Toolbox??? How Do You Use It In Your Game???

Joe · Post by **Joe** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:05 pm

I have heard that Alderac's Toolbox is an excellent resource. I was just wondering how individual GM's & CK's use it in their games.
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Post by **Breakdaddy** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 8:22 pm

I use it in the planning phase of an adventure. I have never broken it out in the middle of a session, but it's been invaluable resource during adventure creation.

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 10:27 pm

Despite being an interesting book, I have read it, and never used it.
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Maliki · Post by **Maliki** » Sat Mar 21, 2009 11:45 pm

Breakdaddy wrote:
I use it in the planning phase of an adventure. I have never broken it out in the middle of a session, but it's been invaluable resource during adventure creation.

Same here, I use mine as an idea generator.
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Sun Mar 22, 2009 12:58 am

I just recently picked up the new version, the Ultimate Toolbox, and it is so very wonderful.

I use it like the others, in adventure planning/idea mining. I also have some bookmarks in it, too, for place names and person names for when I need a quick locale or name. I also move to book marks around, though, depending on the adventure and what I'll need for that session.
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maasenstodt · Post by **maasenstodt** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 1:55 am

I just received my copy of Ultimate Toolbox from FRP today. My take, based on a half-hour or so of reading, is that it is worth every penny. What a fantastic resource for fantasy GMs!
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 3:54 pm

I find it hard to justify the price when I have the original Toolbox book. Even if I didn't, the MSRP for the book is still a bit steep.

That said, it looks like a solid book.

M
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 4:48 pm

moriarty777 wrote:
I find it hard to justify the price when I have the original Toolbox book. Even if I didn't, the MSRP for the book is still a bit steep.

That said, it looks like a solid book.

M

Its about 3 times bigger with over a 1,000 tables and other material, it worth it. Everyone that I know of who has bought it agrees its worth every penny.

Another way I have seen it used during games is whenever the CK needed a name for a person or place, or motivation for an NPC, etc... that came up during play he just finds the relevant chart, rolls, and makes it fit into his game. He likes it because it makes the game even "unknown" to him and challenges his skills to adapt whatever he rolls into his game.
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 4:52 pm

Treebore wrote:
Its about 3 times bigger with over a 1,000 tables and other material, it worth it. Everyone that I know of who has bought it agrees its worth every penny.

Another way I have seen it used during games is whenever the CK needed a name for a person or place, or motivation for an NPC, etc... that came up during play he just finds the relevant chart, rolls, and makes it fit into his game. He likes it because it makes the game even "unknown" to him and challenges his skills to adapt whatever he rolls into his game.

Indeed. I've used it already (last weeks game) and I find it to be very resourceful. Definitely worth every penny, IMHO!
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:09 pm

I'd be more open to the idea of picking it up if I could pawn my original toolbox. I know it's big... I've flipped through it and a local store here which is also why I agree that it is a solid product.

However, I the other thing I have to consider is the adjusted price due to the exchange rate and taxes on top of that. When I consider how often I used or mined from the original, I really have to weigh my options here. I've pulled out the original twice in the past couple of years to flip through.

I haven't ruled out picking it up... and I might be stopping by the gamestore on the way home tonight and flip through it again and see if I'm further tempted.

M
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 5:14 pm

moriarty777 wrote:
I'd be more open to the idea of picking it up if I could pawn my original toolbox. I know it's big... I've flipped through it and a local store here which is also why I agree that it is a solid product.

However, I the other thing I have to consider is the adjusted price due to the exchange rate and taxes on top of that. When I consider how often I used or mined from the original, I really have to weigh my options here. I've pulled out the original twice in the past couple of years to flip through.

I haven't ruled out picking it up... and I might be stopping by the gamestore on the way home tonight and flip through it again and see if I'm further tempted.

M

Yeah, you definitely have to weigh all factors, plus if your good at pulling things out of nowhere, coming up with names, spontaneously generating adventure ideas, etc... then you will have less need of this. This is for those who find themselves often stumped for ideas, names, inspiration, etc...

I myself will use this for game prep far more than in game, and this version has way more substance to it than the original, and this one is generic, so its fantasy flavored, not 3E fantasy flavored, if you get my meaning.
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Frost · Post by **Frost** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:52 pm

I'd love to have a copy, but I'm with LD. Between the original toolbox, 1e DMG, and other things, I have a lot for inspirational material. I'm hoping to pick it up sooner or later on the cheap (just like I did with the original Toolbox ).
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Hunin · Post by **Hunin** » Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:20 pm

I just read forums on the internet for a few hours. They are full of adventure, drama and fanboys. It makes perfect adventuring material.

Adventure of the Day: Slay the head of the O cult....but first you need to figure out its members and maybe what they are doing. I know there hang out in this section of the city....err internet.

maasenstodt · Post by **maasenstodt** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 2:21 am

Treebore wrote:
I myself will use this for game prep far more than in game...

Likewise. While I'm going to try adding tabs to relevant sections, the book is almost too packed with goodness for quick references. But for game prep, there are few resources on par with this.
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Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:37 pm

Definitely with weighing the options sentiment. If you're going to flip through it a few times in the past couple of years, as mort did with the original, then yeah, it might be best to not buy it...or at least put it off. I, however, have that joker with me at every session, ready to flip through for a random tavern name, NPC, motivation, or lord-knows-what-else. CAn I make that stuff up on the fly? Sure, I can. But anything that I can snag to make my job easier behind the screen is always worth a look.
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:40 pm

I'm tempted to start a d30 version. Like the old Armory products, but better.
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moriarty777 · Post by **moriarty777** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 7:59 pm

That would ROCK!

Long live the D30!

Hmm... maybe I could throw a few as submissions for Domesday!

M
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serleran · Post by **serleran** » Fri Mar 27, 2009 8:04 pm

Yeah -- the Muse's Market could sure use it.
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