DriveThruRPG.com
Browse Categories
$ to $















Back
pixel_trans.gif
Other comments left for this publisher:
You must be logged in to rate this
pixel_trans.gif
Convenience Store Map
by Dale N. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 07/26/2021 12:45:55

I got this to use in Roll20 with the Savage Worlds one shot The Wild Hunt. It is perfect for the store in the adventure. I was not expecting and absoutly loved that it came with description of what might be found in such a store. That came in very handy when the party loots the store after the fight off the first wave of undead.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Convenience Store Map
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Modern Adventures
by William K. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 06/05/2020 07:59:04

While this book is technically sound enough, I must forewarn any buyers of the finer points of this book's claims. You see, the book transposes all of the "original" classes into an actual, historical modern setting--as in right NOW modern, not "magitech" or "fantasy cyberpunk". As such, clerics are PC and wizards/sorcerers are either nonexistent or regarded with disbelief and suspicion. If you were looking for "Greyhawk 2000" or Shadowrun, this book is not that. In addition, the armor section has retained most of the problems with d20 Modern with all of the DR and fortification in a game that is not balanced with those features casually floating around. Archaic armor also has no tangible penalty in this game, which makes the idea that those armors could have ever died out in the assumed modern in the first place ridiculous.

If I could have given this a higher rating, I would. The author really goes the extra mile to avoid the weird gestalt templates of d20 Modern, and they honestly put a lot of work into this. Sadly, it simply did not fulfill the needs of my gaming group, and thus I have no choice but to rate it as such.

Edit: Responding to the publisher, I figured that since the book was for Pathfinder (ie a setting where the Gods have a VERY real and tangible presence in the world) that the content would be influenced by it. That it was not greatly influenced by that setting is a big letdown since all of the main classes come from that setting, a fact that caused me to think that it would be "Golarion but in the 2000s".



Rating:
[1 of 5 Stars!]
Modern Adventures
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Creator Reply:
Modern Adventures is intended to facilitate playing in ANY modern setting (or at least most of them). The two sample campaigns we included were designed specifically to demonstrate this versatility. “Fifth Realm” is a modern day high fantasy about the resurgence of magic and otherworldly travel; Silicon Gothic is a near-future cyberpunk-inspired dystopia. One could easily combine the two and have “Viking Shadowrun”. There is no default setting. Can you help me understand what made you think there was? customerService @ paNikProductions . com
pixel_trans.gif
Modern Adventures is intended to facilitate playing in ANY modern setting (or at least most of them). The two sample campaigns we included were designed specifically to demonstrate this versatility. “Fifth Realm” is a modern day high fantasy about the resurgence of magic and otherworldly travel; Silicon Gothic is a near-future cyberpunk-inspired dystopia. One could easily combine the two and have “Viking Shadowrun”. There is no default setting. Can you help me understand what made you think there was?
pixel_trans.gif
Thank you for explaining. I feel like I better understand your disappointment now. Golarion and almost all the setting details are copyrighted by Pazio. We (or any other 3rd party publisher) can't legally reference any of their intellectual property, only the rules. While someone could *technically* publish something that was essentially "Golarion: 2020" (as long as they name it something different and don't mention anything by name), they'd be stepping into a pretty big grey area and lawyers would be called in to sort it all out. As an extremely small company (that can't afford lawyers), we decided not to risk it and steer clear of anything that might look like Paizo intellectual property. It's possible we over-corrected.
pixel_trans.gif
Caravan
by Thomas C H. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 01/19/2020 06:17:39

This product is in desperate need of editing, both copyediting (punctuation, spelling, word choice, paragraphs misordered, apparent copy-paste errors) and at a higher level. The adventure is a nice sketch, but seriously lacks motivation in parts. Neither the maps nor the text describing the temple make sense; the DM has to improvise or rework it heavily. It's not clear to me that the temple makes archaeological/agricultural sense, either; it's all out of scale with the village it's found in. Caravan escort missions naturally lend themselves to railroading, and it's not entirely out of place; however, the authors make a nod to the idea of sandbox, then put in a 10 day hiatus in the middle of the adventure where the characters need to wait - and have zero content for that span of time. That's a huge missed opportunity to make their Mesopotamian setting relevant. Assumptions about how the DM will run the game or should handle difficulty are buried in paragraphs late in the adventure, rather than stated up front in the overview.

Mechanics are confused or confusing: e.g. the boxed text tells players there are spiderwebs everywhere, but they have to roll to see them to avoid getting tangled in them? There have been attempts to make the text more usable at the table with boxes in the margins, but most of the content of those boxes isn't useful.

Commits the cardinal sin of boxed text: doesn't just tell the players what their characters sense, but also pretends to tell the players how their characters feel and what their characters do.

Less disappointing than Ancient Kingdoms: Mesopotamia only because I had lower expectations of it.



Rating:
[2 of 5 Stars!]
Caravan
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Mutant Manual (Pathfinder Print)
by Lee S. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 09/16/2019 14:40:20

These guys create some of the most user friendly gaming content in the market. I "LOVE" the R.E.A.C.T. material and highly recommend it for everyone. Their take on the source of PSI and mutants is brilliant and a fresh look at power origins. Buy thier books! You won't be disappointed!

For more information see my review of the R.E.A.C.T. core book for additional details on the world.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Mutant Manual (Pathfinder Print)
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
The Deadly Seven
by Jason B. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 12/23/2018 20:35:54

So far I've only read through the Savage Worlds version of the adventures, and they're great. The NPC's all have good motivations, and the way the demons are treated really lets the GM lean into some tropes to help with RPing them. This also gives them simple clear motivations to guide things if the player's go off the rails a bit. I also appreciate that things aren't overly scripted, there's plenty of foom for everyone at the table to guide the action.

Well worth the money, I hsould check out all the other goodies that came with it.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
The Deadly Seven
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Mission: Mercy
by Chris J. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 07/31/2017 06:06:41

This is a great little scenario pack that gives you a ton of material for your money.

The scenario is set in modern day Columbia, though with a little work it could be adapted to any developing world country with remote communities. As written, two of the protagonists are described as mutants from the publisher's "REACT" campaign setting, but this is absolutely not essential to the plot and this scenario could easily be used in an entirely "real world" game with no weird or supernatural elements. There is a section on South American superstition and folklore if you want to incorporate these elements, but as the text states, NPC's belief in these things can still impact the adventure even if they don't objectively exist in the setting.

The main thrust of the adventure is the journey by road to a remote location and the delivery of the vaccine to the affected people. It's presented in a fairly freeform manner, with a number of obstacles and events the GM can throw at the players, rather than having a rigid plot or timeline. This is a big plus in my opinion, since over-plotted scenarios always seem to fall foul of player characters and their pesky free will. There are plenty of options for how the PCs can deal with events, and enough information for the GM to improvise should they do something unexpected.

The maps are well done, presented both in PD for printing and as VTT-friendly image files. In addition to trifold paper minis for all the likely protagonists, the set includes larger character "stand-ups" for the major NPCs, with their portrait on the front and their game stats on the back - a really nice touch to help players visualise the characters they're interacting with. Personally I'm not a big fan of the digital painting style used for most of the illustrations, but that's purely a personal preference - they're competently done and on the whole illustrate the adventure well rather than being just vaguely appropriate stock art.

Speaking of game stats, the adventure seems primarily written for Savage Worlds, with a seperate "Polysystem" PDF with the full main text and system-specific info for the four other supported game systems accessible by layers. This is really well done, with certain passages in the main text highlighted and linked to sidebars with game-specific content. Some real thought seems to have gone into the adaptation to the other systems as well, rather than just being a find-and-replace job.

On the whole I'm really pleased with this adventure, and will definitely be looking forward to seeing more from this publisher. My only gripe is that I can't easily use this adventure in my current ongoing Latin American RPG campaign -The PCs run a helicopter charter company and an hour-long flight would neatly bypass the whole "road trip" part of the adventure.

TL:DR - Lots of stuff included, well put together and presented, easily adaptable to other modern-day RPG settings. Highly recommended.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Mission: Mercy
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Creator Reply:
Thank You, Chris. You hit on just about everything we do to try to make a great title... and yes the multi systems are actually playtested (SHOCK!). Thanks for your assessment and highlights of what we do.
pixel_trans.gif
Modern Adventures
by Thilo G. [Featured Reviewer] Date Added: 06/30/2017 04:33:02

An Endzeitgeist.com review

This massive book clocks in at 234 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page ToC, 1 page SRD, leaving us with a massive 231 pages of content, so let's take a look!

This massive tome was gifted to me by one of my patreons for the purpose of a prioritized review. It has thus been moved up in my review-queue.

The first thing you'll undoubtedly notice is that the above does not feature an editorial section - there is a reason for that, namely that each page has a sidebar on the left or right, which is used to provide commentary and elaborate on the content - the editorial can be found in such a side-bar on the very first page.

The first thing the pdf makes clear would be a decision I very much applaud - namely that, while this is clearly based on d20 Modern, it does not translate e.g. the classes to PFRPG and tries to instead provide its own solutions for modern gaming, a strategy based more on archetypes and the like. The pdf does note some changes in the gameplay first, e.g. the fact that modern gaming does not know massive, exceedingly potent armors - as such, AC will be lower and thus, further emphasize concealment etc. This may be one of the more problematic aspects of the game, as it further tilts the balance between offense and defense, already strongly in favor of offense in PFRPG, towards the offense side of things, but let's talk about that after having taken in the whole of the rules.

The pdf also acknowledges that guns inflict a lot of damage at lower levels, but do not scale, damage-output-wise, as well as other options and the loudness of their shots make them less than subtle. A big plus here would be the reality of our modern work - prolonged gunfights are prone to draw the attention of the authorities. So, in fact, the campaign's implicit realities may be a balancing factor here.

The next thing to consider, obviously, would be the reality of magic in the game: If you presume standard magic, there are potentially infinite permutations of effects on the game: From the use of dancing lights in warfare as signals to the consequence of create water and the like, the results are potentially endless and even exploring e.g. the fact that you can generate electricity from nothing or permanent fire and how that influenced our cultures and how the world works. The pdf does come with different standard magic levels: In worlds with fading magic, successfully casting a spell requires a concentration heck versus DC 20 + the spell's level and magic item creation takes twice as long. Alternatively, there is an interesting option that makes spells basically behave like rituals - they receive a casting time in full rounds equal to their spell-level and all magic items of +3 or higher will be basically artifacts, with lower-powered items requiring thrice as long to create. Spells with full-round casting times multiply their casting time by 3 times the spell's level. There are a couple of issues with this otherwise interesting system: For one, it does not take spells that can be cast as immediate, swift, etc. actions into account and metamagic feats that increase casting duration similarly become problematic. Additionally, spontaneous casters are extremely nerfed by this system, losing what made them work in the first place - their spontaneity. SUs take a full-round to activate and continuous ones reduce their save DC (erroneously called "resistance DC" here) by 2 and suffer from halved effects.

The next option would be aspected magic, which suggests limiting magic to suit the needs of the particular campaign. No hard rules are provided here. Localized magic assumes that magic functions only under specific circumstances or in specific places and supernatural magic as an option basically eliminates spellcasting and mentions that it works best for horror/survivalist types of games - a cursory glance at the potency of supernatural class options, however, can make this assumption slightly problematic as well. Finally, there is the option of playing sans magic - dead magic, if you will. The issue regarding math is evident to anyone who has crunched the numbers of PFRPG at one point - in order to make the math come out right, you need magic at one point.

If all of this sounds harsh, then rest assured that it's not intended to be taken as such - but the pdf's "solutions" for these choices are somewhat lackluster - I expected more crunchy alternate bonus type progressions and rules to supplement these respective choices - as provided, they unanimously will generate issues.

Onwards to the next section, which deals with the general classifications of history you can embark on: In covert history, magic is real, but a closely-guarded secret. More interesting would be the concept of secret history, where a force called "The Shroud" shields our memory and perception from the ability to perceive magic creatures, elves, etc. living among us properly. Finally, divergent and alternate history are touched upon - these sections generally constitute nice starting points. Races and how common they are and magic-level combinations are touched upon, discussing the respective core races in a modern context, while also providing alternate racial traits (which deserve applause - they are generally well-balanced!) and favored class options for the new classes.

Which brings me to the subject matter of classes, which are codified according to magic-levels and whether they're appropriate for the respective world. Class skill modifications, if appropriate, are included for the classes and the table also contains the aforementioned new ones; it should be noted that the classes covered here are restricted to core and APG-classes - neither magus, nor the UC, ACG or Occult classes receive consideration here. Sorcerors are big winners in this chapter, gaining 4 bloodlines to represent common tropes of real-life magic - pyrokineticism, telepathy, telekinesis and spiritualism. The rules are generally solid here, though there are a couple of minor guffaws in the rules-language - save DC-formulae switching from 3rd person to second, willpower saves instead of Will saves and the like. More annoying - spell references that are capitalized instead of italicized. That is a big and pretty annoying formatting hiccup that can be found here and there throughout the pdf. Which is baffling to me, considering that spells have been properly italicized in e.g. the bonus spell sections of the bloodlines...and indeed, in later sections, more often than not, the pdf gets it right.

Okay, so, the new classes. The first of these would be the Charmer, who gains d6 HD, 4 + Int skills per level, proficiency with simple weapons, sword canes, handguns and light armors. They gain 1/2 BAB-progression and good Ref- and Will-saves. The class begins play with Expertise as a bonus feat and a mesmerism pool equal to twice the class level + the Charmer's Charisma modifier. As a standard action, the charmer can spend a mesmerism point to fascinate a target, which may be maintained as a move action and the fascination is not automatically broken by nearby combat, but only by direct attacks on the target. The ability thankfully has a range and a save to resist and is properly codified - though, as a nitpick, the save-DC formula is presented in the incorrect sequence - it's 10 + incremental level scaling + attribute modifier, not first the attribute modifier...but that remains a mostly cosmetic hiccup. The class can use Bluff to run short-term cons to gain money and gains +1/2 class level to Diplomacy as well as +1 insight bonus to AC that increases every 4 levels thereafter to a maximum of +5. Second level yields NPC contacts, which slightly confusingly refers once to "begins play" - which is usually 1st level. But that is a cosmetic gripe. Danger-sense, though, is weird - it nets a second "roll to avoid being surprised" - what's that supposed to mean? No idea. It is also somewhat unfortunately-named, considering the rogue ability of the same name.

Things get interesting with 2nd level, as the charmer gets an ever-increasing array of uses for the mesmerist points, with fatigue instilling or suppression and the like - the abilities interact with conditions, though, if you expected choice here, I'll have to disappoint you - the sequence of ability gains is strictly linear. On the plus-side, the pdf seems to get condition-interaction right, allowing for e.g. the reduction of exhaustion to fatigue, etc. Higher levels yield black market connections, the option to duplicate an extraordinary version of charm person/monster. 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter yield an alternate identity, though since this predates Ultimate Intrigue, the ability feels a bit brief and very much a flavor option. Starting at 5th level, either via hero points or 1/level, the charmer can gain favors from NPCs. One ability lacks the level it's gained in the text, though the table does mention it. Starting at 13th level, they learn to instill manias, delusions and phobias and archetype-wise, gambler, undercover spy and romancer are included. I am not a fan of this rather linear class.

The second class is the entertainer, who gets d8 HD, 6 + Int skills per level, 3/4 BAB-progression, good Ref-saves, proficiency with simple weapons, pistols and light armors...and they basically represent a bard-like option: The class knows 6 types of different performances, drama, comedy, dance, instrumental, oratory and sing and the emotion effects performances are capable of capable of generating benefits and penalties, with each performance having two emotion effects assigned. It is pretty cool to see the requirement for Int for some, but I am not 100% sure whether a given performance triggers both effects or just one. The class extends the range of affected targets and the emotion effects provided for the respective performances, which is pretty cool. The class gains +1/2 class level to Knowledge (pop culture), a bard's fascinate, better total defense and they can use limited wild card skill. Unlike the charmer, the entertainer is more flexible and has a lot more options and some actual customization, for second level and every 2 levels thereafter yield a shtick, the talent-array of the class. These allow for enhanced emotion effects, feats, etc. and generally are interesting.

The class does come with abilities to emulate the class abilities of other classes and, while it gets multiclassing-synergy right (kudos there), I still consider the rules-language to need a bit more oomph here due to the wide-open nature of the ability - still, kudos, this ranks as one of the best examples of such an ability I have seen in a codified manner. The further abilities of the class allow for teamwork feat adaptation and recommend items, have a steady income, etc. - Stand-up Comedic, Stuntman and Professional Athlete would be the archetypes included for this class. All in all, a better class than the charmer.

The third new class would be the gadgeteer, who gains d8 HD, 8 + Int skills per level, 3/4 BAB-progression, good Ref-saves and proficiency with simple weapons, handguns, machine pistols and light armors. At 2nd level, they get their first gizmo and a total of 4 levels. The gadgeteer can basically generate gizmos, duplicating different spells. These are somewhat unstable and hard to use for other classes- the class also gets so-called eureka gizmos, with additional options being made available at higher levels. The class provides several skill-based options to mitigate the broken condition, with class abilities focusing on tech, laying traps, granting equipment bonuses to items and at higher levels, they learn to craft Futuretech items - i.e. stable versions of the prototype gizmos. The interesting component of the class, however, would be that they receive basically a robotic construct companion that scales with them - these companions are programmed via macros. They are command as swift actions and three sample means of controlling them are provided. 12 different basic frameworks are provided, ranging from exoskeletons to spider drones, mini-tanks or even motorcycles and the like - so yes, you can play Knightrider with this class. The respective base forms generally are solid in their balancing and obviously provide different playing experiences, with certain limits applying to them. This section, as a whole, is surprisingly well-crafted, with unique macros for e.g. swarms and the like. Once again, three archetypes are provided, namely racer, hacker and saboteur. While I do have takes on the concept I personally prefer, this is definitely not a bad option and, considering the complexity, a rather well-made one.

The investigator class gets d8 HD, 8 + Int skills per level, 3(4 BAb-progression, good Fort- and Will-saves and proficiency with handguns, simple weapons, light and medium armor and basically represent exactly what you'd think - a chassis to play Sherlock Holmes, CSI-guys, cops, etc. - as such, the class abilities feature the ability to size up opponents via Knowledge (psychology). They get a variant of favored enemy for cultural groups and networks of informants and the class has a massive, expansive talent section, which includes penalty-less non-lethal combat, skill-bonuses, spell-duplication and so much more. Forensic investigation, forcing confessions and the like - the class has a lot to offer and represents a surprisingly good take on the trope. Archetype-wise, we get the bounty hunter, gentleman detective, muchraker and superfan. Once again, not a bad class!

The scholar class would be another kind of skill monkey, with d6 HD, 6 + Int skills per level, good Will-saves, 1/2 BAB-progression and proficiency with only simple weapons. They can brew concoctions, which act as potion-like abilities, with a pretty wide array of options available. Beyond that and the obvious theme of Knowledge skills, they also gain theses on every even-numbered level - these represents a massive, multiple pages spanning list of talents to choose from. At higher levels, scholars can mislead (read: daze) targets temporarily, generate plans that convey bonuses and become resistant to mind-influencing and emotion effects with a selective SR. The archetypes are the engineer, geneticist, psychologist and skeptic - once again, a generally well-made and compelling class.

Finally, the stranger gets d12 HD, 4 + Int skills per level, full BAB-progression, good Fort-saves, proficiency with simple and archaic weapons as well as light armors and shields: They are the catch-all class for the hardened survivors: make-shift armors, Endurance, favored terrain, uncanny dodge, better movement - you get the idea. The Archetypes include the drunken bum, the parolee, the street preacher, traditional tribal warrior and survivalist. A decent class, if a bit linear, as far as I'm concerned.

The pdf also mentions NPC classes and their basic modifications of the classic ones and goes on to update the skills available for modern gaming, with new Craft and Knowledge skills, Computers and Pilot. Similarly, the pdf contains various feats and feat clarifications of classic feats. Starting cash in dollars, equipment (including a wide variety of guns, use of firehoses as damaging sources, flare guns, flamethrowers, alternate ammunition, suppressors, explosives - basically, this doesn't leave much to be desired and also includes restrictions of e.g. availability of certain objects. From fake IDs to night-vision goggles, this huge chapter provides a lot of cool material. IT should be noted that the pdf does cover rules for automatic fire and overlapping fields of fire.

Somewhat annoying if you're looking for something specific: The pdf provides magic items in the side-bars throughout this chapter, which makes finding a specific magic item a bit of a hassle. Damn cool: We get vehicle stats for jet fighters, trucks, various cars, motorcycles and the like and the pdf does provide a concise overview of various costs of living and the respective standards. Beyond these rules, we receive 12 new spells, from discern password to magical masking of metal and clarifications for the use of traditional spells in a modern context can also be found.

Now, I touched before on gizmos as unstable prototypes - they and the more stable futuretech are discussed in their own chapter: From pocket flamethrowers and rocketpacks to psychic screwdrivers (Dr. Who fans will smile here...) to endure elements duplicators, these act basically as an alternate take on "magic" items - they have CLs and are presented as such, so if you've been using the Technology Guide, don't expect compatibility here. That being said, the section generally is rather nice. The more unique and impressive eureka gizmos I mentioned before get their own section, just fyi - and they increase their effects, though the respective upgrades do come with a hefty price in additional to the minimum level requirements for the upgrades.

After this, we get a chapter on real diseases (curable ones only) and poisons before we are introduced to the sample campaign world, which is designated Fifth World: While the name may generate some cringing fro SR-fans, the setting is actually interesting - it takes the basic framework of Norse myth's nine worlds and applies it to a modern context. A brief adventure outline and some encounter sketches can be found here as well, though these are very basic and bare-bones. The second campaign setting sketch we get would be silicon gothic, a futuristic high-tech espionage dystopia under corporate control. Three encounters sketch a sample adventure in this setting. It should be noted that both of these settings come with a few sample statblocks.

Conclusion:

Editing is surprisingly good for a crunch-book of this size - on a formal level, there isn't much to complain. The rules-language is similarly an interesting experience, for while there are a couple of formatting glitches and deviations from the default, as a whole, the rules-language is surprisingly well-crafted and the classes offer significantly more (and better!) options than what d20 Modern's roster provided. Layout is a weak spot of the book - the use of the sidebar, generally, isn't bad or anything, but e.g. cramming magic items there can make navigation more of a hassle. That being said, the book employs a 1-column standard. The book sports a lot of full-color artworks in the same comic-like style that you can see on the cover - they did not impress me as a whole, but don't hurt the book either. The pdf comes fully bookmarked with extensive, nested bookmarks and a second version, optimized for mobile device usage as well as sample character sheets.

M. Andrew Payne, with contributions from Jason Bean, Andrew Boggs, Nik Palmer and Antoinette Riggs has crafted a rather massive and pretty impressive toolkit, one that does a better job at bringing modern gameplay to PFRPG than many approaches I have seen; in fact, I was surprised by this, as it had completely flown under my radar. This does a lot right: The new classes make sense, and with the exception of the charmer and stranger, provide a lot of player-agenda and viable options. The equipment section, gizmos, etc. all constitute viable playing options as well. At the same time, I think I managed to highlight why I don't consider this to be perfect: Beyond the small hiccups in the rules-aesthetics, in particular the campaign customization leaves a bit to be desired. If you present variant campaign settings and address the magic-conundrum, then that somewhat has to be mirrored by rules - be it with suggested automatic bonus progressions or a similar way. As presented, the defensive options available in a modern game will be quickly outpaced by the offensive ones and just balancing via the implicit world, while a viable strategy, on its own isn't wholly satisfying to me.

That is the one true failure of the book: I believe that it could have been a representation of true greatness if it had addressed these issues. Since it doesn't, it basically represents a good book, for some it may even be very good. The options in this toolkit are diverse, interesting and bring, in one handy tome, a rather impressive and solid toolkit for modern gaming to Pathfinder...so if that's what you've been looking for, look no further. If the notion never really interested you or if one of the more advanced pathfinder options (OA, Tech-guide, etc.) should be part of your game, then you'll have to join me in waiting for, hopefully, an expansion at one point. As is, this book is worth getting. It does its job admirably-well and, as a whole, certainly deserves the obvious work that went into this being acknowledged. Hence, my final verdict will clock in at 4 stars - a good toolkit for modern gaming, but one that does leave some work in the hands of the GM.

Endzeitgeist out.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Modern Adventures
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Creator Reply:
Sorry that placing the magic items in sidebars was vexing. We never intended that to be a comprehensive list, more of an inspirational "here's some cool stuff you can make by applying the existing magic creation system to modern items" sort of thing. I nonetheless see your point. If and when we do a second edition we'll include some sort of index for just that reason (or break magic items into a chapter of their own). Likewise, the sample campaigns were meant as "sketches", intended to inspire possibilities more than full-on source books. I would have liked to have made Modern Adventures compatible with the Pathfinder Technology Guide but alas, it didn't come out until 4 or 5 months after we'd already published. (I hope this doesn't come across as defensive; it's just that the calendar worked against us on that issue.) If I may pick your brain: With the Charmer class we considered giving them the ability to cast Enchantment spells (possibly as spell-like abilities) but decided that they'd be better off with their own mechanic. If we had gone the other way, would the class be more interesting to you? Thanks for such a thoughtful review, M. Andrew Payne
pixel_trans.gif
Happy Fun Rules (FUDGE)
by Michael J. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 06/12/2015 13:02:29

I didn't like it because it was basically an outline to a rules set. No rule was sufficiently explained or given illustrations. No genres suggested even.



Rating:
[2 of 5 Stars!]
Happy Fun Rules (FUDGE)
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Modern Adventures
by Harry S. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 03/14/2014 00:02:09

Just a few quick notes. I picked up the beta earlier and thought it was a much better than D20 Modern in many ways. I recently grabbed this the day it came out and really LOVE what they have done with the modern version of Pathfinder. One of the reasons I didn't like d20 Modern was because of the wealth system and the way everything seemed the same in many ways. Modern Adventures fixed what I didn't like about the d20 version. Perhaps my favorite parts of the book are the write-ups for the new classes (especially the gadgeteer and scholar). With a horde of cool abilities for each class there is something there for everyone. Panik also throws in different 'subclasses' to further customize your character.

Highly recommended!



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Modern Adventures
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
R.E.A.C.T. Worldbook v1.1 PolySystem edition
by Harry S. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 01/09/2014 16:00:45

In a word...OUTSTANDING!

This little gem is composed of a range of PolySystem pdfs for the R.E.A.C.T. universe including Fate, Fudge, d20 OGL, and Pathfinder from which an imaginative player or GM can 'port'over to their system of choice (Mine is the Brutal Engine from the 'Corporation' RPG). The basic storyline comprises a world threatened by dimensional instability and mutative effects brought about by the conscious and sometimes unconscious use of psionics as well as clustered masses of humanity, i.e. cities. Their explanation for psionics and how it weakens dimensional walls is 1st rate and grounded in pseudoscience and theoretical physics, TOTALLY COOL.

I heartily recommend this for any scifi campaign and eagerly awaiting more of the R.E.A.C.T. universe!

Thanks,

Lee Smith



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
R.E.A.C.T. Worldbook v1.1 PolySystem edition
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Modern Adventures (beta)
by Tim A. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 06/15/2013 11:06:06

Awesome product! I love the new character classes, and the campaign settings. Great system for modern play with Pathfinder. Well done!



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Modern Adventures (beta)
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
The Deadly Seven
by Jason C. [Featured Reviewer] Date Added: 04/12/2013 13:59:18

Every so often, a supplement comes along that sets a new bar, and in electronic RPG supplements innovation and progress almost always comes in the direction of flexibility and usefulness. 0one Games' amazing layered PDF maps set a new standard for interactivity in map supplements. Champions' San Angelo: City of Heroes let you click to change the supplement from one game system to another. And I have to say, Deadly Seven pushes flexibility and usefulness about as far as you can expect. RPG publishers should take careful note of the many ways that Deadly Seven uses its format to help play this exciting, horrific story at the table.

First, let's note that you get a d20 Modern version, a Savage Worlds version, and a True20 version (my favorite). You get clue cards related to some of the more detailed investigations that can be handed over to the players. You get maps. You get character sheets. You get absolutely everything you can get in order to help you lay out the situation for the players.

But even within these materials there are even more features. The supplement contains hyperlinks - just click on a character (or demon's) name and you'll go straight to a description of that character. Click on the name of a place and you'll go to where that place is described. The supplement is heavily bookmarked as well.

On top of that, the supplement contains many organizational charts - such as a relationship map showing who is connected to who and how - crucial for developing realistic-feeling mysteries.

And this isn't just icing - the supplement itself uses these interlocked features to a stunning degree, by presenting a multifaceted investigation/mystery into several psychiatric patients who become possessed to varying degrees by demons. Without going into spoiler territory, I just want to mention that the structure of this supplement should be something that everyone writing or running mysteries should read: after a single incident/puzzle brings the player characters into investigating the situation, some of the other demons begin to respond and target the PCs. From there, the investigation is wide open - the players can pursue different leads in different ways. It's also unique because the scientist whose brilliant idea led to the possessions is actually a pretty mild mannered guy who doesn't believe in the supernatural (this is fine with the demons). Each of the demons has their own timeline that's detailed in the sidebar of their section, and depending on where and how the PCs intervene, they may respond in different ways.

There's also a detailed section on the 7 Deadly Sins as they were understood in medieval times and some new possession and exorcism guidelines that help add some flavor to the terrifying power. There's a sort of possession FAQ with the questions answered in "orthodox, progressivist and quasi-scientific" ways, which is amazing, since different PCs may come at possession from different perspectives. There's even a list of medical conditions that might be confused with possession, to help with laying in red herrings or for blinkered NPC doctors to suggest. And if that's not enough there are historical accounts of possession and hauntings!

It is simply ludicrous how far this supplement goes to create a fully fleshed out world which the players can dig around in and pursue terribly evil monsters. And the demons are monstrous - cannibalism and rape just scratch the surface here. Your players will want to end this menace and will be amazed at how far they can go pursuing it.

If you poked me with a sharp stick over and over and demanded that I tell you something about this to improve it would be that the file names used for the various versions all show up on rpgnow as "The_Deadly_Seven", meaning you have to download all three to find which game system you want. It's a common mistake many publishers make. But this is nitpicking. It's one of the best supplements on the site because of its innovative use of the many advantages of electronic RPG creation. If you want to see what I'm always on about in my other reviews - about how just scanning your dumb print product and putting it up is not good enough - Deadly Seven will show you just how good games can be here.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
The Deadly Seven
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Abyss of Insanity (d20 OGL ed.)
by A customer [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 02/24/2013 10:17:04

Good story, easy to understand plot with enough twists to keep my group intrigued.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Abyss of Insanity (d20 OGL ed.)
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
The Deadly Seven
by Joshua L. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 09/28/2012 16:33:23

I honestly have to say Panik Productions goes the extra mile here. It’s meant to be used with any system, but there’s already THREE versions of each the book and NPC/enemy character stat sheets, one written for each of the d20 Modern, True20, and Savage Worlds systems. It’s appreciated to have options ready right out of the gate. The included 5 maps have layers to turn on and off a grid, the cars, furniture, or the room labels. They are nicely detailed, and general enough to be used over and over. There’s also “clue cards” that are great to add to the immersion for the players, giving them something to hold, study, and sort when trying to figure out what to ask/do/try next. The book itself is organized well with both overt and subtle threats. There’s timelines for the overarching story, a relationship chart that easily shows all the connections, and motives and emotions explained for the NPCs, both big and small. Later there are further ideas and explanations for expanding upon what’s given.
A brand new GM may have trouble with the behind-the-scenes stuff that can be challenging to keep track of – but if you’re not worried about “off-screen” NPCs having actions and consequences dependent on in-game outcomes, and just run everything straight, then there shouldn’t be any problems. Furthermore, although conflict can come up a-plenty, it’s not really what this module is about, and therefore may not be best used with more combat-oriented players. There’s a lot of time that will be spent investigating, discussing, planning, and engaging in dialog, and someone just looking for a good smash-‘em-up will bore easily. But I love the theme, the NPC characters have personality that you’re able to run with, the battles are appropriate with guidelines to make them scalable, and it’s just exciting to read all the ideas and want to expose the players, little by little, to what’s happening around them. Easily the best buy I’ve gotten here in a long time, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for something new to play.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
The Deadly Seven
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
The Deadly Seven
by Thomas B. [Featured Reviewer] Date Added: 08/21/2012 23:47:20

WHAT WORKS: A very multilayered module that isn’t a railroad. Some great examples of how to do different types of adventures in Savage Worlds, such as an investigation. The Possession sourcebook is comprehensive as well. The NPCs are all generally well written…surprisingly so, in some cases. The PCs not only decide how successful each mission is, but even the end result in most cases.

WHAT DOESN’T WORK: The organization can be a bit dodgy at first, especially when you realize that the various threats can easily run over the tops of each other (and probably will). The adult content is pretty hard to remove, and will limit the audience because of it. If you run just the threats with no interruption, the common links of each case could get repetitive.

CONCLUSION: A very nice product with lots of variety, great handouts and examples about how to tackle different scenarios in Savage Worlds. In addition, the product takes advantage of the digital medium with layers utilized to switch between rules sets in the adventure, helpful “How Tos” for the Clue Cards and making the pages printer friendly. Deadly Seven is a great example of a scenario that has no assumed outcome, positive or negative, for the encounters, leaving all of that entirely in the hands of the PCs. Well worth checking out if you don’t mind some sex, drugs and violence in your games.

For my full review, please visit http://mostunreadblogever.blogspot.com/2012/08/tommys-take-on-deadly-seven.html



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Displaying 1 to 15 (of 15 reviews) Result Pages:  1 
pixel_trans.gif
0 items
 Hottest Titles
 Gift Certificates