The editorial is about the chain store Boots now stocking RPGs and Citadel miniatures. I imagine that this is something similar to when Waldenbooks and B. Daltons began to carry games, though I suppose this is actually closer to something like Target or Wal-Mart carrying games.
Open Box is up and I am beginning to doubt the "independence" of some these reviews. First up is a scenario for Golden Heroes, Queen Victoria and the Holy Grail. The review is a mixed bag. Pete Tamlyn likes it, but admits it is tough and weird and maybe just a little bloody He mentions gripes and dislikes the ending and still gives it 8/10. The Judge Dred game is up next. It gets a 10/10. I can't argue with the reasons Jason Kingsley gives, but for me it was an 8/10 at best. Both games are from Games Workshop. We have a couple of "Advanced Advanced" game books from TSR next and reviewed by Paul Cockburn. First the Masters Rules for what we now call BECMI. Indeed it is the "M". It gets an 8/10, but almost begrudgingly so. Lastly is Unearthed Arcana. Bottom line is that Cockburn hates it and gives it a 3/10.
2020 Vision is the new Movie review section. Covered are Back to the Future, The Goonies and the Bride. I will admit I never cared for The Goonies. I know it is supposed to be some culture touchstone for my generation, I never liked it. Neither did this article. Though I will admit I enjoyed The Bride. I might need to rewatch it this Halloween.
Power & Politics is an interview with Derek Carver about the Warrior Knights game. IT sounds like a good game to mine if you want to add some 1400s-style realism to your FRPG.
American Dream is a Golden Heroes scenario. It looks fun. Reading it I am reminded of some of the scenarios I wanted to run for Silver Age Sentinels. Though the coolest thing is the use of Chris Achilleos' "Miss America".
Starbase has a great article on navigating 3D Space on your space maps. Overtly for Traveller, but it would work for anything really.
Star Spray is an adventure for MERP and AD&D. I just finished the Silmarillion recently and I have been wanting to find something just like this since my knowledge of MERP is limited. But this adventure feel s a little flat to me. Graham Staplehurst did his homework and knows his Tolkien. But anytime you involve PCs with great heroes and figures out of the past they can't help but be dwarfed. I don't know, maybe Tolkien's epic is still too fresh in my head and it is coloring my interpretation of this adventure.
RuneRites covers non-lethal combat in RuneQuest.
Cults of the Dark Gods continues with more background for Call of Cthulhu.
Treasure Chest has some ideas on Magic Items. Namely that every item found is potentially magical IF you know how to awaken the magic inside.
Fiend Factory is back with some more AD&D Monsters. This one is back to old form with mosters found in Rain Forests. Not a bad entry really.
Tabletop Heroes covers part 2 of doing dioramas.
We end with lots of ads. I noticed the Message Board/Rumor Board now seems to be gone.
This issue is larger than the previous ones, but again most of that has been given over to ads. Not a bad thing mind you, just no extra content.
The content we did get was good. I feel this was a better issue than many we have seen recently.
The closest US equivalent to Boots would be something like Walgreens, so the news that they were carrying games and miniatures is quite unusual. That said, I do remember them stocking Sega games when I was a teenager.
ReplyDeleteStar Spray is the kind of adventure where the PCs tend to sit back and watch more powerful NPCs do the work, although there are a nice few locales that could be nicked for other adventures.
ReplyDeleteAlthough they don't herald it, I think that's the last Fiend Factory.
I believe you are right. I knew it was coming up, but not sure exactly when.
ReplyDeleteThese last few issues will go very quickly I think.