Anybody here see the new HackMaster adventure modules?

[KJSEvans]

I've been browsing the forums but have seen no mention...

After killing fans with anticipation, KenzerCo has released two somewhat significant HMb adventures in advance of the Hacklopedia of Beasts, which apparently is going to hit our shores sometime in the next few weeks.

If you're sort of on the fence about the HM system, you can't do wrong by buying one or the other of these books. Apart from having a ton of examples of combat, RolePlay and trap scenarios, both books also feature a number of HoB creatures, including HoB-like entries to give you an idea as to what the $60 full-color hardcover book is going to resemble.

The adventures are The Plague of Coleson (an 80 pager) and the 112 page mammoth Wrath of the Vohven. Either adventure can be bought for $20, which is cool, but what's REALLY good is the pdf deal. You can buy a pdf of either adventure on its own for $14.99, or you can buy both the dead tree edition and the pdf for $25.

The pdf, btw, has a ton of extra features. Every single page that references any other part of the book includes a link to that part of the book. Every map that includes a room number has a link on the map to that particular room. (So you're looking at the map as a GM, your players are about to enter room 38, just click on the #38 and you're in the right spot!)

The pdfs also include dozens of pages of monster cards that can be used as either battle sheets or can be printed out and cut up to look like combat cards. It's awesome.

 

[GeorgeFields]

I've purchased the book/pdf bundle for both adventures.

I've not read either of them, yet; but I've 'flipped' through both pdfs a few time. All I can say is, "Wow!" They put some real effort to make those worthy of purchase.

One thing you did not mention is that the Vohven adventure also has a deal to get the hardcover of Svimohzia at a discount. If I hadn't had that already, I'd have taken that deal as well.

You can check out 'Wrath of the Vohven' here and 'The Plague of Cosolen' here.

If you think that HackMaster is a joke game (as I once did), this new edition slaps you in the face and shows you otherwise.

 

[howandwhy99]

Good for kenzerco. Great gaming modules make the whole gaming world better for everyone. Well, anyone willing to look outside the box and incorporate works from any game into their own.

 

[KJSEvans]

Good for kenzerco. Great gaming modules make the whole gaming world better for everyone. Well, anyone willing to look outside the box and incorporate works from any game into their own.

lol

There actually seem to be a fair number of HM groups out there, with a growing presence of online games as well, via virtual table tops such as MapTools. With the release of the Hacklopedia of Beasts coming at the end of the month (see this entry of the Bugbear as an example of what it is going to look like), the game is only going to grow in popularity.

But of course, there's room for lots of folks who play lots of different games. I wish you the best with whatever game you play, even if you're unwilling to make time to try HM!

 

[Treebore]

Good for kenzerco. Great gaming modules make the whole gaming world better for everyone. Well, anyone willing to look outside the box and incorporate works from any game into their own.

Yeah, even though I was never a fan of HM 4E, nor am I a fan of HMb, I have always loved their modules, including Frandors Keep for HMb, so plan on buying these next month.

The reason being they just put so many cool story elements into them, and with the HM 4E modules, not only did they put in so many cool story elements, I like running the "classics" they are variants of, and so used them as expansions to the originals to great effect.

Take Frandors Keep for example, most of the content is about history, personalities, Maps, and things going on. Very little "crunch" text. So if your wanting a keep with fortified town around it, with lots of good basic personalities, adventure ideas, and history, you can't go wrong with Frandors Keep, even if you don't run/play HMb. I just wish more of the interiors of the buildings were mapped.

So even though I am not a fan of HMb, and have serious doubts about being a fan of "Advanced", I still buy the modules. Or will, when I can afford them next month.

 

[Agamon]

I do like HMb, and will likely pull it back out the next time I do a fantasy game (it'll probably be HMA for quite some time by then).

Anyhoo, any word on when the Mines of Chaos were coming out? I just assumed that would be the next big adventure from KenzerCo.

 

[Treebore]

I've been browsing the forums but have seen no mention...

After killing fans with anticipation, KenzerCo has released two somewhat significant HMb adventures in advance of the Hacklopedia of Beasts, which apparently is going to hit our shores sometime in the next few weeks.

If you're sort of on the fence about the HM system, you can't do wrong by buying one or the other of these books. Apart from having a ton of examples of combat, RolePlay and trap scenarios, both books also feature a number of HoB creatures, including HoB-like entries to give you an idea as to what the $60 full-color hardcover book is going to resemble.

The adventures are The Plague of Coleson (an 80 pager) and the 112 page mammoth Wrath of the Vohven. Either adventure can be bought for $20, which is cool, but what's REALLY good is the pdf deal. You can buy a pdf of either adventure on its own for $14.99, or you can buy both the dead tree edition and the pdf for $25.

The pdf, btw, has a ton of extra features. Every single page that references any other part of the book includes a link to that part of the book. Every map that includes a room number has a link on the map to that particular room. (So you're looking at the map as a GM, your players are about to enter room 38, just click on the #38 and you're in the right spot!)

The pdfs also include dozens of pages of monster cards that can be used as either battle sheets or can be printed out and cut up to look like combat cards. It's awesome.

So what is the content like? How good and helpful are the maps? How many good "personalities" are written up in them? How good are the adventure hooks? How cool is the main adventure itself?

Spill the beans, man!

 

[howandwhy99]

lol

There actually seem to be a fair number of HM groups out there, with a growing presence of online games as well, via virtual table tops such as MapTools. With the release of the Hacklopedia of Beasts coming at the end of the month (see this entry of the Bugbear as an example of what it is going to look like), the game is only going to grow in popularity.

But of course, there's room for lots of folks who play lots of different games. I wish you the best with whatever game you play, even if you're unwilling to make time to try HM!

Yeah, rereading what I wrote, it wasn't intended to be a cut. Playing Hackmaster or any FRPG, a good module benefits all.

Heck, I'd buy and steal Hackmaster rules (or any system's) for my own game, if I they're awesome.

 

[KJSEvans]

So what is the content like? How good and helpful are the maps? How many good "personalities" are written up in them? How good are the adventure hooks? How cool is the main adventure itself?

Spill the beans, man!

Happy to!

In the Cosolen adventure, a follower of the Rot Lord attempts to infest a city filled with refugees with plague and death through using the Theater of the Arts (the theater being the only organization in the city involved in an outreach to the transplants).

Players have to navigate a city filled with corruption, the impoverished, and some pretty kick-ass secret plots. The module itself details the areas within the city, its organizations, many of the NPCs whom the GM can use for RolePlay or otherwise (including "whores!").

There indeed is a section on "Persons of Interest" and unusual encounters. And all this is simply presented in the FIRST act.

Probably the single most useful tool in the pdf version of the module is the City Encounters Flowchart that the awesome Steve Johansson made up. This flow chart basically serves as a short-hand means for the GM to know where his players can go and the various means to get there (for example, there are several ways for PCs to find out some key information about one of the main villains. How do I know this without having made a detailed reading of the module? I can follow it on the flow chart!) The best part of the flow chart - click on any balloon and it takes you to the page where the encounter occurs. Insanely useful.

There are four acts in total - all of which include cool maps, detailed NPCs, and lots of player options. There additionally is new information in the module for clerical types (as presented in KODT) plus a couple of new spells and skills.

And, as mentioned, there are 7 pages of "monster cards" that can serve as a quick-reference for a GM who's running combat. This is one of the single most useful tools in the game: below is a picture of what they look like (albeit my home-made version with an image on their back)

I'll do a more detailed summary of the "Wrath" a bit later.

 

[Treebore]

So what are the maps like in the module? IS a city map of any kind in it? If not, is one available elsewhere?