Basics– Let’s go make friends! The Pathfinder society wants to make friends with a dragon, and YOU get to make the introductions. Don’t mess up, because you can be flamebroiled and are tasty with ketchup!
Mechanics or Crunch– The adventure has all the pieces where they should be and they generally work well. There are about 3 fights, a couple traps, and a skill challenge. Those are all mechanically done well. The skill challenges are not as much fun as they could have been, because my players tend to feel like they want them to just end by accomplishing X solutions before Y events. I can dress that up, but the repeated challenges can get boring in a hurry, so I just let them succeed if they do well enough. Overall what’s here is good, but it has a few issues. 4.5/5
Theme or Fluff– This adventure is a pretty simple story where the normal dungeon crawl is flipped. Instead of going into a place where you are NOT supposed to be, you are invited into this one. However, some elements feel a bit crammed in. I like the goblins making kimchi, but they are not really needed and it detracts from the overall flow. My players didn’t really explore much; why would you just explore a person’s house if they are waiting for you? Also the last fight just doesn’t need to happen. Maybe having a hallway fight with OTHER robbers would be a better way to endear the kobold butler to the players? Something to consider. 4/5
Execution– Pathfinder by Paizo? Yeah this is gonna be a slam dunk. I might not be crazy about the 9 buck price tag, but for five people to get 3ish hours of entertainment, then I’m a bit more ok. 5/5
Summary– This is a decent adventure that will tie to something bigger. And that’s the whole hope of organized play. It’s a fun ~3 hour adventure where the players get some fights, some social encounters, and some skill tests. It’s well put together, but a few issues crop up along the way that prevent perfection. Some are system choice issues and some are flow issues. None are going to hurt this in a fatal way, but maybe change an element or two to make this a better experience. 90%
Basics– Friends cancel for DnD? Long Dog Games got a game for you. Pericle: Gathering Darkness is a 1 to 4 (kind of) tabletop RPG with maps and miniatures provided. You use an app to guide the monster’s turns, and you respond to the world. Let’s break this down.
Mechanics- This game uses a D10 based mechanic for all skill and attack rolls. One side is automatic failure, one side is a critical success, four sides are normal successes,and the other four are numbers 1 to 4. When you do an action, if you have no skills the successes are the only ways to succeed. If you have skill in an action, you can roll that number or a success to succeed.
Characters and leveling- While this is an app driven game, there are multiple ways to build characters. There is a basic character generation system which lets you choose abilities and races however you want. The game also comes with several pregenerated characters so you can just hit the ground running.
Combat– Combat is run by the app and the tabletop. The app will randomly decide what side goes first, either players or enemies. Then the game goes into movement for one side, movement for the other side, then based on initiative each character and enemy will go. A very important thing to consider is the Embattled condition. If you move and are in the forward arc of a character, you are embattled and stop your movement. For my old school, 3.5 DnD friends, if you would provoke an attack of opportunity using the facing rules from the front, you are embattled. Also important, some actions like ranged weapons and spells cant be used if you move more than 1 hex.
Magic- This is an interesting use of magic. Magic is cast till you pass out! When you cast a spell you take damage and exhaustion. Each spell specifies an amount of damage or an amount you can vary for different effects. The damage is hit points, but you mark down the damage as exhaustion as well. When you rest you heal all exhaustion and that same amount of damage.
Let’s go into the breakdown.
MAJOR LET DOWN! This game says it’s for 1 to 4 players, but that means 3 to 4 characters. If, like me, you only want to play one character, then you have to play 3 to 4 players. Which means, I might as well play DnD… You can play 1 person, but then you have to run four characters. That makes me angry on a personal level when I can’t just run one character and my wife run one character, so all scores max out at 4.5 for this one!
Mechanics or Crunch– Overall this game is done well,but it doesn’t quite hit all the points I was hoping for. The d10 based mechanic is an interesting one. It works decently well, but sometimes the embattled condition is more tiring as facing always does slow a game down. The addition of magic using HP is a fun way to let casters go wild while still keeping a bit of control in the system. If you like facing based combat, you will love this. I’m not as much of a fan. 4.25/5
Theme or Fluff– This game is an interesting mix of a choose your own adventure and a dudes on a map combat game. The crunch is good, and for the most part the story is interesting. You are slaves sold into being gladiators. From there the story continues as your choices alter what happens next. Like any RPG campaign, some things are always going to happen regardless of your choices, but overall, I do feel like I was playing a game with my buddies. 4.5/5
Execution– Here is where I think I will get the biggest flack for my opinion. I was not as impressed as I hoped to be. The game provides several maps and acrylic miniatures. Those are ok. Some do not match the pictures the game uses, and that causes some problems, but I don’t think what I got was worth 150 bucks. Next, the app is a choose your own adventure book online. It’s not a stand alone app, but a website that runs combat. That’s ok, but some things are voiced with standing pictures on youtube. And that’s ok. I don’t need multi million dollar voice actors and animated cutscenes. But only some things are videos. Many are just text. This goes as far as not even given pictures to all the named NPCs. Even some of the tutorial isn’t voiced and is basically me reading the text in the rulebook on a screen instead of reading the rulebook. The app is also interesting as you have to mark if you embattled a character. You can go backwards and it will adjust a character’s actions, so if you miss someone being engaged in a fight, it will correct their actions. That is a nice touch. Overall, I just felt that several maps and an app where, at most, I get four choices at a time felt like I wasn’t quite getting my money’s worth. See our unboxing here: https://youtu.be/PCMDwvbBow0 3.75/5
Summary-I love games where my wife and I can be on the same side and play an epic adventure. This game gets me most of the way to where I want to be, but isn’t quite it. The mechanics are good, but a bit like grinding gears. The story is good and interesting. What I got in the box and what I got on the app is ok, but not quite enough. To put this in perspective, my favorite co-op RPG Gloomhaven retailed at about 150 and 12 bucks more for the storyteller app to read me the box text. This is about that price and I feel I get less. And two players can just be two players and play. What’s here is ok, but I am automatically let down when I see I have to play multiple characters. This is fun, but know EXACTLY what you are getting in the game! 83%
Basics– How about an RPG that fits in a sardine tin! Tinny dungeons is a micro RPG. Let’s break down the game and what’s here.
Mechanics- This game’s basic mechanic is d6. You roll a number of dice equal to a a stat and if one is equal to the difficulty number (2 for easy and up to 6 for amazingly hard), you succeed either dealing damage or negotiating with the queen.
Characters- The characters have three stats (strength, dexterity, and mind), an AC for attacks, hit points, a weapon with a relevant skill, and one special skill. It’s a Tinny RPG, so don’t expect much more!
World-The world is a few additional cards with locations with descriptions, peoples, and monsters. Again, it’s TINNY, so don’t look for 500 page books of world lore!
Let’s go into the breakdown.
Mechanics or Crunch– This is a fun game, but I feel I’m missing a few things. It’s micro, so you don’t get much more than one power per character. That’s fine, but leveling and other things are left out. I don’t know how to level or build characters. Nor do I know the price of basic goods. It’s minimal, but a bit too minimal. What’s here is well done, but what’s missing is important. 4.5/5
Theme or Fluff– My thoughts on the mechanics also echo here. What’s here is amazing, but what’s missing is something I notice. The characters are a business card and carry a lot of world with them as they have a fun picture, power, and stats all provide a bit of world building. The maps and locations give world building as well, but I’d like a bit more. Give me a basic quest to run through rather than a simple seven room dungeon. This may seem harsh, but there are only 14 cards in the box, so there is a room for two more to give me a “save the princess from the goblins” quest. All that said, I do love what is here, just want a bit more. 4/5
Execution– Much like the above, what’s here is good, but it a bit small. I get that the product is small, but it’s too little. For the price, you get a metal case, 14 cards, two dice, and a pencil. All those are well done. And to be fair, I pay a lot more for games without even pencils, so I have to give this game credit for that. I just want a few more cards with a bit more stuff to explain the world. Sell me a 30 card expansion pack with more world and rules, and I’d honestly buy it! See all the pieces in our unboxing here: https://youtu.be/F_jxmYU_suE 4.5/5
Summary– I love small RPGs, and they don’t get much smaller than this one. This is a solid RPG if you want a one shot dungeon crawl. It’s a limited system, but it does what it set out to to. I’d like a bit more to help me build on, but if this came out at the bar, I’d happily play between eating chicken wings. It’s not a weekend killer, but it is a fun time with my one power priest. 87%
Basics– AIM FOR THE HEAD! Head Shot the Rot is a one-shot drop-in game for four PCs set in Alkenstar. It’s a glorious “Kill the bad guys, save everyone!” kind of adventure.
Mechanics or Crunch– This is Night of the Living Dead in Pathfinder. You have some zombies and you have some people. You get some skill checks, some combat, and some social. That’s all the pieces of the game I want. And I’m happy! It’s solid mechanics with 3rd level PCs and some monsters that can tear them up if they screw up, but enough firepower to make sure that doesn’t happen. Finely balanced as all things should be. 5/5
Theme or Fluff– You start in a bar with your buds, bad happens, and you kill it. Save the people, get the money. That’s the story and there is enough in the adventure and maps to build that into a fun place to play and explore even if you don’t go far. The PCs and I had a blast with this one. 5/5
Execution– It’s Paizo. They know how to lay out a book, make nice art, make it easy to read, and get me the information I need in a hurry. It’s 10 bucks, which is a bit pricey, but it filled four hours. This beats the movie test of if I went to the movies with the same friends, would we spend more. So, I don’t feel ripped off here. It comes with art, maps, and PCs – all the toys I need to literally just drop in Roll20 and play. 5/5
Summary– Some days you crave Game of Thrones level intrigue, and others you just want a bunch of zombies, a gun, and a goal. This is the latter. I loved everything here. It’s a fun one shot where all the players get what they want out of this, while I had fun and did not need hours of prep before. Hey Paizo! Make more of these, and then connect them to each of the adventure paths. I’d buy them! 100%
TL; DR– Too much money for a too short adventure. 77%
Basics– And we’re walking! This Pathfinder Society adventure features you as a tour guide to a multidimensional maze where you guide a new venture captain to a lodge, then help round up some little elementals all while trying to be on time for his party.
Mechanics or Crunch– Paizo understands its mechanics. The game itself works well here, but the adventure is a bit short. What is in this adventure is about two fights and several skill checks to help multiple different players feel involved with a bit of exploration thrown in. Solid work overall, but a bit short for my players as no players felt too challenged and a few checks cleared the adventure with no problem. 4.5/5
Theme or Fluff– The adventure works, but it feels off. We have a new guy who wants to see a place. Cool, but there is a random fight, some random elemental stuff, a kind of random handout, and a random place that doesn’t feel all that connected. It works, but my players and I felt that it was a bit disjointed. Furthermore, it didn’t really introduce any major metaplot or content. It was a decent distraction and having more pure noncombat adventures would be fun, but this wasn’t that nor was it pure combat adventure. It felt like too much of a mix. 3.5/5
Execution– I was the most disappointed here. The adventure works with classic Paizo layout and text doing their good job as always, but there is too much text and not enough guidance with some things being tried but not really working. First, there are random things that happen. Good! But use the random event charts that we had in previous chapters rather than just have three options for the GM to pick. Same goes with where the main NPC wants to go. Add in a chart where he says where to go, describe the location, and have a random dice roll. The main bulk of the adventure is in a maze. Which is fun, but doesn’t have a massive location, but maybe just set pieces. There are places that I don’t feel were all that connected nor did the riddle handout really help me or my players with it. The price of the adventure is high, but they are now including all the information I need to run it. However, the map they give is too big and can’t work on Roll20. It also has a grid, so I have to fight with Roll20 to line it up. PDFs can remove the grids, so I appreciate those. But, here I am paying for a product that isn’t quite getting me what I want. Honestly, if these were just set piece locations as they wander the maze, I feel that would make this run easier and make the maps small enough to upload to Roll20. I appreciate what they gave me, but for almost 1/3 the price of their regular adventures, this costs a bit too much. 3.5/5
Summary– Overall, this works. It’s a fine enough adventure, but it’s short, a little disjointed, and the add-ons are a bit wonky. I don’t hate this, but I feel some aspects hold this back. Some small changes in organization and flow could help this be a top notch adventure. You can easily run this, and you and your party will have fun. But, don’t expect this to run for the full five hours. 77%
TL; DR-Solid new information from a new place in DCC. 98%
Basics– Let’s go somewhere I never expected DCC RPG to go! Legends of Uganda does exactly what it says: it’s legends and lore from Uganda, providing monsters, mighty deeds, a new class, and weapons for the table to experience.
Mechanics or Crunch– This is a collection of new items for the table and honestly they feel like they fit. All the new toys for both players and GMs all fit into the existing power scale of DCC RPG. It’s fresh and new ideas that mesh well. 5/5
Theme or Fluff– What’s here is new and it’s interesting. Uganda is quite literally a world away from me. I have experience with Celtic folklore, Asian folklore, North and South American folklore, but I know a lot less about subSaharan African folklore. This book brings in a number of fun new ideas that you can bring to bear at the table. It would be very easy to do this disrespectfully, but this book treats the material and people with respect. 5/5
Execution-. This book is very well put together, but it has a few small issues. The book reads well and has good art, but some things are missing. There are four weapons, but they are in two different parts of the book. There are multiple monsters, but they are scattered apart. This isn’t a problem, but you can tell this was originally made from three different smaller PDFs put together. The joining of three books without reorganization wouldn’t be a major issue if the book had bookmarks or hyperlinks to jump to sections. This is a 3 dollar PDF that amazingly has over 30 pages. Honestly, I’m impressed by how much is crammed in here! Also, this has a completely new class, but no new spells. I would expect a few new spells in this book. Maybe in the sequel. 4.75/5
Summary– This book is new and fun! I love learning about new stuff from new places. There is nothing wrong with my 30+ Celtic adventures, but this book aims to show me something new and does it well. New toys for both the GM and the player are balanced well. The tone is respectful while keeping the material engaging. My only issues are some organization and the lack of spells. Show me some new magic from where you’re from and give me some hyperlinks, and I’d be thrilled. But then again, I want to stress this is a 30+ page book, so it’s good value for money. I’m looking forward to the next one in this series. 98%
TL; DR-Alright I’m in despite the cardinal sin. 97%
Basics– Ok, let’s be bad guys! Evolved is a new super hero book for the DCC RPG that is currently in kickstarter. If you know DCC RPG, then you already know almost most of this game. Let’s look at this new expansion!
Mechanics or Crunch– Like MCCRPG? then you like this. That’s it. Evolved is much more like MCC then DCC. But if you like the basics of the dice chain, how you level, and how you progress, then you are gonna love this. There are small changes that the writers have added like how your money is a die and you roll to see if you can buy something as opposed to cash much like how money is abstracted in Call of Cthulhu, but it’s mostly the game I know and I love. What’s here is new and done well, so I’m in. 5/5
Theme or Fluff– Like super hero comics and movies? Then you’re in. Again, this isn’t a genre-subverting change to super heroes, but it’s just the simplicity of the DCC/MCC rpg brought to super heroes. That makes me happy. This game difference is you have a low level hero in the now and in the future 2050s there is a dystopian version with your higher level supers. That’s an interesting twist. All in all, its MCC supers, and as a convert to DCC I love it.. 5/5
Execution– What’s here is good, but there is an unforgivable sin in any new RPG. This book is a buck for a kickstarter version. Ok, there will be problems, but for an intro of what is honestly at least 70% of a 30 buck book, I’ll overlook that. But, like any new RPG there is NO adventure or premade characters. Premade characters are excusable, but if you want me to see your two time periods, it would be something I want to see. However, I don’t have any adventures to show off your world and game. That’s a major no no for me. Give me an adventure and this would be a solid intro. 4.5/5Summary- FINE! Take my money. Even if you break my rule and make a system without demo characters and an adventure, this is DCC/MCC supers. I sat in enough Marvel movies at midnight to love superheroes and sat at enough con tables with my fellow grognards to love DCC. So, I’m in. Check the PDF for a buck here https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/466609/Evolved-RPG-Playtest-Doc–Powered-by-DCC-RPG–Now-on-Kickstarter&affiliate_id=658618 and then get the real book like me at the link above. 97%
Basics– ORC TO THE RESCUE! GM Core is the new ORC version of the Pathfinder 2nd Ed GM book. That’s really it.
Mechanics or Crunch– What’s here is good and gives some solid advice for GMs. It covers everything from adventure building to treasure disbursement. I like whats here, but it needs more. I want a random item table. They have item tables, but throw in a random mechanic for what to give out. I can find it online, but if I’m dropping 60 for a book, I want to think a bit less. I also need a bit more guidance on some things. Crafting is ALWAYS a pain as players want free stuff and GMs need to keep the system from breaking. Some walkthrough would help a bunch here. What’s in the book is good, but I need just a bit more. 4.5/5
Theme or Fluff– Theme covers some ground in this book. You have everything here from how to deal with at-table situations to the world of Golarion. I may not need some of this but new GMs and new players to Pathfinder are going to find some use of this book. 5/5
Execution– It’s Paizo and they made a book. The book reads well, skims easy, and has hyperlinks. It’s all the things I need and want in a book. 5/5
Summary– This is a solid book. My main issue is what isn’t here compared to what is. I can find answers and tables online, but for the price I expect it here. Now, here is the issue- do I tell you to buy this book? And that’s a solid maybe. If you have the previous book, then you honestly will be ok without this one. It’s not bad, but Pathfinder 2nd Ed didn’t really change in a massive way between the OGL and ORC in my opinion. And honestly, I think that was the goal. If you know what you’re doing this might be a pass, but if you are new or don’t have a GM guide for 2nd Ed, get this book! 97%
Basics– DnD 3.5/5e/Shadowrun IN SPACE! This is a new riff on the 5e system by building in classless systems into the basic math of 5e. The universe has gone to war in a way that nearly destroyed it and now at least four different dimensions are all interacting.
Let’s break down the system.
Classless, but not levelless– This system does use levels, but when you take a level you choose a profession and possibly an archetype within it. This gives you places to spend forte and fine-forte points. These are the equivalent of skill points. You can freely change profession when you gain a new level.
Base mechanic- 5e has proficiency, but you don’t really change your class in 5e. Here you do things a bit different. It’s still a d20+number, but how you get to that number is a bit more complicated. Your modifier is ½ ability modifier +½ forte modifier + fine-forte modifier. This way almost all things have the feeling of 3.5 DnD and Shadowrun skills as you choose where you spend skill points to make some better or worse depending on how you want to build your character. Saves, attacks, and skills all have this basic mechanic built in.
Powers and special abilities- Characters gain resources on level up that come back and are used like hitpoints, but this system also introduces focus points and energy points. DCs are determined just like basic 5e, with one exception being how we determine bonuses (described up above) When you do something cool or use psychic powers, you spend the points as needed. Again, it’s classless so multiple paths will get you the same powers and abilities.
There is always more, but that’s the basics to get you mechanically in. Ok, now to my thoughts.
Mechanics or Crunch– This is an interesting system that might be a bit over complicated. The idea of classless 5e is a fun one. I do miss the days of crazy class combinations (until I play some 3.5 with a friend who has at least five different classes in a 7th level character). But this builds nicely together. It’s a tad clunky as its DEEP point management at level gain, but that’s what the designer wanted. That’s not bad, but it’s an intentional thing. A cheese stick of basic 5e vs the fondue of this system. Both are highly rated and good, but it’s what you want when. Some streamlining may help with this system though. 4.5/5
Theme or Fluff– For the fuff, the big question is do you like Mass Effect? That’s the big question here. If you like the idea of flying a ship around and meeting creatures of multiple races with multiple different goals, then this is the game for you. I do, so this has some crazy fun places to go. 5/5
Execution– This book has some solid things, but some near unforgivable issues. Let’s start with the unforgivable that can easily be fixed: no pregens, character build walkthrough, nor premade adventure. As I get older, I want to pick up a book and play with six buds ASAP. Sure, I need to read how to do the dice things with this dice game, but give me an adventure and pregens and a four hour simple adventure I can print off and play after I glance over your rules. It has some pre-made things, but give me those please. For a new system, that is a requirement! Next, this is a pretty deep pool to dive into without a step by step walkthrough of one character build. That would make the issues I had in mechanics evaporate. There are examples of how to do some things, which are great. And, while missing those things is unfortunate, what’s here is good. There’s art to break up text. The text could be a different font or background to make it more readable, but it works decently enough and my tablet can zoom in. There’s hyperlinks in the text, so I can hop around quickly to get to where I want to be. Some of you may not like its Midjourney art, but this is an extremely small publisher with an over 400 page book and one author. That’s a feat! Just give me some quick start assets built in and I’d be much happier. 3.5/5
Summary– If you want 5e classless Mass Effect, then this is what you want. That’s the basic summary. I like the basic mechanic, even if I think its a tad overcomplicated. The theme is the sci-fi I love. The stumble is the lack of quick start and pregens to the book. I don’t even need a crazy space adventure with ships, just a dungeon crawl fighting something in a cave would be nice. Even a link to a free adventure would fix that need, but there isn’t one quite yet. One is coming, but not yet. However, I like what’s here enough to stay interested for when it does. 87%
Basics– It’s Pathfinder 2nd ed-AGAIN! Player Core is the ORC approved, non OGL version of Pathfinder. Spoilers for this one- If you liked Pathfinder 2nd Ed, you’re gonna like this. If you HATED Pathfinder 2nd ed, you’re still not gonna like this! Let’s look at the parts.
Mechanics or Crunch– This is the exact mechanics you saw in the original Pathfinder 2nd Ed book. The system’s basic mechanic is level based bonuses with ability bonuses to a d20. If you would like a deeper breakdown check out our original review here https://throatpunchgames.com/2019/08/18/ring-side-report-pathfinder-rulebook-2nd-ed/. It’s a solid game. 5/5
Theme or Fluff– Like Golarion? If you liked 1st Ed and you like the previous 2nd Ed world, then you will like this. Nothing really changed in this book aside from switching out what classes made the cut: witch is in but paladin/champion is out. Things do not drastically change with this new book, but I liked the old book too. 5/5
Execution– Paizo does good books. Layout, text, pictures, and words all flow well. What this book does differently than the last one is some edits to explain some concepts better. I think this is the distinction between the two versions. Also, since we moved from the OGL to the ORC some game terms changed, and honestly despite it being mostly superficial, these are good changes I like. I can sum this up in one example spell LEVEL vs spell RANK. Those two things mean the EXACT same thing. BUT, too many new players get confused when you say level with spells, and anyone with any experience with games can tell you about a 3rd level wizard, shocked they only get 2nd level spells. Now, that’s gone. That right there is worth this five out of five. 5/5
Summary– Welp this review can be summed up as “if you liked Pathfinder core rulebook you will like Player Core, and if you hate Pathfinder 2nd Ed, you won’t come back for this one!”. And that’s about it. The elephant in the room is “was this needed?”. And honestly, not really and yes. Not really because this book’s biggest changes are cosmetic. The cosmetic updates are welcome, but are really just surface changes as the base mechanics haven’t changed. I like them, so that’s not an issue. And completely needed because WotC hinted at major changes and this book makes Paizo stand on its own with its own rules and systems. So, your mileage will vary as you can get quite far with an old player book and have a blast, but if you have holiday money and want to get into Pathfinder 2.1 (since this isnt as big a change as DnD 3 to 3.5, not even close), then this is a great book to buy and play. 100%
Throat Punch Games 