Physical Chemistry

Book Description

Physical Chemistry is a groundbreaking new book that explains core topics in depth with a focus on basic principles, applications, and modern research. The authors hone in on key concepts and cover them thoroughly and in detail - as opposed to the general, encyclopedic approach other books take. Excessive math formalism is avoided to keep readers focused on the most important concepts and to provide greater clarity. Applications woven throughout each chapter demonstrate to readers how chemical theories are used to solve real-world chemical problems in biology, environmental science, and material science. Extensive coverage of modern research and new developments in the field get readers excited about this dynamic branch of science. Fundamental Concepts of Thermodynamics,Heat, Work, Internal Energy, Enthalpy, and the First Law of Thermodynamics, The Importance of State Functions: Internal Energy and Enthalpy, Thermochemistry, Entropy and the Second and Third Laws of Thermodynamics, Chemical Equilibrium, The Properties of Real Gases, The Relative Stability of Solids, Liquids, and Gases, Ideal and Real Solutions, Electrolyte Solutions, Electrochemical Cells, Batteries, and Fuel Cells, From Classical to Quantum Mechanics, The Schrödinger Equation, The Quantum Mechanical Postulates, Using Quantum Mechanics on Simple Systems, The Particle in the Box and the Real World, Commuting and Noncommuting Operators and the Surprising effects of Entanglement, A Quantum Mechanical Model for the Vibration and Rotation of Molecules, The Vibrational and Rotational Spectroscopy of Diatomic Molecules, The Hydrogen Atom, Multielectron Atoms, Examples of Spectroscopy Involving Atoms, Chemical Bonding in H2+ and H2, Chemical Bonding in Diatomic Molecules, Molecular Shapes and Energy Levels for Polyatomic Molecules, Electronic Spectroscopy, Computational Chemistry, Molecular Symmetry, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Probability, The Boltzmann Distribution, Ensemble and Molecular Partition Functions, Statistical Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory of Gases, Transport Phenomena, Elementary Chemical Kinetics, Complex Reaction Mechanisms. For all readers interested in learning the core topics of physical chemistry.

Customer Reviews:

This book makes Pchem utterly boring.......2007-08-09

I used this book for my pchem courses and found it to be completely worthless. While it does focus on computational crap that's not very important the first time around. The quantum chapters are pretty poorly done, and well the thermo stuff is just boring. All in all, I found this text to be useless. The derivations include many errors, and often are presented before the text introduces what they're trying to derive thereby further confusing you. You're better off not buying this book, unless you need for class, and buying one of the more used books like Levine's or Macquarrie's.

An excellent book.......2006-03-29

A modern, clear, and extensive physical chemistry text. It does break tradition with the heavyweights in the field (Atkins, McQuarrie), but does so for good reason: there aren't enough computational background or computer computation applications in the others. Those books do a great job with the theory and mathematics, but this book show's you how to use that mathematics to really understand chemistry. It focuses heavily computational chemistry with actual software and the Spartan Quantum chemistry software that book's authors use is very inexpensive if you buy the student version. As a bonus, this book is the most colorful and well laid-out and edited one available today.

worst book ever.......2006-03-06

I've used half of the book now. The layout is not very organized. I found the graphical representations useful.

ok, 2nd semester in work. I'd prefer to downgrade this rating to negative 5 if I could. This book has turned into a major disaster. It is so riddled with errors...the derivations are never right. Everytime something doesn't work out right it's because the book is wrong. flat out.

This book gets my strongest disapproval possible. Buying this book is throwing away your money. Thanks engel. Thanks for all those hours lost trying to figure out what mistake I had make working out the derivations in this book only to find the book was wrong all along.

I'm still a little bitter about the false advertising when I got it...re: spartan software student copy that wasn't included.

Physical Chemistry... not bad but not good either...........2006-02-27

Thomas Engel's Physical Chemistry is a book full of mistakes as well as stupid problems... The Quantum chemistry part is horribly explained(about 10 chapters). Which makes me think... perhaps the author can not explain the material because he does not understand it. Engel take some more quantum classes or repeat them, and then write a book about a subject you have not mastered. I want my money back.

Epic Level Handbook (Dungeon & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying)

Average customer rating:

A must for an epic campaign
D & D
The Best Book!!!
To arms! The unholy ones are near!
Been a DM for decades.

Epic Level Handbook (Dungeon & Dragons d20 3.0 Fantasy Roleplaying)
Andy Collins , Bruce R. Cordell , and Thomas M. Reid
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786926589
Release Date: 2002-07-01

Book Description

Legends Begin Here

Songs are sung and tales are told of heroes who have advanced beyond most adventuring careers. They confront mightier enemies and face deadlier challenges, using powers and abilities that rival even the gods.

This supplement for the D&D game provides everything you need to transcend the first twenty levels of experience and advance characters to virtually unlimited levels of play. Along with epic magic items, epic monsters, and advice on running an epic campaign, the Epic Level Handbook also features epic NPCs from the Forgotten Realms and Greyhawk campaign settings.

To use this supplement, a Dungeon Master also needs the Player's Handbook, the Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Monster Manual. A player needs only the Player's Handbook.

Customer Reviews:

A must for an epic campaign.......2007-08-19

If you are planning on taking your party into epic, this is an absolute must have. That said, some things about it were good, others bad:
The bad:
-Easily unbalanced. CR are often way off the mark (ie: CR 30 Demilich that can kill you by looking at you and heal itself completely every round. There is a lot more to it than this, but suffice to say, unless you tone down its abilities a lot, or are playing with a munchkinesque party, it will slaughter them. Furthermore, the epic spells provided are weak as hell, but the ones you can potentially make can get incredibly overpowered (thus, DM approval required). Many of the magic items are way underpriced (ie: cloak of epic SR, which costs about 200,000, if I remember correctly, and gives you SR of about, what was it? 40?), and some are really overpriced (the jump from a +5 to a +6 weapon, for example).
In short, it will be necessary to double check EVERYTHING to run a balanced game, simply because epic levels were not sufficiently test run.

The good:
-An incredible amount of resources (this is a VERY big book).
-Monsters all across the epic spectrum (I ran a campaign up to level 30 and there were still monsters in the book that could have annihilated the party, and others that the party could have stepped on without noticing).
-Lots of interesting new magic items, and instructions for creating new epic level magic items/distinguishing between epic and non-epic items, etc.
-Some new artifacts, which make good additions to the game (ie: Hextor's gauntlet)
-Adventure ideas in the back, though I didn't use them myself.
-Table of epic level adventure hooks, which was quite useful.
-New, epic level prestige classes
-Of course, an epic level experience table and other little DM tools
-Information for progressing in epic levels in the core classes, as well as the prestige classes from the DM's guide. Also includes sample information for progressing any other 10 level prestige class.
-All sorts of awesome epic feats (an enormous section) for all classes.
-Great artwork (sorry, Mialee is still ugly as sin)

I'm sure there's a lot more that I'm missing, but here's an overall summary:
Great book. Definitely a must for an epic campaign. Well worth the money. Parts are unbalanced, but this can be mostly/entirely negated by a skilled DM. Lots of resources. Currently priced at $6 ($10 with shipping). If you don't have it, and intend to run an epic campaign, I would highly recommend picking it up before copies become inaccessible.

D & D .......2007-01-03

Got this to give as a gift, and it was very well received !

The Best Book!!!.......2006-09-17

OK, it covers just about everything, has cool pictures, and monsters that actually challenge 21+ characters! Also, the new epic prestiege classes and magic items really work into a campaign well!

To arms! The unholy ones are near!.......2006-03-22

Great book full of delightfully useful info. Unfortunately for some its in version 3.0 but with a little work can be converted to 3.5.

Been a DM for decades........2006-02-12

My brother first introduced me to the world of D&D back in the 80's. Loved it then and love it now. This handbook is another in a long line of handbooks which prove useful for what they're intended. Most of every handbook, each of us won't use, we'll trudge on with what we know and love. But once in a while you just want to add something new. This book lets you do that.

For the old curmudgeons out there(I'm one) it won't hurt to adapt or maybe pick and choose different approaches.

I like to play, but I like to read about it too. Found a book, new one called The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt. It's about a lad who reads a lot and plays D&D. He gets sent to a world where he uses his knowledge to survive and thrive. Epic Fantasy at it's best.

Thermodynamics, Statistical Thermodynamics, and Kinetics

Average customer rating:

Adequate text, but poorly edited
McQuarrie and Atkins are more detailed.
Needs to be checked for errors

Thermodynamics, Statistical Thermodynamics, and Kinetics
Thomas Engel , and Philip Reid
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0805338446

Book Description

Thermodynamics, Statistical Thermodynamics, and Kinetics is a groundbreaking new text that explains core topics in depth with a focus on basic principles, applications, and modern research. The authors hone in on key concepts and cover them thoroughly and in detail â as opposed to the general, encyclopedic approach competing textbooks take. Excessive math formalism is avoided to keep readers focused on the most important concepts and to provide greater clarity. Applications woven throughout each chapter demonstrate to readers how chemical theories are used to solve real-world chemical problems in biology, environmental science, and material science. Extensive coverage of modern research and new developments in the field get readers excited about this dynamic branch of science. Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy is a split text (from Physical Chemistry) and is organized to facilitate "Quantum first" courses. The online Chemistry Place for Physical Chemistry features interactive problems and simulations that reinforce and build upon material included in the book. Fundamental Concepts of Thermodynamics; Heat, Work, Internal Energy, Enthalpy, and the First Law of Thermodynamics; The Importance of State Functions: Internal Energy and Enthalpy; Thermochemistry; Entropy and the Second and Third Law of Thermodynamics; Chemical Equilibrium; The Properties of Real Gases; The Relative Stability of Solids, Liquids, and Gases; Ideal and Real Solutions; Electrolyte Solutions; Electrochemical Cells, Batteries, and Fuel Cells; Probability; The Boltzmann Distribution; Ensemble and Molecular Partition Functions; Statistical Thermodynamics; Kinetic Theory of Gases; Transport Phenomena; Elementary Chemical Kinetics; Complex Reaction Mechanisms. For all readers interested in learning the core topics of quantum chemistry.

Customer Reviews:

Adequate text, but poorly edited.......2007-01-24

As an undergraduate chemistry major, this is the first of my textbooks that I have sold after the course was over. The book does an adequate job of explaining the basics of thermodynamics and the macroscopic view of physical chemistry, but has some severe limitations. Equations are poorly organized and can be very difficult to find when you're searching for them, and the relationships between equations are often difficult to discern (a concept that seemed to me very central to undergraduate Pchem). The worst part of the book, however, is that it is a poorly edited first edition. Many of the problems in the back (and their accompanying answers) have been pulled from an out of print book by Gilbert Castellan, but the tables in the back have been updated with current numbers. This results in occasional correct answers that do not match the answers in the book.

If your professor requires it, you're probably going have to buy it anyway, but if you're interested in a basic physical chemistry reference you're probably better off with Atkins.

McQuarrie and Atkins are more detailed........2006-09-07

This book is suitable for a themodynamics course in physical chemistry, in that gives a basic thermo course without the quantum portion in it, leaving that for a separate book. This book is a long way from the mathmatic rigor found in the Atkins text. The Atkins text was famous for its detailed proofs and brilliant math, but lacks a user-friendly feel. This book was user friendly but did not give details that could lend itself further study or understanding. If you are using this text, Mcquarrie's text is dated but is a wonderful suppliment to this text, it gives more detail where needed filling in the gaps where this text generally errs toward simplicity.
The best thing about this book is its simplicity and its readability. The worst thing about this book is its simplicity because it does not explain in detail why the mathmatical model is the way it is because of the physical interactions.

Needs to be checked for errors.......2006-04-09

Buy Levines book on physical chemistry that is a much better text. I am not saying that is is the best because I have not read every thermo book but if you want good advice, then take my word and buy Levines book. It seems as though engels text has not been edited or proofread enough or maybe not at all. I think he just solved all the problems once and published it. There a numerous times in which he trys to make problems tricky by wording it unclearly, thinking he is smart or something, and the numerical answer he has in the back will be completely wrong. There is one problem I remember where he asks you to find the atomic weight of an atom and his answer is 1235 kg/mol or something ridiculous like that. Most of the time I can see where he made his mistakes, and notice that he tries to trick students and ends up fooling himself. Some people like texts because they are not thorough and make it easy to read a hard subject, so they don't care. But this guys just leaves things out completely.

War of the Spider Queen Gift Set, Part I (War of the Spider Queen)

Average customer rating:

Caution
Excellent series
If you moderately like RA Salvatore's books...
excellent books in excellent gift set

War of the Spider Queen Gift Set, Part I (War of the Spider Queen)
Richard Lee Byers , Thomas M. Reid , and Richard Baker
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0786941863
Release Date: 2006-09-19

Book Description

This striking new boxed set contains the first three titles from R.A. Salvatore’s War of the Spider Queen six-book series: Dissolution, Insurrection, and Condemnation. Each author is a veteran writer who is well-known to Forgotten Realms fans, and multiple-time best-selling author R.A. Salvatore consulted on the entire series of titles.

When the evil goddess of spiders stops answering the prayers of her faithful, the matriarchal theocracy of the dreaded dark elves teeters on the brink of ruin. A hand-picked team of powerful drow embark on an epic quest to answer a simple question: Where is the Queen of the Demonweb Pits? The question may be simple, but finding the answer could either save or destroy an entire civilization.

Customer Reviews:

Caution.......2007-10-14

The first three books of this series - especially the first one - are quite well written. The writers are clever and have a good sense of telling a story. I enjoyed reading all three of these books, and looked forward to the next.

I would, however, caution someone against starting this series. While books 1 - 3 are well written, 4 - 6 were a huge letdown for me. Even before I finished the series, I was sorry I started it and spent as much time as I did on it. At last when I finished the 6th book, not even the climax was worth it. While the first three books are well written, the series on a whole is rather unimaginative and underdeveloped.

Excellent series.......2007-07-11

This was actually the first time I bought a box set of anything and I was not disappointed in the least. I loved everything about these books from the characters, setting, and the smooth transition between books. I highly recommend this set to anyone that enjoys fantasy books.

I eagerly await the second set.

If you moderately like RA Salvatore's books..........2007-01-26

...you'll become fully engrossed in this compelling series. The series follows the journey of a group of drow from Menzoberranzan on the quest to discover the fate of Lloth, the Spider Queen. The party is comprised of high priestess Quenthel Baenre, sister to now matron mother Triel Baenre, Jeggred the draegloth and son of Triel, Pharaun Mizzrym, mage and apprentice to Archmage Gromph Baenre, Rhyld Argith, Pharaun's "trusted friend", Faeryl Zayvirr of Ched Nasad and her slave Drisinil, and the scout Valas Hune. (I think that's everyone) As the story progresses, other story lines weave into the grand web.

Each book is written by a different author which I thought at first was going to affect the atmosphere of the series. Let's face it not many people can really capture the duplicitous and intriguing nature of drow. Each author's style is really what makes the series prominent and memorable. Each book was unique both from point of view and style. For example one book was told exclusively from Pharaun's point of view while another was from multiple points of view. Another cool aspect of the series was that the reading level was vastly superior to RA Salvatore's books. I love a book (in this case books) that makes me find the definition of a word while I'm reading and expands my vocabulary.

Another selling point is the authors are much more vivid and slightly graphic than RA Salvatore, but not overly so. Just enough to compel you say "wow what a way to go, very cool," then turn the page. Lastly and simply these books are a must read because they involve drow while not involving Drizzt!

excellent books in excellent gift set.......2007-01-09

I bought this gift set for myself. The books themselves are page-turners.
the boxes are cool. great as a gift or for yourself. enjoy reading

Champions of Valor (Dungeon & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Setting)

Average customer rating:

A Waste of Money and Printing Ink
Who told you that being good is not revarding?

Champions of Valor (Dungeon & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Setting)
Thomas M. Reid , and Sean K. Reynolds
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786936975
Release Date: 2005-11-15

Book Description

Everything a player needs to know to play truly heroic characters in the Forgotten Realms setting.

Champions of Valor is a comprehensive guide to playing valiant heroes in the Forgotten Realms setting. The counterpart to Champions of Ruin, Champions of Valor covers what it means to be valorous in the Realms. The book describes several good-aligned guilds and organizations that characters can join, as well as the benefits for doing so. In addition, the book presents an array of new spells, feats, and prestige classes appropriate for heroes of valor, and opens up new opportunities for adventure, fame, and glory for truly heroic characters.

Customer Reviews:

A Waste of Money and Printing Ink.......2006-03-21

I wanted to like this book, really. I thought it was supposed to be a Book of Exalted Deeds for the Forgotten Realms, sort of like how Champions of Ruin was a Book of Vile Darkness for the Realms. And surely, surely it'd have something usable for all classes, right?

I was so completely and utterly wrong. I'm so glad this was purchased with a gift certificate.

First, the introduction points out that it's for "valorous" heroes...not necessarily good, as they define "valorous" to mean "fights evil things", which can be stretched to include evil priests fighting other evil priests. Granted, there isn't much of that, but there's more about Neutral characters and organizations than I think appropriate.

Second, while there is a great deal of useful information for paladins, I challenge you to find anything for a good rogue. At all. No feats, no substitution levels, nothing. It's terribly disappointing.

Now, there are a few good things. There is a plethora of substitution levels, which are used to differentiate members of a class in an organization from those who aren't. This is a nice use of them, and it's a real shame that half of these are paladins of one form or another. The fluff's nice, and I hear a lot of people like the information on the various horse breeds in the back.

On the other hand, this continues the use of the fat, bloated, 4-page prestige class format, as well as the fat, bloated, corpulent magic item description format. Because there's nothing more useful than two pages of history for a +3 outsider bane greatsword, and I just so need fully half of the prestige classes in the book devoted to characters with flying mounts.

Bottom line, this has very limited utility and portability. It's great if you're playing a paladin in the Forgotten Realms who wants a flying mount, but if not, try and convince your friend to buy it. Don't waste your money.

Who told you that being good is not revarding?.......2005-12-06

Champions of Valor is the counterpart of Champions of Ruin, a Forgotten Realms supplement published by Wizards during the summer. Champions of Ruin is not needed to use this book, however.

This book presents the reader with several options for valiant characters in the Forgotten Realms. New spells, feats, substitution levels, organisations are all included to give your character an edge.

However, this book is something more than just "new rules for good characters". This book is only worth something if "you take it seriuosly", in other words, DMs should take care and require a considerable effort of role-playing from characters who use this book. Being valiant is not equal to getting a +2 sacred bonus on your AC, it means that you take part in an organisation, you help the poor, accept missions where you risk your life for free, etc.

This book has much to offer for players, but also for DMs who wish to create a good aligned NPC. I would say it is mostly for experienced DMs and players, beginners should be cautious about incorporating the contents of this book into the game before getting at least some experience with role-playing.

As usual for Forgotten Realms products, it is beautifully illustrated and edited. The cover picture is quite unique, I did not like the picture first, but now I think that it was a good choice to reflect the contents of the book.

Shining South (Dungeon & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Supplement)

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Fairly well written, but of very limited utility
Shining South worth buying
Nice Addition to the Realms

Shining South (Dungeon & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Supplement)
Thomas M. Reid
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786934921
Release Date: 2004-10-14

Book Description

Provides a detailed look at the southern regions of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.
This accessory provides a wealth of highly detailed information about a little-explored region of the Forgotten Realms map. In addition to new spells, magic items, feats, prestige classes, and monsters, this title includes descriptions of races, regions, and unique cultural elements from across the southern lands. There is a detailed geographical overview of every part of the region, and three short adventures are included to facilitate gameplay.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-05-01

This book is excellent. It gives you all the information you need to flesh out a campaign set in the Shining South.
There is the usual classes, feats, spells, adventures etc. All at least to a reasonable standard.
I found the magic item chapter very good.
There's a chapter on organisation of the south. And included encounter tables. All good.
Six Chapters on the people and lands. All terrific information . Although The Shaar and the Great Rift gets one chapter together . And the Gold Dwarves get a bit short changes. The Half drow get more coverage than the Gold dwarves! Todd Gambles maps are great, one for each chapter as well.
Wayne Englands and Carl Franks, illustrations are also terific.
If your looking for information about the Shining South, this book is full of it. And well worth the price. And certainly on of the better region books, wizards have brought out.

Fairly well written, but of very limited utility.......2005-08-29

I have to wonder why Wizards keeps publishing books about areas that almost no one has any interest in playing in. Shining South continues this trend. Wouldn't a book about the Old Empires, the Vilhon Reach, Chondath or the Tethyr/Amn/Calimsham region be far more interesting?

Shining South is fairly well done for what it is, but unless you plan on using Halruaa, Dambrath, or Luiren in a campaign, its not terribly useful. Dambrath is an interesting nation, run by half-drow priestesses of Loviatar, but it is so remote from the rest of Faerun, you'd have to set your campaign here to use this information.

I will also say that Wizards now provides far less detail on these new nations than the FRCS provides. There is no over-all national population breakdown and not every city receives a write-up, making the usefulness of the book even more questionable.

In summary, the book reads well, but its of almost no utility to the general FR player or DM.

Shining South worth buying.......2005-01-31

Beautifully drawn, mapped and written this is a fine addition to the sourcebooks on Faerun. The lands and peoples are a mix of mages, 1/2 drow, corsairs, halflings, thri keen, dwarves, elves (both civliized and wild) and a new race:the Loxo (basically bi-pedal elephants). The lands range from mtns, african savannahs, heavy woods, swamps, waste lands and a warm ocean. Their are ancient civilizations and sites that hide secrets and threats from the past, beast chieftains who control towns and cities along trade routes, hordes of gnollish tribes, yuan ti in neighboring jungles and a lizard king in a huge swamp kingdom to test PCs. Want to go chaotic? Play a 1/2 drow shadow marauder, loooking new type mage to play? how about Haluraan elder or magehound? New warriors include the Maquar Crusader, Drift Defender and the halfling Marchwarden. Pirate towns, mage cities, elven and halfling communites are mapped out nicely in the book. Their are plenty of new spells and monsters as well. This is a very nice looking and written book worth picking up and I highly recommend it

Nice Addition to the Realms.......2004-10-22

This book is well written and is well worth the money. The only flaw I could find was that the Dwarves in the Great rift got a bit short changed for spce and were not as well documented as they should have been. Good work all around though. I have wondered what the next region would be in the FR series...Dalelands or maybe the Moonsea?

Shadowdale: The Scouring Of The Land (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Adventure)

Average customer rating:

Great advanced campaign
Great Adventure!

Shadowdale: The Scouring Of The Land (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Adventure)
Richard Baker , Eric L. Boyd , and Thomas M. Reid
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786940395
Release Date: 2007-07-17

Book Description

Elminster's tower lies in ruins, and the town of Shadowdale has been conquered by evil Sharrans and the nefarious forces of Zhentil Keep. To drive the villains out of Shadowdale, the heroes must organize and lead a desperate revolt of Dalesfolk against their conquerors, as well as thwart the sinister designs of Shar's servants and the Zhent garrison.

Shadowdale: The Weave Unwinding is an adventure designed for characters levels 8-13 and is the second part of a three-part series set in the Forgotten Realms, although it can easily be played as a stand-alone adventure. In addition to encounters, this book contains detailed source material on the town of Shadowdale and it's environs.

Customer Reviews:

Great advanced campaign.......2007-09-04

Finally, a well written campaign with twisted plots that actually come together. The Scouring Of The Land covers day and night scenes and best of all, in the winter. Based on what your group accomplishes you gain sort of influence points, get enough of these points and recruit the help of the entire town.

Great Adventure! .......2007-07-23

The second module of this trilogy is better than the first (Cormyr' Tearing of the weave.)It contains a lot of lore for the realms and Shadowdale. IT is like Red Hand of Doom, but with big NPCs attached to the adventure. The only complaint are the dungeons, to many of them, but as a DM you can change that with no problem.

Mysteries of the Moonsea (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Supplement)

Average customer rating:

An excellent resource for DMs
An absolutely awesome sourcebook!
Not a core book.
Very Disapointed
Docks review

Mysteries of the Moonsea (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Supplement)
Thomas Reid , Sean Reynolds , Darrin Drader , and Wil Upchurch
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 078693915X
Release Date: 2006-06-13

Book Description

Mysteries of the Moonsea™

Thomas M. Reid Sean K Reynolds
Darrin Drader Wil Upchurch

A Campaign Arc for Characters of Levels 1—18

The Moonsea–a perilous frontier ruled by tyrants and threatened by monsters. Here cities consumed by decadence and war rise and fall like the sun, and conspiracies abound. Great adventure awaits those who oppose evil, for the Moonsea is rife with it.
The Mysteries of the Moonsea accessory contains 37 loosely connected adventures that can be run individually or linked to form the basis of an entire Forgotten Realms® campaign. In addition to the adventures, this book presents maps and descriptions of the major Moonsea cities of Melvaunt, Hillsfar, Mulmaster, and Zhentil Keep, as well as statistics and descriptions for 15 important campaign villains.

For use with these Dungeons & Dragons® products
Player’s Handbook™ Dungeon Master’s Guide™ Monster Manual™
Forgotten Realms® Campaign Setting

Customer Reviews:

An excellent resource for DMs.......2007-01-22

This book is different from most of the other supplements that Wizards of the Coast has released, and I have to say that it was a very refreshing change of pace. The best way to categorize this book would be to say that it's halfway between a regional sourcebook and a campaign module.

Unlike the other regional books, it doesn't contain a random hodgepodge of information about NPCs, locations, Prestige Classes, new spells, and so on. Instead, you don't have new Prestige Classes, feats, and spells at all, which is just as well, since I think there's more than enough of all three. The book also has much narrower scope, focusing on only the four main cities in the Moonsea region and their surrounding areas. Again, this is just as well, since at least half of the material in my other regional books sit unused.

And unlike the other published modules, the adventures presented in Mysteries of the Moonsea are very loosely connected. Most are nicely self-contained, and have just enough encounters for a party to face in a single day. Each adventure presents a few possible hooks to draw the players in, and I found that it was very easy to tailor them to fit the flavor and motivations of the players closely.

Overall, I think that this book strikes the perfect balance between being a generic regional book that puts most of the work on the DM, and a published module that railroads players.

An absolutely awesome sourcebook!.......2007-01-03

As a long time follower of Zhentil Keep, the Zhentarim, and Lord Bane, I'm sure my opinion is -most- biased. But I have to say that this is one of the best sourcebooks I've read to date. As stated below, yes, this is nore a core book. However, that doesn't at all make it useless.

As a player myself, I like to read up on the NPCs and lore of the Realms, and this is an amazing book for that. Covering the entire Moonsea region, this book delves into key aspects of the north, south, east, and west regions of the Moonsea. It provides maps of the cities, though not to large amounts of detail, and offers up new NPCs; in Zhentil Keep, it gives you the Slave Master of the city, an Erinyes working eagerly under Fzoul Chembryl's guidance, and the dottering old Evil head of the mage's society.

All in all? A worthwhile read!

Not a core book........2006-10-29

Please, do not buy this book if you are looking for a core book. Do not make the same mistake I made.
This is a good book if you are looking for an adventure book. But that is it. Do not spect a lot of descriptions, you will get mostly adventures, not very detailed ones but a lot of them.
I just gave one single star to this book because it is totally mislabled.

Very Disapointed.......2006-09-01

I believe many in the people bought this book expecting another regional sourcebook such as shining south, Unaproachable East etc.

Instead its a collection of thinly flushed out adventures. THe book as a adventure source book is fine, the real issue is that most people wanted a Regional Sourcebook on the Moonsea.

I hope they continue making the Regional Sourcebooks, and seperate these adventure collections into a different area.

Docks review.......2006-08-13

This was a good book, however, I recommend dragon's of faerun and the power of Faerun.

Insurrection (Forgotten Realms: R.A. Salvatore's War of the Spider Queen, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

ok
Entertaining dark fiction.
Difficult to put down!
Generic FR drow fiction
What a way to keep a story going

Insurrection (Forgotten Realms: R.A. Salvatore's War of the Spider Queen, Book 2)
Thomas M. Reid
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0786930330
Release Date: 2003-12-01

Book Description

Quenthel Baenre is second only to the matron mother and is Menzoberranzan’s most powerful priestess of Lolth. When the Spider Queen goes silent, Quenthel is called upon to lead a team of dark elves on a mission that could save Menzoberranzan or doom it forever. With the cunning wizard Pharaun Mizzrym, weapons master Ryld Argith, mercenary Valas Hune, and the vicious draegloth Jeggred by her side, the priestess is sent to the trade city of Ched Nasad to determine the scope of Lolth’s silence.

Is Menzoberranzan alone being punished? Are all the drow? Is it just Lolth, or have all the gods gone quiet?

The answers to these questions will determine the fate of the entire drow race and set the course for the future of the Underdark. If the powerful dark elves falter, the world below is open for Insurrection

The War of the Spider Queen spreads.

Customer Reviews:

ok.......2007-09-16

This book was like a great date that didn't put out. It left me expecting more,but didn't deliver. The cover picture was the best part.

Entertaining dark fiction........2007-07-30

The drow live in an oppressive matriarchal society where the women have the power (given to them by their evil-demoness spider-queen Lloth), and the males are second class citizens.. When Lloth withdraws her favor a small delegation of drow travel to a distant city to determine if the affliction is theirs alone or if it has spread to other cities within the underdark.

Phaeron is the hero of this tale, a wise-cracking wizardly drow whose subservience masks an intelligent mind and a strong character. Overall, I enjoyed this novel, but I find some elements don't work for me. The idea of a 100% cold and loveless society seems too alien for me to relate to. Biologically, despite their conditioning drow are still elves. Which means friendships and relationships would develop despite the overall greed and cruelty of masses. Also the complete lack of sexuality is strange given the level of sensuality the drow are reputed for. No, I'm not asking for a romance novel, but making the characters s3xless barbies seems a bit strange, especially given the violence in this book. (Yeah I know there is one sex scene in the book but it is a fade to black scene).

Overall an entertaining novel, but I think the characters need to display a bit more emotion. 4 Stars.

Difficult to put down!.......2005-12-01

This was a difficult book to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book as the action never seemed to stop. Aliisza adds a fun aspect to the story that was unexpected and fun to read. Although a bit more time was spent in the book about their journey to Ched Nasad than I cared to read about, the remainder of the book kept you going. Once the party gets to Ched Nasad, the action doesn't seem to stop right up to the very last page. However, if you are going to read this book, I highly recommend you read the first book in the series or you will be lost in this one. Highly recommended!

Generic FR drow fiction.......2005-10-03

Well, after a good start with the first book, the series really takes a nose dive with Reid's half-baked effort. As others have noted, this book is light on characterization and focuses instead on long descriptions of tedious battles that begin to read like a D&D random encounters module. Anyone with a passing knowledge of D&D, by the way, will seriously have to suspend disbelief with all the situations Pharaun gets himself out of. But I doubt non-D&D players read these books anyway, since Reid's work does nothing to elevate him above the ranks of a pulp fantasy writer. This type of fare appeals to a narrow audience. Frankly, I think it's pretty cheap to introduce things like alu-fiends and cambions and expect the reader to be impressed. Reid makes a lot of assumptions of the reader that just because he's talking about drow, demons, or whiz-bang spellcasting, that's supposed to be interesting in and of itself. For one, it isn't - not without a better plot and characters you connect with - and other writers have pulled this off with more skill.

So, for pulp fantasy, this is generic stuff. It at least moves the plot along, in a rather predictable fashion. The backdrop of Ched Nassad, and the internecine struggles of the drow there, are completely boring. I found myself sticking with it just to see what happens to Pharaun and Ryld, and figure out what the deal is with Lloth. But I have the sneaking suspicion that I could have skipped this book and continued on fine with the series.

What a way to keep a story going.......2005-08-20

For those of you who don't know, the War of the Spider Queen is a series a six book all by different authors covering telling one long epic story. Insurrection, by Thomas Reid is book two in the series book one being Dissolution, by Richard Byers. If you haven't read Dissolution - you really need to before reading this one.

On to this book. Reid does a very good job at continuing the story started in the first book. Admittedly, there are a couple 'voice' issues that don't match up with the first, but that's to be expected. Those issues are quickly forgotten once you are into the story.

Even though Reid does a good job here at moving the plot forward I think his real strength to the series is how well he continued to flesh out the characters. He truly made them each seem like their own individual instead of a group always doing the same thing. The infighting typical with Drow is in full effect here, and at times leads to rather humorous moments (no spoilers here don't worry). The depth he gives the characters makes it easier in the following books for the other authors to pick up the plot and not worry so much about the character development.

If you are a fan of R.A. Salvatore's Dark Elf trilogy, or just a fan of the Forgotten Realms you should do yourself a favor and pick up this wonderful series.

Player's Option: Combat & Tactics (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 2nd Edition, Rulebook/2149)

Average customer rating:

Pretty Sick!
Good, but not perfect
Good, but not perfect
Almost, but not quite entirely useless
...And it fell over the edge.

Player's Option: Combat & Tactics (Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, 2nd Edition, Rulebook/2149)
L. Richard Baker III
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786900962
Release Date: 1995-07-04

Customer Reviews:

Pretty Sick!.......2002-11-14

This is the type of book that you can use to make your character 400,000 times better than your friends! It goes indepth and allows you to make your character awesome! I strongly recomend this book for your group of nerds! Have Fun!

Good, but not perfect.......2000-12-12

I like the critical hit tables, but sometimes it can get kind of annoying having to look up every 10 hits or so to figure out how much damage is done. It also has monster tactics in it which are good, but I really think this book is kind of underated.

Good, but not perfect.......2000-12-12

Almost, but not quite entirely useless.......2000-01-11

I've had this book since the week it came out and I've never used anything from it. I offered my players a chance to vote on using the critical hit system in here, and they were overwhelmingly against it. Their main complaint was that if they were using it against monsters, then monsters would be using it against them, and it was too easy to die on dumb luck.

Perhaps it does make combat more realistic, but when a single swing of a sword involves 6 dice rolls and takes about 10 minutes to consult all the right tables and figure out all the modifiers and effects, I think you're doing something wrong. But, hey, maybe some people like that.

The monster tactics section is more useful, and if a DM uses it properly, he allows his monsters to become more than a ball of hit points that the characters have to reduce.

...And it fell over the edge........2000-01-09

This book takes AD&D too far for it to handle the situation properly. Each of the rules is tweaked to such absurd degree that I at times lost all recognition of what exactly I was reading. Unlike Skills and Powers which expands on the previuosly available data, Combat and Tactics adds far too much of the new and the unexpected. The mix of the combat rules is almost intolerable if you know of a game that used these rules first. It is as if TSR is trying to capture the popularity of other games by mimicking them. On the other hand, Combat and Tactics contains many useful materials - the much-needed critical hits table which allows for detailed damage, updated weapons tables ( sadly, these are less extensive than those in the Arms and Equipment), and several interesting variants of the initiative rules are explained in greater completion than they are in PHB or the DMG. But by the time the book is finished you will feel that now the combat is too drawn out and it becomes so much more of a chore - nothing of the elegant simplicity of the original rules. My advice - give Combat and Tactics a try, borrow it from a friend, copy the tables into your little notes folder, and use your judgement during combat.

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