This product fell short of my expectations. While I can see why they want to create a world that is inviting to all genders and sexual orientations, I think they actually went a bit to far.
First, I do want to say it succeeded very well in the area of presenting how to introduce love and sex to a game. It is a well written essay on how to handle it maturely. It offers good advice for how to work it into the story. There are sample story hooks offered up as well.
Where it failed for me though was the overly optimistic presentation of sex and gender in the Ninth World. It almost seems like they want a utopian ideal of non-discrimination. I went back and forth on this as I read it. Part of the appeal of the Ninth World is the alienness and unfamiliarity it can present. While I expect different cultures and values though, this seems to stretch what I find believable (quite the accomplishment in a game with aliens and alternate dimensions). Gender equality and the presence of alternate sexuality in the game is commendable and a good choice in my mind, but when the idea that heterosexual couples are not the normal is floated, it causes me to raise an eyebrow.
Another failing was the lack of talk about specifics in the Ninth World. There were a few examples thrown in, but mostly it was hand waved with, "the Ninth World is a vast place with many differences."
The Breakdown: 13 pages
Cover 1pg
Sex and love in the Ninth World 2pg
GM Advice 3pg
Art 1pg
Love and commitment 1pg
Selling Sex 1pg
STDs and Pregnancy 1pg
Author Note 1pg
Numenera artifacts, cyphers, and oddities 2 pg
While not a bad product, I am not so sure I feel I got my money's worth. Still, for anyone that is interested in introducing sex and love to their game, even a non-numenera game, this product has some good advice.
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