The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Lock N’ Load is the war manual for the “Battlelords of the 23rd Century” sci fi RPG published by SSDC Inc.

Physically, it is a soft cover book numbering 191 pages. Black and white art is in ample amount throughout the book. Most of it quite good and by and large are depictions of various pieces of weaponry and equipment discussed in the text.

Lock N’ Load (referred to from this point on as LNL) is essentially, an weapons and equipment guide for Battlelords. The breakdown of the text proceeds as follows:

The first 20 pages or so are a discussion of the role that equipment, weapons and armor in particular, play in the game and in the setting. It begins with a comparative discussion of the various weapon types. The difference between lasers and pulse cannons for instance. Or the effectiveness of Omega cannons vs their cost, the value of Masers and their relative fragility on the battlefield. Things of that nature. Afterwards, we come to a brief essay on the role the massive proliferation of weapons has had on the Galactic Alliance, the game setting’s default government. The actions they’ve had to take in response to all these violent mercenaries walking around the galaxy in heavy combat armor, armed to the teeth. The fact that the universe around the players is in an almost constant state of war to one degree or another. And the effect all this has on the average Joe on the street who works a nine to five job and hasn’t ever been out of his home city, much less a battlefield light years away fighting against alien aggressors. The section is small but well written and makes some important points a GM would do well to remember about how to treat a heavily armed group of mercenaries going for a stroll in an urban area.

The next 30 pages are a list of tables, each describing the stats and prices of the items covered in the book. Want to compare the range capabilities of a Magnatron Mag Gun vs the Majestic model Disruptor? This is where you can. All the information is presented in a clear, concise fashion, with all the items grouped by category, whether by weapon type or espionage equipment or emergency medical gear or home improvement options (grav furniture anyone? It’s in here). Also included in this section are tables with the information on cybernetics and bionics.

The next section of LNL is also the largest. Almost 2/3rds of the book is dedicated to an item by item description of more than a thousand pieces of weaponry, armor and equipment of all kinds. Each piece is given a small passage with notes on particularities of a given model or item. It is in these notes that each item is given a personality of it’s own. And it is here that a player will be tempted to pick items that complement his style, rather than simply go for items that have the best stats. The descriptions are actually quite an enjoyable read and both players and GM will gleam interesting facts about both the game setting and the items in question.

On top of the expanded list of weapons and equipment found in the Battlelords rulebook, LNL also adds expanded options for armor customization, cyberware, killer satellites, an expanded list of survival gear, poisons, medical gear, home improvement options and a heck of a lot more.

Next comes a section on tactics players can use in combat to help stay alive and win the day. It discusses the use of cover, urban combat, the use of heavy weapons and movement techniques.

The book caps off with a complete appendix that once again goes through all the items in the book and lists the prices, tech level and availability. A nice touch that helps to make information easier to track down.

As these things go, I’d easily rank LNL as one of the better equipment guides available on the market. I can see players of other sci fi games wanting to pick it up just for the sheer variety of items that they can then convert to whatever favorite game system they want. But as a Battlelords supplement, I’d say it’s quite the must have.

Lock N' Load
Lock N' Load Capsule Review by Alex Hanna on 30/09/02 Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 5 (Excellent!) An insanely complete equipment guide. Product: Lock N' Load Author: Lawrence R. Sims Category: RPG Company/Publisher: SSDC Inc. Line: Battlelords Cost: $19.95 US Page count: 191 Year published: 1995 ISBN: SKU: ODS 201B Comp copy?: no Capsule Review by Alex Hanna on 30/09/02 Genre tags: Science Fiction	Lock N’ Load is the war manual for the “Battlelords of the 23rd Century” sci fi RPG published by SSDC Inc. Physically, it is a soft cover book numbering 191 pages. Black and white art is in ample amount throughout the book. Most of it quite good and by and large are depictions of various pieces of weaponry and equipment discussed in the text. Lock N’ Load (referred to from this point on as LNL) is essentially, an weapons and equipment guide for Battlelords. The breakdown of the text proceeds as follows: The first 20 pages or so are a discussion of the role that equipment, weapons and armor in particular, play in the game and in the setting. It begins with a comparative discussion of the various weapon types. The difference between lasers and pulse cannons for instance. Or the effectiveness of Omega cannons vs their cost, the value of Masers and their relative fragility on the battlefield. Things of that nature. Afterwards, we come to a brief essay on the role the massive proliferation of weapons has had on the Galactic Alliance, the game setting’s default government. The actions they’ve had to take in response to all these violent mercenaries walking around the galaxy in heavy combat armor, armed to the teeth. The fact that the universe around the players is in an almost constant state of war to one degree or another. And the effect all this has on the average Joe on the street who works a nine to five job and hasn’t ever been out of his home city, much less a battlefield light years away fighting against alien aggressors. The section is small but well written and makes some important points a GM would do well to remember about how to treat a heavily armed group of mercenaries going for a stroll in an urban area. The next 30 pages are a list of tables, each describing the stats and prices of the items covered in the book. Want to compare the range capabilities of a Magnatron Mag Gun vs the Majestic model Disruptor? This is where you can. All the information is presented in a clear, concise fashion, with all the items grouped by category, whether by weapon type or espionage equipment or emergency medical gear or home improvement options (grav furniture anyone? It’s in here). Also included in this section are tables with the information on cybernetics and bionics. The next section of LNL is also the largest. Almost 2/3rds of the book is dedicated to an item by item description of more than a thousand pieces of weaponry, armor and equipment of all kinds. Each piece is given a small passage with notes on particularities of a given model or item. It is in these notes that each item is given a personality of it’s own. And it is here that a player will be tempted to pick items that complement his style, rather than simply go for items that have the best stats. The descriptions are actually quite an enjoyable read and both players and GM will gleam interesting facts about both the game setting and the items in question. On top of the expanded list of weapons and equipment found in the Battlelords rulebook, LNL also adds expanded options for armor customization, cyberware, killer satellites, an expanded list of survival gear, poisons, medical gear, home improvement options and a heck of a lot more. Next comes a section on tactics players can use in combat to help stay alive and win the day. It discusses the use of cover, urban combat, the use of heavy weapons and movement techniques. The book caps off with a complete appendix that once again goes through all the items in the book and lists the prices, tech level and availability. A nice touch that helps to make information easier to track down. As these things go, I’d easily rank LNL as one of the better equipment guides available on the market. I can see players of other sci fi games wanting to pick it up just for the sheer variety of items that they can then convert to whatever favorite game system they want. But as a Battlelords supplement, I’d say it’s quite the must have.

Lock N' Load