Customer Reviews

Aurora's Whole Realms Catalog (AD&D/Forgotten Realms)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fantastic! Usually, the party finds themselves in some backwater town where you're lucky to find iron rations OR greek fire and don't expect both. When you find yourselves in a real city; like Waterdeep or Glantri, The Aurora's Whole Realms Catalog starts flying around, and everybody walks away happy. No +5 swords, just useful mundane items. A must have when initially equipping characters, so forget about the Arms & Equipment guide. Works well on any world.

This AD&D book is an expansion of the rules, in that it is a list of things that can be purchased in the Forgotten Realms campaign world. Everything is here, from shaving razors and hats to ink and chisels. Just about all of the items are mundane (only several are of a minor magical nature), and all are the sort of things that characters are likely to encounter and need. Also, everything that is presented herein has a description, picture (if necessary), price, and rules for its use.

Now, beyond the ordinary, what else is here? The book has a rangers' section for outdoor items, a thieves' section for stealthy and burglary equipment, a bards' section for musical instruments and entertainment equipment, a priests' section for incense and other clerical accoutrements, a wizards' section for laboratory items, everyday equipment, food, wines, and surgeons' items (in case you don't have a priest handy). But, the crowning glory of the book is DaRoni's Workshop, wherein the authors bring the works of Leonardo da Vinci's works to life - complete with rules for their use - under the name of Nadul DaRoni!

Yep, this is quite a book and a wonderful resource for the Dungeon Master who wants to add some fascinating detail to his or her campaign. If you want to go that extra mile in making your campaign realistic and interesting, then I highly recommend that you get this book.

So, you want to buy bandages? How about inventions only DaVinci could come up with? How about all those odds&ends that thieves need to escape? How about simple laborers tools. This is the book for you. This book adds MANY items that the D&D game lacked. A vial that restores hit points can be bought. Various clothing that improves AC that even a wizard & sorceror could wear is also here (Boom's Garden section).

Pick it up.

Even if this book is a great resource for those little mundane items that are often overlooked, "Aurora's" running commentary in this book regarding the items is worth the price alone. I must have worn out two or three copies of this book in the sixteen years that I've been gaming. I hope that the fine folks at Wizards of the Coast wise up and re-release this for third edition Forgotten Realms (though as others have said in their reviews, it works for just about any D&D campaign world.)

Usually your stuck trying to make some good equipment but with this book you got it all.

I do believe that this is the greatest thing you can have when playing AD&D. This book has everything you could imagine and USE in AD&D. Everything but the kitchen sink... and thats proabably in here too I just havent found it!

The quintessential book for those players and DMs whom must have everything a character/NPC could need. From gnomish lanterns to chain mail corsets, wilderness gear to wines & cheese. If you need it, want it or have coin to spare you will find it here.

Never again be out in the cold with just trousers and a jerkin on. Go and buy yourself a stylsih full fur cloak and a pair of fur lined mittens and get this book while your at it.

I give this book a '10' and mean it.

This book is useful for DMs of all experience levels. It has some obvious and some unique items that can help jump-start your imagination. While not necessary, it's been a nice addition to my library.

Works fine for all fantasy games; just may need to adjust prices.

Fantastic supliment contains many useful items for adventurers. I'm particularly fond of the Thieves Corner. There are also several items that are there for nothing more then flavor, like the Death Cheese. I recommend this to anyone who plays or DM's Basic - 2nd Ed D&D.