Category: Ring Side Report

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Cypher Preview FREE!

~ fineyoungmisanthrope ~ Leave a comment

Product– Cypher Preview FREE!

System- Cypher System

Producer– Monte Cook Games

Price– FREE here  https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/534071/cypher-preview-free?affiliate_id=658618 

TL; DR-A solid product introduction.  100%

Basics– Don’t call it a comeback!  The Cypher System is getting a kind of second edition!  Not really, but kind of!  Monte Cook games has released a preview of their second edition of the game, so let’s dive into the preview of what’s the same and what’s changing.

Base mechanics– This isn’t changing.  Your Game master says a thing is level x.  You multiply that x by 3 and need to roll over that on a d20.  You have abilities that knock down that level by an amount and you still attempt to roll over that on a d20.  Still slick and easy to learn.

Effort –  This isn’t changing.  You have three pools to draw resources from.  You have Effort that reduces the amount you need to spend on a power.  You can spend from your pool to use a power or to reduce the difficulty level of a skill challenge.  You spend 3 points for the first level, reduced by effort, and 2 points per level after that.  Still slick as always.

Damage and armor– Here’s comes the big changes.  Armor now acts like an ability, reducing the level you need to go against when you dodge or block.  Also, damage now comes in three flavors as you have minor, moderate, and major.  You have three minor to a moderate, and three moderate to a major.  Once you have three major, you are knocked out.  Previously, damage went against your pools.

Cyphers- Cyphers are another big change.  Cyphers used to be more object based.  Now they are more like spells you can use each day.  Furthermore, they will also will focus on more subtle cyphers that are constant powers that provide a change to your character.

And that’s it.    

Mechanics or Crunch– I honestly welcome these changes.  The cypher system was fun before, but I felt the loss of points from my pools really hampered my character.  By changing the damage to go against something else, hit points if you will, it lets those points be used for waht they were meant for.  Also, armor reducing the level feels a bit more cypher system than it reducing damage.  This also lets heavy armored foes be possibly damaged by lighter weapons as previously heavy armor meant light weapons were useless. I look forward to its full implementation.  5/5

Theme or Fluff– So, you can’t really judge this product based on its theme because it really doesn’t have any.  You can’t judge it on a document updating the math of the world.  -/5

Execution– This document is pretty slick.  I feel like I could honestly start using this stuff in my current cypher games just based on this.  It’s easy to read and understand.  It’s also pretty, using art from across all the different properties that Monte Cook Games makes.  5/5

Summary– Monte Cook always gets about 100 bucks from me every year.  They put out a kickstarter for something, I throw money, and then stuff shows up later.  This year will be no exception.  I like the update to the system and it shows growth of his original idea in positive ways.  This is something you need to check out.  It’s free, so why not!  100%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Legend in the Mist – Learn-to-Play Comic Book Adventure

~ fineyoungmisanthrope ~ Leave a comment

Product– Legend in the Mist – Learn-to-Play Comic Book Adventure

System- Legend in the Mist

Producer– Son of Oak Game Studio

Price– FREE here  https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/532463/legend-in-the-mist-learn-to-play-comic-book-adventure?affiliate_id=658618 

TL; DR-Solid way to learn a system. 97%

Basics– Apocolypse fantasy!  Legnend in the Mist is a rules light RPG that is much more Roleplaying than rollplaying.  It’s a fantasy setting of a long forgotten world fallen on hard times as people emerge fromt he primal forests of the world.  let’s dig into the mechanics

Base mechanics– This is a 2d6 system mych like Apocolypse engine.  When you do anything, you roll 2d6, add numbers, and hope for a 10 or better.  A 10 means a solid success. Between a 6-9, you succeed, but there is a drawback.  Less than 6 means only drawbacks.  Legend in the Mist is more “yes, and “ and less “does a 20 hit the AC” type of system.

Tags and Powers– Your character in this game has a number of tags.  Tags are short descriptions of yourself like a DnD ranger would have Wilderness Survivor as a tag.  Each tag has three powers tags and a weakness tag.  Going back to the ranger, they could have stalker, Nature bonded, and deft with a bow as power tags, but have loaner as a weakness tag.  When you do an action, you count the number of power tags that help and subtract from that the number of weakness tags that hurt.  That number is what you add to the 2d6 above.  

Conditions and ending encounters– For every power tag you have, you add one to any level of success you achieve.  If you attacked with that ranger above, rolled a 12 on 2d6, and had four power tags that helped you, you could put the status wounded on an enemy with a rank of five.  If you only rolled a 7 total with those four tags, you would still wound that enemy, but you might also gain the headache one condition as you got bashed in the head on the attempt.  Conflict either social or combat ends when a condition goes far enough one way or another.

And that’s it.    

Mechanics or Crunch– This RPG has fun mechanics, but you have to want it.  This is a very fluff heavy mechanics RPG.  That’s completely fine, and fun, but is it what you want?  I’m fine with this, but it might be a deterrent for some players. 4.5 /5

Theme or Fluff– This is a phenomenal product for story.  It’s a comic that teaches you the game.  It’s a comic that teaches you the world story.  It’s everything I love for an intro product.  5/5

Execution–  This is a choose your own adventure comic book.  It’s not hyperlinked, but when you do things, you roll dice, and click the move to page box to move to the result.  I love it!  This is the product I would have wanted back in 3rd grade when I read choose your own adventure books.  Good art, solid writing, and ease of reading makes this a near perfect product.  5/5

Summary–  The Apocalypse engine is a funny thing.  RPG have always been a meeting of the theater kids and the mathletes and the strange creations of those two.  This RPG is much more theater kids product with less math and ability to power game.  That’s not bad, but make sure this is what the group wants.  The product itself is amazing, and it’s fun to go back and play a choose your own adventure book.  For the price, you need to check this book out!  97%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Dreadnought RPG

~ fineyoungmisanthrope ~ Leave a comment

Product– Dreadnought RPG

System- Dreadnought RPG

Producer– Liminal Artifact

Price– FREE here https://liminalartifact.com/  

TL; DR– Rules light horror. 90%

Basics– Don’t worry, you are already dead.  Dreadnought is a simple RPG of horror and monsters beyond the waves.  Players attempt to solve problems, get gold, and serve the gods in this simple RPG.

Base mechanics– This game has VERY simple mechanics.  Players roll 2 d8s when they want to do anything.  This action is called a move.  The Dread maker (DM, nice!) rolls a die: either a d4, d6, or a d8, and you compare.  If one of the player’s dice is a larger number, they succeed.  If both succeed, it’s even better, and if none beat the DMs dice, the player has a problem!

Characters– Players get four different archetypes that range from pirate, aboriginal fisherman/warrior, fleshwizard, or paladin.   You have NO stats.  The archetypes give you different moves that other characters don’t have.  You also have the same number of hit points called wounds as everyone else.  When you get four wounds, bad things start to pile up quickly!

And that’s it.  It’s very rules light, but action forward!

Mechanics or Crunch– This is a simple RPG with simple mechanics.  I don’t hate what’s here.  It almost feels like a GMless system with how few rules there are.  It’s got all the elements of a standard RPG, but with almost no rules to it.  I’d like a bit more description of things, but it works.  Then again, I think the goal is to be as rules light as possible.  4.5 /5

Theme or Fluff–  This book feels like Mork Borg had a baby with Scary Stories to tell in the dark and it was raised by Lovecraft.  I like the art and tone.  It feels dark and dreary.  And it’s supposed to.  5/5

Execution– This book choose style over substance, and it might have hurt the overall project.  I like what’s here, but I also have been playing RPGs for almost 30 years.  I know what to expect.  If you are completely new, this might not be the best book for you.  The theme is everywhere, but the flow of ideas is a bit off if you don’t know what each section generally is.  I can follow, but newer players might need a few read throughs to understand.  I also feel some sections are not as clear as they should be.  Furthermore, it’s all digital, but there are no hyperlinks.  Help me navigate this book!  Lastly, I must commend the book as it’s got an adventure that you and your friends can start playing in about 20 minutes. This book is rules light, and the adventure reflects that.  Good, but help the newer players see what this is about.  4/5

Summary– Style and execution are a hard mix.  I love what’s here.  The atmosphere and crazy mechanics are a fun way to approach challenges.  It’s random as hell, but that can be fun.  However, I feel this book needs some editing to really help newer players get into it.  This is more indy rock and less top 40 pop.  If you love that kind of thing, you will absolutely love this.  Especially if you love horror!  However, if you want nice clean tables and combat flow charts, then you will be a bit lost.  But, don’t fear the nonstandard.  Check this one out even if you’re not sure you’ll like it because it’s free!  90%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of The Electric State

~ fineyoungmisanthrope ~ Leave a comment

Product– The Electric State

System– The Electric State

Producer– Free League Publishing

Price- $24.99 here https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/467022/the-electric-state-roleplaying-game?affiliate_id=658618 

TL; DR- Missing some crunch, but full of story 93%

Basics– Ready for a road trip?  The Electric State RPG is a rules light, alternative 90s setting. A decaying America where AI, political intrigue, and the basic fight for real survival all combine to make either the worst or best road trip in history.  Let’s look at the game

Base mechanics– The Electric State follows many of the same principles of Free Leagues’ other games, with players rolling six sided dice and aiming for a 6.  The 6 is a success.  The player typically rolls between 2 and 6 dice.  A character has only four attributes, making up the bulk of a character’s dice.

Pushing/rerolls– Players can push rolls when they fail.  Pushing means rerolling the dice and taking the new result.  However, any ones rolled result in either damage or mental trauma to the character.

Combat-Combat is very simple.  One side, determined by the GM or an opposed dice roll, goes first.  Each character on that side gets an action and a move.  If you want to defend or dodge, you can, but that will remove you next turn.    

Neurocasters– A big part of the setting are neurocasters.  These are helmits you can wear and enter their version of the matrix/internet. You can use this to hack, learn, and pilot drones.  If you push rolls in the internet, you gain bliss.  And when your bliss gets too high, you are too addicted to leave.  Many people die on this internet!

And that’s really it.  It’s VERY rules light.

Mechanics or Crunch– This is the most pure of Free Leagues’ products for mechanics.  It’s very rules light, and maybe even too rules light. What’s here is good, but I would like more.  I think I need a bit more crunch to my RPGs to really get the most out of this game.  Then again, this game focuses much more on the journey and not the destination even for its mechanics, meaning it’s more hand-wavey about how things happen.  If you want the dice to tell a story like a critical success, then this is not for you.  If you play RPGs and just roll dice, then you could speed through most of The Electric State missing its pieces.  But, I still need a bit more crunch to my game.  4/5

Theme or Fluff–  This is where the game shines.  If you want a travel RPG, then this would be it.  The characters are literally called travelers.  You go on an adventure in The Electric State where anything from a cult, to a serial killer, to a robot with hundreds of neurocaster- wearing human zombies on strings follow it around.  There is politics, a world falling apart, drug/internet addiction, human misery, and a whole host of other themes in this game.  The authors have many things to say about the human condition, and this RPG reflects the world well and says volumes at the same time.  5/5

Execution– Free League knows books.  This book has solid production, art, and layout.  It reads easily and fast.  The rules are laid out well enough that I could just pick them up and start reading right away with no confusion.  It’s a good story mixed with solid math, making it an easy read.  It’s also got four pre-gens and several adventures, so if you and your buddies want to play, you don’t have to guess how to run, prep, and plan this adventure or what the designers thought characters should look like. 5/5

Summary– The Electric State is an interesting one for me.  I don’t hate it, but I don’t know how often I’ll travel in it.  I need a bit more crunch in my usual games.  But, the crunch that’s here is pure Free League with pushed rolls and consequences.  The story of the world is interesting and poignant.  I can’t tell how much the designers are luddites against tech or people embracing the tools needed to keep the modern world alive, and maybe that’s a solid trick to pull on me.  The book itself looks good and reads well.  I know I might not visit this world often, but if you offered, I don’t think I would turn down an afternoon in The Electric State.  93%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Bounty #15: Treasure off the Coast

~ fineyoungmisanthrope ~ Leave a comment

Product– Pathfinder Bounty #15: Treasure off the Coast

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $24.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq02akz?Pathfinder-Bounty-15-Treasure-off-the-Coast 

TL; DR– A solid intro. 100%

Basics– Why not make money!  It’s time to speed run an adventure!  You meet a quest giver in a bar, and she offers you money to get some treasure.  How could this go wrong?  

Mechanics or Crunch– This is a basic paint by number adventure, and that’s not a bad thing.  You have some social interaction, then some skill challenges, and lastly some fighting.  It’s not the deepest interaction, but if you want a quick con demo, this is my go-to.   5/5

Theme or Fluff–  We got devil worshipers, boats, and water goblins.  There is enough story and fluff here to draw you in for the hour.  Again, don’t expect crazy levels of detail, but there is enough to have fun for an hour-long game.  5/5

Execution– It’s a Paizo one-hour, one-shot.  Decent story, decent pictures, and a simple map.  I get out of this exactly what I expected.  5/5

Summary– I do a lot of evangelizing for PFS, and when I’m at cons where people just don’t know what RPGs are, this is the adventure I’ve landed on bringing with me.  Bar, quest giver, boat, skill test, fight, wrap up.  This is exactly what I expect from a bounty, and I love this one.  100%