| Title Encyclopedia of Prestige Classes Game Type D20 Supplement Author Many authors: Tim Beach, Zeb Cook, Tim O'Brien, etc. Publisher Fast Forward Entertainment Medium 8x10 perfect-bound softcover Price $24.99 Reviewer Logan L. Masterson New skills, feats, combat rules and prestige classes? Sounds, well, done, doesn't it? It's more than that. This book contains a compilation of all the D20 rules published in various other Fast Forward books, and stands free of those supplements—all you need to use it is the standard WotC D20 core books. Once the promised Book of All Spells is published, Fast Forward will have a two-volume set compiling all their best D20 enhancements. Standing on its own merit, though, this source book contains around 10 skills, over 60 feats, expanded rules for siege weapons and artillery and more than fifty prestige classes. The prestige classes are presented in an easily comprehensible format, and include some fascinating options for gamers wishing to expand both their general repertoire and their game world. Prestige classes include Artillerist, Orc Bone Shaker, Hobgoblin Buffalo Rider, Corruptor, Dwarven Earthcaller, Engineer, Escort, Guildsman, Instigator, Penitent, Elven Preemptor, Saboteur, Shadow Knight, Sky Sailor, the very interesting Triad, Veil Lord, and Wrestler. These prestige classes are often very unusual in normal (whatever that means) fantasy settings. Some of them depend on advanced technology, others on rather odd backgrounds. Others are racially specific, and the book provides a number of interesting humanoid options, focused on the goblinoids, but also including elves, dwarves and drow to name a few. They are also quite well balanced, fitting in well with core prestige classes and basic classes. All in all, any DM or player will find several intriguing possibilities in this book, and it's well worth the reasonable cover price as it's 124 pages are crammed full of information. The illustrations, by Jim Holloway and Tony Parker, are evocative and definitive, but sparsely enough used that they don't waste space, while the layout is tight and precise. This book is strongly suggested to those D20 players looking for some spice in their fantasy, whether playing in an existing world or one of their own design. Ratings Playability     Game Mechanics     Magic/Tech System    Character Creation & Advancement     Setting    Presentation    Logan L. Masterson 5/2/04 | |