Tag: Review

Ring Side Report- RPG review of When the Wolf Comes: A Vikingverse Roleplaying Game

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Product– When the Wolf Comes: A Vikingverse Roleplaying Game

System- Shadow of the Demon Lord

Producer– Schwalb Entertianment

Price– $19.99 here   https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/443491?affiliate_id=658618 

TL; DR-Solid sci-fantasy Viking Shadows of the Demon Lord fun. 99% 

Basics– Where will you be when the wolf comes?!  When the Wolf Comes is a semi-post-apacalypic, semi-fantasy, semi-futuristic Viking version of Shadow of the Demon Lord.  This book covers everything from basic mechanics to how to run a full campaign.  Let’s break this down.

Mechanics or Crunch–  Do you like Shadow of the Demon Lord?  Do you like Vikings?  Do you like Space Vikings?  Then you will like this.  This is just Shadow of the Demon Lord extended to its next evolution as the game moves forward in a solid way.  My one minor issue that is more a personal view is that the end mythic paths are tied to race.  That’s not even bad, just my personal taste in the issue.  The mechanics work and the new stuff here is fantastic.  One of my complaints in TTRPGs in recent years is that character progression was too linear.  This version adds gifts which are akin to feats.  And I love it!  This version fixes my one issue with this system, so this is a solid improvement on an already excellent game.     5/5

Theme or Fluff– The opening of this book is from Schwalb himself praising the author.  This is a solid introduction to the world the author created and ancient Norse as a whole.  It’s a world like our own, but with a split a thousand years ago.  This also isn’t just a reskin of a Norse god textbook.  One of the races you expect, dwarves, is not here.  Now you have robots.  Robot servants, so if you want to explore the themes of slavery in your game, have at it!  The base classes are different, and the classes that build off it are all different as well.  This is not just a can of paint on an existing Shadows game, it’s a whole new world to play in.    5 /5

Execution– This is a solid book with one semi-unforgivable sin.  The layout is excellent.  The art is amazing.  And, the book reads well, fast, and fluidly.  I can find what I need as the hyperlinks guide me easily.  There is guidance for new GMs and how to play the COMPLETE system.  This is not just a fluff book, but honestly the whole Shadow of the BLANK system.  There is even an adventure in the back to play right away!  The one thing I want that is not here is four to six premade characters. I know Shadow characters are easy to make, but give me them so I can slam them down and have my friends play in exactly 10 minutes.  Aside from that one, minor issue, this is a fantastic book.  4.9/5

Summary– The most unkind thing I can say about this book is it’s simply a splat book for a different version of Shadow of the Demon Lord.  But that does not do this justice.  Any time there are robot dwarves that are not just brass spray painted dwarves with some gears stapled on by another name, but a real, honest to god servitor race with their own issues and even capitalism killing them so you the homeowner have to buy the newest model if you want your floors vacuumed like a roomba with a death sentence, I am hooked.  This takes the simple Shadows gameplay I love and builds it out to a completely new world with new themes and mechanics to explore.  I even get my feats!  It’s not a massive part of the world, but even that small change adds new things mechanically to the system.  I love how the book is put together.  The one thing I want Schwalb Entertainment to do is give me pregens and it will be a near perfect book.  If you even just like the Shadows system and you even just barely like Vikings or you just want to learn more about Norse mythology, then this is the book you need to pick up.  99%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Caverns of Thracia Legendary Adventure 5E+DCC preview

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Product– Caverns of Thracia Legendary Adventure 5E+DCC

System- DCC+5e, note I am only reviewing the DCC version

Producer– Goodman Games

Price– FREE here   https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/goodman-games/caverns-of-thracia-legendary-adventure-5e-dcc 

TL; DR-More of what I expect from Goodman Games!  97% 

Basics– Will you face the minotaur?  Caverns of Thracia is a republication of an older DnD module from 1979 by Jennell Jaquays.  Players enter the dreaded Caverns of Thracia to face the minotaur after multiple layers of adventure.

Mechanics or Crunch–  Like dungeon crawls and DCC?  Then you will like this.  This is the normal DCC mechanics.  It’s rules light, so it’s fast.  It’s got lot’s of novel things here with over 100 new monsters to throw at the players and all kinds of traps along the way.  It’s more of the same from Goodman Games.  If you liked their previous materials, you will like this.  5/5

Theme or Fluff– I like what’s here, but I need a bit more story. The preview is just the first level with no other story.  That’s a bit nondescript.  I am not sure why there are the things that are here.  The things are the Gonzo crazy off DCC’s appendix N fantasy, but the preview lacks all the context of the book. I’m interested, but I want to know a bit more as well.   4.5 /5

Execution– Like DCC’s layout?  Then you will like this.  This is the classic DCC layout you have either come to love or hate.  It reads fast and clean, but it has lots of black and white pages.  There is art and layout to help it read fast and easily, but it is minimal.  I enjoy it, but it’s also very old school. So, I can see why it might drive away some people.  5/5

Summary– I love DCC and Goodman Games.  I’ve backed all their kicksarters/backerkits and this will be no exception.  It’s a fun book with lots of fun crazy stuff.  I want to know more about the adventure, but when it releases I will get my chance.  Now, it’s a fun adventure that has all the pieces I expect from Goodman Games.  Check out the preview and see what you think!  97%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Castles & Crusades Reforged Player Guide

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Product– Castles & Crusades Reforged Player Guide

System- Castles & Crusades Reforged

Producer– Troll Lord Games

Price– FREE here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ckg/castles-and-crusades-reforged   

TL; DR– The C&C I love from before just better at it.  97% 

Basics– Are you ready to OSR?!  Castles and Crusades Reforged is the newest version of the C&C rpg.  Let’s break it down and get to our thoughts

Base mechanics- The basics are D20+ bonuses + ability modifier.  You know this, and like most of you, I love this too.

Siege System-Where this version of D20 separates itself from all others is the Siege system.  In this system, a character gets two to three primary abilities.  When a character tries to do something, you roll as above and add your level to the check in place of the bonus.  The interesting part is what DC the character is trying to hit.  If the check is something in the primary attribute’s area, then the DC is 12 plus a difficulty check from 0 to 10.  If the thing being done is not within a primary attribute for the character, then the check is 18 plus the difficulty from 0-10.  Easy and quick enough.

Actions- Combat is just like you’d expect.  Move, attack, don’t die. Character rounds are based on initiative.

Ok, that’s the basics, let’s discuss.

Mechanics or Crunch–  Do you like DnD 3.5 and and the OSR?  If yes, then you will love this.  It’s the same basics we got from the previous edition of the game, but with better explanation.  My one thing I really wanted but didn’t get is at-will powers so wizards and casters can do something magical when they don’t have phenomenal power at low levels.  Also, I miss feats.  This game is not rules heavy.  The rules exist, but it’s less crunch than 3.5 DnD was at the end, and I miss that amount of character customization in this game. 4.5/5

Theme or Fluff– Do you like serious OSR?  Then you will like this.  This is not the gonzo fantasy of DCC.  This is more old school 70s/80s fantasy themes.  You have the standard fantasy stuff for a standard fantasy world.  And as someone who loved the C & C world before, I love what’s here.  5 /5

Execution– Honestly, this is the biggest glow up for the Reforged Kickstarter.  Honestly, how DnD got past the first edition with the strange layout of materials is beyond me.  The last version was fun, but the layout and explanation of the game was kind of messy.  Here it is much nicer and easier to understand.  Solid layout makes this book so much easier to read and use.  This book even levels all the way to 20! 5/5

Summary– So the simple question to ask yourself if you want this book is – Do you want serious DCC?  I love DCC.  Simple rules are fun and OSR is a fun game to play when you don’t want to spend 10 hours building a character and math that involves light calculus.  I love DCC, but it is NOT a serious game.  Fun yes, but gonzo fun.  This is more old school Lord of the Rings gaming with 3.5 base mechanics.  I would like a few more modern touches, but then again, if they do that then they may betray their core OSR design.  It’s not enough to keep me away, and for the price of free it’s worth it to check out for the Kickstarter!  97%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of DC20 Preview

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Product– DC20 Preview

System- DC20

Producer– The Dungeon Couch

Price– $FREE here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/thedungeoncoach/dc20?ref=7s275s&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsaqzBhDdARIsAK2gqnc5Hg8g0LanCi5wZMQUViNcAlYb8RXGRme_aLk__R0LEqZN0HpldmQaAuo6EALw_wcB   

TL; DR– DnD5e, Pathfinder 2nd Ed, Final Fantasy, and OSR all in a blender.  90% 

Basics– Are you ready to RPG?!  DC 20 is The Dungeon Couch’s new RPG.  The kickstarter has a preview of the game with enough mechanics to run a level 1 to 2 character.  Let’s look at how it plays.

Base mechanics- It’s D20.  You know this.  Roll d20, add numbers, did it beat a different number?  The numbers you add are interesting though.  Each character has a prime attribute.  This doesn’t have to match what you think it should for the class.  The classic idea they give in the book is a barbarian who is a charismatic man who would use his charisma for his attacks because thats his best attribute.

Beating the DC by 5- This system often has you roll dice and compare to a DC.  Many of the things you do like attack and spells have you check to see if you beat the DC by 5 or multiples of 5.  Every 5 you beat often have you gain more effects, save, or even flat out damage.

Advantage and disadvantage- This takes more of a Call of Cthulhu approach with multiple advantage or disadvantage dice.  You roll all the advantage or disadvantage dice you have and you take either the better, advantage, or worse, disadvantage, die.

Actions- At the start of combat and end of each turn, you gain action points.  You can spend as many as you want to do actions.  Move uses an action point.  Attack uses an action point.  Making an opponent have disadvantage is an action.  Spells might use multiple action points.  At the end of a round you get action points back and you can use those for reactions, but you will then have less in the next round.

Leveling up- As you advance you gain powers, talents, and class features.  It’s very much like some OSR RPGs where you will not gain tons of hit points.  You gain additional mastery of skills and bonuses to attacks with some classes being able to exceed the normal maximum.

Abilities- Spells and techniques all have a bit of additional resources as well.  Some techniques can use stamina points to pull them off.  Magic uses magic points that spell casters can spend to cast spells.  So you can cast any spell you have, but bigger spells use more MP.

Combat- Won’t be fantasy without killing things!  Combat is initiative with everyone rolling, but the highest on a side determines which side goes first.  Then it’s back and forth between the players and monsters.

Ok, that’s the basics, let’s discuss

Mechanics or Crunch–  This game feels like all the things I love.  The base dice is DnD.  The base action mechanics are Pathfinder 2nd Ed.  The base leveling layout looks like OSR.  Spell casting feels like Final Fantasy.  I love all those things, so that’s fun!  I know this system, but because I’ve played all the things that made it multiple times over.  And, that’s not a bad thing!   5/5

Theme or Fluff– Not really a story as this is more to show off the rules, but what’s here feels right.  The classes feel like classes, and the included things feel like they should.  The kickstarter art is nice, but the book itself doesn’t have any.  I’d like a bit more of the creators’ world to help me understand what the story will be.  4.5 /5

Execution– This is a solid enough preview, but it’s missing a few things.  The book has lots of stuff and is decently laid out.  It’s easy to read with good directions.  It’s even hyperlinked, so I’m happy there.  The bad is there are no pictures in the book, nor in the monster book.  The kickstarter also doesn’t have an adventure.  Give me an adventure and four to six pregens to play with!  I think I like the layout, but if you have done all this, give me a simple “kill the goblins save the village lady” quest to kick the tires on the system.  In addition, some classes can exceed the maximum skill bonus. Why not just include the maximum skill bonus on that table instead of making me infer them?  Those are small issues but will help me better understand your system.  4/5

Summary-I’m interested.  This will be a big kickstarter.  The things I love are the basics that combine all the fun things from all the other fun things I enjoy.  I need more of the world and adventure.  Show me how you want this played.  Is this pure murder on the players or a cake walk?  I don’t know, so show me!  That said, I’ve backed it, and for free, I definitely think it’s worth a look for you too.  90%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Starfinder Society Scenario #7-02: Zo! vs. Zo

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Product– Starfinder Society Scenario #7-02: Zo! vs. Zo

System- Starfinder

Producer– Paizo

Price– $8.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq02eza?Starfinder-Society-Scenario-702-Zo-vs-Zo  

TL; DR– Fun, logic be damned!  87% 

Basics– What’s ya name!?  In Zo! Vs. Zo, the Starfinders are asked to help Zo! Defend his semi-good honor as his name is threatened by a city called Zo.  How will your group of Starfinders fare as lawyers and in combat?

Mechanics or Crunch–  This is a fairly simple adventure with some combat, some social, but no exploration.  It’s all set in cities as the Starfinders have to prove they can do the fighting, then attempt to set up a legal defense, and finally a real defense in legal combat. It’s a bit on the rails, but still good.  The mechanics are well done and felt fair and fun. 4.5/5

Theme or Fluff–  The story is a bit off here.  The basics are to prove you can fight, do legal skill checks, do more legal skill checks, and then fight no matter what.  The legal stuff felt off.  I would like the option to just not do the second fight if the characters succeed enough or for them to just push for combat.  That’s how I would run this for a home group, but for Society, the flow makes the adventure feel strained.  It works, but the logic is a bit off. 3.5/5

Execution– Yeah, we all know this was gonna be a 5/5.  It’s a Paizo book.  I keep saying this exact sentence when I write about Paizo.  They know layout, text, and art.  It’s an easy to read adventure.  Maybe the one thing that would help is having separate art from the other legal combatants, but that’s extremely nitpicky.  This is well done.  5/5

Summary-This is a fun adventure, but maybe not the most logical adventure.  Any group of guys and gals will enjoy the adventure, but it’s a bit linear and a bit nonsensical.  That said, it’s an adventure to a world that most Starfinders have not been to and some courtroom drama that almost no players outside of those brave profession (barrister) players do.  You will have fun, but maybe don’t think too hard about why things are happening.   87%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Monster Core

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Product– Pathfinder Monster Core

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed 

Producer– Paizo

Price– $59.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq02ej4 

TL; DR-Another Solid Addition to the Core line. 97% 

Basics– We’re all gonna die!  Monster Core is the last of the three main books needed to play Pathfinder, providing the foes that the heroes will face in their journeys.

Mechanics or Crunch–  Paizo knows their math.  These monsters are the ones we know, mostly, and love.  The Paizo staff designed good monsters and this just gives them the 2.5 glow up new coat of paint the system needed to get them fully ORC compliant.  It’s well done. 5/5

Theme or Fluff–  The story of the monsters takes a tiny bit of a dip.  As we move from 3.5/SRD base to ORC/Paizo’s own world, we lose a few things.  A major example is alignment.  We have Demons, Daemon, and Devils.  We have three different groups that are basically out to destroy everything but all just end up with the bad guy banner.  There is a story, but it’s that part of the story supported by differences in alignment and motivations that really separate these different D-based bad guys (that and centuries of European occult history).  The same goes with different dragon types.  I want to reiterate that what’s here is good, but the theme of these different monsters does miss alignment. 4.5/5

Execution– Yeah, we all know this was gonna be a 5/5.  It’s a Paizo book.  It reads fast, well, and is pretty.  Monsters get art for me to show players.  I get a good layout and hyperlinks.  Heck, there are even a few player things like a few rituals to sell your soul or talk to god!  5/5

Summary-This is a good book.  My view might be tainted by the changes from 3.5 to ORC.  I love the ORC, but we do lose some things along the way due to the legalese.  Those are things you will have to bring with your own stories to the table now.  This book will easily give you the foes to make those stories full of conflict and victory.  97 %

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Starfinder Society Intro: Year of Era’s End

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Product– Starfinder Society Intro: Year of Era’s End

System- Starfinder 

Producer– Paizo

Price– $8.99 here https://paizo.com/products/btq02ez9?Starfinder-Society-Intro-Year-of-Eras-End 

TL; DR-The start to the end! 93% 

Basics– New boss, new random magic thing, new place, who dis?  Year of Era’s End sets out to establish the next and final meta plot for Starfinder Society 1st edition.  The Starfinders have made new friends with the Anacites on their barren homeworld.  Will the Society understand how the latest found magic item works before evil robots try to kill us all?

Mechanics or Crunch–  This adventure is fairly simple and similar to the usual first adventures of a season.  You have a few fights, a few social encounters, and a few skill challenges as you explore.  It’s not crazy, but it all works well. 4.5/5

Theme or Fluff–  Much like the mechanics, this adventures is pretty standard for the first adventure of a season.  You will meet the new boss, meet some new friends/middle managers of the Starfinder Society, and a new adversary group.  The adventure is split in two, with two different goals in each as you try to understand the newly found device.  It’s standard, but decently well done.  4.5/5

Execution– Paizo knows adventure production.  Layout is good, text is easy to read, and organization is good.  The maps are all available, and the monsters and NPCs all have pictures that I don’t have to crop myself.  I’ve even adjusted to the increase in cost as nine bucks is about the price of a movie and this will take about three to four hours to play.  Solid work.  5/5

Summary-It’s the end of the world, and I feel fine!  Starfinder Society First Edition is going away, and this honestly is a decent start to that.  It’s some simple mini adventures that get a metaplot started, introduce new characters in the lore, and allow for some fun encounters along the way.  If all the final adventures work like this, it will be a good send off.  93 %