Miniature Books

I truly wish I would have purchased "The Complete Metalsmith" by T. McCreight FIRST and possibly this book second as an inspiration/idea/picture book of metal art possibilities. Now don't get me wrong, there is a lot of useful information throughout the book, in between the incredible metal art, and he does cover some of the safety issues in one of the appendices that pleases me. Another sticking point for me is that the details are sketchy in many of the metal application processes in this book. Yes, this book was published years before "The Complete Metalsmith"...so now consider that book over this one for a more thorough review, incredible details, abundant information, great charts and tables with even more easily readable data, and so much more if you want to really get a grasp of metalwork even for beginners. I refer to "The Complete Metalsmith" frequently as it is organized in a fashion that appeals to me along with the spiral binding that keeps the page open when I need to glance at it during my work.......However, do not expect WOW images of metal art in this book. "Jewelry-Fundamentals of Metalsmithing" brings to light artists' work in beautiful photographed images. Many stimulate my brain in ways so I can create my own designs. Therefore, don't rule this book out...or at least get this book for the inspiration. You won't be disappointed.

Interesting subject and very well presented.
Will be used by me as my reference guide for new area of endeavor I am beginning.

...and goes well with his DVD. The text is definitely geared toward beginners. However if you're new at this, the photos of jewelry (albeit lovely) are a little intimidating. I'll use this book as a reference source for techniques, but I'm looking to Stephen O'Keeffe's "Jewelry Making" for projects I can actually achieve.

excellent book for the beginner. It explains at length how to do the job.

I would like to begin by also suggesting The Complete Metalsmith by the same author. There have been several comments regarding the lack of step-by-step projects. Many other books have them, and it's nice for a visual reference I suppose, but it also leads to a lack of creativity on the part of many readers as they will just go through the entire book reproducing the projects laid out for them as opposed to using them as a jumping off point. In my opinion, the author intentionally left out the step-by-step projects to allow and encourage free thinking by the reader. Assuming this book is going to be used by artists, or people marketing themselves as artisans would dictate that they have their own creativity and artistic vision- which is not following a set of instructions to complete a particular project for production. Generally, people reading this book have their own ideas they would like to see come to fruition and would like to know the technique(s) to get to that point. So, again in my opinion, the lack of projects is great as it keeps 100's of the same piece from showing up at local craftshows and online as an "xyz original" when it is really a reproduction of a magazine or book piece. Now, please do not misunderstand my words and think that recreating an article piece is somehow derogatory. My point is many people then try to pass it off as their own original work, which is a slap in the face to any artist- again my opinion. I think this is a wonderful book and it serves its purpose. Mr. McCrieght's teaching experience shines through in his style and it is very clear.

Well written book on all the aspects of running. I highly recommend it for people just starting out or seasoned runners.

As other reviewers have stated, this is a good book for beginning runners. The tone is positive--in the introduction, the author states that she wants to be your cheerleader--and presents a "you can do it!" attitude throughout. One of the book's strengths is its emphasis on starting out gradually if you're a beginning runner. The author is well aware of the pitfalls of beginning runners, one of which is getting discouraged and ultimately abandoning running because of unrealistic expectations. She presents a clear running program that just about anyone should be able to start with. Inspirational stories--including a now-dated piece about Oprah's first marathon--support the idea that pretty much anyone can train to run competitively (or just for fun). Well, at least if they're millionaires who can train for a total of four hours a day.

Also included are the obligatory diet recommendations, including a curious plug for vegetarianism. This is where I think the book starts to lose its focus. I realize that many people reading about running are likely looking to lose weight and incorporate vigorous exercise into a healthier lifestyle, but how many times--and in how many publications--must we read about carbs and fats? We get a brief intro to healthy eating, and then the book jumps into diet choices of runners. The organization of the book suggests that you'll go from novice runner to carbo-loading marathoner in a matter of pages.

I think that the injury section, perhaps incorporated into a larger chapter about running and its effects on various body systems and health generally, could be expanded. How to best deal with shin splints, which affect nearly all beginning runners at some point and to some degree, is barely touched on. Compartment syndrome (which is uncommon, grated) isn't mentioned at all. I think that more could be said about strength training as a complement to running, as well as detailed information about effective stretching and cool-down techniques.

Major content gripe: An entire section in the Women's Running chapter (which constitutes about a quarter of the book, so male readers may want to keep this in mind!) is devoted to avoiding the various ways that you can become a crime victim if you're not careful. It's a tired rehashing of all the "safety and security" stuff that women are exposed to on a regular basis, usually in women's magazines or on freak-out local news reports. A cop's contribution to this section details how to avoid getting pulled into a car and ultimately murdered (his solution: don't get near the car). I'm not advocating a head-in-the-sand approach; any solo runner should be alert, particularly when running in an isolated area. But jeez, do we really need a whole section to remind us to run in well-lit, populated areas? The number of pages given to this subject suggests that you're more likely than not to be the victim of a bad-intentioned male at some point during your runs.

My main problem with the book is its format. It is heavy (literally), with a glossy format consisting of giant margins, big text, and dozens of pointless photos. I understand that the book is attempting to be true to its roots: it is published by Runner's World, after all, and its page design is similar to a magazine. But it's a book and should look like a book. Even though it's paperback, it's printed on heavy stock paper and isn't the type of book you'd toss into a beach or vacation bag. And the vast majority of pictures are completely unnecessary. Page after page of very fit people in 1990s running garb (it appears that the images weren't updated for the 2004 edition) are meant to be inspiring but get really old after the first chapter: three young chicks running on a track, a fit middle-aged guy energetically moving along in front of a sunset backdrop, a forty-something gal lacing up in a park. Most of us know what fit runners look like. Do we need to see full-color photos of them on every other page? In the nutrition section, literally half a page is taken up with the image of a banana and something that looks like oats. In the footwear section, we see generic pictures of white leather running shoes with the laces undone. Zzzz....

I realize that this review is a big negative, so you may be wondering why I've given the book three stars. There is a lot of good information for people new to running, and indeed fitness and nutrition. But I'm glad that I got this book out of the library--I'd be annoyed if I paid good money for this. The Complete Book of Running for Women by Claire Kowalchik, and the old standy, Jim Fixx's The Complete Book of Running, are better choices in my estimation.

Nice update to the hard copy version from several years ago. Well worth the $$

I'm training for my first half marathon and I picked this book up at the library. It's simple, easy to read and has excellent advice. It's easy to criticize books that are reader friendly--too many pictures and graphics, not much text per page. I find, though, that books like that are easier to pick up and read and keep reading. I recommend this book to everyone serious about running.

This is a very complete book that summarizes many aspects of running for beginners and intermediate runners. It is very well edited and is full of nice pictures which makes it a very pleasant reading experience. I only found it a little repetitive in the chapter about psychological aspects of running and a little bit shallow regarding the last chapter on marathon training. Overall, it is worth reading and buying. It should not be used as a reference book, but as a motivational tool to start, keep or improve your running experience.

I enjoyed this book. Lots, and I mean lots, of stories about making it in life. Zig provides lots of motivation to the reader to start succeeding in life and by life, Zig tackles all facets, not just financial. Heavy on the religious, which didn't bother me, Zig believes that people must be well-rounded to succeed. One problem, which I felt was a big problem, was the way Zig has you select goals. After spending considerable time selecting what you want out of life, Zig has you categorize your goals based on financial, family, spiritual, mental, personal, etc. Then, when you get done, he says something like, "Okay, now see if you goals are well-rounded. If they are not, then cut out some of your goals that make yourself off-balance." This is difficult b/c many goals overlap, which is something he doesn't discuss. But why not have the reader select two goals from each category first??? Also, he ignores any research discussing how to deal with issues of teen sex and drug use. He simply says abstain, which is great but simplistic. This would save a whole lot of time! Bottom line: If you are looking for motivation, this is a solid book for you.

The author states that one can get what one wants by helping others get what they want.

He not from big city, is he?

This book is an inspirational roadmap in a well balanced and successful life. Zig Ziglar draws upon a wealth of personal experience to illustrate the importance of balancing the various parts of out lives to attain to true success, not just material success. The fault I find with this book is that its subject matter is not a good fit for the "For Dummies" format. Success in life is not a subject you can pick and choose, which is the essence of the "For Dummies" concept. This is a good book, but be prepared to read it cover to cover to derive the greatest benefit.

This book covers all areas of life that people need to address to be successful. I appreciated his coverage of the importance of spirituality. Although he is a mainstream Christian, he makes clear that spirituality can be found in other religions as well.

The only thing I disagreed with were his comments about obedience being vital to success. I don't believe in absolute obedience. Obdience to organizations and authority figures should be relative. For example, if you have a religious authority figure who wants you to do something unethical or immoral, you should follow your conscience and remain obedient to God's law as found in the Bible. Human beings do not deserve absolute obedience as they are imperfect and prone to mistakes.

Also, I thought he used too many examples of famous people in sports as positive examples. I do not play golf and couldn't care less about sports, but I still tried to find the positive in his statements (such as the value of personal integrity, the value of working together as a team, etc.) Is the person who is not rich or famous unsuccessful?

I decided to check this book out of the library at a time in my life when I couldn't decide what I wanted to do in life. I had been out of college for two years, and couldn't seem to find a job in my field since I moved to Ga., despite my interviews. I was exploring different fields related to Special Ed. It sounds weird but, somehow while reading this book, I just knew what I was suppossed to be doing. Due to the series of questions he asked you about your goals. I highly reccomend this book to any one who can't decide where to go in life. Zig, told me that I wasn't really "lost" I just needed to find some direction in life. He was so right! I guess I just needed someone to tell me to wake up and decide what I was going to do with the rest of my life instead fo just subing all the time. Ironically, enough he guided me back on track to Special Ed, when I read the story about the man who found himself going back to the same career he used to do. I guess I just needed someone to tell me that for my life to feel on track, I needed to enroll in the TAPP (teacher alternative program), and be a Special Ed teacher instead of just being the aid like always. I really feel like God wanted me to find this book at this time in my life. True, Zig is relgious, but even if you aren't I feel like anyone could benift from his book. It has quite a few "duh" moments that a lot of people never think of. I have been hearing about Zig ever since I was like 9 or 10 and had always wanted to go to his seminars, but never had the chance. It is so true about what people think about him! Thanks Zig!

Hey there! Just thought you should know that this is not actually a book for reading or such. It is a journal that you write in. The pages are, however, illustrated nicely, and there are a few snipits of writing. But mostly, it's nice for a person who is going to keep a journal, not an avid reader.

This is a lovely journal with beautiful illustation of the characters in Lord of the Rings.

This is a nice little journal with lovely illlustrations, but the quality wasn't that great. I was rather disappointed.

I think this journal is great. It's small and just the right size. You do have to be carefull with the cover though since it's paperback, but other than that it's perfect! You almost don't want to write in it!

This is as it says on the cover ' Being a blank book with some curious illustrations of friends& foes of the none companions'. It is a journal for you to write in or look at the very good artwork, by the artist Michael Green. It should certainly enrich your Tolkien experience. Some particularly great illustrations here are: ' The long wait of Arwen Evenstar', ' Bombadil', ' Another daughter of the river king', 'By the doors of Durin', ' Another notch for Gimli's ax', ' Saruman', 'Shield- Maiden of Rohan', 'The Palantir is taken', ' Oliphant', 'The darkness of Denethor', ' The trial of Gondor', 'Ghan Buri Ghan', 'The mouth of Sauron' and 'Rosielass Gamgee '.
The drawings of Aragorn and Elrond though, seem incorrect.
To clear up misconceptions, the book was published in 1979, 7 years after the passing of JRR Tolkien, and 22 years "before the movie hype began".
It is a pleasant illustrated journal.
And I just love that wonderful , wistful poem at the back of the journal , Lay of the Passing Ages.

I'm 16 and I've read many books about finance and investing including Rich Dad Poor Dad but this book is just to simple it's just a cut down version from the original book if you want to read a Kiyosaki book just get Rich Dad Poor Dad

After reading Rich Dad Poor Dad, I bought this for my 12 year old nephew who is a real "idea man". Before giving it to him, I read it and gave it to my 17 year old nephew to read. It's essentially like re-reading Rich Dad Poor Dad, but it stops periodically to ask questions of the reader, and my 17 year old nephew really thought about what was being asked.

Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens gets the reader thinking about himself/herself, where they "fit", what special gifts or talents they may have, and what they might need to improve on. Anyone with teenagers knows kids are all about themselves at this age, so this approach really seemed to strike a chord. The kids could relate.

This is an excellent place for kids to start, but keep in mind that after the book has been read through, that's all you've done - start. You've peaked their interest. Without some sort of follow through and guidance, kids probably won't know where to go from here.

If you want to introduce your teens to some of the inspirational ideas in Rich Dad Poor Dad, if you want to get them thinking about who they are, what there strengths are and get them started thinking about money, assets vs liabilities, saving vs investing, etc., this is a great place to start.

Bought this as a followup for my daughter after letting her read "Rich Dad Poor Dad." She is highly-motivated to save and invest. We try really hard to teach our kids about not getting sucked in to all the "stuff." This gives some good reasons in black and white(that aren't coming from mom and dad) to do so, and how it can really pay off in the future.

I really enjoyed Rich Dad, Poor Dad (the original) and since I'm 17, I thought I'd read this book because it might be easier to understand and more applicable to me. It is that and really got me started thinking about my financial future etc... But most of his insight I had already read in Rich Dad, Poor Dad, but if you're a teen or pre-teen this is a good book to read if you want to get ideas on what you can do now to get a head start. The information is a little simplistic and vague, however, and I am now going to start reading Robert Kiyosaki's other books for adults. Most of the stuff he covered in this book I already knew or heard before to some extent, so no new info here, but it is a great read for teens that don't think about financial matters AT ALL, or for kids. If anything, it'll get you thinking. Great book! I recommend using a notebook to take notes during your reading of the book; it really helps!

The "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" series has been enormously popular on the lecture circuit and in book stores. Authors Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter have distilled a fair amount of useful financial advice using the medium of Kiyosaki's autobiographical remembrances of the lessons his two 'Dads' taught him. In brief, one father (his biological father) is a teacher who stresses education and finding a 'good' job, while his other father (actually the father of his best friend Michael) taught him how to manage money, seize opportunities, and build financial independence. Like many other self help financial books, this series has a good mix of practical advice and a fair amount of platitudes designed to give readers confidence in themselves so they will take some risks in the pursuit of their dreams.

I was expecting a slightly easier to read version of the same message from this book. My wife asked that I skim it to see if it was appropriate for her grandchild. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to find that this book was not just a easier to read version of the original 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad.' Instead, Kiyosaki and Lechter have moved beyond the usual boundaries of the financial self help guide to discuss multiple intelligences and (surprise) the value of education in all its forms. Of course, the best of the advice found in 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' is repeated here as well. You should buy assets, not liabilities. Debt is a tool for developing assets, not means to purchase the latest gizmo that you absolutely have to have right now. But the authors also talk extensively about Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences. They correctly recognize that kids (indeed, all of us) have certain innate intelligences not all of which are developed in a traditional classroom setting. They encourage young people to develop and use their own talents and gifts in pursuit of a financial education. They rightly remind their readers that all of them are born geniuses.

In conclusion I liked this book considerably more than the original volume of the 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' series. In that volume, Kiyosaki concluded that he learned from both of his Dads, but the Rich Dad gets a far more positive portrayal. The teacher father comes up short in many ways. But in this book, education is correctly seen as one form of wealth. It is not the only form, despite what many of my colleagues in the teaching profession might say. But it is one form. A life with great books and music is also wealth. And so is financial independence. Indeed, without the latter, it is difficult to appreciate the former. And I think the authors give both forms of wealth their due in this book. That is a good message for teens to read.

You can see this is a lady that knows her stuff. I can recommend this book wholeheartedly. In today's market where everything is about doing something quickly, this is about doing something properly. I have learnt more from this book than 50 others. If you want to make little babycakes. you have to own it.

Book covered the subject indicated in the index section on my preview before placing the order. However, I still cannot find in this book or any others purchased or reviewed a receipe for my grand-mother's Italian "cookies" or pastry she always prepared for her grandchildren during the Christmas Holidays. I know that it contained figs, currants, raisons and either pecans or walnuts all ground-up and inserted into a pastry shell like ravioli or cannoli before baked, then frosted. I and my sisters all remember eating the pastry but no one could find a receipe for this in all her kitchen belongs after she passed away. She always called it "cuccithaida"....but we guessed on the spelling of that Italian name she called that "cookie" when she served them. We are all Italian-Americans born and raised in the U.S., but our father did not know anything about his mother's cooking; just liked to eat the sweets too!

Maybe someone in Amazon can locate this better than me. All of my ancestry came from Sicily when they immigrated to the US back in the early 1900s.

The book is OK, the recipes seem to be good (I haven't tried any yet), but there's a lack of photographs...

I think they are very important for cook books!!

I have a lot of experience in the kitchen, even so it's hard to picture something in your mind if you have never seen it before... lol

Since the cakes, cookies and so on are miniatures, it would be a lot easier to make them knowing the final result (the image, I mean).

This is one of my favorite dessert books! The desserts not only look beautiful but are always the first to be "gobbled" up by my family and friends!
Recipes are instructional and easy to follow making the most intimidating tasks easy and practically effortless. I wish that it had a few more photographs, but it does have photos of the more popular dishes.

I have found myself purchasing this book over and over for friends and family who enjoy baking. If you enjoy baking desserts, this book is a must for your kitchen!

I bought this book because I love making miniature foods. My major problem with this book is that on the inside there are only a few color photos and the rest of the book is pretty dull to look at. The recipes seem okay but just the dull look of the pages make it pretty hard to get inspired to try any of these recipes. I recommend just finding it at a library and not spending any money on it. I have a book called "Finger Food" by Katharine Gasparini. It has more savory recipes but there is a section for sweets. This book is also fully photographed.

I'm surprised by all of the good reviews. I don't recommend this book, unless its main purpose is to sit on a coffee table and look pretty.

The pictures are decent, though many of them look grainy as if they've been blown up to fit the page. But perhaps the most disappointing part of the book was the text. Each picture has merely a paragraph devoted to description, and to compound that frustration, the font is so small (probably 6 point), I had to keep my eyes inches from the page. It would be understandable if the publisher were trying to save room, but clearly that's not the case, as an entire white page is devoted to a small paragraph, which is consequently crammed so near the binding that I had to pry the book apart to read the text. I realize that this style is probably meant to reflect the book's title, but I don't think moving the text to the middle of an already blank page would disrupt this.

There are better books elsewhere.

This book is interesting. The book reveals what constitutes Pawson's thinking. Thru the graphic representations of photographic art, sculpture, ancient buildings, paintings, places, details, gardens, and ruins; Pawson powerfully visualizes his stance. At each image Pawson carefully crafts little notes to explain why he likes that particular image. A reader will easily grasp that Pawson's journey towards the absolute essentials was not created thru either erasing lines in drawings or reading some philosophical statements. But thru the years of his own site visits and foot work. Sometimes I felt flattered that some of my favorites were chosen as his favorites; othertimes, I found places and artists that I've never heard. I was able to rely on his notes because of his comments on my favorites. Only a person who has visited multiple times to his likings can write such succinct and insightful comments. Due to the intensity of the content and the nature of words, this book could also function like a daily meditation book. By that I mean, you can read it in two hours or you can read an image per day and extend the duration to two years. In a digitally mediated age, clapping hands to the loud voices/ moving fast/ diversity of thoughts, Pawson's book deliberately shuts mouth/ stand still/ seek simple equilibrium.

The book is not just about architecture. The author wants to convey a philosophy about minimalism to the readers. The book shows that the value of minimum is pervasive in every aspect of our life. At first, I was a littel bit disappointed about the content and the pictures (since I would like to see more modern architectural design). But later on, I found this book very intriguing. I think readers need to think when reading the book, try to get the communality of all the pictures from this book and come up with your own interpretation of what minimalism means. Of course, it takes time to derive your intellectual definition. But it is okay. Just take your time and you will enjoy the process of thinking in abstractive manner. Both the thinking process and results will guide your future design, aesthetics, and life style.

John Pawson is one of my favorite architects, and this book perfectly highlights and demonstrates his minimalist approach. Light on text, heavy on beautiful photos. It's also gorgeously bound with a simple but rich cloth cover with beautiful type. It even came shrink-wrapped to ensure that it wasn't damaged during shipping. Everything about it is perfect.

For such an inexpensive book, I couldn't have been more surprised. I can't recommend this highly enough.

Picture book on Pawson's theory of minimum, with snapshots across the history of architecture. Nice intro to Pawson before moving on to his works book. Pleasant read/look but you may wish to go straight to works.

I put off buying the WOTC D&D minis, because for years I painted my own and these oens didn't seem near as good. However, two factors make them useful:
1) Light weight. Lead/pewter minis weigh a TON, and carrying two cases of them is a drag.
2) These plastic minis are very tough, they don't chip, break etc. Thus you cna carry a bag full of 'em, with little hassle.

Only downer is, the early sets weren't as good in paint quality and design as more recent ones. Thus, I bought this more for completeness, than actual usage ;) And I still haven't got na umber hulk...lol.

Well, Chain Mail has come and gone and now Wizards of the Coast is trying its second foray into the miniatures gaming market. On the heels of the WizKids figure games, Wizards has released the D&D Miniatures Line, starting with an entry pack and followed up a set of boosters in the first release, called the Harbinger line.

The Harbinger line consists of 80 miniatures, 27 of which are rare. The entry pack includes 16 of these miniatures, and maps and tiles necessary to play.

Let's start by discussing what this game is and what it is not.

It's a line of figures meant for play in the D&D game. Some of these figures are familiar (I own two tiefling captains now, having bought one from Chain Mail), but none of these have been sold by Wizards painted before. The cards included inside have stats for both the miniatures game and D&D (there's one per figure), for use in your tabletop game.
It's an entry level game for players that don't play D&D. It's also a method of rating costs of each member of a force, for those who wish to run skirmish battles with equally matched sides.

It's NOT an exciting new game for those who already play D&D. There is very little difference between these rules and those of the D&D game. There are some additional rules: the value of each piece, routing and command rules, as well as rules for setting up the board in a manner that is fair for both sides, but at its heart it's just a slightly different subset (although that word might do the system a disservice) of the D&D rules.

Marketing

Okay, now I'm going to go into rant mode, because this is the part of the system that annoys me the most. I'm not a fan of collectable miniatures marketing. I've actually boycotted the new Mechwarrior game for exactly that reason. If I want an Umber Hulk fig, a want to be able to go out and buy an Umber Hulk fig. There are people selling the individual figs outside the box, but all the online sources that I've found are charging up to $10 for a rare fig, the price of an entire booster. Also, because there are only 80 figs, but more than a quarter of them are rare, despite the fact that only one out of eight figs purchased in booster have that same level of value, you must by 216 figs to even have the CHANCE to get a complete set.

So the fact that Wizards has bought into this line of thinking (not that it's a big step for them, considering they created it with Magic the Gathering) has made me very sad and a little angry. This won't be a consideration for many of you, but I couldn't write a review in good conscience and not mention it.

What's even more annoying is that I want to go buy them anyway.

The Figures

The figures themselves are passable. The sculpting is decent but the details are somewhat blurry, probably due to the fact they're made out of plastic. The paint jobs are merely passable, but I believe these figs are smaller that the figs coming out in other games (which isn't a mark against them, because they're scaled for D&D) and that probably accounts for the disparity of quality. I could paint them better, but these days, I just don't have the time.

The game is broken into four factions. The entry pack has 16 figs. Some of the figs in the line can be used by multiple factions. You can have up to 100 points and 12 figs on one side. Here are the armies you could make from what I received in my entry pack:

Lawful Good:
Ember Human Monk 18 Points
Evoker's Apprentice 10 Points
Wolf (Any Align) 5 Points

Total 23 points

Chaotic Good:
Centaur 20 Points
Wolf (Any Align) 5 Points

Total 25 Points

Lawful Evil:
Half Orc Fighter (Commander) 21 Points
Azer Raider (LE or CE) 5 Points
Zombie (LE or CE) 4 Points
Wolf (Any Align) 5 Points
Goblin Sneak 6 Points
Kobold Warrior 3 Points
Hell Hound 10 Points

Total 54 Points

Chaotic Evil:
Teifling Captain (Commander) 21 Points
Orc Spearfighter 5 Points
Orc Archer 8 Points
Ghoul 14 Points
Hyena 4 Points
Human Bandit 3 Points
Azer Raider (LE or CE) 5 Points
Zombie (LE or CE) 4 Points
Wolf (Any Align) 5 Points

Total 69 Points

So I can, from the box, field a decent Chaotic Evil force and a so/so Lawful Evil force. Because of the command rules, I can't field a good force at all, without buying more boosters ( have no good commanders). Since I'm the type that usually plays the guys in the white hats, this means that I can't get the most out of my game.

Still, setting that aside, I now have some decent figs for my D&D game. I've quizzed down some of the local retailers in my area and it seems that this is the reason MOST people are buying the figures.

Gameplay

As I said above, the rules are a straightforward adaptation of the D&D rules. They made things a little simpler. Criticals don't need to be activated. Damage is a set value. There is only one value for cover. Other than that, the rules are much as you'd expect.

They've been expanded, too. Characters must be in command to act in a tactical fashion, but for swarm tactics, with figs with the same movement, you can launch good plans involving out of command flanking units. There are also morale checks, with the usual triggers, such as when a fig reaches half hit points. The terrain consists of a straightforward grid with terrain pieces (essentially pieces of printed cardboard) which the players can use to try to build an environment conducive to their strategy.

The game plays quickly and is fun. When I played it again, before writing this review, I essentially played myself. Despite the inherent bore of playing without an opponent, I found myself eager to set up again when the game was done, to see if I could win with the losing side in a rematch.

I'm actually excited to see the Miniatures Handbook, which may or may not be available by the time you read this review. It proposes to offer what Wizards needs the most, and that is a strategic miniatures game, to act as a mass combat system. We'll see if it can deliver what the community needs the most, and turn this into a game that can appeal to the D&D player who's looking for more than a line of figs to pretty up his or her gaming table.

Conclusion

The miniatures game is fast enough and easy enough to play, buy it probably won't have a lot of appeal to the D&D player, who could have done most of this on their own. The cheep miniatures with their adequate paint jobs will be the biggest draw for most people, if they don't mind buying blind boosters. I think this has something for everyone, though it might not be the hit for which Wizards is looking.

If you are a perfectionist about how well detailed your minis' should be then don't buy them. Go out and by the unpainted ones and derive your pleasure from painting in addition to gaming. If, however you are like most other people (myself included) who just want to enjoy the game and use miniatures for combat in DnD (mostly for visual ease) then by all means purchase them. For the money they can't be beat.

I think it has been approximately one year since I bought my first harbinger miniatures. Since then, they have doubled (or more) in value. Now, it is nearly impossible to find a harbinger set anywhere.

My only regret is that I sold my harbinger displacer beast for $5, about 9 months ago! I thought the buyer was a sucker for paying almost as much for one miniature as I paid for the entire booster! But, now I realize that I'm the idiot. If you can find a displacer beast today, you'll probably pay at least $30 for it.

The good thing is that WoC is continuing to crank out a set every 3-4 months. The new sets have a higher percentage of rares and fewer miniatures (so, there is more chance to receive duplicates), but the variety and quality of the miniatures is as good or better. I love the huge minis in the giants collection, and the new aberrations collection contains a lot of nice monsters as common and uncommon figures. Archfiends contains a lot of nice villans, too. The Death's Knell collection of undead (scheduled for March 2005) should be a welcome collection for dungeon masters, too.

It is true that these miniatures are mass produced. The paint jobs are sometimes lacking. But, overall, the quality is good. The new flexible plastic material is awesome, as it is now possible to carry miniatures around and even use them in games without worrying about them eventually breaking. I bring them to games in a regular suitcase (no foam, no individual compartments .. just one big pile). Sometimes, they are bent when I first receive them in the mail, but this can be fixed by applying some heat. In general, it is extremely difficult to bend them and it is nearly impossible to break them (my wife likes to test this). I imagine that the durability has allowed WoC to produce and distribute these with much less cost.

Overall, I am extremely impressed with WoC's management of the D&D license. D20 was, by far, their greatest contribution to the community. Their simplified rules (i.e., 3rd edition and now the Basic Set) are probably my second favorite contribution. Their miniature lines are a close third.

P.S. Don't bother buying Harbinger on Amazon or any of the other sites still advertising it. Amazon will send you several emails as they delay processing of your order, then they will finally cancel your order as they are "unable to locate the inventory". Instead, invest in one of the more recent miniature collections (dragoneye, archfiends, giants, or aberrations).

Seriously, I've seen a lot of reviews insulting these new miniatures. Like the elf archer with an unpainted bow... maybe some of them are painted, just to make it different? Or the bow could always be made of darkwood, use your imagination, it IS a fantasy game. I love the fact the figures are hardcore plastic and prepainted, I really don't have the time or patience to paint the old metal ones. Not to mention the price ... the Entry pack alone, which has 16 random mini's, costs less at full price than one of the old set with only five characters. Why complain ? Be happy and rejoice in the laziness of it... and my orc army! Mwahahahahaa!

this kicks the wonderful colman designs into quantum gear. love it. flat cardboard images boasting holgrammatic gestalt! eXtreme oracular!

The first time I saw the Albano-Waite tarot deck, I had to purchase it. This is what I consider to be my "working deck." To me, the colors and stylings of this deck are an appealing alternative to the Rider-Waite. As a bench-mark, I always refer back to my Albano-Waite deck when I scrutinize other decks that I'm considering for my collection. The images in the Waite decks "speak" to me more so than other "traditional" decks. I very much recommend the Albano-Waite as a FIRST deck to anyone beginning their exploration into the tarot.

I now have a set of these cards ordered from Amazon, and for me they are the best of the Rider-waite series. I also have a set of 'original' rider-waites (with the tudor rose backs)and the 'standard' rider-waite pack.

When I first got these albano version cards the colours took me aback a bit, but when using in spreads they really come alive. I have now grown fond of the pea green skies on the pentacles cards and the green and red pentacle symbols. Yes, there are some less attractive features on some cards e.g. Empresses dress is grey&black,though various cards of the other versions can have less appealing features and overall the albano version wins for me. Other good features of the albano pack include a really colourful rainbow on the ten of cups (proper rainbow colours) and red and green insets on the hilts of all the swords.The basic line drawings are also the original Pamela coleman smith versions which ,for me ,is important (no face changes as in the very attractive universal pack).

For any fan of the rider-waite cards owning a pack of the albano version is really worthwhile and you may get to like them as much as I do.

This is the version of the Waite Deck I learned from during the late '60s early '70s. I have always preferred this coloration rather than the standard Rider Waite, University Press Waite or the Universal Waite.

I agree with what others have stated that the deck symbology stands out under this color tone and enables the reader to pick up on what the subconscious mind is trying to relay.

If the standard Waite deck's color doesn't grab you but you like the symbology of the deck then you might like to try and get this version.

I received this as a gift per my request.
I was so disappointed once I opened it.
Some colors are too dark and take away from the picture itself or there is a lot of color saturation that is distracting to the images and symbols.

"For the love of God, Montresor!"

"Yes," I said, "for the love of God."

This is my favorite short story of all time. Yes, it's a little twisted, but that's Poe for you. Poe makes excellent use of irony, foreshadowing, and sensory devices in "Cask of Amontillado," making it excellent fodder for a literary analysis essay. The vocabulary is a little dated, and you may need a dictionary if you don't remember what "immolation" means, but let's face it, kids, this is eighth or ninth grade reading here. You and ask.oxford.com can handle this little story.

The begining may be a little confusing to those who are literally challenged however it is not an extremely confussing story. Poe was a great writter.

I read this story in college (English 2) and i must say this was probably the best horror story i've ever read.

First, i like to forget about the words he uses for a minute to explain that, although magnificently written, i take the story for how it was meant to be interpreted. And it was meant to leave you with a chill, and a feeling of despair that was so violently left in my stomach that i had to read it again and again.

I can't wait to be sitting around the camp fire to tell this story.

As far as the literary value, i am not shy in saying i didn't understand many of the words, but that's what a dictionary is for, and with the use of both books i came away thrilled with knowing and understanding what is probably one of the best horror stories ever written.

The story is a macabre tail of two men, both upper classmen mindful of their positions in society. One of them; seemingly distraught over past wrongs done, strives to avenge his house by comitting one brutal act. His prey however, does not know his fate until it has met him alone, and face to face...

Big Cheers to Poe for an amazingly entertaining story.

It seems, like another reviewer stated, that many people miss the point, or possibly even the face value of this work. I read it as a sophomore in high school, that would be two years ago, and can't describe how much I enjoyed it. The vocabulary really isn't very tough, if I recall correctly I was able to extrapolate the meaning of most of the words from the context of their use. If you want to read something that will give you a feeling of uneasy fear in the pit of your stomach, The Cask of Amontillado does just that.