Customer Reviews

Vikings Campaign Sourcebook (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 2nd Edition: Historical Reference/9322/HR1)

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This book is out of print and won't be reprinted, but if you come across a used copy and prefer complete character classes to the character kits so prevalent in most AD&D 2nd ed. sourcebooks, you will want this one. It has a Berserker class and a Runecaster class, both interesting Warrior classes. There is also a half-troll race. AD&D is well suited to a Viking style campaign, and this resource is better presented than any of the other HR series. I doubt you'd have any trouble converting this to either 1st or 3rd edition (though as I'm writing this, 3rd ed. is still a few months away). Just remember, this is a game resource, not a real historical reference.

The best book ever written to turn your D&D characters into vikings is ten years old, and counting. (Stay away from the new Ragnarok book from Avalanche Press). Want new character classes? Here you go. Want a scenario for an up-and-coming Viking? Here you go.

The only problem is that it is not ready for d20, but the necessary updating will help you get your viking campaign off the ground. Buying "Greenland Saga: The Lost Norse Colony" from Avalanche Press will help you in this regard.

This is not a good book. If you want to govern a Viking-esque campaign, I would advise you to get several books on Norse history and literature, but not this God-awful thing. The culture is presented in such a quaint way that unless I knew that the mediocrity was TSR's fault, I could swear that the Vikings led the most tedious lives in the world. The rune magic system is unwieldy and repulsive ( indeed, the only time I remember it being called upon is the fact that it is used by the Ice Linnorm dragons from the First Annual Compendium Appendix). Use your imagination rather than falling into this out-of-stock trap.