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Lucien's Guide: The Black Files (Diceless) $4.99
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Lucien's Guide: The Black Files (Diceless)
Publisher: Rite Publishing
by Thilo G. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 11/28/2014 04:07:25

An Endzeitgeist.com review

If you read this review, one of the following is true:

  1. You're me. Hello, handsome devil!

  2. I have shared this information with you - don't screw this up!

3.You have stolen this homepage - I have been notified of your identity and location.

  1. You have killed me. Good for you, but you have eliminated the ward that left a whole bunch of nastiness in check.

  2. I have died and you took up my mantle - good for you, but I hope I've had the chance to provide the keys, because I wasn't joking in 4.

...

This intro mirrors (in less vivid prose) how this guide begins - to give you an inkling of the level of quality of the writing. The pdf clocks in at 14 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 12 pages of raw content, so what is contained in these pages?

This pdf blasts off with a rant that actually had me laugh - on the nature of scholarship and misidentifying artifact and relics as Typhonian - only to provide what can only be called a cornucopia of diverse theories regarding the nature of Typhonians - as in the best of LoGaS-supplements, the content herein is all about potential - the theories are provided with cues to what is or may be true, but no universal monolithic truth is prescribed - we receive ideas: How the Typhonians and the grand stair interact, for example. What actually constitutes a Typhonian as to opposed what makes one an Echidnan - the added diversity makes for a truly compelling addition to the lore.

The second file contains information on a civilization kind of lost - the Ildari. A vast star-spanning empire that has been subject to a cataclysm, much like Warhammer 40 K's empire, it still looms strong, if not as powerful as before - having mastered space travel, the Ildari may make for a cool addition to one's world, especially since the Grand Stair as an alternative (including the opposition that uses it) may very well see a massive conflict brewing...awesome! Especially since proper mechanics for Ildari supplement the information provided -secret realms, arrays and cosmos make for great additions for the DM to weave stories around!

The third file kicks off with an amusing rant on the cliché of an evil overlord who called himself "Harbinger" - alas, the irreverent tone of the narrator is only half justified - unlike many similar pseudo-villains that think they're big shots until a Gossamer Lord/Lady puts them in their place, this guy actually had a very powerful patron - an entity called Matekai. This entity gobbles up world. Yes. And the irreverent tone might be justified, but on the other hand, this creature may be a Typhonian...or something completely different.

Speaking of different (and to me, profoundly frightening) - Basta. A plant that controls the biome of its whole world, the size of a town, which must have consumed an entity of significant power, receiving impossible knowledge. Worse, its strange psychology makes for a difficult decision on whether it is benign or simply amoral...and it's rooting on other planets.... shudders

The modification Basta-controlled for worlds and attributes for lesser and greater basta are provided.

A total of 4 diverse mini-hooks of outstanding Black Files are also provided before we're introduced to the Black Office -and the caretaker of the files, one lady Kitabu, fully portrayed in all her glory as an NPC servant of Lucien.

Conclusion:

Editing and formatting are top-notch, I noticed no glitches. Layout adheres to Rite Publishing's two-column full-color standard for LoGaS and the pdf comes studded with GLORIOUS full-color artwork of the highest quality. The pdf comes fully bookmarked for your convenience.

It is, in one word, ASTOUNDING how many awesome ideas Rob Donoghue has managed to cram into these pages - the content herein is universally inspiring, top-notch, and each and every Black File quoted herein can fuel an adventure, perhaps even a campaign. This book is one brilliant, superb supplement full of awesome ideas and should be considered not only a great buy for LoGaS-fans, but also for any DMs looking for inspiration (or simply a good read!) beyond what one usually receives in pdfs.

Final verdict? A must-buy LoGaS-pdf, well worth 5 stars + seal of approval!

Endzeitgeist out.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Lucien's Guide: The Black Files (Diceless)
Publisher: Rite Publishing
by Trev W. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 07/02/2014 23:08:01

Lucien’s Guide begins with a picture of a very creepy looking undead, chained underground with its mouth sewn shut and tearing at a beautiful glowing insect. This certainly has a lot of mystery, and this theme continues throughout as this book is about “some of the deepest secrets of the Universe” in the Lords of Gossamer & Shadow setting.

The preface is a great little primer by the character-author Lucien and it is very entertaining. The text is a series of reports by Lucien for the GM. It is conversational, easy to read, and pretty fun to go through.

There are a lot of jokes in-text and some very useful summaries in the conversation Lucien is having with the reader. Rob Donoghue can clearly write and it is believable, because while discussing ancient horrors the character of Lucien is frank with a sense of humour. How else would you discuss it? It is like this knowledgeable character is trying to get this information out as clearly as possible while also taking the reader along on a journey and not wanting them to freak out or go insane.

There are rules attached for using the entities covered, and my favourite is Basta: “Basta is... I suppose in the most technical sense, a plant”. I like the idea of a creeping partially-sentient jungle that experiments with different forms, what can I say. Definitely using that for one of my games. Especially its world-hopping aspect.

Lucien’s Guide, is simply really good. Definitely get it if you are into the setting or you want some new sci fi ideas (and you could re-work them for fantasy or Lovecraftian settings easily, yes, very easily).

5/5



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Lucien's Guide: The Black Files (Diceless)
Publisher: Rite Publishing
by Mark K. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 05/30/2014 17:16:17

Released last Thursday this is the latest supplement to hit the LoGaS line. Written by Rob Donoghue this source book offers up some of Lucien's (a major NPC of the Grand Stair) secretive and darker files that point to dangers or threats on the Stair that are little known. The cover of this book grabbed me as soon as I saw it and I was delighted to finally get my hands on this gem.

The book is broken up into a selection of files and they are largely themed to items and worlds that may have been affected by Typhonians at one time or another. The preface to the book talks about how many people attribute a lot to the effects of the Typhonian's and also talks about a possible Typhonian "event" that may have occurred. This makes for a really interesting introduction and gives some great insight into possible genesis events of the Grand Stair, even perhaps the purpose of the Stair.

There is a new mechanic introduced in this booklet that I have gotten excited about too. The mechanic is attached to domains and expands them to include "realms". Now a realm means that you can expand the scope of your domain to perhaps include other realities (like perhaps an astral realm, a fey realm etc) all overlaid to the current world. It would also suit the idea of different planes as set out in most fantasy RPG's. Also there is the option here to include interstellar communities and realms. This is worth the price of the book alone!

The book is very piecemeal by design. It contains compartmentalized information and it is very clear where sections start and end. It is a good format and one that I hope they return to, perhaps giving out more of the "Black Files" in the same format. As a format it also gives the GM the idea on how to and what to write in this way for their own adventures. I can already see my NPC Fambol the Kind trying to get his hands on as many of these as possible.

The art work is incredible and really adds some great visual prompts to the files being discussed. My absolute favourite is the picture of Tyran the Demon God. Check it out as he looks like a horrifying school girl with pigtails. I love it. It is possibly not the effect sought after but it made me giggle like a schoolgirl with pigtails and so it is my favourite picture followed by the image of Sophia.

So, after writing all of that I can see that I have had nothing bad to say at all about the book. Well then, it is obvious that my summary is about to say GO GET THIS BOOK. Lucien's Guide: The Black Files is another top quality addition to the Lords of Gossamer and Shadow dice-less role playing game and I give it 5 out of 5 horrifying school girl's with pigtails! What are you doing still reading. Go get the book!



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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