Equipment Maker SciFi Edition Volume 1 - Firearms

I knew I wasn't going to get much for my money, but, I was a bit surprised how little I got.

While there are tables with lists of names and qualities, these qualities largely go undefined. When combined with random determination of the various categories, one ends up with nonsensical weapons with no game effects even hinted at, such as: 87 Stunning Toxic Mending Gun

The Mark System (Mk. #) is supposed to point the GM in the direction of how powerful the weapon is across all categories (damage, ammunition capacity, etc.), and in the most superficial fashion it could 'help', but it really isn't worth the trouble of rolling on a percentile table which has results ranging from 1-20. The amount of work a GM would have to go through to make the very loose terminology in this pdf work with a sci-fi game seems like something that could be done with the RPG in question alone, and this product's tables only useful in quickly generating nonsense names. These names, however, will sound very enticing to Players who will want a: 99 Withering Chaotic Chain Spray, and want it to do something awesome in their chosen RPG system; this product will not do this for the GM.

So, what are we left with? This product may be an interesting starting point for lengthy prep for an idea-deprived GM, but other than that, I'd suggest saving your money and giving this a pass.

The fact that this book is for 5th edition makes it wonderfully useful, even for backwards compatibility, but in 5th, it fits a wonderful niche overlooked by anything officially released, namely, informationon Warlock Patrons.

Immortal Domains combined with Warlock Patronage equals a campaign, from both a PC Warlock--, as well as the Patron Immortal's perspective; a campaign in which the setting can be forever altered in favour of the Patron Immortal and its loyal Warlocks, whether taking place over the span of centuries, or in a swift revolution. All of this is augmented by the time powers and the ability to edit events on the fly...

Top notch ideas, great implementation, and forgivble use of some sort of pink chart and box text highlihgting.

I've purcha$ed a printed copy, and, I suspect that you will, too.

Let me preface this review by saying that I really don't like FATE at all. I download these settings when they look interesting, and most fall flat for me as very niche ideas or what have you...

This one, however, is really good, like, REALLY GOOD. I recommend players of any fantasy RPG system to pay something to download this setting module. The artwork is quirky, and at times, downright lovely. Wait until you see the Emerald Knight in its full glory, or the alien line up piece.

OK, what is this about? A low tech setting, potentially fantastical, but mediaeval-like in technology and feudal set up, is invaded by space (or dimensional) aliens. Which aliens? A quick idea generator is included, as well as defined powers for comparison to other systems, for outlining them in a manner germane to your chosen game system.

Imagine the Emerald Knight as a Green Slaad and the invaders as Githyanki, for instance.

Again, well worth a paid download.

Ongoing Damage is hopefully the first in a line of short adventure skeletons for Post Apocalypse gaming. Thes three scenarios suggest an Earth and US not too long after the apocalypse, where older characters could have been alive during the collapse.

In the first scenario, a real quadary is presented, and may be better used after knowing the PCs in a GM's game through several other adventures before springing this one on them, but perhaps the core conflict is visceral enough that most players would wan to see it through to the end.

In the second scenario, I can't help but think of the Cinemax series, Banshee, and the sorts of unsavory types that viewers were exposed to on that show. The friendly NPCs, both the woman, and the group, are potential long term contacts with plenty to offer the PCs, with several other adventure hooks easiy derived from their association.

The third scenario, possibly tying into the second, is charming and a bspot of light in the dark setting, but the opposition should offer a real challenge to PC goups, and would make great recurring villains, similar to the Cartel badguys in Syfy's Z Nation series.

I am looking forward to more of these, in the same vein, and not more complex or glitzy, but would easily suggst a Pay What You Want scheme for them.

The preface informs us that this is not a retroclone, but more of a simulacrum, harkening back to the older games, and even attempts to evoke this feeling through a less crafted presentation, as well as reproductions of mediaeval woodcuts and paintings. It works. From the cover fonts, which remind me of Dimension Six, Inc,'s The Compleate Fantasist, to the physical presentation of the rules, this feels like it is from the earliest Seventies of wargaming-RPGs.

Character generation involves rolling three dice and choosing the best two, as well as a few figured characteristics. We are then presented with three classes: fighting, mystical, and roguish. Each of these has several stages of development each of which has its own rolled additions to the character's statistics. Next come the brief descriptions of kit-like professions which do a lot to customise and differentiate characters from the basic classes. Equipment is added from a few of the professions, but not all.

Next is the Addendum, which opens up more individual customisation of characters, further removing the sense that a fighter is a fighter is a fighter.

The presentation of armour, arms, and combat provides a wonderful addition of details that matter based upon choice of kit and in just a few statements (asterisk notes), we understand how to apply these modifiers to conduct one on one, melee, and ranged combat. Initiative is modified by both armour and arms employed, and armour provides protection points to reduce damage.

Beasts and Humans are presented with enough statistics to perform combat, but so much detail as to become cumbersome.

The Referee or GM's rules section is intended to be Eyes Only and with good reason.

There are no spells, no lists of magic items, but there are great random tables, and some are very creative, and all are useful for games of this sort.

Is this a modern, multi-gendered take on Perilous Ages? No. GMs expecting non-binary gender, heterosexual brothel visits will be undeservedly disappointed. This game is not intended to emulate the present enlightenment, but rather, the Perilous Ages it makes clear through the tables is a rough, merciless world and era. Is it multicultural, no, again, not surprisingly considering what it is emulating. Can a GM run it in a more enlightened, multi-gendered, multi-cultural version of mock-mediaevalism. Of course. Just don't expect it to be part of the base text.

What I like most about it is that is feels both fresh and forgotten, like the non-mainstream published gaming supplements of my youth that called out from the shelves of the Davie, FL. Compleat Strategist of yore, and from the amateur gaming mags of a bygone era. It feels like it belongs to the world of my gaming history.

Full disclosure: I did not receive a comp copy, but used my own money to purchase the Lulu print, sight unseen, before buying the pdf here.

The Front Field Manual by Mark A. Hunt is a hack of The Black Hack. The system is a Roll-Under d20 based resolution method which greatly reduces the need for lengthy explanation and formulae. Everything about The Front is economical, getting the GM and Players directly into the action of adventures in a war environment, and in the specific case of World War Two. While Europe is assumed to be the centre of action, there are examples of the sorts of campaigns (and how appropriate that term is when dealing with a military RPG) one can run with The Front. Among this section are listed action in the Pacific Theatre, both from an Allied perspective, as well as indigenous peoples' fighting in resistence to Imperial Japanese ambitions. Other campaign suggestions include the Maquis across Europe, as well as more exotic fighters, on all sides of the conflict(s).

In the small framework of The Front, a great variety of information is conveyed in a very direct and approachable manner; Hunt's writing is informal, but not discursive, and each topic feels resolved when one has digested the encapsulated data. I am especially appreciative of his method of resolving short bursts and full-auto rules for SMGs and MGs. Once those two rules are understood, aircraft MGs naturally flow from that and a GM will know how to conduct air to ground fire. Expanded vehicle rules are in the works, but one section that struck me as both interesting and very useful is that during the time of the war, Jeeps are incredibly common. Further on in the text, there is an anecdote about the Officer operating the vehicle with the troops in the back, unlike Wehrmacht cars being driven by underlings. Between the sparing rules and the flavour text, The Front encourages play in the conflict depicted.

Hunt, however, expands things with both the possibility of using the rules set with modern warfare, as well as fantastical fodder, such as ghouls, werewolves, and vampires. With The Front, a GM willing to read a few articles on the Web and spring a unique setting or angle can cater to virtually any group of players. The Front is as mucha toolbox as it is a fully functional RPG.

I am rather taken with it, and its approach has made me think about other, future hacks of theis versitile game system. I highly recommend you give it a try.

I like it. I don't possess either Sword Coast, nor Abyss, but it was immediately understandable and provides a good sampling of what seems reasonable results from the Abyss adventure series.

I like the Muck Dwarves, and immediately was reminded of the Ooze Master from the 3e Druid (etc.) book, which seemed like it would go well with the new sub-race. Likewise, a Muck Dwarf Warlock of Zugtmoy seems like a nice combination.

The makeshift weapons seems reasonable, and very easy to implement.

The art is evocative and fits the book's themes well, too.

Nice. I am looking to add the print copy to my 5e book collection.

Thank you.

Battle Strikers is a genius treatment of the '80s action figure genre of specialist team infiltration and shoot'em-up.

Very simple system, but detailed enough to seem custom tailored to the premise, and very well written for the 'Greatest American Hero' variety in particular. Serial numbers have been lightly filed off, and everyone you'd expect is there.

You cannot go wrong.

I will be upfront about this: I received a complimentary review copy. Next: I think the natural attacks for these creatures should be higher, by how much I cannot say, but, these things seem like they should be meaner; I'd likely run them one Die-Type higher in natural attacks, but, I'm kinda mean.

These monsters not only fit the Evil Dead Ash bill very well, but would serve as a playable Revenant PC with careful consideration.

The sort of forces these creatures could lead and their variety makes this a very attractive monster 'module' to plug into any FRP game, not just Labyrinth Lord. In Mutant Future, for instance, they could serve as super zombies and mutant lords without alteration. In Starships & Spacemen, with a simple re-skin, these are easily some of the nastier aliens around, possibly used to have Zangid and Human forces temporarily ally against them.

I keep coming back to the Evil Undead Ash from Army of Darkness, and I get that wicked smile.

I agree with Eric F's review, and can say that the translation to Sci-Fi was a fun one. Using the Demi-God Race pdf I created an Encounter Critical DGR character, using LEAdership in place of Charisma, resulting in 7 Powers -- right in line with the power level of that setting and system.

I liked the section on Divine Enemy, as it creates many opportunities for conflict without it necessarily diving into combat.

Divine Legacy and both parents being DGRs is an intriguing nation-state in any setting, and lends itself to (Anti-)Paladins as the main expression of this legacy.

Very powerful, not for the GM who doesn't think it through, but a great product for those willing to take the time and build the DGR into the setting, giving more than one nation or pantheon a few of these exceptional characters.

See my review of Isle of the Rat Wizard for conversion to various D&Ds

I'll be honest when I say I preferred the Isle of the Rat Wizard, but this little adventure should be thought of more as a great drop-in piece with the potential to be a Secret of Saltmarsh meets Secret of Bone Hill mashup. Seemingly fall-off-a-log-simple adventure with throw away plot, this little nugget could really be used well as the mate with IotRW, as they suggest in the beginning of W!HCtD. I even thought of running this one first and then placing the mcguffin for defeating the baddie in this adventure on the Isle of the Rat Wizard. The magic items in each are strangely, alluringly similar, suggesting a possible greater unseen whole.

Buy this and give it its due expansion and integration in your setting. Buy IotRW, too, and combine them.

Please pay these folks something, they are well worth your time.

Man, these are fun! I really enjoyed Isle of the Rat Wizard.

The system takes a moment to parse for older D&D editions. The AC is ascending, and starts at 0. The magic appears to indicate the spell levels, meaning one must work backwards to determine the caster level in one's preferred edition. Everything seems to do 1d6 damage, like 0e D&D before Greyhawk introduced polyhedral damage and hit dice.

The laid-back, almost Adventure Time cartoony quality of the adventure is just to convey the concepts as far as I am concerned, and can be played in a more serious tone (as I prefer), with little effort. There are great ideas here for expanding the locale and increasing the coolness of certain sections, as well as increasing the difficulty.

Don't let the goofy art turn you away, nor the seemingly simple premise; this is great spot-adventure product that could be expanded to a multi-session adventure locale with little effort.

Pay these folks something for their effort.

This random-table distributed adventure is very well written and offers many more possibilities than the 20 encounters included. For the most part, they could even be run sequentially without too much strain of belief, and as random encounters, they work very well; each contributing to the overall feel of the locale and the mythology of the site.

The art is for the GM, and I found it both disarming and charming, like a wink and nod, although the adventure is not cutsie by any means. It is actually a pretty brutal and lethal adventure for lower level characters; I'd be surprised if there won't be casualties.

I urge GMs to D/L this and after reading it, go back and pay a reasonable price for this Pay-What-You-Want adventure; it is well worth the time to read, and provides a lot of play-value due to its modular structure -- any encounter can be dropped into any snowy setting or scenario.

Big Thumbs Up

I had the honour of playing this while it was still in playtest, and I have played it since, as well as GMing a session. So much of the system is a brilliant distillation of core Fantasy gaming concepts into a really smooth and fast-playing rules set. The Class es keyed to each of the Ability Scores makes creating a non-confining character which still has the convenience of class-construction and even faster than anything outside of Microlite20 or WMR.

The creature construction guidelines make for very simple, low to no-prep encounter fine tuning, and coupled with a very exciting combat system, the 'meat and potatoes' of Fantasy gaming is held up to a high standard for other systems to aspire.