As a GM I make a point of buying a GM screen for every game that I'm considering running. The day after I bought the Fading Suns rulebook I ordered the GM screen, which comes with a 16-page Weapons Compendium and a color version of the map of the Known Worlds from the back of the rule book.
Fading Sun's rules genuinely appeal to me. Magic and psionics rules are extensive and definitely important things to have on a GM screen. So why weren't they on this one? A fourth panel would have provided room. The screen is also very flimsy. The card stock is so thin that when opened up the screen naturally bows. A breeze or a wayward die could knock it over.
The Weapons Compendium is a nice idea, however, it also fell short. Players want to know specifics of the equipment their characters have. Such details add realism and often result in PCs choosing gear based on the way it looks, matching materiel to character. If only stats are given, then there is no incentive not to pick the most efficient or powerful items. Unfortunately stats are all we are given for most of the Fading Suns equipment, and the Weapons Compendium does little to remedy that. The old gear doesn't get listed and roughly half the new stuff is illustrated. Sixteen black and white pages and 20 illustrations do not a compendium make.
The map is nicely done, but like the other parts is somewhat flawed. Too thin to wear well, lamination is necessary if a GM plans to put it to much use. The beautiful purple background can quickly look more trashed than a frat house carpet.
I can't honestly recommend the Gamemasters Screen. It has too many gaps and flaws to make it worth the 12 dollars. Holistic Design generally puts out quality products. The GM Screen is the exception.
Style: 3 (Average)
Substance: 2 (Sparse)
