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Fantasy Craft, Second Printing (Crafty Games)
402 page PDF
The good:
I really enjoyed the point-buy system for creating NPC/Monster challenges for the party to face. I've never seen anything like it before.
The bad:
Unfortunately, the bad outweighs the good. Organizationally, this book is a hot mess. I read the character creation chapter twice, and I am still not sure I understand it. (I have been gaming for 30 years) Most of the book just seems needlessly complex to me.
After reading the dozen-plus glowing reviews on this website, I was expecting this to be the best book in the history of gaming. (I guess disappointment was inevitable)
The bottom line:
If you are looking for a ready-made campaign, this isn't your game. It's more of a toolbox that lets you create the fantasy of your choosing. Be prepared to do a LOT of work preparing and planning the campaign before play begins.
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Overview: PDF, 84 pages
Includes everything you need to run a game in 84 pages! Chapters are as follows: Introduction, Character Creation, Gameplay, GM Guidelines, Setting Overview.
This book assumes that you know what an RPG is and how to roleplay a character. So, not a whole lot of long-winded explanations. That being said, this would be a great RPG to start new players in.
The good:
Some people have derided BBF as a 'beer and pretels' game. I disagree with that assessment. It is decidedly rules-light, but in a good way. More time is spent rolling dice than looking up obscure rules scattered over a dozen books. I call that a positive.
The bad:
It could use a few more monsters. More monsters are showing up in the modules, so I guess they are working on this issue.
Bottom line: Best money you will spend on a basic RPG this year.
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Disclosure: As a frequent ICE/GCP customer, I received this product at a reduced price. This has no bearing on my review, but it is worth noting.
This is the second edition (or third, depending on who you ask) of HARP, re-written to be compatible with HARP Sci-Fi. The changes are minor, but pervasive. Changes from the previous version include re-balancing of the races and professions, due to feedback from 8 years of playtesting.
Likes:
-The new typefaces are easy to read and there is new interior artwork.
-Will feel familiar to Rolemaster players, but plays fast enough to hold the interest of other gamers. (This is a big plus in mixed groups)
-A POD version is in the works. This might actually be the book that gets me to try print-on-demand.
-Single roll combat resolution! (A big plus for people who are not fans of Rolemaster).
-Very few typos or grammatical errors. (Because, as a matter of fact, I AM the grammar police. )
Dislikes:
-No Hyperlinks or bookmarks in the PDF.
-Because of balance changes, the new rules are not backwards-compatible with previously released products in this line. (Such as "College of Magics").
Overview: No system is perfect, but this one comes close. I can't wait for more monsters, spells, and professions in future releases. Generally speaking, any book that leaves me wanting more gets high marks.
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"Amethyst: Renaissance" by Dias ex Machina Games
THE GOOD:
-Nice layout, good artwork, easy-to-read typeface.
-PDF comes with extra goodies, like a map and wallpaper pics.
-The PDF is searchable and hyper-linked for ease of use.
-New races, classes, feats, equipment, monsters and PRC's for use with Pathfinder.
-The free preview was actually more than just the table of contents, for a change.
THE BAD:
I could whine about a few minor layout issues and the odd typo, but there really aren't any deal-breakers in this book.
OVERALL:
I am usually not a big fan of companies that rely on glossy artwork and fan fiction to sell their products. I am also not a big fan of settings that throw around phrases like "post-apocalypse" and "Science-Fantasy crossover setting". I was pleasantly surprised by DEM Games and the Amethyst setting. It is obvious that a lot of thought and care went into the preparation of this product.
Most amazing of all, the product left me wanting to know more about the world and its inhabitants. I've been playing RPG's for decades, and I must say it has been a while since that has happened. I give this book an enthusiastic thumbs up.
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Mage:The Awakening (White Wolf) Pages: 404
Overview: A complete overview of the Mage and her role in the World of Darkness setting. It includes the history of magic, the traditions, mage politics, spells, and everything else you need to run a Mage campaign in the World of Darkness setting.
Note: Use of this book requires the 200-page main "World of Darkness" rulebook. The Mage rules rely on concepts that are only covered in the main rulebook.
Likes: The first chapter (about the origins of magic and the history of Atlantis) was truly inspired. The fact that it was stat-free was an added bonus.
Dislikes:
1) The first chapter doesn't start until after a 25-page work of fiction. Not interested--stick it in an appendix and get it out of my way.
2) This system has a steep learning curve, and the book layout doesn't encourage ease of use. Thank God for bookmarked PDF's!
3) While this book does provide an overview of the Mage universe, you'll have to buy additional splat books if you want the details. Each order has its own book, plus the equipment guide, and the antagonists have their own books, too. Want to add Vampires and Werewolves to the mix? That's another two lines of books to add.
4) Character creation is a bewildering array of paths, orders, and traditions. While this allows for widely diverse character types, it is a little intimidating for newcomers.
Other opnions: Stop whining about the bad artwork. If you want good artwork, go to a museum. I want information out of a book, not pretty pictures.
Bottom line: Unless you are a World of Darkness fanboy, this is not your game.
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You should be aware that these rules only incorporate information from the original TV show from the 1960's. None of the information in the movies, TNG, DS9, Voyager, or Enterprise is included in this game.
Also, the game takes the TV show as a base then goes off in its own direction, which contradicts later shows in the Star Trek genre in some cases.
Overall, I would have to say that I was displeased with the product as a result of these problems. It's a fine RPG, but it's not what I would consider to be "Star Trek".
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Rolemaster Races and Cultures
Guild Companion Publications (2004 original/2011 reprint)
PDF (128 pages)
Overview:
Part One: provides 24 racial templates for use in RMSS and Shandow World campaigns. (Many of these races were formerly considered NPC/Monster races.)
Part Two: provides 11 cultural templates for use in RMSS and Shadow World campaigns.
Part Three: Provides a few examples of using the new rules to design a character.
Likes:
1) The author makes a strong case for the fact that race and culture should be separate considerations. (For example, a dwarf raised in a big city would have more in common with a half-elf from the same city than he would with a dwarf who grew up hundreds of miles away in a mining community.)
2) You can now run monsters as PC's in your RMSS campaign!
3) The interior text is all black and white, making this book very printer-friendly. (Permission is granted to make one personal use copy of the manuscript.)
Dislikes:
1) No bookmarks or hyperlinks in the PDF.
conclusion: If you run an RMSS campaign, buy this book. Even if you've never heard of Shadow World, this is a good book. (The SW information is clearly marked as such, making it easy to separate.)
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Adds a new dimension to the basic game: This set of rules allows you to go on a quest rather than searching for a finale room. It also contains rules for two-player parties.
Again with the spelling errors? (rolleyes) "Alter" refers to a change of some kind. "Altar" refers to the big stone thing priests pray at. Really five seconds at dictionary dot com is all it takes..... (Don't even get me started on the "Chaple" in the Forest Quest Cards)
Overall, you get a good value for the money. Definitely money well-spent.
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RQ2 Arns & Equipment Guide by Mongoose Publishing
An overview of arms and equipment available to RQ2 characters.
Likes:
-Very throrough treatment of the subject matter
-rules for barter and haggling
-rules for alchemy and item enchantment
-rules for making armor out of monster hide
Dislikes:
-PDF Does not contain any bookmarks
-All measurements are metric
-no rules for deciding how to dole out treasure for encouters
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This is a brilliant idea for a camaign setting book. Instead of releasing one socking huge book worth a fortune, it is being released in the form of a monthly digest. Each issue includes details on one hex of the regional map. Most issues also include an article on one of the kingdoms in the setting, and part of the "Encyclopedia Arcana".
Dislikes: spelling and grammar continue to be an issue with this series of products. (Manner house? Really?)
Also of note: Say you want to adventure in the Kingdom of Mulithor. You would need the journals that cover hexes 2, 9, and 10. (Not a complaint, but it is something you should be aware of.)
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This product is exactly what it claims to be--a system-neutral overview of a campaign setting. It has timelines, plots, characters, and settings. (In short: "Instant campaign settng; just add water")
Likes: The PDF is bookmarked, which is always a plus in my book. I like the world and its people, and the core plotline grabbed my attention.
Dislikes: The spelling and grammar are abominable. Either this book was written in a foreign language and translated with Babelfish, or Avalon can't afford a proof-reader.
Vulgar language warning: If you are easily offended, there is one place in the text where a rumor is dismissed by saying "This is bullsh**". (I think "this isn't true" would have done just fine, IMO)
This product should not be confused with "Arcania" or "Arcanum", also products from Avalon.
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A well-written product with amazing maps. They pack a lot of information in a relatively small number of pages. Price is a little high for a PDF, but definitely worth it, in my opinion.
While designed for use with the HarnMaster system, this book is relatively free of system-specific information. There is enough information here to use this as a setting in any game system.
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Hellfrost Gazetteer
Let me start this review by saying I am a Hellfrost fanboy. This is the best setting I have run across in recent years.
Size: 134 pages
Contents:
Part one: Region Guides. Each region of the Rasillon campaign setting gets an approximately four-page write-up. This provides enough detail to tell you what is going on without stifling your creativity. Each region entry ends with a set of plot hooks for the GM to expand on.
Part two: Details on fifteen evil organizations who are just dying to give the PC's a bad time.
Likes:
*Following the index is a two page map of the campaign setting. This is much larger than any other campaign map I have been able to locate.
*The PDF is fully bookmarked, which is a necessity in a book like this.
*On the bookmarks tab is an option to make the PDF "Printer Friendly". In effect, what this does is turn off the background stationery. (This is probably my favorite feature, believe it or not.)
*The book is completely system-neutral and statistic-free. Since I am converting this to a Rolemaster Classic campaign, that is wonderful for me.
*This isn't a plot-point setting.
Dislikes:
*I took a star away for spelling, punctuation, and grammar errors. In a book with production values this high, I expected more from the company.
Bottom Line: Buy this PDF, even if you only plan on running your campaign in a single area of Rassilon. PC groups have a nasty habit of wanting to wander off the edges of your carefully crafted maps. With this book, a GM will be ready no matter where they decide to wander.
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"Utlimate Toolbox" published by AEG, 400 pgs. black & white. PDF format
This product consists of random lists divided into seven chapters (plus one appendix.) Each chapter covers a different aspect of campaign design. (See the free sample for a table of contents)
The good:
1) Some of the tables are quite inventive and helpful: twenty ways to describe a room other than saying "it's empty"; twenty ways to introduce the PC's that don't involve meeting a tavern; and a blank chart called 'twenty good uses for a gnome' are my favorites.
2) a relative lack of spelling errors, which is something unusual in the PDF's I have bought lately.
3) The PDF is twenty USD cheaper than the dead tree version.
The bad:
1) Each page of the PDF has a background stationery pattern, which will kill you if you try to print this book out yourself.
2) For some unexplained reason, the "How to use this chapter" page is at the end of each chapter. (It would make more sense to me if this were at the beginning of the chapter.)
The Ugly:
The PDF is four hundred pages long and has no hyperlinks. Even if it just allowed jumps from chapter to chapter, it would be better than nothing at all. Throw me a bone here!
Overall impression:
I bought this book because everyone kept telling me the sun rose and set around it. If you suffer from brain cramp or writer's block, this book is sure to jar something loose. This book isn't the center of the universe, as some people insist, but it is a very interesting book with good ideas.
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This is a computer program similar to EBoN or Tablesmith. It generates names for asian/wuxia campaigns. (Your computer must allow the use of active-x controls for this program to operate) The Deck o' names generator can be used to generate family names, male first names, female first names, and Japanese place-names.
Likes:
1) Ease of use. The program is simple and intuitive.
2) Optional word translation feature useful for generating place names.
3) Good value for the money.
4) You don't have to be an expert in Japanese history and culture for the program to do its thing.
Dislikes: None
Bottom line: highly reccommended.
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