|
|
 |
 Genre
Languages
Product Type
Rule System
Publishers
By Price
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Other comments left by this customer: |
|
|
|
|
CthulhuTech
By Ron McClung
Catalyst Game Labs in conjunction with Wildfire LLC and Black Sky Studios have released a twisted vision of a dark future, combining anime-style mecha with the Cthulhu mythos. This stand-alone roleplaying game uses the Framewerk system and is contained in a full-color hardcover book with amazing art and a compelling premise.
The game’s story is deep-seated in Cthulhu mythos and mixes it with world politics and sci-fi technology to create a world of amazing potential. Set in the year 2085, Earth as we know has changed. Since the discovery of arcanotechnology and the creation of the first mecha, global war engulfs the planet. Man’s expansion into space has attracted the attention of aliens called the Migou. Evil cults plot against the world government, summoning creatures from beyond. Mecha war machines walk the Earth battling the alien and cult forces.
Players take on roles of people in a war-torn Earth surviving under the New Earth Government (NEG), ... [read full review]
Rating:  [5 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fading Suns: d20 Roleplaying Game Rulebook
From: Holistic Design
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
Fading Suns: d20 Roleplaying Game Rulebook is a new Role Playing Game Core Book from Holistic Design.
I have already expressed my passion for this game setting in my review of the Fading Suns Role Playing Game Core Rulebook, but simply said, this is my favorite setting of all time. Every aspect of it fascinates me, and there are so many facets to it.
However, when I tried playing the Victory Point system, I struggled with it. I tried and tried to make the system work with my style of running and the style of my players. However, it simply didn't fit. The system seemed (to us) "anti-character" as one of my players put it. The system seemed to work against the player and not for the player. My players complained about how useless their characters felt in the game. They felt quite inadequate no matter how simple the task. They did not like the black-jack style of dice mechanic - role under ... [read full review]
Rating:  [2 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Day After Ragnarok
From: Atomic Overmind Press
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
The Day After Ragnarok is a new Savage Worlds RPG Setting Book from Atomic Overmind Press.
The Day After Ragnarok is an interesting setting book that takes the absurdity of the mythological occurrences of Ragnarok and makes them happen in a world torn by World War II. It takes the question we all like to ask ... "what if ...?" ... to an extreme.
Setting: My knowledge of the Ragnarok myth is sketchy at best, but with a little research I was able to get the idea. Most gamers are very familiar with it because it is one of the cornerstones of mythology on which we base most fantasy worlds. In short, it is a series of events according to Norse mythology that marks the end of the world.
The Day After Ragnarok (TDaR) is a world after a series of events that started in the twilight of World War II. The Nazis, dabbling in the occult and mythology, found the proper ritual to bring about Ragnarok. However, a ... [read full review]
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Victory By Any Means Campaign Guide
From: VBAM Project
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
Victory By Any Means Campaign Guide is a new Full-Featured Space Strategy Campaign System from VBAM Project.
NOTE: Because of how involved this game is, I was not able to make the time to actually play the game.
From the front cover: “A Full Featured Space Strategy Campaign System”The book boasts quite a bold statement (see above) and judging by its size, I had my doubts. Many have tried similar attempts at what it claims, only to fail miserably. At under 100 pages, it seem to me that this system is at least not as overwhelming as one would expect. I was some what intrigued by this endeavor despite its "right-out-of-Kinkos" look and somewhat lack-luster art.
Content: Within the pages of the Victory By Any Means (VBAM) rulebook are the rules to run a complete space strategy game including the economics, military and social aspects of a sci-fi universe. It really does come across as simple and s ... [read full review]
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Valence - Science-Fiction Roleplaying
From: Valent Games
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
Valence - Science-Fiction Roleplaying is a new PDF Core Role Playing Game (RPG) book from Valent Games.
Right off the bat, I was impressed with Valence because of the inspirations the author sites - Babylon 5. I am a huge fan of Babylon 5 and, in fact, just got my first adventure published for B5 d20 in Signs and Portents #19. It also had an initial Traveller look and feel. I like Traveller as well.
In the basic sense, Valence is another epic sci-fi space opera, with some elements of hard sci-fi and some elements of science fantasy. Apparently, there is a long history behind this game (as I guess there is with every game), and this is the second edition of Valence.
From the website:
“The year is 3029 AD - Galactic Year 592. The Human Empire fell 125 years ago, and it is a time of rebuilding.”
Content: After the standard introductory information, the What is Roleplaying? section every game s ... [read full review]
Rating:  [3 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Everlasting: Book of the Fantastical
From: Visionary Entertainment, Inc.
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
The Everlasting: Book of the Fantastical is a new Foundation Book from Visionary Entertainment, Inc.
Whereas the first three books of The Everlasting were published in 1994, the final foundation book took 9 years to publish, and it marks the resurgence of this game. The Book of the Fantastical is slightly different in format and content but is basically the same kind of book as the others. It opens with a note about the content, in fact, noting there was an over-abundance of it, and the remaining material would be available on the web site. This books simply seems more robust than its predecessors. Unlike the books prior that covered races of The Everlasting, Book of the Fantastical covers a whole genre. Most of the other races were horror based, while this book brings in a new level of roleplay, separating the game itself further from the White-Wolf-wanna-be I thought it was ... [read full review]
Rating:  [4 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Everlasting: Book of the Spirits
From: Visionary Entertainment, Inc.
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
The Everlasting: Book of the Spirits is a new Foundation Book from Visionary Entertainment, Inc..
By now, after reading through three books including this one, I feel so engulfed in this amazing world. The Book of the Spirits is the next venture into the worlds and beings of the Everlasting. In general, it is like the other books in the series - a stand-alone roleplaying game book complete with the same rules and background. This particular book delves into the worlds of the spirits, as its name implies - from gargoyles to possessed, from djinn to the great old ones. Although I thought the subject of spirits were covered in The Book of the Unliving with the genos Dead Souls, apparently those at Visionary Entertainment felt that more spirits needed to be explored.
From page 5: “ Spirits in quick glimpses and behind half-dreams, welcome to the Secret World. - SCB ”
Content: The ... [read full review]
Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Everlasting: Book of the Light
From: Visionary Entertainment, Inc.
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
The Everlasting: Book of the Light is a new Foundation Book from Visionary Entertainment, Inc..
The Book of the Light is the second book in the four book series of The Everlasting role playing game by Foundation books. Much of what is contained in it is also contained in the previous book, The Book of the Unliving. This review will focus on the differences. To get comments on the core concept and rules of The Everlasting as a role playing game, see my review on The Book of the Unliving.
Given my preconceptions of The Everlasting RPG from the previous review and how they were proven wrong, I looked forward to delving further into the worlds of The Everlasting. The Book of the Light presents new player character options for people interested in playing less dark creatures than given in The book of the Unliving.
From the page 5: “ Walk in the Light and Guard against the Shadows. - ... [read full review]
Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Everlasting: Book of the Unliving
From: Visionary Entertainment
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
The Everlasting: Book of the Unliving is a Foundation Book from Visionary Entertainment.
Every November, I am the gaming coordinator for a small local gaming con here in the Carolinas called MACE. This year at MACE, a company called Visionary Entertainment attended and had heard that I occasionally write game reviews for GR as well as Nth Degree Magazine. By the end of the con, I had six Everlasting rule books in my lap, with someone asking me to review them. I have to be honest - I was not overly excited about reviewing them. The primary reason is that the author of the game is a former White-Wolfer, and I am not a huge fan of White Wolf games. So this game initially came across to me as a World-of-Darkness-wannabe.
I have to say, after reading into the background and the system, I was wrong on many levels. I was also right in a few areas.
It was interesting to first find out th ... [read full review]
Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Everlasting: The Codex of the Immortals
From: Visionary Entertainment Studio
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
The Everlasting: The Codex of the Immortals is a new RPG Supplement from Visionary Entertainment Studio.
Delving back into the remaining books I have left from Visionary, I now tackle The Codex of the Immortals. A smaller book (6"x9"), it is a supplement recently put out for The Everlasting Role Playing Game (RPG). The Codex, as the back explains, provides players with tools they need to further develop their characters for The Everlasting RPG. It contains expanded information about what it means to be one of The Everlasting (characters in the The Everlasting RPG) and guidelines to help develop backgrounds for protagonists. It also contains more information about the history of The Secret World and the Fall of the Dragons, the rise of the merodachs and the Azhi Dehaka, The Death Knell and the coming of the daimons.
More specifically, The Codex has guidelines on fellowshi ... [read full review]
Rating: [4 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OGL Golf
From: Reality Deviant Publications,
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
OGL Golf is a new OGL Rules Supplement from Reality Deviant Publications.
Once again, I have to say ... I thought I had seen it all. Every time I think that, something else comes out that is even more "interesting". OGL Golf is a cute little PDF that takes the OGL/d20 rules and allows you to play a round of golf at the RPG table.
From the website:
“So if it's raining and you can't make your Tee-time, or you want to add a bit of wackiness to your D20 game, check this pdf out!”
The Introduction of the PDF explains that the game of golf is simplified in these rules and that it is the intent of the rules to play a full round of golf without resorting to a single skill check roll. The game uses three clubs - Driver, Wedge and Putter. Distances are reduced to allow for use on reasonably sized maps.
Opening the PDF, the author begins by explaining the stats and the point ranges the stats "will have." I a ... [read full review]
Rating: [2 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Superlink Secret Files: Organized Crime
From: TPK Productions
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
Superlink Secret Files: Organized Crime is a new Mutants & Masterminds d20 Supplement from TPK Productions.
This PDF is part of a series called Superlink Secret Files. This is the first of the series. This and future additions of this series will be collections of antagonists, rivals, and supporting cast members for a Mutants & Masterminds (M&M) campaign. Organized Crime itself contains five “dark & gritty” criminal groups geared towards the more darker super hero games.Although super heroes are not my first favorite style of gaming, I have been known to do it. I have been impressed with past products put out by TPK and this one already impressed me at first glance by the layout and cover art.
From page # 3:
"Know your enemy.”
As said, contained within are several crime organizations for a dark super hero gaming universe in Mutants & Masterminds. They are presented in the PDF in order ... [read full review]
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Escape from Alcatraz!
From: TPK Productions
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
Escape from Alcatraz! is a new PDF Adventure for Mutants & Masterminds (M&M) from TPK Productions.
Escape from Alcatraz! is an adventure sourcebook that updates this historical penitentiary for a super-powered 21st Century of Mutants & Masterminds.
From the website:
“There are plenty of super-prisons, but only one Alcatraz – the last stop for the worst of criminals.”
This e-book can be used in three ways: as an adventure, as a villain sourcebook, and as a general campaign source. In the PDF, the author has researched historical information about the real-life Alcatraz to create a fictitious super-prison complete with information on the security forces of Alcatraz (humans and supers), how that security force reacts to escapes and other security breaches, as well as the daily schedule of activities within the prison. Also, interestingly, it includes some creative ways that California puts the super-priso ... [read full review]
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dog Town Core Rulebook
From: Cold Blooded Games
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
Dog Town Core Rulebook is a new RPG Core Rulebook PDF from Cold Blooded Games.
I am not a huge fan of anything that glorifies criminal behavior or gives kids the chance to explore that side of themselves, so going into this I was somewhat negative. From page 5 of the e-book - Dog Town is not a fantasy role playing game featuring supernatural beings, magic or futuristic gadgetry. It is a realistic role playing game dealing with the adult themes of criminal and street sub cultures. It aims to be an authentic portrayal of urban life and criminality in 1970’s New York. Interestingly, the first thing that the author disclaims is not the behavior of criminals depicted in the role-playing but the language used, including racial slurs and sexual orientation slang. I guess the author was more worried about offending someone rather than encouraging criminal behavior. In defense of the author, however, he does stat ... [read full review]
Rating: [2 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Brainwashed
From: 12 to Midnight, Inc
Reviewed by: Ron McClung
Brainwashed is a new d20 Modern Horror Adventure PDF from 12 to Midnight, Inc.
From the website:
“East Texas is an unlikely spot for a commune, but Harmony Farm has a long-standing reputation in the community as a place for kooks and weirdos.”
Brainwashed is intended for use with the 12 to Midnight, Inc, product Fear Effects (... a quick, easy, and flexible system for incorporating the effects of extreme fear into your modern game...), but it is not required. The adventure is available in both d20 Modern (d20M) and Savage World system by Great White Games. In this adventure, the characters are contacted by a concerned father about his son. His son has apparently joined a cult called the Harmonists and severed all ties to his friends and family. The father requests help finding his son, and if he is in trouble then he is to be removed from the cult, willingly or unwillingly. The author claims the adventure "combi ... [read full review]
Rating: [5 of 5 Stars!] |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New Product RSS Feed
