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Game type: RPG Core or Supplement: D20 campaign world Publisher: White Wolf  Medium: Hardbound Price: $29.95 Reviewer: Randall Constant Everquest is the newest addition to the White Wolf D20 line. I have never played the online game, and so have had no experience before this with the computer game phenomenon. So I will be reviewing this title on its virtue as a stand-alone D20 fantasy world and system. First off there are some minor tweaks to the standard D20 system that have been made for this particular setting. Experience point totals are higher (2000 points to get to 2nd level); races are different and there are experience point adjustments for more powerful races (such as Ogres and Trolls). The magic system is point based for all magic using classes although some memorization is still required. Finally there are many new additions to the racial choices. In fact there are "human" variants such as Barbarians who are still essentially human but due to their more extreme lifestyle are more physical than the standard human. Races are restricted to certain classes as well. Each race has a choice of classes that are appropriate for their respective cultures. While this does offer some restriction that D20 enthusiasts may not be used to, it does in my opinion make more sense. On the subject of classes there are some new choices in the Everquest world. Magic users got a boost, as there are several new magical classes. There is also a new warrior class called the Shadow Knight. This is class is essentially an anti-paladin. I know there are a lot of people who will dig that. New spells are listed in the book as well according to the appropriate class. The spells are plentiful but ultimately seem simpler in scope. So you might actually have a chance to remember exactly what a spell can do. I can appreciate this fact. Often magic in games systems can become almost burdensome by its complexity. The classes, and races have a feel that is reminiscent of 1st Edition AD&D, with the benefit of a more fluid 3rd edition rules set. Everquest's races and classes feel more exclusive. When you play a Dark Elf Necromancer, you can feel the old stigmas of such an amalgam. In 3rd edition D&D races and classes have become more or less templates of certain character types. There are certainly advantages in this (especially for DM's) but the grit is gone unless the players put it there. Everquest brings back the grit. If the party bumps into said Dark Elf Necromancer; they can feel pretty confident they've bumped into a bad guy. In all, White Wolf has made a D20 variant that has all the depth that you need for a campaign world but has kept the quick pace of a computer game. That being said I would like to state that White Wolf has made a strong attempt at creating a stand alone D&D campaign world. This book isn't just quick rules for playing a game like a computer game. This is a detailed stand-alone world with races, intrigues, and history that can compare with any other current D&D world. As for production value, this tome is jammed packed, and along with the three D&D core books, you have all you really need. The pages are full color, and the art is good, though I do have one issue with it. I think that White Wolf should have stayed away, from the traditional Everquest software box cover art. The art is instantly recognizable, and players of the online game will certainly perk up when they see that. However, that is also a disadvantage. The entire time that I was reading the book, it was hard for me to forget that this was based on a computer game. This instantly gave me negative feelings toward the work even though I liked what I saw. These feelings were unfair to be sure, but they were there. In fact I even felt a little guilty for liking the book. On its own merits though, the Everquest campaign, is a solid, and interesting world, that would be fun to run in. At worst the unique interpretations on race, class and magic are invaluable. I can say that I absolutely prefer the magic system in this world to the standard one. So either as a campaign or as source material it is a good buy especially for under 30 dollars. Playability: Randall Constant, 12/8/02 | |||||||||||||
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