Probably the best NPC supplement I've read.

The pros:

• Just loads of compelling details. All the NPCs are fully formed, well realized, and consistantly written and handled.
• Tons of plot hooks. Just, oh so many plot hooks.
• Interesting organization and detail. Part historical accuracy, part dramatic license, the structural organization of Solomon Guild, it's members, and their operations is detailed enough to be compelling, while vague enough to be easily used anywhere.
• the writing is easy to read, and keeps you moving through the book.
• layout is spacious, minimalist, and great.
• Solid art throughout (see below)

The cons:

• A few of the art pieces didn't do it for me. It's likely just a matter of personal preference and style over "bad" art, but I'd be remiss if I didn't mention it.

All in all, a book I'm already in the process of heartily recommending to friends and fellow GMs.

More than an examination of a mere thieves' guild, the Solomon Guild is a window looking onto an entire fantasy criminal organization spanning all manner of criminals. It is, without a doubt, the most detailed, most thorough, and most engaging such product I have ever read. If you want an entire organization of adversaries discussed in painstaking detail from vaunted criminal masterminds to the lowest of the low on the criminal totem pole, you owe it to yourself to pick up this book. This product can easily be dropped into any existing fantasy setting or campaign, making it a valuable asset to any fantasy GM.

Now this book is not your typical thieves guild book. Instead, it is a book about a guild of criminals, not just thieves. For example: arsonists, beggars, corrupt priests, ladies of the night, an inner circle that is not quite what you expect it to be; all with an extensive background. A large number of characters are fleshed out in the book. You can use this book to put a complete, premade criminal guild in your campaign world. Myself, I use elements in the book in my campaign. With such a great book, I can use it in many campaigns to come.

I also own the ad&d second edition "complete thieves handbook". The difference between these books is evident: the Solomon Guild really fleshes out a guild. Not just characters that stand on their own, or a character that you can play (though there a many great ideas you can use if you want to play a criminal). There is always a context, which brings the characters to life.

Highly recommended.

Solomon Guild: A Gallery of Rogues Pt 1 This review will attempt to give a general overview without spoiling any good surprises.

This book is a very well put together resource for a GM who wants a great thieves guild in his campaign. The details of the campaign/city are bare-bones, so that a minimum of work will be required to have this information work for the harried GM's world/campaign of choice. That said, Post World Games (PWG) does a great job of giving a fairly detailed breakdown of the guild's organization, the different positions and different intrigues within the guild.

PWG gives the title/nickname of each position within the guild along with a description of what that particular position actually does for the guild. In addition, PWG gives some information of those affiliated with the guild, while not members outright. They also do a great job of explaining how the guild fits in the city, and that it is assumed that Solomon guild is not the only thieves guild, just one of the most successful.

PWG also gives some Thieves cant and what each word/phrase means. This is helpful for those who aren't familiar with the historical terms.
I really like how PWG gives good descriptions of those fronts and safe-houses, as well as how the PCs might go about joining the guild.

As someone who likes to play the roguish sorts of characters in RPGs this book is a great resource that I will make use of, and I am sure you would find it helpful as well, even as a player it gives you nice details and ideas to pilfer from for your characters.
There are also tons of NPCs included, with full stat blocks and lots of great artwork.

PWG also have several related products for the Solomon Guild.

5 stars, overall great writing, solid artwork and very useful.