Great follow up!

Things about this 2nd-of series I liked: the story was interesting, and full of twists. The characters we liked from before have returned. Timiscore grows. New characters add fun. Potential for further great adventures is secured.

Things I didn't like: they swear a lot more in this one. (Is that because they're "adventurers" now and must use their unique vernacular?) Also, the narrator seems to have forgotten the voice he established for Grumble in book one. Too bad, 'cause it was so fitting.

Looking forward to another!

18 people found this helpful

Classic RP -- from the NPC point of view

This is the sequel to NPC. It follows up on the first book with a classic rpg situation -- what happens when you split the party. Of course, there is also the puzzlement of the gamers who are also playing in this world as their module seems to keep...well, changing.

If you love, camp, funny references to rpg classic situations along with a fine yarn that moves along with a lot of action and just teensiest hint of romance at the end, then you will love this book.

Roger Wayne's performance is a perfect imitation of a GM's story telling style, lending a little added verisimilitude to an already great story.

11 people found this helpful

Coincidence? I think not...

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed the first book of the series quite a bit, but the story in this book was a little difficult to swallow. I understand that the characters are players in an RPG and the circumstances therein are divergent from reality. However, the author takes too many liberties with this idea; using it as a crutch to add an unbelievable amount of dramatic and surprising coincidences. In an attempt to give the characters intrigue and the fictitious world mystery, the author instead dilutes the book’s events beyond even the plausibility of fantasy.

8 people found this helpful

D & D players will love it

very interesting story that continues through the series. But still a story contained in each episode. I really feel like you do need to be a D&D player to enjoy the book as much of it is based on knowing the game and having those types of experiences.

6 people found this helpful

Amazing

This was an amazing and fun book. Somehow capturing the innocence and power of the first one and building complexity into characters I've come to love. A fun enjoyable book with a great narrator. Can't wait for next one.

6 people found this helpful

The Good, Bad, and Overall...

The Good: The NPC's continue their adventure and begin to feel out their roles and no longer pretend to be adventurers. Splitting the party allows for a lot of side stories.

The Bad: There are too many stories going on over a very short span of time. Compare the 11 hours of this story to Drew Hayes Superpowered's 30+ hours. Side stories come across rushed without being properly fleshed out. Grumph; wanting to become a proper wizard decides to leave this book and instead head over to Hogwarts. There he finds a brotherhood of wizards, though being able to rule the world easily by the magic they toss around, are instead more concerned that their never emptying buffet bar may have a long line. Since Grumph was in Hogwarts he decided to have his trial by magic at the Quidditch stadium where the houses of Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw hoot their approval. I suppose Slytherin chose not to participate. Perhaps it was the Half-Orc thing... Lucky for Grumph and Gabrielle they just so happen to stumble into Fritzz MacGuffin and her magical American Express card. Yeah... NPC's had a lot of atrocities against the innocent and the not so innocent alike. Split the Party... only the bad guys die. I guess Disney published this book as they had to have a happy ending for all. In the RPG's I played the Undead never came back to life. Well, at least they didn't sing...

Overall: I liked the Paladin angle and the restrictions that came into play due to that. The GM exploring and documenting the odd things was also interesting. I always imagined a guild of Wizards to be more like Unseen University than Hogwarts, but that is me. I don't get the same feel from this as did with NPC's. I don't get the same vibe of the game playing the game this time around. Overall rating: 2 Broken Axes.

5 people found this helpful

Wow! Fantastic exploration of the various character classes!

This is perhaps THE most impressive book I've ever read on the nature of the various character classes in D&D / Pathfinder / etc. The true essence of paladins, wizards, barbarians, and rogues are beautifully demonstrated through the characters of Thistle & Timmascor, Grumph, Gabriel, and Eric. This is a must-read book, IMHO, for any fantasy gamer, from Newb to Old timer. Just make sure to read the 1st book first (called NPCs).

5 people found this helpful

Nice follow-up to NPCs but not as good

This book was not as good as npcs but was a good read. a little darker than the first book and not as entertaining.

5 people found this helpful

Another amazing series; can't wait for the next!!

The second book of the Spells, Swords, and Stealth series, following the book "NPCs."

I really do recommend reading these books in order. They are most certainly direct sequels, and while many 2nd or 3rd books can be read and still gain enough understanding to understand the world and story, this series isn't one of them, and I can respect that. Drew Hayes doesn't dwadle. Like a good DM at a game of D&D, he keeps the pace at a steady clip, moving the readers forward, pausing occasionally for some humor to recenter and take a mental break. Like a good DM, he also riddles his stories with clues within clues--they are not necessary to the final understanding of the story; all will make sense in good time, but for the careful listener (or the veteran GM or PCs out there), following the plot line, clues, foreshadowing, and even seeming "red herrings" will reap you many additional rewards.

That being said, if you like a story that will excitedly walk you through from point A to Z and leave you with a thrilling story, you will love this series.

If you like a story dense in clues, interweaving plotlines, and foreshadowing, you will also love this series.

If you just plain ol like tabletop roleplaying games and enjoy a story about underdogs, you will also love this series.

4 people found this helpful

the D &D Gane you wish you'd played!

our beloved non- player characters make smart decisions and grow their skills and do good and help so many. I like how all the "small" characters (goblins, orcs) have families and feelings and motivations. there some interesting twists in here that are fun nuggets (the pig Mr. Pepper?)
I look forward to more from this author even if it's not LOTR, it's fun

4 people found this helpful