The RPGnet Reviews Archive

RPG Review: 1248 Sourcebook 1: Out of the Darkness (2006)

Shannon Appelcline — 2009-07-03

Capsule Review by Shannon Appelcline (3/5): A superb book that bridges the gaps between the Golden Era, the Rebellion, and the New Era of the Traveller universe--then goes 50 years' further as well.

RPG Review: HackMaster Basic (2009)

James Gillen — 2009-07-03

Capsule Review by James Gillen (4/3): This is not The Greatest Game in the Wo-orld, no-oh-- this is just a Tribute.

RPG Review: Slipstream (2008)

Ken MacLennan — 2009-07-03

Capsule Review by Ken MacLennan (4/4): A satisfying homage to Flash Gordon and his cliff-hanging ilk, and a good match for the Savage Worlds system.

RPG Review: Warlocks and Detectives (2008)

L.J.Steele — 2009-07-03

Capsule Review by L.J.Steele (2/2): Police, PIs, and Vigilantees in an Alternate World. Likely useful to Edge of Midnight GMs, but of limited interest to others.

Book/Fiction Review: Dumarest of Terra (1967+)

Shannon Appelcline — 2009-07-01

Capsule Review by Shannon Appelcline (5/4): An excellent set of adventure books centering on unique worlds and those who travel among them.

RPG Review: Alpha Omega: The Beginning and the End (2008)

Steven Lindsey — 2009-07-01

Capsule Review by Steven Lindsey (5/5): Alpha Omega is Mind Storm Labs flaghship game. Taking elements of Zecharia Sitchin, Alan Alford, Judge Dread, Rifts, Shadowrun, and In Nomine, Alpha Omega along with the 6-6 system creates a wonderful post-apocalyptic setting with a fun crunchy system.

RPG Review: Dragon Warriors (2008)

Kieran Turley — 2009-06-29

Capsule Review by Kieran Turley (5/5): An easy to learn system combined with a very atmospheric setting. Perfect for new players and old hands alike.

RPG Review: GURPS Traveller: Behind the Claw (1998)

Shannon Appelcline — 2009-06-29

Capsule Review by Shannon Appelcline (3/5): A superb, but dry, reference for the Spinward Marches that should be in the library of every single Mongoose Traveller GM running a game in that sector of space.

RPG Review: Player's Handbook 2 (2009)

James Gillen — 2009-06-29

Capsule Review by James Gillen (3/4): Yes, now you can finally play a Gnome Barbarian. But that would be silly.

RPG Review: Inklings of Power (2008)

Christopher W. Richeson — 2009-06-26

Capsule Review by Christopher W. Richeson (3/3): Offering mass combat rules and epic play scenarios, Inklings of Power has a variety of neat ideas and is a dependable product for many Lesser Shades of Evil games headed towards epic play.

RPG Review: Seal of the Imperium V1, #1 (2000)

Edmund Wilfong — 2009-06-26

Capsule Review by Edmund Wilfong (4/4): Variety fanzine-come-supplement for Tekmel for someone who is already getting into the setting and wants some extra information.

RPG Review: Wraeththu: From Enchantment to Fulfillment (2005)

Darren MacLennan — 2009-06-26

Capsule Review by Darren MacLennan (2/1): Wraeththu is a colossal misfire of an adaptation, mixing inaccurate information with a bad system and a number of really creepy assumptions. Plus, I figured out how to use HTML, which is kind of like giving a small child a howitzer and an unlimited supply of shells.

Book/Fiction Review: Space Viking (2008)

Shannon Appelcline — 2009-06-24

Capsule Review by Shannon Appelcline (4/3): Space Viking, a science-fiction novel from the 1960s, appears to have influenced a few specific areas in the Traveller universe, but is more useful to Traveller GMs looking for inspiration regarding the general ideas of feudalism and space travel found in the Traveller game.

Card Game Review: Looting London (2009)

Shannon Appelcline — 2009-06-24

Playtest Review by Shannon Appelcline (4/3): A light and tense game of set-collection and majority-control, by master Reiner Knizia.

RPG Review: 4th Edition Dungeons and Dragons Players Handbook

Travire — 2009-06-24

Capsule Review by Travire (4/2): A game with many pro's and con's. In the end it is fatally flawed by some unworkable rules and the mis-marketing of its publishers.

RPG Review: Control: The Game of Absolute Power (2004)

August — 2009-06-22

Capsule Review by August (3/5): The Illuminati is in no way related to, behind, responsible for, connected with, allied to, affiliated with, concomitant with, or of the persuasion of said author. Nano-bombs do not get injected into the base of people's skulls, nor do such things as sorcery or superscience exist. There are no such things as Men In Black, black masses, time travel, ghosts, specters, spirits, sprites or big foot. At least not today anyway...Fnord!

RPG Review: Fading Suns (1999)

Michael Bay — 2009-06-22

Capsule Review by Michael Bay (5/5): Fading Suns is a science fiction role playing game with a lush, gorgeous background and system that has had its share of criticisms. Regardless, I highly suggest Fading Suns to anyone interested in a fascinating and original science fiction role-playing game.

RPG Review: The Regency Sourcebook: Keepers of the Flame (1995)

Shannon Appelcline — 2009-06-22

Capsule Review by Shannon Appelcline (2/5): A superb supplement detailing The Spinward Marches for the New Era, that also has a lot of useful information for other eras of play.

RPG Review: WitchGirl Adventures (2009)

Timothy S. Brannan — 2009-06-22

Capsule Review by Timothy S. Brannan (5/4): Great new game and system designed for new players. It's a nice mix of modern, occult, anime and fantasy. Worth the price for the magic system alone.

RPG Review: Alpha Omega: The Beginning and the End (2008)

Phill Winters — 2009-06-19

Capsule Review by Phill Winters (5/4): A new game from a new publisher has to do well to break into the rpg fraternities hearts and minds and from the discussions carrying on it looks like Alpha Omega has managed it with top marks.

RPG Review: Mouse Guard Roleplaying Game (2008)

Christopher W. Richeson — 2009-06-19

Playtest Review by Christopher W. Richeson (5/5): Mouse Guard combines the wonderful world of the comic of the same name with the descriptive Burning Wheel system to create a game that encourages heroic adventure at every turn.

RPG Review: Slasher Flick: Deleted Scenes (2009)

Tommy Brownell — 2009-06-19

Capsule Review by Tommy Brownell (5/5): Everything added makes sense from the stance of genre emulation, which isnt a surprise given the authors other worksbut is it worth the $1.99 asked for it?

RPG Review: The MegaTraveller Journal #3 (1992)

Shannon Appelcline — 2009-06-19

Capsule Review by Shannon Appelcline (4/4): Another handsome magazine from DGP featuring high-quality articles on the Domain of Deneb and on the Rebellion.