The biggest shame here is that Hero Force could actually be a pretty cool and competitive product... If only the publishers didn't treat it like some campy second stringer product. The rules are serviceable, if unfortunately deadly (why?) and there's some good ideas in here, along with twice as many missed opportunities.

What could have been a very strong rules-light superhero game line doesn't reach half the potential, but for the right group willing to put the work in, it might well be possible to bring out the good and smooth out the bad.

Ah, the barrier peaks book of WTF?!? If you want to see a weird preview of Metamorphosis Alpha in your Classic D&D game, this is it... Weirdly layed out (there are two thirds of the .pdf made up of artwork, varying in quality and some in full colour) and woefully unbalanced. It'll kill dozens of PC's regardless of level, but those who claw their way out will have the most ludicrously overpowered sci-fi weapons going... Er... If you like the idea, go for it.

Both the Danger at Dunwater and the Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh are flat-out classics to many D&D players. While they aren't as pretty or developed as modern DM's might be used to, they're still a fascinating read and a good insight into some of the better known early adventures.

Both the Danger at Dunwater and the Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh are flat-out classics to many D&D players. While they aren't as pretty or developed as modern DM's might be used to, they're still a fascinating read and a good insight into some of the better known early adventures.

Like all the basic D&D GAZ collection, this is a background/setting-rich product with only a little in the way of new mechanics (the rare dwarf cleric most notably). If you want to develop on your Dwarf PC's, or just learn their place in the world, it's a fine book. Otherwise it is only a novelty, or something to fill the collection.

As with all the gazetteers, the Five Shires is very in-depth, adding whole swathes of background detail to Mystara. Of special note is that this was written entirely by Ed Greenwood, and I haven't come across much non-FR material by him over the years.

It shines a different light on halflings, certainly giving them an identity beyond Tolkien's 'farmers and scouts' stereotype. But overall its value depends on whether you're interested in developing or using the Hin a great deal.

Reasonable scan considering its age. Basic chapter bookmarks included.

Immortals is the final set of rules for Basic, and continues to be of high quality regardless of age. Overall, it's likely the most comprehensive set of rules you'll never get around to using, but is concise and complete if you want to use Immortals as PC's, or have much greater focus in Mystara campaigns.

Another classic D&D adventure module for Thunder Rift. This one stands out as one of the better ones, and serves as a good module for a sizeable group. While the plot is minimal and a few areas strike me as odd, the whole affair is easy to run (a standard for Thunder Rift adventures) and much detail is given for each area to help the DM.

I've avoided the temptation to make it a 1st Level dungeon, but think it'll be enjoyed by my group when they're up to the challenge of it.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: The standard Thunder Rift play aids are nice, the production values are slightly better than most modules of the day too.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: As with most D&D products, the scan could be better than it is.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>

Wow! How to review this?

Well, it's Hommlet... About as close to the classic D&D set-up as you're going to get. This Greyhawk-based village is described in detail with lots of maps, stats, secrets and personalities.

It DEMANDS use of the AD&D ruleset, which is a bit silly but was pretty much the tone of TSR back in the day. As it stands it'll work fine with Basic D&D and is not a tough conversion to 3.5 or another fantasy system entirely.

While no full adventures are provided, it serves as a base for player characters to explore from (the much-beloved moat house is provided of course!) and naturally it is designed to be used along with the 'Temple of Elemental Evil'.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: It is THE classic populated area for me (and likely many other players too) and is pretty much as cool as you remember it being.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: The production values are, essentially, nil. The scan isn't great either.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>

Bought on a whim, the Fuzion rules still aren't my preference over the Interlock ones. Still, as a cut-price generic rules set, they're serviceable enough.

They lack any real personality however, and aren't 'complete' without some conversion to (whatever game you want to play). Creating skills, powers and traits suitable for different styles of campaign means work, though R.Tal' have done some games on the system already that might provide help with that.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Acceptable<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>

Previous reviews have suggested that this product is difficult to use due to poor scanning. While 'In Search of Adventure' isn't a top-notch modern product, I've had no problem reading it myself.

Overall this combines most of the B-Series of classic D&D adventures and makes some effort to combine them into a sequential campaign. It is relatively successful, though if you want to bring it up to date, be prepared to do some work.

Essentially it is what it is, a bargain pack of classic D&D adventures. None are truly spectacular, though most are serviceable and might well 'scratch the itch' of old school fans or someone wanting to try out pre 3.5 stuff.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: LOTS of material for the price. The quality is acceptable and a few really nice touches are to be found in amongst the adventures. For the DM with some time to flesh it out, this could actually be a very good campaign setting. For the DM without such time, its still a valuable dungeon crawl collection with some plot.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: The campaign concept itself isn't really fulfilled, and some material from the original adventure modules has been removed (for space I guess) which is a shame. Still, as mentioned above, it's a bargain pack, so the complaint is hardly a big one.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Acceptable<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>

Keeping this brief, I'll simply say that as long as you don't demand a high volume of complex and detailed rules, OVA is a very good little rpg indeed.

It's light enough to get non-gamers who like anime into it, and just about crunchy enough for old hands. Simpler than BESM by far, and a faster play.

It will need a good GM to run, and assumes the players will get into the apporpriate genre/style, because otherwise it's probably easy to break.

Otherwise, top stuff, well recommended, especially at the price.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: Good look, mostly good art, nice layout.

Excellent indexing and reference, fully bookmarked.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: No 'quick sheets' for the rules is a missed opportunity, but that's nit-picking.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>

As with a few of the early D&D adventures this one is light on story and heavy on action. In this case it holds tofether quite well and provides an entertaining low level adventure for Thunder Rift.

I'd say that each DM is likely to want to tailor it to his own ends (I found it a big tough personally) but it's certainly not a bad purchase if you're planning on using the other Thunder Rift books.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Acceptable<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>

Something of a missed opportunity this one. Everything here is pretty good and holds up quite well... It just left me wanting more than was given.

Rakasta race and background is fine, even the option to play 'em (up to level 6 anyways) and adventures for Thunder Rift are all good.

I just would have liked more than what there is I guess.

Still for the .pdf price, there's really no complaining.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>

Sword and Shield is designed as a one-player adventure in the Thunder Rift min-setting for basic D&D. It has a single (combative) hero PC of 1st to 3rd level compete in a knightly contest, while trying to fend off evil knights and rescue some kidnapped villagers.

<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: It's a clear adventure that's easy to modify to your own preferences and provides a change to the usual D&D dungeon crawling. Better, it has a (basic but useable) plot that might be a good test-bed for DM's interested in adding more chivalry and knightly elements to the game.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: It's fatal for a single 1st level character! The cheap and cheerful way to boost XP in it is gonna be a pain in the arse when the players want to repeat the process later in a a campaign.

The jousting isn't terribly detailed, but that's easily fixed.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Acceptable<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>