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Message: <blockquote data-quote="JoeGKushner" data-source="post: 2010322" data-attributes="member: 1129">White Robes, Black Hearts, Enigma of the Arcanexus, didn't pull me in for several reasons.First off, it's not a generic book. This is good if you're using the setting because it has a lot of detail in the book and even more on the website. This is bad if you're like me and run a campaign in another setting.Second, and I hate for this to sound snobbish in any way, the art and layout aren't top notch. This isn't the first year of the d20 license and this product, for better or worse, has to compete with a lot of other products and art and layout do fall into that mix. There's a lot of white space in many sections of the book, particularly at the end of each chapter. There are call out sections that repeat word for word information found in the body of the text like on page 24 with Jorgen's hatred of Maagzaak being mentioned three times or when Maagzaak's and the cursed Graalx are introduced. Maps are readable but nothing like those found in products like Foul Locals or the Book of Taverns.Third, not a problem for the readers of this review, but it ties a lot into the online resources. There are some assumptions that you've run the online free module and that you'll be using the online support material to flesh out the module more. In addition, the website listed in the book, www.DarkPortalGames.com isn't working so go here http://www.darkportalgames.biz/ instead.Fourth, I have a problem with a module when it tells me, “you should decide whether you wish to keep extra NPCs on file for the players to adopt”. If the author already knows that the module is a meat grinder, why keep it that way? The days of adventures like Tome of Horrors are well done and over with although many companies try to keep the 'feel' of first edition alive.It does have an excellent page to price ratio however. At $14.95 for over one hundred pages, it's difficult to go wrong. It also uses the front and rear interior covers to provide additional information in the form of a map of the setting and an ad for the web page.The adventure itself does a good job of moving the players around and gives them a fair amount of role playing, trap escaping and dungeon crawling to go through. Players who are more diplomatic will shine when it comes times to discover new tidbits or get on the NPCs good side while those who are more adept at melee will enjoy wading through the undead in the first part and the guardian of the Arcaneux itself at the end, a bebilith demon.If the next module has better art, more ideas on using this in an all purpose setting and keeps with the great price, it'll have a broader audience. For now, this module is a good deal for those who've already started playing in the setting or don't mind doing a lot of conversion work to add this inexpensive module to their game.</blockquote>

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