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Wine Dark Void is full of information for those who like their games to happen in the deep, dark depths of space. And Slipspace. It's a sizable cookbook, full of delicious ingredients, ready for you to take and throw into your game to enhance the feel and wonders of the unknown. And, it goes into space combat. And I love it!
To start, there is a really beautiful sheet to use for tracking opponent locations as well as vehicle stats. It's the kind of sheet I want to print out in full color and laminate so I can use it time and time again for space battles. And it's all centered on the heroes ship. All the maneuvers are simple and well explained to make space combats fast, furious and intensely fun. There is even a cinematic damage chart! What's cooler, blowing 5 hitpoints off your opponents ship, or causing a surge to go to the pilot's station and disable him in a halo of static and arching bursts of energy?
With all the extra locations, ships, explanations and rules expansions, this is a great book for fans of this game. If your group likes to spend time in space, this is almost a must have. I highly recommend it.
http://podcast.sharkbonegames.com
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HELLAS is a heroic space opera role-playing game designed around fact, fiction, and folklore of Ancient Greece. This is not Ancient Greece in space but rather a completely unique setting where character races, bestiary, gods, and much of the setting’s design derive from Ancient Greece. It is very unique compared to most space opera systems in that it’s very heroic in design similar to the adventures to be had in epic fantasy. This is not a game about exploring the depths of space and encountering unknown beings, it is about your characters being the center of a grand storyline that actually develops around their actions and decisions.
HELLAS is powered by the Omni System, a table-based d20 system where the results of a roll are determined by comparing them to the Omni Table with defined results. A character’s attribute and applicable skill are added together to form the modifier for the d20 roll along with difficulty modifiers determined by the Game Master (GM). Characters are designed to be heroic with an assortment of skills to choose from and a grouping of interesting character races straight from Greek mythology. HELLAS is an extremely unique game system with an exciting heroic version of space opera.
OVERALL
Fantasy is the most popular genre in tabletop role-playing. In fact, there are many fantasy players that just don’t care for science fiction. Most space opera systems contain aspects that these fantasy players simply do not find appealing. Space opera is not typically heroic in nature and characters rarely performing world-altering deeds. Their actions and decisions do not affect those around them, especially the world as a whole. In many fantasy settings, the deeds of the heroic characters are life and world altering. HELLAS bridges that gap between fantasy and space opera without simply turning into fantasy sci-fi. It takes the technology and spacecraft aspects of space opera and combines them with the heroic and life-altering deeds of fantasy. HELLAS could take those hesitant fantasy players and convince them that space opera can be just as exciting as fantasy.
RATINGS
Publication Quality: 8 out of 10
HELLAS has a very interesting layout. The entire book is published in landscape format with a flow and presentation that is simple, effective, and easy-to-read. Some sections have a tricky use of white space due to the placement of illustrations (particularly 1/4 page illustrations). The publication uses a lot of red and orange which get a bit overwhelming when in the form of tables. Other than that, the quality is fantastic with lots of beautiful illustrations. The full-page illustrations are excellent representations of the setting and everything carries that Greek appeal.
Mechanics: 8 out of 10
The use of the Omni Table is very unique. On one hand you always know what your ultimate goal numbers should be, getting there could be a bit more difficult. There are quite a few modifiers along with the GM being able to define the roll’s difficulty providing yet another modifier. Rather than the skill check resolution, the heroic mechanics are great. HELLAS introduces Glory to increase your character’s heroic aspect (in the eyes of those around them) along with introducing Fate which brings them closer and closer to death. Test fate and you will lose in the end. It’s a great way of balancing cause and effect along with forcing players to make possibly difficult decisions. What makes the mechanics effective is how they are blended together with character creation and heroic game-play. The Omni System supports this heroic game-play and I believe that is its purpose.
Desire to Play: 9 out of 10
One of the most desirable aspects of HELLAS is the uniqueness of the game setting. Not that Ancient Greece is unique, but interpreted in this way is unique. Possibly the other most desirable aspect is the heroic design of this space opera system as opposed to more traditional designs of space opera. The only thing that may deter players is the use of the Omni Table compared to traditional roll-under or roll-over methods. However, players and GMs should be aware that the true power of the system is the combination of the character attributes, skills, and heroic mechanics with the design of the Omni Table.
Overall: 8 out of 10
HELLAS is far from your traditional space opera setting and system. It perfectly blends heroic sci-fi with everything you can think about relating to Ancient Greece in a way that is not only unique but extremely interesting and colorful. It is also an all-encompassing system that includes the standard action and adventure along with space travel, space combat, politics (in a good way), and world altering encounters. It’s difficult to fully understand everything possible with HELLAS without actually seeing it.
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The quick start rules are very colourful.
I can't fault the artwork.
This PDF should use quite a bit of ink.
I'm guessing that the main rulebook would use quite a lot.
OMNI system: It uses a d20, the character compares their skill or attribute rating with a DoD (Degree of Difficulty).
Take the difference (positive, negative or zero) and add it to a d20.
Consult the Omni table, and the player contributes by describing their character's intent.
The GM interprets the outcome of the Omni table.
The bordering reminds me of TOG Legionnaire (FASA).
HELLAS: Greek mythology mixed with sci-fi.
Not a bad mixture
Worth getting the quick start rules.
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It's mostly a map of the Mediterranean, stylised and overlaid with a hex grid and some star graphics, but having said that, it looks very nice and makes imaginative use of its sources.
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Hellas is a smart, savvy, and, at times, sexy amalgam of classic Greek mythology and,modern space opera. Using an in-depth character creation system along with Talislanta's fast-paced Omni-system, Hellas allows players to seek glory an godhood in a multi-generational universe that is one part Star Wars and one part 300.
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One of the best game concepts i have come across in years, really looking forward to running the game.
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A very interesting update of the old Bard Games "Atlantis" and the “Arcanum” books which were written to be used with "any fantasy role-playing game" but the obvious choice was AD&D.
This book uses the Omni System, which is a bit like True20 and this can be used with True20 with a bit of tinkering.
The book is titled “Atlantis, the Second Age” so it is Atlantis, after the Flood. A bit odd, but I’ll go with it. Plenty of information on the world and despite the name you could run it as a pre-flood/pre-sinking Atlantean empire. Tons of new races, spells and magic, all pulled from the old Bard Games books ad updated to the Omi System.
It is a shame that no other books for this came out, but it can stand on it’s own. Great as a game in it’s own right or as a guide to an antediluvian time for any other game.
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This book is well worth the price.
After getting this PDF I ordered the Dead tree edition.
Its the powers system from Godsend RPG. I am a huge fan of supers RPGs. I own more than one edition of champions, My first GURPS supplement was supers and I own about every mutants and masterminds book in print.
This is by far my favorite Supers rules to date.
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Another finely crafted Hellas product. The situations that occur in the adventure are certainly different from previous games I've played, in a good way. Even though there are goals to accomplish, I certainly don't think that the players will feel railroaded into their choices. There is also a number of side mission ideas you can expand upon as well.
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Awesome product, I have the PDF & HC editions, the game is very neat and quite different & original. I Highly recommend!
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I bought it and it is not showing up as so. it says it is not one of my orders.
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Publisher Reply: |
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Is this a review of the product or the service provider?
If it’s the product please expand on the review so that I can learn what to do better. If it’s a result of the download service please contact them and let them know what’s up.
Anyone having a problem getting one of my products can contact me and I will do everything in my power to solve the problem and provide satisfaction
Thank you
Jerry D. Grayson
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Noch kann ich nicht zuviel dazu sagen, aber die Spielwelt von Hellas bietet mal etwas neues. Neue Rassen, die nicht dem typischen Zwerg, Elf, Ork Schema entsprechen. Eine neue (aber dennoch bekannte) Spielwelt mit der griechischen Mythologie und Science Fiction gepaart. Ich bin gespannt auf unsere ersten Spielsitzungen.
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I am pretty much in agreement with Mr. Franks' review above. I downloaded this pdf for free as a pert of the Thanksgivaway, but I'll mention as an endorsement for the setting that I purchased the d20Modern version at full price when that was released. The M&M version of Godsend Agenda is at least on par with Green Ronin's own Freedom City in terms of thoroughness and playability. The real gem here is the collection of anecdotes from various M&M GMs, including Steve Kenson, about how they have tweaked GA for their games. For those unfamiliar with the Godsend Agenda stetting, it is founded on a similar premise as Dr. Who; that is, the unexplained may be explained ultimately as some form of alien life or fantastic technology. Gamers who prefer an Egyptian flair in their games will appreciate it as well. If you don't have time to create your own setting, and Freedom City is too four-color for your taste, but Paragons too mundane, you might consider Godsend Agenda.
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I feel . . . Outdone.
I've been working on an Atlantis campaign setting for over 21 years. And these guys beat me to the punch. This game is very well done and a surprise to see. Everything is well made, and can include anything you desire. Set on our own planet, Atlantis the Second Age is a campaign setting with style and panache that exceeds that found in Eberron. It is the story of Atlantis, after Plato's devastating flood (the deluge wasn't all that devastating). And players and game masters are able to visit that fabled land. From Amazons to Atlanteans, to people peopling North America, this game+setting can give you a lot o enjoyment.
Atlantis the Second Age is actually the revision of a trilogy of books based on this setting. The original game was produced by Bard Games, and came in a trilogy. Morrigan Press' work has revised and updated the material presented in the trilogy. I don't know how faithful it is, but it seems to be very good work nontheless.
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Excellent production values. Full color throughout. The file has recently been updated and some typos/missing text have been fixed, resulting in a pdf ready for printing. The setting is rich and filled with campaign ideas. The original Godsend book has been converted to the Mutants & Masterminds rule set. For any M&M players out there, this sourcebook is a must buy.
LIKED: Very clever take on the "space gods" idea of super hero origins; but also plenty of other ideas for a rich and rewarding longterm campaign.
DISLIKED: I might suggest a version of the sourcebook that is easier to print for those who cannot afford a full color version; but getting a full color book for this price was a real value.
QUALITY: Excellent
VALUE: Very Satisfied
[THIS REVIEW WAS EDITED]
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