The Book of Eldritch Might
by Monte Cook
D20 Sourcebook (SC, 8 1/2 X 11, 47 pages)
ISBN: 1-58846-100-9
Malhavoc Press, $10.95
“The Book of Eldritch Might” is a sourcebook for all users of the arcane arts. Within its pages are new spells, feats, prestige classes, magic items and a new monster template for creating golem-like guardians and servants.
I was interested to see what was in this sourcebook, as Monte Cook is generally a name you can trust. What I found looks very interesting. I was especially struck by how easy it would be to introduce any or all of this supplement into a campaign. As Monte says, each part is independent of the rest, so you can use as much or as little of it as you like.
The first chapter is a short one, dealing with new feats. The most interesting part of this section is the new type of feat introduced here: the eldritch feat. These feats give the spellcaster magic powers as spell-like abilities. Most of the new feats listed are of this type.
The next chapter presents three new prestige classes. I was especially taken by the embermage, who’s very blood is on fire and can be used to deal damage. I appreciate the balance of this class, because in using his abilities, an embermage often takes damage as well as inflicting it. For instance, if he uses his own burning blood to damage another, the amount of damage he inflicts is proportionate to the amount of damage he takes, causing 1d6 for every point he takes. I can picture a certain fire mage friend of mine enjoying this section very much.
The next section gives us 60 new spells for every spellcasting class from bard to assassin, from the smallest cantrips to one particularly nasty 9th level spell, for good and for evil, offensive and defensive. The spells are listed first by level and class, and then presented in full form alphabetically, much like the Player’s Handbook. I was impressed by the variety shown. And, let’s face it, who doesn’t love more spells to choose from. Spells for the new prestige classes are included here also.
The next section covers new magic items. There is a nice variety here of every kind of magic item, even including magical poisons and some of artifact level, minor and major. My favorites in this section, however, are the magical vehicles. A couple of them look like small personal tanks.
The last section covers magic constructs, showing the reader how constructs of every shape and size may be created, giving examples of a stone dire tiger and an eleven-headed brass hydra. Most everything, with a couple of exceptions, can be used as a base animal for a construct.
I liked this product very much. Much is packed into its 47 pages. There is a bit of padding in the art department, however. A border on the top repeats the name of the book unnecessarily when just a chapter heading would do, and a few of the drawings take up a bit too much room. Nevertheless, I’ve seen worse, especially in Wizards and/or TSR products. The drawings themselves are a bit sketchy, but relatively detailed and professionally done. For a mere $10.95, I don’t see how DMs and players alike can go wrong in picking up this sourcebook.
(review (c) November 2003 / Erica Woollums)