Ring Side Report- RPG review of Old Gods of Appalachia Player’s Guide

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Product– Old Gods of Appalachia Player’s Guide

System- Cypher System

Producer– Monte Cook Games

Price– $7.99 here  https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/448863/old-gods-of-appalachia-player-s-guide?affiliate_id=658618 

TL; DR-Missing pieces and price hurt the product.  83% 

Basics-What’s that in the woods?  Old Gods of Appalachia is a horror podcast made into an RPG using the Cypher System by Monte Cook Games.  Let’s see what is in that hollar down yonder!  

System et al- This is the Cypher System you know and love.  You lose points from each pool instead of being dealt damage on a condition track.  Besides that, this is the cypher system that you either hate or love.

Cyphers-  So what’s a cypher?  I don’t think this book even explains it.  That’s a major problem…

Mechanics or Crunch– This gives a decent intro to the cypher system, but it has a major flaw not explaining what a cypher is.  You will learn fast, but the fact the book doesn’t explain this is a problem.  The system is explained decently and you get enough background to play.  The book comes with four complete characters so you can get playing fast. 4/5

Theme or Fluff– Here is the high point of the book.  This book spends lots of time explaining the world of the American coal country during the period of 1900 to a little past WW2.  It’s deep but leaves more room for you to explore. This is honestly most of the book.  5/5

Execution– This is good, but WAY TOO expensive!  This is a 32-page book that costs eight bucks.  AND IT DOESN’T EXPLAIN HOW A CYPHER WORKS!  This should be a free product and there is a free intro version that is 17 pages.  This is a lot of exposition and four characters.  It’s done well, but the art is recycled in the main book, so it’s just too expensive.  3.5/5

Summary– This is a decent product hurt by a few key issues.  If you have this, you have four characters that you can instantly run in someone else’s game.  That’s good. You will understand the rules EXCEPT for what a cypher is.  You will find out quick, but it’s the system name!  Also, the price is WAY too high for an intro product.  This feels more like a free product a company throws out to get interest.  Honestly, maybe just buy the core book which is 3 times as much but over 10 times as long.  83%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of The Magnus Archives Roleplaying Game

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Product– The Magnus Archives Roleplaying Game

System- Cypher System

Producer– Monte Cook Games

Price– $24.99 here https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/498597/the-magnus-archives-roleplaying-game?affiliate_id=658618  

TL; DR-Run for your lives cypher system horror!  100% 

Basics– Begin your statement….  This is the full RPG for the Magnus Archives.  This has rules for the cypher system, how to make characters, character options, monsters, two adventures, and a full introduction to the Magnus Archives.

System et al- Cypher system is VERY agnostic for where you put it in.  It’s always only the player rolling,  and how hard a thing is, is its rating.  Players have abilities and can spend points to reduce the ratings of any challenge.  Players then roll a d20 and need to hit the rating times 3.  Failure isn’t instant death, but does have consequences.  Doesn’t matter if it’s Numenera, fantasy, or horror like the Magnus Archives.

Cyphers-  Cyphers are one time things that give you awesome powers.  In the original system, they were items from a long time ago that might be one time cool tricks, like a cell phone that will let you call five minutes into the future to give yourself a heads up on what problems you’re going to face.  Here, cyphers are one time abilities.  You rest up and you get these back.  I don’t hate the change, but it was surprising the first time I saw it.

Mechanics or Crunch– This is what I wanted!  This book has rules for the whole system. One shocking thing is how powered the monsters are!  Most monsters start at a challenge of 5.  That means a character must roll a 15 if they want to hurt them.  This goes with the theme, but the game says that you need to RUN when bad things happen. You’re just a dude and that zombie will eat you.  But, that ties the theme well into the story.  Also, most characters are not crazy psychic monsters like the X-men. You might get some psychic powers later, but for the most part, it’s hitting that zombie with a baseball bat or shooting horrors with a .45 to make them go away.  And I enjoy it!  5/5

Theme or Fluff– Theme is strong here as well.  Like I mentioned in mechanics, you don’t want too many straight up fights.  This isn’t pulp stories or superhero comics.  You’re gonna die!  And that’s horror.  The feeling that that thing in the dark is not just Generic Monster 4 for you to mop up for XP before the pizza arrives is very strong in this book.  The mechanics and the theme drive you to feel the dread your character experiences.  5/5

Execution– Monte Cook Games does solid work in production.  The book reads easily, has solid art, and is well laid out.  Overall it’s just a well done book.  I said this last time and I’ll say all the same things again.  The one minor issue is this book has two adventures but no premade characters.  But I will give it a pass as the free player book has four premade characters in it.  5/5

Summary–  This is a good book, but you have to decide what you want.  If you want more modern horror, then this is a solid book with great mechanics and a whole podcast behind it.  If you want to punch Cthulhu in his tentically face, then this is not the game for you.  Also, the podcast is well done but technically over.  That’s not bad, as you get a complete story, but might drive some players away. If you like the cypher system and want horror, then this is your game.  100%