jaerdaph
#UkraineStrong
I picked up d20 Past at my FLGSBTESB*
First thing I noticed: The font size throughout is very small, perhaps one font size smaller that d20 Future, which was about one font size smaller than d20 Modern. The interior is full color.
The two page Introduction describes Progress Levels 3 and 4, which is the scope of d20 Past.
Chapter 1 How Real is Your Past? discusses types of historical campaigns (from the accurate to the alternate to the fantastic) and issues to consider when running historical campaigns (literacy, communication, gender issues, etc). It also brings the tactical, local and overland movement rules from D&D into d20 Modern, expanded to include train travel.
Chapter 2 Rules Components - I reallly like how there are notes for using existing material (occupations, skills and feats) in the past alongside the new material. For example, Surgery feat - it is recommended this not be available to around 1850. The equipment section is very well done, but the emphasis is on weapons, armor and vehicles. Some items found in d20 Modern are listed in the tables, but the reader is referred to d20 Modern for the description, and the book's space is used on the new material only. The equipment tables also include a column listing a year of when that item became available. Lots of great new stuff in here, from flintlocks to cannons to Fokker Triplanes. The chapter ends with a section on vehicle movement and combat that expands and appends what's in d20 Modern.
I found this interesting: There is absolutely no mention of any changes to the Wealth system in d20 Past, or any considerations given when using the system in past eras. In fact, a few items found in d20 Modern that are on the tables in d20 Past have the same Purchase DC. In a way, this makes sense as Wealth is an abstract system. I think I would have liked the book to include some formal discussion on using the Wealth system in the past, even if it were just to say nothing changes. Perhaps some notes on restrictions and licenses in different eras should have been included as well.
I haven't read the campaign models yet, but in short:
Age of Adventure is essentially high fantasy elements plus pirates, or Urban Arcana in the past. Shadow Stalkers is Shadow Chasers in the past, and Pulp Heroes is the Polyhedron minigame we all know and love.
I'm happy with what I've read so far, but I still haven't looked at the campaign models in detail. The introduction states that d20 Past is intended to be a toolkit like d20 Future, but admits it is less modular in structure.
*Friendly Local Gaming Store by the Empire State Building
First thing I noticed: The font size throughout is very small, perhaps one font size smaller that d20 Future, which was about one font size smaller than d20 Modern. The interior is full color.
The two page Introduction describes Progress Levels 3 and 4, which is the scope of d20 Past.
Chapter 1 How Real is Your Past? discusses types of historical campaigns (from the accurate to the alternate to the fantastic) and issues to consider when running historical campaigns (literacy, communication, gender issues, etc). It also brings the tactical, local and overland movement rules from D&D into d20 Modern, expanded to include train travel.
Chapter 2 Rules Components - I reallly like how there are notes for using existing material (occupations, skills and feats) in the past alongside the new material. For example, Surgery feat - it is recommended this not be available to around 1850. The equipment section is very well done, but the emphasis is on weapons, armor and vehicles. Some items found in d20 Modern are listed in the tables, but the reader is referred to d20 Modern for the description, and the book's space is used on the new material only. The equipment tables also include a column listing a year of when that item became available. Lots of great new stuff in here, from flintlocks to cannons to Fokker Triplanes. The chapter ends with a section on vehicle movement and combat that expands and appends what's in d20 Modern.
I found this interesting: There is absolutely no mention of any changes to the Wealth system in d20 Past, or any considerations given when using the system in past eras. In fact, a few items found in d20 Modern that are on the tables in d20 Past have the same Purchase DC. In a way, this makes sense as Wealth is an abstract system. I think I would have liked the book to include some formal discussion on using the Wealth system in the past, even if it were just to say nothing changes. Perhaps some notes on restrictions and licenses in different eras should have been included as well.
I haven't read the campaign models yet, but in short:
Age of Adventure is essentially high fantasy elements plus pirates, or Urban Arcana in the past. Shadow Stalkers is Shadow Chasers in the past, and Pulp Heroes is the Polyhedron minigame we all know and love.
I'm happy with what I've read so far, but I still haven't looked at the campaign models in detail. The introduction states that d20 Past is intended to be a toolkit like d20 Future, but admits it is less modular in structure.
*Friendly Local Gaming Store by the Empire State Building
