The Inside Scoop on Gaming

It is year 2210. Mankind has spread off of their home planet, and begun colonizing the planets of their solar system. Fiery Mercury. Venus. The moon. Mars. The asteriods. And the many colonies around the largest planet in the system, Jupiter.

Jovian Chronicles is the second Silhoutte game by Dream Pod 9. Unlike its sister game, Heavy Gear, Jovian Chronicles is not a saga the of war and ground pounders stuck on a desert world. No, it is much closer to home. Our Solar System, in fact. Jovian Chronicles is both a roleplaying game and tactical game, just like Heavy Gear. However, unlike Heavy Gear, it has to cover a lot of ground - things can and do happen on land, sea, air…and outer space. Yes, there are more systems for operating in a vacuum that you can shake a stick at. Speaking from a game-mechanic's point of view, it is not very pretty. But more on that later.

Jovian Chronicles is kinda like a mish-mash of a lot of elements. The anima feel is pretty obvious, with the exo-armors and exo-suits. But the strong science feel is a tribute to serious "hard" sci-fi writers and stories. No space opera here. No faster than light travel. No hyperspace. This is the real, realistic deal. However, in deference to its anime roots, you have options. This game can be played at three levels - gritty, adventurous, or cinematic. Gritty is the real deal - bullets kill quick, life is a vacuum is short and players will have to obey the laws of nature to a T or they will die. Adventurous is a little better - sure, there is danger, but it isn't quite a deadly as real life. The GM in an adventurous campaign is a little forgiving. Cinematic is the max - if it serves to tell a good story, then it can happen. Things like players propelling themselves in a vaccuum with shaken-up cans of coke, for instance. Dodging hundreds of missles launched at th! em while protecting a baby buggy. You know, the good stuff.

The setting of Jovian Chronicles is its biggest strength. In the Solar System, there are factions vying for control. The bankers of Venus against the Central Earth Government and Administration (CEGA) against the Martian Federation and Martian Free Republic against the Jovian Confederation. Meanwhile, the traders of Mercury, Selenites of the Moon and the nomads in the Asteroid Belt seek cover from the coming conflict.

It's a mad universe. But, in true Pod style, well fleshed out.

The Silhoutte system is a proven winner, but the addition of mechanics to represent outer space get…tricky. Well, let's put it like this - there is math that needs to be done. Lots of it. Those who have suffered through astronomy classes know all about distances and the way things travel in a vaccuum, right ? Be glad you stayed awake during those classes. You might put some of that to use.

It is a minor complaint. This is a complete game, with everything from creating characters, tons of skills, equipment, and more. For the GM, you get some details about the workings of things in the 22nd Century, some details on running a campaign, and more equipment. There is also a good quick-start adventure to get characters to hit the ground running. The stuff that most players will be drooling over - the exo-armors and exo-suits - only comprise less than 10 pages - but they are lovely while they last. Also included are some BIG ships, to get things where they need to be. Hey, even in cinematic exo-suits can't make it from Mars to Mercury unaided…

Solid layout and interior artwork. Do I need to mention this? Dream Pod 9 never disappoints with the look of their books.

My only real problem with this book is that it squashs a LOT of stuff in there. There are so many things the game has to cover, working with the land, sea, air and space. Plus, you have that for both RPG and Tactical. So somethings didn't make it in this book - they had to get stuffed into the Companion book.

But I don't have any real complaint. You can play this game as is with only this book. And you will enjoy it. That, to me, if the true measure of success.

It's a mad universe. But, in true Pod style, well fleshed out.

Solid layout and interior artwork. Do I need to mention this? Dream Pod 9 never disappoints with the look of their books.

But I don't have any real complaint. You can play this game as is with only this book. And you will enjoy it. That, to me, if the true measure of success.

Style: 5 (Excellent!)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Jovian Chronicles - Enter the Saga of Mankind
Author: Phillippe Boulle, Jean Carrieres, Wunji Lau, Marc A. Vezina Category: Company/Publisher: Dream Pod 9 Page count: 232 ISBN: 1-896776-13-2 Capsule Review by Robert E. Allen III on 07/26/98. Genre tags: none	It is year 2210. Mankind has spread off of their home planet, and begun colonizing the planets of their solar system. Fiery Mercury. Venus. The moon. Mars. The asteriods. And the many colonies around the largest planet in the system, Jupiter. Jovian Chronicles is the second Silhoutte game by Dream Pod 9. Unlike its sister game, Heavy Gear, Jovian Chronicles is not a saga the of war and ground pounders stuck on a desert world. No, it is much closer to home. Our Solar System, in fact. Jovian Chronicles is both a roleplaying game and tactical game, just like Heavy Gear. However, unlike Heavy Gear, it has to cover a lot of ground - things can and do happen on land, sea, air…and outer space. Yes, there are more systems for operating in a vacuum that you can shake a stick at. Speaking from a game-mechanic's point of view, it is not very pretty. But more on that later. Jovian Chronicles is kinda like a mish-mash of a lot of elements. The anima feel is pretty obvious, with the exo-armors and exo-suits. But the strong science feel is a tribute to serious "hard" sci-fi writers and stories. No space opera here. No faster than light travel. No hyperspace. This is the real, realistic deal. However, in deference to its anime roots, you have options. This game can be played at three levels - gritty, adventurous, or cinematic. Gritty is the real deal - bullets kill quick, life is a vacuum is short and players will have to obey the laws of nature to a T or they will die. Adventurous is a little better - sure, there is danger, but it isn't quite a deadly as real life. The GM in an adventurous campaign is a little forgiving. Cinematic is the max - if it serves to tell a good story, then it can happen. Things like players propelling themselves in a vaccuum with shaken-up cans of coke, for instance. Dodging hundreds of missles launched at th! em while protecting a baby buggy. You know, the good stuff. The setting of Jovian Chronicles is its biggest strength. In the Solar System, there are factions vying for control. The bankers of Venus against the Central Earth Government and Administration (CEGA) against the Martian Federation and Martian Free Republic against the Jovian Confederation. Meanwhile, the traders of Mercury, Selenites of the Moon and the nomads in the Asteroid Belt seek cover from the coming conflict. It's a mad universe. But, in true Pod style, well fleshed out. The Silhoutte system is a proven winner, but the addition of mechanics to represent outer space get…tricky. Well, let's put it like this - there is math that needs to be done. Lots of it. Those who have suffered through astronomy classes know all about distances and the way things travel in a vaccuum, right ? Be glad you stayed awake during those classes. You might put some of that to use. It is a minor complaint. This is a complete game, with everything from creating characters, tons of skills, equipment, and more. For the GM, you get some details about the workings of things in the 22nd Century, some details on running a campaign, and more equipment. There is also a good quick-start adventure to get characters to hit the ground running. The stuff that most players will be drooling over - the exo-armors and exo-suits - only comprise less than 10 pages - but they are lovely while they last. Also included are some BIG ships, to get things where they need to be. Hey, even in cinematic exo-suits can't make it from Mars to Mercury unaided… Solid layout and interior artwork. Do I need to mention this? Dream Pod 9 never disappoints with the look of their books. My only real problem with this book is that it squashs a LOT of stuff in there. There are so many things the game has to cover, working with the land, sea, air and space. Plus, you have that for both RPG and Tactical. So somethings didn't make it in this book - they had to get stuffed into the Companion book. But I don't have any real complaint. You can play this game as is with only this book. And you will enjoy it. That, to me, if the true measure of success. It is year 2210. Mankind has spread off of their home planet, and begun colonizing the planets of their solar system. Fiery Mercury. Venus. The moon. Mars. The asteriods. And the many colonies around the largest planet in the system, Jupiter. Jovian Chronicles is the second Silhoutte game by Dream Pod 9. Unlike its sister game, Heavy Gear, Jovian Chronicles is not a saga the of war and ground pounders stuck on a desert world. No, it is much closer to home. Our Solar System, in fact. Jovian Chronicles is both a roleplaying game and tactical game, just like Heavy Gear. However, unlike Heavy Gear, it has to cover a lot of ground - things can and do happen on land, sea, air…and outer space. Yes, there are more systems for operating in a vacuum that you can shake a stick at. Speaking from a game-mechanic's point of view, it is not very pretty. But more on that later. Jovian Chronicles is kinda like a mish-mash of a lot of elements. The anima feel is pretty obvious, with the exo-armors and exo-suits. But the strong science feel is a tribute to serious "hard" sci-fi writers and stories. No space opera here. No faster than light travel. No hyperspace. This is the real, realistic deal. However, in deference to its anime roots, you have options. This game can be played at three levels - gritty, adventurous, or cinematic. Gritty is the real deal - bullets kill quick, life is a vacuum is short and players will have to obey the laws of nature to a T or they will die. Adventurous is a little better - sure, there is danger, but it isn't quite a deadly as real life. The GM in an adventurous campaign is a little forgiving. Cinematic is the max - if it serves to tell a good story, then it can happen. Things like players propelling themselves in a vaccuum with shaken-up cans of coke, for instance. Dodging hundreds of missles launched at th! em while protecting a baby buggy. You know, the good stuff. The setting of Jovian Chronicles is its biggest strength. In the Solar System, there are factions vying for control. The bankers of Venus against the Central Earth Government and Administration (CEGA) against the Martian Federation and Martian Free Republic against the Jovian Confederation. Meanwhile, the traders of Mercury, Selenites of the Moon and the nomads in the Asteroid Belt seek cover from the coming conflict. It's a mad universe. But, in true Pod style, well fleshed out. The Silhoutte system is a proven winner, but the addition of mechanics to represent outer space get…tricky. Well, let's put it like this - there is math that needs to be done. Lots of it. Those who have suffered through astronomy classes know all about distances and the way things travel in a vaccuum, right ? Be glad you stayed awake during those classes. You might put some of that to use. It is a minor complaint. This is a complete game, with everything from creating characters, tons of skills, equipment, and more. For the GM, you get some details about the workings of things in the 22nd Century, some details on running a campaign, and more equipment. There is also a good quick-start adventure to get characters to hit the ground running. The stuff that most players will be drooling over - the exo-armors and exo-suits - only comprise less than 10 pages - but they are lovely while they last. Also included are some BIG ships, to get things where they need to be. Hey, even in cinematic exo-suits can't make it from Mars to Mercury unaided… Solid layout and interior artwork. Do I need to mention this? Dream Pod 9 never disappoints with the look of their books. My only real problem with this book is that it squashs a LOT of stuff in there. There are so many things the game has to cover, working with the land, sea, air and space. Plus, you have that for both RPG and Tactical. So somethings didn't make it in this book - they had to get stuffed into the Companion book. But I don't have any real complaint. You can play this game as is with only this book. And you will enjoy it. That, to me, if the true measure of success. Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Jovian Chronicles - Enter the Saga of Mankind