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Blue Rose - The Roleplaying Game of Romantic Fantasy (True20)
Publisher: Green Ronin Publishing
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 01/23/2006 00:00:00

This is an intriguing product, more for the possibilities in the True20 system than in the setting itself. Indeed, until Green Ronin announced that they were going to sell True20 as a separate project, I feared that a good system was going to disappear due to prejudice against the setting.

I love the notion of stripping down the rules the bear essentials. There are only three classes (combat, skill-using, magical), each open to free interchange between the three. Characteristics are no longer on the 3-18 level, but are presented as modifiers; think simply of the modifier attached to the score, instead of the score itself.

Even the magic system works and all of combat on the single D20. Spells work like skills, which means that they can fail. Damage is done on the same die roll as the attack, comparing the attack roll, the defense, and the weapon modifiers to come up with a quick resolution. This means that almost everything moves more quickly and smoothly, without having to rely on minis and battle boards.

This is not a game for power-gamers. It is not for people who prefer combat first and foremost. It is not for people who want to keep all the core material of D&D without alterations. Conversely, if you are more interested in adding in greater flexibility to and emphasis on social interactions, a notion that magic is able to fail.

I recommend this system highly! Give it a shot, even if the setting is not entirely to your tastes. <br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: A re-envisioning and simplification of D20, this is really a massive breakthrough for the system. Only 1 die is used or needed. The over-complication of combat is stripped down to the interesting elements. Magic feels like an organic part of the system, rather than an entirely different series cobbled onto the core.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Like many other people, I am not overly fond of the setting. I'm just not that enamored of Mercedes Lackey, and other similar writers, and this can be off-putting, including the whole animals-as-characters part. <br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Excellent<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Blue Rose - The Roleplaying Game of Romantic Fantasy (True20)
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Hammer of the Dwarven Lords
Publisher: Dark Quest Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 11/18/2004 00:00:00

I like dwarves, so this one was pretty much a no-brainer buy. The material inside is very good, albeit a little "campaign specific" for my tastes (specifics of a given cultures, names of gods, etc.). On the other hand this means that you can plop a fully developed race into a game with little work. The fact that you get not one, but three different cultures (Clachduin Painted Dwarves, Hallvring Reaving Dwarves, and Khura Steppe Dwarves) will also be an attraction.

Besides the cultures, you get information on dwarven equipment (including heady beverages), dwarven magic (based heavily on tattooing), wrestling, and prestige classes.

Overall a good bargain, but you may have to excise some of the material simply because it really doesn't fit your setting.<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: Lots of material and different ways of thinking about dwarves.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Bit too "campaign specific"<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Hammer of the Dwarven Lords
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Fantasy Community: Riverporte
Publisher: Dark Quest Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 11/18/2004 00:00:00

Now here is a good innovation -- a well-described city usable for pretty much any fantasy game system. Since there are no statistics, no numbers to crunch, etc., you can use this city in almost any game, assuming of course a "standard fantasy setting".

To start with, you get three files -- a cover, the description of the town, and a map. The map itself is no great shakes; it is fairly simplistic, but it does get the job done. Probably the biggest falldown with the map, other than the very simple graphics, is the fact that every building is numbered -- while this is great for a GM map, I prefer a "blank" map for my players.

The main file about the town itself, however, is a GREAT deal. It is 40pp long, no extra illustrations to cut into the text, and pretty standard borders, double columned, black & white and very plain. In other words, barring the TOC at the begining, you have 39pp of useful material.

The file starts with general information on the town -- economic and criminal activity, how "outsiders" are viewed, a short generalized history (no specific dates, so you can fit it into any timeline), and then a general run-down of the sections of the town and its major streets. Quick, to the point, easy to flesh out if you want more -- in many ways this part reminds me of the Harn supplements in that you can add in extra material with ease and the material that is there is useful without being "system intrusive".

The third part, starting on p5 of the document, gives details of each of the structures numbered on the map. Some of the places are called "A Large Farmhouse with Two Stables" or "Establishment of the Leather Worker and Tanner"; others are identified by signs (Thread & Needle, Image of a Blown Glass Vase). Some of these places list general kinds of goods available while others have more specific items. I might quibble that some of these shops, such as the armourer, seem overly well stocked is easily remidied. Personally, I love the write-up on the Sign of the Pickled Cucumber with its many vats of different kinds of pickled goods!

In addition to the goods sold, you find out about the look of the shop (or farm or house), as well as the attitude of the shopkeeper (or resident). Several of the shops also have notes tying their owners to other establishments, the criminal activity in the town, and other points of interest, thus making the town feel more "connected", rather than a random collection of shops.

Even if you don't like the town of Riverporte, per se, it is very easy to port businesses out of this town and put it in one of your own (again, the Sign of the Pickled Cucumber has just been moved into my own game world!). And since the only "mechanical" aspect of the game is prices listed in "gold coins, silver coins, and copper coins" (with broad definitions to transfer these prices into your own games currency), there would be very little lost in the translation.

The last two and a half pages is taken up with personalities of "The Homeless and the Destitute", thus moving you from merely having "street beggars" to instead dealing with Billford Norris or Carly Soote who have real personalities and aspects that you might like or dislike as individuals.

So, overall I'd say this product is a darn good bargain. It would make a great "base of operations" for many fantasy campaigns!<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: Generic basis, no wasted space, connectedness of town, many personalities. <br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Simplistic map<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Fantasy Community: Riverporte
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More Blasphemous Secrets and More Forbidden Lore
Publisher: Plain Brown Wrapper Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/28/2004 00:00:00

Another fifty spells as a follow-up to the previous product (Blasphemous Secrets and More Forbidden Lore). Many of the same delights and warnings apply to this product -- fun spell names, good distribution of levels, and questionable power of some of the spells.

This offering provides some Druid, Ranger, and even an Assassin spell into the general mix. As with the previous product, most of the spells are aimed at Wizards/Sorcerers, but there are goodly number of Cleric, Bard, and Ranger spells. And, just as before, the level distributions skews slightly in favour of the lower spell levels (0-3), but since these get more "play time" than the higher levels, I like this.

Once again you will need to watch for specific spells. A few of them are overpowered, a few are underpowered (fewer), and some just might not fit with your notion of what magic is all about in your world. With judicious reading by a GM, however, the few bad apples will be weeded out swiftly.

Once again, I have to point out the titles of some of the spells: Bow Before Your True Master, The Moon Is Angry, Find Me The Greatest Smith In The Land, and The Weaver's Unwelcome Guest are just a sampling of the imaginative titles. Personally I prefer such titles to the rather more generic and bland titles such as "Magic Missile" and "Dispel Magic", but that is a matter of taste.

Overall, I think this is product is a good bargain, with the provisos listed above.<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: Fun spell names, good range of spell levels, three files in one (Portrait, Landscape, Printer Friendly)<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Questionable application of some spell creation principles. <br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Acceptable<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
More Blasphemous Secrets and More Forbidden Lore
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Blasphemous Secrets and Forbidden Lore
Publisher: Plain Brown Wrapper Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/28/2004 00:00:00

An interesting collection of spells, I find myself torn but generally happy. Some (NOT the majority, but a notable minority) of the spells seem to bend some of the basic D20 principles of spell creation (a few are too strong, a few are too weak). Conversely, the spells are quite creative and just /feel/ fun, which more than makes up for this deficit.

I love the names of several of these spells: A Fool's Nose Turns Blue, Rust Your Blade To Nasty Scrumbles, and "You're Not Real! Get Back In Your Book!" as good examples. Most of the spells are meant for Wizards/Sorcerers, of course, but there is a good mix of spells for Bards, Rangers and Clerics as well. The mix of spells is also good for levels, with at least as many for the lower levels (0-3) as for the higher; in fact, I think there are a few more for the lower levels, but I have yet to actually count them.

So give it a try, but watch out for specific spells. Choose carefully from this product and you will have a lot to add to your game.<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: Fun new ideas for spells (and spell titles!). Several variations on spells to apply in new situations. Three pdf files in one (Portrait, Landscape, Printer Friendly).<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: Several typos and some questionable application of spell principles -- you will have to weed through these spells carefully to decide which to use and which not to use in any given campaign.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Acceptable<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Blasphemous Secrets and Forbidden Lore
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BUY MY SNAKE OIL, Vol. 1
Publisher: Dark Quest Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/28/2004 00:00:00

Oh, this one is fun!

I have always enjoyed pulling my players around, leaving them wondering whether a given rumour is true or not. In the past I've had shops with questionable magic items. Well, this little list will add marvelously to that kind of shop. Here, viscerally described, are items to be sold by your own equivalent to C.M.O.T. Dibbler. Potions, soaps, lozenges of questionable veracity and ingredients to turn the stomach and leave your players wondering whether ANYTHING they buy in an alchemist's shop or apothecary is what it claims to be; I love this sort of confusion.

Short, sweet, to the point, this offering is a treat!<br><br><b>LIKED</b>: Full descriptions of items to grab the senses. Generic, so it can be popped into any sort of campaign world. A lovely, nasty trick to play on playrers of all systems! ;-)<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: sigh leaves me wishing the file was longer. <br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Very Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
BUY MY SNAKE OIL, Vol. 1
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Moneychanger's Companion, Vol. 2
Publisher: Dark Quest Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/20/2004 00:00:00

One of many generic fantasy supplements, these are darn good bargains. Lots of quick-use ideas are packed into small space, with no illustrations to undercut the page-count. Fun, cheap, and of good general use!<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Moneychanger's Companion, Vol. 2
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Stupid Fantasy Laws, Vol. 4
Publisher: Dark Quest Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/20/2004 00:00:00

One of many generic fantasy supplements, these are darn good bargains. Lots of quick-use ideas are packed into small space, with no illustrations to undercut the page-count. Fun, cheap, and of good general use!<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Stupid Fantasy Laws, Vol. 4
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Moneychanger's Companion, Vol. 1
Publisher: Dark Quest Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/20/2004 00:00:00

One of many generic fantasy supplements, these are darn good bargains. Lots of quick-use ideas are packed into small space, with no illustrations to undercut the page-count. Fun, cheap, and of good general use!<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Moneychanger's Companion, Vol. 1
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Fantasy Holidays, Vol. 3
Publisher: Dark Quest Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/20/2004 00:00:00

One of many generic fantasy supplements, these are darn good bargains. Lots of quick-use ideas are packed into small space, with no illustrations to undercut the page-count. Fun, cheap, and of good general use!<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Fantasy Holidays, Vol. 3
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Oppressive Taxes And Tariffs, Vol. 1
Publisher: Dark Quest Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/20/2004 00:00:00

One of many generic fantasy supplements, these are darn good bargains. Lots of quick-use ideas are packed into small space, with no illustrations to undercut the page-count. Fun, cheap, and of good general use!

Who knew taxes could be such fun! ;)<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Oppressive Taxes And Tariffs, Vol. 1
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Stupid Fantasy Laws, Vol. 3
Publisher: Dark Quest Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/20/2004 00:00:00

One of many generic fantasy supplements, these are darn good bargains. Lots of quick-use ideas are packed into small space, with no illustrations to undercut the page-count. Fun, cheap, and of good general use!<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Stupid Fantasy Laws, Vol. 3
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CAULDRON SUPPLIER'S GUIDEBOOK, VOL. 3
Publisher: Dark Quest Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/20/2004 00:00:00

One of many generic fantasy supplements, these are darn good bargains. Lots of quick-use ideas are packed into small space, with no illustrations to undercut the page-count. Fun, cheap, and of good general use!<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
CAULDRON SUPPLIER'S GUIDEBOOK, VOL. 3
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Stupid Fantasy Laws, Vol. 2
Publisher: Dark Quest Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/20/2004 00:00:00

One of many generic fantasy supplements, these are darn good bargains. Lots of quick-use ideas are packed into small space, with no illustrations to undercut the page-count. Fun, cheap, and of good general use!<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Stupid Fantasy Laws, Vol. 2
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CAULDRON SUPPLIER'S GUIDEBOOK, VOL. 2
Publisher: Dark Quest Games
by Angus M. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 10/20/2004 00:00:00

One of many generic fantasy supplements, these are darn good bargains. Lots of quick-use ideas are packed into small space, with no illustrations to undercut the page-count. Fun, cheap, and of good general use!<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
CAULDRON SUPPLIER'S GUIDEBOOK, VOL. 2
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