I must admit to having only a fleeting exposure to the works of Jack Vance, though I’m currently seeking to correct that by reading more of his work. For many, Vance has a strong link various editions of Dungeons & Dragons, where the mechanisms for spell-casting owe a debt to his Dying Earth books. Pelgrane […]
On A Mud-Slick Road to Hell: Review of Dead Light
Survival horror in Cthulhu – the chances seem slim, right? I mean, without even saying the words ‘survival horror’, most people who play games based upon the entities of the Cthulhu Mythos probably don’t have anything like a 10 Year Plan or bother investing in a 5 Year Diary. Investigators into the Mythos probably wouldn’t […]
Forewarned Is Forearmed: A Review of Thulian Echoes
Does anyone give a second thought to the impact an adventuring party has on their environment? As they rampage through a monster’s lair or rampage through invaded territory, they make changes, slay doers and makers, and leave carnage in their wake – so, what happens next? Oddly, this is something I have considered before as […]
Mashing Up The Strange: A Review of When Worlds Collide
The strange and incredible come in many guises and sometimes you need a helping hand making sense of it all. With the release, from Monte Cook Games, of The Strange, the Cypher System has expanded with more than 400 pages of content. Given that the game uses the same system as the acclaimed Numenera, can […]
We’re All Doomed: A Review of Shedding Light for WH40K
I have a soft spot for continuity and the clever business of interlinking events in one adventure with those in another. From the perspective of running a game, there is greater satisfaction to be had when the puzzle pieces fall into place and the players make little noises of consternation or satisfaction when they see […]
Prelude to a War: A Review of The Sixth Doctor Sourcebook
There’s every possibility you’re one of the people who considers Colin Baker’s tenure as the nadir of classic Doctor Who. It might be hard to pin the problem down to one thing, but the foul temper, hideous outfit and general dislikability of the Sixth Doctor’s personality didn’t help. After just two short seasons, Colin Baker […]
Weapons and their Pet Heroes: A Review of Wield
Think of an example where a story has been driven by the conflicting purpose of two personalities. Now, think of an example where one of those two competing forces of intent belonged to an inanimate object. Not a plot device… never something so tame and relatively goal-free. You might have thought of Aladdin and the […]
Snitch, Snatch, Showdown: A Review of Operation Burning Presidents
I suppose the greatest accolade you can heap on any gaming supplement would be in its value outside the core audience. If you buy a roleplaying game that contains a rich and engaging section of advice on running a great game, designing brilliant plots, or preparing with minimum effort – then that deserves a wider […]
How does the celery help?: A Review of The Fifth Doctor Sourcebook
Speaking personally, when I first heard that Cubicle 7 would be releasing a range of Doctor Who Sourcebooks handling each regeneration in turn, I was excited. Who wouldn’t be? The Doctor Who role-playing game and the Vortex system running underneath it have been a breath of fresh air. I have been a fan of the […]
Big Damn Shiny Heroes: A Review of Firefly Friends in Low Places
Firefly came and went like its insect namesake, but the series endures through a wide fan-base, comics, and various games. Rightly so, because in my opinion Firefly was a damned fine series that warrants the adoration it receives. Margaret Weis Productions has taken a stab at the ‘Verse before, presenting a Cortex-powered game based on […]
