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'''''The Rod of Seven Parts''''' is a fantasy novel by [[Douglas Niles]] | '''''The Rod of Seven Parts''''' is a fantasy novel by [[Douglas Niles]], published in 1996. | ||
== Cover blurb == | == Cover blurb == | ||
{{quoted text|The Rod of Seven Parts ... | {{quoted text|The Rod of Seven Parts ... | ||
Latest revision as of 11:35, 20 February 2025
| The Rod of Seven Parts (novel) | |
| Error creating thumbnail: File missing | |
| Cover of the novel. (1996) | |
| Type: | Novel |
|---|---|
| Author(s): | Douglas Niles |
| Cover Artist(s): | Jeff Easley |
| Publisher: | TSR |
| First Published: | 1996 |
| Pages: | 210 (Paperback) 348 (hardback) |
| ISBN: | 0-7869-0479-8 |
| Class: | Officially published content |
The Rod of Seven Parts is a fantasy novel by Douglas Niles, published in 1996.
Cover blurb
"The Rod of Seven Parts ...
...originated at the dawn of time, the symbolic centerpiece of the conflict between law and chaos.
Broken into pieces by powerful magic, scattered across a dangerous landscape, the rod's components draw menacing forces from distant planes—and change, forever, the life of any unsuspecting mortal who finds himself in possession of even a single segment.
From the Wind Dukes, guardians of law, to the hideous Queen of Chaos herself, heroes and monsters compete to find the pieces of the rod. Violent conflicts surround the bold heroes who strive to protect the artifact, until the companions realize that only by facing ultimate chaos can the forces of evil be vanquished."[1]
Plot summary
The Rod of Seven Parts is a novel in which the thief Kip Kayle gets drawn into a quest that involves restoring the Rod of Seven Parts, and this quest ultimately turns into an immense cosmic battle involving the forces of both Law and Chaos.[2]
Reception
Trenton Webb reviewed The Rod of Seven Parts for Arcane magazine, rating it a 7 out of 10 overall.[3] He commented that "The Rod Of Seven Parts does not even pretend to be a 'proper' book; glibly ignoring such trifling conventions as characterisation, pacing and structure. It's a work of reportage that (almost too) accurately recreates the feel of an actual game in play which - as a teaser for the forthcoming campaign based on the 'legendary' artifact - is exactly what it should be."[3] He continued by saying "The story starts with a furious duel between a Wind Duke and Lycosyd, and from that moment on, the pace is unrelenting. This speed of delivery helps paper over a few cracks. The characters are functional class/race archetypes, while their dialogue has the air of 'real' conversations culled from players under pressure, rather than being considered character-developing speech. The plot pushes everything on at such a rate that many questions are left unanswered."[3] Webb went on to say that "The resolution of cliffhangers is often illogical and regularly beyond the control of the central cast. All their escapes seem plausible at first, but on reflection are increasingly dissatisfying, Yet somehow the sensation of gamers at play surfaces, because when logic falls foul of fun, the characters (players?) are winging it. Such 'amateurish' elements should both damn the book to the same plane of hell as the main villain Miska; but don't."[3] He added, "The mix of monsters is right, escalating from ogres through to top- notch tannari. The setting continually changes, moving swiftly from the familiar dungeon environment through city streets to the planes of Pandemonium. There are big heroes and big villains. And you get to meet and fight them both."[3] Webb concludes the review by saying, "The flaws restrict rather than cripple The Rod Of Seven Parts, (even though the way it handles laws regarding alignment is extremely annoying). Aimed at a hard-core D&D audience, it's an enjoyable tale told with enough raw enthusiasm to maintain the 'live and direct from the tabletop' feel. If your gaming palette has become jaded of late, it's an ideal tonic."[3]
Reviews
- Review by Don D'Ammassa (1998) in Science Fiction Chronicle, #197 May–June 1998[4]
References
Notes
Citations
- ↑ The Rod of Seven Parts (novel) (1996) , Back cover.
- ↑ Fiction Book Review: Rod of Seven Parts by Douglas Niles, Author TSR $21.99 (0p) ISBN 978-0-7869-0479-2.
- ↑ a b c d e f Webb, Trenton (May 1996). "The Great Library". Arcane (6): 81. Future Publishing.
- ↑ Science Fiction Chronicle May-June 1998: Vol 19 Iss 7-8. DNA Publications , May 1998.
Bibliography
Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index
The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.
| Topic | Type | Description | Product | Page/Card/Image
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | Arms and Equipment Guide, D&D 3.0 | 154 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | Book of Artifacts, AD&D 2e | 91-92 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | CGR1 The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook | 37 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | Dungeon Masters Guide 1st Edition | 124, 160, 161 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | Dungeon Masters Guide (Revised), AD&D 2e (Premium Edition) | 126 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | Dragon magazine #224 | 66 - 70 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | Dragon magazine #230 | 13 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | Dragon magazine #233 | 92, 93 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | Dragon magazine #294 | 92 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | Dragon magazine #299 | 101, 103 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | Dragon magazine #351 | 42 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | Encyclopedia Magica - Volume III | 1038-1040 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | Eldritch Wizardry | 42 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | The Rod of Seven Parts: Initiation to Power | 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 13, 19, 24, 25, 26, 27, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 50, 54, 55, 60, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 78, 79, 88, 93 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | The Rod of Seven Parts: Might and Menace | 2, 3, 4, 5-12 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | The Rod of Seven Parts: Reference Cards | #1145XXX0601 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | The Rod of Seven Parts: Reference Cards | #1145XXX0606 |
| Rod {Wand} of Seven Parts | Item | Artifact, | Reference | SEE ALSO Wand of Seven Parts |
| The Rod of Seven Parts | Item | Dragon magazine #224 | 68 | |
| The Rod of Seven Parts Boxed Set (Tomes) | Publication | Supplement, | Dragon magazine #224 | 68 |
| The Rod of Seven Parts Boxed Set (Tomes) | Publication | Supplement, | Dragon magazine #233 | 92 |
| The Rod of Seven Parts campaign set | Adventure | Adventure - | The Rod of Seven Parts: Reference Cards | |
| The Rod of Seven Parts: Initiation to Power | Adventure | Dragon magazine #233 | 92 | |
| The Rod of Seven Parts: Might and Menace | Adventure | Dragon magazine #233 | 93 | |
| Wand of Seven Parts | Item | Reference | SEE ALSO Rod of Seven Parts |