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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Oldtimer" data-source="post: 2010123" data-attributes="member: 10503">White Wolf/Swords & Sorcery Studios has brought us the Game of Engel.A German manufactured "Story Teller" system that depicts life in 27th century. At first glance you will might think it's a WW/ World of Darkness source book. It has that look. The cover is fairly spartan, with the word Engel printed in a strange black font that looks more like mystical runes then a printed word. The majority of the cover is a field of gold, and there is a tiny sphere with the image of a Engel (Angel) near the bottum. When I first saw the book, I had to pick it up, just because the weird font/illegible title drew me to it.Flipping it over the blurb on the back reinforces the WoD flavor. Angst and doom are sure to thrive with in. Quickly flipping through it, you see that it is clearly has high production values, with good page layout and average or above illustrations. The only thing that really bugged me was the continued use of that whacky looking font at the top of each section. During the quick flip through it still gives you the impression it is a WoD book. It follows the basic format theay all do, little blocks of "flavor text" in the form of short stories, and an over view of the history of the world, a glossary of terms etc. It even has one of those lame comic strips in the back. It isn't untill you either A) flip to the back to take a peek at the character sheets, or B) stop to look at the rules in more detail  do you realize it's not a WoD book, but a D20/D&D varient. No where on the front or back cover is this mentioned. Apparently they wanted to suck the unknowing/unwilling in...This kinda funny, because it insists on calling it's self a Story Teller game, not an RPG. Is it a WoD game that wants to appeal to D20 fans? Is it a D20 product that wants to be a WoD book?. Well actually its neither. Apparently in Germany the book was published with it's own rules and a D20 translations. WW decided the D20 version would be more recognized here then the original rules. Personally I am surprised they didn't convert it to WoD rules, it seems more geared toward that crowd then a D&D oriented bunch.Anyway, just what is Engel?Engel is a FRPG.....opps, "Story Telling Game" set in 27th Century Europe. What is 27th Century Europe like? Oddly enough thanks  to a series of natural, supernatural and man made disasters, Europe has been transformed into astring of tropical islands believe it or not and the people have gone native, adopting a rather absurdly oriental way of life complete with water buffalos (thanks to the results of 21st century bio-engineering?) and evolution, and an abundance of rice paddies.  They have been  practiceing primative agricultural techniques thanks to the oppresive Church that frowns on any meaningful technological advance (except for the use of muskets?), and the watchful eye of the engel- the divinely created protectors of mankind (or what remains of it).What are the Engel(Angels) protecting mankind from? The forces of the Satan don't'cha know!?. Seems the ol'darklord himself has mounted an invasion against mankind in the form of "Inferno's" (Slow moveing demonic tornadoes?) and "Dreamseed"(the stuff demons are made from) *Cough* War Hammer*Cough* Chaos Wastes*Cough*Warpstone*Cough*.....opps excuse me...So what is the game like? Well all in all it reads like and plays like a typical WoD game. Players assume the role of Angels/Engel, picking from various factions (Clans, what ever), each has it's own description explaining who they are, what their relationship with other factions, supernatural powers, ect.  , who set out to fight the good fight. Batteling demons, rooting out heritics, and ultimately fighting corruption with in the heavy handed church. In short it's not unlike every other RPG, opps there I go again, "Story Teller" game that has seen the light of day since the mid '80's.The major difference is the assumed focus on character & plot deveolpment rather then dungeon delveing/monster bashing/loot hoarding. Players are expected to become totaly involved, and develop feelings about/for the setting and experience angst about what it is they are doing ("Gee are we really the good guys?"). All of which is pretty much ant-D&D in nature (The book, thankfully even excludes the Black&white Alignment system of D&D).The rule system, is (no big surprise)  imported from the D&D/d20 Players hand book. Of course the rules have been tweaked to fit the world of Engel. For the most part, it is D&D. The biggest difference is the addition of something called "Potestates". These are the power unique to Engle. It is (In typical WoD fashion) what sets them apart from the rest of the world- and makes playing one more appealing then any other class in the game. They basicaly work like skills AND magic/supernatural powers (did I mention there are no magic users/clerics in Engel?).And, like all WoD supernatural powers- they come at a cost. Each time an Engel uses one of his "Potestates" he pays for it in a number of hit points. But over all, lets face it these are just spells with an alternate system, in almost every way the mimic D&D spells-with maybe some cooler "visual effects", but all the same.....All in all I have very mixed feelings about the game. The setting is semi-original, but I have seen the same elements in game worlds published decades before *cough*warhammer*cough...maybe I should see a doctor about that. The WoD flavoring just doesn't seem like it will appeal to the typical D&D fan. The WW approach to "Story Telling" mixed with D20seems like attempting to mix oil with water.And finally there was a very heavy feeling of disappointment with the setting. I mean, come on, when you mention that the setting is set in the 27th century, you expect some sci-fi elements. Even in a post apocolyptic setting. Engel has none. The world has been reduced to a pre-industrial one. It really isn't much different then any other D&D/Fantasy world (with the noted expection of an absensce of spell useing classes,but the Engel have their powers). Strip away the silly  oriental trappings and you have a D&D varient. Hell,keep them and you still have one. In otherwords, what you get  with Engel is a well developed, if strange (which can be a good thing) world, with a few new  classes and rules, and some instructions on how to turn your D&D campaign into a "Story Teller" epic.</blockquote>

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