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SF1: Volturnus, Planet of Mystery

Volturnus Planet of Mystery (VPOM) is the second module in the Volturnus series, and the first module published external to the Star Frontiers boxed set. As with all Star Frontiers modules, this is a stand-alone product as well as a tie-in to a series. Referees can begin their parties 'in medias re' using the background information provided or continue previous adventures (most likely from SF0: Crash on Volturnus) as he/she sees fit. Similarly, when the game is over, adventures may progress through the published Volturnus trilogy or take their own turns and twists, depending on what the group wants to do.

Easley's full-color cover art depicts a beautifully rendered encounter between humans and one of the primitive alien tribes (Ul-Mor) on Volturnus. The scene screams tension and really makes you want to dig right into playing. The black and white interior art complements the cover art and sets the tone of exploring an alien world with your blaster at the ready.

The adventure begins with the players--stranded on Volturnus after pirates raided the liner they were aboard--being escorted to the edge of the Volturnian desert by friendly Ul-Mor (octopoid aborigines). The Ul-Mor believe that the party can get help by dealing with the forest-dwelling Kurabanda, monkeyish primitives with slap-stick senses of humor, since they have seen races like the players around the Kurabandas' sylvan domain.

Both the Kurabanda and the Edestekai (a primitive race of tripod folk who look vaguely like Planter's Mr. Peanut) will have mini-quests to test the PCs with before they will offer the party help. The Eorna are a race of sentient dinosaurs facing imminent extinction as previous Sathar attacks (see the Star Frontiers Boxed Set review for details on the Sathar) have pared their numbers down too severely for their continued survival.

In addition to these three new aliens, the players will have gotten a chance to duke it out with the pirates who raided their ship and stranded them planetside. They will have also explored the wondrous ruins of an Eorna city and learned of the Eorna plan to raise various species to sentience (Ul-Mor, Kurabanda, Edestekai) in order to counter the Sathar who are sending a fleet of spaceships to destroy the planet by adventure's end.

Being a big fan of alien creatures, I was particularly happy to see that this module added new beasties to the Volturnus inventory. The writers and editors could have been content to let players and refs use the ample supply of animals, vegetables and minerals included with the Star Frontiers Boxed Set, but they went that extra mile and gave us more. Star Frontiers excels by giving Referees the freedom to develop their own material, but it's always nice when publishers provide references sources to fall back on.

This module's got action for the blaster-happy and enough consider-before-you-pull-the-trigger encounters to keep the think-tank folks amused. Good plot, marvelous organization and layout, thorough background material including maps, clear concise writing and stirring art, SF1 has 'em all covered. And the best part is, the material is so good you can reuse the stuff!

At the October '99 Star Frontiers convention, one Referee made liberal use of the background material and settings provided with VPOM--most of us had played the module. Using his own plot with the same material, he earned several surprised and appreciative comments from his players who were happy to revisit such a familiar and well-developed setting.

Volturnus: Planet of Mystery is a good investment of your credits (from $5 - $10, depending on where you can find it). Auction sites and the 'Stores' listed here on RPG Net that handle out-of-print games are good places to find this module. For the Frontier!

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

Volturnus, Planet of Mystery Adventure Module
Author: Mark Acres and Tom Moldvay Category: game Company/Publisher: TSR 1982 Line: Star Frontiers SKU: SF:1 Capsule Review by Daron "Dan" Patton on 12/24/99. Genre tags: Science_fiction Far_Future	SF1: Volturnus, Planet of Mystery Volturnus Planet of Mystery (VPOM) is the second module in the Volturnus series, and the first module published external to the Star Frontiers boxed set. As with all Star Frontiers modules, this is a stand-alone product as well as a tie-in to a series. Referees can begin their parties 'in medias re' using the background information provided or continue previous adventures (most likely from SF0: Crash on Volturnus) as he/she sees fit. Similarly, when the game is over, adventures may progress through the published Volturnus trilogy or take their own turns and twists, depending on what the group wants to do. Easley's full-color cover art depicts a beautifully rendered encounter between humans and one of the primitive alien tribes (Ul-Mor) on Volturnus. The scene screams tension and really makes you want to dig right into playing. The black and white interior art complements the cover art and sets the tone of exploring an alien world with your blaster at the ready. The adventure begins with the players--stranded on Volturnus after pirates raided the liner they were aboard--being escorted to the edge of the Volturnian desert by friendly Ul-Mor (octopoid aborigines). The Ul-Mor believe that the party can get help by dealing with the forest-dwelling Kurabanda, monkeyish primitives with slap-stick senses of humor, since they have seen races like the players around the Kurabandas' sylvan domain. Both the Kurabanda and the Edestekai (a primitive race of tripod folk who look vaguely like Planter's Mr. Peanut) will have mini-quests to test the PCs with before they will offer the party help. The Eorna are a race of sentient dinosaurs facing imminent extinction as previous Sathar attacks (see the Star Frontiers Boxed Set review for details on the Sathar) have pared their numbers down too severely for their continued survival. In addition to these three new aliens, the players will have gotten a chance to duke it out with the pirates who raided their ship and stranded them planetside. They will have also explored the wondrous ruins of an Eorna city and learned of the Eorna plan to raise various species to sentience (Ul-Mor, Kurabanda, Edestekai) in order to counter the Sathar who are sending a fleet of spaceships to destroy the planet by adventure's end. Being a big fan of alien creatures, I was particularly happy to see that this module added new beasties to the Volturnus inventory. The writers and editors could have been content to let players and refs use the ample supply of animals, vegetables and minerals included with the Star Frontiers Boxed Set, but they went that extra mile and gave us more. Star Frontiers excels by giving Referees the freedom to develop their own material, but it's always nice when publishers provide references sources to fall back on. This module's got action for the blaster-happy and enough consider-before-you-pull-the-trigger encounters to keep the think-tank folks amused. Good plot, marvelous organization and layout, thorough background material including maps, clear concise writing and stirring art, SF1 has 'em all covered. And the best part is, the material is so good you can reuse the stuff! At the October '99 Star Frontiers convention, one Referee made liberal use of the background material and settings provided with VPOM--most of us had played the module. Using his own plot with the same material, he earned several surprised and appreciative comments from his players who were happy to revisit such a familiar and well-developed setting. Volturnus: Planet of Mystery is a good investment of your credits (from $5 - $10, depending on where you can find it). Auction sites and the 'Stores' listed here on RPG Net that handle out-of-print games are good places to find this module. For the Frontier! Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Volturnus, Planet of Mystery Adventure Module