A fine addition to an already well-developed game line. This puts a little grim guts and glory into Woodland Warriors but doesn't overshadow any of the work that has come before it. It lacks some details but in other respects it is a good addition, with new rules, many new character options and a new setting to play in.

I have a more in-depth review of this game at http://knightsoftheblackbanner.blogspot.com/2011/12/woodland-warriors-at-sea-review.html

... a welcome addition to the Woodland Warriors line. Now, we need Woodland Warriors of the Far East and Woodland Warriors Space Opera.

(originally posted on TenkarsTavern.com)

If you can't guess by the creature on the cover, it's an RPG similar to Redwall (I have that game packed away somewhere) and Harvesters (based on the C&C ruleset). You get to role play some woodland creatures in a game loosely based on Swords & Wizardry.

Why do I say loosely based? It's strictly a D6 based game. Yes, even combat uses a lowly D6. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big Tunnels & Trolls fan... I like my D6s by the buckets. Still, its a bit jarring to go into this with a preconceived notion of a D20 based game and come out holding D6s.

Does it work? From what I can see it should. You may need to get past measuring distance in "paws" instead of "feet", but it's a cut concession that the kids may enjoy. Still, most of the mechanics and stats are easy enough to convert back and forth to the Core S&W rules.

Combat may take some getting used to (I had the combat section multiple times to understand the Hit Dice / Combat Dice resolution, and the ability to roll less dice for an "add" to the remaining dice. I've got a feeling it would have been easier to grasp w/o all the D&D baggage I came in with.

Advancement is limited to 6 levels (limited advancement is also a feature of Harvesters), which is probably enough for younger gamers. Sometimes, less is more.

Rounding it all out is a sandboxie setting and an adventure to get the party started. All in all, a very complete package that should work well with younger gamers or an experienced group looking for a change of pace. Just remember to leave the polyhedrons behind. All you need are some D6.

I'd say that Barbarians of Lemuria is a great PDF value for $7.50. If you want a rules light game that works well for Swords and Sorcery this is it. There is a free version out there, but a few things are missing and hey, for under $10 I'll support the author of the game through a purchase.

The PDF layout and style is a solid 3 stars, it is very...indie. But it does the job. As far as they system goes, as a rules light system it would appear to work very well, though to be honest I haven't gotten a campaign going yet. I can easily see expanding this system out to cover more genres, like Barbarians of the Aftermath does very well. If you look on the Lords of Lemuria site there are a lot of simple but interesting suggestions by other players and GM's on how to tweak or add to the rules which are well worth a look though. I can see myself running several Barbarians of Lemuria campaigns in the future and tweaking the rules a bit here and there each time to expand out the game a little bit more. Other reviewers have already gone into how the BoL works in depth so I'll just hit the highlights.

• No skill list, you have careers instead (kind of like Warhammer but much simpler). Skills that would go along with a career are assumed to be had.

• Innovative four tiered magic system that with a little creativity would be very interesting and enjoyable for players.

• Combat is quick and abstract, no real need for figures or maps but you can use them obviously if you wish.

• Generally skill test are 2D6 + attribute + skill (sometimes) - difficulty trying to beat a 9. 12 and 2 are special.

• There is a simple boon/flaw system, hero points are used, and though level-less there are rules for character advancement.

• Armor is an after thought, no rules of magical weapons per se, but there are semi-fleshed out rules for making special items through alchemy. My take is that too much majic might skew probability curve a bit much if too many pluses are thrown into the mix.

All-in-all I really like the system. Some old school players, especially consummate D&D fans might find the BoL rules system a little too light. Also high fantasy folks might not like the fact that wizards in Lemuria are very powerful but spell use is less common. A wizard might throw just a few spells per game session. Also magic items aren't laying around everywhere. Advancement is through stats, not items so much, but GM's can teak to suit.

I'd like to jump on the Lemurian band wagon and give it a five. I give the rules light system a five. But after getting the PDF and hard bound copies of Barbarians of the Aftermath and Barbarians of Lemuria on the same week, comparing the too is like night and day. Barbarians of Lemuria's manuscript could use some layout enhancement.

So I'll initially give BoL four stars. the game system is innovative, looks to be very fun to play, will move fast with rules generally staying out of the way, and BoL has most if not all of the rules you need to run a Conan-ish swords and sorcery game. I give the BoL system a 4.5 or a 5.

So my combined score would be four stars.

But...since I'm a rookie and this is one of my first reviews I'm going to mark it as five. I don't want to diss any Barbarians out there...and for $7.50, or the price of a taco bell run, it is five stars for the value.

Like Billiam Babble, I was also impressed enough after reading my download to purchase a hardcopy from Lulu.com. I have really enjoyed some of Simon Washbourne's other games, particularly Barbarians of Lemuria & Dogs of W.A.R.but had the urge for something "D&Dish". Tombs and Terrors is a complete game (with starting adventure!) based upon the d20 OGL. It features a very intuitive system for saves etc based upon Primary, Secondary & Tertiary characteristics. It is well presented - concise, easily readable, and well laid out with an interesting selection of B&W art. The author stated on one of the RPG forums that this was something that suited him, and that he released it in the hope that it may suit someone else - I think, particularly now that Simon Washbourne is offering this for FREE, it would almost be rude not to D/L this to see if it suits you too!

In a world of 300+ page RPG rule books GFYG! is a breath of fresh air. The rules are open and flexible but at the same time complete. I can see with just a bit of finagling GFYG! could be adapted to many settings.

This is a fun rules-lite system for pulp style Sword & Sorcery adventures, aimed more at the story-telling style of the RPG spectrum (as opposed to detailed tactical miniature battles like D&D 4e). The idea of using careers in place of a skill list is brilliant. The boons & flaws rules also add even more ways to personalize your character with one simple mechanic - roll an extra die and take the best two for a related boon, or the worst two if invoking a flaw. Simple and easy to remember.

I recently ran one of the scenarios for a group of people which included complete novices, and they had no problems picking up the system and getting into the game. Most importantly, everyone had a blast and wanted to play again. Highly recommended.

This rulebook is really growing on me. After downloading this PDF I bought a printed copy from Lulu.com Although it's not a "retro-clone" (and doesn't pretend to be) and definitely has an "Old School" build. Tombs &Terrors feels like it's written by a DM from the early 80's flipping through the d20 SRD or DnD3 rules, rediscovering the game rules he is most familiar with.

It would make a perfect gift as an introductory rules for novice gamers, and it would also work as a sort of "primer" for 3e fantasy rule systems.

The inclusion of a scenario and character sheet are both a real plus - making it a "complete" product -in a dizzying world of core sets and multiple expansions.

If you like DnD3/3.5, Pathfinder or other d20-style fantasy titles, and perhaps your a fan of older editions, fast play, light ruleset, want to make a one-off purchase, but you also need a rulebook that's "portable" ... then Tombs and Terrors is definitely for you.

It reminds me, in a positive way of the Simpson's definition of "brunch": "It's not quite what you expect ... but you get a good meal!"

-Billiam B.

Full review / "old school musings": http://bit.ly/rpgblog_ToTe

Dogs of WAR is a game with a lot of potential. The system is quick and easy to use, where it expands on Barbarians of Lemuria it does so well, and there is some nice artwork hidden between these pages. However, the layout and presentation really let this one down, and the game is crying out for a revision, perhaps one that expands to encompass other action/espionage material.

I have a more in-depth review of this game at http://knightsoftheblackbanner.blogspot.com/2011/08/dogs-of-war-review-part-i.html

Quite possibly the finest swords and sorcery role-playing game out there. With a simple, intuitive system, a focus on bold adventures and sagas, BoL tosses out anything that doesn't belong in a world of savage bloodshed, thievery and dark magic. Recommended without hesitation.

I have a more in-depth review of this game at http://knightsoftheblackbanner.blogspot.com/2011/08/barbarians-of-lemuria-review-part-i.html

An easy-to-learn, quick-to-play superhero game that sticks to its guns on the kind of comic adventures it emulates, ignoring modern "dark" heroes in favour of the colourful and iconic silver-age style. Well-written and solid in implementation, Supers! is a good book indeed.

• I have a more in-depth review of this game at http://knightsoftheblackbanner.blogspot.com/2011/07/supers-review-part-i.html

A well-implemented variant setting. Your mileage may vary depending on your interest in a fantasy-western mix, but if you have even the slightest interest in the ideas and rules presented here, I'd recommend this one. A substantial outing for Woodland Warriors, superior to Greyrock Isle.

I have a more in-depth review of this game at http://knightsoftheblackbanner.blogspot.com/2011/07/woodland-warriors-out-west-review.html

A solid, workable campaign setting with a Robin Hood vibe. It adds kind, classes, and some optional rules that fit snugly into the core game. The lack of an adventure is the only real failing.

• I have a more in-depth review at http://knightsoftheblackbanner.blogspot.com/2011/07/woodland-warriors-greyrock-isle-review.html

Woodland Warriors is a toolkit role-playing game built up from an old school rules set that doesn't 100% work for it, but does serve well enough. It is not entirely a bare-bones product, presenting a setting and reasonably good quick start adventure. For anyone who likes the idea of intelligent and civilized animal characters without a hint of anime-furry basis, but who couldn't get into Mouseguard due to the oddities of the Burning Wheel rules, this is a good choice.

• I have a more in-depth review of this game at http://knightsoftheblackbanner.blogspot.com/2011/06/woodland-warriors.html

Another great supplement for Woodland Warriors. This one offers simple rules for dealing with guns. The best aspect is the inclusion of prarrie dogs as a Kind... so cute. But again, we're told of Kind journeying across the sea with no guidelines for playing out such sea journeys.