The Inside Scoop on Gaming

The Book of the Shadowlands is the first in a line of "deluxe" hardback GM only books (The next one in the line is The Way of the Shadow I think).

This one is written by a well known crab by the name of Kuni Mukona as a document with his research on the mystic Shadowlands and it's dangers, and of course with the game info put on the sidebars. It starts with an introduction by Kuni Yori (Mukona's grandson), explaining whats this is all about, then moves on to the first chapter which goes under the name "The Shadowlands".

This chapter deals with the know history of the Shadowlands, the different regions and also effects on magic in there (it's harder to cast spells here and things can go REALLY wrong). It also gives a little info on Maho (black magic users... well even blood magic user if you will) and the "Tsukai-Sagasu", which is the Crab clans own Maho-hunters.

Chapter two speaks of the Corruption and the Taint (yes, finally!). It gives a great deal of descriptions of the different form the Taint can take, both physical and mental. the Taint ranges from Mild, Moderate to Severve. For example with a mild grade you cold have some pain in your joints and some disorientation problems, but with a severve grade Taint your skin could peel of like paper by the slightest touch and you could hear the voice of Fu Leng (or the Dark One as they prefer to call him) screaming in your head !

It also deals with Zomies and Skeletons (which is where you'll probably end up after awhile in the Shadowlands...). But luckily enough it also explains how to protect youself with the help from Jade, puh!

After that nice little chapter, we move on to the Bakemonos ! Or Goblins if you prefer. This chapter we can follow Mukona to the goblin city Big Stink. Here he explains the goblin physiology, their breeding cycle and some info on their, ahem, tactics.

Then it's time for the big guys, yes the Ogres and the Trolls. These gets the same treatment as the goblins (well... they don't have a city as far as I know), in a very good way.

Well after the info on the Ogres and the Trolls it's time for, eh, yes the bigger guys. Yes you probably guessed right, the Oni! An Oni is what those big eyed gaijins would call a demon. This chapter goes through three unique Oni, Oni related spells (summon and other fun stuff), twelve "common" Oni and even the know four Oni Lords. And of course they all have those vaules that make you think -"Damn how should I use these guys ?!". Don't worry there are both tips on how to fight the Oni's and an "How to use Oni in your L5R RPG campagin". And well... they were also kind and throwed in a "Generate Your Own Oni" system. :)

Of course the book also gives you information on loads of other stuff/dangers in the Shadowlands. Among those are the Mujina (small, eh happy, strange, irretating demons), Mountain Goblins and Nezumi (yes they have their own chapter, which they deserve).

The book finishes of with a size comparisan pciture between Mujina, Goblin, Man, Troll and Ogre.

Overall: Well I really liked this book. It was very well written and the artwork is VERY good, the art in the Shadowlands chapter is really stunning !. Which as always makes it easier for the GM to explain the surroundings. The book should answer most questions left out in the rule book. Oh and I should also mention that the book is all in black and white, but it doesn't matter since the Shadowlands is kind of dull =).

But there is two things I have to complain about, first the text. It gets very hard to read the text on printed on those "old" documents in that "looks-like-its-written-by-hand" font. The idea was good, but no, don't do that misstake again. The other is.. maps. I wanted a more detailed map of the Shadowlands, you do get two maps. One of a "generic Oni lair" and the other a Nezumi village (nope no map of Big Stink).

But now you are probably thinking "Don't it repeat alot of info in other books ?". Hmm well maybe it does (not much though I think... Couse this is THE shadowlands sourcebook). But it's always nice to have all that info in the same book.

So I can recommend avery L5R GM to go get this book, if you plan to send your characters into the realm of Fu Leng. I personally had some problems finding it. But that may be becouse I live in Sweden, rpg stuff can sometimes be hard to find here (execpt White Wolf stuff. I think there a real WW hype going around here, expecially at the local store anyways.).

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

The Book of the Shadowlands
Author: Cris Dornaus and Rob Vaux Category: game Company/Publisher: Alderac Entertainment Group Page count: 160 ISBN: AL3006 Capsule Review by Joakim Karlsson on 03/12/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Asian/Far_East	The Book of the Shadowlands is the first in a line of "deluxe" hardback GM only books (The next one in the line is The Way of the Shadow I think). This one is written by a well known crab by the name of Kuni Mukona as a document with his research on the mystic Shadowlands and it's dangers, and of course with the game info put on the sidebars. It starts with an introduction by Kuni Yori (Mukona's grandson), explaining whats this is all about, then moves on to the first chapter which goes under the name "The Shadowlands". This chapter deals with the know history of the Shadowlands, the different regions and also effects on magic in there (it's harder to cast spells here and things can go REALLY wrong). It also gives a little info on Maho (black magic users... well even blood magic user if you will) and the "Tsukai-Sagasu", which is the Crab clans own Maho-hunters. Chapter two speaks of the Corruption and the Taint (yes, finally!). It gives a great deal of descriptions of the different form the Taint can take, both physical and mental. the Taint ranges from Mild, Moderate to Severve. For example with a mild grade you cold have some pain in your joints and some disorientation problems, but with a severve grade Taint your skin could peel of like paper by the slightest touch and you could hear the voice of Fu Leng (or the Dark One as they prefer to call him) screaming in your head ! It also deals with Zomies and Skeletons (which is where you'll probably end up after awhile in the Shadowlands...). But luckily enough it also explains how to protect youself with the help from Jade, puh! After that nice little chapter, we move on to the Bakemonos ! Or Goblins if you prefer. This chapter we can follow Mukona to the goblin city Big Stink. Here he explains the goblin physiology, their breeding cycle and some info on their, ahem, tactics. Then it's time for the big guys, yes the Ogres and the Trolls. These gets the same treatment as the goblins (well... they don't have a city as far as I know), in a very good way. Well after the info on the Ogres and the Trolls it's time for, eh, yes the bigger guys. Yes you probably guessed right, the Oni! An Oni is what those big eyed gaijins would call a demon. This chapter goes through three unique Oni, Oni related spells (summon and other fun stuff), twelve "common" Oni and even the know four Oni Lords. And of course they all have those vaules that make you think -"Damn how should I use these guys ?!". Don't worry there are both tips on how to fight the Oni's and an "How to use Oni in your L5R RPG campagin". And well... they were also kind and throwed in a "Generate Your Own Oni" system. :) Of course the book also gives you information on loads of other stuff/dangers in the Shadowlands. Among those are the Mujina (small, eh happy, strange, irretating demons), Mountain Goblins and Nezumi (yes they have their own chapter, which they deserve). The book finishes of with a size comparisan pciture between Mujina, Goblin, Man, Troll and Ogre. Overall: Well I really liked this book. It was very well written and the artwork is VERY good, the art in the Shadowlands chapter is really stunning !. Which as always makes it easier for the GM to explain the surroundings. The book should answer most questions left out in the rule book. Oh and I should also mention that the book is all in black and white, but it doesn't matter since the Shadowlands is kind of dull =). But there is two things I have to complain about, first the text. It gets very hard to read the text on printed on those "old" documents in that "looks-like-its-written-by-hand" font. The idea was good, but no, don't do that misstake again. The other is.. maps. I wanted a more detailed map of the Shadowlands, you do get two maps. One of a "generic Oni lair" and the other a Nezumi village (nope no map of Big Stink). But now you are probably thinking "Don't it repeat alot of info in other books ?". Hmm well maybe it does (not much though I think... Couse this is THE shadowlands sourcebook). But it's always nice to have all that info in the same book. So I can recommend avery L5R GM to go get this book, if you plan to send your characters into the realm of Fu Leng. I personally had some problems finding it. But that may be becouse I live in Sweden, rpg stuff can sometimes be hard to find here (execpt White Wolf stuff. I think there a real WW hype going around here, expecially at the local store anyways.). Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)