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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
A forced read for true AD&D fans, November 29, 1999
This review is from: Against the Giants (Greyhawk Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)
To say I was looking forward to reading this book was an understatement. This was my favorite AD&D module as a kid. Unfortunately this book read like a module and less like a novel. It was almost painful reading about Lhors' encounters in the city. Describing characters like Malowan as a "paladin" seemed unimaginative. With a good description the reader would have understood he was a paladin. I almost expected characters to introduce themselves as "I'm a thief with a dexterity of 15; what about you?" I did not like the magic system in the book, because it also seemed modulized. There was nothing mystical about his powers, it was all a matter of memorization. I could envision the wizard discussing with the other characters, "Should I memorize 7 reveal spells and 10 silence spells, or 9 reveal spells and 6 silence spells?" Also, there was never any doubt the wizard would have a spell that would keep the party undetected. I also agree the two main characters Lhors and Vlandar were the least interesting. The history of the two characters was weak. This would have made a good trilogy. The encounters with the frost and fire giants were rushed. Neither the characters nor myself wanted the adventure to continue past the hill giant lair. If you loved the module, then go ahead and read the book just to bring back memories. I just wish a better storyline about giants would be created. I am getting tired of reading about dragons.
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Beyond terrible, November 3, 2002
This review is from: Against the Giants (Greyhawk Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)
About a third of the way in, I could only think, "Who the hell is Ru Emerson, and why did WOTC let her write a book about a classic module which she's obviously never played?" About halfway in, I just gave up. Terrible characters, zero plot, nothing to hold my interest. I have to thank Ru for one thing, though -- she's given me hope as to actually becoming a published writer one day. There's no way I could do a worse job than this. Then again, neither could a half-drunk wildebeast.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Does Nothing to Bring the D&D Adventure to Life, November 21, 2001
This review is from: Against the Giants (Greyhawk Classics) (Mass Market Paperback)
...I didn't expect much, but I at least hoped this book would answer some of the mysteries in the original module, or provide one possible explanation for what was going on. What was that temple under the Hill Giant Steading, for example? ....Unfortunately, this book provides less detail and explanation than the modules themselves. Not one single question from the old D&D modules is answered in this book, and much of the good stuff in the modules is left out. They only visit three rooms out of each of the last two modules, for example. .....Many have pointed out that this reads like a bad module, not a book. All the dialogue are lines like "I have memorized 3 beneath notice and two reveal spells today," or "Remember, as a Paladin, I have the ability to detect evil," etc. It stops just short of using terms like hit points and saving throws. The wizard was the worst character for this - it was like listening to a teenage D&D player tell you what move he is making next.
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.... If you were looking for a good strategy on how the giants' places should have been assaulted - forget it! Apparently, you can walk right in the front door (past the guards) of every one of them. What are the chances that every single guard in all three modules is asleep when they run into them?
.... Beyond that, the whole thing was too hokey and sweet. The adventurers were so pure and kind that you thought they were going to lead the giants in some kind of rehab support group instead of kill them. Would anyone really have a 5-minute conference in the middle of an enemy dungeon about whether it is OK to kill torturers while they sleep? All the human kings, princes and army guys that they dealt with were totally legit and honest. Rowan, the female ranger and the Berserker had a little depth. Some day, I would like to see a D&D story with flawed heroes, a Dirty Dozen kind of group. Not here. ....Also, I thought it was cheap the way the wizard basically assured that the heroes could detect everything, but everything they did was invisible and inaudible and wiped from the giants' memories. ....The Paladin was basically a pacifist. He wouldn't kill a mosquito if it was carrying the next plague. .... And was anyone else annoyed by whom Rowan latches onto at the end? She flirted with the young guy Lhors for the whole book, what happened to that?
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