Customer Reviews

The Draconomicon (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Long-time D&D players will note that this is the second Draconomicon, the first being a AD&D 2nd Edition softcover that covered dragons in nowhere near the detail that this does.

This version of Draconomicon goes into great gobs of detail about D&D dragons...their life, death, anatomy, and psychology. They also discuss how dragons can fit into a campaign; not only as opponents, but as NPCs, cohorts, or even PCs.

There are also quite a few new dragon-centered feats, skills, magic items, spells, and prestige classes, both for dragons themselves and for the mortals who cower in terror/awe around them. I personally like the Initiate of the Draconic Mysteries, a monk-themed class that starts to hit REALLY HARD as you go up in level. Some material has been reprinted, such as epic feats from the Epic-Level Handbook.

There are also quite a few new monsters in this...while the vast majority are of the Dragon type, or dragon-shaped, there are golems and undead, as well as one irritating little vermin. You'll also get to enjoy sample hoards, to get an idea of what that dragon might normally have in its bed and or/couch. Finally, in the back, you'll find stat blocks and write-ups for 120 separate dragons...10 kinds of dragon (all the chromatics and metallics) and 12 age categories. Each of these can serve as an opponent, a client, or an ally, or sometimes all three.

In summation, this is an incredibly detailed source on dragons, and it's quite nice. Both DMs and players can use it. However, if you don't like or use dragons much, don't bother, and stea... borrow a friend's copy.

I had this item on my wishlist for several months, but couldn't get past the relatively bad reviews, and didn't order it because I thought it was too pricey compared to the reviews it was getting here.

Amazon put the book on a 60% discount, and I overcame my apprehensions and snapped it up. I am very glad I did so.

The book is divided into five chapters and two appendices, listed below for your edification:

1. All about dragons
2. A DM's Guide
3. The Player's Perspective
4. New Monsters
5. Sample Dragons

App 1: The Dragon's Hoard
App 2: Index of Dragons

The book clocks in at 288 pages. The cover is front and back and portrays what can only be defined as a moment of domestic bliss in the life of red dragons.

The content is generally very good. Sometimes it delves into the absurd, such as the rules for non-dragons incubating dragon eggs. Example: Silver dragon eggs must be kept at zero degrees or encased in ice. Wyrmlings which are hatched prematurely can be assisted by placing them in a situation reminiscent of their incubation needs. I just had a hard time thinking of a little hatchling silver dragon encased in a block of ice or a baby green dragon dropped in some 1d4/rnd dmg acid to help them stay alive.

This is a minor quibble, and can be easily filed under the "Dragons aren't real, and if they were, they ain't chickens" line of thinking.

Otherwise the writing is good quality, and the volume as a whole provides an in-depth look at the physiology, culture, nature and the life and times of D&D's eponymous monster.

I'm sorry I hesitated to buy it at the regular Amazon price, so if the discount is gone and you think you might still be interested, I'd recommend getting it anyway.

It misses a star only because it doesn't quite measure up to what I consider 5 star WoTC books like the 3rd edition Forgotten Realms campaign setting or the Silver Marches supplement, but it certainly accomplishes what it sets out to do.

If you think the Dragon section in the Monster Manual just isn't detailed enough for your tastes, this is the book for you.

It has tons of both flavor and crunch, including information on the anatomy, physiology, life cycle, history and culture of dragons. There are prestige classes, magic items, feats and spells appropriate for both dragon characters and non-dragon characters. This book is useful for both players and DMs.

From a player's perspective, it includes information on how to fight a dragon, and how to aquire a dragon mount or cohort, or even play a dragon as a PC.

For the DMs, there is information on how to effectively run a dragon in combat, including how and when to use each of a dragon's numerous combat options, new dragon and dragon-like monsters, how to incorporate dragons into an adventure or a campaign, and most importantly, sample dragons of each major type at each age category, and sample lairs.

If you have ever wanted to include dragons in your campaign, this is just the book for you. Even if you didn't, after you read this book, you might just change your mind.

The folks at Wizards have out done them selves on this one. If you wanted to know about dragons than this is the one shop stop. It covers everything from physiology, psychology, and society to how to run an effective dragon. This book covers running a dragon as an effective adversary as well as how they can fit into your campaign. It is loaded with dragon feats, spells, magic items, and tactics. They don't forget about PC's either. They have new feats and spells for characters that are dragon based. They have an in depth chapter on the dragon lairs and society. And of course new creatures and dragons. All in all one of the most complete and comprehensive books Wizards and TSR has put out in many years (and I have been roll playing and purchasing products for over 25 years). If you like or want to use dragons in your campaign at all I would HIGHLY recommend this book. I hope this is a peek into the future of all of Wizards roll playing works.

I don't use dragons much and the price tag scared me off for quite a while but I finally bought this book and am glad I did. Even if you only use dragons sparingly like I do I find the book worth it simply because when I do use dragons I want the encounter to be important and challenging. Dragons straight out of the monster manual may be tough but I always find that my players prepare for the battle ahead of time and always make themselves immune to the breath weapon, the dragon's most powerful ability. Well this book has plenty of spells and metabreath feats to shock and dismay your PCs like spells to change the breath weapon energy type or feats to maximize the breath weapon. Also there are dragon prestige classes and dragon magical items.
For players their are dragon based prestige classes such as a dragonhunter and a slew of magic items that can be crafted from a slain dragon's corpse. Also their are more spells for players either to combat dragons or to give the player dragon-like abilities such as a breath weapon.
Lets not forget they also listed sample treasure hoards for every EL so you don't have to roll them all out. Also there are sample dragons of every major type and age if you don't want to go through the trouble of making up a dragon yourself. They also have sample dragon lairs for each type of dragon.
A very good book.

I understand that Wizards of the Coast originally planned the Draconomicon as a tabletop book of art. The Draconomicon does indeed contain excellent artwork, but Wizards transformed the book into Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Dragons, But Were Wisely Afraid to Ask Them.

The Draconomicon has something for everyone--everyone, that is, who loves dragons. It contains creative, unique dragon prestige classes, spells and feats, including a whole new class of feats called metabreath feats. Some of the feats surely drew their inspiration from the scene in J.R.R. Tolkein's The Hobbit where Smaug the dragon single-handedly (or -tailedly) lays waste to the whole of Esgaroth in a few moments. Those feats will likewise turn some of your dragons into veritable engines of destruction--as they should be. It's not for naught that Gary Gygax named the game Dungeons and Dragons.

While the Draconomicon focuses a great deal on our old friends the metallic dragons and our old enemies the chromatic dragons, it contains plenty of new dragons, good, evil and neutral. The new dragons, which include several undead, extra-planar, and even golem dragons, span the gamut from the fast and maneuverable elemental air drake at CR 6 to the colossal, thunderous landwyrm at CR 22.

Lest you think that the Draconomicon offers material only for the DM and the dragon art connoisseur, let me assure you that it contains a dragon's hoard of material for players too. It contains PC prestige classes, feats, and spells. Now your PC can have a dragon familiar, a dragon cohort, or even a dragon mount. Special rules, modeled on the monster PC rules in Savage Species, even allow you to play a dragon PC, starting at 1st level!

The Draconomicon stands out as one of the best birthday gifts I've gotten in the past four decades, and if one of the players in the campaign I run hadn't given it to me, I would have happily purchased it for myself. The Draconomicon is nothing sort of superb.

I've debated over and over on the role Dragons would take in my campaign. Once I made the decision to increase the draconic feel of my campaign, it was a no brainer to pick this one up.

The anatomy section on the dragon was quite possibly the most interesting information I've ever read from WOTC. It really made the dragons feel less mythical and more real and tangible.

The monsters presented are a welcome addition to the ecology of my world. The Dragonkin are great baddies added to any low level campaign. The Fang Dragon, reprinted from the Faerun monster manual, is absoltely one of my most favorite evil dragons, a pure monster. The Draconic template is fastly becoming one of my most favorite templates in my arsenal.

However my most favorite section is the sample dragons. This section has helped me move the dragons to the pedestal they deserve. Too many campaigns reduce the dragon to a mere killing machine, and never really get under the skin of this wonderous race. This section reveals their motivations and trials, their tribulations and triumphs. I've spent many-a-night falling asleep to this section alone.

I couldn't have been happier with my decision to purchase the Draconomicon. This is the crown jewel of my collection. I am absoltely in love with this suppliment. There is even feats and other character options, so if your playing a half dragon or running a game with Dragons in it, this suppliment is a must own. And this guide isn't only for people who play DND, any fan of our gargantuan winged friends will enjoy this book. There is a little for everyone in this guide.

Apparently the author of the review "What the crap? What IS this?!" didn't notice the "Dungeons and Dragons" text on the cover. This book is a roleplaying game resource, and a fantastic one. It is not intended as a historical reference (particularly since dragons in mediaeval times were fictitious and mythical creatures). It is difficult to have a factual book on an animal that did not exist.

This book is a wonderful resource for use with the Dungeons and Dragons RPG system. The drawings and detail are done very well and present the information in a manner that is easy to read. Any DM who wishes to use dragons in their D&D campaigns should definitely pick up this book.

The new draconomicon is outstanding in my mind. Lots of useful information on dragons in campaigns, a lot of new angles to take on how dragons would interact with the world. Theres tons of other cool stuff in there too. The artwork is also top notch, we all pretend not to care about the art in gaming books but it does make a huge difference when they have pictures as cool as these

I absolutely love Dungeons and Dragons so please take my opinion with a grain of salt. I actually got this book for a friend, that doesn't even play DnD, because the pictures and information about dragons contained within are breathtaking. She is an artist and finds the descriptions of lairs, flight patterns, bone structure, growth data, and so much more to be indispensible whenever she wants to draw a flying lizard.

Of course I also benefit from her having it. I get to use the stat tables and diagrams to create the perfect dragon sessions whenever I need them. I have heard some people complain that dragons aren't used that much in their games and so this book is a waste of money. All I have to say to that is there is no more dangerous, interesting, diverse, powerful, or tricky enemy than a dragon. To not use them with care in a DnD campaign is to do your players a huge disservice. If you like to use Dragons in your campaigns get this book.
If you like to dream of dragons get this book.
If you have eyes... get this book.