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Witches of Midnight Quickstart
Publisher: Balsamic Moon Games Collective
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/29/2022 12:09:23

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/100-days-of-halloween-children-of.html

A bit of a different game tonight. Felt I needed a bit of a palate cleanser. The DriveThruRPG page says "Children of Midnight: Coven Quickstart is a gender inclusive urban fantasy Forged in the Dark table-top game. Players take the roles of Wyld Witches and their Familiars who form a Coven for mutual support in a dark and harsh modern world." Sounds interesting. Let's get to it.

Children of Midnight: Coven Quickstart

PDF. You get six files with this:

  • GM Session Notes
  • Quickstart Consent Form
  • Starting Undertaking
  • Quickstart GM Cheat Sheet
  • Children of Midnight Coven Quickstart Grimoire
  • Children of Midnight Coven Quickstart v1.3

In order, the GM Session Notes are exactly that, a form for recording sessions. The Consent form is similar to others I have seen before. Green, Yellow and Red indicators on what all the players think on various topics. Starting Undertaking is a three page document with an overview/background on the game rules and the world. Quickstart GM Cheat Sheet is a 6 page PDF with various guidelines and rolls used in the game. Children of Midnight Coven Quickstart Grimoire is a colorful 2 page character sheet.

Children of Midnight Coven Quickstart is the game proper. This is a 40 page PDF. It uses a system called Forged in the Dark that I am not entirely familiar with. The authors are Gavin and Áine Moore. For 40 pages there is a lot of material here. The font is a little small, but I can put this on a larger monitor than what I am using now.

There is an absolute ton going on in this game. There is lore. There are detailed NPCs with photos and social media. I honestly feel I need to do some more research into this game before I can even properly review it. So since this is a quickstart, I feel a quicky review right now is good. But really there is a lot of promise here.

To get a better feel I'll certainly need to play it, but I like what I am seeing so far.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Witches of Midnight Quickstart
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The White Vale: Sex Starved Witch,Alien Horrors,& Dark Secrets
Publisher: Echohawk Games
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/29/2022 12:06:56

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/100-days-of-halloween-white-vale-sex.html

My goal here is to review, or at least talk about, all the witch products I can get my hands on. Mostly for my own benefit, I am a self-admitted fan and all, but to also share the products I enjoy and think are good. Today is not one of those days.

Now. I try to avoid ripping into products. There are plenty of bad products out there that you will never hear about from me because frankly, I would rather talk about products and books I like.

The White Vale: Sex Starved Witch, Alien Horrors,& Dark Secrets

PDF. $4.00. 10 pages. One cover, one title. 4 pages of art. 1 map. 3 pages of content.

So yeah there is this title.

I am not sure what this is supposed to be. Is it an adventure or a location? Hard to tell. The art is...sub-par to say the least and mostly terrible to be honest. There is no witch mentioned, but there is one pictured, though it looks really amateur.

It has an "Adult Content" warning for the previously mentioned "witch" art.

No. This one is pretty bad.



Rating:
[1 of 5 Stars!]
The White Vale: Sex Starved Witch,Alien Horrors,& Dark Secrets
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O5E Sorcerer - Old-School Essentials Class
Publisher: Ability Score Games
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/29/2022 12:03:22

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/100-days-of-halloween-wayne-roberts-o5e.html

Going a little bit old-school and a little bit new-school tonight. Earlier in the year Wayne Robert released what he was calling O5E classes. His first batch includes the Warlock and Sorcerer for Old School Essentials.

Wayne Robert's O5E Sorcerer

PDF. 8 pages. 1 cover, 1 title, 2 blank, 1 back page. 3 pages of content. $1.50.

Presently this version does not have art. There was a version before this that did have art, but the author made the choice to remove it for now.

The class is done up in OSE style. Much like his warlock book this one borrows from the OGC Sorcerer (though there is no OGL page here).

Sorcerer's gain their magic via their sorcerous bloodlines. These are Celestial, Chaos, Dragon, and Serpent. So a nice little switch-up.

They cast magic-user spells and gain access to meta-magic powers. Each bloodline also gains some powers.

A really neat application of the Sorcerer for OSE or B/X



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
O5E Sorcerer - Old-School Essentials Class
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Creator Reply:
Hi Timothy! I just wanted to let you know that this product now has art and a minor update. A new bloodline was added (Fiend) and there was a minor tweak to the metamagic class ability! Thank you so much for taking the time to review this previously!
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O5E Warlock - Old-School Essentials Class
Publisher: Ability Score Games
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/29/2022 12:03:00

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/100-days-of-halloween-wayne-roberts-o5e.html

Going a little bit old-school and a little bit new-school tonight. Earlier in the year Wayne Robert released what he was calling O5E classes. His first batch includes the Warlock and Sorcerer for Old School Essentials.

Wayne Robert's O5E Warlock

PDF. 8 pages. 1 cover, 1 title, 2 blank, 1 back page. 3 pages of content. $1.50.

Presently this version does not have art. There was a version before this that did have art, but the author made the choice to remove it for now.

The class is done up in OSE style. There are obvious nods to the 5e Warlock, which is by design. The warlock does have spells and which spell list you use will depend on the warlock's pact. Four Patrons are detailed, The Archfiend, The Faerie Regent, The Whisperer, and the Primordial.

In truth a very serviceable class. Though some new, Warlock-only spells, would have been a nice add.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
O5E Warlock - Old-School Essentials Class
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Creator Reply:
Hi Tim! Just letting you know we have updated this Warlock class as well. Thank you again for taking the time to review this previously!
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In Nomine Superiors: Lilith
Publisher: Steve Jackson Games
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/29/2022 12:01:08

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/100-days-of-halloween-in-nomine.html

The second game that many draw on for Lilith is the classic In Nomine. I spent a lot of time with this game in the very late 90s. Right around 1998 to 99 when I was looking for a new modern supernatural game to play. There was this one, World of Darkness, and the ultimate winner, WitchCraft. Though I used ideas from all three in my WitchCraft games then.

In Nomine Superiors: Lilith

PDF. 43 pages. Black & White art.

This document contain notes and stats for both the In Nomine RPG and GURPS: In Nomine. By extension, it could be used with any GURPS game. Despite the publication date (2005) I think this is all for GURPS 3rd Edition. But I could be wrong. Just checked, yes GURPS 3rd Edition.

This supplement features all the strengths of most good GURPS supplements. That is there is a ton of information here, some stats, and a lot of great fluff.

This one also gives us the history of Lilith and what she has done in her immortal life. In the In Nomine game she seems to be one of the few immortals that can move between the devils and angels with some relative ease.

While I have not touched In Nomine in over 20 years (much to my own disappointment) there is a lot of great material here and makes want to dig up my old copy (if I still have it). In any case, true to the nature of GURPS this booklet can be used just about anywhere. There is nothing here that could not say be combined with Revelations of the Dark Mother. Where there are contradictions...well only Lilith herself knows the truth and true to her nature there are likely to be thousands of contradictions.

While this might not have the art that RotDM has, it does have plenty of game material.

Lilith should be wonderfully complex in any game and this supplement helps with that.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
In Nomine Superiors: Lilith
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Lilith
Publisher: Pelgrane Press
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/29/2022 11:59:01

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/100-days-of-halloween-lilith.html

Continuing my mini-dive into Lilith in various games.

Lilith

This book is by RPG luminary Ken Hite. It is only nine pages but it presents some background on who Lilith is including her "Herstory" (look if you don't know who Lilith is and why "herstory" is FAR more appropriate than "history" then I can't help you.)

We get an overview of her time in Babylon. A bit on the Burney Relief (the cover takes its cue for that) and how they are working under the assumption that it is Lilith or Lilîtu. (Personally, I like the idea that it is Ereshkigal.)

After this there are sections on what Lilith is doing in various Pelgrane Press games like Trail of Cthulhu, Night's Black Agents, Esoterrorists, Mutant City Blues, and the Dying Earth RPG.

Wonderful concept.

The zip file comes with PDF, MOBI, and EPUB versions of the book for ease of reading.

There are very few historical characters you could do a product like this with, so I really admire this choice.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Lilith
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Rebirth:Caine and Lilith
Publisher: Final Sword Productions
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/29/2022 11:57:43

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/100-days-of-halloween-rebirth-caine-and.html

Another Lilith to consider tonight. This time for a D6 game.

I had this desire a while back to give the D6 system a try. I was thinking of something to do with vampires, and likely include Dracula and Lilith. So I bought this back then. Sadly I never got out of the "wow this would be cool" phase.

Rebirth: Caine and Lilith

This supplement is for the Shadow Sprawl D6 RPG. It says it uses the Epic D6 system but if you are familiar with any D6 system then you can figure this one out.

It is set in a world like our own but ... you get the idea. Hey. No stones being cast by me, this is a world I come back to time and time again both to play and design games for. Right on down to the Morpheus font on the cover.

This supplement adds a number of new features to the game, in particular things from the history of vampires in this game. Since they are taking the "Cain route" here there are a few pre-historic weapons added.

We get backgrounds and stats for Caine and Lilith. Caine was made into a vampire by Lilith. Also we get some of Abel's line including a son and his wife. Also there are dryads here for reasons I am not entirely sure of.

There is a quick start for the game playing in this prehistoric time when Cain and Lilith still prowled the night. So a nice touch there.

Several points for some new ideas, but some other ideas have been done many times before. Still though, a fun read.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Rebirth:Caine and Lilith
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Lilith, Demonqueen of Vampires Boss Stats (5E)
Publisher: Double0Games
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/29/2022 11:55:51

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/100-days-of-halloween-lilith-demonqueen.html

You can't spend all the time researching witches like I have and not run into to Lilith. I have always been fascinated with the character, so much so that she is on the cover of two of my witch books; Eldritch Witchery and Daughters of Darkness. So yes. I am a fan.

I thought I would look into some products that feature Lilith in one form or another. Tonight I will start with a 5e version of her.

Lilith, Demonqueen of Vampires Boss Stats (5E)

PDF. 7 pages. 1 cover. 1 OGL. 5 pages of content.

This is pretty much what it says on the cover. We get some background on Lilith, altered to fit D&D.

Included are a CR 5 monster, Spawn of Lilith, and Lilith herself a CR 25 Medium Undead Fiend.

There are details about her lair and tactics. There are some adventure hooks added as well.

For just under $2 not a bad deal at all.

The OGL statement does not indicate how much of this document is Open or PI.

Not at all bad if you want/need a quick Boss-Level demon to fight.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Lilith, Demonqueen of Vampires Boss Stats (5E)
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#30 Magic Tools (PFRPG)
Publisher: Rite Publishing
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/29/2022 11:54:09

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/100-days-of-halloween-30-magic-tools.html

Going back to Pathfinder tonight with some (28) magical tools for all classes not just witches.
#30 Magic Tools (PFRPG)

PDF. 13 pages. $2.95. 1 cover page, 1 title page, 2 pages of ads, 1 page of OGL. 8 pages of content.

A collection of 28 tools for Pathfinder characters.

The tools are varied from a Brass fastener to a spoon to gloves.

Each one has an associated skill attached to it and what magical aura it gives off. It describes the item/tool, what it does, how it looks and there is even some lore attached to each item.

While built for Pathfinder, it could be used with any version of D&D really, with some tweaks. The Lore is good and the effects can be translated easily.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
#30 Magic Tools (PFRPG)
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Witch items
Publisher: Queen
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/29/2022 11:52:56

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/100-days-of-halloween-witch-tools-stock.html

More stock art tonight and some very useful ones at that. I have used all of these in one form or another in my own work.

Witch items

From Queen. $2.99. JPG/PNG files.

This one is presented as a set of images on one JPG and one PNG file. The images are all featured on the cover. There is an included license.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Witch items
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Witchcraft Tool Set - Illustrations - Stock Art
Publisher: Nono
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/29/2022 11:52:34

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/100-days-of-halloween-witch-tools-stock.html

More stock art tonight and some very useful ones at that. I have used all of these in one form or another in my own work.

Witchcraft Tool Set - Illustrations - Stock Art

From Nono. $5.00. PDF.

Instead of separate image files this one is presented as a pdf. Less useful when using the images, but easier to evaluate them all at once. This one has 42 images, including knives, candles, brooms, cups, crystals, herbs, and wands.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Witchcraft Tool Set - Illustrations - Stock Art
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Publisher's Choice -Equipment: Witch Tools
Publisher: Publisher's Choice Stock Art
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/29/2022 11:52:18

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/100-days-of-halloween-witch-tools-stock.html

More stock art tonight and some very useful ones at that. I have used all of these in one form or another in my own work.

Publisher's Choice -Equipment: Witch Tools

From Fat Goblin Games. $3.83. ZIP file.

This collection includes six TIFF images of a cauldron, hat, a wand, a broom, book, and a shrunken head.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Publisher's Choice -Equipment: Witch Tools
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Publisher's Choice - Colin C. Throm (Baba Yaga)
Publisher: Fat Goblin Games
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/29/2022 11:49:47

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/100-days-of-halloween-publishers-choice.html

More stock art tonight and this one is a treat, some Baba Yaga.

Publisher's Choice - Colin C. Throm (Baba Yaga)

Another one I bought a while back but I have not had the chance to use this one yet.

Though looking at it now I think I have the perfect place for it.

I mean really, who wouldn't to have Baba Yaga in an adventure or book?



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Publisher's Choice - Colin C. Throm (Baba Yaga)
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Monster Manual V (3.5)
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/29/2022 11:47:18

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/monstrous-mondays-monster-manual-v-35.html

We are getting to the end of the D&D 3.x Monster Manuals now. There are more 3.x monsters to be found; not just official D&D ones, but thousand through the d20 explosion. Today though I want to spend some time with the Monster Manual V.

Monster Manual V (3.5)

PDF. 223 pages. Full-color covers and interior art.

For this review, I am considering the PDF from DriveThruRPG and my hardcover I had a number of years ago.

Published in 2007 this was one of the last hardcovers published for the D&D 3.5 game prior to the announcement of the D&D 4e.

I picked this one up cheap at the local RPG auction and I think I sold it back at next year's auction. Not a ringing endorsement I know, but in mine (and this book's) defense I was reducing my 3.x collection to make room for more OSR books and the upcoming 4e. I am glad I picked up the PDF though.

There are just over 110 monsters in this book (ranging from CR 1/2 to 22), the least amount for any of the "Monster Manuals" for 3.x. There are 11 templates, and many companion and summonable creatures. There are even new feats and spells. So at least this late in the game there is (or was) new material that could be shared.

The monster entries are again limited to whole pages. To make up the space there are "Lore" entries on some monsters. Others even have a Sample Encounter, Typical Treasure and/or how the monster appears in various campaign worlds. I admit these do not feel like padding and instead feel like a value-added feature.

Alignments are also prefaced with "Always" or "Usually" in some cases, giving more variety to alignments.

Among my favorite creatures here are" the Arcadian Avenger, the various new demons, the unique Dragons of the Great Game, Frostwind Virago, the God-Blooded creatures, Kuo-toa (finally!), Mindflayers of Thoon, Skull Lord, Spawn of Juiblex, the unique vampires, and the Wild Hunt.

While I was expecting a lot of "also-rans" and some diminishing returns on monsters this one actually is pretty good. The details are greater for each monster entry, so this explains the low monster-to-page ratio here.

Still, you have to be playing D&D 3.5 to really get the most out of these monsters.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Monster Manual V (3.5)
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Monster Manual IV (3.5)
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
by Timothy B. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 08/22/2022 12:32:32

Originally posted here: https://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/2022/08/monstrous-mondays-monster-manual-iv-35.html

I have been reviewing all the various Monster Manuals over this past year. My goal with the various Monster Manual reviews is to see if there is growth or even refinement of the monster entries.

This can easily be seen in the AD&D 1st Edition monster books as each, Monster Manual, Fiend Folio, and Monster Manual II, builds on the other adding refinements to the stat block. The same can be said for the 4th Edition books.

I would like to be able to say the same for the 3rd Edition books. Certainly, we saw improvements from MM1 to MM3, but those were largely due to the change in the rule system; that is 3 to 3.5.

I am particularly interested in these sorts of changes now that we are on the verge of One D&D from 5e. One sec, need to sip my Kool-Aid. Ok. Better now.

All is well and good, but what does that mean for the 3.5 Edition Monster Manual IV? Let us find out.

Monster Manual IV (3.5)

For this review, I am only going to consider the PDF from DriveThruRPG. I had owned this in hardcover largely due to the Blue Dragon on the cover (my oldest loves blue dragons) but it was auctioned off when I downsized my 3e collection.

PDF. 226 pages. Full-color cover and interior art.

This book does show some refinements and evolution. There are about 140 some odd monsters with a bit greater detail than previous ones. Often the monsters come with other details like a lair or use as characters.

Among the monsters here the ones I found most useful were the Avatars of Elemental Evil, the Balhannoth, some new demons, a few new drow types, some more lizard folk (I can't help it, I love those guys), some more orcs, the Spawns of Tiamat is rather fun too, and some new Tuan-ti.

There is not a lot of undead here, only 6 new monsters.

The biggest feature though is that all monsters are now on a "1 monster per page" layout, or span multiple whole pages like 2nd Ed and 4th Ed. This increases the value of the PDF in my mind and now I am not that sad I sold off my hard copy. Yes, today is the first time I have looked at this since then.

In many ways this book is superior to the Monster Manual III, layout just being one of them.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Monster Manual IV (3.5)
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