Tag: RPG Review

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Starfinder Tech Class Playtest

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Product– Starfinder Tech Class Playtest

System- Starginder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– FREE here  https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6zwqx&page=1?Starfinder-Tech-Class-Playtest

TL; DR– Good, but a loss of flavor.  93% 

Basics– Why not tech wizards!  The tech playtest focuses on the technomancer and the mechanic.  The mechanic is the pet class with rogue elements of being skill based and the technomancer is the wizard.

Mechanics or Crunch– The classes work.  They both operate well within the realms of the base Pathfinder 2e mechanics.  The mechanic is a pet class and it follows the basic pet class idea, and the Technomancer feels like a sorcerer bloodline on a wizard.  Those are good pieces making a great whole.  5/5

Theme or Fluff–  I like what’s here, but I also feel like we may have lost things in edition change.  The mechanic lost the ability to just put a computer in their head and do awesome stuff.  What’s here is good, but it’s also a bit less than what it could have been.  The technomancer doesn’t feel like its own thing.  It’s a wizard with a bloodline.  That’s not bad, but I wanted more.  I wanted maybe even a whole new school of spells here.  It’s still just arcane spells.  Again, not bad by any stretch, but I wanted tech spells.  These two things don’t feel distinct.  4/5

Execution– It’s Paizo.  Solid layout, production, art, and even text makes this something to be studied.  Yes, I keep saying the exact same things, but it’s for the exact same reason.   For a free product, this is amazingly well done.  5/5

Summary– I like the options, but I want more distinct things in the future.  Overall, these will play amazingly well with the rest of the classes out there.  I just want new ground to be broken with Starfinder.  Right now Starfinder 2nd ed feels more like a setting change and less like it’s own edition.  Thats good for some respects, but bad for others.  Then again, I’m gonna play the hell out of this system.  So I may not be getting exactly what I want, but I am getting Pathfinder in Space, which I want!  93%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Society Scenario #6-08: Upon Wheels and Rime

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Product– Pathfinder Society Scenario #6-08: Upon Wheels and Rime

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $ 8.99 here  https://paizo.com/products/btq07fl9?Pathfinder-Society-Scenario-608-Upon-Wheels-and-Rime 

TL; DR– Solid short fun.  99% 

Basics– You’re building a what?  The Winter Queen is homesick and trying to revolutionize her country at the same time.  Bids are being taken to build a train, but what is a train?  And who wants to stop it?

Mechanics or Crunch– This adventure isnt so much crunch, but world building.  There is a social interaction, then a chase, then combat! It’s short, but its fun.  The encounters are balanced for everyone.  It’s just a bit short.  4.75/5

Theme or Fluff–  This is a callback. If you played First Ed Pathfinder and killed Rasputin in an adventure path, then you will recognize all the key players here.  Those who didn’t, won’t miss anything, but it’s a call back.  The story is interesting, and it builds out some of the world of Pathfinder in fun ways that everyone will enjoy.  5/5

Execution– It’s Paizo.  Solid layout, production, art, and even text makes this something to be studied.  5/5

Summary– This is a solid, if short, adventure.  The short issue depends on roleplaying.  The combats are fun, and the story offers the players a chance to change the Society and the World via their choices.  I loved this one.  99%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Society Scenario #6-13: All That Glitters

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Product– Pathfinder Society Scenario #6-13: All That Glitters

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $ 8.99 here  https://paizo.com/products/btq08c00?Pathfinder-Society-Scenario-613-All-That-Glitters 

TL; DR– Solid, but too short 91% 

Basics– Ready for maybe a wild goose chase?  A lost vault has been discovered that may have a lost key to a pocket dimension.  If you check the cache, the Pathfinders get to keep everything but that key.

Mechanics or Crunch– This adventure is a good old dungeon crawl.  Not much diplomacy, not much outside exploration, but good old enter the room, explore, kill the bad guys.  You can’t beat the classics.  There might be some encounter balance issues, but overall its crunch is well balanced.  4.75/5

Theme or Fluff–  The biggest issue for this adventure is the length.  This is a VERY short adventure with a bit of story, but not much beyond the basics.  This adventure uses a map that was used in a quest, but this is a full sized adventure.  It’s fun as you explore the vault-like museum, but it needs to be longer.  I’m pretty quick as a GM, but this took me less than 2 hours to run at a con.  And something important, I dont think they describe what the key is.  You find it, but they don’t describe what it looks like.  4/5

Execution– It’s Paizo.  Solid layout, production, art, and even text makes this something to be studied.  5/5

Summary– This is a fun adventure.  I like the crawl.  Crawls in dungeons are always fun, but this is just not long enough.  Throw me more encounters here.  Some are even marked as optional.  More things to do would spice up this adventure.  But, what’s here is good.  91%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Society Scenario #6-12: The Burning of Greensteeples

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Product– Pathfinder Society Scenario #6-12: The Burning of Greensteeples

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $ 8.99 here  https://paizo.com/products/btq08bzx?Pathfinder-Society-Scenario-612-The-Burning-of-Greensteeples 

TL; DR-Fun events, but little big pictures.  90% 

Basics–  Greensteeples burns!  Thrune attacks the Pathfinders at Greensteeples, and it’s your job to help.  Can you get in, get your friends, and get out?

Mechanics or Crunch– This adventure covers a lot of bases. It has an infiltration round and several combats.  Infiltration could be better described in the core books, but what’s here functions ok within the rules themselves.  There is a smattering of social encounters, but overall, it’s several small events as the players attempt to sneak in, kill bad guys, get friends, and sneak out.  It’s good overall, with only a few small issues.  4.75/5

Theme or Fluff–  I know Thrune doesn’t like the Pathfinders, but there seems like there is more going on, but I don’t know it.  I feel like this is setting up something big, but I don’t have enough to tell my players about it.  There is moving and shaking, but I don’t understand it.  I’d like to know more than what’s here.  The base plot is fine, but the bigger plot is something I think isn’t well explained.  3.75/5

Execution– It’s Paizo.  I keep saying they do this well, and they did this well again. 5/5Summary– I liked this one, but I wish I could love this one.  I need more big story beats.  I felt like I missed it here, so my players may miss it as well.  The major events went well, and the players and I had fun with the crunch.  The execution is on point as always.  I just want to know more of what is going on.  90%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Society Scenario #6-05: Silver Bark, Golden Blades

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Product– Pathfinder Society Scenario #6-05: Silver Bark, Golden Blades

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $ .99 here  https://paizo.com/products/btq04uzx?Pathfinder-Society-Scenario-605-Silver-Bark-Golden-Blades 

TL; DR– More variety at the cost of a bit of story.  95% 

Basics–  What’s happening in the Forest of Spirits?!  A mist has rolled in and people just can’t pass through the forest. Someone has angered the spirits.  Who or what has caused this problem?

Mechanics or Crunch– This adventure has some serious crazy changes!  This adventure starts with the players or GM rolling several D4s.  These COMPLETELY change the adventure.  And I don’t mean small things, but the entire last map!  The adventure has different final bosses, different maps,and different encountres depending on what the rolls are.  This is crazy fun, but it works!  If you want variety, this is the adventure you want.  My one issue is the differences mean you don’t really know where to put the encounters as this is pretty much left up to the GM to decide where the encounters happen.  Good, but if you are used to the adventure deciding where the fights happen, then you might forget to put the encounters in!  I’d like a bit more guidance, so I can better run this adventure.   4.75/5

Theme or Fluff–  This is a fun adventure, but the big issue is the variety means you can’t build too much direct story around it.  There is some, and it works, but I’d like more story of who the bad guys are.  The major story beats don’t change, so that is good.  I would just like a bit more flow with this adventure as a whole.  This is the major issue of American RPGs vs JRPGs-choice and story vs freedom and railroad.  4.5/5

Execution– It’s Paizo.  I almost never have anything bad to say with they way they set up their books, and this is no exception.  Solid production all around.   5/5

Summary–  If this is the future of most of the PFS scenarios, then I’ll be happy.  I can’t be as spoon fed as I was before with complete ease to run an adventure out of the box, but at the same time I also get new variety for my players.  I love what’s here even if the story is less forward.  I would like a bit more story, but the adventure as a whole works well.  95%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Pathfinder Adventure Path #183: Field of Maidens (Blood Lords 3 of 6)

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Product– Pathfinder Adventure Path #183: Field of Maidens (Blood Lords 3 of 6)

System- Pathfinder 2nd Ed

Producer– Paizo

Price– $ 26.99 here  https://paizo.com/products/btq02c11?Pathfinder-Adventure-Path-183-Field-of-Maidens 

TL; DR–  Good, but some fluff in the middle.  93% 

Basics–  Ok, but who’s behind all this crap?  Field of Maidens picks up where the book two of Blood Lords left off with our heroes being summoned to find who’s behind the poison plot. But along the way bodies start to pile up…

Mechanics or Crunch– The crunch here works well.  Paizo understands their system the best, and it shows.  The combats were balanced, and my all undead party had monsters where they could FINALLY use negative energy to damage.  There is some serious social interaction along the way as well as a bit of exploration.  Fun all around.  5/5

Theme or Fluff–  The adventure works, but some of it feels like fluff. This adventure has the characters go after a newly undead creature from the first book.  As they track them down, they learn about the new creature, but some of the events along the way are kind of out of left field.  There is about a third of the adventure in the field of maidens that felt like it really wasn’t necessary. It works, but it’s a bit of fluff that might not really build out the main quest.  4/5

Execution– Paizo knows their stuff.  Paizo made this so there is good art, hyperlinks, good layout, and an easy to read style that makes this easy to approach.  Solid production all around. 5/5

Summary–  This adventure is fun, but be ready for the filler episode.  The middle third isn’t really necessary, but the rest does advance the plot.  The monsters are fun, combat enjoyable, and the social interactions are well done.  It’s a well done book with a bit of filler.  93%

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%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of The Magnus Archives Player’s Guide

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Product– The Magnus Archives Player’s Guide

System- Cypher System

Producer– Monte Cook Games

Price– Free here https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/498598/the-magnus-archives-player-s-guide?affiliate_id=658618  

TL; DR– Good, but this doesn’t cover most of the basics. 80% 

Basics– What’s your statement?  The Magnus Archives is a podcast that was adapted to the cypher system.  Players take the roles of investigators looking into paranormal events.  WIll you find what’s causing all these strange events?

Base Mechanics- This is the cypher system. Players state an action, and the GM states a difficulty.  The difficulty times 3 is what the player needs to roll on a d20.  If the player wants to lower the DC, players can spend points from a pool for mind, body, and dexterity to reduce the level.  The GM doesn’t roll dice!

And that’s it.  It’s built on the basic cypher system.

Mechanics or Crunch– This book gives the very basics of the cypher system, but dont expect to play the game with this alone.  You can’t build characters with this.  Nor can you really run a game with this alone.  You get the base mechanics of this game with a good explanation, but you get no options.  It has pregenerated characters, which I love, but it’s very bare bones.  3.5/5

Theme or Fluff– There is more here, but it’s very basic.  I don’t know what the Magnus Archives are and why there are statements.  I know there are podcasts about it, and I’m interested in them now.  But I don’t really know why or who is doing the investigating.  What’s here will draw you in, but you will need the full book to get those answers. 3.5/5

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.  5/5

Summary–  For the price of free, this is a good intro to the Magnus Archives.  If I had paid for this, I would be upset.  In a player’s guide, I expect a bit more character options and explanations to the game.  This has a decent explanation, but no options.  I also expect a bit more in terms of world building.  I’m intrigued, but I have no answers to what is going on.  As a product, this is a good book for production.  I want a lot more, and all of that is found in the main game book.  Worth a look at free if you want to see the basics of the system and world.  80%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of CthulhuTech: The Shadow War Quick-Start Rules (V2)

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Product– CthulhuTech: The Shadow War Quick-Start Rules (V2)

System- CthulhuTech (V2)

Producer– Wildfire

Price– Free here https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/156677/cthulhutech-the-shadow-war-quick-start-rules-v2?src=hottest_filtered&affiliate_id=658618  

TL; DR– Good, but I miss robots.  93% 

Basics– Welcome to the shadow war!  In CthulhuTech, magic has returned to the world and it has merged with all the tech of the day.  However, strange Gods and Cults now use this for their own goals.  This will not end well for mankind!  This book has several pre-generated characters and a walk through of a very simple adventure with mechanics to introduce the new version to new players.

Base mechanic- This game uses a d2 system.  Basically you have a skill and an attribute. You roll dice equal to their total for an action.  If you get odds, you fail on that die, and evens are successes.  Get enough successes and good things happen.  This goes all the way through to combat and chases.  It’s a VERY simple system. 

Mechanics or Crunch– This is a simple game intro for a simple game.  But it works.  This is not crazy complex with all kinds of modifiers.  I’d put this closer to a Fate system.  If you want rules lighter but with some choice, this might be the system for you.   5/5

Theme or Fluff–  This adventure is good, but the layout is both good and annoying.  The characters have their own sections which is nice.  The GM doesn’t get a lot of introduction to the system before reading box text.  The game primarily teaches about the world and mechanics by box text.  This is good as an intro,but I still don’t know too much about the world itself.  I also feel its not really tech-based any more.  I feel this is just magic or even more closer to Persona with the characters basically using summons to fight.  I’d like more tech and less Cthulhu in this game. 4/5

Execution–  This works well.  The book has separate character sheets, pictures, and a nice layout to make it easy for players.  For the GM, there are nice sections to guide the GM so they can guide the players into the story.  It flows easily and quickly for a fun one shot adventure.  5/5

Summary– I am intrigued by this.  It’s fun and simple.  I typically like more crunch, but this works well enough for what it wants to be.  The world might be better served with more build up.  There is story here, but I feel like I’m missing a lot.  This is due to it being a quick start.  I am interested in the full book, so it did its job.  93%

Ring Side Report- RPG review of Xcrawl Classics #0: Murder Mountain Smackdown

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Product– Xcrawl Classics #0: Murder Mountain Smackdown

System- XCrawl

Producer– Goodman Games

Price– $7.99 here https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/499748/xcrawl-classics-0-murder-mountain-smackdown?src=hottest_filtered&affiliate_id=658618  

TL; DR-Fun with a cover monster flaw.  97% 

Basics– We who are about to die Salute BBQ Ziggurat!  Want your big break? You can get it if you survive the Murder Mountain Smackdown!  It’s a new Dungeon Jockeys outing, and you can get your own shot at the big leagues.  All you have to do is not be killed or stolen away to another universe! 

Mechanics or Crunch– Do you like DCC?  If so, you will like these mechanics.  It’s simplistic, but DCC is not a crunch system.  It’s fast and fun AND VERY VERY CRAZY!  From Desert Yetis to snow gnomes to crazy creatures stealing away people to different dimensions.  I had a blast running it, and the players had a blast playing it.  5/5

Theme or Fluff–  The story is good, but not perfect.  XCrawl walks a weird line between DCC, American Gladiators, and American Idol.  That said, it does most of that well.  What I really didn’t like is how the cover monster is used.  There is a crazy monster that just eats characters.  It’s not really explained well, in my opinion, and you don’t really fight it.  I’d like a fight with it or something crazy, but it’s more just fail a roll and die.  Aside from that, it’s crazy fun.  4.5 /5

Execution–  This is just a repeat of many of my other Goodman Game reviews.  It’s classic RPG stuff with modern layout and design.  This is how DnD in 1e should have been laid out to help me as a GM run it.  5/5Summary– Aside from one monster, I feel this is a solid intro to XCrawl.  It’s a  funnel where LOTS of PCs will die, but you end up with a rag tag team ready to roll in the big leagues.  You get your American Idol shot at being a hero on TV.  As a GM, there are fun monsters, crazy events, and all kinds of shenanigans you won’t see in the more straight fantasy offerings.  If only the cover monster was a bit different, it would be perfect.   97%