Review of Terminus 5

Well I guess I’ll start at the beginning of sorts. The book is a 400 page hardcover book looking much like a college text book, has a big white circle and a V through the circle.

When I fist saw it, it was in plastic and so I asked what it was…Nobody really knew. Some time later there it was not in plastic, and I was curious though no one yet knew what it really was. After some conversing I was offered a discount as for miniatures, so I took it. I later corresponded on the plastic issue with the Author and he wrote “Whew, thank the gaming gods for that. The shrinkwrap was needed only from a storage perspective, not because there are loose pieces, charts, etc in the game. I can only hope more retailers take of the wrap so that players can see the book as a whole.”

Now for a quick review Book cost $50 Book Quality **** the best I’ve seen for a game. Content **** way too much information to digest all of it in one night. Layout *** Not your everyday layout for a Gaming Book so it took some actual reading and not Skimming. ART ** comparing to most of the bigger names out there it looks as they went for content over art in the financing department though they do have some creative use of pictures and logos that makes up for it. Examples of play ** some of these examples require extensive reading to understand, though at the end they do make sense. Table Top Game System *** after reading it (not play testing yet) I like the rule system and some of the specialized rules as well. Role Playing System *** (again haven’t played yet so this is an estimate based on reading it). My main problem with both is a semi non-intuitive creation system and the charts that must be used during play. Not a big deal but a GM screen is definitely in need.

But I believe this to be one of those really cool games that will have a definite spot on any gamers shelf and gaming table. Overall I am truly impressed with the book as it is built to require little in way of supplements, it has an incredible equipment list, and combat is straight forward and deadly. I believe this book is a good Value at $50 and in the back is a money back guaranty, So the makers think it is too.

I’ll write in more detail on the following pages.

RPG Game System:

Is a level/ skill based system in that you increase your skills and advance by level. It is hard for me to describe it better then that though it seems well rounded.

Miniatures Game System:

It does not focus on a point system though it has what seems to be a very adequate system called SEAR that calculates equipment and combat capabilities of each troop.

*added by author of the book “You can use the SEAR system to "point up" Strike Cells or entire armies if you like, but that's only if you want to play using a points value system game.”

Combination of the two game systems:

Seamless, you take certain Stats away from the RPG and you have the stats for the Table Top.

Story: well in short it’s WWW V or World War Five 3 and 4 have basically taken life as we know it away, people live life mostly by military means or by the rule of the gun. The people that are trying to keep some form of civilization make armies and use those armies to secure necessary resources, Most complex machinery is gone though some has survived as well as some really cool new stuff, but it will cost you.

Most armies are structured on a “strike cell” system 5 men or women to a strike cell (PCs ) all strike cell members much have a minimum of a 6 intelligence or you do something else.

Much of humanity are scavengers or hoarders, and most neighbors don’t get along. As well as what seem to be Anarchistic troops hoping to destroy the weak and make something for themselves only to be ousted by their own subordinates. Armies are pretty much the only way to secure 3 square meals a day, and the security of that is always in question.

Dice needed: D100, D20, D12, D10, D6, D4

Magic: The only thing resembling it is Remote Viewing (a systematic form of Clairvoyance) but not real applicable in battle as it is very hit or miss and takes time and a trance.

*added by author of the book “Yep, no magic. You're right though, a RV is the closest thing that comes to it, just like the real world we live in now”.

Combat: In a word “Deadly” as an example given, and M16 does 15 points of damage, the head has a max 5 HP.

*added by author of the book “Yep, at Short range the 5.56 round does 30 points and at Extreme range it does 1 point. But it's based on actual stats, so that means at using an M16 at a range of 1"-9" the round does 30 points. At the Extreme ranges of 148"-196" it does only 1 point. So you can see, as in real life, most combat will take place at medium ranges where the 5.56 round does 22 points.”

The system has a quick hit location system for miniatures and a slightly more complex one for RPG. This is by far one of the quickest realistic combat systems I have seen.

In short I think of this as a very realistic system while still allowing for fun game play, I really recommend it as a realistic game setting and or as a great change of pace game for a few adventures.

Paxx Foot-note the staff was helpful so much so that the * added by author of book was his reply and clearing up some of my miss-conceptions, misquotes since I don’t have the book in front of me since I’m writing this at work. The website is very player oriented, though a work in progress.