The Inside Scoop on Gaming

This is the forth Underground supplement I have had the pleasure to read. That being said, I have yet to see the rules nor understand how such a violent chaotic dystopia of a campaign setting can sustain play for any length of time. Still Luna, like the other supplements I have read, shows quality writing and unlimited plot potential. Luna maintains that dystopia perception with as much "good idea gone bad" as the rest of the Underground universe. At $18 for 124 pages, it is no bargain basement find, but MGI continues to put the highest effort into the quality of these Underground products so that you can feel that they are worth the price. Easier, than ever, to follow text with some very graphic art, complement the layout to perform an excellent job of conveying the detail and the feel of Luna in an Underground campaign. Sidebars provide footnotes for facts that may seem glossed over in the main text.

"Steel Deep" refers to the "honor among thieves" code of conduct at the heart of this Luna colony's transition, from maximum security prison and research facility, to vacation resort and tourist Mecca. According to the campaign timeline, in 1999 (sounds kinda funny now, even though this was published in 1996) the government opened New Solidad as a maximum security prison on the moon. Shortly, it became too costly to run. Corporate interests turned the prison into a research facility, the very facility where extraterrestrial DNA was used to create the first boosteds. As corporate interest and profits dwindled, so did security and maintenance. As a result, the inmates were able to revolt and take control of the prison research colony.

Luna colony is now a tourist center where every indulgence can be satisfied. The cons control their urges and violent tendencies in order to get the tourists dollars. The whole place is ruled by houses, or gangs, of cons. Each house is responsible for some functions within the facility (maintenance, security, etc.) and although they work together, they compete for power and are all out to take over.... eventually. Each gangs colors, hand signs, typical "bangers", habits, rules and responsibilities are provided. Boosteds receive preferential treatment while touring on Luna, in an effort to recruit their services in a gang.

Areas of specific interest on Luna are many. There's an area for settling disputes, where anything goes and the last living participant wins. There is the old lab area, sealed off since the take over, and the monstrous secrets it hides within. There are tunnels, hideouts, casinos, etc. Maps are scarce but the minimum provided is enough to get the less creative GM by.

Rules are included for the new environment, for example, residents wear weighted clothing. Rules for zero and low gravity are detailed, as are the effects of a vacuum or decompression (leak or massive). As always, there are notebook pages in the back, these provide some important NPCs, locals and equipment. All in all, top notch work, as good as all the Underground materials I've seen. Although it is not a necessity, any Underground players would find great use from this product. To a lesser extent than I would like it is useful for other games as well, more useful than most Underground material. The Lunar prison gone tourist center could fit well into almost any future based RPG and easily in such oldies and goodies as TS/SI FREE Lancers, Gamma World, XXVc or PsiWorld.

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

Steel Deep: The Luna Sourcebook
Author: Sam Witt Category: game Company/Publisher: MGI Line: Underground Capsule Review by Papyrus on 05/12/99. Genre tags: Science_fiction	This is the forth Underground supplement I have had the pleasure to read. That being said, I have yet to see the rules nor understand how such a violent chaotic dystopia of a campaign setting can sustain play for any length of time. Still Luna, like the other supplements I have read, shows quality writing and unlimited plot potential. Luna maintains that dystopia perception with as much "good idea gone bad" as the rest of the Underground universe. At $18 for 124 pages, it is no bargain basement find, but MGI continues to put the highest effort into the quality of these Underground products so that you can feel that they are worth the price. Easier, than ever, to follow text with some very graphic art, complement the layout to perform an excellent job of conveying the detail and the feel of Luna in an Underground campaign. Sidebars provide footnotes for facts that may seem glossed over in the main text. "Steel Deep" refers to the "honor among thieves" code of conduct at the heart of this Luna colony's transition, from maximum security prison and research facility, to vacation resort and tourist Mecca. According to the campaign timeline, in 1999 (sounds kinda funny now, even though this was published in 1996) the government opened New Solidad as a maximum security prison on the moon. Shortly, it became too costly to run. Corporate interests turned the prison into a research facility, the very facility where extraterrestrial DNA was used to create the first boosteds. As corporate interest and profits dwindled, so did security and maintenance. As a result, the inmates were able to revolt and take control of the prison research colony. Luna colony is now a tourist center where every indulgence can be satisfied. The cons control their urges and violent tendencies in order to get the tourists dollars. The whole place is ruled by houses, or gangs, of cons. Each house is responsible for some functions within the facility (maintenance, security, etc.) and although they work together, they compete for power and are all out to take over.... eventually. Each gangs colors, hand signs, typical "bangers", habits, rules and responsibilities are provided. Boosteds receive preferential treatment while touring on Luna, in an effort to recruit their services in a gang. Areas of specific interest on Luna are many. There's an area for settling disputes, where anything goes and the last living participant wins. There is the old lab area, sealed off since the take over, and the monstrous secrets it hides within. There are tunnels, hideouts, casinos, etc. Maps are scarce but the minimum provided is enough to get the less creative GM by. Rules are included for the new environment, for example, residents wear weighted clothing. Rules for zero and low gravity are detailed, as are the effects of a vacuum or decompression (leak or massive). As always, there are notebook pages in the back, these provide some important NPCs, locals and equipment. All in all, top notch work, as good as all the Underground materials I've seen. Although it is not a necessity, any Underground players would find great use from this product. To a lesser extent than I would like it is useful for other games as well, more useful than most Underground material. The Lunar prison gone tourist center could fit well into almost any future based RPG and easily in such oldies and goodies as TS/SI FREE Lancers, Gamma World, XXVc or PsiWorld. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 3 (Average)

Steel Deep: The Luna Sourcebook