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Brave New World is a great RPG for those looking for a low power super hero game. The world is well developed, the mechanics are simple to learn,character creation is easy but choices of powers are limited.

The first forty-seven pages of the book are done in full color, with comic book style artwork. These pages are designed to look like a website by the hero, Truth, who runs the website to keep the Defiants informed about what is going on in the world around them. To keep the review short, I'm not going into full details of the world at large. After all, they covered a lot of material, I will say it is a somewhat familiar setting for low- powered heroes though. The US Government doesn't trust you, you either join them or be hunted down and incarcerated. While this may sound to familiar to be of any interest it really has some unusual plot twists and story devices that make the game worthwhile.

Game mechanics are simple. The game revolves around a d6 system where you shoot for a target number given to you by the GM. Simply put you have an attribute with X number and skills with Y number. When rolling the dice you will roll X number of dice and add Y to the highest dice (don't add them up). If you hit your target number, you succeed at what you are trying to do, if you succeed by 5 or multiples of 5 you have the option do even better. Of course there are modifiers, and some skills will do different things and there are advantages which can help you, but this is the basic gist of the rules.

Character creation is quick and painless. Six easy steps that can be found in the book. Traits, Skills, Quirks, Powers, Tricks, and Gear. That is it. You get a certain number of points for Traits, buying traits will then give you skill points to assign for various skills under that trait. Then you can use some of those skill points for Quirks that special something that sets your character apart from others. Pick a Power Package, choose a couple of tricks either general or power oriented, and then buy your gear. That is character creation in a nutshell.

My one complaint is the power packages. Believe it or not, it isn't the fact they exist. In a low power game, I like the fact that you can say these are the powers you have, no mix and matching. If I wanted to do that I'd play Champions, I can build whatever I want there. Brave New World keeps players in line. If I want to fly, that is fine, that is my power package, I won't be shooting energy beams, my choice. As I said in the beginning, it is a low power game and it works well as that. My complaint is the small selection of Power Packages. In Brave New World there are ten packages. There are another ten packages in Ravaged Planet, and there are to be five more in Defiants. What I'd like to see is just a book of Power Packages. I'm not buying these new books for them alone, so instead of spreading them out, or as well as spreading them out, releasing a book of packages would be nice. This way the powers could be outlined and save space in the books for other things.

So that is the general outline of the game. Of course there is more. The book is 223 pages, it goes into detail about all sorts of things, ranging from life as a Delta (super) to the various enemies you'll have to deal with. As with many Pinnacle products, there are a fair share of secrets for the GM alone, some revealed in the book, some being held back for later books.

Final Words: If you are looking for a low power, superhero game, Brave New World may be just for you. It is easy to learn and fast to play. If you want a superhero game where you can build your hero from the ground up though, you'll have to look elsewhere.

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

Brave New World
Author: Matt Forbeck Category: game Company/Publisher: Pinnacle Line: Brave New World Cost: 30.00 Page count: 223 ISBN: 1-889546-62-3 SKU: 7000 Capsule Review by Nick Sparx on 10/24/99. Genre tags: Modern_day Conspiracy Superhero	Brave New World is a great RPG for those looking for a low power super hero game. The world is well developed, the mechanics are simple to learn,character creation is easy but choices of powers are limited. The first forty-seven pages of the book are done in full color, with comic book style artwork. These pages are designed to look like a website by the hero, Truth, who runs the website to keep the Defiants informed about what is going on in the world around them. To keep the review short, I'm not going into full details of the world at large. After all, they covered a lot of material, I will say it is a somewhat familiar setting for low- powered heroes though. The US Government doesn't trust you, you either join them or be hunted down and incarcerated. While this may sound to familiar to be of any interest it really has some unusual plot twists and story devices that make the game worthwhile. Game mechanics are simple. The game revolves around a d6 system where you shoot for a target number given to you by the GM. Simply put you have an attribute with X number and skills with Y number. When rolling the dice you will roll X number of dice and add Y to the highest dice (don't add them up). If you hit your target number, you succeed at what you are trying to do, if you succeed by 5 or multiples of 5 you have the option do even better. Of course there are modifiers, and some skills will do different things and there are advantages which can help you, but this is the basic gist of the rules. Character creation is quick and painless. Six easy steps that can be found in the book. Traits, Skills, Quirks, Powers, Tricks, and Gear. That is it. You get a certain number of points for Traits, buying traits will then give you skill points to assign for various skills under that trait. Then you can use some of those skill points for Quirks that special something that sets your character apart from others. Pick a Power Package, choose a couple of tricks either general or power oriented, and then buy your gear. That is character creation in a nutshell. My one complaint is the power packages. Believe it or not, it isn't the fact they exist. In a low power game, I like the fact that you can say these are the powers you have, no mix and matching. If I wanted to do that I'd play Champions, I can build whatever I want there. Brave New World keeps players in line. If I want to fly, that is fine, that is my power package, I won't be shooting energy beams, my choice. As I said in the beginning, it is a low power game and it works well as that. My complaint is the small selection of Power Packages. In Brave New World there are ten packages. There are another ten packages in Ravaged Planet, and there are to be five more in Defiants. What I'd like to see is just a book of Power Packages. I'm not buying these new books for them alone, so instead of spreading them out, or as well as spreading them out, releasing a book of packages would be nice. This way the powers could be outlined and save space in the books for other things. So that is the general outline of the game. Of course there is more. The book is 223 pages, it goes into detail about all sorts of things, ranging from life as a Delta (super) to the various enemies you'll have to deal with. As with many Pinnacle products, there are a fair share of secrets for the GM alone, some revealed in the book, some being held back for later books. Final Words: If you are looking for a low power, superhero game, Brave New World may be just for you. It is easy to learn and fast to play. If you want a superhero game where you can build your hero from the ground up though, you'll have to look elsewhere. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 3 (Average)