Product Review:
Defendi, Robert J. 2007. The Echoes of Heaven “The Tainted Tears” & “The Bestiary”. Salt Lake City: Final Redoubt Press. 58pp. Stock# 1004DB $9.99
Robert Defendi’s, The Tainted Tears is a complex cohesion of metaphors and riddles. He creates a module with a Christian-base myth, developed in such a way as to accommodate both the thinking and combat needs of the players and allowing the GM to manipulate the players through their own knowledge of Christianity, or lack there of.
The overview and history tying directly to what the GM needs to this particular module (and) in his series is a nice touch. Defendi gives his GMs a step–by–step description of the game flow and the thought processes going into the module’s designing, coupled with a writer’s definition of terms, the processes used and how each is to be used and interpreted allows the GM to interpret the author and run the game in the way Defendi sees it, perhaps even leaning (or relearning) something. Still though, it is written to definitely allow for individual flavoring by the GM.
This is not a print–n–go, hack–n–slash, there are a number of points the GM must familiarize himself with prior to running this module. Hence, I suggest printing it in its entirety and giving the GM the ability to prepare and make notes as well. Tailoring to the players, the GM will then have a game his players will talk about for some time.
The only real down I found in the module itself, was the strength differences between the templates for the players and the villains during the designed combats. I would recommend bringing some of them down a little. The design allows for both fight and flight but players may get discourage unable to win any but the easiest of encounters. Bringing down the combat strengths of the opponents will mix the results. In my opinion giving some to run from, some to fight and win, and some to fight and have to flee from; thus keeping the players on edge.
The Bestiary’s composition includes unique angles, demons and undead; some more than a bit interesting. With creatures, insertable into any campaign, that gives the players an encounter that they have never seen and in the dark on how to just walk through the encounter.
It will take the GM a little time to prepare and some coaxing to keep the players snaking along the course for the game, but is well worth it. Written in all four of the major gaming systems, so no matter what you play, get yourself a pen and sit with this module in hand for an evening or two. Introduce your players to Robert Defendi’s Tainted Tears, they will love and regret that you did!
Written by:
Eric Sheppard
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