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ShortQuests -- individual adventure modules! An all-new collection of digest-sized D&D adventures designed to plug in to your game.

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="paqman" data-source="post: 2010476" data-attributes="member: 1041">Type : Soft CoverPage count : 125 including the index page at the end and excluding the 2 publicity pages and one OGL.Writen by : Mark Chance, Andrew Christian, Mike Hinds, David Lyons, Michelle Lyons, James Maliszewski and Mike MearlsPresentation : 9.0Content : 9.5Illustration : 8.5 (black and white content)Tilt : 10Overall score: 9.25First of all, lets say that this book is a small gem. It uses prestige classes to give a distinct feel to the settings, as it should be, add spells, feats and schools (see further down), spellwares and psi content like new prestige classes, feats and new powers. Overall this book impresses me a lot because I was getting disillusioned by FFG and they suddenly brought me back right under their spell with this book. After Imperial Supply, this is an impressive feat. (note I even decided to give imperial supply a second run and after overlooking the illustrations, I thinks the book is not so bad after all.)Review by chapter:Chapter 1, CLASSES, page count : 54 Prestige classes : (As stated above, the prestige classes are designed to give players options that will give them a feeling of beings in the Dragon empire and not in starwars or Alternity’s Star*Drive.)-Adamantine infiltrator – A member of the Adamantine Order, a specialist in covert operations. Possesses Disguise abilities as well as class mimicry. -Arcane Commando – Some kind of rogue sorcerer fighter. It’s a mix of multiple abilities, good BAB, spell casting spell increase progression every 2 levels and sneak attacks. Presented In this section is a description of the Shadow Guards, a division in House Noros’ sector. -Celestial Guardsman – They are the counterpart of the Black guards. Spell progression is increased every levels and BAB are as fighter plus additional abilities. The celestial guards are presented in this section and it is an organization specialized in fighting evil in the outlands. -Combat Ace – Specialized pilot. Gains extra maneuvers per rounds as well as other abilities. This class was to be expected and would be more apparent by its absence were not present in the book. -Dark Zone Explorer – A specialized adventurer that explores the Darkzone and profit from it. -Dragon slayer – Dragon slayers are specialized in slaying dragons…. Quite obvious isn’t it? Since the red dragons started ruling the empire their is a greater amount of these specialized warriors. This section presents the Zorzi, an organization of assassins that are dedicated in killing the greatest of prey, the Dragons. -Ecoterrorist – Rangers and Druids turned terrorists. They have a good BAB, spell progression increases every 2 levels, good saves and Corosive touch (deals extra damages to metal, plastics and flesh). This section presents the Green Cabal organization; basically it’s a group that consist of ecoterrorists. -Imperial Arcanist – A class that provides the character with benefits from the Imperial Arcanist Society. The spell progression is increased at each levels and the character gains multiple benefits. The imperial society of arcane magic is also described in this section. -Info Warrior – A nice prestige class that specialise in computer hacking. Base attack bonus are not good, the saves are not bad and the character gains multiple computer related abilities. The guild of Tinkers is described in this section. -Imperial Legionnaire – This is the mass of the legions of the empire, the prerequisite to gain this prestige class is +6 BAB, plus many other skills and feats, so we can easily determine that the Imperial Legions is fearsome if all members have only one level in this class it makes a character of level 7. Nice army! This class gains multiple abilities as well as the fighter BAB and saves. The White legion expeditionary force is described in this section. -Noetic Warriror – A monk psionics member of the Noetic Order, an organization that exists to develop the physical and spiritual well-being of its members. Royal Marshal Inspector – An organization of Law men that work almost exclusively in Qesemet territory. BAB increases as a fighter, saves are not so bad and they receive a favorite criminal similar to the Ranger ability. -Unification Missionary – A specialist cleric member of the unification church. They are specialized in converting sentient to the unification church. They increase their spells as a cleric, BAB as wizards and they gain abilities to influence others. This section also presents the Missionary Evangelists of Nasuit. -RES Trailblazer – Royal Exploratory Service is an organization that explores the boundaries of the known galaxy. The Trailblazer is a member of this organization. They have BAB as a fighter, they have good saves and have multiple abilities to help them in their work. -Scientific Arcanist – This class is specialized in adopting scientific measures in their magical studies, they are members of the Guild of Scientific Spellcraft. Legendary classes: These are high level options for character, here FFG presents a new way of gaining class abilities, the legendary classes provides 5 abilities for each of the 5 levels and the character may chose any one of these abilities as they gain level, the only special thing about this is that the order in which the abilities are taken determines of it’s strength. For example, if a class provides a bonus to a skill, if this ability is taken at first level it will provide +1 but if it is taken as the 5th level ability it will provide +5.-Faithful servant – A draconic servant that provides help to the grand rules of the empire.The faithful servent represents the pinnacle of servants in the empire. -Galactic Conqueror – They are specialised in conquering worlds, especially the outlying uncontroled sectors. -Machine Man – The improvement of the soulmech. Master Roboticist – The improvement of a Mechanist or a Technomancer Rebel - The paragon of the rebels, equal part terrorist and philosopher. Chapter 2, FEATS AND SCHOOLS, page count : 20Here FFG introduces new feats, as is standard in a supplement, but they add schools. Schools are similar to prestige races in Oathbound, you actually pay experience points to get benefits. Each schools contains 10 lessons or trainings that are payed for in experience point, to get a particular level you need to have attained the previous one starting from first level. This gives the player the opportunity to buy benefits without taking a class level that would offer a similar effects. It is a small step in the direction of a point buy system for D20. Very nice addition. Chapter 3, SPELLS AND SPELLWARE, page count : 212 new domains, Dragon and Technology are presented for the clerics and 48 new spells. The spells are original and well thought out. They include spells like the 9th level wyrm that permit the caster to transform in a dragon like creature or the 8th level Robotic Guardians that permit the caster to summon robots to his aid. There are multiple new spellwares, here is the list: Arcane : Armored Skeleton, Balancing tail, Dragon’s breath, Energy wings, Enhanced Hearing, Fascinating Gaze, Golem Arms, Image recorder, Immolator, Magic touch, Mental Accelerator, Piloting Rig, Scent of emotion, Skill amplifier, Sonic cry, Soinnerets and Voice Modulator. Divine : Cleansing light, Divine Sight and Heavenly ShieldChapter 4, PSIONICS, page count : 22As an introduction to the psonics section, I have to say that the Tsalokhi race seems to be a very good addition the races of Dragonstar. They are some kind of self evolved race that made sure that their breeding programs would permit the appearance of powerful psionics. I will enjoy making one of them my master villain (Note that they are not especially geared toward villany, I just want to use them like that), that might become a major ally after the PC's learn who from the Darkzone are truly attacking their homeworld (The Mind flayers). In addition the introduction of the original psionic classes into the DS setting is well explained. The new classes and prestige classes: -Bio psions - class - A great idea, especially if they are forcefuly created by the ISPD, I can already see my players wondering at the sudden combat against many bio psions that are covert ISPD agents. Cyberkinecist prestige class - A prestige class that mixes cybernetics and psionics. It provides a small selection of powers, BAB increase as a wizard and some additional abilities. Net walker prestige class - A prestige class that mixes a hacker with psionic powers, the psionics powers increase as a full fledged psion, with wizard like BAB and some additional abilities.I also like the Idea of the Crystal ware, to complement the Spell ware CONCLUSION: A very good supplement. It gives me faith that the DS setting is not dying and that more good material will come out of FFG. If you note the number of writers on this one, it might be a good idea in the future to use more writers as they did on this book, it seems to be a good recipe and I guess that it provides the opportunity for a single writer to give more time to a single chapter as well as giving them the chance to prove themselves by doing the best they can do. Since 9.25 is nearer to 5 than 4 I decided to give this book a 5.First added to <a href="http://www.rpgzone.org" target="_blank">Beholder's RPGZone's </a> review section.</blockquote>

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