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Bargainers is a sourcebook detailing the "supers" whose power allows them to communicate with and make deals with beings from other dimensions/realities more commonly known as demons. Strangely enough, they consider themselves "good guys", for the most part they are. It is my only exposure to the Brave New World rpg and so I cannot speak to its cohesiveness other than the assurance in the last chapter that this is central to the Brave New World campaign. This makes BNW the first occult supers campaign rpg, an odd combination if not an impossible one.

Production values are high in this publication. A full color cover, front and back, hinting at the odd darkness of the subject matter. The B&W art inside is the same style. There is a stage magician theme to most art and old glory makes up most of the borders. The stage magic theme becomes understandable once the reader learns that the first bargainer was Harry Houdini and that many carry on his tradition of slight of hand performance. Unfortunately, although it is well laid out and organized, there are quite a few errors in the text. Like myself, when using an automated spell checker, the words aren't spelled wrong; they're just the wrong word. In such a professional looking effort, I found the editing to be a major distraction.

The book is organized into 2 sections, one for the players, the other for the GM. The players' section is mostly narrated by an experienced bargainer named Mr. Twist, and covers a lot of ground. There are a lot of trite statements involving the dangers and hardships of a bargainer's life. I got tired of reading them and felt like if there wasn't any more to say, they could've just made this section shorter. To elaborate on the secrets explained by Mr. Twist, would ruin a great deal of the product's fun.

The GM's section tells the real story and reveals how integral bargainers; demons and the war of light vs. darkness are to the Brave New World campaign. I really found the detail, in both sections, disturbing at times. Not that it was graphic but the detail provided sounded too much like a dark new ager's manifesto. Maybe it was all of the references to real world/current religions, decoding their mysteries in unorthodox ways. I am by no means religious, nor even spiritual, but the whole thing rubbed me as inappropriate for a product intended to entertain. Character templates and NPCs receive a good treatment in this section as well.

Bargainers is a unique supplement for what must be a unique supers rpg. It will appeal to a specific audience only and I would only recommend it if you feel this is you.

Bargainers
Bargainers Capsule Review by Papyrus on 14/03/02 Style: 2 (Needs Work) Substance: 3 (Average) Bargainers is a unique supplement for what must be a unique supers rpg. Product: Bargainers Author: Matt Forbeck Category: RPG Company/Publisher: Alderac Entertainment Group, Inc. Line: Brave New World Cost: $20.00 Page count: 128 Year published: ISBN: 1-887953-07-8 SKU: 8005 Comp copy?: yes Capsule Review by Papyrus on 14/03/02 Genre tags: Horror Gothic Superhero	Bargainers is a sourcebook detailing the "supers" whose power allows them to communicate with and make deals with beings from other dimensions/realities more commonly known as demons. Strangely enough, they consider themselves "good guys", for the most part they are. It is my only exposure to the Brave New World rpg and so I cannot speak to its cohesiveness other than the assurance in the last chapter that this is central to the Brave New World campaign. This makes BNW the first occult supers campaign rpg, an odd combination if not an impossible one. Production values are high in this publication. A full color cover, front and back, hinting at the odd darkness of the subject matter. The B&W art inside is the same style. There is a stage magician theme to most art and old glory makes up most of the borders. The stage magic theme becomes understandable once the reader learns that the first bargainer was Harry Houdini and that many carry on his tradition of slight of hand performance. Unfortunately, although it is well laid out and organized, there are quite a few errors in the text. Like myself, when using an automated spell checker, the words aren't spelled wrong; they're just the wrong word. In such a professional looking effort, I found the editing to be a major distraction. The book is organized into 2 sections, one for the players, the other for the GM. The players' section is mostly narrated by an experienced bargainer named Mr. Twist, and covers a lot of ground. There are a lot of trite statements involving the dangers and hardships of a bargainer's life. I got tired of reading them and felt like if there wasn't any more to say, they could've just made this section shorter. To elaborate on the secrets explained by Mr. Twist, would ruin a great deal of the product's fun. The GM's section tells the real story and reveals how integral bargainers; demons and the war of light vs. darkness are to the Brave New World campaign. I really found the detail, in both sections, disturbing at times. Not that it was graphic but the detail provided sounded too much like a dark new ager's manifesto. Maybe it was all of the references to real world/current religions, decoding their mysteries in unorthodox ways. I am by no means religious, nor even spiritual, but the whole thing rubbed me as inappropriate for a product intended to entertain. Character templates and NPCs receive a good treatment in this section as well. Bargainers is a unique supplement for what must be a unique supers rpg. It will appeal to a specific audience only and I would only recommend it if you feel this is you.