An Endzeitgeist.com review

This installment of the Dungeon Dressing-series is 13 pages long, 1 page front cover, 2 pages editorial, 1 page ToC/foreword,1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving us with 7 pages of content, so let us take a look, shall we?

Kicking off in the fine tradition of the Dungeon Dressing-series, we first get a page of rules-relevant information for the DM - whether thrones provide cover, that they grant high ground and construction materials/hp/hardness. Rather cool - there is a way to make spring-loaded thrones to get up faster. Superb for a paranoid rulers, though I would have loved to see information how such a mechanism would influence crafting DC/price.

After that, we're off to this installment's first table, which features 37 entries of unusual characteristics for thrones, which includes being made of glass, being made for unusual sizes, consisting of a living tree, being bolted to the floor etc. Rather cool: From having an intricately-detailed map in the back to secret compartments and valuable items that can be looted from it to thrones of books that potentially could contain spells, the thrones offer an interesting array of options and hooks to make them stand out.

The second table contains, unless I miscounted, 80dressings and features to add details to the thrones that run the gamut from being simply knocked over or termite-infested to having a dead rat nailed symbolically to it, fart-pillows on it and mysterious waxen remnants. Sabotaged or simply rickety thrones are also covered and feature nicely into a truly fine example of a well-crafted, evocative table.

The last two pages are devoted to traps and tricks associated with thrones and boy, are there some iconic ones there: From a hollow stone "panic room" to dropping cages and spiked backrests (can you say "Iron Throne" with me?), seat-mounted crossbows, hidden pits or huge skulls that bite those that dare approach the throne, we get a neat array of modifications that usually come with further customizable variants. Oh, have I mentioned the "No surrender"-Wail of the Banshee-last resort button? Now that one is spiteful, evil ... and I love it!

Conclusion:

Editing and formatting is top-notch, though the editorial's first page gets the author's name wrong and credits Creighton Broadhurst instead. While the regular credits get it right, it should be noted that Greg Marks is responsible for this particular installment of Dungeon Dressing. Layout adheres to RSP's elegant 2-column b/w-standard and the pdf comes fully bookmarked and in two versions, one optimized for screen use and one to be printed out.

This installment is yet another one of those excellent, intriguing little dungeon dressing-installments you'd be sorry to miss - due to the iconic qualities associated with thrones, the small entries of the tables, the details, are especially evocative this time around and make you really want to include MUCH more throne-rooms in your modules. That being said, the lack of construction-relevant rules for the spring-loaded thrones is a minor bummer, but the only reason why I'll refrain from giving this my seal of approval. It still remains an excellent offering and clocks in at well-deserved 5 stars.

Endzeitgeist out.

To start with, a throne is not some trivial piece of furniture to be sat upon or pushed aside as needs be. A throne is significant, it's important, and so it ought to look that way.

As usual with the Dungeon Dressing line, this product revolves around a series of tables which you can use to define all aspects of whatever it is the product deals with. If you are in a hurry or plain like randomicity, roll some bones; if you have more time or want to create a coherent whole, read through and decide which features you want to use.

We begin by a rules review: that sitting on (or getting up from) a throne constitutes a move action if you are in a combat situation - and that if you are reclining on it Middle-Eastern style, it could take even longer. As they are usually on a dais you get advantage of higher ground, and they tend to be quite solid so make good cover. As well as talking about throne construction, there is also a discussion of traps. This may seem perverse, but if you happen to be fussy about who gets to sit on yours it might be worth adding one along with a means to disable it when you are about to sit down yourself. Defensive measures may be appropriate if you have reason to distrust your courtiers as well.

Then comes a table of 'unusual features' that you can use to enhance your throne's description. Maybe the back of the throne has an intricate map of the land in which it is found, or it might have four metal rings on the sides of it so that poles may be slid into it and the monarch carried around. Or it's flatpack, a pile of component parts that will need assembly before anyone else can sit there!

The next table suggests more details, this time things that can be found around the throne or that have happened to it, while the final table and associated notes has a more detailed look at traps and other defences.

Spend some time with this and have a throne worth remembering...