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Dungeon Dressing: Stairs

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Average Rating:4.6 / 5
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Dungeon Dressing: Stairs
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Dungeon Dressing: Stairs
Publisher: Raging Swan Press
by Aaron H. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 01/14/2013 20:41:19

The following review was originally posted at Roleplayers Chronicle and can be read in its entirety at http://roleplayerschronicle.com/?p=30662.

Dungeon Dressing: Stairs is a small 13 page supplement for the Pathfinder System. Along with some nice rules explanations about stairs, it includes the following:

A table presenting 50 options for interesting features of your stairs. A table presenting 100 pieces of stair dressing to breathe life into your creation. Three clever, challenging stair-based traps (CRs 3-7; and four variants).

It is currently available at DriveThruRPG and Paizo.com for the low price of 1.99.

OVERALL

This was a first for me, to consider a new way to look at stairs besides them being broken or working fine. And I can simply say that I am not going to look at stairs the same way again. In this case, that’s a good thing.

RATINGS

Publication Quality: 10 out of 10 Presentation of Layout: Layout is done once again in simple, minimalistic format that comes with Raging Swan Press. The bookmarks are done well and the format is quite nice. But I would love more than anything to see these supplemental products have a little bit of color, or Sepia for that matter, to balance out the simplicity. Since I do not think they will change that, it would be nice to see one day.

Ease of Mobility: This product transferred over well to my Kindle with ease. They have a printable and a digital version, and I love both.

Mechanics: 9 out of 10 Now, this was the first product that I actually playtested somewhat before reviewing it. I run an online game with a few family members who live far away, and I had written a “Never-ending Staircase” while players were scaling up a Wizards’ Tower. The stair case had a few of the traps that were quite brutal for them to handle even at their CRs.

Mechanically, the staircases are sound, and the information providing the staircases with their functions and works are quite informative and helpful whether you are playing a homemade campaign, or a regular Pathfinder adventure like Masters of the Fallen Fortress in which I was running (revamp in progress) at the time.

Value Add: 9 out of 10 So the downside to all of these supplements that are specific, is that they are only for one or two things, and then they aren’t really applicable to other things outside of it. The price is quite right for the item, and you still get a good return for your money. I would recommend Raging Swan Press consider a bundle for their series, so that way you can get a little more, but as is, it’s quite well worth it.

Overall: 9 out of 10 Minus the specialty of product, this is a product that is quite a lot of fun, and you will want to use the product right away the next time you have people going up stairs.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Dungeon Dressing: Stairs
Publisher: Raging Swan Press
by Thilo G. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 06/22/2012 06:57:46

This pdf is 13 pages long, 1 page front cover, 1 page advertisement, 2 pages editorial, 1 page ToC/foreword, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving a total of 6 pages of content for the second "Dungeon Dressing"-pdf, so let's check it out!

The Dungeon Dressing-series of pdfs seeks to add details, details, details to your game and provides tables of enticing, unique and evocative pieces to your creations, enabling you to make your locations feel more distinct - at least that's the idea. Does it succeed?

Quite original, Creighton Broadhurst kicks off this discussion of stairs by classifying multiple kinds of stairs, from gradual to spiral staircases as well as stair made from e.g. magically hardened glass. We also get information on how different kinds of stairs impede movement, acrobatics-DCs etc., all contained in a concise page.

After having these basics covered, we get the tables and we're in for a table I absolutely adore: Random characteristics provide a page of features that range from low ceilings, to masoner's marks and niches and even steps with different heights - sometimes these features provide for added complications that influence e.g. DCs and options available to the PCs.

A total of 2 pages containing 100 dressings and features, from graffiti to dust and tracks, broken spear shafts, chipped steps and blood trails and slippery water are contained herein, once again providing different angles, hooks and, again, often modifications of crunchy circumstances the PCs may encounter.

My biggest gripe with the predecessor detailing statues was that the traps were not on par with the tables. This installment also features traps, 3 to be precise: Cr 3m 4 and 7 and boy, they are better: From the classic sliding staircase (with effects depending on the round) to a barrage of shadow-magic style boulders, the three different traps all can be considered winners - while not particular in their fluff, the traps are iconic enough to make not only for cool challenges, but also remain easy to integrate in the sample staircase of your choosing.

Conclusion: Editing and formatting are top-notch, I didn't notice any glitches. Layout adheres to RSp'S elegant 2-column b/w-standard and the pdf comes in two versions - one optimized for screen use on tablets and one to be printed out. The pdf is fully bookmarked. I'm a big fan of details - they make for the spice of adventuring and the difference between a cool world and one that can be considered truly immersive. The stairs contained herein are not simple fluff, though, instead adding a nice variety of modifications that can not only make the player' experience better, but also provide for neat environmental challenges that influence your combat tactics. In the end, all of the content herein should be considered top-notch and taking the low price into account, I am more or less forced to grant this pdf the best possible rating 5 stars endzeitgeist seal of approval for an exciting, cool supplement that is guaranteed to enrich your GM-arsenal.

Endzeitgeist out.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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