DriveThruRPG.com
Browse Categories
$ to $















Back
pixel_trans.gif
Other comments left by this customer:
You must be logged in to rate this
pixel_trans.gif
Wyrd Chronicles - Ezine - Issue 22
Publisher: Wyrd Miniatures
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 03/12/2018 21:44:22

This issue features the module 'Owner of a Lonely Heart'; this will be focus of the review. As with any of the eZiine modules, this should take the Fated one session to finish. As such, the eZine modules are fantastic sources of adventure for demo sessions, gaming clubs, and even pick-up games.

'Owner of a Lonely Heart' is a Malifaux-themed love story, as the Fated attempt to reunite a smitten gentleman with his paramour. Along the way, the Fated meet a rival for the lady's affections, plenty of ne'er-to-do-wells wishing them harm, and some of the most gruesome murders the city has seen since last Thursday. So - love, battle, a race against rivals, and Things That Should Not Be - a perfect romantic interlude for your 'Through the Breach' chronicle.

The characters are well-written, and easy to portray. They have enough personality that they will provide for memorable encounters, and their clear motivations support character decision-making. The 'twist in the tale' that is provided gives a surprise, and a satisfactory conclusion.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Wyrd Chronicles - Ezine - Issue 22
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Wyrd Chronicles - Ezine - Issue 20
Publisher: Wyrd Miniatures
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 03/12/2018 21:35:13

Whilst the contents of 'Wyrd Chronicles' is always interesting, I'll confine my review to the one section I actively used - the short adventure 'Good Faith'. It's a very straightforward, linear module that will take absolutely no more than one session - in fact, it may even serve as a fine introductory module to 'Through the Breach' as it contains many readily identifiable plot elements and locations that are easy to imagine(at least if you have seen more than one Western).

The job is simple - escort the eye-witness to a crime to the next town in time for his court hearing. Co-operative witness, good pay, clear directions - what could possibly go wrong? The plot progresses from the initial meeting with the Guild in a fairly predictable fashion, but this means there is plenty of leeway for the GM to add in wilderness encounters, extra hooks to future plots, and even allow established NPCs to stand in the role currently taken by others. The simplicity of the module is a strength as it offers a new GM a well-structured story, and has enough flexibility to be tailored and expanded by others. When combined with other source books, the location and encounters could easily be swapped out and the story kept intact. For example, transporting a witness from one side of the Quarantine Zone (using 'Uner Quarantine' for inspiration) would make for a harrowing evening.

Overall, the module is well worth a look.



Rating:
[3 of 5 Stars!]
Wyrd Chronicles - Ezine - Issue 20
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Wyrd Chronicles - Ezine - Issue 18
Publisher: Wyrd Miniatures
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 03/05/2018 22:21:17

The main reason I download the ezine is for the Through the Breach adventures. I've been linking the adventures together for my current group, and they represent an easy, and quick way to prepare a session. In addition, there is enough flexibility in these adventures to customise elements to your home campaign, introduce recurring characters, and even write additional scenes so that the Fated potentially resolve a Step in that session. 'A Night at the Star' was a welcome change to a less action-driven session allowing our resident Performer (and aspiring Showgirl) to shine, in league with our good Doctor. Between the social encounters, and the subsequent surprise entertainment, there was plenty to do, and new contacts to impress. The investigative nature of the session resonated with all of the players, and the write-up of the adventure meant that (with a small amount of pre-session highlighting on my part) the salient points were easy-to-locate and the session ran smoothly.
Overall, the characters are well-presented, the variety introduced by the scenes keeps the story moving without being driven purely by fight-scenes, and the author provides a few ways to alter the adventure to further reinforce the idea that 'Bad Things Happen'. I took one of the alternate routes suggested, and added a sub-plot related to an ongoing story, and managed to easily find two sessions of material. The players thoroughly enjoyed the premise, and I'll be back for more issues of the ezine.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Wyrd Chronicles - Ezine - Issue 18
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
W20 The Song of Unmaking
Publisher: Onyx Path Publishing
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 03/05/2018 22:09:28

I might be a little biased, but when I see a Werewolf: the Apocalypse novel with Bill Bridges name on the front cover, I expect greatness. His previous work has always been excellent, breathing life into the setting, and showing how Garou culture 'works' on a day-to-day basis. This has served as inspiration for RPG sessions, and I take Mr Bridges novels to be just-as-canon (if not more) than source books. 'Song of Unmaking' does not disappoint in any way. The novel provides a masterful cross-over between Werewolf, and Mage: the Ascension in a manner that positions the cross-purposes of both groups in a logical collision course. Favourite characters such as Albrecht, Mari, and Evan return, and a host of other characters new and old all add their individual responses to the looming threat. The depiction of spirits (two in particualr, I shan't ruin it) shows the sometimes erratic nature of these entitites, and demonstrates that spirits are not always 'easy-access fonts of knowledge' - that sometimes that knowledge is hard-won. In addition, the threat posed by the Wyrm forces is credible and creative, weaving contemporary technology and scientific progress into recongnsable mythos. It is this skillful mesh of science and myth that makes parts of Werewolf so appealing, and it is delivered in a manner that left me very pleased with the overall plot. I would leave only one consideration with the fiction line from Onyx Path, and that is to consider an 'enhanced fiction' line, wherein some of the spirits, talens, and the like are given game-mechanic treatment in an appendix. It would be great to see the fiction line not only enrich the story via these tales, but the game through ready-made items. This is, however, merely a suggestion, as I cannot fault the book. I look forward to my print copy, which will be placed next to my well-worn copy of 'The Silver Crown'.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
W20 The Song of Unmaking
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
White Wolf Magazine #39
Publisher: White Wolf
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 03/05/2018 21:57:04

I purchased this issue for a single article that presents a medical reasoning for vampirism in Vampire: the MAsquerade, and this one article alone was worth the cover price. The article outlines 'Schere's Disease' a Tremere-developed illness that acts as a way of strengthening the Masquerade. the premise is that this rare genetic disease mimics many of the commonly 'known' manifestations of vampirism, whilst also exhibiting symptoms that can be shown as the roots of myth and legend. The article also provides methos by which kindred may secure documentation to show that they are Schere's sufferers, and makes reference to legislation that will assist the average Cainite in perpetuating this ruse. The article does show its' age (mostly in the manner in which it points out the difficulties of accessing services after dark - something mitigated to a great extent by online services), but the foundational premise is interesting enough to consider for introduction into your game. Likewise the US has established Rare Disease Centres, and provided financial incentives for research and medicine production allied with rare diseases since this article was published, so this would be well worth investigating. That said, I'd still recommend this article to Storytellers as it has application in Vampire chronicles, and could be used in other settings (such as Werewolf) as a plot device).



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
White Wolf Magazine #39
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Through the Breach RPG - Penny Dreadful One Shot - Til Death Do Us Part
Publisher: Wyrd Miniatures
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 06/28/2017 00:25:01

Brilliant. This is the one word to describe not only the premise for the module, but also the execution of the story. I picked this up to serve as a two-session story for my group, and it looks as though it may well turn into three. The Fated were confronted with the initial story hook and once some of the characters overcame their initial shock, resolving the case became motivator for them. It has provided plenty of opportunities for character development, good role-playing, and of course some action and adventure above and below Malifaux City. The NPCs are well-developed, most of the player questions are pre-answered by the authors, and the adversaries are interesting to portray and have a sense of purpose. I'd love to have the opportunity to run this as an intro adventure because it cements the reasons why this is a unique setting, and shows the PCs that what is 'normal' in Malifaux is anything but. Highly recommended.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Through the Breach RPG - Penny Dreadful One Shot - Til Death Do Us Part
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Wyrd Chronicles - Ezine - Issue 23
Publisher: Wyrd Miniatures
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 06/28/2017 00:19:14

The Wyrd Chronicles are a great resource for those playing 'Through the Breach', not just 'Malifaux'. I've been reading these for the one-shots after my group discovered TtB and overall the quality of the one-shot modules has been great. 'Dawn on the Bayou' is a very interesting story that begins with the Fated asked to track down a missing person. What follows is a trek through dangerous terrain and a most unexpected reason behind the catalyst for the Fated's involvement. It is definitely a one-shot, and for my session I did bulk it out a little with a few more encounters and the reason for the Fated to be in the area. Even with three additional encounters (I don't mean 'combat' when I say encounter, either) we finished the module in three hours. Given that I now own 'Into the Bayou', I'd be using some of the content to round the module out if I were to run it again. However, this was a very enjoyable story that challenged the Fated to act in quite different ways to regular TtB scenarios.



Rating:
[3 of 5 Stars!]
Wyrd Chronicles - Ezine - Issue 23
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Wyrd Chronicles - Ezine - Issue 21
Publisher: Wyrd Miniatures
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 04/29/2017 21:49:28

I've mentioned in other reviews that the biggest draw card (pun not intended) for 'Chronicles' is that they feature a free module for 'Through the Breach' and this is the main article I'll review. 'Cold Front' was an easy sell for me, as it features an entire module set on a train. The module opens with the PCs invited aboard the first run of a brand new train for Malifaux City. There is plenty of opportunity for role-playing as they mingle at the station, becoming acquainted with the other passengers with whom they will share this journey, including the management of the railway. Obviously, this idyll will not last, and when disaster strikes the PCs must act quickly to discover the forces at work and possibily thwart them before the lives of everyone onboard are snuffed out. It was an evening well-spent, and the pace of the game was perfect to convey the sense of urgency and danger. I can highly recommend this publication, and have downloaded many of them to select modules for future sessions.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Wyrd Chronicles - Ezine - Issue 21
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Wyrd Chronicles - Ezine - Issue 19
Publisher: Wyrd Miniatures
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 04/29/2017 21:31:31

I've been picking up these ezines after running 'Through the Breach' for a short while. Each one of the 'Wyrd Chronicles' that I have downloaded has a free one-shot module - how could you possibly turn this down? The module for this title is 'The Whispering Affair' and Fate calls upon the PCs to visit an old friend in desperate need. A time-sensitive and personal problem is presented that will ask the PCs to hastily investigate a crime scene and follow the clues to their murderous conclusion. My group completed the story in one very long session (five and a half hours), but you can easily either trim down the scenes, or flesh them out further, depending on your needs. The module also provides hooks for further contact with the NPCs; this has certainly been the case in my game where one of the PCs has taken an NPC 'under their wing' and explored some very good role-playing opportunities. To be honest, I would have paid for a module like this, so having it as part of the free publication is simply brilliant.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
Wyrd Chronicles - Ezine - Issue 19
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Through the Breach RPG - Penny Dreadful One Shot - The Ferryman
Publisher: Wyrd Miniatures
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 04/29/2017 21:02:26

My group finished playing 'The Ferryman' last night and a good time was had by all. The game is a mix of investigative murder mystery mixed with the hunt for a villain than might not even exist - except in urban legend. It was very easy to personalise for our campaign and insert NPCs with which the player characters were already familiar. Adding extra scenes (to further some of the Fates) was likewise easily accomplished. Overall, it provided a relatively smooth, customisable story that took us four nights to complete. The only forewarning a Fate Master needs is to consider the set up for the mystery. It is very easy for the characters to become fixated on one aspect of the mystery, and completely ignore what is essentially the main plot. Be prepared to steer them 'back on track' as needed, but forewarned is fore-armed in this case. The adversaries were all appropriately scaled (my group has four one-shot adventures as experience) and provided suitable challenge. I will certainly mention the production values in closing. Wyrd has a great attention to detail and their books are simply wonderful from both an aesthetic and readability perspective. The layout supports the Fate Master to locate relevant sources of information and stats, whilst the art (most of it reused from the miniatures game) does not feel forced - the authors have clearly thought about the design, and the choice of images does show. I own many of Wyrd's books in print, and they are a pleasure to have on my shelf.
With the word of warning about preparedness, I have no issues in recommending this module to other Fate Masters.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Through the Breach RPG - Penny Dreadful One Shot - The Ferryman
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
SpellCards 5e
Publisher: Myth Merchant Press
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 12/14/2016 20:52:25

I'm always a fan of cards as record-keeping in games as they make the game flow much smoother and tend to support players to be more prepared (and the DM to construct material on the fly). These cards are excellent, providing all of the spell information you need for your 5e game. I'll not only encourage my players to purchase a set to have at the table (and construct custom decks to represent their spellbooks or equivalent) but also as a tactile treasure when they lay hands on a captured spellbook. There is an extra sense of achievement for the player when you hand them a small stack of cards to rummage through after defeating an enemy mage and these are perfect for the job. An accompanying product that I'd buy in an instant would be collections of monsters on these sorts of cards (like the old 'Monster Sets' from first edition), perhaps as themed decks (ie 'Dungeon Monsters', 'Aquatic Monsters', High-Level Threat Monsters'). I could imagine combining some monster cards with a few spell cards to make book-keeping and encounter construction behind the screen much easier. Keep up the good work, Myth Merchant Press.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
SpellCards 5e
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
The One Ring - Journeys and Maps
Publisher: Cubicle 7 Entertainment Ltd.
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 11/30/2016 04:08:59

Whilst the 'maps' aspect of the title might be the draw card for many players, there is certainly more to this product. The maps are of good resolution on a computer screen, but you will need a very good printer to get the best value from them. As someone who already owns maps (and an atlas) of Middle-Earth, it was the 35-page booklet that was of more interest.

In this slim volume, we are treated to a host of plot hooks based on terrain type that vary immensely. It is very obvious that a lot of development was invested in this section as the hooks do not read like standard fantasy but instead take the time to link to the flavour of Tolkien's world. Many are based on familiar touchstones so that those new to Middle-Earth can easily grasp the idea - but those with a 'veteran' appreciation can certainly expand on the ideas and link to deeper lore if desired. Next is a section on ships and the sea for those - like the Elves - who hear the call of the waves and wish to send their own vessels out. It includes a range of encounters and plot hooks to really bring out this aspect of the world. Th penultimate section proves that the authors really understand adventuring in Middle-Earth. It starts with the premise that not all interesting parts of the world are about encounters and combat, and that natural wonders deserve to be part of the story (and given the amount of descriptive narrative in Tolkien's books, they are completely right). The book then leaves the reader with guidance on creating ruins in the flavour of Amon Hen or other iconic locations and asks all of the questions of the GM that should be considered in a land with so rich a history.

This is not just a boon for 'The One Ring' but will be a worthwhile investment for anyone running a Middle-Earth RPG.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
The One Ring - Journeys and Maps
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Guide to Phaemorea
Publisher: Pointy Pony Publications
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 07/20/2016 20:21:21

Pointy Pony Productions is a relative new-comer to Drivethrurpg, but I have watched the development of this setting with great enthusiasm. There is a strong attention to detail to make this consistent with 'Rules Cyclopedia' products - both thematically and aesthetically. It became clear from the opening pages that this is a outlier in self-published D&D titles. The book benefits from a professional approach to not only respect for intellectual property, but a desire to openly share the content. The production values are consistently and pleasingly good, whilst the accompanying text shows a mature grasp of the fantasy genre.

Many D&D products seek to build the campaign 'up' - that is, they are primarily concerned with building new classes, increasing power levels, or providing new magic items to furnish treasure hordes. Phaemorea takes the approach of improving the breadth of the campaign by offering the exploration of an alternate setting, complete with realised cultural groups that - whilst somewhat different to the usual sword and sorcery races - are well-constructed, reasonable, and internally consistent with the author's established norms for the world.

In the PDF, you will find:

  • a one-page descriptive overview of the main races of Phaemorea. At first I questioned the use of this section to open the book, but then found it a handy reference when reading the later sections. The descriptions of the races (and various human cultural groups) made picturing the various power and political groups much easier. Dedicating a page to some portrait shots of the races would have been useful in this section, but the absence is not a major issue for this reviewer.

  • A six-page history of the realm. Written as an over-aching narrative, this is not the standard assault of fantasy history, but rather a 'broad strokes' overview of the key events in Phaemorea. This is certainly enough to evoke the setting and provide a rationale for the functional elements of the setting. Again, I found myself returning to the description of 'internally consistent' as I read this section. The history chapter also implicitly provides the DM with plenty of plot-hooks - from magic-ravaged haunted towns, lost artefacts from previous empires, and even the ever-present frontier-like feel from the wilderness. Any DM worth their salt will be able to create entire adventures from any of the descriptions. There is also something that is absent in many other settings - a believable explanation for the formation of the 'adventurer' profession. Phaemorea is presented as a place that is in need of change, that a lot of activity is occurring across the setting, and that the actions of adventurers will matter. It leaves the reader with a strong sense of potential stories, and a desire to realise those tales.

  • The largest section of the book is Culture. This explores each of the main races, providing details about the Lifestyle, Education, Government, Law, Economy, Military, and Philosophy. Whilst many of the races and concepts will appear superficially similar to standard fantasy races, the author builds value by exploring the consequences of racial decisions. Elves are generally thought to be artistic and whimsical, but how does an economy actually function for such a people? How would adhering to a sense of honour cause Dwarves to abandon their ancestral gods? How does a nomadic barter-based cultural group work? This section not only provides interesting concepts for players who enjoy role-playing cultural norms for their characters, but also supplies plenty of fodder for the DM to make encounters more interesting, and provide local flavour in their own games.

  • The last section covers the Immortals. This overview of the gods; many of whom have already been mentioned in the previous chapters. Again, there is a fine-grain attention to detail, with a wealth of information for players and DMs. There are a lot of interesting choices here (with my favourite being Zwitarn, the Bearded Lady).

The book is small enough that navigating using the Table of Contents alone will be easily accomplished, and the printer-friendly version will still provide a very polished version for the DM. The full-colour one however is when the production values are showcased. The true value lies in the content however, the notions could be used as a complete setting, or modularised to build interest and depth in your own campaign.

My only request would be for a Glossary of Terms. The names (personal, cultural, racial, and geographical) - whilst evocative - would benefit from a centralised list so that the reader can either re-acquaint, or briefly acquaint, themselves with terms whilst reading.

At 44-pages this is a deceptive product. I had first thought to read it in a single evening, but found myself taking notes and scribbling in the margins of my printer-friendly copy. This is the sort of title that could easily be the foundation for a long and productive campaign.

Old school gamers and those looking for new challenges and horizons will be equally pleased by the title, and I look forward to reviewing future instalments for this setting (including the proposed module series).



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Guide to Phaemorea
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Creator Reply:
Thank you very much for your excellent feedback and comprehensive review! A Glossary is an excellent idea. We\'ll work on adding that for a future update, along with plans to include a Calendar for the world.
pixel_trans.gif
Dreams of the Red Wizards: Scourge of the Sword Coast (D&D Next)
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 11/12/2015 18:17:18

'Dreams of the Red Wizards' presents a module that should take a number of nights to explore and complete, and offers a wide scope for players and DMs who like non-linear adventures. It mixes exploration, intrigue, social encounters, and combat, so there should be something for all classes.

Set in Daggerford, the module asks the PCs to make a number of choices that will influence the resources at their disposal later in the game, but does so by prompting the characters to express their values (and their commitment to said values). The DM could easily tailor these to reference the characters history, or a recent module (although this starts at Level 2 - an odd choice - so chances are the characters have only completed a single module beforehand). Daggerford is not well-presented and subsequently appears to be very dry. It has potential, but running this module off-the-cuff is not recommended.

Overall, the module makes good use of a variety of monsters (some of which are played very intelligently and woven into the overall plot) and locations - again with the clear intent to ensure that not any one class or race is constantly in the spotlight.

The only downside to this module is the lack of practical design. Puzzles that aren't repeated in handouts (and have the answer on the same page), maps that have both player and DM information (instead of two separate maps which I thought was standard development), and a lack of xp amounts on monsters means that you'll need to prep this before playing quite well and think about the implementation choices that weren't catered for by the design team.

That said, the writing is on standard with other Wizards modules, and the adventure is suitable scaled and challenging for a party of second-level adventurers. The module offers the opportunity for far more than one night's play, and with some work, Daggerford could be developed into a 'home base' for a much longer-term campaign.



Rating:
[3 of 5 Stars!]
Dreams of the Red Wizards: Scourge of the Sword Coast (D&D Next)
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Dark Convergence
Publisher: Privateer Press
by Adrian S. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 11/12/2015 18:05:15

'Dark Convergence' deals with the incursion of the Convergence of Cyriss and the attempts of the Cygnaran forces (under Nemo) to not only repel them, but also find the purpose of their unexpected aggression. As a game novel, this does well to show the day-to-day workings of the Iron Kingdoms and those who play either of these forces in the miniatures game will probably enjoy the character exploration. Those unfamiliar with the game may struggle initially as the book introduces a great number of established NPCs in the first chapter with little explanation of who they are and how they operate. However, as the story unfolds, this is explored in more detail (and it does answer the question of how effective the Devil Dogs are against 'jacks and the usual casualty rates). Unlike many other game novels, I could not imagine the sounds of dice rolling in the background during the combat encounters which was highly gratifying. Whilst the author has clearly 'done their homework', it doesn't play out in any sort of mental book-keeping. Additionally, the personal touches and sub-plots to the main characters mean that this isn't simply a battle-report, but rather a story about individuals as their lives and possible catastrophe intersect. It's an easy read that will be enjoyed by fans of the miniatures and role-playing games alike.



Rating:
[3 of 5 Stars!]
Dark Convergence
Click to show product description

Add to DriveThruRPG.com Order

pixel_trans.gif
Displaying 16 to 30 (of 225 reviews) Result Pages: [<< Prev]   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 ...  [Next >>] 
pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif Back pixel_trans.gif
0 items
 Gift Certificates