The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Hell on Earth is Pinnacle's latest game. A $30 hardback, it is a post apocalypse setting and is one possible future of the events that occur in the Deadlands setting. While it is an extension of the Weird West (and uses the same mechanics) HoE has the complete rules within its pages. Pinnacle has also woven several elements into the Wasted West, allowing you to recreate the feel of almost any post apocalypse movie or book you might have read. If you like to role play after the bomb, or you like the Deadlands in general, I would recommend a hard look at this book. If you happen to be a fan of both, this book is a natural.

_Major Strengths_

Rules system:

The rule system for Hell on Earth is the same as for Deadlands. There were some modifications to the system from the original DL rules, but these were introduced to the Weird West in recent books.

I consider this to be a major strength for two obvious reasons - I already know the Pinnacle system, and I happen to like the way it works. I can hop right in and get the players to save a town against a biker gang or get the medicine across the country without having to learn a lot of rules. As an added benefit, I've already played the system and know which things won't like - allowing me to use my house rules. One side comment - while a lot of the text seems lifted straight

If you are just picking up the book (or reading this review) because you like the setting, this strength obviously doesn't apply. But IMHO - quirks and all - it's a pretty good system.

Pretty

Having come to expect a high production quality (usually 4 out of 5) from Pinnacle products, I usually don't comment on the appearance of the books unless it falls below this quality. Not in this case - Hell on Earth is pretty, going above the usual quality. Each archetype still has a full color plate and there are several general actions scenes done in full color (like the DL book), they improved on several things. Each monster now has a single full color page to itself - like the archetypes. White space is almost nonexistent and the tables are far less intrusive. I usually prefer substance over style but even I have to admit that HoE is pretty. (Note - the version I have is the limited edition leatherette version. I don't expect that there is any difference between the regular edition and the limited one - except for the cover - but I just want to state that I don't know for !certain! that there is no difference)

Plot diversity

As far as I can see, Hell on Earth has enough elements to allow you to recreate almost any post apocalypse setting. Mad Max, Damnation Alley, Terminator, Akira, Hell Comes to Frogtown (well, maybe that last one is a bit much.) It's all in there.

On a side note - the theme of the setting seems a bit less fear oriented. The mechanisms are still there for running fear, but there is a lot less emphasis on secrecy. As HoE puts it "Abominations that get too wild can actually stagnate a Fear Level. The unknown is the greatest horror of all." Well, seeing as how the Reckoners themselves have ridden the land destroying everything in their path, there seems little effect to secrecy now.

It's a standalone product.

Hell on Earth has everything you need to play it within it's pages. You don't need to own DL to play this one. With the exception of some minor references, everything mentioned in HoE is explained in HoE.

_Major Weaknesses_

None that I've seen - but I didn't expect to find any, I'm a rabid fan-boy of Pinnacle. If you've already tried the DL setting and found it wanting, you'll probably wish to skip HoE.

_Strengths_

Only a !Possible! future

Pinnacle went out of their way to make certain that Deadlands is not superceded by Hell On Earth. The mention that the world in HoE is only one possible outcome of events in DL, and even then, the Reckoners had to cheat by sending someone back in time to wipe out the heroes. You've seen Terminator? Well - Hell on Earth is what would happen if the "terminator" won.

One thing I like about Pinnacle is that they are not afraid to have the heroes lose for fear of derailing the ongoing plot lines. I am also tickled at the idea of having some DL players hose up royally during the game, only the have the Gamemaster whip out HoE for the next session and have the players play in a world that is a direct consequence of their actions.

Future supplements

Pinnacle has a proven track record of supporting, so rest assured that if you get the rabid-fan bug and really enjoy HoE, there will soon be a large number of supplements out there adding more detail to the setting.

_Weaknesses_

A bit thin

Certain points within the book seemed thin in substance, notably the background material and the special character write-ups. I know why it seems thin to me - I'm used to more fully detailed setting of DL, and I know that there will be supplements fleshing out the world, but it would have been nice to have more then three "powers" for the Junkers and some more background information.

Yeah, but....

While I called these it a major strength, their is one minor problem with the fact that the rules are the same for both DL and HoE, and it can be summed up by one comment I heard at Gen-Con. A gentleman I was with wondered if it would be possible to just get the setting information at a discount, since he already had the rules. Now, I can't see any other feasible way to put out a new setting then as a complete system, but as a fair warning to DL players, your $30 will be going towards a book that is 75% already in books you now own.

And I mentioned above that the HoE is independent of DL Well, a couple of well known DL beasties were referenced in the HoE book. It seems that the Tummy Twisters and Mojave Rattlers still exist in the Wasted West. This doesn't mean that they won't be covered in future HoE supplements, but that will again be more space devoted to information you already own. Again, I personally feel the alternative is worse - a setting that require people to own the entire line of sourcebooks, but I do have to wonder if Pinnacle is planning a HoE Harrowed book, and just how different it will be from DL's Book of the Dead.

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

Deadlands: Hell On Earth
Author: Shane Hensley Category: game Company/Publisher: Pinnacle Entertainment Group Cost: $30 Page count: 224 Capsule Review by Allan Seyberth on 08/30/98. Genre tags: none	Hell on Earth is Pinnacle's latest game. A $30 hardback, it is a post apocalypse setting and is one possible future of the events that occur in the Deadlands setting. While it is an extension of the Weird West (and uses the same mechanics) HoE has the complete rules within its pages. Pinnacle has also woven several elements into the Wasted West, allowing you to recreate the feel of almost any post apocalypse movie or book you might have read. If you like to role play after the bomb, or you like the Deadlands in general, I would recommend a hard look at this book. If you happen to be a fan of both, this book is a natural. _Major Strengths_ Rules system: The rule system for Hell on Earth is the same as for Deadlands. There were some modifications to the system from the original DL rules, but these were introduced to the Weird West in recent books. I consider this to be a major strength for two obvious reasons - I already know the Pinnacle system, and I happen to like the way it works. I can hop right in and get the players to save a town against a biker gang or get the medicine across the country without having to learn a lot of rules. As an added benefit, I've already played the system and know which things won't like - allowing me to use my house rules. One side comment - while a lot of the text seems lifted straight If you are just picking up the book (or reading this review) because you like the setting, this strength obviously doesn't apply. But IMHO - quirks and all - it's a pretty good system. Pretty Having come to expect a high production quality (usually 4 out of 5) from Pinnacle products, I usually don't comment on the appearance of the books unless it falls below this quality. Not in this case - Hell on Earth is pretty, going above the usual quality. Each archetype still has a full color plate and there are several general actions scenes done in full color (like the DL book), they improved on several things. Each monster now has a single full color page to itself - like the archetypes. White space is almost nonexistent and the tables are far less intrusive. I usually prefer substance over style but even I have to admit that HoE is pretty. (Note - the version I have is the limited edition leatherette version. I don't expect that there is any difference between the regular edition and the limited one - except for the cover - but I just want to state that I don't know for !certain! that there is no difference) Plot diversity As far as I can see, Hell on Earth has enough elements to allow you to recreate almost any post apocalypse setting. Mad Max, Damnation Alley, Terminator, Akira, Hell Comes to Frogtown (well, maybe that last one is a bit much.) It's all in there. On a side note - the theme of the setting seems a bit less fear oriented. The mechanisms are still there for running fear, but there is a lot less emphasis on secrecy. As HoE puts it "Abominations that get too wild can actually stagnate a Fear Level. The unknown is the greatest horror of all." Well, seeing as how the Reckoners themselves have ridden the land destroying everything in their path, there seems little effect to secrecy now. It's a standalone product. Hell on Earth has everything you need to play it within it's pages. You don't need to own DL to play this one. With the exception of some minor references, everything mentioned in HoE is explained in HoE. _Major Weaknesses_ None that I've seen - but I didn't expect to find any, I'm a rabid fan-boy of Pinnacle. If you've already tried the DL setting and found it wanting, you'll probably wish to skip HoE. _Strengths_ Only a !Possible! future Pinnacle went out of their way to make certain that Deadlands is not superceded by Hell On Earth. The mention that the world in HoE is only one possible outcome of events in DL, and even then, the Reckoners had to cheat by sending someone back in time to wipe out the heroes. You've seen Terminator? Well - Hell on Earth is what would happen if the "terminator" won. One thing I like about Pinnacle is that they are not afraid to have the heroes lose for fear of derailing the ongoing plot lines. I am also tickled at the idea of having some DL players hose up royally during the game, only the have the Gamemaster whip out HoE for the next session and have the players play in a world that is a direct consequence of their actions. Future supplements Pinnacle has a proven track record of supporting, so rest assured that if you get the rabid-fan bug and really enjoy HoE, there will soon be a large number of supplements out there adding more detail to the setting. _Weaknesses_ A bit thin Certain points within the book seemed thin in substance, notably the background material and the special character write-ups. I know why it seems thin to me - I'm used to more fully detailed setting of DL, and I know that there will be supplements fleshing out the world, but it would have been nice to have more then three "powers" for the Junkers and some more background information. Yeah, but.... While I called these it a major strength, their is one minor problem with the fact that the rules are the same for both DL and HoE, and it can be summed up by one comment I heard at Gen-Con. A gentleman I was with wondered if it would be possible to just get the setting information at a discount, since he already had the rules. Now, I can't see any other feasible way to put out a new setting then as a complete system, but as a fair warning to DL players, your $30 will be going towards a book that is 75% already in books you now own. And I mentioned above that the HoE is independent of DL Well, a couple of well known DL beasties were referenced in the HoE book. It seems that the Tummy Twisters and Mojave Rattlers still exist in the Wasted West. This doesn't mean that they won't be covered in future HoE supplements, but that will again be more space devoted to information you already own. Again, I personally feel the alternative is worse - a setting that require people to own the entire line of sourcebooks, but I do have to wonder if Pinnacle is planning a HoE Harrowed book, and just how different it will be from DL's Book of the Dead. Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Deadlands: Hell On Earth