The earlier volume of this series, I unfairly categorized as “gun porn”, while this might be the view of some – this is, however a comprehensive and beautifully done sourcebook/catalogue of modern weapons. Building from simple handguns to rocket propelled grenade launchers (the other RPG) along with an assortment of what typically might be held in the hands of a cult. Furthermore, there is an invaluable guide to the laws in major countries and zones of the world that may aid or more often than not in the modern period hinder the player’s access to firearms. Very often, players, especially at conventions tend to view the weapons page like the cache in
The Matrix. However, the real world does not work that way.
The weapons come with a standard stat bloc and then comes the detail, in which, one can learn a lot about the gun and its appropriate use in the game by reviewing its history. Contained within the history will be variants of the weapon. And, whether these variants make their way into one’s game is the province of the Keeper and player’s interaction. However, it does breed in a great deal of realism to the descriptions. Furthermore, the author makes an extraordinary connection with illustrating where in popular culture (usually TV or movies) the gun has been seen in use.
Each firearm comes with usually a photograph, thus, commentary on the level of art is unnecessary – it is realistic and gritty. Just what one needs in a sourcebook such as this. This book is comprehensively explored treatise on the guns highlighted both from a historical and technical standpoint, and it is very clear that the author has intimate workings of many guns profiled here. Since the rules do not venture into fantastical but are grounded in solid gritty realism. That said, it is still an item that enhances play and should not be used as a real life guide.
And, while the guns and their description do carry much of the weight of the book, it is not to say that additional rules for firearms do not pull their own weight. For the author has culled together tons of useful guidelines from a myriad of other sourcebooks and putting them together in one place. I wonder once this series of books is complete that Sixtystone Press will be compiling the weapons together in Keeper Screen sheets, with the vitals available for quick reference.
Nor should these rules provide any discomfort for the Keeper, for all the rules are scalable and the author does go out of the way to assert the truism – what is true in popular culture may not be true in Call of Cthulhu i.e. the proverbial shot to the head may not work on Cthulhu zombies or that given many telescopic gun sights utilize mirrors, it may render some forms of undead invisible. However, on the positive side, even though Deep Ones might have tougher torsos due to natural armour, a directed shot to their gills is likely to do the same damage as shooting a human in the larynx would.
Additionally there are rules that include how different levels of cover work, or shooting into or underwater, effects of fire and countless other tropes that can be found in any major film or action TV series brought to life. And, most importantly the treatment of said wounds can be played with greater realism than just “healing surges” and blooded wounds. Firearms, especially, modern firearms do have the capacity for shock and awe thus the very first rules are confusion and fright.
Once again, I am amazed and floored by the astonishing detail of research that went into the creation of this book. If there were to pick apart this book, one might find the occasional typo or misattribution but none of that should detract from the scale of the work. It is majestic and wonderful undertaking that makes modern games a snap. Thus, this book can be used for any espionage, technothriller, or near Future SF game that utilizes the BRP mechanic not just the Cthulhu family of games. Sixtystone Press has to be commended for bringing a volume like this to the light of day. It is certainly worth every cent and hoped that it will get wider distribution.
