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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Messageboard Golem" data-source="post: 2009106" data-attributes="member: 18387">First let me state a disclaimer. I was asked by Mr. Peterson, author of this book, if I would review it. He was also kind enough to let me have it for free. On a more finely graded scale my mark for it would be 4.5/5. I have not tested any material from the book in the actual gameplay as of writing this review altrough I do intend to do so in the near future.Now onto the review itself. I hold to the school of thought that claims that the principal duty of the RPG designers is not to invent the new concepts per se, but rather to come up with ingenious ways to represent concepts already existing (in the vast body of history, fiction and mythology) within the framework of our games. This book is a shining example of just such an endevour.It deals with a subject of possesion, a time honoured part of our folklore and one that was due some game-mechanical treatment. Possesion is here treated through the use of Templates, very versatile yet sadly underused part of the d20 toolkit. General rules on the Possesions and Exorcism are given together with 20 possesion templates of various types. General rules are good. They introduce some very well thought of notions concerning game-balance of templated PC's and mention briefly the "author points" a simple yet brilliant solution to the "crass materialism" of the treasure aquisition part of the DnD game balance. Exorcism is covered elegantly in a way that makes it more then just "and then I cast the spell..." routine. Overall Mr. Peterson shows such a remarkable grasp not only of the d20 game mechanics but of the game mechanics in general that I find some of his solutions to simple problems, such as a game-mechanical simulation of a chess game both more elegant and more accurate the base d20 ones. Besides everything else it is this game-mechanical virtuosity that makes him one of the top few people to watch in a d20 market.Templates themselves are a hit and miss. That is to say they are hit and miss *for me*. They vary between classic horror/dark fantasy to straight comic-book or b-movie. The later, such as "atomic" or "mechanized" are of no use to me so I kind of lose out on about exactly half a book. Other half or so, however, evoked the best of gothic horror without falling into a cliche or parody which so frequently happens to game renditions of the genre. To name the few, "Demon Flock", briliant game mechanical rendition of "Soulblighter" from Myth, or "Fly Lord", the Belzebub template, will, I am certain, evoke just the appropraite mixture of revulsion and fear in my players. Sheer inspirational value of the few outstanding templates would have ade this book more then worth having for me regardless of anything else. I fairness I have to say that even the templates I am not interested in ever seeing in my games are written interestingly with atention to detail and game mechanical flourish. It is only very few (elemental possesions) that I found somewhat uninspired. Some of the best parts of the book deal with the "normal" possesions - that is possessions by the regular demons. This part, including three sample cases of possession, is one that will probably see the most use in my games and is executed excelently from both game-mechanical and DM-advice point of view. If I have a major objection to this book it would be that this part is too short and number of templates in it too few.General tone of the book is grim, as befits the subject. In this it deviates from more cartoony gung-ho standard of DnD. It includes the subtle suggestions as to the truly evil demonic behaviour that go much beyond the standard DnD fare. Me being a fan of such atmosphere this was a serious bonus. We can only hope that the upcoming "Book of Vile Darkness" will have this combination of style and gut-wrenching villany.The boom layout is a tribute to PDF as a publishing medium. It has been used to its utmost to faciltate ease of use while remaing unobtrusive. Art is bearable and only marginaly sub-par. Cartoon of scholar-turned-succubus detracts from otherwise rather mature tone of the book. Mercifully, all art is exceptionaly easy to switch off. All in all this is a very goof work, one that I would have probably missed and would have been worse of for it. It showcases extraordinary talent of Mr. Peterson and leaves me waiting (even more eagerly then before) for his "Masters of Arms"</blockquote>

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