Anyone have The Red Star Campaign Setting yet?

As a graphic artist, I think the tables are mediocre (except most of the equipment charts, which lean toward bad). On the other hand, as someone who has trouble reading type set in certain color combinations, I completely understand that this can be a tough one.

Game books are essentially technical manuals, not artistic expressions, and thus the conveyance of information is more important than stylistic issues. This, by no means, suggests that a game book can't have both style and functionality.

The graphic value of The Red Star Campaign Setting is superior to most of Green Ronin's d20 products (and, in general, many d20 products), but inferior to anything executed for Green Ronin by Super Unicorn (Mutants & Masterminds). But The Red Star Campaign Setting is also a case of style over thoughtful design, with an ironic sprinkling of cases when the designer thought "inside the box" too often.

On a similar note, compare the graphic quality of Foes of Freedom to Mutants & Masterminds books designed by Super Unicorn. Similar, yes, but only superficially.

Sorry for the hijack. Now, back to our regularly scheduled thread.

PS: Great Stupid Rule!
 
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Bah. I was thinking about Red Star, but I'm not so sure if they changed up the classes. I LIKE d20 Modern's system and would have liked to see them add to it. I'd rather see ten new occupations and a collection of new feat trees than have a workable system scrapped in favor of something similar but mutually exclusive. So now I'm stuck using their stuff or working to insert other things, and as a busy man, I buy product to REDUCE workload.

--fje
 

HeapThaumaturgist said:
Bah. I was thinking about Red Star, but I'm not so sure if they changed up the classes. I LIKE d20 Modern's system and would have liked to see them add to it. I'd rather see ten new occupations and a collection of new feat trees than have a workable system scrapped in favor of something similar but mutually exclusive. So now I'm stuck using their stuff or working to insert other things, and as a busy man, I buy product to REDUCE workload.

This is more or less how I feel as well. Well put!
 

Is anyone here a fan of the graphic novels? I was wondering whether those who aren't fans still want the campaign.
 

I'm not a fan of graphic novels... but I love these type of settings. Semi-futuristic with a little bit of optional magic (at least that's what I can make of it - without having the book - still have to wait at least another week for the book to arrive)
 

Khur said:
Is anyone here a fan of the graphic novels? I was wondering whether those who aren't fans still want the campaign.

After reading about the project on Green Ronin's web site, I decided to check out the comic. So, I ordered a compilation of the first 10 issues (It's called a Trade Paperback, TPB, I've understood - haven't heard that one before). I liked the graphic style and the story of the comic. Unfortunately, issues 1-10 is just the beginning of the story, so as soon as I get some cash over, I'll be ordering the next TPB.

The comic is mainly "draw" using computer graphics IIRC, so if you don't like that, you may dislike the comic. The story line is quite intriguing, especially if you know a thing or two about the beginnings of old Soviet Union. I would say that if you like epic stories of heroes taking on insurmountable odds, some modern-day fantasy, and think it's OK to read large comic books, chances are you'd like The Red Star. If you also like old style Soviet "iconography" like the early propaganda posters of happy workers united, etc., you will definitely like this. A warning, however, if you're a true blue communist yearning for the glory days of Soviet Union, and you lack a sense of irony and/or humour, you'll probably despise this comic! ;)

And, I'm most definitely going to buy "The Red Star Campaign Setting" as soon as my FLGS gets it. :)

Cheers,
Meadred
 

i've given it a read thru. i have also read some of the graphic novels.

Aside from the tables thing, its very good.

Their decision to drop d20 modern class structure actually seems, having read thru it, to work well. I was originally worried given some of the tenets of modern and future about it and agree with their decision to go with classes instead of the modern doctrine. They much more strongly meet the flavor of the setting.

I am sure as i read thru that i will come up with more negative things to say (I am suspect of the massive damage threshold being so low given the epic scope of the setting and characters), and more detail on the good ones, but for right now it looks very well done.
 

swrushing said:
Their decision to drop d20 modern class structure actually seems, having read thru it, to work well. I was originally worried given some of the tenets of modern and future about it and agree with their decision to go with classes instead of the modern doctrine. They much more strongly meet the flavor of the setting.

Possibly but it certainly makes the book less useful to people wanting to mine it for ideas.
 


Has anyone playtested it yet? I want to know what it's like to play.

How about the adventure seeds in the back of the book? Are they any good? What are they like? etc. etc. etc.
 

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