: 55 pages including covers, OGL, etc. The campaign book is bookmarked, AND has an index for after you print it. The text and imagery is mostly in black and white, with the maps and covers being the only color images I recall seeing. While a drain on your printer, in my opinion, it is possible to print these books at home.
At first glance, it is obvious that a LOT of work has gone into this setting. Artwork is clean, predominantly line drawings. One or two images appeared to be repeats with in the book. Some detail is given to a setting specific calender and the general differences between PHB races, and their Belkanath versions. The flavor text is relevant, and creative. While of a style I didn't like, it tied right into the tone of the book, expanding on the material.
History is detailed, coherent, and well written, with side bars pointing out adventure hooks. 24 pages are directly given to this subject, though much of the text touches on it in other chapters. Well worth some reading! Loads of good ideas in here! Much of what is in this chapter will obviously be detailed in future books.
Geography appears to be consistent with the maps, and takes up roughly a quarter of the campaign book, at 58 pages. I didn't read every line of this section, as it is simply huge!
Maps were cleanly done, in both vector (CC2) and raster (CC3) formats. CC2 files were included in the download seperately, and are ready for use in CC2 or the free viewer. In the campaign books, there are the CC3 versions, ready for printing. The maps are of higher detail in the campaign book than in the included adventure, Throne of God.
Religion: Practices, Ranks, rituals, omens, holy orders, religions and demons are all detailed extensively in this 24 page chapter. Good source material for building detailed religions for your own world, if you use nothing else from this book!
A section of chapter 8 touches on metals, many of which would also be useful source material for folks who like to create their own game worlds. Some setting specific magic items are included in this chapter, again good source material.
Appendix One details an entire kingdom, in great detail. Almost a quarter of the book is taken up on this one subject. And it's very detailed! I've known WOTC to use fewer pages in detailing a country, much less an entire region! The source material in this chapter is worth the cost of the download alone, not to mention the chapter on religion!
Overall, there is a LOT more source material, a lot less rules in this book than in many I have purchased and used. Will I use this material at some point? You bet! While I might not play the setting, the basics touched on this book can be used to greatly enhance any future setting I make! Will I buy books fo rthis setting again? If this level of detail continues, I will!
I did enjoy the fact that I wasn't wading through yet another book with a dozen new feats, spells, and assorted rules based crud that I will probably never get to use because it's tied to the setting. This made for a much more enjoyable reading than it would otherwise have been. After all, who wants to read pages after pages of stats? I'm looking for inspiration! A game with heart, not dusty old stats my computer can generate in seconds for me!
Game Balance: Can't truely speak to this, as I haven't gotten to actually play the campaign setting yet. But at an eyeball, it seems to be in balance.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: CC2 Maps needed to be zoomed out. Some of them are zoomed in on whatever the cartographer was last working on when the file was saved. The introductory adventure could use some bookmarks.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>
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