A quick and simple review for a quick a simple supplement.
Fantastic Technology is in essence nothing more than a whole load of equipment, weapons, vehicles, toys, conveniences, games, droids and other miscellany for the Star Wars universe.
Much of the original material was submitted to West End Games as part of an RPGA Network-run contest. The book also contains some additional material by West End Games writers. It is nothing more than an unadulterated excuse to publish a whole list of (for the most part) interesting, exotic technological devices to enrich the Star War universe.
The book itself is presented like a catalogue for Galladinium Galactic Exports, much in the same vein as the old Aurora's Forgotten Realms Catalogue for AD&D if anyone remembers that. As such it is divided into several sections i.e. Conveyances, Weapons and Self-Defence or the very specialised Special Offerings (Hyperdrive booster – Oh my Goodness!). The items in the sections range from the useless to the bizarre to the intensely desirable. It is unlikely that you'll ever use all, or even most of, these gadgets in a specific campaign but you'll definitely want some of them after reading this book.
To give you a taster, security-conscious characters will want to protect their ships or homes with the nearly invisible Monofilament Screen Guards (6D damage on contact!). Why not wear an Emotion Suppresser headband to help with those times when emotions are socially unacceptable (like interrogation rooms)? What Bounty Hunter would be complete without the Bio-Cocoon, a biological device that traps a victim in a living gunk in seconds! Tired of working out exchange rates between Tulurian Dollars, Salinar Fish-bones and Zenkesi Copper-pots? What you need is the Galactic Currency Converter, only 300 credits on order from Galladinium's!
So do you buy Fantastic Technology or not? I'd say yes, so long as there was nothing else you particularly wanted instead. All the different devices and gadgets certainly give a lot of that special Star Wars treatment of technology and can populate and enrich a campaign, if only a little.
Don't let my rating put you off. I couldn't justify a 4 in either style or substance (I like to be critical) but this is definitely a nice little gem in the Star Wars line. Enjoy.
-Mao Chapman
Style: 3 (Average)
Substance: 3 (Average)
