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Jade and Steel
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<blockquote data-quote="Simon Collins" data-source="post: 2008619" data-attributes="member: 9860"><p>Beware! This review contains major spoilers.</p><p>This is not a playtest review.</p><p></p><p>Price: $12.95</p><p>Page Count: 48</p><p>Price per page: About 27 cents per page </p><p></p><p>Format: Softcover</p><p></p><p>External Artwork: Typical Avalanche cover of scantily-clad woman. The quality of the art is good, regardless of the subject matter.</p><p></p><p>Additional Page Use: Both inside covers are blank. The first three and last two pages are taken up with credits, contents, the OGL and adverts.</p><p></p><p>Internal Artwork: The internal artwork is mainly black and white digitally altered photographs that are pretty effective. The actual black and white sketches are of good quality.</p><p></p><p>Maps: The map in the centre pages is basic but shows the main location of the adventure and a rough political map of the Three Kingdoms at the heart of the module.</p><p></p><p>Text Density: Text density is average, with no large amounts of white space. However, there are numerous sidebars which have a wide graphic margin that diminish the actual amount of text.</p><p></p><p>Text Style: The writing style is clear and concise. There are a few typos.</p><p></p><p>Whats Inside:</p><p></p><p>The Introduction gives us background information to the sourcebook. Set in 210 AD, the Empire of China has collapsed into three warring states. As implied by the title, despite its historical background this is a mythic setting where monsters and magic exist.</p><p></p><p>Part 1: Life and Times in the Three Kingdoms, gives us a brief history of how the Three Kingdoms came to be shaped, with sidebars on food and clothing of the time. Several sections on magic look at alchemy, the importance of the five elements (earth, fire, metal, water, wood), Feng Shui (understanding the flow of power in the magical landscape), and I Ching (Chinese art of divination by throwing six marked sticks and reading their formation). It then gives an overview of Philosophy and Religion before going into more detail on Animism (manipulating nature spirits), Buddhism (quest for enlightenment over various reincarnations), Confucianism (respect towards authority), Legalism (harsh laws, strict punishment) and Taoism (seeing through the illusion of the material world, introduced the idea of yin and yang, and martial arts). The section finishes with some notes on crime and punishment, with some really rather nasty ideas for torture, including the infamous Chinese Water Torture.</p><p></p><p>Part 2: Characters, provides information for playing characters in Mythic China. All PCs must be human, and preferably of Chinese origin rather than using Western characters. There is also a sidebar covering the role of women in the Three Kingdoms. Six new Prestige Classes are introduced: Alchemist (searches for the Elixir of Life), Dim Mak Prectitioner (martial artist who affects life force of opponents by attacking pressure points), Diviner (using the I Ching), Geometer (using Feng Shui), Iron Hand Disciple (monk warriors with enhanced physical powers), and Sword Saint (Taoist philosophers who seek to understand harmony via battle against a worthy opponent using 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'-like powers). Several new feats are also introduced: Dual Weapon Attack (allows full Strength bonus for offhand weapons), Grappling Finesse, Improved Grapple, Leap of the Monkey (keep Dex bonus to AC when climbing), Sticking (bonus to Disarm, Grapple or Trip), Superior Two-Weapon Fighting (can use two non-light weapons), Typhoon Attack (leaping attack against two nearby opponents), Whirlwind Kick, and Willow Step (continue to move after Charge). The sectio ends with some information on new Chinese weapons (Jiann sword, Hook Sword, Butterfly Sword), new weapons that use existing equivalents (e.g. Fighting Wheels use Short Sword stats), and details on Fireworks and gunpowder rockets.</p><p></p><p>Part 3: For Love or Money, is an adventure designed for 4-6 characters of levels 11-14. The story involves a plot by the Lim Clan to assassinate the head of the Chiang clan and take the Chiang's holdings - most importantly, a lake that holds shellfish which produce the finest freshwater pearls in China. The Lim and the Chiang have been fighting over the land for generations, but there is a plan to marry the daughter of the Chiangs to the son of the Lims to cement peace between the two clans. However, the daughter of the Chiangs has fallen in love with a bandit leader called Black Tiger and hearing about the murderous traits of the son of the Lims, arranges for Black Tiger to 'kidnap' her on the way to the betrothal. The PCs are hired to rescue the princess, and will have to deal with traitorous servants in the Chiang's fortress, Lim Clan warriors dressed as Black Tiger bandits and in control of a cornugon devil, the reluctant princess and her bandit lover and a finale involving the invasion of the Lim clan against the Chiang's lands, which the PCs must help to avert. Detailed information on the various NPCs are kept to sidebars apart from the main text.</p><p></p><p>The High Points: A nice mix of setting information, character enhancements, and a cracking adventure in 'Crouching Dragon' style. The NPCs have useful roleplaying tips accompanying the stats in the adventure, the feats seem balanced and in keeping with the theme of the module, and the Prestige Classes are in keeping with the setting too.</p><p></p><p>The Low Points: I would have liked a little bit more information on the current political situation in the Three Kingdoms and, as usual for Avalanche, the rules side of things could be sharpened up. It is necessarily limited in its depth and breadth of coverage by its size, and more information on the geography and deities would also have been useful for developing adventures in the Three Kingdoms. There just isn't enough to run a full-blown campaign without extra research being done.</p><p></p><p>Conclusion: A well-balanced, well-written sourcebook that suffers from being too short and fairly expensive. More of a dessert than a main course, but a very tasty one for what it is. I haven't got Oriental Adventures or the Rokugan setting sourcebooks so I can't compare Jade and Steel with them, but from reviews by others I imagine Jade and Steel to be less comprehensive, but still of great interest to those who have a penchant for oriental settings, particularly if they want the bones to develop a campaign with a 'Crouching Tiger' feel to it. It also reminded me of the old TV series 'The Water Margin', for those of you who have seen it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Simon Collins, post: 2008619, member: 9860"] Beware! This review contains major spoilers. This is not a playtest review. Price: $12.95 Page Count: 48 Price per page: About 27 cents per page Format: Softcover External Artwork: Typical Avalanche cover of scantily-clad woman. The quality of the art is good, regardless of the subject matter. Additional Page Use: Both inside covers are blank. The first three and last two pages are taken up with credits, contents, the OGL and adverts. Internal Artwork: The internal artwork is mainly black and white digitally altered photographs that are pretty effective. The actual black and white sketches are of good quality. Maps: The map in the centre pages is basic but shows the main location of the adventure and a rough political map of the Three Kingdoms at the heart of the module. Text Density: Text density is average, with no large amounts of white space. However, there are numerous sidebars which have a wide graphic margin that diminish the actual amount of text. Text Style: The writing style is clear and concise. There are a few typos. Whats Inside: The Introduction gives us background information to the sourcebook. Set in 210 AD, the Empire of China has collapsed into three warring states. As implied by the title, despite its historical background this is a mythic setting where monsters and magic exist. Part 1: Life and Times in the Three Kingdoms, gives us a brief history of how the Three Kingdoms came to be shaped, with sidebars on food and clothing of the time. Several sections on magic look at alchemy, the importance of the five elements (earth, fire, metal, water, wood), Feng Shui (understanding the flow of power in the magical landscape), and I Ching (Chinese art of divination by throwing six marked sticks and reading their formation). It then gives an overview of Philosophy and Religion before going into more detail on Animism (manipulating nature spirits), Buddhism (quest for enlightenment over various reincarnations), Confucianism (respect towards authority), Legalism (harsh laws, strict punishment) and Taoism (seeing through the illusion of the material world, introduced the idea of yin and yang, and martial arts). The section finishes with some notes on crime and punishment, with some really rather nasty ideas for torture, including the infamous Chinese Water Torture. Part 2: Characters, provides information for playing characters in Mythic China. All PCs must be human, and preferably of Chinese origin rather than using Western characters. There is also a sidebar covering the role of women in the Three Kingdoms. Six new Prestige Classes are introduced: Alchemist (searches for the Elixir of Life), Dim Mak Prectitioner (martial artist who affects life force of opponents by attacking pressure points), Diviner (using the I Ching), Geometer (using Feng Shui), Iron Hand Disciple (monk warriors with enhanced physical powers), and Sword Saint (Taoist philosophers who seek to understand harmony via battle against a worthy opponent using 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon'-like powers). Several new feats are also introduced: Dual Weapon Attack (allows full Strength bonus for offhand weapons), Grappling Finesse, Improved Grapple, Leap of the Monkey (keep Dex bonus to AC when climbing), Sticking (bonus to Disarm, Grapple or Trip), Superior Two-Weapon Fighting (can use two non-light weapons), Typhoon Attack (leaping attack against two nearby opponents), Whirlwind Kick, and Willow Step (continue to move after Charge). The sectio ends with some information on new Chinese weapons (Jiann sword, Hook Sword, Butterfly Sword), new weapons that use existing equivalents (e.g. Fighting Wheels use Short Sword stats), and details on Fireworks and gunpowder rockets. Part 3: For Love or Money, is an adventure designed for 4-6 characters of levels 11-14. The story involves a plot by the Lim Clan to assassinate the head of the Chiang clan and take the Chiang's holdings - most importantly, a lake that holds shellfish which produce the finest freshwater pearls in China. The Lim and the Chiang have been fighting over the land for generations, but there is a plan to marry the daughter of the Chiangs to the son of the Lims to cement peace between the two clans. However, the daughter of the Chiangs has fallen in love with a bandit leader called Black Tiger and hearing about the murderous traits of the son of the Lims, arranges for Black Tiger to 'kidnap' her on the way to the betrothal. The PCs are hired to rescue the princess, and will have to deal with traitorous servants in the Chiang's fortress, Lim Clan warriors dressed as Black Tiger bandits and in control of a cornugon devil, the reluctant princess and her bandit lover and a finale involving the invasion of the Lim clan against the Chiang's lands, which the PCs must help to avert. Detailed information on the various NPCs are kept to sidebars apart from the main text. The High Points: A nice mix of setting information, character enhancements, and a cracking adventure in 'Crouching Dragon' style. The NPCs have useful roleplaying tips accompanying the stats in the adventure, the feats seem balanced and in keeping with the theme of the module, and the Prestige Classes are in keeping with the setting too. The Low Points: I would have liked a little bit more information on the current political situation in the Three Kingdoms and, as usual for Avalanche, the rules side of things could be sharpened up. It is necessarily limited in its depth and breadth of coverage by its size, and more information on the geography and deities would also have been useful for developing adventures in the Three Kingdoms. There just isn't enough to run a full-blown campaign without extra research being done. Conclusion: A well-balanced, well-written sourcebook that suffers from being too short and fairly expensive. More of a dessert than a main course, but a very tasty one for what it is. I haven't got Oriental Adventures or the Rokugan setting sourcebooks so I can't compare Jade and Steel with them, but from reviews by others I imagine Jade and Steel to be less comprehensive, but still of great interest to those who have a penchant for oriental settings, particularly if they want the bones to develop a campaign with a 'Crouching Tiger' feel to it. It also reminded me of the old TV series 'The Water Margin', for those of you who have seen it. [/QUOTE]
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