The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Since Alternity core books came around, I've been worried about how the accessories and future source books printed for it would be. The thoughts of AD&D level and style sourcebooks were terrifying, but the first few accessories that came around did nothing but prove my fears. The same very boring and unimaginative narrative style. Lighthouse, being a very info-packed book as it was, had bored the life out of me.

And now, at last we have an interesting and extremely useful Star*Drive accessory printed, Threats From Beyond. For those of you that do not know, Threats From Beyond focuses on all sorts of local troubles ranging from the mystery-veiled External alien threat to local pirate operations and galactic nation conspiracies. Most important of all, it focuses on how all these are related to one another.

What astonished me the most, is that the narrator of this book is a 'person'. The author has gone through the pain of giving his narrator a personality, which makes this a first and unique book in the Alternity line. It is not a boring book! As you travel through the Verge with the journalist 'Avatar', and as you learn more and more of the conspiracies going on behind closed doors in the Old Space's backyard, you start to get genuinely worried for him (or her, since the identity of Avatar is not revealed in the book, and no I will not spoil the fun for you).

What makes it even more interesting is that the information given in the book is also very mysterious, at some places very shrouded and inaccurate, or contradicting. Considering all this is what a journalist has been gathering from numerous information sources, it leaves the job of deciding what is the truth, and what is not up to the Game Master, letting her alter her campaign as she wishes. Flexibility is the name, and that is not an option most TSR accessories offer.

The information presented inside is plentiful, with one chapter for each major system in the Verge, including the Lighthouse. There are many adventure hooks presented for the inexperienced Game Master. Although not overly creative and climactic, these adventures can be used as side treks in an ongoing campaign, if nothing more. Personally, I would have liked to see more information instead of these not very successful adventure hooks.

Is there anything else bad about this book? Well, yes, the price is a little high, I would say. For a 96 page book, $18.95 is a little unreasonable. Other than that, though, this book is very well done. Even the art is not as horrid as it used to be on Alternity products. Any Star*Drive GM should at least get their hands on one and read it over. Star*Drive lacked the feeling of Space Opera it was meant to have, but as the External threat becomes more and more the focus of accessories, and as more and more information is revealed, it is getting there.

Threats From Beyond is a very good choice if you want to turn your campaign into a full size anti-invasion heroics, or a political anti-conspiracy struggle. If not, it's still a terrific read.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Threats From Beyond
Author: Bill Slavicsek Category: game Company/Publisher: TSR Inc. Line: *Alternity / StarDrive Cost: $18.95 US Page count: 96 ISBN: 0-7869-1218-9 Capsule Review by Yalaz Ozkanli** on 05/17/99. Genre tags: Science_fiction Far_Future Space Conspiracy	Since Alternity core books came around, I've been worried about how the accessories and future source books printed for it would be. The thoughts of AD&D level and style sourcebooks were terrifying, but the first few accessories that came around did nothing but prove my fears. The same very boring and unimaginative narrative style. Lighthouse, being a very info-packed book as it was, had bored the life out of me. And now, at last we have an interesting and extremely useful StarDrive accessory printed, Threats From Beyond. For those of you that do not know, Threats From Beyond* focuses on all sorts of local troubles ranging from the mystery-veiled External alien threat to local pirate operations and galactic nation conspiracies. Most important of all, it focuses on how all these are related to one another. What astonished me the most, is that the narrator of this book is a 'person'. The author has gone through the pain of giving his narrator a personality, which makes this a first and unique book in the Alternity line. It is not a boring book! As you travel through the Verge with the journalist 'Avatar', and as you learn more and more of the conspiracies going on behind closed doors in the Old Space's backyard, you start to get genuinely worried for him (or her, since the identity of Avatar is not revealed in the book, and no I will not spoil the fun for you). What makes it even more interesting is that the information given in the book is also very mysterious, at some places very shrouded and inaccurate, or contradicting. Considering all this is what a journalist has been gathering from numerous information sources, it leaves the job of deciding what is the truth, and what is not up to the Game Master, letting her alter her campaign as she wishes. Flexibility is the name, and that is not an option most TSR accessories offer. The information presented inside is plentiful, with one chapter for each major system in the Verge, including the Lighthouse. There are many adventure hooks presented for the inexperienced Game Master. Although not overly creative and climactic, these adventures can be used as side treks in an ongoing campaign, if nothing more. Personally, I would have liked to see more information instead of these not very successful adventure hooks. Is there anything else bad about this book? Well, yes, the price is a little high, I would say. For a 96 page book, $18.95 is a little unreasonable. Other than that, though, this book is very well done. Even the art is not as horrid as it used to be on Alternity products. Any StarDrive GM should at least get their hands on one and read it over. StarDrive lacked the feeling of Space Opera it was meant to have, but as the External threat becomes more and more the focus of accessories, and as more and more information is revealed, it is getting there. Threats From Beyond is a very good choice if you want to turn your campaign into a full size anti-invasion heroics, or a political anti-conspiracy struggle. If not, it's still a terrific read. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty)