Vast in the Dark, by C. Ferguson Avery

System: Agnostic, though recommends compatible Length: Twenty-five (25) page Link: The Vast in the Dark

The "Good" (Likes): It is helpful when any work, but especially one so tightly written, contains a clear mission statement. There is no fluff or meaningless setting detail in this work. The author provides useful material on every page of the 'zine. This is truly a toolbox, ordered and orderly.

For example, it contains a plethora of useful tables, including but not limited to: traveller quirks, settlements, rooms, treasures, encounters, travel, wasteland effects and last, but certainly not least, inventory. In particular, inventory provides an interesting twist on placement and encumbrance, a satisfying "mini-game" on resource management and where to stow the gear.

Another noteworthy feature is the exploration time mechanic; it is both easy to administer and constructs a strong atmosphere. Many systems would benefit from this approach.

The page design flows well, both within a page and from page to page. The font, typeface and size make the content easy to read and then locate later when retrieving a piece of information.

The "Bad" (Dislikes): Somewhat discordant, inconsistent art style between the landscapes and the figures. That written, both are very strong, but together they do not mesh. However, style is a matter of taste.

The "Ugly" (Conclusion): This 'zine is exceedly useful for putting an interesting twist into an existing game or additional operative flavor into a new game. The design and content work harmoniously together, forming a compact and concise work that contains so much useful content that it belies its modest 25 pages. Even though sparse, it does impart some setting/world detail that strikes the right balance.