The contents of Spinward Encounters are really really good. I love adventure, and this book is packed with them. There are 64 Patron type Adventures (4 for each subsector in the Spinward Marches), and 16 Amber Zone type adventures. Many of these are well thought out, and are a bit longer than a normal (classic) patron or amber zone. A nice thing about a few of the amber zones in the District 268 is that the referee can connect them into a mini campaign.
As a referee, you might think that only four adventures for each subsector makes this product a bit overpriced. But if you are playing in one of the two most popular subsectors (Regina or District 268), then it would be easy to lead your PCs into the five adjacent subsectors. Then you would have 24 useful patrons to play, and for Regina five extra Amber Zones, and for District 268 nine extra Amber Zones. If you play in any of the Vilis, Lanth, Sword Worlds or Lunion subsectors, then you can use 36 patrons if you let you PCs travel into neighbouring subsectors.
The problem with this book is that the layout is quite bad, and that there is no proper index. An index is something that would be very useful if you want to plan to integrate any part of the book into your campaign.
There are a few nice images in the book. I like the one with a Bwap and a Vargr on page 33. This image is probably meant to illustrate the patron at Jesedipere at page 16. As I said, the layout is quite bad… In this image you can spot the Serenity in the background. Maybe also in the image on page 27. That was a nice Easter egg. LOL!
I decided to make a quick index, so you quickly can see if your PC group is at a place where the referee can run any of the adventures in the book. The patrons and amber zones are in the same order as in the book. The patrons are sorted by subsectors A-P in the Spinward Marches. The planet listed is a suggested starting place. This is not always the same as where the adventures takes place.
Patrons:
Chronor Subsector - page 7
Bounty Hunter - Rasatt
Agent - Whenge
Diplomat - Rasett (sic!)
Army Enlisted Man - Quar
Jewell Subsector - page 10
Abbot - Emerald
Priest - Pequan
Researcher - TBD
Entertainer - Jewell
Regina Subsector - page 13
Government Official - Beck’s World
Naval Enlisted Men - Alell
Bureaucrat - Regina
Law Enforcer - Roup
Aramis Subsector - page 16
Merchant - Towers
Bwap Treasury Assessor - Jesedipere
Imperial Scout - Dhian
Criminal - Junidy
Querion Subsector - page 19
Itinerant Trader - TBD
Salvager - Thanber
Scientist - Sansibar
Naval Officer - Retinae
Vilis Subsector - page 22
Imperial Scout - Garda-Vilis
Merchant - TBD
Engineer - Phlume
Police Officer - Garda-Vilis
Lanth Subsector - page 25
Aslan Male - Keanou
Imperial Scout - Keanou
Criminal - Dinomn
Salvager - D’Ganzio
Rhylanor Subsector page 28
Theatre Owner - TBD
Starport Administrator - Henoz
Corporate Fixer - Rhylanor
Submariner - Vanejen
Darrian Subsector - page 31
Arms Dealer - Darrian
Farmer - TBD
Doctor - Mire
Archaeologist - Darrian
Sword Worlds Subsector - page 34
Traveller - TBD
Government Official - Dyrnwyn
Farmer - Hrunting
Flyer - Gungnir
Lunion Subsector - page 38
Businessman - Spirelle
Belter - Zaibon
Scientist - Smoug
Broker - Lunion
Mora Subsector - page 41
Zoo Keeper - TBD
Army Officer - Byret
Business Executive - TBD
Private Investigator - TBD
Five Sisters Subsector - page 44
Noble - Raweh
Merchant - Iderati
Merchant - Mewey
Droyne Sport - Mewey
District 268 Subsector - page 49
Botanist - Collace
Bar Owner - TBD
Collector - Mertactor
Broker - Dallia
Glisten Subsector - page 52
Criminal - Mithras
Refugee - Horosho
Banker - Tirem
Traveller - Aki
Trin’s Veil Subsector - page 55
Reporter - Trin
Business Executive - Squanine
Hunter - Chamois
Noble - Fosey
Amber Zones:
Bloodwell - Efate (Regina)
Justice - TBD (Lanth)
Outback - TBD (Glisten)
News Fit To Print - Strouden (Lunion)
Conspiracy - Dallia (District 268)
Emperor’s Birthday - Vilis (Vilis)
Boom Time - Lunion (Lunion)
My Fair Patient - Ruby (Jewell)
Extreme Sports - Edenelt (Trin’s Veil)
Drug Problems - Tionale (Vilis)
Saluma’s Treasure - Aramis (Trin’s Veil)
Detached Duty - Bowman (District 268)
Draykrosk’s Run - Wonstar (Five Sisters)
Dangerous Allegiances - Dallia (District 268)
The Noctocol to Elixabeth Run - Dallia (District 268)
The Talchek Crossing - TBD (District 268)
|