DriveThruRPG.com
Browse Categories
$ to $















Back
pixel_trans.gif
ExorSystems, Inc: Sneaking Preview $1.50
Average Rating:3.7 / 5
Ratings Reviews Total
0 0
0 2
1 0
0 0
0 0
ExorSystems, Inc: Sneaking Preview
Click to view
You must be logged in to rate this
pixel_trans.gif
ExorSystems, Inc: Sneaking Preview
Publisher: Octavirate Games
by Jim C. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 06/03/2007 00:00:00

A step up from a free preview with some actual crunch in it, this is useful in itself and heralds a very good-looking development of its fairly obvious origin, 'Ghostbusters'. As mentioned elsewhere, the cover looks even better at full size and it includes:

  • ExorSystems, Inc welcome letter
  • ExorSystems, Inc organisation (similar to Dark.Matter Chapter 6)
  • Franchise starting pack list of equipment
  • Multi-Spectrum Analyser stats
  • 4 creature stats: the Barbog (spirit of greed), Corrosion Ghost, Keythong (basically a griffin) and Sluagh
  • Campaign models and adventure hooks <br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: This is not just a teaser: stats and conceptual sections are usable in their own right for any number of campaigns. For a 'preview' it's a well-rounded game product that offers excellent value for money.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>


Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
ExorSystems, Inc: Sneaking Preview
Publisher: Octavirate Games
by Shane O. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 04/26/2007 00:00:00

ExorSystems Inc.: Sneaking Preview is a short d20 supplement from Octavirate Games. The zipped file is just over four megabytes in size, and contains two PDF files; the full version of the product, and a printer-friendly version thereof. The full version of the file is nineteen pages long, including a page for the cover, a page for the credits/legal, and a page for the OGL. The printer-friendly version is fourteen pages long, and does away with the cover entirely. Both files have bookmarks.

The main file has a nice amount of artwork, with a full color cover and several black and white interior pieces. All of the monsters have associated imagery, along with several other pictures of ExorSystems employees and a few other things. The printer-friendly version does its job well, removing all imagery (save for the Octavirate and d20 logos, which need to be there).

The product opens with a letter sent to the PCs from ExorSystems Inc. It thanks them for their interest in joining the organization, and notes the PCs involvement in a recent supernatural experience. It mentions that a Multi-Spectrum Analyzer has also been loaned to the PCs so they can see if their area is rich in supernatural activity, and if so, they'll likely be able to open a new ExorSystems Inc. franchise there.

This opening sets the tone for the product. The cleverly-named Sneaking Preview is meant to serve as a bridge product to let your Modern d20 game segue into becoming an ExorSystems campaign. It gives you just enough to let you design an adventure or two involving modern supernatural occurrences (though it takes it for granted that at least one has already happened to point the characters in that direction), which is then meant to result in your characters becoming part of ExorSystems Inc., which of course requires the full campaign book.

After the opening, the product talks about the concept of ExorSystems - modern-day spook hunters for hire - and how to run an ExorSystems-style game, briefly outlining the important aspects of the setting. It then spends a few pages talking about the actual ExorSystems Inc. company itself, going over its history and current state of operations, as well as mentioning some of its competitor groups in the spook-hunting business. Detailed stats are then given for the Multi-Spectrum Analyzer that was mentioned in the opening letter.

Finally, four new monsters are covered, all of them unique to this product. Interestingly, a sidebar notes one of the differences in an ExorSystems campaign - all monsters are either fully biological, or are ectoplasmic. Ectoplasmic ones can only be permanently destroyed under a few specific circumstances; otherwise, just containing them is best. All of the monsters have full variant d20 rules, and at the end of the section is a short listing of how to use them in alternate game genres. Finally, a few quick adventure hooks round the book out.

Altogether, the Sneaking Preview does a good job of serving as a gateway into a full ExorSystems campaign. It presents just enough to draw characters in, but not enough to fully start play in that setting. However, this works against it also, as it's hard to envision using this product if you don't want to run an ExorSystems game. The Sneaking Preview has little use if you don't want to run that campaign (particularly since there's a free preview of the campaign available), but if you do, this is quite helpful for taking things in that direction, to say nothing of being quite tantalizing in what it showcases. <br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: The preview of the full ExorSystems campaign was quite nice, particularly in the exclusive new monsters presented, and the innovative way the Multi-Spectrum Analyzer works.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: If you don't plan on running an ExorSystems game, there's really no reason to buy this product, limiting its scope.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Creator Reply:
Thanks for the review. While the Sneaking Preview is meant to be a segway into a larger ExorSystems, Inc campaign, we do hope the 4 exclusive monsters will be useful in any d20 campaign, modern or otherwise, even if the handout and background information is more limited in its uses.
pixel_trans.gif
Displaying 1 to 2 (of 2 reviews) Result Pages:  1 
pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif Back pixel_trans.gif
0 items
 Gift Certificates