Pyramid Review
Dungeons & Dragons: The Dragon Compendium, Volume 1 (for Dungeons & Dragons)
Published by Paizo Publishing
Edited by Erik Mona
Developed by Mike McArtor
256-page full-color hardcover; $39.95
Dragon Magazine has served as a source of new classes, rules, magic items and ideas for over three decades and multiple versions of Dungeons & Dragons. The Dragon Compendium is the beginning of Paizo Publishing's effort to mine this vast storehouse of information for today's players and Dungeon Masters. Paizo plans to issue a series of these volumes, with future ones possibly themed around specific settings or elements. Paizo clearly wanted to put their best foot forward with this first compilation. The list of authors whose articles were drawn on for this compilation reads like a who's who of Dungeons & Dragons history and RPG design, including Gary Gygax (co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons), Ed Greenwood (creator of the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting), Monte Cook, and Skip Williams (both co-creators of Dungeons & Dragons Third Edition).
The first articles presented are the staples of d20 System supplements: new races, classes, prestige classes, and feats. The races presented are unique and interesting, without being too overpowered, although the Dvati, a race of identical twins both played by one character, will need some work by the DM to make sure they are not too unbalancing. The base classes offered are an eclectic selection, but may not fit perfectly into every campaign. . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: March 10, 2006
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