I was really disappointed in this. There really wasn't much substance for the book. It defined a few things about the world by renaming parts of the dark web and adding a few "high tech" gadgets (like 3d printers and plastic guns). The rules modifications are simplistic.

There are no new rules or GM support for bringing the surveillance state of the setting to life.

OK -- good and bad.

1. I love the game. The mechanics are simple, the tone and visuals set the mood for the game, the character creation system is quick & allows for unique characters.

The mechanics in particular are great -- just roll 4 Fate dice. You have to get more +'s than your rating in the action (1-3, 3 is a poor skill). Extra plusses give success with style, - on the roll give consequences. Cards support narrative storytelling by the players. It isn't a FATE rules system, it just uses FATE dice.

1. The poor -- this really pisses me off. I spent $15 to get a complete game...but it is not a complete game. In order to use the rules, I'll have to purchase the cards separately. That is VERY not cool

Not much to say -- it is a great help for low-prep improv games.

My 5 Star rating is based on the fact that the game is a blast - and sets out to do exactly what it says to do. It is perfect for a one-shot thief type game. Character creation is slick, you pick a cartel and specialty and you are ready to go. The cartels are roughly based off of hollywood versions of actual crime syndicates, so two-sentence summaries are all it takes to understand them. The mechanics are incredibly clear - percentage with the possibility of getting boons and challenges. Luck, Influence and heat markers to determine player and DM intrusions in the story. That's it. It feels like a great crime movie or book (Loch Lamora, Tales of the Kin, etc).

From character creation to end of the heist, we played "The kidnapping job" in about 2.5 hours and had a ton of fun. The mechanics, timing and open-ended nature give players the room to be incredibly creative and help craft the story. Resolution is simple, and the "heat" mechanic is a great reminder for the DM to throw in complications and twists on the fly.

The city is huge - which does create some issues for a pick-up game in giving flavor to city districts. This isn't much of a problem if you have the time to read the city guilde in detail.

The game master is provided with ample tools to help keep the game flowing "on the fly."

CONS: My rating is based on what the game set out to do -- easy to pick up and run a one-shot. The downside is that it is a bit more challenging to turn this into a campaign. Character progression is fairly week and the flat skills for success make it difficult to differentiate challenge. I'd love to see a "campaign book" that solves this problem -- how can a character rise from a good rogue to a top dog? Ideas for stitching "heist" style scenarios into a longer campaign, and a bit more of the dynamics between cartels.

Edit I thought a bit more about the flat skill success (simple percentage chance). It does work in a game like this. Ultimately, you want your characters to succeed, but with complications. This mechanic does that well. If you do want to increase the difficulty, you can add "luck" to the obstacle. This forces the need for multiple successes...and opportunities for more complications.

There are some cool things in this book. However, I am quite irritated that it REQUIRES the purchase of "Tome of Beasts." For the price, the creatures not described in the official monster manual should be included in the product.

1 star = So, in order to use some of the scenarios, I need to spend an extra $30 to get the stats.

If you already own Tome of Beasts, it is 4 stars.

There is a lot to like in this series of 5 mini-adventures. Each "dungeon" is only 1-2 rooms, but is unique and includes a creative encounter (guardians, tricks, traps, etc). One in particular my PCs will find hilarious. The set up is simple and straightforward - PCs are traveling to meet a treasure hunter, finds her dead, and recovers directions to 5 hidden treasures. The adventures plants the seed for conflicts amongst giants to set the stage for the rest of AL.

I would have liked to have seen a bit more description of Parnast and how it has changed since HOTDQ. I also thought the resolution for each dungeon was a bit lame (because or repetition). The author missed a great opportunity to place interesting and lore-filled historical treasure.

In the end, I probably won't use all 5 adventures, but I'll have fun with the ones that I do use!

I enjoyed reading this product. The encouters were well crafted and can inspire DMs for unique ways to use monsters, terrain, and traps. The trap generation rules are very helpful.

This is exactly what the title states - a nasty ambush. It is obvious that the author has put a lot of thought into the scenario. The "low-tech" traps are quite realistic - especially for an ambusher that has time to prepare. The rules of engagment are described well to make it relatively easy for DMs to run the large combat (10 ambushers). I really like that "morale" was included. The goblins won't fight to the death. The aftermath and 'hook' at the end of the scenario has the potential to lead to an engaging encounter with a mix of strategic planning and combat. The map is well done -- the terrain is as much of an enemy as the goblins.

It would have been a fun addition if the goblins had a bit of defined personality. It would have been cool to see a few quotes and mannerisms that DMs could use to taunt characters during combat.

Overall, an excellent purchase.

This is a short "side-trek" type adventure that could be used in any city. It has a simple hook and provides opportunities for a bit of investigation and combat (with an audience).

Short, but brilliant. This is simply a great encounter. It doesn't have to lead to combat, but if it does, your players are sure to remember it. The NPC has a great personality and the encounter is quite flexible. It is odd, unique, lighthearted, and memorable.

A straightforward "dungeon" delve in three parts. Very clearly written and easy to drop in to any city. A nice mix of antagonists. Perfect for a sidquest, or the placement of a "mcguffin" for an ongoing campaign.

I enjoyed this module-

1. The effects of the crystals really helped to set the mood that something strange was happening.
2. The artwork and descriptions also help to build a unique setting.
3. Some of the encounters may not work for some players -- I think mine will roll their eyes at zombie dinos, but others may see it as a great change from the usual.
4. The BBEG is OK - a bit of a moral conflict for characters as they realize that he might not be bad...plus some frustration with not being able to get at the monster pulling the strings - this isn't bad - it might be a hook to a longer quest that is driven by player interest.

This is a straightforward encounter for PCs. What makes it good is that it is well connected to the "lore" of the region - it adds to the world-building aspect as players (and their characters) travel through the countryside. Much more interesting than, "You see some bandits ahead..."

This document is really helpful when PCs go "off script." I can use it to easily provide diversity to the NPCs that my players encounter.

The encounters are better than just a random collection of monsters / patrols. Instead, they provide excellent descriptive settings that set the mood of the Underdark as being very different from the surface world.