The Inside Scoop on Gaming

(WARNING:THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS)

"KING'S RANSOM", OVERVIEW.

"King's Ransom", by Frank Frey & Lester W. Smith, is the only adventure published for use with the "RDF Sourcebook" (See my review.). It is set in and around the central Iranian city of Esfahan.

The plot is simple and straightforward, the PC's squad, after a few 'proving' missions in which the players may hear rumors of treasure in Esfahan, are assigned to investigate a Soviet communications compound southwest of Esfahan and if possible raid and destroy it.

At some point during the mission the PC's will encounter a KGB officer and his driver, in the resulting battle the officer will end up dead and the driver will surrender offering to show the PC's "...something very valuable...".

He will tell the PC's that the officer discovered the hiding place of the Iranian Crown Jewels, missing since the fall of Esfahan to the Soviets in 1997. What follows is a race, with or without official approval, to find the Crown Jewels before the KGB does.

Along with the adventure the book contains information on the military forces of both sides, the settlements of central Iran, the major personalities in the region, maps of central Iran, Esfahan, the target for the first mission and a map belonging to the KGB officer who discovered the crown jewels. The book finishes with a encounter and rumor/interrogation tables.

Also included in the book is the order of battle for the Soviet backed Iranian forces missing from the "RDF Sourcebook" and suggestions for follow up adventures.

"KING'S RANSOM", VERDICT.

"King's Ransom", will provide the players with an entertaining and exciting adventure. GM's concerned about the players obtaining unbalancing amounts of money are provided with a simple and logical answer, the PC's mission briefing contains information regarding radio contact with HQ, if the PC's either stop reporting back or send false information, a rescue party will be dispatched to investigate, when they come across the PC's and the jewels, they will congratulate the PC's for their initiative and take the jewels to be returned to the (Pro-US) Iranian Government.

My only real objection to this book is related to the initial mission, the raid on the communications post, the GM is given no idea of what the PC's would discover if they raided the outpost. This would not have been difficult to add and would have filled some of the white space that does exist.

Despite that, I give this one three out of five for style and four out of five for content.

King's Ransom
King's Ransom Capsule Review by Graham Donald on 25/03/02 Style: 3 (Average) Substance: 4 (Meaty) An interesting treasure hunt Product: King's Ransom Author: Frank Frey & Lester W. Smith Category: RPG Company/Publisher: GDW Line: Twilight 2000 Cost: Page count: 48 Year published: 1987 ISBN: 0-943580-36-6 SKU: 513 Comp copy?: no Capsule Review by Graham Donald on 25/03/02 Genre tags: Modern day Conspiracy Post-apocalyse	(WARNING:THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS) "KING'S RANSOM", OVERVIEW. "King's Ransom", by Frank Frey & Lester W. Smith, is the only adventure published for use with the "RDF Sourcebook" (See my review.). It is set in and around the central Iranian city of Esfahan. The plot is simple and straightforward, the PC's squad, after a few 'proving' missions in which the players may hear rumors of treasure in Esfahan, are assigned to investigate a Soviet communications compound southwest of Esfahan and if possible raid and destroy it. At some point during the mission the PC's will encounter a KGB officer and his driver, in the resulting battle the officer will end up dead and the driver will surrender offering to show the PC's "...something very valuable...". He will tell the PC's that the officer discovered the hiding place of the Iranian Crown Jewels, missing since the fall of Esfahan to the Soviets in 1997. What follows is a race, with or without official approval, to find the Crown Jewels before the KGB does. Along with the adventure the book contains information on the military forces of both sides, the settlements of central Iran, the major personalities in the region, maps of central Iran, Esfahan, the target for the first mission and a map belonging to the KGB officer who discovered the crown jewels. The book finishes with a encounter and rumor/interrogation tables. Also included in the book is the order of battle for the Soviet backed Iranian forces missing from the "RDF Sourcebook" and suggestions for follow up adventures. "KING'S RANSOM", VERDICT. "King's Ransom", will provide the players with an entertaining and exciting adventure. GM's concerned about the players obtaining unbalancing amounts of money are provided with a simple and logical answer, the PC's mission briefing contains information regarding radio contact with HQ, if the PC's either stop reporting back or send false information, a rescue party will be dispatched to investigate, when they come across the PC's and the jewels, they will congratulate the PC's for their initiative and take the jewels to be returned to the (Pro-US) Iranian Government. My only real objection to this book is related to the initial mission, the raid on the communications post, the GM is given no idea of what the PC's would discover if they raided the outpost. This would not have been difficult to add and would have filled some of the white space that does exist. Despite that, I give this one three out of five for style and four out of five for content.