Kaptain_Kantrip
First Post
So I just got back from the game store and checked out the abysmally small d20 shipment... am still rabidly awaiting Spycraft, CoC, Freeport: City of Adventure, Armies of the Abyss, Quintessential Rogue... Argh!
Anyway, a couple new items of interest were in the box this week. I sat down and read them over an hour and a half... Ultimately, I bought neither (settling for "The Last Defender" mini-module from AEG, as it was only $3 and had a neat map), but that doesn't mean these new products were bad! Read on and decide for yourself...
________________________
GEANAVUE: STONES OF PEACE
(Kenzer & Co. SC, $24.95)
By Ed "Elminster" Greenwood
I read Geanavue: Stones of Peace (Kenzer & Co. Kalamar accessory) at the game store today, but didn't buy it. I'm waiting to see Freeport: City of Adventure first and will then pick one or the other (or neither)...
THE PRO's
1) Ed has indeed created a very detailed, in-depth setting
2) Beautiful, detailed color map (doublesided with B&W sewer system network map on reverse).
3) Lots of Guilds, Noble and Merchant Families, and other NPCs (statted out in the back)
4) RumorQuest (TM) tear-out cards with great ways to make the city come alive as well as serve as adventure hooks (basically snippets of conversation between NPCs on various subjects). This is really cool and saves the DM a lot of work!
5) Complete run-down on the justice system, including what happens when you get arrested and jailed...
6) Bonus section covering a cool sleazy "lawless" ghetto area (not mapped, which upset me a bit) that has sprung up outside the city proper. HINT to KENZER: A map of this would make a great web enhancement...
7) Lower magic than most Ed Greenwood projects, with nary a beholder, dragon or @#$% Harper in sight!
8) Sewer system discussed in detail
9) Can be dropped into just about any campaign with only minor tweaking
10) With moderate to major tweaking, Geanavue could serve as an excellent 3e version of Lankhmar
THE CON's
1) Ed Greenwood writing style (since he wrote it), so lots of FR sounding names, characters and situations---the book reads just like any FR thing he's ever done, which is comforting on the one hand (1e/2e nostalgia) and annoying on the other... at least to me. YMMV.
2) Too politically correct and not "medieval" enough in its laws and attitudes, IMO (much like FR). YMMV, and you can always tweak it... It could be made into a much darker, grittier place... Overall, it's a little on the bland side, like just about everything in Kingdoms of Kalamar and FR (at least to me).
3) Cover art is atrociously poor (fat, stupid-looking fire giant fighting some other giant while adventurers look on with city in background)
4) Some of Kalamar's names can be hard to pronounce, even the name of the city is not just not cool or easy to pronounce unless you're French (minor quibble, easily tweaked)
5) Costs $25 at a time when Freeport: City of Adventure is coming out, so most gamers who want a new city setting will be forced to choose between the two...
CONCLUSION
MR. HAPPY-FACE SAYS: I say Geanavue: Stones of Peace delivers a good solid value for your gaming dollar, and many people probably won't share my distaste for certain aspects of it, so go ahead and buy it. Overall, it's a great accessory to have. I may end up buying it myself at some point, but only when I'm prepared to do some extensive tweaking to render it more "Lankhmarian" in tone...
MR. FROWNY-FACE SAYS: People looking for a grittier urban setting should probably wait for Freeport: City of Adventure (coming in a few weeks). But if you are ambitious and don't mind moderate to major tweaking, and want to get started N-O-W, Geanavue can be a great skeleton to build your homebrew "gritty city" on. It *almost* has that wonderful "Lankhmar" feel to it... So close, dammit!
_______________
ASCENSION OF THE MAGDALENE
(Atlas Games, $13.95, adventure)
by Rick Neil
This is a weird one, but looks to be well-done. The adventure deals with someone hiring the PCs to recover the Magdalene, a priceless painting... I'm a bit fuzzy on the rest of it, as I got caught up in all the fun extra details of the setting and didn't pay a great deal of attention to the actual plot... I was too eager to get on to reading Geanavue, LOL.
THE PROs
1) This module has dual stats for Unknown Armies and d20. I never heard of Unknown Armies (maybe that's why they're "unknown" LOL), but it was interesting to compare systems, at least through the stats... and the UA stats include some eminently YOINKABLE things like Rage and Passion (what angers or intrigues the NPC in bite-size soundbites).
2) Nice cover
3) The adventure takes place in medieval Prague (Czechoslovakia) on earth. The Knights of Malta, Rosicrucians, and other important historical figures and groups are all present, along with useful data on the time period and region.
4) Includes ideas on how to use the adventure in different campaign settings (obviously they knew not everyone would like the historical setting). They even give fantasy equivalents of all names and groups, a nice touch.
5) Firearms stats for pistols and muskets are provided, along with how to "proof" armor against pistols (muskets just tear through proofing)
6) New arcane magic system "Mechanomancy" injcluded, basically lets you create clockwork automatons
7) Some interesting ideas can be YOINKed for any campaign... what I like to call the YOINK FACTOR (TM). The adventure makes you think of all kinds of ways to use bits of it elsewhere.
8) Good for those interested in running a historical earth setting
9) Setting (Prague) could serve as the focal point of a city-based campaign with some work (it was also covered in Dragon Mag's "Cities of the Ages" last year).
THE CONS
1) People may find it hard to integrate into their existing campaign, even with all the helpful advice present.
2) It's a bit pricey for me at $13.95; I hate paying more than $10 for any adventure unless it's huge
CONCLUSION
Remember I didn't study this one as much as Geanavue, so take my opinion on ASCENSION OF THE MAGDALENE with a grain of salt!
MR. HAPPY-FACE SAYS: Worth a look, maybe a buy.
MR. FROWNY-FACE SAYS: Worth a look, but probably not a buy.
_____________________
SHIPS OF WAR
(Mongoose, naval sourcebook)
Another nautical sourcebook in the Traveller's Tales series, and supplement to Seas of Blood.
PRO's
1) Lots of nice deck plans for war ships.
2) Great resource for nautical campaigns/naval warfare.
CON's
1) How many books on boats do we need? Ships of the Elves, Ships of the Goblins, now Ships of War (admittedly, probably the most useful of the three)
CONCLUSION
MR. HAPPY-FACE SAYS: Perfect for naval warfare campaigns, or for deckplan collectors.
MR. FROWNY-FACE SAYS: If you've got Seas of Blood or Seafarer's Handbook, do you really need this? How many deckplans do we need? How many extended naval warfare campaigns are being run?
Anyway, a couple new items of interest were in the box this week. I sat down and read them over an hour and a half... Ultimately, I bought neither (settling for "The Last Defender" mini-module from AEG, as it was only $3 and had a neat map), but that doesn't mean these new products were bad! Read on and decide for yourself...
________________________
GEANAVUE: STONES OF PEACE
(Kenzer & Co. SC, $24.95)
By Ed "Elminster" Greenwood
I read Geanavue: Stones of Peace (Kenzer & Co. Kalamar accessory) at the game store today, but didn't buy it. I'm waiting to see Freeport: City of Adventure first and will then pick one or the other (or neither)...
THE PRO's
1) Ed has indeed created a very detailed, in-depth setting
2) Beautiful, detailed color map (doublesided with B&W sewer system network map on reverse).
3) Lots of Guilds, Noble and Merchant Families, and other NPCs (statted out in the back)
4) RumorQuest (TM) tear-out cards with great ways to make the city come alive as well as serve as adventure hooks (basically snippets of conversation between NPCs on various subjects). This is really cool and saves the DM a lot of work!
5) Complete run-down on the justice system, including what happens when you get arrested and jailed...
6) Bonus section covering a cool sleazy "lawless" ghetto area (not mapped, which upset me a bit) that has sprung up outside the city proper. HINT to KENZER: A map of this would make a great web enhancement...
7) Lower magic than most Ed Greenwood projects, with nary a beholder, dragon or @#$% Harper in sight!
8) Sewer system discussed in detail
9) Can be dropped into just about any campaign with only minor tweaking
10) With moderate to major tweaking, Geanavue could serve as an excellent 3e version of Lankhmar
THE CON's
1) Ed Greenwood writing style (since he wrote it), so lots of FR sounding names, characters and situations---the book reads just like any FR thing he's ever done, which is comforting on the one hand (1e/2e nostalgia) and annoying on the other... at least to me. YMMV.
2) Too politically correct and not "medieval" enough in its laws and attitudes, IMO (much like FR). YMMV, and you can always tweak it... It could be made into a much darker, grittier place... Overall, it's a little on the bland side, like just about everything in Kingdoms of Kalamar and FR (at least to me).
3) Cover art is atrociously poor (fat, stupid-looking fire giant fighting some other giant while adventurers look on with city in background)
4) Some of Kalamar's names can be hard to pronounce, even the name of the city is not just not cool or easy to pronounce unless you're French (minor quibble, easily tweaked)
5) Costs $25 at a time when Freeport: City of Adventure is coming out, so most gamers who want a new city setting will be forced to choose between the two...
CONCLUSION
MR. HAPPY-FACE SAYS: I say Geanavue: Stones of Peace delivers a good solid value for your gaming dollar, and many people probably won't share my distaste for certain aspects of it, so go ahead and buy it. Overall, it's a great accessory to have. I may end up buying it myself at some point, but only when I'm prepared to do some extensive tweaking to render it more "Lankhmarian" in tone... MR. FROWNY-FACE SAYS: People looking for a grittier urban setting should probably wait for Freeport: City of Adventure (coming in a few weeks). But if you are ambitious and don't mind moderate to major tweaking, and want to get started N-O-W, Geanavue can be a great skeleton to build your homebrew "gritty city" on. It *almost* has that wonderful "Lankhmar" feel to it... So close, dammit!_______________
ASCENSION OF THE MAGDALENE
(Atlas Games, $13.95, adventure)
by Rick Neil
This is a weird one, but looks to be well-done. The adventure deals with someone hiring the PCs to recover the Magdalene, a priceless painting... I'm a bit fuzzy on the rest of it, as I got caught up in all the fun extra details of the setting and didn't pay a great deal of attention to the actual plot... I was too eager to get on to reading Geanavue, LOL.
THE PROs
1) This module has dual stats for Unknown Armies and d20. I never heard of Unknown Armies (maybe that's why they're "unknown" LOL), but it was interesting to compare systems, at least through the stats... and the UA stats include some eminently YOINKABLE things like Rage and Passion (what angers or intrigues the NPC in bite-size soundbites).
2) Nice cover
3) The adventure takes place in medieval Prague (Czechoslovakia) on earth. The Knights of Malta, Rosicrucians, and other important historical figures and groups are all present, along with useful data on the time period and region.
4) Includes ideas on how to use the adventure in different campaign settings (obviously they knew not everyone would like the historical setting). They even give fantasy equivalents of all names and groups, a nice touch.
5) Firearms stats for pistols and muskets are provided, along with how to "proof" armor against pistols (muskets just tear through proofing)
6) New arcane magic system "Mechanomancy" injcluded, basically lets you create clockwork automatons
7) Some interesting ideas can be YOINKed for any campaign... what I like to call the YOINK FACTOR (TM). The adventure makes you think of all kinds of ways to use bits of it elsewhere.
8) Good for those interested in running a historical earth setting
9) Setting (Prague) could serve as the focal point of a city-based campaign with some work (it was also covered in Dragon Mag's "Cities of the Ages" last year).
THE CONS
1) People may find it hard to integrate into their existing campaign, even with all the helpful advice present.
2) It's a bit pricey for me at $13.95; I hate paying more than $10 for any adventure unless it's huge
CONCLUSION
Remember I didn't study this one as much as Geanavue, so take my opinion on ASCENSION OF THE MAGDALENE with a grain of salt!
MR. HAPPY-FACE SAYS: Worth a look, maybe a buy. MR. FROWNY-FACE SAYS: Worth a look, but probably not a buy._____________________
SHIPS OF WAR
(Mongoose, naval sourcebook)
Another nautical sourcebook in the Traveller's Tales series, and supplement to Seas of Blood.
PRO's
1) Lots of nice deck plans for war ships.
2) Great resource for nautical campaigns/naval warfare.
CON's
1) How many books on boats do we need? Ships of the Elves, Ships of the Goblins, now Ships of War (admittedly, probably the most useful of the three)
CONCLUSION
MR. HAPPY-FACE SAYS: Perfect for naval warfare campaigns, or for deckplan collectors. MR. FROWNY-FACE SAYS: If you've got Seas of Blood or Seafarer's Handbook, do you really need this? How many deckplans do we need? How many extended naval warfare campaigns are being run?
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