ImmortalZ Review

As of the writing of this article, Jay Libby's AlphaVerse: ImmortalZ is available for download from RPGNow for $1.00.

Please note that Dilly Green Bean Games provided me with a complimentary copy of ImmortalZ for review.

Presentation

I downloaded ImmortalZ as a small (about 1.8 megabytes), 26 page Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) file. Overall, the presentation of this digital document is very clean and easy to read. The few pieces of artwork present are appropriately themed, and printed clearly on both inkjet and laser printers.

The document also prints out nicely, with adequate margins for most types of binding.

Summary

Much like Hellbrand, the majority of ImmortalZ (18 out of 26 pages) is taken up by Jay Libby's Basic V system. Interestingly, the version of Basic V system included with ImmortalZ is about three pages longer than the copy included with Hellbrand. This is because the ImmortalZ version contained an additional three page chart of environmental threats. While I question the accuracy of a couple of the individual entries, this is still a much-needed - and welcome - addition to the Basic V system.

ImmortalZ begins with a paragraph of in-character narrative that does a pretty good job of summarizing the whole game supplement. ImmortalZ are an ancient and technologically-advanced alien species who have discovered the secrets of time travel. After their interference caused a number of catastrophes for other burgeoning civilizations, they vowed to never again meddle in the affairs of younger species. Unfortunately, the universe is a dangerous place and sometimes they're tempted into interfering despite this 'prime directive'.

Characters generated using the ImmortalZ Game Skin will be incredibly formidable. Game Skin seems to be a new term for Education Packs described in Jay Libby's Basic V system and Hellbrand. Beginning ImmortalZ roll 3d10 for Primary attributes, just like a normal human, but the ImmortalZ Game Skin then applies a fairly lengthy list of attribute bonuses and special racial abilities. Primary among these racial abilities is, unsurprisingly, immortality. At some point in the distant past, the ImmortalZ incredible technology completely conquered death. The only things that can permanently kill ImmortalZ are the complete and utter annihilation of their body, or death at the hands of another Immortal. The text does not state why ImmortalZ can kill one another. ImmortalZ can also detect other ImmortalZ, although precisely how - or at what range - this ability works is not explained.

Aside from (effective) immortality, an Immortal's greatest strength lies not in their attributes but in their skills. The ImmortalZ Game Skin provides healthy bonuses to a number of skills. ImmortalZ also gain an additional Advanced Action at professional level for every century they've lived. Since ImmortalZ are, well, immortal this means they could easily have learned a staggering number of skills throughout their lives. The ImmortalZ Game Skin stipulates only that these Advanced Actions may not be combat skills. Finally, one of the five sample pieces of Immortal technology quickly and easily grants even more Advanced Actions - if through a somewhat macabre manner. On a side note, the other sample pieces of Immortal technology are equally powerful - so it would probably be wise for the Game Controller to keep the number of such artifacts in their campaign to a minimum.

Like Hellbrand, ImmortalZ includes a page of paper ImmortalZ miniatures. I personally have little use for paper miniatures, but they are of passable quality and will certainly be welcomed by more tactically-minded roleplayers. Finally, ImmortalZ also provides statistics for five generic ImmortalZ adversaries, and writeups for two memorable ImmortalZ personalities: Backyard Bob and the Adversary.

ImmortalZ is built upon Jay Libby's Basic V system. My in-depth review of this mechanics system is available elsewhere on this site.

Conclusion

ImmortalZ is, in my eyes, strongly reminiscent of a cross between Highlander and Doctor Who. This is not a bad thing. ImmortalZ (relatively) low attributes and large number of non-combat skills encourage them to find non-violent solutions to problems. ImmortalZ provides just enough information to begin playing an Immortal in Dilly Green Bean Games' AlphaVerse, but I would have liked to see more of the concepts in ImmortalZ detailed and expanded upon. Still, it's really hard to go wrong for $1.00.

Substance: 3
Style: 2