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If, as some continue to insist, Alternity is "AD&D in Space," then the Aliens Compendium: Creatures of the Verge (AC) is its Monster Manual (or should I say, Monstrous Compendium?). This attractive, full-color, softcover book includes details on more than 60 different creatures and sentient species for the Star*Drive setting.

As with most of the Alternity supplements we've seen so far, the AC is nicely laid out and contains numerous illustrations. I found it to be very easy to read and pleasing to the eyes. In fact, the design of the various alien entries was very convenient and I found myself flipping through the book with great ease. This is assisted by the fact that the AC has a (drum roll, please) workable index. I appreciated this, as so few game supplements include such things.

As you might expect, the creatures and sentients are a rather motley crew, without much in the way of a guiding principles. Actually, that's untrue. If anything, I'd say that the AC hits home that Star*Drive is a rather pulpy, golden age of SF kind of setting. There's no mistaking things with names like the "Dimensional Horror" for scientifically plausible extraterrestrial species. That's fine in my book. I think pulp is underrated as a genre. After all, too much hard SF makes Jack think Jerry Pournelle has cool political ideas..

Even so, some of the creatures included in the AC push even my suspension of disbelief. Many of the others are just kind of dull variations on Earth creatures. Of course, many GMs will find the statistics for these creatures a nice supplement to those included in the Gamemaster Guide. While not everyone will want to use bioelectric mists in their campaigns, there are enough reasonable creatures included herein to make it worth a look.

Another reason that the AC may be of some value is that it includes more details of the Star*Drive campaign setting. For instance, more information on the alien species of that setting, like the fraal, T'sa, Mechalus, etc. are included. There is also information on some of the mysterious external species with whom the Concord has little contact. Likewise, tidbits about the various precursor species of the Verge are also mentioned. While they're far from revelatory, they do point to some mysteries that a GM could easily throw into an ongoing campaign. I don't even use the Star*Drive setting and I found a few of them to be food for thought. All in all, the AC adds some further depth to the Star*Drive setting and may prove valuable to GMs whose campaigns are set there.

Others will have to look over the book carefully before buying it. I do think it has some value, if only as a spur to one's own imagination. Yet, for its price, there may be better ones.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 3 (Average)

Alien Compendium: Creatures of the Verge
Author: Richard Baker and Bill Slavicsek Category: game Company/Publisher: TSR, Inc. Cost: $21.95 Page count: 128 ISBN: 0-7869-0778-9 Capsule Review by James Maliszewski on 10/31/98. Genre tags: Science_fiction Far_Future Space	If, as some continue to insist, Alternity is "AD&D in Space," then the Aliens Compendium: Creatures of the Verge (AC) is its Monster Manual (or should I say, Monstrous Compendium?). This attractive, full-color, softcover book includes details on more than 60 different creatures and sentient species for the StarDrive* setting. As with most of the Alternity supplements we've seen so far, the AC is nicely laid out and contains numerous illustrations. I found it to be very easy to read and pleasing to the eyes. In fact, the design of the various alien entries was very convenient and I found myself flipping through the book with great ease. This is assisted by the fact that the AC has a (drum roll, please) workable index. I appreciated this, as so few game supplements include such things. As you might expect, the creatures and sentients are a rather motley crew, without much in the way of a guiding principles. Actually, that's untrue. If anything, I'd say that the AC hits home that StarDrive* is a rather pulpy, golden age of SF kind of setting. There's no mistaking things with names like the "Dimensional Horror" for scientifically plausible extraterrestrial species. That's fine in my book. I think pulp is underrated as a genre. After all, too much hard SF makes Jack think Jerry Pournelle has cool political ideas.. Even so, some of the creatures included in the AC push even my suspension of disbelief. Many of the others are just kind of dull variations on Earth creatures. Of course, many GMs will find the statistics for these creatures a nice supplement to those included in the Gamemaster Guide. While not everyone will want to use bioelectric mists in their campaigns, there are enough reasonable creatures included herein to make it worth a look. Another reason that the AC may be of some value is that it includes more details of the StarDrive* campaign setting. For instance, more information on the alien species of that setting, like the fraal, T'sa, Mechalus, etc. are included. There is also information on some of the mysterious external species with whom the Concord has little contact. Likewise, tidbits about the various precursor species of the Verge are also mentioned. While they're far from revelatory, they do point to some mysteries that a GM could easily throw into an ongoing campaign. I don't even use the StarDrive* setting and I found a few of them to be food for thought. All in all, the AC adds some further depth to the StarDrive* setting and may prove valuable to GMs whose campaigns are set there. Others will have to look over the book carefully before buying it. I do think it has some value, if only as a spur to one's own imagination. Yet, for its price, there may be better ones. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 3 (Average)

Alien Compendium: Creatures of the Verge