D20 Critical Locations Available

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Since the board crash, the newborn Critical Locations thread vanished. I guess I can bring it back; I just bought it today. (I spent $22 Canadian at www.Gamezclub.com to get it.)

There's a nice sample of adventure hooks (not too many based on FX, either), and the maps are pretty detailed. You'll want something better than graph paper when using them in-game.

There was a surprising array of NPCs. Some of them were from Menace Manual (eg the security guard and firefighter), but most are new. I really liked the bouncer, bartender, mad scientist and urban terrorist. I have to wonder why the sailors didn't have ranks in Repair though.

 

[The Shaman]

I missed the previous thread, so please forgive me if in fact this book is getting the attention it's due, but I can't believe that anyone would pass up the chance to buy such a useful supplement. A great addition to my gaming library, and the best Modern book from Wizzos since Menace Manual. I'd happily buy as many sequels to this as Wizzos is willing to publish.

 

[kingpaul]

I'm curious, as I don't own this book. How does it compare to Modern Backdrops, which has been out for a while?

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I'm curious, as I don't own this book. How does it compare to Modern Backdrops, which has been out for a while?

I have both and I like both.

Backdrops is divided into five towns. Each town has several buildings associated with them. They are all connected by plot hooks.

The amount of map detail, such as furniture, varies quite a bit. The Backdrops Public Library and Public Works Office has very little detail to it, and rooms are unlabelled. Turner Theatre, by contrast, has labelled rooms. Adventuring things like security systems are not detailed, either. Each of the maps has much more detailed adventure seeds than those in Critical Locations.

Backdrops has more detailed NPCs and more of them, too. They're all new and have their own backstories/plots/hooks. Some of them are "complicated" NPCs (such as a police captain) which are very useful. Unfortunately, they're missing the details of their occupations. Some of very high stats - Captain D'Mato, 8th-level, has stats 17 13 17 14 14 16. I don't consider this a good thing. (Each of the Critical Location maps have one or more plot hooks, which are less detailed and more generic. Most have no FX in them.)

It may just be me, but the tone of Backdrops is more FX heavy. A lot of the NPCs are Ghosts, Psionic Students (a new Advanced Class) and the like.

You could buy both (Backdrops isn't expensive at all, and CL is pretty well-priced, too). Backdrops is probably better if you're looking for plot or adventure hooks, with the caveat that a lot of them are FX-based. The maps are less generic, though. If you're running a campaign in a big city and the PCs don't travel much, it'll take more work to get use out of Backdrops. Critical Locations has maps and plot hooks which, being more generic, are easier to simply drop into a campaign.

 

[Vrecknidj]

My kids picked up the Critical Locations book and I've leafed through it. I like the maps--they're excellently done and look like they're, for the most part, able to be used in town after town. Sure, it could get a little boring for every bowling alley to be the same, but, there's enough in the maps to allow the GM to use them as templates for creating their own.

Dave

 

[Johnny Angel]

Sure, it could get a little boring for every bowling alley to be the same

If your party is ending up at bowling alley after bowling allwy, I imagine that at best the sameness of said bowling alleys will be a secondary complaint.

 

[jaerdaph]

If your party is ending up at bowling alley after bowling allwy, I imagine that at best the sameness of said bowling alleys will be a secondary complaint.

Unless of course they're looking for the Ten Pin Killer or a Bowling Rental Shoe Golem.

 

[The Shaman]

Bowling Rental Shoe Golem.

Fear my fungal attack!

*YOINK!*

 

[jaerdaph]

This just creeped me out. (the fact that there is a website called bowlingshoephotos.com, not the picture. )

 

[jaerdaph]

I just want to say the d20 Critical Locations is probably the best d20 Modern supplement to date.

Well done!