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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Simon Collins" data-source="post: 2009754" data-attributes="member: 9860">This is not a playtest review.The Fir Domain is the first in a series of sourcebooks detailing the tribes of Tir Nan Og, for the Slaine RPG by Mongoose Publishing - this one deals with the tribe of the Fir Domain.The Fir Domain is 32 pages and costs $9.95. Font and margin size are average, good use of space is made (including inside covers being used for the OGL and an ad) though chapter and subsection headings are quite large. The artwork ranges from average to good and is original artwork, as opposed to the comic strips used in previous Slaine releases by Mongoose. Writing style and editing are both good.The first section deals with some of the myths and traditions of the Fir Domain tribe, including the Royal Hunt for titans. There is also a discussion of the foes and allies, king and council, and druids of the Fir Domain.The next section brings the idea of Character Concepts to Slaine. For those who have not come across this idea in previous Mongoose books, Character Concepts are optional roleplaying templates, with some minor game-rule advantages and disadvantages attached to each. These must be taken at character creation and should dictate the behaviour, to a certain extent, of the character as the campaign progresses. Each Character Concept gives guidelines on adventuring interests, roleplaying, and a minor rule-orientated bonus and penalty. The following Character Concepts are offered (for specific Slaine classes):* Mystic (Druid): druids that have trained at Glastonbury who are more attuned to Earth Power and are somewhat otherworldly, though less able at social skills.* Sage (Druid): druids specialising in gaining knowledge, who must focus their skill points into knowledge-based skills and gain a bardic-type knowledge.* King's Man (Noble Warrior): the king's brute squad, despised by the commonfolk, they gain a chain shirt from the king for defence.* Swordmaster (Noble Warrior): specialises in the sword at the cost of other weapons.* Outlaw (Thief): wilderness experts with low Enech, these are bandits living in the wilds of Albion.* Tomb Robber (Thief): experts in looting ancient Titan tombs.* Gorias Smith (Tribal Warrior): focused on weaponsmithing, gains a masterwork weapon at the expense of other skills.* Slinger (Tribal Warrior): experts in the use of the sling, with reduced armour proficiencies.* Witch Of Broceliande (Witch): worships the Goddess and the Horned God, at the expense of cursing abilities.* Seminary Witch (Witch): ex-druid witches with knowledge and Read Ogham skills, but with less combat prowess.There is a discussion and game rules for using Sons Of Cymidu as PCs. Sons of Cymidu are born to the Fir Domain women as fully grown warriors, complete with weaponry and armour. They have a pretty obnoxious personality with a rage that often turns on their own comrades.Two new prestige classes are offered:* Dancer Of The Sword - 10-level PrC with enhanced sword use, magical sword features, formation fighting abilities, and a sense of tactics and emotional control unusual for the tribes of the Earth Goddess. * Russet Hound - 10-level PrC based on the mythological links between the tribe of the Fir Domain and the fox. Gains an intelligent fox companion, can shapechange into a fox and has various fox-like class features - no scent trail, fast movement, and uncanny dodge, for example.The next section offers four new feats - Battle Plan (enhances leadership in the Slaine battle system), Fir Domain Sorcery (ability to cast all tribal specialty spells), Loins of Cymidu (gives Fir Domain women the ability to produce Sons of Cymidu), and Read Ogham.Six new spells are offered - Divining (like dowsing), Fox's Flea Trick (rids body of parasites), Sign Of The Long View (increases Spot checks), Sign Of Regrowth (like the D&D Heal spell), Sign Of The Wassail (produces magical apples), and Song of the Thrush (allows caster to speak with a bird).The next section introduces thirteen NPCs, including Rudraige, who may be destined to become king of the Fir Domain. These NPCs are tied into the nex section, "Scenario Hooks And Adventure Ideas", which give seven short adventure hooks based on one or more of the NPCs from the previous section.The last section gives average stats for a Fir Domain Headman, Noble Warrior, Tribal Warrior, Smith, and Son of Cymidu.Conclusion:An excellent resource for social, cultural, and mythological background of the Fir Domain. It is less useful as a source for geographical information on the lands of the Fir Domain - it would have been helpful to have had a reminder in map-form of the lands of the Fir Domain and some more in-depth information on their political relations with other tribes and neighbours. The Character Concepts are on the whole very good, the feats and spells add flavour to the Slaine campaign, the game rules seem pretty well balanced, and the NPCs have enough information on personality to be useful in game play for adventures based in the lands of the Fir Domain. Some of the information could be adapted for use outside the Slaine setting, but its strength would lie in use with Slaine. If you're running a Slaine adventure in the land of the Fir Domain or playing a Fir Domain PC, this is highly recommended. Otherwise, it is a good but non-essential sourcebook.</blockquote>

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