Ring Side Report: RPG Review of PIRATE BORG Starter Set

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Product–  PIRATE BORG Starter Set

System– PIRATE BORG

Producer– Free League

Price– $19.99 here https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/555993/pirate-borg-starter-set?affiliate_id=658618  

Basics:  Welcome to the Dark Caribbean! This box set has a ton of stuff and enough to help you get playing quickly.  Check out our unboxing video here: https://youtu.be/FgXEPdMvink .  Let’s dig into this game and box set.

Mechanics or Crunch: How much crunch do you need?  This box set has a small rulebook and enough tokens, player sheets, and maps to get you playing in all of 10 minutes.  This ruleset is d20+ a number between -3 and +6 to hit a 12.  That’s most of the actions.  The rules explain that well and get you building characters in about 10 minutes.  I love the Borg mechanics and simplicity.  And this box set teaches that well and quickly.  5/5

Theme or Fluff–  I love all the stuff in the story here, but I the story has a small plot hole.  The basics of the story are: you are hired to find a thing, get marooned, find half the map, learn the rest is in a British anti-pirate port, and then go find the thing.  It’s fun and teaches the basic rules well, but I think the link to the British is a bit light.  That said, I love what’s here.  Sure, its a bit of a knockoff of Pirates of the Caribbean, but I DON’T CARE!  It’s just fun, especially when you mix in the fact that there is magic dead guy drugs that can make you a god running around. 4.9/5

Execution: I do love me some intro boxes, and honestly I think this might be my favorite.  Why?  Sure, this, like any other good intro box, has dice, maps, tokens, a small intro book, character sheets, and an adventure, but it’s also got DRY ERASE MARKERS!  You build a character in about 10 minutes, and they can die fast.  This gives you dry erase markers and laminated character sheets.  That right there in this kind of game is a godsend. 5/5

Summary: You want some crazy Pirate fun in the Caribbean?  Here you go.  The system is fast, fun, and low rules.  The story is good.  And the box itself is my ABSOLUTE favorite.  And the physical box is about 40 bucks.  The PDFs are a solid value at 20 bucks too.  This is something you need to get and have fun with.  99%

Ring Side Report: RPG Review of Beyond the Blood Door Player’s Guide

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Product–  Beyond the Blood Door Player’s Guide

System– Starfinder 2nd Ed 

Producer– Paizo

Price– Free here https://downloads.paizo.com/OP-Files/SFS2+Beyond+the+Blood+Door+Players+Guide.pdf 

TL; DR– A good start. 99%

Basics:  WHY ARE THE BALLS OF BLOOD IN THE SKY!?  Absolom station is under attack, maybe?  It’s time to gear up and save the station.  This book is a guide for new and old players, with information about the Starfinder society, new backgrounds, a new race, religions to consider, and more to help players.

Mechanics or Crunch: This is a free book with lots of crunch.  There are whole new character options for players to try.  The fact that a whole race with feats is provided is amazing.  Solid start to the new season.  5/5

Theme or Fluff–  This book is short but gives enough info to get you started. The book can’t solve all the mysteries of the season.  But, I’m intrigued.  The book also builds out multiple world pieces to give me things to do and explore.  I’m interested in what’s here. 5/5

Execution: I like what’s here, but would like a bit more art.  The world, layout, text, and new materials are all well done.  But, I want single art of the main characters. Give me a way to easily show those characters off to the players.  It’s being eliminated from the adventures, so put those in the player guide.  4.75/5

Summary: I love society play.  Paizo has started to make player guides for the new season, and it’s a smart, well-done move.  The only thing I want is end pages with the pictures separated liek the old adventures.  But what’s here is amazing!  99%