Ring Side Report: RPG Review of Dungeon Crawl Classics #109: Beneath the Isle of Serpents 

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Product– Dungeon Crawl Classics #109: Beneath the Isle of Serpents

System– DCC RPG

Producer– Goodman Games

Price–  $7.99 here https://www.drivethrurpg.com//product/539156/dungeon-crawl-classics-109-beneath-the-isle-of-serpents?affiliate_id=658618  

TL; DR– A solid picture of an adventure but the framing is muddy.  93%

Basics- Time to stop a war!  Beneath the Isle of Serpents features a mysterious island off the coast where people disappear, and fights not only among the humans lead to horrors no one expected.  This is an adventure for 2nd-level characters.

Mechanics or Crunch: This has classic Goodman Game polish for the crunch.  It’s low crunch but fun with fights, social encounters, tables galore, and exploration across both dungeons and a mysterious island.  The math is solid and fun.  5/5

Theme or Fluff– When we are on the island, stuff works, but getting there is a bit harder.  The hooks of a war don’t really matter.  Also, there is a bit of stuff happening between the intelligent monsters.  Those things I feel are not as well developed.  But the other parts and random things in the dungeon are all fun.  The pieces on this island are fun, but the framing doesn’t quite line up.  4.5/5

Execution: This adventure has all the awesome parts of a classic Goodman Games adventure, but it also has the faults of one.  Goodman Games harkens back to the old school adventures of ol’.  But modern audiences might not like that layout and setup.  I do, and I want more.  But I respect the opinion that the layout is not user-friendly.   4.5/5

Summary: This is another solid Goodman Games adventure.  The crunch is solid with fun fights, good social, and tables of such random materials that it’s a crazy fun time.  The story in the crawl is fun, but getting there is a bit off.  Not horrible, but a bit hard to fit into a perfect story.  The execution is good, but it’s Goodman Games OGL style.  If you love that, you will love this.  I think this is a fun side crawl in The Caverns of Thracia campaign.  93%

Ring Side Report: RPG Review of Abaddon: The Angel in the Void

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Product– Abaddon: The Angel in the Void

System– Demon Lord Engine

Producer– Schwalb Entertainment

Price–  $4.99 here https://www.drivethrurpg.com//product/545187/abaddon-the-angel-in-the-void?affiliate_id=658618  

TL; DR– I’m intrigued by this level of hell.  97%

Basics- Who are you among the saved?  Abaddon is a new setting for the Demon Lord Engine.  It’s a far-flung future post-apocalyptic setting.  Let’s break it down.

Base Mechanics- Like Demon Lord?  Then you know this.  The big difference is the d666 system.  What this means is roll 3d6 and use the numbers to pick from a random table.  Not bad, but you can’t have a Schwalb system without a little bit of satanism!

This is an intro book, so it’s helpful, but it’s just the intro to the world.

Mechanics or Crunch: The big question for mechanics is Do you want Future Demon Lord?  If you want guns in your fantasy, then you will enjoy this.  The mechanics don’t really change, but that’s not bad, as Demon Lord is a tight system that’s fast.  5/5

Theme or Fluff– This setting focuses on a city where angels keep humans safe, but they are unknown.  The angels look like H. R. Geiger decorated the Sistine Chapel, but I expected nothing less from Schwalb.  The town where the angels make food, but the food doesn’t have flavor.  Humans are allowed to do anything, but not mess with the angels’ business.  And, the angels are letting a select few humans exit the town to explore the wastes after the demon destroyed things a long time ago.  You get to play the explorers in this world.  That’s solid stuff right there.  5/5

Execution: This is a good intro, but it’s missing pieces.  Its got a good layout, but it needs more art.  There is one angel picture, and that’s enough to keep you up at night.  The world is described, but needs more.  There is a solid intro adventure that will kill a few players.  Then again, I also have my one major gripe- no pregens!  I know Demon Lord makes characters in about 3 minutes, but give me six to hand to my friends with no prep.  It’s small things, but it would help.   4.5/5
Summary: This intro has solid information, but misses a few things.  I like the world that is built.  The history is good, but vague enough to be filled in later.  The locations will be similar, but warped by time and hell itself. The system is one I like and one that will always be fun and fast to play.  The book is good, but here it misses a few pieces.  Give me pregens and a bit more art.  That said, if my issue is the pieces that are not here, you’ve done the job of intriguing me enough to get more.  97%