The Inside Scoop on Gaming

This is a very difficult product to review. The subject matter is conspiracies, so that whatever I say may spoil the surprise for players. Additionally, it has very little actual game data in it, so playtesting is really a non-option.

This perfect bound Star*Drive "accessory" really was entertaining to read but its worth from a game players point of view is suspect, especially at the cover price. Appropriate art is dispersed randomly, not necessarily with associated text, and is of typical Alternity standards. The book is written as if they were net reports by a secretive correspondent calling himself Avatar. The story line breaks on occasion to show mainstream rebuttals to Avatar's conspiracy theories, which are always ominous and never substantiated. The multiple and connected conspiracies that Avatar weaves are not quite as scary to read as they would be, if true, to a group of PCs. The only game data comes about once every "conspiracy" and provides only an outline of how the PCs could become embroiled in the mystery.

Avatar takes the reader through the Verge part of the Star*Drive campaign, making stops to investigate odd tips or receive cryptic bits of information from questionable informants. The information is masked in sufficient vagueness and unbelievability to allow for the associated conspiracies to be complete fictions, total truth or something in between. Among the 19 adventure hooks dispersed among Avatars reports, are encounters within the storyline of a large alien plot as well as few unassociated sidetracks that include: pirates, new aliens, mysterious hulks, corporate intrigue and interstellar politics. The adventure hooks outline an encounter, setup a start, provide minimal game related data and all end with the statement "What do you do now?".

I can't give any details without damaging the surprises in the product. Unfortunately, I don't think I grasp the scope of what Avatar's stories are alluding to. There are a lot of references to Star*Drive campaign knowledge from other products. On top of that, to me anyway, there is little reason for the major conspiracy and the minor ones are just too regional to make me worry. I'm not convinced the threat is all that hidden nor why anyone would want it to be.

What does this all mean? If you are a big Star*Drive player, you will probably enjoy this supplement and be able to use the limited resources contained within. Other Alternity players will find the adventure hooks lacking enough substance to be worth the price. Scifi gaming fans in general will find no substantial gaming material of use here and could find the writing mildly enjoyable, Avatar's stories are well written but not original nor innovative.

******Spoiler Warning (I think)************don't read on if you care.

Now, unless I missed something, there are several somewhat connected things going on in the background of life in the Verge. Unfortunately, this product remains vague as to the reality of any of the conspiracies, references Verge history apparently detailed in other products and fails to just come out and say it! At the center appears to be an alien threat from without known space. Not that the enemy is unknown, in fact a minor skirmishing conflict is in progress, but recent demonstrations of their technology demonstrated an ability to infiltrate human space undetected. In addition, a communal alien parasite infestation of key leaders may or may not be connected to this enemy. Further, a known alien threat, the Kroath, is hinted to possibly being human after all, altered in some way by unknown alien or corporate forces. Corporate espionage and covert warfare overlap corrupt politics as these entities struggle for control and resources in the Verge. Lastly, in a lonely corner of the Verge, scientists are studying ancient spacecraft and accidentally could unleash interdimensional predators stored within for unknown reasons.

Style: 3 (Average)
Substance: 2 (Sparse)

Threats from Beyond
Author: Bill Slavicsek Category: game Company/Publisher: TSR Line: *Alternity, StarDrive Cost: $18.95 Page count: 95pgs Capsule Review by Papyrus** on 10/03/99. Genre tags: Science_fiction Far_Future Space Conspiracy	This is a very difficult product to review. The subject matter is conspiracies, so that whatever I say may spoil the surprise for players. Additionally, it has very little actual game data in it, so playtesting is really a non-option. This perfect bound StarDrive "accessory" really was entertaining to read but its worth from a game players point of view is suspect, especially at the cover price. Appropriate art is dispersed randomly, not necessarily with associated text, and is of typical Alternity standards. The book is written as if they were net reports by a secretive correspondent calling himself Avatar. The story line breaks on occasion to show mainstream rebuttals to Avatar's conspiracy theories, which are always ominous and never substantiated. The multiple and connected conspiracies that Avatar weaves are not quite as scary to read as they would be, if true, to a group of PCs. The only game data comes about once every "conspiracy" and provides only an outline of how the PCs could become embroiled in the mystery. Avatar takes the reader through the Verge part of the StarDrive campaign, making stops to investigate odd tips or receive cryptic bits of information from questionable informants. The information is masked in sufficient vagueness and unbelievability to allow for the associated conspiracies to be complete fictions, total truth or something in between. Among the 19 adventure hooks dispersed among Avatars reports, are encounters within the storyline of a large alien plot as well as few unassociated sidetracks that include: pirates, new aliens, mysterious hulks, corporate intrigue and interstellar politics. The adventure hooks outline an encounter, setup a start, provide minimal game related data and all end with the statement "What do you do now?". I can't give any details without damaging the surprises in the product. Unfortunately, I don't think I grasp the scope of what Avatar's stories are alluding to. There are a lot of references to StarDrive campaign knowledge from other products. On top of that, to me anyway, there is little reason for the major conspiracy and the minor ones are just too regional to make me worry. I'm not convinced the threat is all that hidden nor why anyone would want it to be. What does this all mean? If you are a big StarDrive player, you will probably enjoy this supplement and be able to use the limited resources contained within. Other Alternity players will find the adventure hooks lacking enough substance to be worth the price. Scifi gaming fans in general will find no substantial gaming material of use here and could find the writing mildly enjoyable, Avatar's stories are well written but not original nor innovative. ****Spoiler Warning (I think)**********don't read on if you care. Now, unless I missed something, there are several somewhat connected things going on in the background of life in the Verge. Unfortunately, this product remains vague as to the reality of any of the conspiracies, references Verge history apparently detailed in other products and fails to just come out and say it! At the center appears to be an alien threat from without known space. Not that the enemy is unknown, in fact a minor skirmishing conflict is in progress, but recent demonstrations of their technology demonstrated an ability to infiltrate human space undetected. In addition, a communal alien parasite infestation of key leaders may or may not be connected to this enemy. Further, a known alien threat, the Kroath, is hinted to possibly being human after all, altered in some way by unknown alien or corporate forces. Corporate espionage and covert warfare overlap corrupt politics as these entities struggle for control and resources in the Verge. Lastly, in a lonely corner of the Verge, scientists are studying ancient spacecraft and accidentally could unleash interdimensional predators stored within for unknown reasons. Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 2 (Sparse)

Threats from Beyond