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An excellent product from BTRC. It's almost difficult to label this campaign setting. Age of Ruin combines elements of fantasy, science-fiction, and post-apocalyptic role-playing genres into something truly unique.
Age of Ruin centers around what's left of the eastern United States five generations after the Eaters (destructive nano-tech) have devastated the world and thrown humanity back to the Stone Age. Those humans who survived did so thanks to protective nano-tech and sheer determination, luck, and skill. Some have learned to use their own protective nano-tech to augment their bodies and minds, becoming living weapons and tools to replace those destroyed by the Eaters.
Characters will feel almost like fantasy adventurers without all the magic. Some (or all) will be Shapers, able to modify themselves in different ways to help them survive. Effects like Bladehand, Stoneshooter, and Farspeaker add a fantasy element to the game. One interesting thing to note is that the adventurers in a typical starting party do not possess a lot of different skills. This forces the players to choose their skills quite carefully, resulting in an adventuring party where everybody has something to contribute and everyone must cooperate if the party is to survive.
The material itself makes a fascinating read from beginning to end and will fill your head with all kinds of ideas for adventures and long-term campaign plots. Uncovering lost strongholds from the Machine Age, fighting self-Shaped creatures, questing for your clan and tribe, uncovering lost lore... the possibilities are endless.
While designed around BTRC's own EABA role-playing system, Age of Ruin could be converted to the game system of your choice. Non class-based systems like Gurps would be the easiest, but d20 could certainly be done. However, Age of Ruin makes good use of EABA, especially when it comes to the Shaping mechanics.
All in all, this is a great RPG setting. If you're looking for something new, different, and inexpensive, you can't go wrong with Age of Ruin. <br><br>
<b>LIKED</b>: The concept rocks and the author actually delivers on the concept. It's not just a "neat idea" with no follow-through. This is a fully-realized campaign setting chock full of adventure ideas and plenty of areas for GM customization (new tribes, shapings, etc.)<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: It could've used more art, and maybe a brief glimpse of what the rest of the world was like (Europe, Africa, etc.) But then again, that's left for us to expand upon.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>
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