The Inside Scoop on Gaming

"Nyotekundu Sourcebook", is a planetary sourcebook published for GDW's "2300 AD" (aka "Traveller 2300"), a 'hard' SF sequel to "Twilight 2000".

NYOTEKUNDU SOURCEBOOK:THE CONTENTS

The sourcebook details three settlements, two mining and industrial outposts on the planet Inferno, one French and one Azanian(South African), and a mining platform orbiting the superjovian planet Cocito. These worlds orbit the red dwarf Nyotekundu (formerly Wolf 359).

It begins with a historical overview & description of the system, both of which are intended for use by both the GM and the players.

This is followed by GM only information which describes the physical layout of the surface outposts and provides several NPC's, each with an adventure hook attached.

The rest of the book is taken up by a description of the mining platform, sufficient detail is provided to enable the GM to create other adventures involving similar platforms.

The sourcebook also contains two adventures, "Training Mission" and "Echoes of the Past", both are set on the Orbtial Mining Station(OMS) "Andrew Carnegie", which from its position orbiting the gas giant Cocito sends water ice from the rings of Cocito to feed the industries located on Inferno.

"Training Mission", is an adventure designed to introduce players to the Nyotekundu system and to the world of Orbital Mining Stations, as the title suggests, players take the part of new members of the Aberdeen Mineral Exploitation Company (AMEC) who have been sent to the "Andrew Carnegie" to learn how to operate an OMS.

Players can either create characters who are members of AMEC or they can have existing characters join AMEC, the procedure for joining AMEC is provided at the start of the adventure along with information on payment and conditions.

The training programs covers all aspects of the OMS and each training session has an event connected to the training program and the possibility for the PC to gain or improve a particular skill.

The author wisely advises the GM to concentrate on interactions between the NPC's and the PC's rather than the training itself, two sets of personnel rosters are provided for this purpose, one for the players and another with full NPC stats for the GM.

The second adventure, "Echoes of the Past", can either be played as a continuation of "Training Mission", or as a stand alone adventure. Shortly after the discovery of an alien artifact orbiting Cocito, the "Andrew Carnegie" is struck by a wave of sabotage culminating in murder. In the end it will be up to the PC's to save the day. To find the cause they will have to deal with red herrings including an NPC investigator and another sabotour.

Refreshingly this is an adventure that requires the players to use skills other than combat to resolve, indeed, the PC's do not have to kill the source of the trouble, but will rather have to talk the individual responsible down.

NYOTEKUNDU SOURCEBOOK:THE VERDICT

"Nyotekundu Sourcebook", is a solid well written product, the planet Inferno provides the GM with a location suitable for 'space western' scenarios, while the OMS information is usable independant of the setting.

That is not to say that the volume is without problems two of the datasheets in NPC dossier provided for the GM have been swapped and the text implies that the deck plans should be gridded for minatures use. But none of these are fatal.

Three out of five for appearance, four out of five for content.

Nyotekundu Sourcebook
Nyotekundu Sourcebook Capsule Review by Graham Donald on 27/11/01 Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 4 (Meaty) A solid sourcebook which is useful for any GM running a Sci-Fi campaign Product: Nyotekundu Sourcebook Author: J. Andrew Keith Category: RPG Company/Publisher: GDW Line: 2300 Cost: Page count: 96 Year published: 1987 ISBN: 0-943580-42-0 SKU: 1012 Comp copy?: no Capsule Review by Graham Donald on 27/11/01 Genre tags: Science Fiction Far Future Space	"Nyotekundu Sourcebook", is a planetary sourcebook published for GDW's "2300 AD" (aka "Traveller 2300"), a 'hard' SF sequel to "Twilight 2000". NYOTEKUNDU SOURCEBOOK:THE CONTENTS The sourcebook details three settlements, two mining and industrial outposts on the planet Inferno, one French and one Azanian(South African), and a mining platform orbiting the superjovian planet Cocito. These worlds orbit the red dwarf Nyotekundu (formerly Wolf 359). It begins with a historical overview & description of the system, both of which are intended for use by both the GM and the players. This is followed by GM only information which describes the physical layout of the surface outposts and provides several NPC's, each with an adventure hook attached. The rest of the book is taken up by a description of the mining platform, sufficient detail is provided to enable the GM to create other adventures involving similar platforms. The sourcebook also contains two adventures, "Training Mission" and "Echoes of the Past", both are set on the Orbtial Mining Station(OMS) "Andrew Carnegie", which from its position orbiting the gas giant Cocito sends water ice from the rings of Cocito to feed the industries located on Inferno. "Training Mission", is an adventure designed to introduce players to the Nyotekundu system and to the world of Orbital Mining Stations, as the title suggests, players take the part of new members of the Aberdeen Mineral Exploitation Company (AMEC) who have been sent to the "Andrew Carnegie" to learn how to operate an OMS. Players can either create characters who are members of AMEC or they can have existing characters join AMEC, the procedure for joining AMEC is provided at the start of the adventure along with information on payment and conditions. The training programs covers all aspects of the OMS and each training session has an event connected to the training program and the possibility for the PC to gain or improve a particular skill. The author wisely advises the GM to concentrate on interactions between the NPC's and the PC's rather than the training itself, two sets of personnel rosters are provided for this purpose, one for the players and another with full NPC stats for the GM. The second adventure, "Echoes of the Past", can either be played as a continuation of "Training Mission", or as a stand alone adventure. Shortly after the discovery of an alien artifact orbiting Cocito, the "Andrew Carnegie" is struck by a wave of sabotage culminating in murder. In the end it will be up to the PC's to save the day. To find the cause they will have to deal with red herrings including an NPC investigator and another sabotour. Refreshingly this is an adventure that requires the players to use skills other than combat to resolve, indeed, the PC's do not have to kill the source of the trouble, but will rather have to talk the individual responsible down. NYOTEKUNDU SOURCEBOOK:THE VERDICT "Nyotekundu Sourcebook", is a solid well written product, the planet Inferno provides the GM with a location suitable for 'space western' scenarios, while the OMS information is usable independant of the setting. That is not to say that the volume is without problems two of the datasheets in NPC dossier provided for the GM have been swapped and the text implies that the deck plans should be gridded for minatures use. But none of these are fatal. Three out of five for appearance, four out of five for content.