 Goto [ Index ] |
The central plot is that the lasers (name for player characters) are dispatched a salvaging operation of a luxury space liner that has run adrift in a Meson Shrapnel storm. Sadly, the war is over, but, near bankruptcy of the company owning the liner and the falling apart of the Intergalactic Union they need freelancers to save the day. Naturally, all is not as it seems. And, now someone has discovered the secret about the liner. Any more information would be spoilers…
Normally, I take a distrust to Space Opera adventures – but Pelgrane is turning that opinion around. Can’t say that I would use them every time and not modify them for a harder edge but they certainly are better than the average Space Opera offering currently on the market. So, this falls back to the Star Trek mode for players, albeit with lower powered starships than any of the Enterprise(s) to perform the salvage operation. The adventure does make good use of technology both as a plot device and accelerator of action.
As with all GUMSHOE products, there are mysteries and surreptitious events abounding. However, what makes this an especially good product and showing the maturity of GUMSHOE system is that the mystery is woven in more seamlessly with the use of innocents, red herrings and possibly multiple culprits. There are solid and robust suggestions on how to create the right mood. And, lack its predecessor more streamlined and [u]easier to understand[/u] than the Trail of Cthulhu adventures. There is room for improvisation and the Game master is encouraged to let players think outside of the box by appropriately metering out peril and reward. And, in this way, it is somewhat weak, but it is also the nature of the genre (Space Opera) but at the same time the adventure does not reward stupidity – and Total Party Kill remains one resolution to the central mystery with the baddies winning the day.
The writing is very clear and streamlined and evocative without neither being terribly long winded nor, containing too much purple prose. Pelgrane has mastered the art of engaging mystery adventure writing, that I was reminded how Asimov was challenged by Joseph Campbell to write both a mystery and Science Fiction story. Campbell asserted it could not be done. And, as we know Asimov managed to pull that rabbit out of the hat several times. Similarly, Pelgrane represents a certain maturity of the RPG industry to tackle deeper and darker themes whilst maintaining enjoyment and good, crisp writing. Their editor does a fine job at eliminating bugs and problems. The art is once again at an incredible level that it sets a standard that other companies ought to emulate. So, far, only the Spanish publisher of d100 Cthulhu has come close. It is dark, evocative and most importantly suggestive – thus the imagination takes you there. There are no pregens and sadly art for the NPCs either. I like to see people…as it helps in describing them and also playing them. I know that Pelgrane through GUMSHOE has mastered a particular system of providing you with motivations and vivid descriptions which should all be retained – but what can I say…a picture tells a thousand words…
