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When it comes to games and settings, I like 'em big. And epic. Epic seems to be the key word in the scope of this series. Dimensional Outbreak is the third in the Minion War series by Palladium Books, pitting two different levels of the netherworlds we typically think of as the Hells, and spills out to various worlds, dimensions and settings across the Palladium line. Science fiction, space faring, post-apocalyptic, superheroes, all will be covered as one group, the Demons of Hades strive to fight the Deevils of Dyval. I prefer to call them devils, the extra E is my belief that PB is trying not to offend anyone's religions with this product. They cover themselves well, it's all a fantasy setting and NOT REAL, but role playing games have always received a bad rap due to being accused of devil's worship. This is just an attempt to make their so-called demons and monsters that fit the description of otherworldly evil without ticking anyone's sensibilities off. With that said, onto the review. Now, I liked Hades and Dyval, both books detailed the hellish monsters, the settings helped to flesh out the dimensions, and how both sides view one another. I didn't make a review of them because I didn't plan on running games only in those realms, and they were good for the most part. I could have done without the few pages spared just to have filler in the following Rifters and just put them in the books, but the art and detail was well done. But it's the settings books with the Minion Wars spanning out into other dimensions that would be the ultimate test of the series.
For the first time, we not only get descriptions, but maps for several levels of Center on Phase World. We get to see key locations and players, and it feels more fleshed out. Time tables of key events around Center and other events in the Three Galaxies build up to current times, and a surprising crescendo. Seeing where the key players like the Consortium of Civilized Worlds, trnas-Galactic Empire and others are in the midst of all this, what skirmishes or hostilities they're facing at the time of the outbreak, even a surprising twist in the Forge War, you look at this and can't help but think, this is how demons would wage an epic war!
The scope is nothing short of colossal! The precision that the attacks go down, the multiple tiers and outbreaks on Center and spatial targets, it's incredibly ambitious. After looking at this book, you will envision Demons and Deevils in space, unleashing their own hells! Seeing the thoughts and actions of key players like Thraxus, the Prometheans, Lord Klynnkryth, and other standing their ground, possibly calling in reinforcements or recruiting people like the player characters helps paint a tapestry that there's so much going on. The new demons and minions on both sides are excellent, the Demon Knights are among my favorites. Oh, under their description, it says one of their spells is Disintegration Beam, but I can't find it in the Spatial or Demon spells. If this is a clear omission, I'll let it slide if it needs to get into a Rifter. These things are a great antithesis to the Cosmo-Knights, especially if they can somehow recruit fallen knights to their sides! The Phase and Plasma Demons definitely seem to fit in, the Phase Demons look truly alien, and the mysteries of their origins can give quite a few GM's something to play with. The Demonic Mortals seem potent, but being changed while not becoming fully supernatural might have a few people scratching their heads. The Greater Demonic Mortals definitely rock in my humble opinion.
Remember the name Star General Halthhag. This demon is ambitious, brilliant, patient for a Dysasha, and is the Hades equivalent to General Jericho Holmes, a potent general from the Siege on Tolkeen series! When it comes to powerful leaders of such an offensive, this guy is gonna be one for the books. I was wondering about the appearance, I remember hearing that Dysashas are canine cousins to the Raksasha, but bears and canines aren't too different, so between being a rare demon and one who isn't imprisoned with Ahriman, I'll let that slide. His military mind, the surprise allies he has on his side, even the mystery of Demon Planets and Demon Stars is explored. I also like the explanation how Deevils are able to create their own versions. This book also showcases the difference between the forces of Hades and Dyval in their tactics.
The artwork was good, but personally I felt like some of the demon ships like the fighters and such didn't look organic enough in detail for my personal tastes. But don't let that sway you overall, there are plenty of great artwork to fit in with the moods. If anything, I feel there should have been a bit more just to showcase the war on Center, but the art that is there shows off plenty for the settings and ships. I felt like the only thing missing was a full page spread with demonic ships and Halthhag's best friend Cormal flying in with their fleet to bring utter destruction. But lacking the artwork, the writing definitely paints the mental picture. Oh, and wait till you read about Cormal.
The Demon Magic and tone of these books also touches something I have wondered about for some time. With D&D items like the Book of Vile Darkness being geared to the horror loving, more mature gamer, I wondered if Palladium would ever step up the game to match. While I heard a resounding no and that they wouldn't, I have to say that the Minion Wars books like Dimensional Outbreak does spell it out, these books are dealing with dark, but fictitious topics, and that guidance is strongly suggested. It shows the nature and tone of the books without being vulgar or too graphic, so it's a trade off. One thing I like about the Demon Magic is that it has two different P.P.E. costs, one for use with a sacrifice, and one without. Given that slaying animals to sentient beings can cut the spell cost down to 1/3 otherwise, it becomes easy to see the brutality and nature of sacrificial magics. As I said, it was mature, but well done without shoving down anyone's throats or being crude about it. Not easy to do.
The artwork compliments the writing, which in my humble opinion is top notch. We get to see things hinted at or appearing in other books like Three Galaxies coming together in an epic way. I simply can't say enough about the scope of this book and the wars within! Simultaneous places of combat, the timeline where players could easily be dropped into any event leading up to the outbreak will be fodder for plenty of rich gaming with the right GM's at the helm. It has plenty of detail as well as room to maneuver. I remember Bill Coffin writing something in the Rifts Adventure Guide as a tip for GM's. Don't be afraid to make your world large enough for your players to be a part of it. That's what this book does, painting a huge tapestry and allowing the players to become a part of it. This is the kind of setting and war that can best define a character and where they go from here.
With this said, I have to voice a concern for the Minion War series. I know this is an administrative call and not a creative one. I am positive that I will get Armageddon Unlimited and Megaverse In Flames to complete my collection of this highly ambitious series. It should be a great shot in the arm to get people playing more Palladium again. But my concern is, this book is so huge in the scope. Not only is Center featured, but conflicts and wars in the Three Galaxies itself. It's simply HUGE. With that said, one might feel a concern that from here on out, the books will be funneled down. Unless Armageddon Unlimited has a tie-in with Demon Stars facing against Aliens Unlimited races, we'll be going from maps of Hades and Dyval to the largest offensive move in Dimensional Outbreak where some planets, even stars have been destroyed, down to a single world, even a single city if Century Station is indeed where the portal to Dyval is. It just feels like a step down in scope, or a bottleneck in the flow of the story. Now, I'm really looking forward to Armageddon Unlimited, the setup of heroes and villains versus Demons and Deevils? Bringing Armageddon itself to be a means to an end? It's definitely a heroic effort. Save lives, save the city, save the world. I'm just unsure about going from a setting of the Three Galaxies to Century Station was the best planned. Megaverse In Flames will deal with Rifts Earth, and with it, the chance to spill out to countless dimensions. It just seems to me that in the order of the books released, I'd have released Armageddon Unlimited as the third book, then perhaps Megaverse In Flames, then Dimensional Outbreak so that the scope would increase and be greater in the encompassing momentum. But as I said, that's just me.
As far as the flow of the books that will round out this series, I look forward to them. Mr. Gleba, you have your work cut out for you to top yourself. But I for one am looking forward to the ride. If there is a rhythm and logic to the reactions of Hades and Dyval that hasn't been revealed yet. In Dimensional Outbreak, it's said that one portal to Dyval is on Center, but the one thing lacking seemed to be the Demons of Hades making a beeline to take that portal with everything else they're going after in Center. Now admittedly, they're making a grand play to take over the entire Center and the Three Galaxies, so I can see if they take everything, they'll have control of the portal as well. It just seemed to break the flow of storming into the portal to destroy the Deevils permanently in order to take a larger target. If this was done purposely, then I look forward to see how the stories unfold from the other books. If the events of one book effects another in a chain reaction, the I would love to see how it plays out. This is the measure of a good book. It gives us a lot, yet makes us crave more. And not in a bad way. All in all, I say this book is a buy. The negatives and omissions are far too few and are outweighed by the positives. Great storytelling and writing, excellent artwork, and the setting is like Lord of the Rings in space. Can the next two books surpass, or add on to this one in the Minion Wars series? Time will tell, and I'm going to enjoy the ride, not the wait.
