Tag: Dragonlaird

Ring Side Report- RPG review of The Little Book of GM Gems, Volume 1

~ fineyoungmisanthrope ~ Leave a comment

Product– The Little Book of GM Gems, Volume 1

System- None

Producer– Dragonlaird Gaming

Price– $4.99 here https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/458456/The-Little-Book-of-GM-Gems-Volume-1?affiliate_id=658618 

TL; DR– Listen to ancient wisdom! 99%

Basics– Want some free advice?  Little Book of GM gems are articles from Knights of the Dinner Table providing ideas for GM of all levels.  Let’s break down what’s here.

Mechanics or Crunch– This isn’t a setting or a crunch book. It’s an advice book, so there are no mechanics here.  -/5

Theme or Fluff– If this is an advice book, how’s the advice?  Honestly, It’s solid.  It’s not new, as it’s from the Knights of the Dinner Table Comic, but it’s good.  This is pretty timeless advice that new GMs can use and old GMs can use a refresher on.  5/5

Execution– Overall, this is a well laid out book, but there are a few small issues.  Hyperlinks, decent font, good layout, and pictures all make this an easy read.  There are some issues with background and the use of a cramped cursive font in the intro of each chapter is a bit hard to read.  This is good, but not perfect. 4.9/5Summary– This is a well done product, but if you should buy depends on what else you have.  If you have every Knights of the Dinner Table comic, then this might not be the best purchase.  I don’t (one day, but not now!), so this is a solid read as I get some good advice.  I’ve gotten some of this advice before from older GMs at cons, but not everyone has that opportunity.  This product fits that niche of passing along good advice to GMs who haven’t gotten the expertise from meeting other GMs.  It’s not completely new, but it is completely good.  It’s a solid product, but make sure you are getting what you want.   99%

Ring Side Report-RPG Review of Colonel Bull’s Body

~ fineyoungmisanthrope ~ 2 Comments

Product– Colonel Bull’s Body

System- Any system but fits well with Savage Worlds/Deadlands

Producer– Dragonlaird Gaming

Price– $7.99 here https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/376305/Colonel-Bulls-Body?affiliate_id=658618 

TL; DR-A great intro to Deadlands. 98%

Basics–  THE DEAD WALK!  A friend of yours has died, but now some see horrors off in the distance.  You don’t care either way as getting his body back for burial nets you a massive pay day.  Can you find his body and get your money?

Mechanics or Crunch– Solid work here for a fantasy cowboy game and fits well into a Deadlands game.  There is investigation, combat, and roleplaying in equal measure here so all three pillars of a good session are on display.  This is just good, well done crunch.  5/5

Theme or Fluff– More solid work here by Dragonlaird for their story.  My one, very slightly negative point is that it’s similar to a predictable Deadlands plot.  There is always some evil sorcerer guy off-screen doing a bad.  That’s why this feels like Deadlands, but it could be a bit too predictable for your hardcore Deadlands fan as not much comes out of left field.    4.75/5

Execution– Dragonlaird excels again with their making of a nearly flawless book.  Hyperlinks, layout, text size, scannability, art-everything is just on point.  My one issue is cost.  It’s 8 bucks.  Not horrible, but it’s that much for about one solid or two shorter four hour sessions.  But, you are getting what you pay for with this one. 4.9/5

Summary– I’ve always wanted to get deeper into the old west and while not a Deadlands product, it would lead you deeper into it.  It’s an interesting world, and it takes advantage of the Savage Worlds rule set.  Colonel Bull’s Body is an excellent intro adventure for both.  It’s got classic cowboy fantasy themes and solid mechanics.  Your older Deadlands fans might not get as much out of it, but for those looking for a good intro to the fantasy cowboy world or a solid session, this would be a great one to pull out for game night.  The price is a bit high, but you are getting what you pay for with this product in terms of art, design, and layout.  Another great product by Dragonlaird.  98%