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RPG REVIEW

Issue #26-#27,
December-March 2014-2015

Pirates and Swashbucklers Double Issue


Mark Pettigrew Interview Pirates of Middle Earth Many
Pirate RPG Reviews Belly of the Beast Adventure The
Ivory Tower Adventure Pirates for Multiple Systems
Pirate Encounters for Gulliver's Trading Company Nautical
Races for D&D 5th Ed Shab i Hiri Roach City of Freiburg
The Pirates Band of Misfits and Noah Movie Reviews

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TABLEOFCONTENTS
Administrivia,Editorial,Letters
HotGossip:IndustryNews
MarkPettigrewInterview
PiratesandSwashbucklerRPGs
CrewoftheDamned:PiraticalPregens
BellyoftheBeast
PiratesofMiddleEarth
PirateEncountersforGulliver'sTradingCompany
NauticalRacesforD&D5thEdition
DeepintheIvoryTower
PirateShabalHiriRoach
Freiburg:ReviewandElaboration
LifeAsAPyrate
ThaiInfluencesinGamandria
SomeThoughtsonTheWheelofTime
MovieReview:ThePiratesBandofMisfits
MovieReview:Noah
MovieReview:JupiterAscending
NextIssue:TheUndead!

manycontributors
byMingshiWu
withMarkPettigrew
byLevLafayette
byKarlDavidBrown
byNicholasMoll
byMichaelCole
byKarlDavidBrown
byKarlDavidBrown
byLevLafayette
byLevLafayette
byLevLafayette
byJakethePeg
byBrendanDavies
byNickLangdon
byAndrewMoshos
byAndrewMoshos
byAndrewMoshos
bymanypeople

p18
p911
p1214
p1544
p4550
p5155
p5673
p7482
p8390
p9196
p97101
p102108
p109111
p112114
p115129
p120121
p122124
p125127
p128

ADMINISTRIVIA

RPGReviewisaquarterlyonlinemagazinewhichwillbeavailableinprintversionatsomestage.Allmaterialremainscopyrighttotheauthors
exceptforthereprintingasnotedinthefirstsentence.Varioustrademarksandimageshavebeenusedinthismagazineofreviewandcriticism.Any
useofimages,materialetc,isnottobeconstruedasachallengetoanyintellectualpropertyandisunder"fairuse"asreview.Anyuseofimages,
materialetc,isnottobeconstruedasachallengetoanyintellectualpropertyandisusedunder"fairuse".TextisinNimbusRoman,headingsin
NimbusSans,frontpageinUtopia.Anyerrorsoromissionsareunintentional.ThisincludesbyisnotexclusivetoreferencestoMiddleEarthowned
bytheTolkienEstate,Dungeons&DragonsbyWizardsoftheCoast,Freiburgand7thSeabyAlderacEnterainmentGroup.Noahisdistributedby
ParamountPictures,ThePiratesBandofMisfitsbyColumbiaPictures,andJupiterAscendingbyWarnerBros.

EDITORIAL
WelcometoadoubleissueofpiratesandswashbucklingadventuresforRPGReview,anunexpecteddoubleissue
whichstartedshort,hadsomelargearticlesprovidedandthenfollowedupwithanothertwomonthsorsostrugglingto
getthepagecountup.Thehorribleresultisthatthisbigissueisepicallylate,leavinglessthanamonthforthe
deadlineforthenextissue.Thisiswhathappenswhenonetriestobeoldfashionedintheproductionstyleandprovide
aconsistentpagecount.Gaming'bloggerscanjustputthematerialupandtohellwiththewordcount!Whichis,of
course,averytemptingpathtotake.Asitis,thisisashorterissuethanusualforadoubleitissupposedtobea
massive128pages[EDITNo,wemadeit!].Wellwemadethetonneastheysayintheoldlanguage,butwe'vestill
fallenalittleshort.
Butontopicthereisagreatdealthatfascinatescontemporarypeopleabouttheageofpiracyandswashbuckling.In
partitistheescapismanddangerofthehighseas,free(moreorless)fromtheconstraintsofcivilisation.Inpartitis
thesenseofadventureanddanger,nottomentionafairbitoffantasticsuperstitionthatcharacterisedthetimes.
Doubtlesstherearemanyotherswhoareexcitedbythecinematicportrayalofthefashionsofthetime,oralmost
certainlytheswordplay.Whetherittheclassicpirateormusketeerfilmsofthepasttocontemporaryviewingsuchas

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thesuccessfulPiratesoftheCaribbeanseries,thecombinationofadventure,romanceandflourishissomethingthat
excitesandinvolves.
Thisisallaveryfarcryfromrealpiracywhich,forthepurposesofconsideration,alsoincludesprivateers.Itis
reasonabletoassumethateversincesincewaterbornevesselswereusedforcommercethattherewerethosewhotook
tothesea(orevenriverandlake)toraidsuchvessels.Thefirsthistoricalrecordsrefertothe'SeaPeoples',anebulous
termforraidersintheeastMediterranean,whowerefirstmentionedinEgyptianrecordsdatingbackto1275BCE.
Indeedtherewereamultitudeofseaborneraiderswhoweregiventhiscollectivenamebymorecontemporarywriters,
ofwhichtheLukkaofsouthwesternAnatoliaandtheSherden,ofwhoseoriginsarestillunderfascinatingdispute.
IntheHellenicage,itseemsthateveryoneGreeks,Romans,IllyriansTyrrhenians,Phoenicians,Gothsallengaged
inpiracy.Indeed,piracywassocommonthatmajorcitieswerebuiltslightlyinlandtoprovideprotectionagainst
coastalraiders(whodependedonspeedratherthannumbers)withpairedharboursidefortifications(e.g.,Romeand
Ostia,AthensandPiraeus).Piracywassoprofitablethatbythe1stcenturyBCEthatsmallpiratestateswerebeing
establishedalongtheAnatoliancoast,withJuliusCaesarcapturedandheldprisonerforatime.Evenontheotherside
oftheRomanEmpire,hundredsofyearslater,asitwellknownStPatrickwascapturedbyIrishpiratesbutthat's
certainlyanotherstoryinitsownright.
Intothemedievalperiod,theVikingswerethemostwellknownpiracygroup,rangingfromthewellknowncoastlines
ofnorthernEuropebutlesswellknownevenraidingthenorthAfricanandItalianshorelineand,intheotherdirection,
alongtheriversofEasternEuropeintotheBlackSea.Duringthesametime,Moorishpiratesestablishedthemselves
alongthecoastlineofsouthernFranceandtheBalericIslands,evensackingRomeandcontrollingthepassesinthe
Alpsratherinlandofthem.Yes,therewereconflictsbetweenMoorishpiratesandVikingpirates.Ontheothersideof
Rome,theNarentinesestablishedthemselvesontheIllyriancoastandengagedinsignificantpiracyintheAdriaticSea,
eveninvadingsouthernItalyforatimebutmostlycausinggreatsufferingamongtheVenetians.
Theothersideoftheworldhashaditsshareofpiracyaswell,withtheYellowSeabetweenChinaandKoreabeing
particularlysubjecttosuchpreditationsintheninthcentury,eventuallyleadingtoanenormousgarrisonbeing
establishedknownastheCheonghaeGarrison.Sometimelater,theWokouestablishedthemselvesinJapanand
outlyingislandsandforthenextthreehundredyears(yes,that'sright)wouldraidthecoastofChina.Thereisenormous
disputeoftheethnicityofthesepiratesinevitablytiedtonationalpride.Contemporaryaccountssuggestthattheywere
multiethnic,ratherlikeearlymodernpiratesofthewest.Furthersouthitisasurprisetonobodythatpiracyinthe
IndianoceanandMalayarchipelagohasbeencommonwiththeBuginesesailorsofSouthSulawesiandtheMoro
piratesofthesouthernPhilippinesbeingparticularlynotable.AmongtheChineseZhengYiSaoformedapirate
coalitionintheearly19thcenturythatconsistedofovertenthousandindividuals,aseriouschallengetotheQingnavy.
Themostfamouspirateperiodandtheonewherealmostallthefilmandgamingperiodsaresetisthe"goldenage"
fromaround1600to1750.TheBarbarycorsairsmustreceivefirstmentionhereforbeingactivefromthecrusader
periodonwards,launchingtheirattacksonshippinginthewesternMediterraneanSea,raidingcoastalregionsofItaly
andSpaininparticularandevenreachingasfarastIceland.ItisestimatedthatoveramillionEuropeanswerecaptured
byBarbarycorsairsandsoldasslaves16thand19thcenturies.AmongtheEuropeanpowersitwasn'taveryfarstep
fromofficialimperialismtounofficialpiracy,manyfindingtheirhomeinplacesasfarawayasMadgascar,siteofthe
"probablyfictional"pirateutopia"Libertatia"whichreceivesaninterestingcoveragebyWilliamS.Burroughs'novel
"CitiesoftheRedNight".
ButitistheCaribbeanwherethehistoricalpiratesaremostfamous.AsFrance,England,andtheUnitedProvinces
soughttoacquirelandandpossessionstherewasagreatdealofopportunityforblatantrobberyevenundertheguideof
officiallegitimacyfromonepowertoanother.Indeeditwasthisofficalrecruitmentthatbroughttheperiodofpiracyto
itspeak,especiallythroughrecruitmentbytheEnglishandFrenchofthosebasedatPortRoyal.AstheSpanishpower
declinedandFranchandEnglandreturnedtoconflict,piracyshiftedfromtheCaribbeantotheIndianoceanandfurther
afieldintotheAtlantic,especiallythe"triangulartrade"ofEurope(exportmanufacturedgood,importrawmaterials),

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Africa(importmanufacturedgoods,exportslaves)andtheCaribbeanandAmericancoast(importslaves,exportraw
materials).
Incontemporarytimesthereisstillimpressivelevelsofpiracy,withestimatedworldwidelossesofUS$16billionper
yearespeciallyintheRedSea,offtheSomalicoast,andintheSouthChinaSea.Asmerchantnavieshaveaconvention
againstcarryingheavyweaponsinpeacetime,thereisanincreasingpractiseofusingprivatesecurityguardswithlight
armsasameanstodeterthetypicalsmallpiratevessels.Oneofthemoreinterestingchallengesrelatestointernational
law;anappealtouniversaljurisdictionismade,sothatgovernmentsmayinterveneoutsidetheirterritoryonthebasis
thatpiracyisathreattoallshipping.ItissomethingthatwouldalsofinditswayintotheUNConventionontheLawof
theSea.
Regardlessofwhetherhistoricalorfictional,herewehaveagreatcollectionofthepirateandswashbucklerthemed
RPGarticleswhich,tobehonest,hasneverbeenaparticularlyhugepartoftheroleplayingworldbutsufficiently
populartogenerateacoupleofverynotablegames,evenfromtheearliestofdays(e.g.,EnGarde!)tosomerather
impressivesellers(7thSea).WestarthoweverwithaninterviewwithMarkPettigrewwhodesignedagameintheearly
80scalledFlashingBlades',agamesufficientlyimpressivethatitstillretainsanactivefanandplayingbase.One
cannothelpbutthinkwhenreadingMark'swordshowheisstillalittlesurprisedandhumbledbythecontinuing
popularityofhiseffort.
Followingthegamingreviews,KarlBrownoffersaseriesofpirateandswashbucklingstyledcharactersforavarietyof
gamesystemsandwithsomenotablequirks.Furtheronintheissueisasetofpirateencountersbythesameauthorfor
Gulliver'sTradingCompanyandNauticalRacesforD&D5thedition.
Thisisascenarioheavyissueaswell;NicholasMollkicksoffwithaspacefaringpirateadventure,'BellyoftheBeast'
andMichaelColefollowswihadiscussionofpiratesinMiddleEarthalongwithascenarioforthatsetting.Yourstruly
alsocontributeswithapiratevariantofShabiHiriRoach,aRuneQuestPiratesadventurewhereallisnotquitewhatit
seems,andareviewandelaborationof7thSea'sFreiburg.Forthosewhopreferadashtoomuchrealismandgrit,Jake
thePeg(possibleanomduplume)offersLifeAsPyrateinanentertainingmanner.
FromourregularcontributorAndrewMoshosofferstrilogyofmoviereviews,thePiratesBandofMisfits,Noah,and
JupiterAscending.Atleasttwocountasnautical;notsurewhetherJupiterAscedingcountsforanything.Mingshi's
impressivelylargegossipcolumn,Imeanindustrynews,hasmanagedtointroduceanumberofappropriateexamples
forthesettingandstyleforthisissuealongwithherusualcompilationofwhat'snewinthehobby.Finally,asa
exampleofhowallarticlesineachissuearenotdirectlyrelatedtothechosensubjectmatter,BrendanDaviesoffers
somedesigner'snotesforGamandria,especiallywithregardtoThaiinfluencesand,inagenrefictionreview,Nick
LangdonprovideshisthoughtsonTheWheelofTime.
Thereisanothermatterwhichthiseditorialmustaddressandalas,itisthelesspleasantsideofthehobbywhichhas
reallyonlytouchedthemorenarrowfocusthatonefindswithtabletopRPGs,buthasaffectedtheindustryonalarger
scale.Iamtalking,ofcourse,ofageneraltoxicitythathasaffectedthecommunityundertheguiseofGamergateand
morerecentlythekerfuffleovertheHugoAwards.
Asanaside,Ican'tstandthetendencyforanysortofrealorimaginedconspiracyorscandaltoutilisethegatesuffix.
Sure,itmadesensewithWatergate,becausethatwasthenameofthehotelwheretheeventshappened.Theothers(and
therearelots:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_scandals_with_%22gate%22_suffix)arenonsenseandshoulddie
inafire.Mindyou,Idochucklealittleattheironyofthegamergatewhich,inentomology,representsreproductively
viablefemaleworkerantsincolonieswhichdonothaveaqueen.Ifthiswasintentionalfromthosewhocoinedthe
term,kudostothem.Ifnot,you'vejustaddedtoalonglistofaignorantculturalphenomenon.
Butbacktothesubjectathand,ifyouareunawareoftheseissues,somecongratulationsaredue.You'vemanagedto
avoidthebetterpartoftwoyearsofanawfulculturewar,primarilycarriedoutovertheInternetbutwithsomevery

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seriousrealworldimplications.ThesummaryversionofGamergateisasfollows:GamedeveloperZoeQuinn
releasedDepressionQuest,atextbasedinteractivefictiongamewhichresultedinseveralpositivereviews.Anumber
ofgamersfeltthatthegamewasreceivingundueattentionwithcriticismoftencentredonthefactitwas(a)textbased
and(b)about'boring'subject,ratherthankillingbugeyedaliensororcs.Howeverwhatreallykickedthedebateoff
wasaneartenthousandwordpostfromaformerpartnerofZoe'saccusedherofhavingarelationshipwithagaming
journalistwiththeimplicationthatthisrelationshipledtofavourablereviews.
Thiswasn'tactuallytrueofcourse;thejournalistneverreviewedQuinn'sgameandtheonlyconnectionwasanews
articlewrittenbeforetheirrelationship.Still,itdidn'tstopthebeginningofwhatcanonlybedefinedasamisogynistic
harassmentcampaign,whichincludedrapeanddeaththreats.ThesewerealsousedagainstAnitaSarkeesian,afeminist
culturalcriticofthegamingindustry,whichincludedUtahStateUniversityhavingtocancelaspeakingeventdueto
massshootingthreat.GamedeveloperBriannaWuwasalsosubjecttorapeanddeaththreats.Fromtheothersideof
thestory,therehavebeensimilaraccusations,andevenabombthreatagainstsupportersofGamergate.Andsoitgoes
on;onecanreviewtheentiresordidaffairattheirleisure.
WithregardtotheHugoAwardsthereiscertainlyacontinuation.Twogroups,callingthemselves"SadPuppies"or
"RapidPuppies"respectivelyindicatingtheirownorientationontheissue,havereactedagainstwhattheyconsideran
overemphasisintheHugosingivingawardstoauthorsfromgroupsthathavebeentraditionallymarginalisedscience
fiction.Ratherthanseeingthisdiversificationasprogress,they'veinterpreteditasawhittlingawayattheircultural
identity.ThechiefspokespersonoftheRapidPuppies,TheodoreBeale(akaVoxDay)hasbluntlystated:"Iconsider
women'srightstobeadiseasethatshouldbeeradicated".CertainlythispositionwouldberejectedbytheSad
Puppies,butageneraloppositiontoaperceivedprominoritygroupbiasexistsinbothcamps.BecausetheHugos
area"people'saward"acampaignhasbeenorchestratedtopurchasesupportingmembersandvoteforaslateofauthors
forthevariousawards.Allverymuchinaccordancetotherules,albeitagamingofthesystem.
AmongtheGamergateadvocatesandHugoPuppiestherearesomepeoplewhoclaimadegreeofinnocence.Their
interest,wearetold,isthattheywanthighqualitygamesandpublications.Theyareconcernedthatreviews,awards,
etchavebecomedominatedby"socialjusticewarriors"(asDaveCakequipped,"Iprefertothinkofmyselfasa'Social
JusticeWizard'),withaleftwingpoliticalagenda,andcorruptprocesses.Theyjustwantplaygamesandwritefiction
inafreeandcreativespirit,withouthavingtoworryaboutwhatgrouptheymightoffendbytheirwork.Theydon't
wanttobejumpedonbyotherswiththeaccusationthattheirpublications,theirgames,andsoforth,areracist,sexist,
etc,especiallywhentheyarecontextuallyappropriate.Itisunfortunate,theywilladmit,thatmisogynisticandracist
trollshavebeenattractedtotheGamergateandPuppycause,andtheywanttodistancethemselvesfromthismajority.
Istherenotsomelegitimacytotheircomplaints?
Inanutshell,notasmuchasismadeout.Thechiefargumentthatsomehowthegamingindustrypressisanelite
leftwingcliquethatsystemicallyexcludesgoodgamesandpublicationsthatarecontrarytotheirworldviewis
seriouslylackinginevidenceandmoretothepoint,itisinahobbyareathatishardlymonopolisticbyanystretchof
theimagination.It'sahugelycompetitivearea,especiallygiventhemediainvolvedwhichisprettymuchwebbased
publicationsandsoftware.Therearesomerealandseriousexamplesofrevealedconflictsofinterest;videogame
producer3DOthreatenedtoreducetheiradvertisingexpenditureinGameProfollowinganegativereviewin2001.In
2007anemployeeofGamespotwassackedaftergivinganegativereviewtoagamefromacompanythatadvertised
heavilyonthewebsite.Froma2014surveybyMikeRoseinGamasutra,approximatelyaquarterofhighprofile
YouTubegamingchannelsreceivepayfromthegamepublishersordevelopersfortheircoverage.
Nowevenifthisisbutthetipoftheiceberg,it'snottoomuchofanicebergespeciallywhencomparedtoother
publications(hellomusicindustry?).Noticethatthisisafifteenyearrangeofconfirmedcases.Butdisclosureis
incrediblyimportant.Everygamereviewerontheplanetshouldmakeexplicitwhatties,ifany,theyhavewith
particularpublicationsdowntothefactthatthey'vereceivedtheproductforfree(kudosaregiventorpg.netfor
insistingonthisintheirreviews).Thosewhichdonotdothissimplyarenotworththetimeofthedayand,duetoa
competitiveindustry,canbeavoided.Moreimportantlyaregameproducers;thosewhichthreatensolelyonthebasisof

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negativereviewsneedtobecalledoutandidentified,becausewhattheyaredoingisturningwhatshouldbegenuine
criticalreviewsintonothingmorethanfreeadvertising.Sadly,thishappensintheTRPGindustryaswell.Ionceasked
someoneforareviewinthispublicationandthiswastheirresponse:
"Aswell,Iamnotsuregettingbackintofullonreviewsiswiseforme....Pickingproductsandpresentingthem
positivelydoesn'treallyriskmuchinthewayofbacklash,professionally;actualreviews,however,getsmeintosome
stickyweeds."
Ifeltsorryforthepersoninquestion,becausetheyindicatedthattheywouldbeinterestedinprovideactualreviews
buttheywereworriedbythebacklashtheymightreceivefromsuchcontent.Asaresult,theyprovidealowrisk
positiveportrayalofselectproducts.Thisisamicrocosmexampleofasocietywithoutcriticism,whichmeans,one
whichcannotevolve.
Sure,there'salwaysroomforcriticismandimprovement,butcertainlythatisexactlywhatthegamerandscience
fictioncommunityhasdoneoverthepastdecades.Youwantcriticismandimprovementtotheindustry?Fine,there's
plentyofworkthatneedstobedone,absolutelyplenty.Theprocessofculturalcriticismimprovesthegenre,rather
thandetractsfromit.Certainly,suchreflectiondoescausediscomfortamongmanybecausetheyareforcedtohavea
lookassomeoftheproblematicaspectsoftheescapistfantasies,andifthereisanydoubtaboutthisAnnaK'sreviewof
"corpsetits"(https://gomakemeasandwich.wordpress.com/tag/corpsetits/)shouldbeevidenceenough.Iknowthat
therearesomegamersandsciencefictionfansthatwouldratherwishtheentireworldofculturalcriticswouldsimply
goawayandhadn'tdiscoveredthem,butthisisinevitable.Theyarealsopartofthecommunityandhavebeensincethe
veryfirstdays.Doanyoneseriouslythinkthatyoucouldengageinescapistliteratureandnothaveanexplorationof
socialalternatives?

Ourownhobbyisfarfromexcludedfromallthis.Thefollowingareexamplesofderogatorycommentsbyonegame
designerinagamingforum:
"EvenI,forallmydownrightcontemptofeverythingtheystandfor,willfuckagothchick.Todoanythinglessjust
wouldn'tbewholesome.Oh,I'llmocktheshitoutofherrightafter,andwouldn'tactuallywanttobeinarelationship"
and"OneGM,oneplayer.Isn'tthatreallymorethanalittlebitgay?"
Thisisanexampleofanattitudethatisgrosslydisrespectfulofyoungwomenofaparticularfashionsense.Itisthis
sortofexclusiveobjectificationofothersthatconstitutessexism;ithearkensbacktothedaysofifIcanhavea+1
swordthattalks,whycan'tIhavea+3femalethatdoesn't?.Thefactthatthegeneralslangforasexualorientationis
beingusedasasubstitutefor'lame'demeanspeopleofthatorientationisoblivioustoauthor.Iftheyweregenuinely
concernedaboutsexismandhomophobia,theywouldatleastmaketheefforttoadmitthatthesepriorstatementswere

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wrong,hurtfultoothers,andmakeanapologyforthem.Thatwouldbeabigthingtodoandwouldgarneragreatdeal
ofrespect.Anydamnfoolcanbeafoulmouthedkeyboardwarrior.Whattakesrealstrengthofcharacteristobeable
toreflectonone'sownactionsandwords,considerhowtheymayhavebeeninappropriate,acknowledgeitdirectly,and
stepupandsaythatonewaswrong,butthey'velearnedfromtheexperience.
Thereis,ofcourse,someedgymaterialwhichcanbeconfronting,evendamaging,ifnotpresentedinaconsidered
manner.Cthuthultechincludesthreeadventureswhichhaveunavoidablerapescenes,twoofthemagainst
playercharacters.Yes,thisisagameaboutcosmichorrorsandamoralcultistsderivedfromamythoswrittenbya
personwhoseracismisnotorious.Onemayexpectthatsexualviolencecouldbepartofthestoryline.Onecanmakea
literaryargument,asJamesDesboroughhasdone(withthesensitivelyentitledInDefenseofRapeblogpost),thatas
aplotdevice,asamotivatingcharacteristic,asathematicelement,andthatabsolutelynothingshouldbeofflimitsin
fiction.ButIdon'tseetoomanyvoicesbeingraisedagainstsuchliterarydevices.Thecriticalquestionisinstead,"is
yourworkpromotingandencouragingsuchactivity?Areyoubeinggratuitoustothepointofperversetitillationwith
itsinclusion?".ReallyCthulhutech,didyouthinkyoumighthavegonealittletoofarwhenyouwrote"onlyaround2%
ofthepublishedmaterialevenincludesthewordrape"asadefenseforthecontent?
Asanotherexample,considertheBabylon5EarthAllianceFactbook.Fine,inthetelevisioncharacternationalitieswere
stereotyped.Ivanovawasasombrepessimist,"that'saveryRussianattitude",shesaid.MichaelGaribaldiwasoften
seenwithItalianfood.Buttheseareharmlessstereotypeswhich,whilstnottrue(therearesomeoptimisticRussians
andsomeItalianswhopreferburgersandfriesovercannelloni)arehardlyoffensiveordenigrating.Manyroleplayers
putonforeignaccents(usuallybadly)andhamwellknownharmlesstropesassociatedwithaculture.Thesourcebook
however,nationalityafternationality,proposedharmfulstereotypes;theIrishlovefightinganddrinking,theScotsare
belligerentandbarbaric,theGermansaredescribedas"oneofthemostmilitaristiccountriestoevermarchtroops
acrossaborder",thepeopleofGreeceandtheBalkansare"greedyandsanctimonious,seekingwealthinallitsforms
butrarelyhangingontoitlongoncetheyachieveit."AsfortheFrench..well,let'sjustcitetheentry:
"Theytendtoseetheirwayasthebestandeveryoneelse'swayasunimportantorjustplainwrong.Theyrarelyadmit
theyaremistakenaboutanything,andevenwhenfacedwithundeniableproofthattheymadeanerror,theirresponse
istoshrugitoffandchangethesubject."
Theironyispalpable.
Furtherexamples?Howabout'BelleandBlade'avendoratGenConwhichprovidesvariousDVDsinthewargenre.
SomewhatmoredisconcertingishowtheyeasilymakelightofNazism,withtshirtsemblazonedwitheachoftheSS
Divisioninsignia,orentitled"AfrikaKorps
WorldTour"andsoforth.In2013however
theNazilovejoinedupwithrape
"humour";underwearemblazonedwiththe
slogan"ICouldUseALittleSexual
Harassment".
OrF.A.T.A.L.There,Inamedit.
Itisnotsomeleftwingconspiracytoraise
complaintsagainstsuchsentiments;itis
notanargumentfororagainsta
conservativeorliberalapproachto
institutionalreform,oracapitalisticor
socialisticpoliticaleconomy.Itisabout
beingadecenthumanbeingwhograntsall
peopleatamodicumofinherentrespect

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anddignityregardlessoftheethnicity,nationality,religion,orpoliticalviewpoints.Itis,anutshell,anoassholerule.
Leastthisseemflippant,thereisaverygoodbookbyStanfordprofessorRobertI.Suttonwithexactlythattitle(andthe
informativesubtitle:"BuildingaCivilizedWorkplaceandSurvivingOneThatIsn't").Thebasicargumentofthisbook
isthat"assholebehaviour"intheworkforcedamagesproductivity.Itisreallyasurprisetodiscoverwhereworkplaces
whereinsults,threats,flames,etcarecommonareunpleasantplacestobe?Butit'sworsethatjustproductivity;it
increasesabsenteeism,lowerscommitment,itcoststimetomanagethesituation(nottomentionpotentialsettlement
fees),and,tothevictims,itleadstoheightenedratesofstressanddepression.
NowwhilstSuttonconcentratesonworkplaceenvironments,itismysuspicionthatthesamesortofmetricsapplyinall
communities.Assholesdestroycommunities;thedestroythembytheexclusiveness,thedestroythembydemeaning
others,thedestroythembytheirlackofcivility,theirdenigratingstereotypes,andtheirbasictrolling.Mostpeople
whenencounteringsuchbehaviour,asSuttonpointsoutinworkplaces,simplyopttoquietlyleave.Thosewhocannot,
orarestubbornenoughtostayhavetobeextremelycareful.Thestudiesthatexistsuggestthatassholebehaviouris
contagious,insofaronesuchpeopletakecontrolofaworkplaceinordertoparticipateeffectively,othersmustlower
themselvestothesamelevel.Certainlyonecanthinkofonlineandrealcommunitiesthathavesufferedthesamefate.
Theinevitabletrajectoryistowardsagroupofthoughtlesspooflingerswheretheonlycompetenceofnoteistheability
tocutdownanotherpersonwithoutconsiderationoftheiractualargument.Itisn'tevenuptotheleveloftheoldhands
ontheusenetgroupalt.flame,whousedtoadmirethosewhocouldrespondtoothersinacriticalmannerbutwithsuch
subtletythatthosetheywereinsultingdidn'teven
noticeit.
Toputsimply,communitiesthatactively
encourageconstructivedebate,whichdotheir
utmosttobehelpfulandfriendly,especiallyto
newcomers,willbethosethatprosper.Forthis
reasonIdonotmindthoseonlinecommunitiesthat
regulatethepostingstothiseffect.Thisdoesnot
meananavoidanceofafullandfrank
discussionsoverparticulartopics,orindeed,any
topic.Butitdoesmeanatleastretaininga
modicumofcivilitywithone'sinterlocutor.So
perhaps,dearroleplayers,wecouldconductthis
experiment?Doyouthinkitmighthelpthehobby
ifwe'reawelcomingcommunity?
Well,thatdepends.Thatis,itdependsonwhich
particularcommunityoneistalkingabout.Ifitis
notalreadyquiteapparent,culturalcriticsandthe
socialjusticewizardsarenotadvocatinglegal
censorshipinmostcases.Theremaybesomeexceptionsthatalreadyexist(e.g.,advocacytocommitacrime,false
statementsoffact,fightingwordsandthreats,defamationetc)orshouldexist(e.g.,groupdefamation).Toputit
bluntlythereisnousecryingfreespeechifyou'vebeenexpelledfromaforum'snoassholeruleoryourarticlehas
beenrefusedpublication,whenthereareplentyofopportunitiesforonetobepublishedinotherareasorstartone'sown
forumwhereotherlikemindedindividualscanmeet.Oryoucouldjuststopbeinganasshole.Isitreallythatdifficult
tomakeyourpointinacivilmanner?
Ithinkthepoint,atleastinthecontextofthispublication,hasbeenmade.Gameon.Don'tfeedthetrolls.Butdocall
themoutelsewhere.
LevLafayette(lev@rpgreview.net)

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HOTGOSSIP:INDUSTRYNEWS
byWuMingshi
HoseiboMr.Lev
Doublethepirate,lah?Butnostopyoubeinglatealreadyagain.PoorMingshihastochangearticleagainagainto
makenewsnotlikestalebread.
Butspecialgiftforyou,Ihavepiratenews!Notmuchroleplay,butplentymuchothergame.PortalGamesmaketeam
withIgnacyTrzewiczektomakepiratedicegame,"Rattle,Battle,GrabtheLoot",shouldbereadyforGenCon.Where
thedicelandintheboxalsodetermineoutcome.Strangegame!Alsopirategame,CoolMiniOrNothascombat
miniaturegame"Rum&Bones"withmanyexpansionsets.ThisgamefundedthroughKickstarterlastyearwithalmost
$750Kinpledges!Alsopirategame,IDWGamesrelease"Piratesofthe7Seas"inAugust.Inthisgametheboxlidis
theboardandthediceareships!

Youwantmorepirategame?Igiveyou
pirate,Spacepirate!Asmodeereleasethe
spacepiratecardgame"MetalAdventures"
inJune,afteryoufinishissueorredy,lah?
GamebasedonArnuadCuidet'sRPG
universe,playersarespacepiratesinwar
betweenEmpireofSolandtheGalactic
Empire.Pew!Pew!Pew!
StarWarsabitlikepirategame,ah?Well
FantasyFlightGamesannouncenew
supplements"StarWars:Forceand
DestinyCoreRulebook"outsoon,448
pages,walao!Gamebooksgetverybig,
lah!Maybetoobigtofitinmyapartment,
bookcasefallonMinshiheadandthenno
moregameforme?
Alsomaybepiratetoo,PaizoPublishing
announce"PathfinderCampaignSetting:
InnerSeaRaces"forrelease,allaboutthe
racesoftheInnerSearegionofGolarion,
includenewcharacteroptionsincluding
racialdetailsandheritages,andnewmagic
items,weaponsandarmor.Also,probably
notpirate,PaizoPublishinglaunchneworganizedplayforhobbygamestoresthroughPathfinderSociety,lotsof
adventuresalltiedtonewPathfinderbooks,onlyavailabletoretailstores.
PaizohavedistributiondealwithFrenchcompanyGobInTuxPublishingandwillreleasesciencefictiongamePolaris
wherepeopleliveunderthesea.Thisonedoeshavepirateandseamonster!Yes,MingshiannouncenewpirateRPG,
youreadherefirst,ah?OtherPolarisRPGbooksincludeaGameMaster'sScreen,Bestiary,TechnologyGuide,
Hegemony,Pirates(see!),Surface,CoralRepublic,PolarAlliance,MediterraneanUnion,Amazonia,andSecrets.
Nextnewsnotsogood;twoyearsagoadocumentaryplannedforDungeonsandDragonsinventors,GaryGygaxand

9RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

DaveArneson,andthelegalwarthatfollow.Nowlegalbattleexistoverdocumentary.Isthisirony?Orcurse?!
AnthonySaviniwasdirectoroffilm,AndrewPascalproducer,andJamesSprattley,cameraman.Bigcreative
differencesmeanthatSavinikeepdirectionoffilmandothershalfowner.ButthenSaviniwithnewpartner,Cecily
Tyler,discoverthathisformerpartnersweremakingtheirownfilm!Sotheysue,sayingnewmovieundermineoriginal
film.Sodrama!
Betternews,onlittlemovieinsquareboxwithTableTopspinoffRPGshow:"Titansgrave:TheAshesofValkana",use
GreenRonin'sforthcomingFantasyAGEsysteminWheaton'ssetting.TheGreenRoninisverybusy,becauseplanalso
newbooksfor"DragonAge","ASongofIceandFireRoleplaying","Mutants&Masterminds",andanother"Freeport"
settingbook(see,morepirate,ah?)
AllDragonAgematerialallgathertofornewDragonAgeCoreRulebook,with400pages,and"Freeport:TheCityof
Adventure"forPathfinderwith544pages!Alsogamesystembookbasedcall"AdventureGameEngine"alsobe
releasefromDragonAgeRPG.AlsomyninjaamongtheRoninsaythat15thanniversarryeditionoffirstRPG"Ork!"
comeoutsoontoo,butmaybenot1000page,Ithinkmyninjabeingallcartoon.
BOOM!Studiosannouncesecondeditionoftheawardwinning"MouseGuardRoleplayingGame"byDavidPeterson
andLukeCranerelease,somuchsqueaksofhappiness,includehardcoverbookandaboxsetedition.Lastgamein
2009winOriginsAwardforBestRoleplayingGame.Willnewmouseroartoo?
MonteCookGameshavenewroleplaying
gameforchildren,age5andup."No
ThankYou,Evil!"fundedthrough
Kickstatrerandwillbereleasein2016.It
usesimpleversionofCypherSystemlike
"Numenara"butcanmorecomplexas
childrengrowupandup,andolder
childrencantakeoverasgamemaster!
JustlikeoldD&D,lah,butevenyounger
still.Also,gameespeciallydesignedfor
childrenwholearnnotsogood.
ThisgamefollowEdenStudiesrelease
"AdventureMaximus!"forsameage
group,maybeabitolder."Adventure
Maximus!"setinthepostapocalyptic
fantasyworldofExMachina.So
"GammaWorld"forchildren?Manaeh
sai!WhereisPatriciaPullingnow?
OurfriendsatCubicle7(nearCubicle6and8)havenewgameandsupplementrelease.For"DoctorWho:Adventures
inTimeandSpace",TheEightDoctorSourcebook.TravellingstuninTARDIS,Mingshioverhearthatsomematerial
fromPaulMcGannaudiodramastoriesnotincludedbecauseoflicense,lagijialat.For"TheOneRing"new
supplementwithsixadventureinregionofEriador,allaroundRivendell.Also,newRPGcall"Keltia",corerulebook
fullcolour256pagesallaboutKingArthurbutmoreWelshstoriessomoredarkages,lessknightsandcastles.Also,
Cubicle7doingnewCallofCthulhuboxedset.Cthulhuinabox!Nyarlathotepinamask!Shoggothinthedish
washer,I'dbetterdosomethingaboutthat,lah.
TheEvilHatdoahattrickwiththreesupplementsfortheirverypopularFATEsystem;"SaveGame","TheAether
Sea",and"RomanceintheAir"."SaveGame"isadventuresetinan8bitcomputergameworld,alittlebitbefore
Mingshitime,butIknowwhatitislike,hoorayDOSbox!"TheAetherSea"isjustthat,asettingwherethereisonly

10RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

anaethersea.Soundstrangesetting.Finaly,"RomanceintheAir"isromanticsteampunkworldwithpoliticalintrigue
andlotsofairships.
PinnacleEntertainmentnowhavelicensetouseRift'ssettingfor"SavageWorlds".Mingshithinkthisisbetter,
corright?IfitworkproperthenallthecartoonthingsfromRiftscanbeinnewsystemthatworks.Robotswithlasers
versusdinosaursversuswizards!Allintheoneplace!MostbluratRiftsbecauseofbadsystem,mostpeoplelaughat
setting.Sogoodsystemandcartoonsettingandeveryone
happy,lah.
MingshiannounceforyounominationsforOrigins2015.
For'BestRolePlayingGame'thereis"AtomicRobo"from
EvilHat,"Dungeons&DragonsPlayersHandbook"from
WizardsoftheCoast(butthatnotentiregame?Shouldgo
inbestsupplement?Mingshiconfused),"Firefly
RoleplayingGame"byMargaretWeissProductions,
"ICONS:SuperpoweredRoleplaying"byGreenRonin
and"TheStrange"fromMonteCookGames.For'Best
RolePlayingSupplement'thereis"Dungeons&Dragons
MonsterManual"(see,Mingshirightandveryvery
confuse),"EmeraldCity:Mutants&Masterminds",
"HobbitTales:FromTheGreenDragonInn"and"The
OneRing:DarkeningofMirkwood"fromCubicle7,
"MummyTheCurse:BookoftheDeceived"fromOnyx
Pathandand"TheStrange:Bestiary"fromMonteCook
Games.
Whatbiggamethisquartering?ICv2sayforendof2014

1"Dungeons&Dragons"WizardsoftheCoast
2"Pathfinder"PaizoPublishing
3"StarWars"FantasyFlightGames
4"Numenera"MonteCookGames
5"FateEvil"HatGames
Marketgrow15%in2014,sixyearsofgrowthandnowmorethantwiceasbigas2008,whenlasttimedecline.
CaraHebatuntukTerbang!
That'sallfrommethisdoublequartering!

Mingshi!(mingshi@rpgreview.net)

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MARKPETTIGREWINTERVIEW
withMarkPettigrew
HiMark,welcometoRPGReview.Letusstartwithacommonquestion,howdidbecomeinvolvedinroleplaying
games?Whatwerethefirstgamesyouplayedandwhatdidyouthinkofthem?Howmuchgaming,ifany,doyoudo
now?
IstartedroleplayingwhenIwas12.IhadacousinwhowascrazyaboutthosemassiveAvalonHillwargames.(He
eventuallyrefoughteverymajorbattleofWWIIinhisbasement.)HegavemethebeautifulboxedsetofM.A.R.
Barker'sEmpireofthePetalThroneformybirthday,whichwasprobablythenicestthinganyoneevergaveme.Ihad
neverheardofroleplaying,notevenD&D.Barker'sworldofTekumelamazedme.Theideaoflivinganimaginary
lifeinthatlush,exoticworldwasmindblowing.
EPTintroducedmetotheconcept,butwhatreallyattractedmetoroleplayingwasasetofclosefriendsinHigh
School.Withtherightgroupofpeople,tabletoproleplayfeelslikeaveryprimalkindofstorytelling.Icanimagine
neolithicgeeksgatheringaroundacampfireatnightandtellingsimilarstories.MyfriendsandItriedalotofgames
availableintheearly80sChaosium'sCallofCthulhuandWorldsofWonderwereparticularfavoritesbutitwas
moreaboutthefriendlydynamicsofgroupthanthegamesystem.ManyofthegamersIknewthenremainclose
friends.
Ihaven'thadtimetoreturntoroleplayingsincecollege,thoughIhavekeptupwithalotofthedevelopments.Iown
aroundtwodozenGURPSsupplements,forinstance,thoughI'veneverplayedthegame.IthinkEvilHat'sFATE
systemisreallyelegantandclever.
Lately,I'vebeenincreasinglyinterestedintabletoproleplayingasaformofcollectivenarrativeandoralperformance.
Isuspectthatmostroleplayersareconsciousofthisonsomelevel,thatthey'recreatingstoriesthatresemblewritten
fiction,drama,cinema,traditionalfolktales,andsoon,butthatthereisalsosomethinguniqueaboutroleplaying.Itis
agenreormediumofitsown,withitsowntropesandconventions.Ihaveabackgroundinliterarystudy,andI've
consideredbringingsomeofthatstyleofinquirytoroleplaying.That'sjustafuzzyideaforthetimebeing.
Accordingtolegend,youwerebutsixteenwhenyouwerewritingtherulesforFlashingBladesandyetyou
generatedagamewhichstillhasaloyalfollowingandwhosedesignanddensityreceivedfavourablereviews,despite
beingpublishedin1984.WhatwereyouinspirationsbehindtherulesetforFlashingBlades?Whatdidyougetright
andifyouwerestartingagainfromscratch,whatwouldyoudodifferently?
Iwas16whenIwroteit.Iwasafencer,IlovedDumasandSabatiniandswashbucklingfilms,andIwasanavid
roleplayer,soIguessallthoseinterestsjustcametogetherinFlashingBlades.
Asfarastheruleswent,IswipedeverygoodideaIhadseeninothergames.AbiginfluencewasGDW'sEnGarde!,
whichisabeautifullydesignedgamemasterlessRPG.(Ijustmadethatwordup,butitdescribeswhatmakesEnGarde!
unique,boththenandnow.)MyfriendsandIenjoyedEnGarde!,butwantedtoplayoutfullblownadventuresinits
setting.AsfarasIcanremember,theonlypointonwhichIdeviatedfrommymodelswasthedesignofthecombat

12RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

system,whichhadabitofrockpaperscissorsthrownintomodifythestandardd20rolltohit.Iwantedtoadd
somethingthatfeltlikefencingguessingwhattheopponent'snextattackwouldbe.
WhatwouldIdodifferentlynow?Iwouldworkupaminimalistsystemwithmorecolor,morebackground,andmore
panache.Thesedays,IadmireFATE,whichdoesawonderfuljobofforegroundingnarrativefunandkeepstherulesto
aminimum.Andswashbucklingreallylendsitselftooverthetopstorytelling.
FlashingBladesisprimarilysetinthe17thcenturyofFrance,althoughalsowiththeHighSeassupplementforthe
NewWorldandseafaring.Whatmadeyouchoosethatsettingandplace?Itdoescomeacrossasasomewhatcinematic
flavour,comparedtotherathergrimexperiencesoftheHuguenotrebellionsorTheThirtyYearsWar.
IthinktheEarlyModernErainEuropeisafascinatinghistoricalperiodbecauseitseemsfamiliaratfirst(to
Westerners,atanyrate),butcanbeweirdlyalienattimes.Itisalsocorrespondstotheriseoftherapierandtheculture
ofduelingamongtheelite.AndFrancewasatthecenterofeverythinginthe17thand18thcenturies.AsIwasworking
onFlashingBlades,IwasreadingbiographiesofRichelieuandLouisXIVandabookonearlyfirearms,andtheperiod
justcaptivatedme.
Asforcinematicflavor,IsupposethatbeforecinemaandHollywoodcomesDumas'romanticvision(orrevision)of
Frenchhistory,thatleavesoutthenastybitsanddwellsonderringdo.Thereligiouswarsandpersecutions,thehorrific
livingconditionsofthepoor,witchhunts,poorsanitation,highinfantmortality,lowlifeexpectancy,nottomentionthe
slavetrade,earlygenocidalcampaignsintheAmericas...PerhapsahighlypoliticizedRPGmightincludethose
charmingfeaturesof17thcenturyEurope,butIdoubtthatitwouldbeverypopular.Orfun.Ithinkthat,likeromantic
fiction,historicalroleplayingleanstowardsescapism.Maybethat'sthedefinitionofthe'swashbuckling'genre:
escapistromance,nothistoricalrealism.
FGUalsoreleasedjustpriortoFlashingBladeswasPrivateersandGentlemenbyJonWilliams,setinthe18th
century.Jonwouldgoontohavesomesuccessasacyberpunksciencefictionauthor(Hardwired).Givensome
similarityofthetwogamesandhavingthesamepublisher,didyouhavemuchcorrespondencewithJon?
IreadPrivateersandGentlemenatsomepoint,butIneverkneworcorrespondedwithJonWilliams.I'mgladtohear
hewentontodofurthercreativestuff.FantasyGamesUnlimitedpublishedarealgrabbagofgames,veryeclectic,
withnounifyingsystemortheme(comparedtoChaosiumorGDWorSteveJacksonor,well,alltheothers).Theonly
personwithwhomIhadcontactwasScottBizar,thefounderandringmasterofFGU,whowaswonderfully
encouragingandfriendly.I'mstillverygratefulforallhismentoring.
InadditiontothecorerulestoFlashingBlades,whichcomewiththeirownadventures,thereisalsofourother
scenariosandaseafaringandNewWorldsupplement,whichcamewithitsownminicampaign.Thisisquitea
prodigiousoutputoveratwoyearperiod,whichthencomestoahalt.Threequestionsarisefromthis:Firstly,howdid
yougetthroughthatmuchplaytestingandcampaiging?Secondly,didyouhaveafavouritescenarioorsettingthat
workedparticularlywell?Thirdly,whydidyoustopproducing?
IguessIjusthadalotoffunmakingallthatstuffupformyfriends.IdoubtthatasinglescenarioplayedoutthewayI
wroteit.IwrotemostofthesupplementsforFlashingBladesasIwasfinishingupHighSchoolandtheyearafterthat,

13RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

whichIspentinTheNetherlandswithmyfather.IhadalotoftimetoreadEuropeanhistory,visitmuseums,andwrite.
IactuallylivedinLeiden,astone'sthrowfromRembrandt'sbirthplace.The17thcenturyfeltimmediatethere.
Istoppedproducinggamematerialsforaverysimplereason:Iwenttocollegeanddidn'thavethetime.
Also,atroughlythesametime,youwrotetwosupplementsforEmpireofthePetalThrone,JakallanIntrigueandThe
TombComplexofNereshanbo.Canyoutellaboutthoseproductsaswell,andyourexperiencesofwriting
them?
ProfessorBarker'sworldofTekumelhastobethemost
compulsivelydetailedfantasyworldevercreated.He
outTolkienedTolkien.AndunlikeMiddleEarth,Tekumelis
notareformulationofEuropeanfolkloreitisasthoroughly
strangeandoutlandishasyoucanimagine.WhenIcontacted
Prof.Barker,hesentmeamammothearlydraftofhis
sourcebookforSwords&Glory(Tekumel's2ndroleplaying
incarnation),anencyclopedicvisionofhisworld.Ireaditover
severaltimesforthepurefunofit.
IsometimeshadtroubleconvincingmyfriendstoplayEPT.
Everyonelovedtheweirdaliensandweirdartifactsandweird,
extremelydeadlyspells.Butlearningtheworldrequiresahefty
investmentoftimeandenergy.Atanyrate,JakallanIntrigue
wasmyfavoritescenariotowriteandrun,becauseIwastrying
todesigna(primarily)socialroleplayingscenario,withlotsof
probingandgatheringofinformation.Thatwasnewforme.I'm
allforactionpackedroleplayingadventures,butsocial
interactionwithNPCsoftengetsshortchanged(orreducedtoa
vaguecombatmodel:'Makeacharismarolltoseeifyoucan
justhypnotizethisguytodowhateveryouwant').
InMarchlastyearyouannouncedontheFlashingBladesemaillistthat"...allofyouarefreetowrite,publish,etc.
whateveryouwantforFBwithoutworryingaboutcopyright."Isthereanyinterestindoingasecondeditionof
FlashingBlades?
You'llhavetoaskthefolksintheYahoogroupthatone.I'mhappypeopleenjoyedthegameandcontinuetoenjoyit.
Youheardhim...Nowit'stimetostartwriting!

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PIRATEANDSWASHBUCKLERRPGs
byLevLafayette

EnGarde!Review
IntroductionandPhysicalProduct
Firstpublishedin1975,withneweditionsin1977,1988,and2005,EnGarde!,certainlyclassifiesastheearliestofthe
swashbucklingRPGs,andcertainlythelongestlasting.The1977edition,reviewedhere,isprettymuchthesameasthe
1975editionbutwitherratafromthefirsteditionincorporated.Itdescribesitselfas"asemihisoricalgame/simulation
representingmanyofthesituationsofanErrolFlynnmoviesetintheSeventeenthorEighteenthCentures".
Thegamecomesinashort48pageA5bookletwithcardstockcoverandsaddlestapled.Itistypedin9pointCentury
(aswearehelpfullyinformed),aseriffont,withjustification.Aboutathirdofthebookistables.Thereisagoodtable
ofcontentsbutatamere48pages,itisunsurprisingtodiscoverthatthereisnoindex.Onecannotcomplainaboutthe
art,becausethereisn'tanywiththeexceptionofanuncreditedcoverpiecedepictingtheunfortunateresultsofa
duelingboutamongsomeratherfoppishindividuals.
It'saverydryanddensereadandnotverywellstructuredbyanystretchoftheimagination,butwithasurprising
amountofhumourbuiltintothesystemdeadpan.Thegameissubtitled"BeingintheMainaGameoftheLifeand
TimesofaGentlemanAdventurerandhisSeveralCompanions",thereisrulesfortoadyingwiththeintroduction
"Charactersmaygainstatusbybeinginthecompanyoftheirbetter;thesemaylikewisebenefitbythecultivationof
sycophants"&etc.

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Duelling
Thefirstpartofthegameisdedicatedtoduelling.Threecharacterabilities(Strength,Expertise,andConstitution)are
determinedbya3d6roll.Afourth,Endurance,isthedeterminedbymultiplyingStrengthandConstitution(givingthe
somewhatunusualrangeof9to324withanaverageof110).Duelsarecarriedoutbysecretlyrecordingasequenceof
twelveturns,witheachturnconsistingofasingleaction.Agroupofactionsconstitutesaroutine.Forexamplealunge
routineconsistsofarest,alunge,andarest.
Whentheturnsarerevealed,onemaysubstitutean"optionalroutine"(parry,block),replacingthepreviouslyrecorded
routine.Crossreferencetheattackwiththedefendersaction,andmultiplythevaluelistedwiththeattacker'sstrength,
andweapontype,subtractingfromthedefender'sEndurance.Asuccessfulparrymayresultinweaponbreakage.
CharacterswithadvantageinExpertisecanforcetheirdefender'stotakeadditional'rest'maneueversperturn.
Followingthewoundsreceived,charactermayrecover50%inthefirstweek,thentheirConstitutionscoreperweek
thereafter.
SocialLife
Thesecondpartofthebookisentitled"TheCharacterandHisEnvironment",anddespitebeingsomewhatscatteredin
ordering,canbedifferentiatedbetweenthesociallifeofcharactersandthemilitarylife.Withregardstotheformer,
chiefamongtheseistheirbirthright,randomlydeterminedvaluesforClass(Commoner,Gentleman,Noble),Sibling
Rank,andFather'sPosition.ThecombinationofthesedeterminesthestartingCrownsforthecharcters,theirallowance,
inheritance,andtheirstartingsociallevel.
Charactersmayengageinonesocialactivityperweek;thereare
(forgamepurposes)fourweekstoamonth,threemonthstoa
season,andfourseasonstoayear.Acharacter'sobjectiveisto
accumulatestatuspointsonamonthbymonthbasis,sotheycan
raisetheirsociallevel.HoweverStatusisexpensive!Characters
mustpayCrownsequaltotwicetheirStatuspermontforsupport
(clothes,servantsetc),butcouldgainstatuspointsbyadditoinal
expenditure(conspiciousconsumption).JoingaClubisagoodway
togainstatuspoints,butcarousingcostsCrownsequaltothe
existingsociallevel,andsoforth.Having"somesort"offemale
companionship(whetherbybawdyhouseorhavingamistress)is
alsonecessarytomaintainstatus;"ifdesired,mistressesmayalsobe
givennames".Ifthecircumstancesareright,charactersmayalso
declareaduelwithothercharacters.
MilitaryLife
Socialstatusisalsorequiredtoenteroneofanumberofmilitary
regimentsand,iftheyhavesufficientwealth,purchaseanofficer's
commission.Everysummerseasonmembersoftheregimentmay
goonacampaign.Onotherseasons,ifacharacterissufficiently

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braveandfoolish,theymayvolunteer.Membershipofaregimentandparticipationinconflictscanleadtoaincome,
improvedstatus,opportunitiesforadvancementthroughheroicdeeds,andthethechancetobekilled.Suchisthelifeof
adventure.
Charactersinthemilitaryhaveanadditionalability,MilitaryAbility,determinedbyasingledieroll.Thesuccessof
militaryconflictsisdeterminedbythisability,butthecolonelleadingthecampaignarmymayhavetheirownMA
modifiediftheyhavecompetentstaffofficers.Thereisbothabattleoutcomeandapersonaloutcome,withtheformer
basedonthetypeofdeploymentthatoccursandthelatterdeterminingwhetherthecharacteriskilled,mentionedin
dispatches(whichimprovessocialstatus),receivedapromotion,andwhetherornottheyacquiredanyplunder.There
arenotablemodificationstothepersonaloutcometablebasedontheactionandregimentinquestion.
Someadditionalinterestingoptionsincludesengaginginpoltroonery(i.e.,runawayfromadangerousbattle),anactof
cowardicethatmaybenoticedwhichcanresultinthecharacterlosingstatuspoints,orevenbeingexpelledfromthe
regiment.Conversely,acharactermaydecidetoengageinrecklessbraveryinstead,whichwhilstincreasingthechance
ofbeingkilledalsoimprovestheopportunitiesforbeingmentionedindispatches,promotion,orplunder.Finallyifthe
situationdemandsitacharactermaybeassignedabrevetrankwhereapromotionoccursbutthecharacterstilllacks
sufficientstatus.
ConclusionandEvaluation
Derivingfromtheveryearlydaysofroleplayinggames,theproductionqualitiesofEnGarde!arenotthegreatestby
anystretchoftheimagination,whetheroneconsiderstheactualphysicalproduct,theartisticinput,thelayoutofthe
pageandtableofcontents,organisationoftherules,andsoforth.Whatitdoesgainagreatdealofkudosforhoweveris
itsuniqueness.Intermsofthegamesystem,well,itisprimitivetosaytheleastwithadistinctlackofconsistencyin
howparticularcasesareappliedbutbythesametokeneachruleitselfisselfcontainedandbelievableinwhatitis
tryingtosimulate.Intermsofthegame'ssetting,itcoversagreatrangeofactivitiesalbeitwithatightfocus(thelack
offemalecharactersforexampleisobvious),anditdoessotypicallywithaminimumoffussthesignaltocontent
rationishigh.
EnGarde!alsohasanunusualfeelinsofarthatitplansactivitiesamonthinadvanceasaschedule;themostobvious
comparisonthatcomestomindisSuperhero2044,butEnGarde!isafarsuperiorapplicationofsuchactivity.Simply
put,itplayswell,verywellinfact,andcaneasilyaccomodatelargenumbersofplayers.Onecancertainlyseewhyit
continuedtobeplayedonwardsfrom1975,anextraordinarysuccessforwhatisafairlymarginalmarket.
Style:1+.3(layout)+.1(art)+.8(coolness)+.4(readability)+.3(product)=3.2
Substance:1+.6(content)+.8(text)+.8(fun)+.6(workmanship)+.4(system)=4.2

PiratesandPlunderReview
IntroductionandPhysicalProduct
PiratesandPlunderisahistoricalroleplayinggameoftheageofpiracysetinthe17thcenturyandspecificallyforthe

17RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

Carribean,CentralandSouthAmerica.TheboxedsetcomeswithanattractivepieceofcoverartbyJerryLeewhoalso
doesthefewexamplesoffineartworkinthefirstbook;afterthatthereisonlyfunctionalsketches.Therearethree
bookswiththehelpfultitlesofTheBasicGame(44pages),TheAdvancedGame(52pages),andTheAdventures(40
pages).Inadditionthereareeightpagesofmapsetc,apadofcharactersheets(whichincludesbotherrorsanda
summaryofcharactergeneration),andtwosmalltwentysidedd10s.Thethreebookshavecardstockcovers,
saddlestapled,andonsomefairlygoodqualitypaper.
Thetextisprovidedintwocolumnjustifiedthroughoutwithaseriffontwithboxedsections,andwithaclearmarkings
ofpagenumbers.Howevertherearenochaptersassuch,justsectionswhichareinsufficientlydistinct.Thefirstbook
hasatableofcontents,andthesecondanindexofthetwobooks.Further,thetextdoesn'tpaymuchattentiontoissues
liketablesthatsometimesflowacrosstwopages.Thewritingstyleisincrediblyramblingandinformal.Thetraditional
openingof'whatisroleplaying'ismorelikeanextensiveessayofsometenpages.Itcontainssomeverygoodpoints,
especiallyforthetime,arguingthatroleplayingislikeaimprovisedscriptwritingofaminiseries,withplayerstaking
uprolesascriptwritersandactors,andwithrandomnessprovidingsomeofthechallengeandenjoymentofthe
experience.Thisisgreatcontent,evenifthestyleandsignaltobandwidthleavesalottobedesired.

BasicRules
Charactergenerationandanintroductoryscenarioareinterwoven.Aftertwopagesofreadingaloudanintroductionto
theplayers,theygettheopportunitytodesigntheircapturedpirate(betterthanbeingadeadone).Asaninteresting
elementforthetime,playerscanhaveone"star"character(whogetsbonusesingeneratingabilities)andsupporting

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characters(whoalsoreceiveasmallerbonus).Generationconsistsofsuccessionof2d10rolls,plusmodifiers.Height
andWeightaredeterminedfirstwithresultscrossreferencedtoatable,withhighweightprovidingabonusto
Strength,Stamina,andDrinking,as"youwon'tfindmanyfatorpoorlymuscletonedpirates".Handednessisrandom,
followedby"LuckyBreak/Adrenaline"whichallowsbetween0to8rerollsperadventure.Inadditiontothesethereare
Strength,Agility(whichdeterminesMovement),VisionandHearing(whichdetermineSenses),andWounds.Thelast
abilityisusedtocalculatewoundpointsforaratherheftyselectionofbodyareas;Head/Neck,Shoulder/UpperArm,
Elbow,Forearm,Hand,Hip/Thigh,Knee,Calf,Foot,Chest,Abdomen,Groin.
InthebasicrulesseveralabilitiesarenotcalcultedtheseincludeEncumbrancePoint,Constitution,andStamina.In
additiontothesethereareskilllikeabilities,albeitafairlymodestselection.Thisincludesmusket,pistol,
swordmanship,fist/daggertraining,alldeterminedbya2d10roll.Thesearecombinedwithvariousother
characteristics(e.g.,Vision,Agility,Strengthetc)tocalculate'tohit'numbers.Forexample,the'Fist/Dagger'tohit
numberisbasedonthetrainingtimesthree,plusStrengthandAgility,withthesumdividedbyfive.Nationalityisalso
randomlydeterminedwithmostcharacterscomingfromvariouspartsofEngland,butwithanotinsignificantnumber
ofFrench,Dutch,Irish,andScots.The'special'resultsareignoredinthebasicrules.Intelligenceisthendetermined,
providingabonusonReadandWrite,andSpeakandunderstandforeignlanguages.Allcharactersareabletospeak
English,regardlessofnationality,andtheyalsohaveanumberofrandomlydeterminedlanguagepointswhichtheycan
spendtodevelopalevelofcompetenceinthemainEuropeanlanguages(Spanish,Portuguese,Dutch,Franch),orat
halfvaluemoregenericIndianlanguages(Yucatan,SouthAmericanIndian,NorthCarribbeanIndian,South
CaribbeanIndian).Finally,thecharacter'sreligion(Catholic,Protestant,None,Pagan)israndomlydeterminedwhich
chancescrossreferencedwithnationality,alongwith
their'ReligiousFervor'ability.

silentkills).

Followingthisbasiccharactergenerationthetextreturns
totheopeningscenario,againwithacoupleofpagesof
colourfuldescription,thenleadingtoaninjailfistfight
amongtheprisoners,withGMsencouragedtonarrative
descriptionsratherthanmechanical.Descriptionofthe
fist/daggercombatsystemoccurshere,withfirststrike
basedonAgility,andwithresultsdeterminedfroma
combatresultstable,withnotablemodifiersfrom
differencebetweenthetwocharacter's"tohit"numbers
intherespectiveability.Damageisdifferentiatedinto
woundsandstunpoints,withthelatterrecoveredwithin
anhour,alongwithhalfoftheformer.Afterthe
fistfight,thereisanarrativebreak,andthenthe
charactershaveanopportunitytoexperience
swordfighting.Thesystemisprettymuchthesameas
fistfights,withthekeydifferenceisthatswordsdo
wounds,whereasfistsdostunandwounddamage.After
anothernarrativeinterlude,thecharactersarefreedfrom
theirprisonwithaconditionalrescue,whichinvolves
muchbloodshedonthepartofPCsandseveralamorous
encounters.Thisgivetheopportunitytointroducesome
newderivedabilitiesintothegame,specificallyStealth,
whichreceivesaheftytwopagesofdescription
(includingcontestsagainstSenses,movementrate,and

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AdvancedRulesandFurtherAdventures
TheAdvancedRulesaremeanttodifferenceinthedegreeofplayercharacterfreedomoffered,andwithsomemodest
hintstogamemastersonhowtoadlibsituationsthatarisefromthesenewfreedoms.Thecontentofthebookhowever
doesnotreallyreflectthis.Whereasthefirstbookalternatedbetweennarration,rules,androleplay,thesecondbookis
almostentirelyrules.Abiltychecksareintroduced(ratherlateinthepieceIthink)alongwithan"everythingtable"
whichcorrelatesadjectivaldescriptionsofasituationtomechanicalmodifiers.The"specialnationalities"are
introduced,ReadingandWritingability,Swimming,andsomepersonalitytraitsprimarilyforNPCs(Greed,
Compassion,Morality,Courage),alongwithaPhysicalAppearancescore.ThisisfurtherelaborationontheLuck
(reroll)andAdrenaline(1d10addtoability)rules.
Thereisplentyofelaborationstothetothefightingrulestoincludeparriesandripostes,clubbingweapons,andvarious
brawlingevents.Armedversusunarmedcombatrulesareadded,alongwithspecialrulesfortheuseofthemain
gauche,boardingpikesandthelike.Combatstancesandmaneuvers("patterns")areaddedalongtargettingspecific
bodylocations.Thereissignificantmodificationtomissileweapons,includingnotablevariationindamage,andspread
rulesfortheblunderbuss.Thrownweapons,includinggrenades,areaddedasoptions.Grenades,whichaffectthetarget
squareandadjacentsquares,maycausemultiplewoundsornone.Appropriatelythisisfollowedbyarmoreffects,
whichisamodifiertoattackrollsaccordingtoattacktypenottowoundpoints.Anotationsystemfordifferenttypes
ofwoundsinintroduced(forscarringpurposes!),alongwiththenaturalhazardofsnakebites,whichprovidesan
opportunitytointroducetheConstitutionability,andtherecoveryofwounds,especiallywiththeadvantageofa
medicalkit.AnEncumbrancesystemisintroducedwithacarryingcapacityoftentimesStrengthandperitemvalues,
whichisroughlyequalahalfapoundinweight.Forevery10pointsoverthecapacity,acharactersuffersa1penalty
toStrength,Agility,Swimming,andStealth.
Severalpagesofamasscombatandadvancedmasscombatsystemareoffered,withcombatvaluesderivedasa
multipleoftheclassofcombatant,generatingastrengthvaluefortheconflict,withsomefairlyheftymodifiers.
Despitetheirrelativebasicinability,civiliansdoubletheirabilitywhendefendingtheirhomes,Indiansaregoodat
fightinginthejungle(piratesnotsomuch)etc.Majorcharacterscanavoidthefateofrandomlyallocatedvictimsin
suchanenvironmentbymakinguseoftheLuck.
TheAdvancedrulesconcludewithahodgepodgeofvariousrules,suchastheuseofhorses,wagons,andarather
amusingdiscussionof"quietinterludesinPortRoyal"whichhasanextensivetreatmentofthepaymentsandmodifiers
tothemarketpricewhensailorsengageprofessionalladiesfor"politesocialconversationoverteaandcrumpets",
whichisoneofthemoreunusualeuphemisms.Therearealsoextensiverulesfordrinkingcontests,gambling,target
shooting,armwrestling,andslapfights.Thedrinkingcontestsdonotincludethestandardrationsofacanteenofrum
orequivalentperday,withoutwhichasailorwillhaveanegativetotheir'EmotionalStability'ability.Justincase
you'renotlearningfromallthis,thechapterfinisheswiththerulesfortheTeachingability.
"Sailorsare,andalwayshavebeen,sailors.Immediatelyafterreachingaportafterahardtourofseadutymost
sailorswillmakeabeelineforthenearestLadytoengageinpolitesocialconversationoveracupofteaandaplateof
crumpets...Professionalconversationalists,beingprofessional,havecertainspecificqualitiestheylookforina
potentialcustomerwhoseekstoenjoytheircompanyandspiritedconversation.Thesequalitieswillinfluencenotonly
thelengthanddepthoftheconversationsbutmayindeedinfluenceanymonetaryconsideration.Theadagethat'Talkis
Cheap,'doesnotapplyinPortRoyal.

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Sailors,fortheirpart,greatlydesiretoindulgethemselvesinfemininecompanyandmostdefinitelyinasmuch
conversationandteaandcrumpetsaspossiblewheninport.Thereasonforthisbeingthatteaandcrumpetsarenot
theusualshipboardfair[sic],andfemaleconversationismostdifficulttocomebyonamanofwar.Failuretoobtain
sufficienttea,crumpets,andconversationcancauseadeep,disturbingsenseoffrustrationandlossonthepartofthe
sailoroftencausinghimtobecomesomewhatsourofdispositionandoccasionallyrashoraggressivetowardthosein
hisimmediateneighborhood."
Pirates&Plunder,BookII,p4344
Nottoomuchcanbesaidaboutthethirdbook,FurtherAdventures.Thereisasomeverbosedescriptionsofahacienda
whichthepiratescanengageinsomelootingandpillaging,anextensivecrosscountrytrekacrosssomeinhospitable
land(fromapirate'spointofview),andthetakeoverofsomefortsandaSpanishtown,whichmeansmorelootingand
pillaging,includingthelocalchurchasaprimetarget.Thereare"requiredencounters"inthislinearprogression,along
withsomerandomtableswithamodicumofflavourinthetext,alongwithvariousrandomencounters,keyedto
particularregiontypes.EventuallythestoryconcludeswithajourneytoPortRoyaltowitnessthemarriageofJakeThe
Peg.
Assessment
Whilstthephysicalproductisquitefairandtheart(whattherewasofit)quitegood,thegamelacksagreatdealof
cohesioninitspresentation.Theinitialattemptofmodularityisinteresting,butwhenitwasabandonedthegeneral
organisationofthetextquicklywentfrombadtoworse.Theaforementionedwritingstyleisjustoverlyverbose,
despitesomeamusingmoments.
Asforthegamesystem,itisratherprimitivetosaytheleast.Thedegreeofrandomnessincharactergenerationistoo
high,withtoomuchoutoftheplayer'shands.Lumpingeverythinginto"abilities"mayworkinsomesystems,butin
Pirates&Plunderthereissignificantdivergenceinthescopeoftheseabilities.Therearefartoofewoftheskilllike
abilities,andthosethatdoexistaretoostronglybiasedtowardscorecombatabilities,whichareattimesamazingly
clunkyandinconsistent.Asahistoricalroleplayinggamewhichismakessomeclaimstoitisaterriblefailure.There
isalmostnothingherethatprovidesanybackgroundtotheperiod.Giventhatthegameisaboutpirates,thefactthereis
nothingrelatingtoshippingisquiteinexcusable.
Butdespiteallthis,everytimeI'verunPirates&Plunder,ithasbeenfun.Itcertainlyisverypoorlysuitedtoanysort
ofextensivecampaign,anditreallyonlyworksfor"beerandpretzels"(orrumandbread)evenings.Thegameand
especiallytheadventures,forallitsflaws,doeshavestyle,andquitealotofit.Forthatalone,PiratesandPlunder,
whilstcertainlyasecondrategame,doescarryacertainquirkycharmfromtheearlierdaysofroleplaying.
Style:1+.3(layout)+.6(art)+.7(coolness)+.3(readability)+.7(product)=3.6
Substance:1+.5(content)+.2(text)+.7(fun)+.2(workmanship)+.2(system)=2.8

FlashingBladesReview

21RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

IntroductionandPhysicalProduct
FlashingBladesisoneofthosegamesthathasenteredlegendandloreoftheearlydaysofroleplayinggames,notthe
leastbeingforthefactthattheauthorwasbutsixteenwhenhewroteit.Thegameishistoricalfiction,setin17th
centuryFrance,aneraofblandanddynamicKings,schemingandevilCardinals,thethreemusketeers,and"countless
otherswashbucklers,dandies,cavaliers,rogues,villains,highwaymen,andcutthroats".
ConsistingoftwobooksandaGMsscreeninabox,thegameiswrittenintwocolumnjustifiedsansseriffont(with
handaddedaccentmarks),whichisreasonablywelllaidout,especiallycomparedtomanyFGUgames.Thereisa
goodtableofcontentsinthemainrulebook,especiallyconsideringthatthegameisamere49pages,including
referencesandtitlepage!Theblackandwhiteartwork(exceptforthecolourboxcover),byBainSidheStudio,is
typicallycontextuallyappropriate,evocativeandshowsquitegoodtechnique.Thewritingstyleiscompactbutalso
evocative.Thereareacoupleofminoreditingglitchesandacoupleoforganizationalissues(e.g.discovering
modificationstoabilitieslaterinthebookafterthey'vebeencalculated).Thereareanumberofboxedsectionsoftext
forexamples.
CharacterGeneration
Charactergenerationisfamiliartotheera;Attributesare
rolledon3d6inorderforStrength,Dexterity,Endurance,
Wit,Charm,andLuck.Thesearefollowedby2d6rollsto
determineheight(short,average,tall)andweight(thin,
average,stocky).Somecombinationsoftheseprovide
furthermodificationstoStrengthandDexterity.Ifthe
originalrollsarebelow54,thetotalcanbeincreasedto54
accordingtotheplayer'swishes.HitPointsand
Encumbrancevaluesbothstartoffatabaseof10,butthe
formercanbeincreasedbyStrength,Endurance,Luck,
andBuildandthelatterbyStrength,Endurance,
Dexterity,andBuild.Furtherintherulesthereisthe
optionofacharacterwithbaseAttributesof12ormore
beinga"RenaissanceMan",whichgeneratesexcellent
bonusestoskillattemptsetcthisisthe"munchkin"
option.
CharacterBackgroundeffectively"class"isfroma
selectionofRogue,Gentleman,Soldier,andNobleman.
Professionsdeterminearelationshipwithskills.
Charactersbeginwith10skillpointsmodifiedbyWits
andLuck.Bonusskillswhichareonlyavailableto
membersofthatprofessionatamuchreduced1pointcost
(e.g.,CaptaincyforSoldiers,EtiquetteforNobles,BargainingforGentlemen,StealthforRogues),normalskills
associatedwiththeprofessionfor2skillpoints,andskillsfromadifferentbackgroundcost3skillpoints.Allskills
haveanassociatedattributeandbasicskilluseisonad20rollunderthatattribute,withhandwavedmodifiers,
contestedskills,andattributerolls.Some27generalskillsareprovidedwithadescriptionofaroundoneparagraph
each.MultiplepurchasesoftheLanguageskillareallowedprovidinganadditionallanguageperpurchase.Whilstthe
rangeisgoodandappropriate,theskilldescriptionsareunderdevelopedwithnoprescriptiveingamemodifiers
provided,forexample.

22RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

Inadditiontothegeneralskills,therearealsomartialskillswith7provided,andtheDuellingskillcominginfive
flavoursthatmustbepurchasedseparatelyaccordingtostyle(Spanish,Italian,French,Cavalry,Old).Whilsttwoskills
(ArtilleryandGunner)functionthesamewayasnormalskills,theappropriateattributeisnotdefinedWitshasbeen
presumedinbothcases.RatherthanbeingbasedonanAttributemartialskillshaveabaseExpertiselevel(3for
untrained,10forduellingandarcheryskills,8forbrawling,polearms,andfirearms)modifiedWit,Luck,Dexterity,
andformeleeweapons,Strength.Extratrainingmaybeundertakenoradditionalskillpointsspenttoincreasethe
expertiselevel.Theactualmartialskillsacquiredbystartingcharactersisbasedonthecharacter'sBackground,whether
itwasfromacivilianmartialtrainingorganization,fraternity,guild,orinthecaseofsoldiers,abroaderselectionfrom
thecompanytheybelongedto.
Addingabitofcharacterbackgroundflavour,charactersmayalsochooseanadvantageandasecretfromashortlist.
Theyalsohavetheoptionoftakinganadvantagewithoutasecretfor2skillpoints,orjusttakingasecretforan
additional1skillpoint.Allcharactersbeginwitharandomlydeterminedstartingwealthandincome,basedontheir
background,withamodestequipmentlistprovided.Soldierswillbepleasedtodiscoverthatregimentalarmsand
armourareprovided.Finally,asappropriate,acharactercalculatestheirSocialRank,rangingform1to20(Rogues2,
Soldiers3,Gentlemen7,Noblemen8).
PersonalCombat
Combatoccursin12secondturnswithtwoactionsperturn,recordedpriortoresolution.Themovementturnis
resolvedinorderofDexteritybutwiththehighestDexteritycharacterhavingtheoptiontomovelast(reverseDexterity
mayhavebeenquickertoresolve).Attackactionsareresolvedinaccordancetoweapontype,withmissileweapons
first,thenpolearms,swords,daggersetc,andfinallyunarmedattacks.Withineachweapontypeattacksareresolvedin
Dexterityorder.Defenseactionsapplytoallattacksdirectedtoacharacterinaturn,whichincludevarioustypesof
footwork,dodging,andparries.Acharactermayalsotakeacounteractionwhichallowsariposteifanattackdirected
againstthemmisses.
Acharacter'sexpertiseiscrossreferencedonatabletogenerateabased20rollundervalue.Thisbaseismodifiedby
theweaponbeingused,thetypeofattack(lunge,thrust,slash,strike)orthedefenseapplied(dodge,duck,sidestep,
stepback),alongwithasmallsetofmodifiers.Notableinthesystemistheinclusionofthefoil,whichisalittle
anachronistic,althoughperhapsonecouldgetawaywithsuggestingaswapbetweentherapierstatisticswithfoil,and
thereplacementoftherapierstatisticswiththepedecour,orsmallsword.Missileweaponshaveasimplebase
chancemodifiedbyweapon,range,mechanism,andasimilarsetofmodifiers(e.g.,braceandaiming).Parriesand
blocksarecarriedoutasiftheywereattacks,withweaponmodifiers,Frenchstylebonuses(e.g.,havinga'parrying
hat'!).Weaponbreakagesareincludedintheparryingrules(heavierweaponsbreaklighteroneswithsomeregularity)
asareimprovisedblocks(whichchairsetc).Anotedlimitationisthatthegamedoesnotincludeunarmeddefensive
blocksagainstweapons.
Damageisbasedonahitlocationrollandabasevalueaccordingtoweaponandattacktypeasalightwound,with
bonusdamagefromhighstrength.Ifanattacklandsfromlessthanhalftheneededtohitrollaseriouswoundoccurs
withanextrad6ofdamage.Armourprotectsagainstdamage,howeveritisnotclearhowitworksagainstgrenades
whicharedirectedagainstgeneralhitpoints.Hitlocationshavestaticandproportionalhitpointdamagethresholds
(e.g.,4pointstothecheststuns,1/2damageknocksout,morethan1/2damagekills).Thedamagesystemwouldbe
betterifitwasmoreproportionalandprovidedagreaterrangeforunconsciousness.Finallythereisahandylistof
optionalrulesforFatigue(asimpleminusperthresholdofEndurance,modifiedbyencumbrance,woundsetc),fumbles
accordingtoweapontype,andavarietyofdirtyfighting('viciouskick'youcanworkthanoneout)andspecialattacks

23RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

(e.g.,entangle).Naturallyenoughthereisalsoasystemforrecovery,butthiscanleavescars,brokenbonesandthe
like.
PositionandExperience
Socialrankhasanenormousinfluenceonplay,nottheleastbeingaccesstopower,connections,andafocuson
positionprovidesacampaignimpetus.Acrossvariousprofessions,descriptionsofrankandpositionareprovidedand
theprocessbywhichonecanacquirepromotions,whichistypicallybyeitherabitofluck(rollforopeningand
promotion)orbybuyingoneselfapromotion.Charactersfromdifferentbackgroundscanbeginatvariantprofessional
positions(e.g.,SoldiersstartattherankofSargent,allothersstartatTrooper).Manyoftheprofessionshaverivalry
withintheirgroups.Forexample,inthemilitary(e.g.,theCardinal'sGuardsvstheKing'sMusketeers).Where
appropriateeachpositionisgivenaoneparagraphdescriptionofrequirements,role,remuneration,andresponsibilities.
Theprofessionsthusdescribedincludethemilitary,theclergy,theroyalbureaucracy,clubsandorders,banking,
nobility,andfencingschools.
Mostofthesepositionsrequireseveralmonthsdedicationperannum,andvariousrulesareofferedtodescribehow
theseintrascenarioeventsareplayedout.Thusthereisacampaigntimetableandmasscombatsystemwhich,trueto
thebestversionsofsuchthingsforcharacterRPGs,answerstheimportantquestionsof"whowonthebattle?"and
"whathappenedtothecharacter?"(whichcomeswithasuperbexample),alongwithfinancialinvestmentrulesfor
internationalanddomesticcommerceandpropertyinvestments.
Naturallyenoughinagamesystemwherethereisanimplicitsuggestionthatthecampaignsrunovermanyyears,aging
ofcharactersisanissue.Charactersbegintoageat40withagradualreductioninattributesandderivedstatisticswhich
increaseinchance.Eventuallythecharacterwill,regardlessofluck,willdie.Thesystemisdesignedsothatoldest
possibleageis110.Beforethatofcoursecharactershavetheopportunitytoimproveingeneralskills,martialskills,
attributes,andhitpoints.Inanadventurecharactersmaygainacheckfromextensiveordifficultuse,withthenumber
ofchecksrequiredforimprovementsincreasingasthebonusesincrease.Skillsmaybeincreasedby+1or+2inbase
abilityorexpertise(MasterandMasterSuperiorlevels).Charactersmayalsogainexperiencecheckthroughpractiseas
well.
Setting,OtherMaterial,andAdventures
Ancompactyetextensiveappendixprovidesaweaponglossary,lifeandcultureof17thcenturyFrance,amapofParis
andtheregionsofFrance,religion,militaryandcourts,ahistoricalandpoliticaloverviewofEurope,areligiousmapof
thesame(whichmakessomerathererroneoussuggestionofanAnglicanIrelandandaconflationofallOrthodoxfaiths
asGreekOrthodoxetc,alongwithatimelineofevents,andbiographiesofseveralmajorpersonalities,alongwitha
selectionofrecommendedreading.Basedontheimmediatereviewofthereligiousmapthereisprobablysomemore
errorsinthedetail,butitsseemsmostlyright.TheopportunityistakenheretoalsodescribethecardstockGM
material;itisareprintofseveralofthemajortablesfromthegame,mainlythecombattables(asisthenorm)along
withasinglepagecharactersheet.
Includedwiththesetisabookletofadventures,whichconsistsofagenerictavernsetting,TavernBrevageNoir,which
iscoveredintwopages,afivepagebutmultisessionadventure,TheManBehindTheMask,andaslightlyshorter
adventure,MonsieurLeDroit'sSecret.Inadditionthereareacoupleofpagesofrandomencountertablesforurbanand
ruralsettings,alongwithrandomresultsfromtherequestsforpatronage.Togivethebriefestsummarysonottogive
anythingaway,thetavernsettingisroughwiththeirspecialitydrinkdescribedas"onepartrum,twopartsbrandy,and
onepartundrinkable".Roughtavernareprovidedforfencingloot,carousing,gambling,andbrawling.Thefirst

24RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

adventureallowscharactersfromadiversebackgroundtomeetandworktogetherunderamysteriouspatron,an
internationaljourney,anumberofphysicalconflicts,andanextraordinaryartifact.Thesecondadventure,incontrast,
involveshighsocietyintrigue,secretsocieties,bureaucracy,andpoliticalintrigue.Bothareratherenjoyableand
capturethestyleofthesettingverywell.
Evaluation
FlashingBladesis,simplyput,agreatgame.Itiswelldesignedsystem,alittlelikeacombinationofearlyRuneQuest
andTheFantasyTrip.Itmanagestoprovideagood,ifoverlyabbreviated,skillsystem,anevocativeandelaborate
personalcombatsystem,theopportunitytobuildanextensivecharacterhistory,andallwithsufficientbackground
material,adetailedbutlimitedsetting,andseveralsessionssetupreadytoplayandallofthisinaremarkable65
pages.Unsurprisingly,itislookeduponwithsignificantapproval,andmostfortunateofalltheauthorisquitehappy
forotherstocontributetoitsongoingdevelopment.
"FGUalreadyagreesthatIowntherightstoFlashingBlades.I'mevenreceiving(verysmall)royaltieschecksagain,
aftera20someyearhiatus.IthinkImentionedthisbefore,butagain,allofyouarefreetowrite,publish,etc.
whateveryouwantforFBwithoutworryingaboutcopyright.I'mhappythatpeoplearestillenjoyingthegame."
Style:1+.5(layout)+.8(art)+.7(coolness)+.8(readability)+.4(product)=4.2
Substance:1+.6(content)+1.0(text)+.7(fun)+.7(workmanship)+.7(system)=4.7

Twilight2000:PiratesoftheVistula
IntroductionandProduct
PiratesoftheVistulaisafortypagesupplement,
saddlestapledwithacardstockcover.Aswith
othersupplementsintheTwilight2000rangeitis
formattedinatwocolumnjustifiedpagestylewith
asansseriffontwithanidealamountofwhite
spaceontheborders.Thereisanexcellenttableof
contentsbutonlymodestclarityinthetextitselfof
whereoneis(pagenumbers,butnopagesection
heading).Thewritingstyleismostlyformal,and
quitedense,butinterspersedwiththeoccasional
narrativevignette.Thecolourcoverartisperhapsa
littlelackingintechniquebutisillustrativeofa
probablemomentinthescenariosthatfollow.The
internalgreyscaleandlinedrawingstypicallyshow
goodtechniqueandarecontextuallyappropriate.
Therearefourmajorsectionstothetext,sotitled,
plusrulesforriverinecombat,achapteronthe

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WilsaKrolowa(thePCsvessel)andsomescenarionotes.Thesupplementisdesignedtobedirectlylinkedwiththe
subsequentproductTheRuinsofWarsawbutalsoservesasanexcellentfollowonformTheFreeCityofKrakow
andseveralproposalaremadeonwhythisshouldbethecase.Asidefromthemajorsections,detailedinformation
abouttheRiverVistulaandriverjourneyisprovided,withencountersespeciallytailoredasaresultofthemilitary
conflictthathavesignificantlyalteredwhatwasonceimprovednavigation.Thereareseveralpagesinthecentreofthe
bookdesignedforeasyremoval,whichincludesanimpressivedoublepagegreyscalemapoftheVistulaRiverregion,
variouscombattablesforlargerweapons,ahexmapofariversection,andadeckplanofthePCsvessel.
TheWislaKrolowa
TheWislaKrolowa,whichthePCsjourneyon,isafifteenyearoldtugboatwhichisalsogivendetailedspecifications.
ItmaynotbespectacularfromtheperspectivefromplayersinotherRPGsettings,butinTwilight2000it'sagreat
asset.The1960sdieselengineshavebeenconvertedtosteampowerandanimpressiveamountofdetailisprovidedon
theoperationofsuchanengine,whichanysensiblerefereewillutilisenotjusttoimprovethesenseofimmersionbut
alsoasanopportunityforplotdevices.Apartfromthelayout(providedindetailwiththecentrepulloutpages)andan
itinerary,specificationsalsoareprovidedformaximumspeedofthevesselaccordingtodisplacement,draftetcandthe
effectsofdamage.Allinall,it'severythingonecouldpossiblywanttoknow.
Informationisalsoprovidedontheship'sbarge,butmoreimportantlyonthecrewoffive,whoareagenuinelyrough
andquestionablebunch,withtheexceptionoftheoldcaptainwhoobviouslyhasaheartofgold.Thecharactersare
describedwithbelievablemotivationsgiventheircircumstancesandagainthere'splentyofplotopportunitiesprovided
forarefereetoslotinatthetimewhichwillcausethemostconsternationtothePCs.Thetugitselfusuallyrequiresa
crewofaroundten,soitcanbeexpectedthat,appropriately,thePCswillhavetoputabitofworkintoitaswell.
TheSections
Foursectionsoftheriverareeachprovidedtheirownchapter,coveringtheregionfromKrakowtoWarsawintotal
and,foreachchapter(i)NowyHtatotheWislolaRiver(ii)WislokatotheSanRiver(iii)SanRivertoDeblin,and(iv)
DeblintoWarsaw.Eachsectionisdescribedintermsofitstotaldistance,theaveragewidthanddepthoftheriver,
townsandlandmarks,ageneraldescriptionofthelayoftheland,andrumours.Thisisfollowedwithdetailed
encountertablesforeachofthemajorlocations,bothhumanandenvironmental.Thesecombinethebestofpurely
randomvagabondstryingtomaketheirwaythroughthedesolatelandscape,organisedmauradersenforcingtheirwill
overaregion,tosomethoroughlyorganisedsetpieces,andfinallytodrivingandcontinuingcomponentsofthelong
narrativeoftheriveradventureitself.Whilstonlyconsistingofafewpagesapieceitiseasytogenerateafewsessions
ofactualplayoutofeachofthesesectionssuchisthelevelofdetailandpotentialcomplexityinstorydevelopment.
Asaninterestingnarrativearcbuiltintothejourneyitself,asthePCsmaketheirwayfurtherdownrivertowards
Warsawthegreaterthedegreeofthreat.TheregionaroundKrakowhasafewciviliansandmarauders,withtheperhaps
themostdangerouslocationbeingaformerindustrialcitythathadbeenhitbyanucleardevice.Furtherdownstreamis
selfsufficienttownships,ruledbyagroupofformerbanditssomeofwhichhaveideasofgrandeurwhichresultsinto
occasionalconflictsbetweenthem;whothePCschoiceinthistusslewillbeofimportance,giventheirskillandvessel.
Evenfurtherdownstreamisthefirstencountersofthenamesakeofthepublication,thediscoverythattheirsisnotthe
onlyriverbornevesselofnoteintheregion,whichsetsupthesceneforfutureencountersemphasisedbyasetpiece
fromthemainNPC.Inthefinalsection,thereistheencounterwithasympatheticvillage,theirencounterswiththe
pirates,therevelationofevengreaterpowersahead,allleadingtoaclimaticriverinecombat.

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RiverineCombat
Twilight2000isaprettycomplexandclunkygamesystematthebestoftimes,butitdoesworkwithapushanda
pinch.Thetemporalscaleofriverinecombatislonger(30secondrounds),theunitscaleisabstracted(smallboats
underfiftytons,largeboatsoverfiftytons),withaggregationapplied(e.g.,initiativedeterminedbycollectiveCoolness
UnderFire).Variousmodificationsformovementandspottingareprovided,withthecombatsystemitselfa
combinationofaggregationandabstractionforsmallarmsexchanges,butwithamoredetailedsetofrulesforindirect
andlargeweaponfireagainstboatsetc.Naturallyenough,moralealsocomesintoplay.Asasummarythesystem
providedasurprisinglyworkablesimulationofrivercombat,albeitwithinconsistentresolutionmechanics.
Conclusions
Overall,PiratesoftheVistulaisagreatproduct,combiningthebestofasandboxandplottedadventure,evenifthe
physicalproductitselfiseversoslightlyontheflimsyside.Asforthecontenthowevertheamountofdetailcrammed
inthepagesisexemplary.Itiseasytogetadozensessionsofactualplayoutofthefortypagesandstillhaveplentyof
looseendstodealwithafterwards.Whilstitdoesappeartorunonrails(orfloatdownariver)tosomeextent,butthis
isannotthecase,asthereareplentyofopportunitiesandindeedoftenrequirements,toventureinland.Despitehaving
toworkwiththeTwilight2000systemwhich,inallhonestyisnotthebest,thisisagreatsupplement.
Style:1+.6(layout)+.8(art)+.7(coolness)+.7(readability)+.5(product)=4.3
Substance:1+1.0(content)+1.0(text)+.9(fun)+.7(workmanship)+.6(system)=5.2

CampaignClassics:Pirates
IntroductionandProduct
Foraperiodofthelate1980sandearly1990s,IronCrownEnterprisesandHeroGamesformedandistributionalliance
whichbroughttogethertwoverydifferentgamesystems,RolemasterandChampions,(orstrictlyspeakingthe'master
andherosystems)intosomepublications.Thefourthofthesewas'Pirates',a160pagesoftbackbookconcentratingon
the17thcentury,butwithalittlebitofmaterialforcenturiesoneitherside.Thecoverart,bySusanHunter,isalittle
ontheromanticsideofrepresentingpirateswithadashingyoungmanbutwithgoodtechniqueandalittledashof
creativityinthewashedbackgroundofships.Theinternalartwhilsthavingsomeevocativeelements,issometimesa
littlelazyintechniqueforthenewpiecesandsometimesverywelldetailed.Theproductmakesgooduseofappropriate
outofcopyrightmaterialandwhilstthereisafairbitoffillerpieces(includingrepeats)thereismanycontextualpieces
aswell.Theoldmapsareanabsolutedelight,forexample.

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Thelayoutisprettymuchtwocolumnjustifiedwithserif
textandsansserifheadings.Therearefifteenchapters
overall,splitoverthreemainareas,aPlayer'sSection,the
Setting,andaGamemaster'sSection.Thewritingstyleis
overwhelminglyformal,emphasisingcontentoverstyle.
Thereishowever,atrociously,somepartsofthePlayer's
Sectionwhicharesimplycopyandpastedfromthe
RolemastercharactergenerationsectiontotheFantasy
Herocharactergenerationsection,whichasingle
presentationwouldhavedonequiteadequatelywith
differentsystemruleshighlightedasnecessary.
ThePlayer'sSection
AssuggestedthePlayer'sSectionbeginswithcharacter
generationrulesforRolemasterandFantasyHero,
includingsomebasic(i.e.,combatoriented)equipment.
Theauthor,influencedbymovielogic,assignspower
levelstowhethercharactersare"TheLeadingMan","The
SupportingCast",or"Extras".Ratheroddlyforthesetting
andgenre,thereisarequirementthat"TheLeadingMan"
willbea"goodytwoshoes".Expectationsofcharacter
behaviourandparticipationarereducedaccordingto
powerlevel.PowerlevelsinRolemasterarenotdefinedby
additionalclasslevelsbutintermsofbonusskillranks,whereasinFantasyHerotheyaredefinedbystartingcharacter
points.Whilstarangeofstandardcharacterclassesandpackagedealsappropriatetothesetting,ofparticularinterestis
thedifficultprospectofmagicusingcharacters.Whilstthesearesensiblyreducedtowitch,shaman,andanimist
professionsandtherearerestrictionsonmagicalspelllists(Rolemaster)andeffects(FantasyHero)inmostcasesthere
arenotincreasesindevelopmentpointorcharacterpointcost.
Apottedgeographyoftheworldofpiratesisprovidedwithafewparagraphsdedicatedtothemainsettinglocations
(includingtheWestIndies,AfricaandtheIndianOcean)andhistory,withafewpageseachcoveringthe16thand17th
century,especiallyinreferencetothepoliticsandreligionofwesternEurope,andslippingalittleintothe18th
century.Threegeneralcampaignperiodsareoffered,theElizabethanCampaign(15581603),theBuccaneerCampaign
(16301670),andthePirateCampaign(16701725).Anentirechapterisdedicatedundertheheading"Peopleofthe
17thCentury"whichcoverslifeincolonialareas,thesocialclasses,normallifeexperiencesofthebuccaneerand
pirates,lettersofmarqueandpiratearticles,moneyandtrade,andevenshortsectionsonwomaninthepirateworld
(includingacoupleofinterestinghistoricalexamples)andreligiouslife.
Achapterisalsodedicatedto'ShipsandSailing',and'Combat'.Theshipschaptergivesdetailsofshiptypeswithan
emphasisonriggingandshiplayout(withhandyillustrations),informativesectionsonnavigation,sailingissues,ship
life,andmaintenance,alongwithapoorlykeyedtraveltable.Whilstthecombatsectionbeginswithfencingand
firearmsrulesforRolemasterandFantasyHeroandvariousswashbucklingmaneuvers,thereisasignificantsectionon
shiptoshipcombatwithspecificcharacteristicsforthetwogamesystems,movementandmaneuvers,andboarding
actions.AsalwaysthecasewithRolemasterit'sthe"criticals"thatkillyou.

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TheSettingandTheGamemaster'sSection

ThesectionforTheSettingisjustundertwentyfivepagesandassuchcanbecombinedwithTheGamemaster's
section.Itismainlyanpotteddescriptionoftheworldoftheperiodwithverybriefnotesprovidingageneral
description,abackground,thecurrentruler,anylocalcustoms,andadditionalnotes.Itconcentratesontheregionsof
thecampaign(TheWestIndiesandtheSpanishMain,AfricaandtheIndianOcean),butalsoincludesachapteronThe
RestoftheWorld.Mostofthedescriptionsareeffectivelyonlyacoupleofparagraphswithsomeexceptionsrunning
foraquarterofapageormore(e.g.,Bahamas,Panama,Tortuga,Madagascar).Themapsprovidedarevisually
appealinginanoldstyle,butarefrustratinglylackingwithsufficientkeyedinformation(e.g.,thelocationofmajor
locationsmentionedinthetext!),andthelanguagemapsareoversizedforthepaucityofinformationprovided.The
Settingsectionconcludeswithatatimelineofmajorrelevanteventsfromthelate15ththrouightotheearly18th
centuries.Thereisthesensiblesuggestionsearlyinthechaptertobequiteloosewiththehistoryafterthecampaignhas
started(socharactersdonotgainadvantagefromtheplayersknowledge)alongwiththesettinginformationinareas
thatarerelativelyundiscoveredbyEuropeans.
TheGamemaster'sSectionbeginswithadescriptionofflavoursomehintsforrunningswashbucklingadventures,
notingtheusualflashymaneuvers,butalsotheimportanceofransomandthepropensitytospendmoneyasfastasitis
received.Severalgeneraladventureshooksareprovided,whichareprettymuchasexpectedwithelaborationinto
adventuresstyles(simple,episodic).Briefdescriptionismadefortheinclusionofthesupplementinothercampaign
settingsandstyles,suchastheinclusionofmagic,piratesinspace,orwiththeICEcampaignsetting,ShadowWorld.
AGameStatisticschapterdefinesstandardcharactertypes(thugs,rogues,soldiersandsailors,merchants,
gentleman/nobles.priest/scholar,Indian/Africanwarrior)andstatisticsforRolemaster/MERPandFantasyHero.The
layoutfortheFantasyHerocharactersisquitepoor,takingupmultiplepages.Followingthisisadescriptionand
statisticsforseveralwellknownhistoricalandfictionalfigures,includingHenryMorgan,FrancisL'Ollonois,
Blackbeard,LongJohnSilver,withthesamelayoutissues.AtypicalNPCcrewisadded,andaselectionofnormal
creaturesappropriateforthemainsettings;finallythelayoutissuesareresolvedwiththeFHstatistics.Thechapter
concludeswithadescriptionofnonmonetarytreasuresthatcanbefoundinaPiratescampaignwhich,withan
incrediblylimitedimagination,basicallymeansweapons.Thebookconcludeswithsometwentypagesofscenarios,
makingupsomesixscenariosintotalandincontrastwiththechapterintroductionwhichclaimsthree.
Thefirstscenarioisreallyjustdesignedtointroducecharacterstothesettingandtheshiptoshipcombatsystemas
theypickoffastragglerfromamainfleet.Thesecondreallydoesn'thavemuchmoreintermsofaplotdevelopment
thistimeinsteadofafleet'sstraggler,it'sbuccaneerstakingonafortifiedtown.Thethirdhoweverisacombinationof
investigationandexplorationforafabledtreasurewhichinvolvessomecolourfulNPCsandsomesignificant
challenges.ThefourthscenarioisratherlikethesecondbutwithaneastAfricanandArabictakeonthematter,thefifth
asmugglingscenariowiththeusualchallengesenhancedbyintracrewconflicts,andthesixthasortof"lostworlds"
settingasthecharactersfindthemselvestrappedinthemythicSargassoSea.Ultimatelyallofthesescenarioslack
sufficientnarrativehooksandworkwillbeneededbyanyGMtofleshthemouttobesufficientlyentertaining.The
bookconcludeswithareasonablebibliography.
Evaluation
Despitealackofflourish,alackofsolidintegrationtothegamesystemsitisdesignedfor,andsomepoorlayout
decisionsPiratesisactuallyafairlyusefulresource.Thelocationandtimelinedescriptions,althoughfairlybrieffor

29RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

eachspecificcomponent,docoverandenormousscopeandinterestinglyevokeaglobalseafaringsensetothereader.
Theshippingandshiplifedescriptionsareamongthebestavailableandintheirownrightvaluableforanycampaign
ofsuchanature.OnewillprobablyfinduseinthestandardNPCdescriptionsandtheadventures,whilstprettyplainin
theirownright,canserveasusefulsettingseedsforfurtherelaboration.Overallthisisahandysupplementforany
existinghistoricalbasedpiratecampaign.
Style:1+.4(layout)+.7(art)+.4(coolness)+.5(readability)+.6(product)=3.6
Substance:1+.9(content)+.5(text)+.4(fun)+.6(workmanship)+.4(system)=3.8

GURPSSwashbucklers
IntroductionandPhysicalProduct
At128pagesandwithacolourfulcoverbyDonMaitz,thethirdeditionofGURPSSwashbucklershasundergone
revisionsbynolessthanfourindividualsotherthantheattributedauthor.Nevertheless,itisstilloverwhelminglythe
samebook.ThefirsteditionwaswrittenforsecondeditionGURPS,thesecondeditionforthirdeditionGURPS,and
thethirdeditionforthirdeditionrevisedGURPSplusrulescompendiums,plusextramartialarts.Inpractise,Ihave
foundthatthatthethreeeditionsareessentiallythesameinspiritissomewhatdifferentinletter.Thisisimportantof
course,becausemuchoftheswashbucklinggenre,astheauthorpointsout,isprettymuchaspiritedaffair.
Thesoftbackbackissubstandardinitsbindingandgluebutmayholdupwithcarefuluse.LikemanyotherGURPS
supplementsitcomesinonetotwocolumntext,typicallyone
formainmaterialandoneforextensivesidebars,alongwith
highlightedtextboxes,allinaserifjustifiedtext.Thebookis
packedwhenitcomestotextandartcontent,butstillwith
clearpageandchaptertitlesonthebottomofeachpage.The
internalart,whilstshowingsomecreativity,isoftenlackingin
detailandisrarelycontextual.Thereisasolidsinglepage
tableofcontentsandlikewisefortheindex.Thewritingstyle
isclassicSteffanO'Sullivan,managingtoprovideawhimsical
presentationwithsubstantivecontent.Thesevenchaptersare
Characters,Combat,TheParisCampaign,ThePirate
Campaign,Background,SailingShip,andAdventures.
CharactersandCombat
Thecharacterschapteroutlinesseveralcharactertypes,short
descriptiveparagraphstospurtheplayeandGM'simagination,
includingsystemintegrationsuggestions.Thisisfollowedby
theapplicationofparticularadvantages,disadvantages,and
skillswhichareespeciallyrelevanttothesetting,alongwithan
appropriatejobtable.Itconcludeswithinterestingand
flavoursomediscussiononcommoditymoneysystemsinuse
atthetime,evenifultimatelytheuseofdefaultabstractdollar
isprobablygoingtobeused.Allinall,it'sahandychapter,but
hardlyearthshattering.

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Thecombatchapterisprettymeaty,startingoffwithmaneuvers,bothrealisticandcinematic,twentyfiveintotal.Most
ofthesedefaulttoexistingweaponskillsinGURPSbutallowforincreasedspecialisationfortheswashbucklingera.
Forexample,acharactermaybefairlygoodwiththerapier,buthasanabsolutelydevastatingfeint.Overtheyearsmy
opiniononmaneuversinGURPShaschanged;initiallymyopinionwasquitenegativeviewingthemasadding
additionalcomplexity.However,Iwaswrongthecomplexityisactuallylargelyunchanged,whatisdifferentisthe
additionaldetailand,importantly,optionsinthecutandthrustofdramaticandtacticalinstances.Complementingthe
maneueversarepackagesrepresentingvarioustaughtstyleswithcharacterpointcostforrealisticandcinematicgames.
Entertainingly,othergeneretypedmaneuversarealsoconsidered,suchasyankingcarpets,flippingtables,swingingon
chandeliersorship'srigging,socialskillsduringcombatetc.Thesestartofbeingconsistentwiththecoregamerules
andarethenextended.Thechapterconcludeswithafewpagesofweaponsandequipmentfromtheerawhichare
somewhatbetterinaccuracythanmanyotherRPGs(withthecinematicswordrapiernotedassuch),althoughit
perhapsgettingalittleexcessivetolistfivedifferenttypesofrapier.
Paris,Pirates,andBackground
Thethreesettingdetailchaptersmakeup58pagesofthe128pagebook,andareroughlyequalinsize.TheParis
campaignbeginswithemphasisingtheculturalandpoliticalcentralityofParisinthe17thcentury,alongwithasidebar
pointingoutthatthecitydesignisrealisticallyverymuchinthemedievaldesign.Thechapterassumesa
musketteersstyledcampaign,sobeginswithasummaryofDumas'famousnovel,aninterestinglyequaltreatmentof
King'smusketeerorCardinal'sguardpaths,andcharactersummariesandgamestatisticsforseveralofthemajor
figures,bothhistoricalandfictional.Thisisalsothelocationofthemorecharmingsidebarsinroleplaying,"Howtobe
French",alongtheusefulsuggestionofPCsasaCommediaDell'Arteband.Concludingthechapterisextensivenotes
ontheduellingcodeandmechanismsandnotesformasscombatruleswhichrequireCompendiumII.
Thechapterforthepiratecampaigntakesalongerviewintermsoftimeandawiderviewintermsofspace.Emphasis
isplacedontheCaribbeanbutwithnotesalsoontheRedSeaandtheIndianOcean.Thedistinctionbetweenpirates,
privateers,andbuccaneersisnoted,alongthesemidemocraticstructureofthelatter,alongwithsamplearticlesof
agreement,compensationschemesandsoforth.PortRoyalandSt.Mary'sMadagascararediscussedinsomedetailas
piratecentres,alongwithmaterialonLibertatia,theallegedanarchosocialistpiratecommune.Summariesandgame
statisticsareprovidedforasmallnumberofhistoricalandfictionalfigures,concludingwithshiptraveltimesbetween
majorlocations.
ThebackgroundchaptercoverstherestofEuropefortheperiod1559to1815,whichinitsownrightisaprettybrave
effortforlessthantwentypages,providedinfourerasandwithnotesforeachmajorcountry.Thisinvariablyequates
withEngland,France,Holland(andtheNetherlands),Spainforeachperiodwithanadditionalmentionof"theCeltic
lands"forthelatterperiodandasidebarfortheThirtyYear'sWar,Poland,Italy,theHolyRomanEmpire,theOttoman
Empire,Sweden,andRussia.ThenarrowingoftheCelticlandstoScotlandandIrelandbecausetherewasn'tany
nationalmovementsinBretonorWalesishistoricallyinaccurate(asurprisingfailureforaGURPSbook),andthe
minimalsidebarfortheThirtyYearsWarisutterlyinsufficient.Thechapterconcludeswithadescriptionofthe
ReformationandCounterReformation,variousfashionandeverydaylifeexperienceoftheera,andanextensive
timeline.
ShipsandAdventures

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TheSailingShipschapterisamainlydescriptivechapterandthankfullydoesn'tattempttoreplicateGURPSVehicles,
althoughthereareverybriefnotesonsuchconversions.Shipsintheageofsailareprimarilydefinedbythenumberof
maststheyhave;themoremaststhebiggertheship,withthebiggertheshiptypicallythegreataggregateofdraftand
freeboard,andslowerandmoreexpensivetheyare.Althoughspecificshipsarenotdescribedthereareabstract
categories(sloop,brig,ship)whichsuffice.Theonboardlifesectionisusefulandcolourfulaswell.Thereisalsoan
abstractnavalcombatsystemwhichtruetheGURPSstyleismainlyinterestedin'whowonthebattle'and'what
happenedtothePCs?',butwithlotsofshipbasedspecialeffectsandelaborations,suchaboarding,andshipspecific
criticalcharts.TofinishthebookthereisawoefullyshortfourpagesonAdventureswhichoffersafewadventure
seedsandalittlebitinthesidebarsconcerningcampaigncrossovers.Moreusefulinthebibliographythatfollows.
ConclusionandEvaluation
GURPSSwashbucklersisasomewhatmixedproduct.Whilstmostlywellwrittenandverywellpresented,thephysical
productisquitepoor.Thecontent,whilstprovidingextensivematerialoftheperiodandabsolutelyexcellentand
essentialgamesystemrulescannothelpbutgivetheimpressionthatitwastryingfartoohardattimesandyetstillonly
managingtohaveafairlyaveragedensity.OnesimplydoaGURPScampaignsetintheeraofpiratesandand
swashbucklerswithoutit;andyetitoftendoesn'tquitemakeittowhatisaverygoodproductoverall.
Style:1+.8(layout)+.6(art)+.7(coolness)+.6(readability)+.3(product)=4.0
Substance:1+.7(content)+.5(text)+.8(fun)+.7(workmanship)+.8(system)=4.5

7thSea:Player'sGuideandGameMaster's
Guide
Product,Art,andLayout
Withveryattractivecoversofrenaissanceactionby
WilliamO'Connor,the7thSeacoreGuidesare
wellproducedhardbacks,althoughalittleheavyonthe
fairlylightbinding.Atitlepagegivealittlebitofflavour,
suggestingafilmratherthananRPG.Theblackandwhite
linedrawingswithinarequiteimpressiveintechnique,
althoughusuallywithoutcontext,andthecolourplatesin
thePlayer'sGuidebyTereseNielsen,oftherulersand
theirlands,arepositivelyinspirational.BoththePlayer's
GuideandtheGamemaster'sGuidecomeaprettysolid
tableofcontentsandanimpoverishedindex.
Thetextisuniversallytwocolumnjustifiedwithserif
font,withagreat"oldstyle"fontforheadings.The
writingstyleisoftenveryinformal,andnotatall
appropriatetothestyleofthegameasawhole.Itisalso
veryverbose,andcouldhaveeasilybeenhalfthelength
withthesamecoreinformation.Chaptertitlesandpage
numbersareclearlymarkedoneachpage.Forchapters,
thePlayer'sBookincludesanextensivePrimer,Theahasa

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settingchapter,aHerochapterforcharactergeneration,aDramachapterforthegamesystem,aPlayerchapter,anda
setofAppendices.TheAppendicesincludeaweathertable,anindex,andacharactersheet.
Player'sGuide
Europe'sDistantSister
ThePlayer'sGuideopenswithaheftychapter,Primer,whichprovidesaverysolid,ifverbose,introductiontothe
settingandrules.Itbeginswithaafewpagesofstorythat'snotworthreading,withthegame'sintroductionproviding
moreflavour."Itisagameofswashbucklingandsorcery,piracyandadventure,diplomacyandintrigue,archaeology
andexploration.It'saworldofmusketeers,buccaneersandprivateers,ancientsorceryandlostcivilizations,secretsthat
hideintheshadowsandmonstersthathideinplainsight",whichinitselfhastobeconsideredaprettydamnfine
setting.
Thesettingof7thSeaisdescribedasaplacewhichhas"culturalandhistoricalsimilaritiestoparticularEuropean
nationsonEarth",whichiscertainlytrue.Indeed,manypeopleexpressannoyancethat7thSea'ssettingissufficiently
closetotherealEuropethedesignersmayhavewellsimplyusedtheperiodandaddedmagictotheequation.Certainly
thatwouldhaveledtoamapthatwouldhavemadeagreatdealmoresense(indeeditispossiblytheworstmapIhave
seeninanyroleplayinggame),notonlyforthecontinentofTheah,butalsowithnewworldcontinentsthatwould
providepurposefortheemphasisonseaborneadventures.
Aswrit,7thSea'ssettingisbestforlandadventures,evenifmanyofthescenariosandsupplementarymaterialassumes
waterborneadventures.Nevertheless,thetitleofthegamecomesfromadescriptionofsixseas,andreferencetoa
magical"seventhsea""wherethesunandthemoonshineinthesamesky,wherethestarsgobackwardandthewaters
turntosilver".Thereisplentyofmaterialforexampleonsailorcharactertypesandcreworganisation,seaborne
weaponry,cultureandsuperstitions,andofcourse,variouspirategroups.
ThereisagnosticVaticineChurch,whichhasjustfinishedaThirtyYearsWaragainsttheObjectionistsinEisenand
hasagroupofagentsknownastheInquisition.PlusthereisanOrthodoxchurchintheeast.Severalpagesisspenton
thegeneralgeographyandcultureofeachofthecorenationalitiesinthePlayer'sBook.EisenisprettymuchGermany,
AvalonistheBritishIsles,CastilleisSpainandPortugal,MontaigneisFrance,UssaraisRussia,Vendeland
VestenmannavnjaristheNetherlandsandScandanaviancountriescombinedintoagroupofislands,VodacceisItaly,
andisolatedwithphysicalbarriersisCathay(China)andTheEmpireoftheCrescentMoon(Arabicstates).
Addtoallthisahandfulofsecretsocietiesandswordsmen'sandotherguilds,precursorarcheologicalartifactsand
noblefamilieswithnationalitybasedsorcery.ThehistorytellsofanOldRepublic,theappearanceoftheFirstProphet,
andthebeginningoftheAnnoVeritas(AV)datingsystem,theformationofanEasternandWesternEmpire,the
emperor'sCoratineandCarleman,andtheRiseoftheCrusades,thespreadofadevastatingWhitePlagueandsoforth.
ChargenandGameSystem
ThegamesystemisavariantontheRollandKeepmethodusedinLegendoftheFiveRings.Charactergenerationisa
pointbuysystem.Beginningwith100pointscharacterscanbeassignedsorcery(ahefty40pointsfor"fullblooded"or

33RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

20pointsfor"halfblooded",withexpectedlimitations.Joiningaswordsman'sschoolcosts25pointsforanative
schoolor35foraforeignschool;theseprovideapackagedealofknacksandotherbenefits.TraitsBrawn,Finesse,
Resolve,Wits,andPanachewhicharerankedfrom1to5,andcost8pointseach.Theserepresentprettymuchwhat
theysayonthetin,exceptPanache,describedas"that'somethingspecial'thatsetsyourHeroapartfromJoeAverage;
i.e.,jenesaisquoi.WhenexperienceisreceivedThecostofbuyinganewskill,advancingaknack,joiningaschoolis
significantlymorethancharactergeneration.
Charactersalsohaveadvantages,andskills(read:professions)atacost2pointswhichprovideasetofknacks(read:
skills),bothbasicandadvanced.Knacksarealsorated,typicallyfrom0to5;basicknackscost1pointtoincreaseat
charactergeneration,andadvancedknacks3.TypicallyplayersrolltheirTraitplusKnackasxd10(with10s
"exploding"),keeptheresultsoftheTrait,andaddthetotalagainstatargetnumber.Targetnumbersmayberaisedfor
bonuseffectsand"DramaDice"maybespenttoenhancethepossibilityofsuccess.Charactergenerationiscompleted
withtheadditionofabackgrounds(anegative,e.g.,amnesia,obligationetc),reputation(positiveornegative),wealth,
and"arcana"adrivingpersonalityforce(positiveornegative)forthecharacterasaplotdevices.Theequipmentlist
providedismoreextensivethanmostRPGs,providingatleastasmuchforclothesasitdoesforweaponsandarmour
suchisthestyleofthegame.Severalsamplecharactersprovidetheopportunityforrapidplay,templates,orNPCs.
TacticaltimeiscarriedoutinroundswithinitiativedeterminedbyanonexplodingPanachetraitrollwhichdetermines
thephasesacharacteractsin.Attacksarebasedonaskillrollagainstatargetnumberderivedfromadefender'sknack
timesfive(traitplaysnoeffect).Damageisalsobasedonarollandkeepmechanism,withtheBrawntraitaddingto
therolleddicepoolformeleeweapons.Withtheexceptionof"dragoniron",thereisnootherarmourinuse.Some
martialknacks,distinguishedfromcivilknacks,alsohavespecialeffects.Whenwoundedaplayercharacterormajor
NPCrollsaBrawntestagainstthewoundstaken;iftheyfailtheysufferaDramaticWound,ifnottheyhavean
accumulatedlevelofFleshWounds.AmajorcharacterisknockedoutiftheysufferdoubleResolveinDramatic
Wounds,NPCHenchmenareknockedoutattheirResolveinDramaticWounds,andBrutesgetknockedoutoneach
hit;it'samookrule.Thereisalsoacombatsystem,ofsorts,forrepartee,basedaround"charm,intimidate,andtaunt"
asmaneuvers.
Swords,Sorcery,andShips
AsubstantialportionofthePlayer'sBookisspentontheSwordsmanschools,shipdesign,andthemagicaltraditions.
Asmentioned,swordsmenschoolsandsorceryareboundbynationality.Fortheswordsmen,ageneralruleisthatall
swordsmenreceivetheskillslisted,afreerankinthefourswordsmenknacks,andmembershiptotheswordsmanguild
(usually3points).For25or35pointsthisseemsincrediblyexpensive;theschooltypciallyprovidesacoupleofskills
orknacksinsomecases,andfourspecialistknacks.Eachdohaveaspecialabilityhoweverthatcanturnafight,
determinedbytheskilllevel(apprentice,journeyman,master),suchasbonusunkeptinitiativedice,extradamageetc.
ShipsaredesignedlikecharacterswithpointsandthesamebasicTraits,withResolvebeingusedforDraftandCargo,
andwithflawsandmodifications.Thesystemisinmanywaystoo;ResolvedeterminesDraftandCargoinships,but
whatdoesthistranslatetoinrealworldterms?Thetotalpointvaluealsodeterminesthemaximumtraitvaluesaship
canhave,alongwithmaximumflawsandmodificationsthebiggertheship,thebiggerits"personality".Modifications
havedifficultylevels,whichgeneratesthetargetnumberoftheshipwrightmakingthedesign.Severalexamplesare
providedbasedonpointvalue,rangingfromthemodestpiratesloopstotheMano'War.
Gamemaster'sGuide

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ThahandVillain
Afteranobligatory"thisistheGM'sbook,andyouarefreetocheat"introduction,thesubstancebeginswithan
elaborationofthegameworldThahandspoilersfollow,youhavebeenwarned.Itstartswiththeusefulmedical
advancesthattheThaheanshaveoverTerrans,alongwithahumanisticromanticworldviewwithinthecourts.Thisis
explicitlystatedas"InThah,itmeansthatheroesarebackinstyle."Thisfollowswithfurtherelaboration(and
replicationfromThePlayer'sBook)onthenationsandvarioussocietiesofThah,whichinpartincludenationalscale
plothookswhichPCsmayeventuallypartakein,majorNPCs,andvariousregionalsecretswhichcouldbeeasily
convertedintoplothooks.HowevermorethanthreequartersofthematerialisbothobviousthroughminimalPC
experienceandevenrumour.Itisgood,sometimeseven<i>great</i>information,butthereislittlepurposeofitbeing
intheGM'sbook.

TheVillainchapterincludesawiderangeofruleselaborations,specificallyaimedattheGM,makingitprobablythe
bestsignaltonoisechapterinanyofthebooks.Itincludesoptionalcharactercreationrules(e.g.,ensembleparty
lumpsumcharacterpoints,bonuscharacterpointsasaindicationofplayerinterests),elaborationsofskillsandknacks,
landmanagementrules,optionsfortheFaithadvantage,Arcanaforvillains,suggestionsonhowtoturnHero
advantagesintoplothooks,andaBestiaryofsomeeighteenmundaneandsupernaturalcreatures.Thelatterdoes
illustratesomeofthequirksofthegamesystemwhenappliedtononhumanentities;forexamplethe
brutehenchmanvilliancontinuumisappliedtothecreature'soverallstrengthratherthannarrativeimportance,andfast
creaturesaregivenahighPanacherating.
Drama
TheDramachapterisverymuchrulesintensive.Asthe
bookssays:"Wevegotrulesforfalling,burning,
drowning,shiptoshipcombat,battles,poisons,Brute
Squads,chases,explosionsandjustaboutanythingelse
youcanthinkof."Thereisactuallymorethanthatas
theseruleselaborationsarepresentedinalphabetical
order,thefirstareagingrules(traitmodifiersaccordingto
skillcategory,deathat65+oneexplodingdie).Thebrute
squadrulesissimpleandeffective,usingthenumberas
therolleddieandthethreatratingasthekeptdie.Chases
areconductedascontestedskillsaccordingtoenviroment
withinitialheadstartraisesequaltothenumberof
headstartphaseswithnarrativebiasedrandom
encounters.
TheDramadicemechanicsaremoregamejustifications
thanactualrulesassuch,buttheymakesense.Drowning
isResolvebasedtests,aratherimpoverishedmechanic
andequallypoorlyimplementedisExplosions,asimple
damagerating,anequivalentTNtooutrunthem,anda
halfdamageblastradius.Fallingisbasedondistance
modifiedbythesurface(soft,firm,hard);softsurfaces
(includinganotherperson)negatealldamageandobjects

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droppedfromanyheightbutweighlessthanapersonalsodonodamageyoucanbehitfromabowlingballdropped
from200feetandnodamagewouldresult.
FearissimpleResolvechecksresultinginlostunkeptdice,masscombatisresolvedbydetermingtheHeroeslevelof
engagement,thetideofabattledeterminedbyacontestedskillrollbetweencompetinggenerals.Thesetwofactorsare
resolvedinachartthatprovidesfleshwounds,reputationpoints,andheroicopportuntiesthisisnotasystemthat
addressestherelativestrengthofcompetingsides.Itcontrastssignificantlywiththenavalbattlesruleswhichdo,
applying(asmentionedinthePlayer'sBook)charactertraitstoships.
Lockpickingissimplyatest,modifiedbyequipment,withatargetnumberbasedondifficulty.Poisonsaredeliberately
weakenedaccordingtothesettingandthematicrequirements(presumablynowolfsbaneinthissetting),butbased
aroundeffect,onsetperiod,andeffecttime.Somehaveinterestingnarrativeeffects(e.g.,YellowLotusbothdamages
andincreasessorceryabilities).Inasimilarformat,TrapsaredescibedintermsoftheirTNtospot,thedisarmprocess,
avoidanceTNandability,effect,andsalvagevalue.Thereisgooddescriptionondesigningtrapsintermsofthetrigger
anddeliverysystems.AnelaborationofRaisesandReputationisprovided,especiallythelatter'sknightlycodeof
chivalry.Thereisalsoanextensive,fartooextensive,descriptionofthevariousflavoursofsorcery,althoughlittleof
thisisrulesbased.Finally,thereisanarrativebaseddiscussionofweatherwithamodicumofeffectimplementations,
andaprobabilitychart.
GameMaster
TheGameMasterchaptermakesthefairlytypicalcommentthataboveallrules,thegameismeanttobefun.It
suggeststhreehatstheGMmustwear(surelyatricornwouldbebetter?),i.e.,author,storyteller,referee;whichsortof
fitswiththesimulationist,narrativist,andgamistcreativeagendas.Aninterestingchallengecomesoutwithnotingthat
therulesshouldn'tbeusedtoslowdownthedynamicnarrative,butofcourse,aswrit,theRollandKeepapproachcan
leadtosuchsituations.Adistinctionisalsodrawnbetweena"diceGM"(wheredierollsareneverfudged)anda"story
GM"whichdieresultsareoftenignored.Thisisperhapsalittleunfairtosome"diceGM"whoisabletoreflecton
resultsandcreateaplausibleandentertainingnarrativewithoutfudgingresults.
Thereisanoverlylengthydiscussionongroupdynamicswithsensiblyseekstocombinegroupharmonywithsolo
limelight.The"threehats"(whynotatricorn?)areexplored,startingwiththe"authorhat"anddistinguishingbetween
scopeandstorymodes,andpresentsasurprisinglyalmostaccuratedescriptionoftheme(Iampersonallysotiredof
thisbeingcompletelywronginbothgamingandcomputingthatI'llgivecredittoonethatisalmostright).Agood
varietyofdramaticsituationsarepresentedasplothookswithexamples,describedinbasicquestionwithimportant
thematicquestions(e.g.,'Ambition',RichardIII).Whatweoncecalledscenariosareproperlybrokenupintotheir
componentsofscene,act,story,andepic(againalmostright),andwithplotalittletoosimplydescribedintermsof
beginning,middle,andclimax.
The"refereehat"makestherecommendationofbeing"firm,fair,andfriendly",includingthefranklyinappropriate
adviceof"standbyeverydecisionyoumake,evenifit'swrong".Nordoesthedescriptionofthe"threeFs"provide
muchadviceonwhattodowhentheycontradicteachother.TherecommendationoffollowupconsequencestoHero
action'sisagoodone,asisthediscussionofcharacterdeath(workitthroughwiththeplayer),asistheelaborationson
punishmentsandfailures,andofimprovisationinactionscenes.Themaincomplaintisastylisticoneallofthistakes
fartoomuchinthewordcountandcouldbeexplainedalotquickerandeasier.Finallythereisthe"storytellerhat",
whichstartswithsomefairlybasicideasofNPCmotivesandtheuseofmimeticratherthandiegeticexpression(i.e.,

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"Show,DontTell."),andtheuseofvoicetoconveypersonalityandsetting;butthat'saboutit,ahatthatiswoefully
underdeveloped.
Thefinalsectionofthechapterisgivingoutexperiencepoints(unspentDramadiceplusadifficultyvalue),plus
storybasedadvances,andseekingplayerfeedbackwiththeinterestingsuggestionofavoiding"yesno"answers,and
theuseofretroactivecontinuity.Thrownrightattheendofthechapterisavarietyof"advancedstoryteller"techniques
includingdreamsequences,symboliclanguage(i.e.,motif),parallelplotlines,flashbacks,andsome'dirtytricks'(e.g.,
cheating).Noneofthisisparticularlyilluminating.
SummaryandEvaluation
WithregardstothesystemtheRollandKeepmethodisgoodinprinciple,butneedstoemphasisethedifferent
applicationofcharacteristicsinphysicalversusintellectualtests.Itisalsotimeconsuminginactualplay,requiringa
handfulofdiceandtheiraddition,evenwithsomeoftherecommendationsintheGM'sbookforspeedingupthe
process.Thedistinctionbetweenbasicandadvancedknacksislikewisegoodinprinciple,likeskillprerequisitesin
othersystems,buthasnotbeenwellimplementedwithsomeratheroddcombinationsduetothecombinedskillgroups
(e.g.,DancingisrequiredforSincerity,KnotworkforCartography,StealthforInterrogationetc).Inotherwords,the
coresystemisfairlygoodbuttheimplementationisverymuchbelowpar.
Thegamedoescoveralotofground,butdoessoquitepoorly.Itisdifficulttofindwhatoneneedsinactualplay(odd
positioningoftheindex),itispoorlywrittenanddeliverstoolittlecontentperpage.Thesettingirksmany,andfor
goodreason.ItneverfeelsquitelikeaseafaringnotEuropewhenthegeographyisjustplainwrong,andthe
nationalitiessoundlikethemoreridiculousEuropeanstereotypes.Wherethegamedoesshineisafairlygoodphysical
product,someexcellentartwork,andofcourse,agreatconcept.Plus,thereisjustenoughinthegamesystemthat
makesthegamefuntoplaywithintheparticularsetting.AcarefulGMcanmakeallthiswork,butathorough
considerationofthesettingandsystemisrequired.
Style:1+.6(layout)+1.0(art)+.7(coolness)+.3(readability)+.7(product)=4.3
Substance:1+.7(content)+.3(text)+.6(fun)+.4(workmanship)+.5(system)=3.6

RuneQuestPirates
IntroductionandProduct
RuneQuestPiratesisa96pagehardboundbookfeaturingadeckboundbattleonthecoverbyPascalQuidault,whichis
fairlygoodintermsoftechniqueandcreativity.Theinternalart,fromseveralauthors,isvariedinquality,but
occasionallyisincontextaswell.AswithotherMongooseRuneQuestbooksfartoospaceisdedicatedtothemargins
andmarginart(thistimebeingseafaringthemed),howeverpagenumbersandchaptertitlesareclearlymarkedoneach
page.Oftentheparagraphbreaksandwhitespaceseemquiteexcessive.Theuseofaskullandcrossbonesasdotpoints
iscute.
Thereisaveryshorttableofcontents,butamuchlongerandmorecomprehensiveindex,alongwithsomecrewand
shipsheetsattheback.Theintroductionspecifiesthatthebookwillbeaboutamorenarrowandspecificperiodthatis
oftenassignedtotheageofpiracy;1680to1720,ratherthanbroaderhistoricaldefinitions(e.g.,nonEuropeanpiracy,

37RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

thebuccaneereraetc).
CharactersandPersonalEquipment
CharactergenerationismeanttofollowthestandardRuneQuestruleswithtwomajoradditions.Firstly,thereareafew
tantalisinghintsforinitialconcept,whichcouldhavebeenelaboratedfurther,andsecondly,therearenewskills,
specificallyPistolsandLongArms.Annoyinglythereisanerrorinthegeneraldescriptionofsuchweaponswhich
claimstheirstartingskillisDEX*2,thenimmediatelyfollowingbotharedescribedintheirspecificsectionsas
10+DEX.Icannotfathomhowaneditoroverlookedthis(andIamaterribleeditor).Eachoftheadvancedskills
receivesacoupleofparagraphsofdescription;anotable
absenceisadiscussiononlanguages.
Thelistofprofessionsis,aspriorMongooseRuneQuest
books,heavyonthespacewithtabulatedinformation.A
heftythirtyprofessionsaregivengamedata(profession,
culturalbackground,basicskillbonuses,advancedskill
options,trappings)allofwhichseemtobewellbalanced
witheachother.Therandomequipmenttable,meantto
representtheodditiesfoundinalifeofroaming,isacute
touch,howeverthe"petalbinorat"isquiteanachronistic!
TheReputationsystemisslightlychanged,withstarting
positivelevelscomingfromCHAandcertain
higherlevelskills,andwithincreasesandlossesfrom
piraticalactivityasthecampaignprogresses.Ahigh
reputationreducesone'sDisguiseskill,andalsoincreases
therewardforcapture.Thereisaroundadozen
LegendaryAbilitieswithapirateflavour,although
"AlwaysSomethingToSwingFrom"willrequiresome
prettyspecialnarrativeinterventionsattimes.Thereis
alsoarecursiveViceability.Startingcharactershave2
pointsofVice,aroundascoreofmajorpersonality
piratestyledpersonalitycharacteristics(avarice,
blasphemy,cruelty,drinketc).Characterswhoindulge
theirVicegainHeroPoints,HeroPointscanbeusedto
purchaseanotherVice,whichthencanbeused...Theeffectisthatlegendarycharactershavinglargerthanlife
personalities.
Theequipmentchapterincludesafairvarietyofpersonalweapons,armour,apassingmentionofclothes,and
absolutelynothingelse.Whatisprovidedismostlyfine,althoughtheinclusionofthehirashurikenisquite
unexpected.
Crew,Ships,andPlunder
Piratecrewsareprimarilydefinedbytheirskilllevels(fromLandlubbers15%toDevilsStraightfromHell150%)inan

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unspecifiedselection,althoughweareinformedthat"Shiphandling,Boating,Gunneryorthroatcuttingareofmoreuse
toapiratecrewthanbeingabletodanceorspeakprettily".Aselection(10%)arebetterorworsethanthestandard,so
"choicemen"canbepickedforspecialmissions.Officersprovideabonustocrewskillchecksequalto1/10thofthe
officer'sskill.Crewmoraleisalsorelatedtobaseskilllevel,andmodifiedbyvariousofficeandcrewskills(e.g.,
musiciansandcooksaddabonus),whichalsoaddsanadditionalbonustoskillcheckswhichmakesthebaseskill
levelofferedatthebeginningofthechapterwrong.Tobefair,moralecanvarybycircumstance,buttheassumptionof
tyingbaseskilltobasemoraleisperhapsnotthewisestdecision.Therearerulesonthedivisionofspoils(alittleoverly
generous,historically,totheseniorofficers),recompenseforinjuries,andasomewhatdrawnoutsystemforelections.
Togowiththecrew,avarietyofshipsareofferedwithgameanddescriptivestatistics(length,draft,capacity,speed,
seaworthiness,structurepoints,weapons,crew,andskillbonuses),withabriefsidebarforcost.Imperialmeasurements
isusedforstylereasonsratherthanmetric.Some17vesseltypesaregivenstatistics,rangingfromthecanoetothe
warship,withtheopportunityforsomecustomconfigurations(e.g.,bulwarks,aftgunsetc).Optionallytheyhave
quirksaswell,bothpositiveandnegative.Movementspeedandmaneuverabilityisaffectedbyweatherandsail
configuration.Ascanbeexpectedtherearerulesfordamage(tostructurepointsandseaworthinessmodifiers)and
repairs,alongwithvariousnaturaldangersthatoccurbothfromonboardlife(e.g.,disease)andnaturalhazardstothe
ship.
Althoughtenpagesdedicatedtothe"PiracyandPlunder"chapter,thesearenearlyalltables;randomweather,
encountersatsea,eventsonboard,strangersonshore,randomvessel(andsubtables),andavarietyofplundertables
withbasedeterminationfromtheshiptype.Ofpreferentialdetail,thechapteron"CombatontheHighSeas"startsoff
withshipboardduels,withanemphasisongainingAdvantage,whichcanbederivedfromsuccessfulhitsetc,butthen
compoundsasAdvantagegivesskillbonuses.Amoreabstractsystemisusedforcrewvscrewcombat,whichtracks
generalwoundedstatesthatcanthenbeappliedonapercharacterbasisifdesired.Playercharactersalsohavethe
opportunitytotakeup"HeroicActions"inmasscombatwhichcaninspireandgivebonusestoacrew.Shiptoship
combatislikewiseabstractwithacontesttoeitherfleeorcatchanopponent,anexchangeoffire(withacriticalhits
chart),andpotentialboarding.
Settings
Portsaretypedaspirate,minortrade,majortrade,orfortressed.Thereceptionofpiratesinportofcoursevaries,and
themainpurposefromthebook'spointofview,istheopportunitytosellone'splunder.Theveryshortchapteronports
isfollowedupbyarangeofcampaignideas,whichstartswithdescriptivetextonhistoricalpiracy,whichincludesa
sectionontheeraofbucanneersandprivateers.Thereisalsoadescriptivetextforcinematicpiracy,forwhichmuchof
thebookseemstobehavewritteninmind.Thesectiononsupernaturalpiracyisquitequirky,withahistoricaltieinof
shipsofunintergratedrunescrossingtheAtlanticservingaspiratebait,withotherideasincludingpiratesandghosts,
piratesandvoodoo,andtherediscoveryofGreekclockworkforanalternativesetting.Averynotableabsenceistheuse
ofthesupplementintheGloranthasetting.Finally,statisticsforeightsampleNPCsareoffered.
Evaluation
RuneQuestPirateshassomeexcellentadditionsandelaborationstothecoreRuneQuestruleset,andcertainlisa
necessarysupplementforthosewhowishtoplayacampaignwiththenarrowfocusthatithassetitself.Whilstmanyof
theruleelaborationsaredesignedtowardstheappropriatestylisticsofapiratesetting,anumberarestylishand
cinematic,whichdoescomeacrossalittleatoddstoagamethathistoricallyhasareputationforrealism.Indeed,the
supplementisbestusedforsuchgames,althoughwithabitoftweakingthevolumecanbeturneddownalevel.Whilst

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asolidlyproducedbook,andhavingafairlygoodsignaltonoiseratiooverall,thereisanoveruseoftableswhenmore
generaldescriptionscouldhavebeenusedinstead.
Overallthisbookismainlyusefulasahandbookforactualplay,withsomewhatminimalbackgroundandsetting
information.Thereisagreatdealofmaterialthatcanbeused,butitshouldbereviewedsoitaccordswiththe
expectationsofthegroupontherealismcinematicscale.Certainlyitisrecommended,butrecommendedwiththe
aforementionedwarnings.
Style:1+.3(layout)+.5(art)+.7(coolness)+.6(readability)+.7(product)=3.9
Substance:1+.5(content)+.6(text)+.7(fun)+.5(workmanship)+.6(system)=3.9

ThePiratesGuidetoFreeport
IntroductionandProduct
Withaviolentlyattractivecover,thePiratesGuideofFreeportillustrateswhatthesubtitlesuggestsafantasysetting
forapiratestyledgame,butasonereadsthetextvarioushorrorelementsarealsointroduced(giventhesuperstitionsof
pirateculturesthisisveryappropriate).The256phardbackbookisnicelyboundwithglosspapertotheusualstandard
expectedbyGreenRoninandwhilstwrittentobe
systemlessithasalsobeenportedtoTrue20,D20,
FATE,SavageWorldsetc.,asCompanions,abitofan
indicationofitspopularityandasafollowontothe
originalsourcebookFreeport:CityofAdventureand
subsequentsupplements(DeathinFreeportwinning
OriginsAwardandENnieAwardswasparticularly
notable).
Thetextismostlyprintedinatwocolumnjustified
seriffontwithheadingsinstylisedsemiwrittenfont,
alongwithhighlightedexcerptswitha
parchmentstyledborder.Thereisadelightfully
extensivetableofcontents,andequallyimpressive
index.Thewritingstyleisinformalwithhumourof
varyingqualitythrowninforgoodmeasure("Three
KilledMy'MagicDeer'Cultist"isapersonal
favourite,ahattiptoGreenRonin'sgame,Blue
Rose),butwithagoodsenseofnarrativeflowand
overallreadability.Theinteriorartismostlygreyscale
withsomefullcolourpiecesandofvaryingquality,
bothintechniqueandcreativity,andaresometimes
contextuallyappropriate.Someofthequalitative
choicesofwhatbelongedincolourandwhatbelonged
ingreyscalearealittleunexpected.

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Beginningwitharatheruninterestingnarrative,theIntroductiondivesrightintowhatthisproductisallabout;
systemless,asmallchainofislandsthatcaneasilydroppedintoanexistingworld,Godsnamedbyportfolioratherthan
title,acompilation,consolidation,andupdateofmaterialfromexistingFreeportbooksandassumingeventsfromthe
originaladventures.
Freeport,TheSetting
AchapterisdedicatedtothehistoryofFreeport,thecityitselfbeing"afewhundredyearsold",butoriginallyinhabited
oratleastrecordedassuchsincethetimeofamysteriouspastofevilsorcerersoftheSerpentEmpireanditishere
thattheinfluenceofLovecraftianhorrorbecomesmostevidentwithreferencestotheworshipofYig(somuchfor
settingfreeunnameddeities),theBrotherhoodoftheYellowSign,andsoforth.A"GreatOldOne"destroytheSerpent
Empireandtearsapartwhatwasalargeislandintoachain,oneparthavinga"natural"harbourandthuseventually
becoming"themostnotoriouspiratehavenintheworld".AsorganisednavieschallengedFreeport,itrespondedinkind
withtheresultingwarandcivilwareventuallyledtoFreeportbecomingrecognisedasasovereigncitystate.Ithasits
challenges,mostnotablytheattemptofaThievesGuildtoengageinslavetrading,andamajorwarwiththedistant
slavercityofMazin,butnoneasgreatasanattemptbythecity'sSeaLordtospreadmadnessthroughoutthewordwith
amagicalritualandawonderouslighthouse.Itwasthislatterchallengethatservesasthestoriesfortheoriginal
Freeporttrilogy.Acrisisfollowingtheseeventsunfolded(includinganinvasion,ahurricane,andamajorfire),but
eventuallysettleddownwithanewSeaLordrebuildingthecity.

Anoverallsummaryofthecityisprovidedinitiallyinshortparagraphstoprovidealayoftheland.Thelayoutofthe
cityisappropriatelydescribedforhaphazarddesign,andthecommonlackofstreetnamesandstreetsignsremindsme
ofcitiesindevelopingnations,alongwiththeuseofrickshawsasamodeoftransportandtheoffersofguides
somethingthatismissingisthegrimdetailofdeeplysubcontractedservices.Thecityisabustling,noisy,crowded,
mainlyhuman,butwithasizablepopulationofD&Dstyle'races'.Socialstatusisdeterminedbywealthmorethe
lineage,acommonhandtomouthexistenceamongmanysailors,thepresenceofasailor'screoleandslang,amerchant
andserviceeconomy,thesurprisingexistenceofafunctioninguniversityandaninventorsubculturewithacontrolled
Wizard'sGuild.Thepeoplearesuperstitious(primarilyfollowingaGodofPirates,aGodoftheSea,aGodof
Knowledge,andaGodofWar,plussomeunsavourycults),andareproneto'entertainment',primarilydrink,narcotics,
andgambling,althoughtheusualsailor'spractiseisnotmentionedasatopicinitsownright.
Thereisagovernmentofsorts,anonhereditarySeaLordandaCaptain'sCouncil,thelatterhavingsomevetopowers
anddespiteitsnamemainlyfrominfluentialcityguildleadersandmerchants.Thereareseveralhousesinthecity
withmajorinfluence.Whilstonemayreasonablyassumethattheyare"oldmoney"theshortdescriptions,whilstoften
interesting,don'treallyprovidemuchinformationinmostcasesonthesourceoftheirwealthandincome.The
executivebranchofthegovernmentispartiallyfulfilledbythesomewhatanarchronisticSeaLord'sGuardandmore
commonlybytheoftenabsentWatch.Forexternalthreats,andtothreatexternally,thereisanimpressiveformalnavy
andinformalprivateernetwork.Descriptionisprovidedofcriminalinvestigation(suchasitis),thetrialprocess,anda
ratherlenient(forthesetting)punishmentregimenaccordingtocrime.Thereisanunderworldofcourse,andquitea
significantone,mainlyintodrugsandprotectionrackets,butavoidingslavery.
DistrictsandDenizens
Eachofthemaindistrictsofthesupplementreceivesitsownchapter,whichreallyisastunningdegreeofdetail
(indeed,perhapsmoreofthecultureandbackgroundwouldhavebeenmoreappropriate).Inorder,thedistrictsso

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describedareTheDocks,Scurvytown,Bloodsalt,EasternDistrict,OldCity,Drac'sEnd,TempleDistrict,Merchant
District,WarehouseDistrict,andTheUnderside.Withapopulationdescribedasreachingtenthousandduringthe
busiesttimesofyear,aroughlyevendistributionwouldseeabout1,000peopleperchapteranddistrict.Soitisnotjust
sheerpagecountbutanimpressive,almostexcessive,levelofdetailthatisprovided.Eachdistrictisprovidedwitha
mapindicatingfartoomanybuildingsforthepopulationsizeanddensitysupposedandadventureseedsforeach
locationwhichtiesinwiththemajorpersonalities,typicallyinterestingandveryunderdeveloped.Thedescriptionsthat
followarenottheordertheyaregiveninthebook,butratheronebyassociation.
TheDocksregionisdesignedfortradeandvisitors,atolerantandcosmopolitandistrict.Majorfeaturesincludethe
seasidemarket,variousbars,aratherunusualSocietyofLobsterMen,thecity'smainnewspaper,andasasurprising
andacceptableanachronism,averyeffectiveLongshoreman'sUnion.NexttotheDocksregionisthewarehouse
district,aplacewhichstrangelyhasthebestorganisationofbuildingsonthemap.Apartfromexpectedactivities,it
alsohasverysecureholdingsforvaluables,anauctionhouse,theofficeofpublicrecords,andthePilot'sGuild.Beyond
theWarehouseDistrictistheMerchantDistrict,wherethewealthyliveandwhereforachangepopulationdensity
doesmatchthemap.ThisishometotheMerchant'sGuild,andthemoreexclusiveclubs,nottomentionanOpera
House.
Inratherstarkcontrast,'Scurvytown'(anunofficialnickname)issubjecttoa"decrepitcondition,lawlesspopulation,
andgrindingpoverty".AppropriatelyitisdownhillfromthemoresalubriousOldCityandtheEasternDistrict.Againit
hasfartoomanybuildingsforthepopulation.Ofparticularnoteinthisregionisaneighbourhooddedicatedtoviceina
myriadofforms,anratherunusualrodentinfestation(unusualevenforScurvytown),appropriatelyafishmarket,and
mostinappropriately,theequivalentofacasino.AstepfurtherdownthesocialscaleisBloodsalt,anewcommunity
primarilyinhabitedbyorcsandtheirkin,establishedfollowingrecruitmentfortheReclamationProject.Itisadisparate
shantytownwithonlyafewbuildingshavinganysemblanceofpermancy.Theareaisrough,veryrough,butthereisa
certainvictimisedprideamongtheOrcishpeopleswhohavebeenpersecutedbyaracisthumanpopulation.Sadly,this
districtissomewhatunderdeveloped,bothinthedescriptivesense,andinthesenseofdevelopinginterestingnarratives,
withthemostinterestlocationandresidentbeingagoblinwizard.
Surroundedbyimpoverishmentanddisorganisedcrime,theinsecuremiddlecalssoftheEasternDistricthave
themselvesturnedtotheSyndicateacriminalorganisationrunbyahalfling.Locationsofnoteincludethecity's
asylum,afraternalorganisation,andapoliticalmeethouse.Ofasimilarclassstatusandabove,butinhabitedbyold
money,theOldCitydistrictissurroundedbytheoriginalcitywallsand,unsurprisingly,hastheappropriatestructures
suchastheSeaLord'sPalace,thelegalandmilitaryadministration,andtheWizard'sGuild.WedgedbetweentheOld
CityandtheMerchantDistrictisaTempleDistrict,withitsspaciousroadsandimpressivebuildingsandamusingly,a
"Fool'sMarket"wherethoseofanewfoundreligionmaypreachtheirrevelations.
Ontheoutskirts,likeasuburbbeyondtheOldCity,theDrac'sEnddistrictiswherethecitybecomesfarmlandand
eventuallyjungle.Itisaplacewheretherecentgreatfireinthecityhasleftadeepimpression,illustratedbythelarge
numberoftemporaryshelters.Asjuxtaposition,Drac'sEndisthelocationofthecity'scentreforhighereducation,The
FreeportInstitute,alongwithamartialartsinstitute.Finally,there'stheUnderside,aworldinitselfofthesewer
networkandhiddenorforgottentunnels.Thisis,obviously,notaheavilypopulatedarea,homeonlytothe"misfits,the
mad,thesick,andthedead(andtheundead)",butalso(andthisisnotgivingtoomuchaway)theSerpentPeople.
AroundtwentypagesisspentondescribingthemajorNPCsofFreeportintheDenizenschapter,withlengthy
descriptionsgiventosomefourteenmajorcharactersandaroundaparagraphtoaboutanothertwenty.Forthemajor
characters,extensivebackgroundandplansareprovidedalongwithadventureseedsinvolvingthepersonage.Ascanbe

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expected,themajorcharactershavecomplexpersonalities,dramaticbackgrounds,andquiteoftenthereisalotmoreto
themthanwhatmeetstheeye.
RegionandElaboration
ThefinalchaptersofthebookexpandsFreeportintoalargerregion,describingingreaterdetailthegeographical
context.Aspartofasmallgroupofislands,surroundedbycoralreefs,withasemitropicalclimate,andmainlycalm
seas,Freeportisinaratherblessedenvironment.Thereareacoupleofsmallersettlementsnearbyinthesmall
archipelago,andanimpressivevolcano.However,allisnotentirelywell,asthegreatfiredamagedmuchofthejungle
andthepeopleofFreeportarebeginningtorealisehowmuchtheydependedonthoselandsespeciallygiventhatplant
lifestubbornlyrefusestogrowonthedamagedareas.IncreasinglyFreeportfindsitselfdependentonthenearby
farmingvillageofCabbageCrack,andfacesachallengeintheutterlyimprobablelawlesstownofLibertyville.Finally,
thereisoneofthewondersoftheworld,theFreeportLighthouse,stillinoperationbutthankfullyremovedfromthe
unfortunateincidentofafewyearsprior.
Goingastepbeyondthisisadescriptionofthewiderworld,startingwithacosmologythatwitnessesthe
"unconsciouslyguidedcreation"thatleadtothePrimalGods,andespeciallyYigandtheformationoftheisland
Valossa,whichformsasortofaxismundibywhichotherlandsareattractedtoit.It'sdestruction,leavingTheSerpent
TeethandTheContinentnearby.Thehistoryofthatregionistheusualriseandfallofempires,surprisinglypowerful
onesactually,whenthesizeoftheregionisconsidered.Still,asthingsfallapart,theContinentisnowcompetedspace
betweenseveralkingdomsandtriballandsofvariouspower,allofwhicharedescribedinsomedetail,aboutapage
each,someofwhichhaveatleastamodicumofinterestinghistoryandpotentialdynamic.Amapisofferedaswell,
andsadlyitmustbeoneoftheworstmapsintermsofplausiblegeographytobedumpedontheworldofroleplaying.
Mountainrangesareinthewrongplace,riverstraverseoversuchranges,thereislittlesenseofprevailingwinds,ocean
currents,oraplausibledistributionofflora.
Thefinalchapter,usingFreeport,providessomeprettyobviousaboutonhowtouseFreeportinaworldofone's
choosing,mostofwhichshouldbeselfevidentfromreadingtheproduct.Somewhatmoreusefullyislistingofthe
potentialcharactertypesthatcouldfindthemselvesinFreeport,andevenbetterstillisthefewpagesdedicatedtoliving
inFreeport,andnauticalexperiences.Aevenbettercomponentisthe'sidebar'discussionofthematicconsiderationsfor
Freeportgames;action,intrigue,horror,andhumour.Theproposalsforaltering("finetuning")Freeportareauseful
additionsandsomeofthemprobablymakemoresensethatthedefaultsetting.Aseriesof"campaignthreads",detailed
narrativetrajectories,areofferedtoaddadditionalflavourtoaGM'soverallcampaignasconsistentsideplots.The
productendswithapublicationofhistoryoftheFreeportsetting,startingfromDeathinFreeport(2000)allthewayto
CrisisinFreeport(2006).
Overall
Stylistically,Freeportisanimpressiveproductwithaboveaverageart(albeitofvaryingquality)andlayout,avery
impressivesettingandcombinationofhorrorandpirategenres,althoughoddlythelatterneverquiteseemstoringtrue.
It'smoreaboutaroughportcitystate,ratherthanapiratecampaignandindeedthedearthofinformationdedicatedto
piracyonthehighseasisverysurprisingandfrankly,inappropriate.However,giventhisitisanenjoyableread,andof
course,physically,adelighttohold.

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Intermsofsubstance,itcoversalotofgroundinimpressivedetail,especiallyintermsoflocations,people,andplot
seeds.However,giventheamountofspacethatisofferedtotheseconcerns,whatwasoverlooked(floraandfauna,
weatherpatterns,demographics)wassomewhatsurprisingastheaforementioneddisparitybetweenallegedpopulation
anddensity.Whatisofferedisdonewithinsufficientattentionofsignaltofluff,withjustalittletoomuchonthelatter,
andwithtoomuchrepetitionofvariousfeatures.
Withnumerousadventureseedsandtheimpressivethreadstochoosefrom,andwithadecentcombinationof
genreelements,Freeportisaverymuchafunplacetoplayanadventurecampaign,thatlargelyshowsagreatdealof
internalconsistency,despiteseveralquirkyanachronisms.Finally,onecannotfaultthebasicsystemthatisofferedin
termsofintegrationofabstractlevelsincharacterdescriptions,althoughthiscouldhave,andshouldhave,been
elaboratedforotherchallengesaswell.
Overallimpressionsarethussomewhatmixed.Thisisagoodproduct,indeed,averygoodproduct,evenaccountingfor
itsflawsandverbosity.Alittlemorecare,alittlemoreelaboration,asavageeditorandameanartcriticcouldhave
madeitagreatproduct.
Style:1+.6(layout)+.6(art)+.7(coolness)+.8(readability)+.8(product)=4.5
Substance:1+.6(content)+.4(text)+.9(fun)+.6(workmanship)+.4(system)=3.9

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CREWOFTHEDAMNED:PIRATICALPREGENS
byKarlDavidBrown
ThisarticlecontainsamixofpiratecharactersgeneratedasstartinglevelPCsforavarietyofgamesystemsand
settings.Thesecharcterscouldalsobeusedasadversariesagainstlowlevelcharactersorminionstoannoy
experiencedadventurers.
D&D5thEdition:BrorazontheSailBurner
Brorazonisacruderhinosizeddragonwhohassailedwithpiratebandsinsearchoftreasure.
Barbarian1,Pirate,Drakon(seeNauticalRacesthisissue).True
Neutral.STR15(+2),DEX12(+1),CON15(+2),INT9(1),WIS12(+1),
CHA8(1).Proficiencybonus+2.
Proficientsavingthrows:Str+4andCon+4.Proficientskills:
Athletics+4,Intimidation+1,Perception+3,Survival+3.Passiveperception13.Languages:Draconic,Common.
Otherproficiencies:Unarmed,lightandmediumarmour,navigatorstoolsandwatervehicles(theabilitytousethese
isseverelylimitedbyToolUse2).
AC13.Initiative+1.Landspeed30.MaximumHP14.HD1d12.Bitereach10ft+42d6+2piercingorClawreach5ft
+42d4+2slashing.Barbarian
Ragefeaturetwouses,ragedamagebonus+2.Firebreath15ftcone2d6firedamage,DexsaveDC12forhalfdamage,
rechargedbyashortorlongrest.Damageresistancefireandslashingdamage.
Pouchcontaining20gp.Asecondpouchcontainingahealingpotionandstrangegoldcoinmintedinanunknown
nation.
Personalitytraits,bondsandflaws:Stretchesthetruthforthesakeofagoodstory,languageasfoulasanotyughs
nest.Somedaywillownmyownshipandchartmyowndestiny.Iwascheatedoutofmyshareoftheprofits,andI
wanttogetmydue.Mypridewillprobablyleadtomydestruction.
Large(rhinosized)dragonwithToolUse2.PoorwingsfunctionasperFeatherfallatwill.
Badreputation(seePHB139).
Tunnels&Trolls5thEdition:Flynn
ThischaracterwascreatedusingthecharactercreationguideinRPGReviewissue22.However,changestotheT&T
rulesareadditionsandthereforeFlynnisusablewithoutthoserules.
ElfRogue(Pirate)Level1.Useanyweaponcanlearntocastspellsbutcurrentlyhasnone.
AtallathleticElfintypicalpirategarb.
ST14IQ12LK14CON8DEX18CHR30SPeed15
Money:Gold0,Silver50
MaxST28,Adds+10,Height611,Weight225Lbs,Age54,Languages:ElvishandCommon.
Wtpossible:1400,halfwtpossible700.Carried95units

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NotepersonalAddshavealreadybeenappliedtoweapon.
ScimitarDice+Adds4d+10,ST10,DEX11,Wt100
WarmdryclothingandpackWt10
CalfhighbootsWt20
LeatherJerkinHits1,ST1,Wt15
Conan2ndEdition(Mongoose):BloodyAja
Conanisad20basedgamesextensivelyalteredtocapturethefeelofHowardsConanswordandsorcerystories.
BloodyAjaisahugebrutalpirate.
Race:SouthIslander.Class:Pirate1.Male.25yearsold.Height71.Weight311Lbs.Lefthanded.Hair:blackbraids.
Eyes:black.Skin:Black.CodeofHonour:Nil.Allegiance1:CapnBajujh.
Allegiance2:TheRedSharkscrew.Thenameofthecaptainandtheshipcouldbechangedtosuit.Reputation:+2
(base0then+2)
STR18(+4),DEX12(+1),CON14(+2),INT8(1),WIS8(1),CHA13+1)
Saves:Fort+4,Ref+3,Wil+1.(2forWilsavesagainstTerrorduetosuperstitions).
Hitpoints:10.
Liftoverhead300,liftoffground600,push/drag1500.Currentload25,Speed30.
Defenses:BaseDefense10,Parry14,Dodge11(12witharmouroff,culturalbonus).
LeatherJerkin:typelight,DR4,maxdex+6,chkpenalty1,spellfailure40,speed30,wt5.
Offenses:Initiative+3.BaseAttackBonus+0.Otherattackbonusesparenthesis()indicatesattackswithspears.
Melee+4(+5),finesse+1(+2),ranged+1(+2).
Proficiencies:allsimpleweapons,allmeleeweapons.Culturalweapons+1spearsandjavelins.
Attacks:Brawlp123&145,attack+4,damage1d6+4,critx2,typeB,notfinesse,Noteslethalornonlethal.
Javelins:attack+2,damage1d8+4,critx2,AP1,range30,hardness5,HP3,typeP,weight2x5Lbs,notfinesse,has5
inaquiver
Thenexttwoweaponscanbeusedtogetherwithnopenaltyfortwoweaponcombat.
WarClub:attack+4,damage2d6+4,critx2,AP4,hardness5,HP10,typeB,size2h,weight6Lbs,notfinesse,
Akbitanandagger:attack+4,damaged4+2,crit1920x2,AP3,range10,hardness15,HP2,typeP,sizeLt,weight
1Lbs,finesse(Yes),offhandusehiddeninclothingwhennotinuse.
CombatManoeuvers:BullCharge,ToTheHilt.
Skills:thosewithranksormodifiedbyarmourarelisted.A=modifierforarmourwhenworn.R=ranksfromrace
(culture).
Appraise:+0=1rank1Stat

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Balance:+1=1rank+1stat1A
Bluff:+2=1rank+1stat
Climb:+4=1rank+4stat1A
Craft(Carpenter):0=1rank1stat
EscapeArtist:+0=0rank+1stat1A
Initimidate:+5=4ranks+1stat
Jump:+4=1rank+4stat1A
Knowledge(geography):0=1rank1stat
Knowledge(local,SouthIslands):+1=2R1stat
Perform(Dance):+5=2R+1stat+2specialracebonus
Profession(Sailor):+1=2R1stat
Survival+1=2R1stat
Swim+5=1rank+4stat
Tumble0=1A+1stat
Feats:twoweaponcombat,powerattack,brawl.(includes
bonusfeat
forfavoredclass).
Languages(illiterateinall):Argossean,SouthIsland,
BlackCoast.
SpecialAbilities:favouredclassbarbarianorpirate,seamanship+1,
ferociousattack(Conan2ndEditionp58).
FatePoints:3
Equipment:belt(waist0.5Lbs),redsilkbreeches(legs0Lbs),merchantqualityreddoubletwornopenatthefront
(torso0.5Lbs),sandals(feet0.5Lbs),4fishhooks(doublet0Lbs),drinkingjack(belt0.5Lbs),Costrelofwine(belt
0Lbs),beltpouch(belt0.5Lbs).Totalmassgeneralgear7LBS.
Slave:Shubbaisasubmissiveandloyalmaleslave.TheConanrpgprovidesnosetattributesfortheslavesonthe
equipmentlist.TheimpliedintentisthatthesepeopledonotfightforthePC.Language:BlackCoast.Kushiteracial
features(Conan2ndEditionp26).Shubbaactsasaportercarryingthefollowing:slavecollar(2Lbs),loincloth
(0Lbs),sandals(0.5Lbs),manacles(carriedbutnotusuallyworn2Lbs),kitbag(0.5Lbs),ironpot(2Lbs),2waterskins
(0Lbs),bedroll(5Lbs),candlelantern(3Lbs),whetstone(1Lbs),sackfolded(0.5Lbs),woodenbowl(0Lbs),50ft
hemprope(10Lbs),twotorches(1Lbseach).
TotalmasscarriedbyShubba28.5Lbs.
GURPS3rdEdition,IceAge.Eel
PrehistoriccharactersforGURPSfirstappearedinGURPSIceAge,latertheseruleswereexpandedinGURPS
DinosaursandOtherPrehistoricCreatures.
CroMagnon,17yearsold,height511,weight155Lbs,100pt.

47RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

Eelwasacockyyounghunterwhosewelcomeadvancestowardstheshamansdaughterincontradictionofareligious
taboosawhimexiled.Stealingadugoutcanoeheescapeddownriverhopingtoreachthewarmersouthbeforewinter.
Aninexperiencehunterhehastakentostealinginthedeadofnighttosurvive.
ST12(20),DX12(20),IQ12(20),HT13(30)(Attributes:+90pt)
AbsoluteDirection(5),Attractive(5),alertness+1(5),acutehearing+1(2).(Advantages:+17pt),Shortlifespan(10),
SocialStatus3Outcast(15),Impulsive(10),Struggling(10),Reputation(2toreactionroll,peopleofthenorthern
halfoftheriverslength(largeclassofpeople)x1/2,sometimesx1/2,total=1/2pt).(Disadvantages:45.5pt,notein
anIceAgesettingallcharactershaveShortLifespanandthisspeciestraitwouldnotcounttowardtheusual40pt
Disadvantageslimit.IfEelfellinwithtimetravelershisOutcastand/orStrugglingDisadvantageswouldbelikelyto
changerapidly).
Skills(typeptrating):Axe/Mace(PA111),Boating(PA212),Bow&Palette*(PA111),Bow(PH110),Brawling
(PE112),Cooking(ME213),FastTalk(MA212),Fishing(ME213),FlintSparking*(PE213),Gesture(ME2
13),Hiking(PA(HT)213),Leatherworking(ME213),Mimicry(X2X),Naturalist(MH211),Survivaltype?(MA2
12),Tracking(MA212),Running(PH(HT)212),SexAppeal(MA(HT)213),Sling(PH212),Spear(PA111),
Spearthrower(PA111),SpearThrowing(PA212)Swimming(PE213),Throwingstick(PE112)
Skills:29pt*CompendiumIpage152.
5ptpointsforequipmenttohavethedugoutcanoe.SeeCompendiumIpage17.
Equipment:Dugoutcanoe,Tunicbootsleggings(6Lbs),furcloak(3Lbs),flintsparker(1Lbs),smallpouch(0.5Lbs),
firehardenedspear(impthrreach1,3Lbs,minStr8,+1damageifused2horthrown).Total:13.5Lbs,unencumbered.
Figuredcharacteristics:Swing1d1,thrust1d+2,Basicspeed6.25,Move7(duetoRunningskill).
CloakPD1DR1frombehindonlyBootsDR1feet.TunicDR1areas911,1718LeggingsPD1DR1coversthelegs
(only)
Dodge:6,Block:noshield,Parry:spear5.
Reaction+/:Attractive+1,Outcast3=2,ifreputationapplies4.
LegendsofAnglerre:TheThreeofCutlasses
Despiteit'stitleLegendsofAnglerreisatoolkittobuildyourownfantasyworldwithFATE.Italsocontainstwo
campaignsettings.ThethreePCspresentedwouldsuittheHitherKingdomssettingoranyotherhighfantasyworld
withthestandardtropes.ThoughoptionsareprovidedforsolocharactergenerationFATEworksbestwhenplayers
generateagroupofcharacters,thereforeIhaveprovidedapartyofthree.Allthreeare'Good'ratedcharacters.
AshrelofAnjusloElfWaterElementalist
Phase1EarlyDays:ThespiresofAnjuslo:raisedamongthespiresandtraditionsofAnjuslo,whereelvesfirstsetfoot
intheHitherKingdoms.IwasacceptedintotheAcademyofAqilistolearntheancientcraftofmagic.Mymotherwas
soproudwhenIgraduated.Myfamily,theValesqins,arestillrespectedwizardsinAnjusloandIhavemanyold
friendsthere.
Phase2Legend:AshrelandthepiratesoftheSilverSea:HiredasshipswizardIsetsailforArgalanonlytobe
waylaidontheSilverSeabybloodthirstypirates.Afteramostofthecrewwasslaughteredusfewsurvivorswereset
adriftinthejollyboat.
Phase3GuestStar:AshreltheImperialPrivateerOurjollyboatwasrescuedbytheImperialNavy.Eagerforpayback
Ienlistedtohuntpirates.OneredflaggedsloopnearlyeludedusthenwhentheywereatourmercytheAdmiral

48RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

pardonsthenandsetsmetowatchthemastheyhunttheirformerfellows.Oneoftheselowlifes,Garod,seems
determinedtobefriendme.
6Aspects:ElfborninAnjuslo,WaterWizardofAqilis,IhavesailedfromFirstArrivaltotheSilverSea,deathisto
goodforpiratescum,IamtheAdmiralseyes.
3Stunts:WaterWalk(Elements),CreateWater(Elements),WaterPerception(Elements).
15ptofskills:Elements(Water,Good3),Academics(Fair2),Resources(Fair2),Science(Fair2),Investigation
(Average1),Art(Average1),Artificer(Average1),Resolve(Average1),Stealth(Average1)MeleeWeapons
(Average1).
Equipment:Shortsword,lantern,scrollcase,staff,waterskin,writingequipment,bedroll,abottleoffineelvenwine,
pintofoil.
GarodthePrivateerHumanImperialPirate
Phase1EarlyDays:Tothegutterborn:Garodwasbornintopoverty,butwithinsightofruinsoftheOldEmpire's
glory,intheslumsofKoborreth.HewasanurchinchildandthenaburglaruntilheescapedtheLawaboardapirate
sloop.Hehaslosttrackofhisimpoverishedparentsandhascometoassumetheyaredead.
Phase2Legend:GarodagainsttheImperialNavy:ThepirateslooprangedoutoftheSimrisIslesraidingspiceships
forplunder.EventuallyweranafouloftheImperialNavybutweeludedthegreatgalleysforweeks.Atlastcaught,
wefoughtlikedemonsbutcouldnotwithstandthemightoftheImperialWarships.Thenamiracle,impressedbyour
skillstheAdmiraloffereduspardonsandlettersofMarque.Apparently,ittakesapiratetocatchanother.
Phase3GuestStar:GarodandtheWaterWizard:Sowehuntpiratesnow,itshardfightingcomparedtofatspice
ships,butfightwemustforthatdamnedelfwizardwatchestoensurewedoourduty.Best
stayonhisgoodside.
6Aspects:Tothegutterborn,WantedburglarinKoborreth,LetterofPardon,Wehuntthehuntersnow,Currying
Ashrelsfavor,Bloodedfighter.
3Stunts:QuickExit(Stealth),StrongSwimmer(athletics),SeaDog(pilot).
15ptofskills:Burglary(Good3),Athletics(Fair2),Pilot(Fair2),Stealth(Fair2),Alertness(Average1),Contacting
(Average1),Deceit(Average1),Endurance(Average1),Fists(Average1),MeleeWeapons(Average1).
Equipment:Handaxe,dagger,belayingpin(club),backpack,bedroll,flask(empty),waterskin,abitofstalebreadand
salami,bottleofale.
ShriekWilderling(Parrot)Thief
Phase1EarlyDays:Awanderingsoul:HatchedinthejunglesofthefaroffSpiceLandsShriekalwayshada
wanderingsoul.Assoonashecameofageheflewouttothenextshipthatpassedtoseetheworld.Theshipwasa
spicetraderreturningtoKoborreth.InthestreetsofthatcityhefellinwithGarodandfledwithhimhappytobe
aboardashipandtravellingagain.
Phase2Legend:ShriekandtheBarqueoftheDamned:Shriekquicklyprovedhisworthasascoutandmessenger.
Oneeveningagreybarqueflyingtheredpirateflagisspied.ThecaptainsendsShriektoflyacrosswithanofferof
parley.TherangycaptainoftheothercrewinvitesShriekinforrumbutlockshimbelow.TheBarqueisashipof
Werehyenas!
Phase3GuestStar:ShriekandtheAdmiralsEar:ThedayfinallycamewhentheImperialNavycaughtupwithus.If

49RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

Shriekhadnotflownacross,druggedtheAdmiralsrumandconvincedhiminhisstuporofthepiratecrewsworth,
wellhispiratebrotherswouldbeswingingfromthegallows.
6Aspects:FlamboyantParrot,"Don'tbelookinatmeIjustgotere",Yerrnotaskinchangerareyerr?,Imust
warnGarod!,Dontdrinkthatunlessyeawanttodoasyertold,silvertongued.
3Stunts:Glide(athletics),Flight(athletics),TheHonestLie(Deceit)
15ptofskills:Athletics(Good3),Deceit(Fair2),Alertness(Fair2),Stealth(Fair2),Endurance(Average1),
Gambling(Average1),Fists(bitereally,Average1),Rapport(Average1),Empathy(Average1),Survival(Average
1)
Equipment:Bagofsunflowerseeds,bottleofale,sevenassortedshinybaublesandknickknacksofMediocrevalue.
SavageWorldsDeluxe:B=X
Arobotspacepirateforagenericspaceoperatypesettingusing
SavageworldsDeluxe(SWD)andtheScienceFictionCompanion(SFC).
Profession:RebelSpacePirate.
Race:Construct.
Height200cm.Mass150kg.
Quote:LogicdemandswedisassembletheEmpireandacquireitsresources
Description:Atallblockyhumanoidseeminglymadeentirelyoutofoldmissmatchedparts.Itsheadisskulllikeand
paintedwhitewithcheappaint.B=Xspeakswithapoorsynthesizedrobotvoice.It'saveryoldschoollumbering
robot.
Calculatedscores:Charisma0(butOutsiderSFC7),Pace6,Parry4,Toughness6.
Attributes:Agilityd4,Smartsd10,Spiritd4,Strengthd8,Vigord8.
Skills:Pilotd4,Fightingd4,Intimidationd4,Noticed10,shootingd4,repaird10.
Hindrances:dependencyelectricity(SFC7),OutsiderConstruct(SFC7),ReprogrammedtodestroytheEmpire(Major
Vow),Environmentalweaknesselectricity(SFC8),QuirkRobotSpeak,Greedy(minor).
Edges:Construct(SFC7),Mods(SFC7).Currently,B=Xdoesnothaveanymodsinstalled.
Gear
FlakGun(SFC19):alargebarreledweaponthatlookssomethinglikeablunderbuss.Thestatsforthisweaponare
givenSFC19.

50RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

BELLYOFTHEBEAST
byNicholasMoll
OneofthegreatestpiratesthegalaxyhaseverknownwasSmilingScarletKilik.Knownforhislightningfastraidsand
uncannyabilitytoescapepursuit,Kilikroamedthestarsforoveradecadebeforebeingcaught.PriortoKiliks
execution,however,thepiratewaspressuredtorevealthelocationofhisamassedbootyreasoningthathemusthave
hiddenthevastsumofhisplunderasspendingitinanythingbutsmallandcarefulsumswouldhavealertedthe
authorities.ThelocationrevealedbyKilikwassomethingofajokeandachallenge:thebellyofBehemoth,thegreat
SpaceWhale.Interrogatedoverandoveragain,Kiliksclaimwasrepeatedandsubsequentlyassumedtobetrue.Ever
sincehisdeath,adventurers,piratesandvagabondshavesoughttoenterBehemothseekingthetreasureofSmiling
ScarletKilik.None,however,havereturned.
WhileonlytheBigDamnSciFicorerulesarerequiredtoplaythisadventure,theGameMasterandPlayersalikemay
findtheThatDamnDirtyWordCoreCompanionandThisIsOmegaBallCampaignStructureuseful.
PressGanged!
Theadventureopenswiththecharactershavingbeenpressgangedthenightbefore.Howtheygetthereisentirelyupto
theGameMaster.Butthelikelystoryisthattheywereinastarportorspacestationcantinawhenafightbrokeoutand
aquickbumpontheheadlater,heretheyare.Equallylikelyisthatthecharactersmayhavebeenslavesorconvicts
soldintoserviceonthePorter,notknowingwhatgrislyfateawaited.Theyawaketofindthemselvesintheholdofthe
Porter,aCargoShip.WhilethecharactershavetheirclothingtheyarestrippedofanyArmouryitemssuchasweapons
andarmour.Curiously,eachcharacterisalsoshackledtothefloor.Thisisbecausethecharactershavenotbeen
pressgangedtoserveonaship,butpressgangedtobeserved!TheentirecrewofistheSpaceWhalerare
Psychovores,whorequirefreshmindstofeedthem!
Letthecharactersstewintheircellandeventrytoescapeforabit.ThechainscanbebrokenwithasuccessfulArcana
rollandthelockcanbepickedwithanIntuitionroll,sufferinga2penaltyforlackofpropertools.Oncetheirescapeis
successful,oroncethecharactersaresufficientlyfrustrated,havethePsychovorecookcomealongtofetchthemfor
theCrewsmeal.
ThePorter
ThePorteritselfisarelativelymoderatelysizedcargoship,containingthreeCargoholdsthefirsttwointendedfor
largercargosuchasanimalherdsorshipmentsofmineralswhilethethirdisintendedforsmallergoods,suchasmail,
parcelsorpersonalaffects.Underthecommandofitscurrent,Psychovore,crew,however,thePorterhasbeenrefitted
assomethingofapeoplecarrier.CargoHold#Bhasbeen,forinstance,fittedwithchainsonthefloortoshackle
prisonersandCargoHold#Chasbeenloadedwithstoragecontainersfilledwithbodypartstheremainsofthe
Psychovoresmeals.Still,thePsychovoreshavekeptthePorteringoodworkingorderandtheshipsstatisticsareas
follows:

Description

Notes

ThePorter

250

5crewmin.

ThecharactershavebeenlockedinCargoHold#B.Shouldtheygoexploring,CargoHold#Aisemptyand#C
containsahodgepodgeoflockboxes,chests,containers,lockersandotherstorageitems.Insidetheseboxesand

51RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

containersthecharactersfindthebonesofvarioussentientSpecies(agrislycollectionofleftoversfromthe
Psychovorespreviousmeals),Armouryitemsmostnotably,theirownlostequipment,andanythingelsetheGame
Masterfeelsappropriate.ThePorteritselfiscrewedbyfivePsychovores,twoofwhicharelocatedintheCockpit,
anotheroneintheEngineRoomwiththeforthandfifthnappinginthecrewbunks.Ifthecharactersarequiet(aShatter
rollforsneaking),theymaymaketheirwayfromCargoHold#Ctotheupperdeckswithoutbeingnoticed.

OncethePsychovorecrewaredealtwith,thecharacterscaninvestigatethePortersmissionsomewhat.Todothis,the
characterscouldaccesstheshipsdatabanksusinganIntuitionroll,intimidateanysurvivingPsychovoreswitha
ShatterorVitalityroll,orexaminingthelingeringthoughtmatterofthedecayingcorpsesinCargoHold#Cwithan
Arcanaroll(at2duetothedeceasedstateofthetargets).SuccessrevealsthemissionofthePorterandhercrew:To
findandenterBehemoth,massivespacewhale,insearchofSmilingScarletKilikstreasure.
Behemoth
NosoonerhavethecharacterstakencontrolofthePorterthanbigredlightsbegintoflash.Sensorsshowthat
BehemothhasbeenlocatedandtheenormousSpaceWhaleiscomingrightfortheship.Now,theBehemothisaship
eateranditsmouthiscapableofswallowingthePorterinonefoulgulp.ThePsychovoresplannedtoletBehemothdo
justthat,relyingonthesturdystructureofthePortertoridetheirwayintothebellyofthebeast.Butthecharacters
dontknowthat.LetthecharacterstrytofleeorfightBehemoth.Eveniftheyaresuccessfulinkillingthebeast,they
maystillventureinsideinsearchofthetreasure.Behemoth,foritspart,willtryandeatthePorter.

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InsideBehemoth,thePorter(ifswallowed)willgostraightfromthemouthtothebelly.SpaceWhalesgeneratetheir
ownatmosphere,soinsidethemouthcharactersmaywalkaboutasifonaplanetssurface.AnyShatterrollsfor
acrobaticorathleticactions,suchasrunningorjumping,areat2dice,however,asBehemothstongueissquishyand
coveredinstickysaliva.ThebellyofBehemothisadifferentstory,however.WhilethePorter,anotherstarshiporeven
somewreckagewillfloatonBehemothsstomachjuices,thejuicesthemselvesarequitemurkandgooey(andany
attemptstoswimthroughitsuffera2penalty).Still,thestomachofBehemothisaakintoasmallseaorlargelake,
filledwithmanysmall,driftingislandsofdebrisandcontainingafewinhabitants.
ASportingRivalry
Unfortunately,thePsychovoreswerentthefirstoneswhohavegonelookingforSmilingScarletKilikstreasure.
CaptainGarmoftheDagger,aSvartalfar,andCaptainLeenaoftheJollySparrowaHuman.Bothhaveseparate
sailingseaships(thatsright,theoldfashionedwaterbasedkindblownbywind,orinthiscasesstomachfumes)
containingcrewsoftheirownSpecies.BothGarmandLeenasships(theDaggerandtheSparrow)usetheexactsame
rulesforstarshipsascontainedintheBigDamnSciFicorerules,theonlydifferencereallybeingasthetic(stomach
juicesinsteadofspace).

Description

Notes

TheDagger

25

10crewmin.

TheJollySparrow 4

29

13crewmin.

BothGarmandLeenaknowtheotherdoesnthavethetreasure.Buteachisconvincedthatiftheydonteliminatethe
other,thentheirrivalwillfinditfirst.Unfortunately,bothliketoleaponoutsidersGarmbelievingthatanyoutsider
isapotentialweaponagainstLeena,andLeenabelievingthatalloutsiderspossesssomehiddenknowledgeaboutthe
treasure.Andbothhaveaifyourenotwithme,youreagainstmementality,meaningthatifthecharactersdontgo
withwhatGarmorLeenawant,itllbealongwalkoffashortplankintothestomachjuicesofBehemoth(asadistic
GameMastermayevenaddafewpredatorylifeformsinthejuices,usetheCarnivorestatisticsfromThatDamnDirty
Wordandjustassumetheyareaquatic).However,nomatterhowhardthecharacterslook,thereisnosignofthe
treasureanywhereinBehemoth.

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EndingtheAdventure
Intruth,theSpaceWhaleexcretedSmilingScarletKilikstreasurelongago.Nomatterhowhardthecharactersor
anyoneelselook,itwillneverbefound.Toendtheadventure,thecharacterscouldjoineithercreworpitbothagainst
eachotherandrulethebellyofBehemoth.Atthesametime,withnotreasureandtwoderangedpiratecaptainsbattling
itout,itmaybeprudentsimplytoleaveparticularlyifthecharacterskilledBehemoth.IftheSpaceWhaleisdead,
theyhavemeredaysbeforeitdoesntonlyceasetoproduceatmosphere,butventitaswell.Ifthisisthecase,the
charactersmayattempttoescapethewaytheycamein,throughthemouth,orgooutthe...otherend.
Extras
AncientSpaceWhale
Beingsohideouslyenormous(bigenoughtoeatasmalltomediumsizedstarship),anAnceintSpaceWhaleis
generallyprovidedwiththestatisticsofastarship.Here,EnginerepresentstheabilityoftheSpaceWhaletopropel
itselfthroughthevoiddepthsofspace,Firepoweritsabilitytoslam,biteandramstarshipsandotherSpaceWhales,
andStructureitsenormousbulk.WhileaSpaceWhalehasArcana,theirbrainsaregenerallytoolargefortheaverage
adventurerspsyschicabilitiestoaffect(ifonlytheoppositewastrue!).
Description

Notes

SpaceWhale

Arcana3,
Swallow

Swallow:ASpaceWhalemayswallowastarship.Indoingso,thestarshipmustmakeaStructurerollorbedestroyed.
LeenaandherHumanBlackhearts
Expandingfromtheirsmallblueworld,Humanswerelongconsideredtheruntsofthegalaxy.ForLeenaandhergang
ofruffians,humanitysruntstatuswastakenasabadgeofhonour.Leenaisdrivenbyloyaltytohermen.Shepromised
themthetreasureofSmilingScarletKilikandshemeanstodeliver.
Description:Likemostofthegalaxy'ssentientspecies,Humanshaveatorso,twolegs,twoarms,andonehead,two
eyes,onenoseandamouthforeating,breathingandcommunicating.Leenacutsaverypiraticalimageherself,with
aneyepatchandtricornhatadorningherhead,dressedinacorsetandoldstylenavaljacket.
SpeciesFeatures:Phenotypes,Spirit.
Arcana3,Intuition5,Shatter5,Vitality4
Barrier4,Defence6(5unarmoured),Wounds8
Items:Axe(+2),LightArmour(+1),ScatterBlaster(+3).
Psychovore
Psychovoresareparasiticalhumanoidsthatfeedonpsychicenergy.TheyarenotonlyimmunetoArcanaorientated
phenomenonbutactivelynourishedbyit.Assuch,Psychovoresarerenownedxenocannibals(inthesensethatthey
devoursentientspecies)huntingdownandfeastingonanyArcanaheavySpecies.
Description:White,crystallinelikeexoskeletonbodieslinedwithhairlinefracturesarrangedinalongspiderwebof
hexagonalshapes.EachPsychovorepossessesthreeeyes;twohorizontalfromeachotherandathirdverticallylower
fromtheleft,sittingjustabovetheirwidemawsofneedleliketeeth.
SpeciesFeatures:Immunity(Psychic),Univour(Psychic).
Arcana4,Intuition2,Shatter1,Vitality4

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Barrier5(3natural),Defence1,Wounds5
Items:PsionicHelm(+2),PsyPistol(+3).
GarmandhisSvartalfarCutthroats
ThechildrenofSvartalfheimareknownthroughoutthegalaxyfortheiragilityandbloodlust,stereotypedasslavers,
pirates,andsexualdeviants.CaptainGarmandhisgangofcutthroatsarenoexception.Drivenbygreedtoseekout
Behemoth,andswallowedsubsequently,GarmhascometoseethetreasureandLeenaasaconquesthemusthaveto
provehimselfaproperSvartalfar.
Description:Tall,lithe,agilehumanoidswithangularfeaturesandpointyears.Garmhimselfisafigureof
extravagance,cladinanexoticfurcloakwithlong,oiledlocksofhairandjewelencrustedbodyarmour.
SpeciesFeatures:Agile,Sadist.
Arcana4,Intuition4,Shatter4,Vitality1
Barrier4,Defense5(4unarmoured),Wounds5
Armory:BlasterPistol(+3),LightArmour(+1),Sword(+3).

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PIRATESOFMIDDLEEARTH
byMichaelCole
1Part1:PiratesinTolkien
AsidefromtheCorsairsofUmbar,Tolkienhimselfdoesnotmakemuchmentionofpirating.Therearesomenotesof
Numenorraidingthemainland,butgiventhenavalpowerofNumenor,thiscouldnotbeconsideredpiraticalpillaging
inthestrictestsense.
"afterMinastir,theKings[ofNmenor]becamegreedyofwealthandpower.theirhavensbecamefortresses,
holdingwidecoastlandsinsubjugation.Atanamirandhissuccessorsleviedheavytribute,andtheshipsofthe
Nmenreansreturnedladenwithspoil."(TheReturnoftheKing,AppendixA(p316))
SotoevaluatepiratesinMiddleEarth,wemustonlyconsidertheCorsairs.
1.1TheTaleofYearsandTheAnnalsoftheKingsandRulers
This(AppendixBofTheReturnoftheKing)iswherewegetmostofourinformationabouttheCorsairs.Thefirst
noteisfor1448,with"Rebels[ofCastamir'sforces]escape[thesiegeofPelagir]andseizeUmbar".FromtheAnnals,
weareinformedthat"Castamir'ssonsescaped,andwithothersoftheirkinandmanypeopleofthefleetssailed
awayandestablishedthemselvesatUmbar."
Wethenhaveinthenextentry,1540,almost100yearslater,"KingAldamirslaininwaywiththeHaradandCorsairs
ofUmbar".Fromthiswecanassumethatwehadalmost100yearsofwar,andthatduringthistime,theCorsairs,once
pureblood(andproudofit)GondorianswerenowreducedtoallianceswiththeHaradrim.Wecouldalsoassumethat
thepurebloodlineshadbecomedilutedsomewhatsimplyduetothelengthoftimeandlackofinitialstock.
Thenin1634,almostanotherhundredyearslater,"TheCorsairsravagePelagirandslayKingMinardil."TheCorsairs
arestatedintheannalstohavebeen"ledbyAngamaitandSangahyando,thegreatgrandsonsofCastamir."
Nofurthermentionuntil1810,when"KingTelumehtarUmbardacil[Umbarvictor]retakesUmbaranddrivesoutthe
Corsairs."Here,intheAnnals,itisnotedthat"thelastdescendantsofCastamirperished,"OnceUmbarwaslost
again,whichoccurred"soon",itwasheldbytheMenoftheHarad.
AndthisisthelastmentionuntiltheyareoverrunbyAragornatPelagir.ItisnotedintheAnnalsthat"Umbar
remainedatwarwithGondorformanylivesofmen,[and]wasneveragaincompletelysubdueduntilthedaysof
Elessar;"
1.2TheBattleofPelennorFieldsandTheLastDebate
HerewegetourbestpictureoftheCorsairs,eventhoughtheirshipsarenowcrewedbytheGreyCompany."
dromunds,andshipsofgreatdraughtwithmanyoars,andwithblacksailsbellyinginthebreeze."Inthelaterchapter,
wearetoldthat,"themainfleetofUmbar,fiftygreatshipsandsmallervesselsbeyondcount."Alsomentionedis
thattheshipscontained,"slaveschainedtotheoars.[manyof]whohadbeenfolkofGondortakeninraids."

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A"dromund"isagenerictermforalarge,fastsailingshipoftheMiddleAges.ItisalsotheMiddleEnglishformfor
dromon,aGreekgalley,andthemostimportantwarshipoftheByzantineNavy.Giventheabovepassages,and
Tolkien'sownloveofhistory,IwouldgowithTolkienintendingtorepresentaforceofgalleysratherthansailing
vessels.Theexactdetailsaretoolongtogointohere,butIwouldencouragereaderstovisit
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dromonforsomebackground.
Whicheverwayyouinterpretit,thestandardideaofpiracyfromtheageofsailisnotapplicableinTolkien'sMiddle
Earth.IwouldsuggestthattheProfessorwasenvisaging
theNavalwarfarebetweenRomeandtheByzantine(or
EastRomanNavy),withUmbarasConstantinoplerefer
tohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_navyformore
details.
2Part2:PiratesinMERPTheCorsairsofUmbar
Thefirstissuewiththissupplementisthataswritten,itis
setin1607,whichisdifferentfromthestandardICEdate
of1640.Thisisnotamajorissue,anditcansimplybe
rewrittenwithoutmajorchange.
ThemajorissueisthatitenvisagesUmbarasheldbya
councilofShip'sCaptainsthisworksfineinpractice,but
thereisnomentionofAngamaitandSangahyandofrom
TheAnnalsoftheKings,whowouldbepresentandmajor
playersinthistime.Thiscanbefixed,andhasbeenin
variousfanmodules,byplacingAngamaitinGobel
MirlondwiththemajorlandforcesofUmbar,andhaving
SangahyandoashisdeputyleftinchargeofUmbar.The
Captainsthenbecomeanadvisorycouncilto
Sangahyando,aswellasmajorplayersintheirownright.
Apartfromthis,themoduleisprettygood,remaining
faithfultothetypesofshipsenvisagedbyTolkien,with
Cogsastheonlysailingvesselsandthemajorcombatshipsbeinggalleys.
3Part3:AdditionalMaterial
3.1TheAzladanakh'irimofMethrast
ThismaterialwasoriginallywrittenbymyselfformyTolAduilcampaignsetting;TolAduilbeingthesmalltriangular
islandoffthebottomofTolFalas(seemapbelow).Theywerecreatedtoprovide"good"piratesorprivateersto
opposetheCorsairsofUmbar,andtohaveadistinctivestylealloftheirown.
3.1.1TheArrivaloftheFaithful

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ThisstorystartsbackatthefallofNmenor,backinSA3319.Ashasbeentold,atthefalloftheIslandandthe
bendingoftheseas,ElendilandhistwosonssetsailforEndor.Afteratumultuoustime,ElendillandedintheEriador,
andfoundedtherealmofArnor.Histwosons,IsildurandAnarion,wereseparatedfromtheirfather,andlandedinthe
AnduinValleywithfiveships,andfoundedtherealmofGondor,whichtheyjointlyruledasvassalsoftheirfather.
ThesefiveshipswerenothoweverthefirstDnedaintosettleintheAnduinvalley;Nmenoreanshadbeensettledin
andaroundthebayforalmost1500yearspriortothat.TheyhadalreadyfoundedthecityofPelagir,andhadmade
manyothersettlementsintheregion,mainlyintheGilrainandSernivalleys.Afewoftheearlysettlershadmoved
furtherwest,themostwesterlysettlementbeingatMetrast(Methrast)atthetipoftheBelfalaspeninsula.
3.1.2TheBeginningsoftheAzladanakh'irim
WhilstthesepeoplecouldnotbeconsideredtobenumberedamongsttheFaithful,onthearrivalofIsildurandAnarion,
themajorityoftheseearlysettlersimmediatelysworetheirallegiancetoElendil,andrapidlyassimilatedintotheir
ranks.Somesectionsoftheoriginalsettlershowever,whilstswearingtheiroath,preferredtocontinuetheirown
customsandways,andbecameknownastheAzladanakh'irim,anAdnaicwordmeaning"Thosewhocame
eastwardsfirst".ThemajorityofthesepeopleresidedatPelagirandinmanorsinLebennin,buttheDnedainof
Methrastalsoheldtotheircommonorigin.Overtime,thisdistinctculturalgroupingbecamelessandlessdistinct,as
peopledied,andmarriageshappened,untilitseemedthattheonlypeopleawareoftheculturaldistinctionwerethe
Azladanakh'irimthemselves.
3.1.3TheKinstrife
WethenfastforwardtothetimeoftheKinstrife,inTA143248.Ashasalsobeentold,atthistime,theUsurper,
Castamir,attemptedtotakethethroneofGondorbyforce,usingthepartEothraimheritageoftherightfulKing,
Eldacar,asanexcuse.Inthis,thepeopleofPelagirandthesouthernGondorianssupportedhim.Foremostamongst
thesesupportersweretheAzladanakh'irimofPelagir,whosawthisasanopportunitytoreasserttheirculturalidentity.
TheyautomaticallycountedonthesupportoftheirbrethreninMethrast,howevertheyhadsadlymiscalculated.
TheAzladanakh'irimofMethrastwereimmediatelyhostiletotheusurpationofRoyalAuthority,andtotheirbrethren
inPelagir.ThiswasnotbecauseofanygreatloveforEldacar,(fortheydidn'treallycareonewayortheotherabout
him),butbecausetheyconsideredtheuprisingtobeineffect,thebreakingoftheOathofAllegiancethattheyhad
madetoIsildurallthoseyearsago.TheMethrastAzladanakh'irimhadlivedwiththeEnedrim,descendantsofthe
DaenCoentis,theoriginalOathbreakers,formanyyears.Theyhadheldthemindistrusteversince.Andtheywerenot
goingtomakethesameerror.TheyweremostvocalintheiroppositionoftheRebels,andvociferousofCastamirand
hisclaims,andofanyonewhosupportedhim.
ThethenPrinceofDorenErnil,waspersonallysupportiveofEldacar,howeverthemajorityofhispeoplewere
supportiveofCastamir,andmanypushedforthePrincetoputhisfullsupportbehindtheUsurper,inordertogivehim
somemeasureoflegitimacy.Insomeway,theoppositionoftheAzladanakh'irimofMethrasttoCastamirworkedin
thePrince'sfavour,inthathewasabletousethatoppositiontoexplainhisofficialneutralityinthematter.
AlotofpoliticalmaneuveringwasrequiredbythePrincetotrytokeeptensionstoaminimum,andevenwithhis
efforts,therewasagreatdealofantagonisticbehaviourbetweentheAroquain(S.HighKnight)ofMethrastandhis
people,andtheotherpeopleoftheprovince.Thisantagonismboiledoverintosomeborderwarfare;howeverthe
Princemanagedtokeepitfromtotallygoingoutofcontrol.Castamirandhissupportersfromtheeastremainedoutof

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thearea,duebothtootherpressingeventsintheNorthernProvincestotakecareof,andforfearthattheirentryinto
DorenErnilwouldupsettheNeutralstanceofthePrince.
AfterthereturnofEldacar,thedeathofCastamir,andthefleeingofhissupporterstoUmbar,lifeintheLandofthe
Princereturnedmostlytonormal.Castamir'ssupportersinDorenErnilwerequitehappytotrytoforgetallaboutthe
rebellion,andtoletbygonesbebygones,howevertheAzladanakh'irimhavemuchlongermemories.
3.1.4AppearanceandAttitude
Inmanyways,thisdivisionwasexploitedfortheirownbenefit,togivean"Usversusthem"situation.Whilsttheydo
notpushthemselvesonanyoneelse;indeed,theirexistenceasadistinctculturalgroupingwithinGondorismostly
unknown;theydoexploittheimagetogivethemselvesareasontocontinuethestory.Bypointingoutthebreakingof
theoath,theywereabletodrawparallelsbacktotheoathbreakingatthebeginningoftheage,andthustotheirorigins.
Inmanyways,itgavetheirownpoliticalaspirationsaboost.
Politically,theAzladanakh'irimaretraditionalmortalenemiesofUmbar,particularlyoftheironcebrethren.Theyare
generallymostactiveamongstthePrince'sNavalForces,andmanyofthebestknownGondorianPrivateershailfrom
thetipoftheBelfalasPeninsula.TheyarealsotraditionallyamongstthemostantagonisticoftheBelfalasDnedain
towardstheEnedrim,andthisfeelingisreciprocated.Strangely,theydonotseemtohavethesameantagonism
towardstheHaruze,andinmanyways,tendtohaveabetterrelationshipwiththosepeoplethanthemajorityofthe
citizensofGondordo.
Theyretaintheirculturalheritageviabothappearanceandeducation.TheyareallgivenanAdnaicnameatbirth,but
thisnameisgenerallynotbroadcast,andremainsonlyforusebytheirfriendsandpeople.Forgeneraluse,theyalso
aregivenaSindarinname.Appearancewise,theyarefondoffacialhair,particularlymoustachesansbeard,whichis
extremelyuncommonamongsttheDnedain.Theytendtofavouramoustachethatcurvesdownaroundthemouthto
thejawline,whichgivesthemadistinctivelook.ThisstyleofmoustacheiscommonlyknowninGondorastheZni
Moustache(commonlyknowninmoderntimesastheZapataMoustache,afterEmilZapataofMexico),afteranearly
AroquainofMethrastwhofirstfavouredthestyle.
TheAzladanakh'irimaredestinedtogooutofhistory,notwithabang,butwithawhimper,killed,notbyhostile
action,butbyapathy.Astimepasses,andtheeventsofthefoundingofGondorfadefrommemory,andastheyfailto
findnewcausestoshowtheirdistinctiveness,theirculturalidentitybecomeslessandlessrelevant.Untilthatday
comes,however,theycontinuetobeaforceinevents,atleastintheDorenErnilandtheBayofBelfalas,ifnotin
Gondorproper.
3.2EscortDuty:ASeaboardAdventureintheBayofBelfalas
ThisadventureistheinitialsectionofthefirstadventureofmyTolAduilCampaignSetting.Itisdesignedtogivethe
charactersanoverviewoftheisland,andassuch,inmanyways,mayappearlikeatravelogue.Notethatthisadventure
takestheformofanarrative,andassuchistightlyscripted.ThereissomeroomforthePCstoaffecttheoutcome,but
thegeneraltimelineisprettysuchset.Footnoteswillbeprovidedtoexplainsomenamesortermsthatarefromthe
CampaignModule.
Setting:LondErnilviatheshipHalatirtoEndilandthenaroundthecapeandacrossthebaytoLondAduil.Reference

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shouldbemadetothemapattheendofthisarticlefordetailsastogeography.
Requirements:ThePCsarerecruitedinLond
ErniltoescortGirchel,thesonofalocal
noble,totheschoolonTolAduil.Itwould
helpifthePCswereongoodtermsorwell
knowninthearea,forthemtobeapproached
forthistask.Agoodrecommendationora
referralwouldbeabonusforthereceiptof
themission.
Notethatthetaskdoesnotfeatureany
personalcombatorextensivetasksforthe
PCs,andactsmoreasanintroductiontothe
island.Itissocialskillsthataremost
required.Forthemajorityofthisadventure,
thecharacterswillonboardashipwithaset
itinerary,sotheoptionswillbelimited.

Enemies:TheshipBagarrn,runningoutof
Umbar.
Aids:None,exceptforthewilesand
seacraftoftheHalatir'sMaster,Ragaer,and
theskillsofhercrew.
Reward:Notethattherewardforthetask
willnotbegreat,asitisexpectedtobeasimpletasksomesmallstipendwouldbeappropriate.NotethatifthePCs
areintendingtojourneyeastwardsanyway,thenthiscouldbeofferedasa,"Wellyou'regoingthatwayanyway,can
youjustdropthekidoffonyourway?"
Girchel'sfatherwillalsoprovidefundstocoverthevoyagebyboththePCsandhisson,andaccommodationandmeal
allowanceforaonenightstayatbothEndilandLondAduil.Hewillalsoprovidedetailsoftheexpectedrouteanda
letterofintroductiontobegiventoHimbros,theHeadmasteroftheTolAduilSchool.
NotethatthetripfromLondErniltoPelagirbyseawouldtakeroughlythesametimeasbyland,andthereareplenty
ofshipsfromLondAduiltoPelagiroranyotherportthatthePCsmaybeaimingfor.
3.2.1TheNPCs
Girchelis14yearsold,andtheeldestsonoftheChiefHeraldofLondErnil.Whilsthehasreceivedagoodeducation,
asbefitshisandhisfather'sposition,heisbeingsenttotheschoolinthehopeofthetravelandnewenvironment
broadeninghisoutlook.Whilsthedoeshavequiteafewgoodfriends,hislifehasbeenratherinsular,beinghome
schooleduptillnow,andnothavingmuchinteractionwithothersoutsidehisimmediatecircle.

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Heisafityounglad,andactsolderthanwhatheis,butdoestendtoberatherstudiousandemotionless.Healsocan
sulkifhedoesn'tgethisownway.Heisagoodlad;hejustneedstolearnthattheremoretolifethanwhatheis
comfortablewith.
Ragaer,theCaptainandMasteroftheHalatir(Kingfisher),isahighlyskilledandknowledgeableShip'sMaster.
OriginallyfromasmallvillageinBelfalas,hestartedhislifeasasailoratayoungage,andworkedhiswayupto
whereheisnow.Heisoneofthosepeoplewhoseageisindeterminatehejustlookslikehebelongswhereheis.
Heisverywellrespectedintheshippingtrade,andtrustedimplicitly.Heisstillveryhumbleabouthisposition,and
hasalwayshadagoodrelationshipwithhiscrewandthosehedealswithinhisbusiness.
HehasbeenplyingtheLondErnilLondAduilrouteforyearsnow,andknowsthejourneylikethebackofhishand.
Emelin(Arbelthni)anAmonhthisthe17yearolddaughterofNamion,theRoquain(Knight)ofTolAduil,andalong
withheryoungerbrother,spendsthreemonthsofeachyearwithherfatheronTolAduil.Sheisveryattractive,slightly
shorterthanaverageheightandsolidlybuilt,withdarkwavyhairdownherbackandaveryprettysmile.
Sheisintelligent,friendlyandtalkative,andhasverygoodsocialskills,abletorelatetoalmostanyone.Shepossesses
awickedsenseofhumour,andisveryrarelyinabadmood.Ifshehasonefault,itisthatsometimescanact
immaturely,howevermostofthetime,shewillbehaveasifsheisolderthanheryears.

Shetendstowearherheartonhersleeve,andcanbeverypassionateandheadstrongattimesshetakesafterher
parentsinthatregard.Sheadoresbothofherparentsandheryoungerbrother,andisverymuchinlovewithher
father'ssquire.Shedoestrytokeepthistoherself,butsheisnotverygoodatit.
Diorethrin(Arbazinth)anAmonhth,Emelin'syoungerbrother,andNamion'ssecondchild,is14yearoldDiorethrin,
normallycalled"Rethie"byhissister.Heisslightofbuildandpossessesdarkauburnhairandfreckles,courtesyofhis
maternalgrandfather'smother,whowasofNorthmanancestry.
Heismuchquieterthathissister,andtendstoallowhissistertotakechargewhentheyaretogether.Heis,however,
veryintelligentandperceptive,andhasthesamesenseofhumourashissister.
3.2.2TheSetting
TheHalatirisafast60tonmerchantshipofLinhirLongFisherdesign,withcaravelhullconstrictionandcarrying
threelateensailsandajibontwomasts,foreandmain.Itpossessesa4'aftercastlewithnoforecastle,andis
oarsteered.
Theshiphasnoarmamentsapartfrompersonalweaponry,andisnotarmoured,andnormallycarriesacrewofaround
25,withaShip'sCaptainandMasterandthreeMates.

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ItisadvisedthattheGMshouldfamiliarisehimorherselfwithsomebasicsailingknowledgeandnautical
terminology,soastobothpurveytheappropriateatmosphere,andtocorrectlyplaytheroleofthesailors.In
particular,someknowledgeofthefollowingwouldbeadvantageous:

Differencesbetweenclinkerandcaravelhulls.

Differencesbetweensquare,lateenandjibsails.

Effectsofthetide,currentsandwind.

Basicsailingmanoeuvresandwhatgoodandbadtackingiswhenusinglanteensails.

TheshipsinuseintheBayofBelfalasRegion.ReferenceshouldbemadetotheICEHavensofGondor,SeaLordsof
GondorandUmbarsupplements.
Thegeneralgeographyofthearea.
NotethatthetermsPortandStarboardwillbeusedfrequently.Forthosewhomareuninitiated,Portistheleftsideof
theship,beingthesidethattheshipdockson,andisshownbyaredlight,starboardistherightside,beingthesidethat
thesteeringoar(orsteerboard)ison,andisshownbyagreenlight.Ihavealwaysfoundthattheeasiestwayto
rememberistogroupthembythenumberoflettersport,leftandredallhavefewerlettersthanstarboard,rightand
greenrespectively.

3.2.3TheTimeline
TheFirstDayandaHalf:
ThedaystartsveryearlydownintheLondAduilCommercialHarbour,withthePC'sexpectedtobeonboardbyfirst
lightsothattheHalatircancatchthemorningtideout.
Heretheygettomeettheirchargehisfather,alongwiththerestofhisfamily,areheretoseehimoff.Girchelisina
bitofahuff,andisveryshortwithhisfamilyandextremelyabruptwiththePCs.Hisfatherexplainsitashissonisa
bitupset,butgivehimalittlewhiletosulkandheshouldbeokay.
Theshipcarriesaround20tonofcargo,andupto20passengers,althoughforthefirstlegofthistrip,itcarriesonlythe
partyandtheircharge.RagaerwillexplainthattheymaybepickingupfurtherpassengersinEndil,theirfirststop,
whichistwodaysdownthecoast.
Notmuchtodoastheshipisreadied,andsailisset.Evenwiththeebbtide,itstilltakestwohourstocleartheheads,
beforetheshipcatchestheGulfStreamandtheprevailingWesterlies,andsetsofsouthsouthwestdownthecoast.The
dayisovercast,butotherthanthat,theweatherisfine.
Notethatpassingtheheadsisaroughtrip,anditwouldbeappropriatehereforseasicknessrollsforthePCs,withthe
extentofthefailureindicatinghowlongthePCwouldbeoutofactionfor.

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Bylateafternoon,itpassestheOuterLighthousesetonthewesternmostoftheBelfalasisles,andturnssouthward.
Aroundthistime,Girchelstopssulkingandcomesoutofhiscabintowatch,butheremainsreasonably
noncommunicative
Thefirstnightisspentoutatseaabouthalfwaydownand60milesoutfromtheBelfalasmainlandcoast.Byabout3
o'clockinthemorning,thecaptainswingstheshiparoundtorunsoutheast,andshortlyafter,thefireoftheOuter
EndiliIslesLighthouseisseen,givingthecaptainsomethingtoaimfor.Evenstill,dawnbreaksbeforethearrival,and
theHalatirpassestheLighthouseIslandtostarboardasthejustasthesunisrising.
Passingbetweentheislands,theHalatirturnseastnortheast,resetsthesail,andbeginstherunintoEndil.Whilstthey
stillhavethewind,nowtheyarerunningintothepowerfulcurrent,andthegoingslows.Ittakesuntiljustafterlunch
beforetheInnerEndiliIslesLighthouseisreached.OncetheshippassesbeyondtheEndilPromontory,theeffectsof
thecurrenteases,andEndilisreachedbyearlyafternoon.Lightdrizzlestartsfallingastheyreachthebay.
Duringthisphaseofthejourney,therereallyisnotmuchforthePCstodo.Intheearlymorningofthefirstday,the
viewsoftheLondErnilPeninsula,withthePrince'sCitadelandtheSeawardTower,whichdatesbacktotheSecond
AgeandwasbuiltforNoldorGaladriel,areveryimpressivewhenseenfromthesea.Afterthat,however,theship
headsouttoseaquicklytopassaroundthemultitudeofislesextendingoutfromthecoast.ApartfromtheOuter
LighthouseIsland,thenextsightingoflandwillnotbeuntilthenextday.
Girchelwillnotbeverytalkative,evenafterhestopssulking,andwillprovidemostlysimpleanswerstoquestions.
ThePCswillquicklygettheimpressionthatheisnotinterestedinconversationwiththem.
Afterroundingtheheadsandsettingsail,Ragaerwillhavemoretimetospend,andwillhappilychatwiththePCs.
Again,heisprobablynotthemostsocialofpeople,butheishappytotalk.Hisconversationwillbelimited,however.
Heknowseverythingaboutthesea,andwillhappilydiscussseatravelinthearea,ships,windsandtides,thevarious
forcesandinterestsinthebay,andthevariousportsofcall.HecandescribetheIslandandLondAduilingeneral
terms,butiscertainlynotuptospeedoninternalpoliticalissues.Heisawareoftheschool,andcanstatethatanoble
fromnorthernAnorienstarteditonlyafewyearsago,butapartfromthat,hedoesn'tknowmuch.
Endil:
AstheshipsailsintoEndilBay,thebayisquiteactiveintermsofshipping.Quiteafewsmallfishingcraftdotthe
waters,andfriendlywavesareexchangedbetweenmanyofthefishermenandthecrewoftheHalatir.
Endilisamidsizedprovincialtownsituatedinthetopofabluffsouthofariverthatflowsintothebaythroughadeep
gorge.Thedocksarelocatedatthefootofthebluffbelowthetown,andarequiteextensive.Approximatelytwenty
oddshipsofvarioussizesarespottedeithermooredorintheprocessofcomingorgoing,andmanysmallercraftdot
thewaters.TothenorthoftherivermouthisasmallNavalStation,withasingleCoastalPatrolvesseltiedup.
TheHalatirmakesforthedocksandmoors,andRagaer,afteraskingalltoremainonboardwhilsthespeakstothe
HarbourMaster,departs.Hereturnsshortlyinthecompanyofanofficiallookinggentleman,andafterhavingaprivate

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discussionwithhimonthedock,hereturnsandinformsthepassengersthattheymaydisembark.
HementionsthatitlooksliketheywillhavetwoadditionalpassengersforthetripfromEndiltoLondAduil,whowill
bemeetingthemlatertonightattheEndilInn.AnofferismadetoprovideanescortforthepassengersuptotheEndil
Inn,wheretheycanstaythenightinslightlymoresalubriousquartersthecrewwillbecominguptotheInnfor
dinner,butwillreturntotheshiptosleep.TheywillthenbeleavingEndilatfirstlightthenextday.
TheEndilInn,locateduptheroadfromthedocksdirectlyoverlookingthebay,isareasonablylargeestablishment,of
goodbutsimplequalityandratherbusy.Thetownitselfifofareasonablesize,andthelocalsaregenerallyallpleasant
andfriendly.Thetownmakesitslivingfromtheseatrades,andvisitorsareverycommon.
AfterregisteringattheInn,theplayersarefreetoexplorethetownforafewhours.Notmuchwillhappenherethe
townisasperusualtownsofthisilk,andisquitecivilizedandlawabiding.ThePCswillbeexpectedtobehave
themselvesthelocalsareverymuchgoodsolidprovincialtypeswhodon'ttakekindlytoruffians.
Theconstantdrizzlecontinuesthroughouttheeveningandnight.Alltheshopsshutatfive,andthetownreallydoesn't
havemuchofnightlife,sothePCsshouldreturntotheInnfordinner.Ragaerandmuchofthecrewwillmeetthemin
thediningroom,andthePCsarewelcometoeitherjointhemfordinnerorsitalone.It'salargeroombutitgetsrather
busyratherquicklymanyofthecrewseatheresoitiswisetograbatableearly.
Asdinnerisabouttostart,apartyofthreeaccompaniedbytwomenatarmsenterthediningroom.Theyspendabrief
momentscanningtheroombeforespottingtheparty'stable,andmakingtheirwaytowardsit.Ragaerspotsthemand
wavesthemover,andintroducesthemasTharolfin,StewardofAmonhth,andEmelinandDiorethrinanAmonhth,
andinformsthePCsthatEmelinandDiorethrinwillbetravellingwiththemtoLondAduil.
IfanyPCsarewatchingtheotherguests,andareratherperceptive,theymaynoticethatoneofthemenatanothertable
willnoticethenewcomersastheyarestandinginthedoorwaylookingaroundtheroom,andreactwithastart,which
hewillquicklysuppress.Hewillthengettheattentionoftheotherthreeathistable,andwhispertothem.Asthe
newcomersmaketheirwayovertothetablewhereRagaerresides,thefourmenwillgetupandexitquietlyand
discretely.
Ragaerwillinvitethemtojointhemfordinner,whichtheywillaccept,aftergettingoutoftheirdampcloaks.
Additionalchairswillbefound,andplacesforthefivemade.Themenatarmswillgravitatetowardsthesailors,and
TharolfinwillsitwiththeCaptain,andenterintodiscussionswithhimaboutboringthingssuchastrade,shipping,
economicsetc.EmelinandDiorethrinwillgreetGirchelitseemsapparentthattheyallknoweachotherandifgiven
alittleencouragement,willjointhePCsandGirchelfordinner.
IfanyofthePCsmaketheirwayoutofthediningroomtotheentranceoftheinn,theywilloverhearthelastpartofa
conversationbetweentheinnkeepersaying,"What,notevengoingtostayfordinner?"andaman,oneofthosefrom
thetablethatgotupandleft,saying,"No,sorry".Somefinancialmattersaresettledastheotherthreemencomedown
thestairscarryingbelongings.Allwillbequicklyresolved,andthefourwillleavetheinnwithhaste.

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IfthePCisstandinginview,thentheywilltakeagoodhardlookathimorherastheyleave,buttheywillnotstopto
talk.Anyattemptatconversationwillbemetwithanoncommittalgrunt.Theinnkeeperwillattempttoreturntohis
dutiesheisbusygivendinnerisabouttostart.IfthePCsinsist,hewillassistthem,butthemosthecansayabout
whathappenedis,"Theysaidtheyhadtoleave."accompaniedbyashrugoftheshoulders.
ThePCscanspendthedinnertalkingwithEmelinandDiorethrin.Botharefriendlyandtalkative,farmoresothan
Girchelwas,andwillbehappytochataboutvariousmatters.TheywillinformthePCsthattheyaregoingtoTol
Aduilforthreemonthstostaywiththeirfather,whoworksthereinthearmy.
DiorethrinwillchatquitehappilywithGirchel,Diorethrindoingmostofthetalking,askinghimaboutvariouspeople
andsocialmattersfromLondErnil.IfthePCsask,theywillbeinformedthattheyusedtoliveinthecitytheirfather
wastransferredtotheislandafewyearsago.
TheywillnotspecificallyinformthePCsastotheirfather'srankunlessspecificallyaskednotbecauseit'sasecret,but
becausetheydon'tthinkit'sallthatimportant.Thewaythattheyaredressedandthefactthattheirfatherhasasteward
andmenatarmsaccompanythemmaycluethePCsintothefactthattheyareofareasonablyhighbirth,butthey
certainlydonotdwellonit.Inmanyways,theyarealotmoredowntoearththanGirchel,andarecompletelyfree
fromairsandgraces.
EmelinwillbeabletoansweralotmorequestionsaboutTolAduilthananyoneelsetheyhaverunintosheand
Diorethrinhavebeenthereoften.Shedoesn'treallythinkofitasabigdeal,andwouldbemuchmoreinterestedin
askingthePCswheretheyarefromandwheretheyhavebeen.SheisparticularlyinterestedinPelagir,Osgilliathand
MinasTirithshehasvisitedthoseplaceswhenshewasyounger,butnotsincetheplague,andsheisinterestedinwhat
haschanged.
Ifanyonefollowsthefourmen,orwandersdowntotheharbourwhilstdinnerishappening,theywillnoticethatthe
menhaveaquicktalktotheHarbourmaster,andthenboardasmalltradingvesselandpreparetosetsail.Otherwise,
theHalatir'sThirdMate,whenhecomesuptogethisdinner,willmentionthatasmallTraderjustlefttheharbour.
Therewillbesomecommentsaboutthestupidityofpeopleleavingontheflowtideandjustasnightisfalling,butno
onewillthinkmuchofit.
Afterdinner,verylittlehappens.ThePC'scancontinuetalking,buttheship'screwwillleaveearly,andthe
newcomerswillwanderuptobedearlyitsgoingtobeaveryearlystarttomorrow.
TheThirdDay:
ThePCsandallothertravelersarecalledbeforedawntomaketheirwaydowntothedocksforboarding.Allboard,
Tharolfincomesdowntoseehistwochargesoff;allareingoodspiritsevenGirchel.Theweatherhasfinedup,andit
lookslikeitwillbeafinesunnyday.
IfanyofthePCsmentiontoRagaeroftheeventsofthepreviousevening,hewillmakesurethathismenkeepagood
watch,butwon'tshowmuchconcernoutwardly.HewillsuggestthatthePCsdon'tbothermentioningthistoanyofthe
otherpassengers.

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Theshipsetsoffveryearly,atdaybreak,southwestwardsouttosea.Travelisquickwithboththewindandthe
currents,andbybreakfast,isapproachingtheMethrastBightLighthouse.Ontheway,EmelinorDiorethrinmaypoint
outwheretheirmanorisastheypassit,butgiventhattheshipwillbetwentymilesouttoseaatthatpoint,notmuch
willbeabletobeseen.
Justafternoon,theyroundtheMethrastBightLighthouseIslandandsetsailsouthwards.Thatisthelastlandsighted
thatdaytheshipprettymuchthensailsduesouthtillnightfall.
Allthreeoftheotherpassengerswillbeingoodspirits,aswillthecrew.Thesunisout,theseaairisbracing,the
journeygood,andnotmuchwillhappen.
Feelfreetothrowinsomesightingsofwhalesorothermarinelife,orperhapsthepassingofaGondorianMerchant
CogperhapsevenaNavalShipbutthispartofthetripshouldlullthePCsintoafalsesenseofsecurity.
PerceptivePCsmaynoticethatwhenEmelinandDiorethrintalktoeachotherinprivate,andtheydotendtogently
insulteachotherquitefrequently,theydosoinAdnaic.IfanyPCscommentonthis,theywillbetoldthatitisthe
languagethattheyuseathome.TheycanalsobothspeakfluentQuenyanandSindarin,andsomebasicDunael.
MorningoftheFourthDayTheSighting:
Bymorningonthefourthday,theshipisnowheadingeastsoutheastwardsshechangeddirectionsometimeduring
thenight.RagaerwillinformthepassengersthattheypassedthesouthernmostoftheMethrastIslesacoupleofhours
ago,andshouldspotTolAduilbyearlyafternoon,andmakeLondAduilbylateafternoon.Thegoodweatherhas
continuedfromthepreviousday.
OnlyabouthalfanhourafterthePCsrise,thelookoutatthecrow'snestwillcalloutthatthereisashiptrailingthem
farasternofftostarboard.Ragaerwillwatchtheshipforawhile,butwon'tbetooconcerned.Hewillindicatethatit
ismostlikelyaPrivateerCarrack,buttheyaretoofaraheadofherfortheretobeanythingtoworryabout.Hedoes
checkallsailsthough.Asthechildrencomeondeck,theyaretoldaboutthePrivateer,andgetexcitedforaminute,as
thetriphasbeenmundanesofar,butafterashortwhile,theygetboredwithitandwanderoff.
Ifanyoneasks,hewillexplainwhatprivateersare,andhowthepoliticsoftheBaywork.Hewillalsostatethatthe
Halatirwillmakeabout11knotsandthePrivateeratmostabout12.Mostlikely,shewillshadowtheHalatirforalittle
while,butassherealisesthatshecannotcatchher,shewillbreakoffandgoinsearchofeasierprey.
ThePrivateerwillcontinuetochasetheHalatir.Asthepursuitcontinues,Ragaerwillstarttocheckandrecheckthe
sails,andcheckhisspeed.Outwardlyhecontinuestostatethatthereisnoconcern,andthattheywillmakeTolAduil
waybeforethePrivateercanovertakethem.Thefactthatsheiscontinuingthechaseratherthanbreakingoffdoes
seemtoworryhimslightly,though.
PerceptivePCsmayoverhearhimtalkingalmosttohimself,ashewatchesthepursuerthroughatelescope,making

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commentssuchas,"Shesailswell.""Whoeverissailingherisdoingagoodjob.""Hmm,shemaybefasterthanI
thought."
Bylunchtime,withtheshipperceptiblycloser,hesendsamessageuptothecrow'snesttoseeiftheycanspother
ensign.
EarlyAfternoonoftheFourthDayTheChase:
Justafterlunch,acallcomesdownfromthecrow'snest,describingtheensignofthefollowingship"Redflameon
bluefield,blackedging."Ragaer'sfacedarkens,butallhewillmurmuris,"Wecanstilloutrunher."Hewillsayno
moretothepassengers,butthecrewseemstorecognisetheensignaswell.
ThePCswillnoticeEmelinandDiorethrinindeepconversation,andthenDiorethrinwillmakehiswaytothebridge.
Hewillleanagainsttherailingwitharmscrossed,andafteramoment,enquiregently,"Redflameonbluefield,black
edgingthat'sTeldmeir,isn'tit?"Afteramoment,Ragaerwillnodhishead.Diorethrinwillthencomment,asifto
himselfbutloudenoughforotherstohear,"JustaPrivateer"Ragaerwillgivehimalookasiftosay,mindyour
place.
BynowthePCs,iftheydon'tknowwhoTeldmeiris,shouldbeasking.Ifso,bothDiorethrin,andRagaer,aftersome
promptingfromDiorethrin,willexplainwhoTeldmeiris,andhowUmbareanpoliticswork.RefertotheICEUmbar
supplementforfurtherinformation.

Theintentofthissectionisbothtoincreasethesuspense,andtoprovideanopportunityforsomeexpose.Giventhat
thesituationistwoships,bothsailinginastraightlinewithafairexpanseofwaterbetweenthemandnolandinsight,
theopportunityforaddingdramaislimited.Effectively,youwillhavetousetheattitudesoftheNPCstoconvey
emotionstothePCs.
Ragaerwillremaintightlippedandapprehensive,stayingonthebridgetowatchthepursuer,eventhoughitiswellout
ofrange.HewillgiveorderstotheCrow'sNesttokeepagoodlookoutforward(forland),andwillrepeatedlycheck
sails,shipspeed,thecharts,ropes,anythingjusttogivehimsomethingtodo.HewilltalktothePCsbutitwillbein
analmostabsentmindedfashion,withlongpausesbetweensentences,andcontinuingevenwhenyouhadthoughthe
hadfinished.
ThebiggestchangewillbebetweenDiorethrinandGirchel.Fortwofourteenyearoldswhowereverysimilarintheir
conversationsbackinEndil,Diorethrinwillseemtobeactingfarbeyondhisyearsinmaturity,whilstGirchel,if
anything,becomesmorechildlike,becomingmoreandmoreanxiousastimegoeson,andneedingconstant
reassurance.IfthePCswon'tprovidethereassurance,Emelinwilltakeituponherselftotrytocalmhisnerves.
Likeheryoungerbrother,Emelinalsotakesonamoresomber,matureoutlook.Theybotharecalmandcollected,
thoughslightlyanxious,andarethemostwillingtotalktothePCsthroughthenextcoupleofhours.Thecrewwill
followtheleadoftheircaptain.
Throughthisperiod,severalpointsofexpositioncanbemade,suchas:

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(Assumingthatthishasn'talreadybeendiscussedoutpreviously),theFirstMatewillwanderuptostandbesideRagaer,
andcomment,(mentionwhatthepartysawinEndil,ifanything)",thesmalltraderthatslippedawayjustbefore
dinner.Thisisn'tarandomattackwe'vebeentargeted.Theywerewaitingforus."Ragaernods,andtheybothturn
toglanceatEmelinandDiorethrinonthedeckbelow.
ThePCsshouldhopefullyaskwhattheymean,andthus,iftheyaren'tawareofthenatureofthejobofthefatherof
EmelinandDiorethrin,shouldbemadeawareofitnow,andthusthepointthatthepursuerwillnotbreakoffpursuit.
Ragaer,sayingalmosttohimself,"TotargettheAzladanakh'irim,andtheirchildrenatthat.Iftheyfindoutthat
Teldmeirisbehindthis,theywon'trest"
ThePC'sshouldthenask,whoorwhatisoraretheAzladanakh'irim?Emelin,passingbelow,willoverhearand
respond,"Weare."Followingthis,shecanprovideanexplanationoftheAzladanakh'irim,andtheirhistory,with
obviouspride.
Afterashortpauseaftershefinishes,Diorethrin,whowandereduphalfwaythroughherspeech,willspeak,againwith
asenseofownershipandpride,ofMarahil's3adventuresacrosstheBaytoraidtheUmbareancoastalfiefs(SeeICE
HavensofGondorsupplement).IfanyoneaskswhoMarahilis,hewillinformthem,includinghisfulltitle,and
finishingwith,"andmyGodfather."
TheinsinuationinallthisisthateitherTeldmeirhasbecomeinsaneinhisoldage,orthatthepursuersaren'tplanning
onlettinganyofthepeopleontheshiplivetotellthetale
Around2pm,thereisashoutfromtheCrow'sNest,"LandAhoy!"Ragaerpracticallygrabsthetelescopefromthe
SecondMate,andgoestothebowoftheship.Afterafewminutesstudyingthehorizon,heturnstothePC's(assuming
theyhavefollowedhimforward),andstateswithobvioussatisfaction,"Tolfalas".
Helooksbackatthepursuingship,andthenbackatthehorizon,asifmeasuring.HeturnstothePCsandsays,"We're
doingelevenandahalfknots,they'redoingaboutfourteen.It'sgoingtobeacloserun."
MidAfternoonoftheFourthDayACloseRun
Nowthatlandhasbeensighted,Ragaer'sdemeanorchanges.Nowhehassomecontroloverthesituation,hewill
becomemuchmoretalkative,andalmostcheerful,inagrimsortofway.HewillactuallyseekoutthePCsonoccasion
(assumingthattheyhaven'tpanicked);toinformthemofwhatishappening.
Hewillexplaintheroutethattheymusttake,topasstheislandtothesouthandthentravelupitseastcoast,andthen
comebackwestwardsintotheLondAduilBay.ChartsandmapswillbeshowntothePCs,andtheissuesconcerning
thecurrentsandwindpatternsdescribed.RefertoSectionError:ReferencesourcenotfoundError:Referencesource
notfound(PageError:Referencesourcenotfound)

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Atonepoint,Emelinslipsbelowdeck,andreturnsafewmomentslaterdressedintrousersandshirtwithafleecelined
leathervest,insteadofherdress.Ragaer,noticingthis,willsmiletohimself,andcalldowntoher,"Don'tbother
lookingaroundforasword,yourfatherwouldneverforgivemeifIallowedthattohappen."BothEmelinand
Diorethrinwillsmileandlaugh,andmostofthecrewwillsmiletoo.
Thiswilllightentheatmospheresomewhat,andmostpeoplewillbecomemorecheerful.Girchel,however,will
becomeevenmorescaredbythementionofswords,andwilltakesomecalmingdownEmelinwilldothisifthePCs
don't.
Around3:30,andthepursuingshipcontinuestoclose,Ragaer,willgiveanalmostimperceptiblesignaltohiscrew,and
somewilldisappearbelowdecks.Theywillreappearafewminuteslatercarryinghandfulsofshortswordsin
scabbards,whichtheydistributetothesailors.Severalsailorswillbeseentobestringingbows,andquiversofarrows
willbedistributedaroundtheshipandkeylocations.Afewheavyaxeswillalsoappearandbeplacedinvarious
locationsandbucketsofsandandwaterwillbebroughtupandplaceddownthecentrelineofthedeck.
ThePCsmaywanttotakethehintandgearup,iftheyhaven'talready.Girchelwillbecomeevenmoreanxiousatall
this,andalmoststartcrying.EmelinandDiorethrinwillbenervousbutcontrolledtheywillofferassistancetothe
crew,butwillmostlytrytostayoutoftheirway.Thecrewseemstoallknowwhattheyaredoing,andlookpracticed.
Theyallshowcalmness,andexudecompetenceandresoluteness.
Around4pm,theHalatirwillapproachthesoutherntipofTolAduil,andDiorethrinwilltaketheopportunitytopoint
outtothePCswherehisfather'shouseandkeeparethelighthouseshouldhavebeenvisibleforsometime.There
willbeashortdebatewithhissisterastowhetheranyonewillbelookingoutforthem,duringwhichhewillcomment,
"I'msureGimiwillbe."Emelinwillsmilewanlyatthis,butneitherwillelaboratefurther.
Astheypassthecape,allcrewwillbereadyforthetack,butRagaerwillhangonwaitingandwatchingthepursuing
ship,whichisnowveryclose,runningonlyafewhundredfeettostarboard,andonlyaboutaquartermilebehind.If
anyoneasks,hewillreplythatheiswaitingtoseeiftheytackin."Ifwetackfirst,wecommitourselves,andwewill
losespeedwiththetack,andtheycouldpossiblycomestraighton,andcatchusbroadside.Iftheytackfirst,theyare
committedtogoingnorthwards,andthusaregamblingsoarewe.Ofcourse,thedownsideisthatthelongerwehold
on,thefurtherawayfromTolAduilweget,andtheclosertheygettous."
Hesmilesgrimly,"Ofcourse,ifwedotack,andhecomesstraightatustoramandmisses,thenhewillhave
overcommittedhimself,andwewillbeabletomakeLondAduileasilyashewillhavetotackback.Ifwedon'ttack
andhedoes,thenwewillbeforcedtotaketheoutsideroute,andthusheshouldeasilybeabletocutusoffattheheads.
Sothequestionis,howwillhegamble?Willhecontinueonourcourse,andthusforceuseithersailontotheopensea
ortackandpresentoursidetohim?Orwillhetacknorthtocovertheheadswhere,assumingwetack,hewillbeable
tocutusoff,buthewillonlygetoneshotatit?HelooksatthePCswithanironicsmile,"Thisisthefunpartof
sailing"
Allofthecrewwatchesthepursuingshipintentlyasshepassesthecape.Asclearstherocks,shetackstoport,andup
thecoast.Thecrewalmostasoneletouttheirbreath.Ragaercommentstonooneinparticular,"Heblinkedfirst",as
heturnsandstudiesthesky.

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Ifanyonelooks,itdoeslookasiftherearedarkstormcloudsonthehorizoncomingfromthewest,butitisuncertain
astowhentheywillarrive.
Oneofthemates,withthetelescopestudiesthesideofthepursuer,asshecutsacrosstheHalatir'sWake,"The
Bagarrn,80footer,twoballistaebow,catapultstern.Probablyaboutonehundredoddcrewincludingsoldiers."He
lowersthetelescope,andadds,"Armouredbow."
Ragaerlooksdown,"They'rerunningaboutaquartermileoutfromthecoast.We'lltackamileout.Ifwe'relucky,
we'llcatchagoodsquallofwindcomingoverthetopoftheislandbyrunningoutwide,whichshouldhopefullygiveus
anedgetomaketheheads.Ofcoursewewillhavetotackbackintomaketheheads,sowewilllosespeedonthat.He
smilesandshrugs,"It'sarollofthedice."
LateAfternoonoftheFourthDayADiceRoll
Veryshortlyafterwards,theHalatirtacksnortheast,andfaintly,acheercanbeheardfromtheshiptoport.Ragaer
almostsmilesinspiteofhimself,"Soundslikethey'repleased."
Bothshipsnowrunalongthecoastnortheastwards,parallelwitheachother.Again,thereisabitofalullinwhat
happens,andsomeonewilltaketheopportunitytopointouttothePCsthevariouslandmarksoftheTolAduileast
coasttheMausoleum,theArchandBlowhole,theTorr,BigandLittleCow.
AstheTorrispointedout,somebirdswillbeseencirclingaboveit,andsomeoneamongstthecrewwillcommenton
theSeaEagles,andhowtheirsightingisoneofgoodluck.Thestormwilllookalotcloserbehindthem.
PerceptivePCswholookattheareacloselymaynoticethefigureofamanonhorsebackridingfastnorthwards.Ifthis
ispointedout,Emelin,afteramoment'sintensestaring,willaddhopefully,"ItcouldbeGimi."Thistimeifanyone
askswhoGimiis,Diorethrinwillcomment,"Androth,myfather'ssquire."
AstheypasstheTorr,thestormsweepsin,withblusterygalesandthelightbutcoldraindrivingintothefacesofthose
watchingtheBagarrn.TheHalatirwillsurgeforwardandstartdrawingahead.Amutedcheerwillcomefromthe
sailorsontheHalatir,andRagaerwillgiveasmallsmile.Hewillcommenttohimselfashelooksskyward,"Don't
knowifitwillbeenough."
BythetimetheHalatirdrawsclosetolevelwiththeHeads,itisabouttwomilesinfrontoftheBagarrn.Allofthe
crewisnervous,andsomediscussionswillbehadamongsttheCaptainandtheMatesastowhethertotryforLond
Aduil,orkeepgoingstraightonandaimforadifferentport.
RagaerwillmentiontothePCsthatifhewantstomaketheheads,hecannotholdhiscoursemuchlonger,andwill
havetotacksoon,asthewindiscominginfromthewestnorwest,andhewouldliketomakeitthroughtheheadsona
starboardtack.Eventhoughheismakinggroundonastraightrun,ifheleavesittoolong,hemayhavetomakeaport
tack,andnotonlywillhelosetimeonmakingthetack,butgiventhesetupoftheship,aporttackwillbethebad
tack4.

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Ragaercomestoadecision,andgivestheordertomakefortheHeads,andtheshipstartstotack.Thesailsaredrawn
tightacrosstheship,asthewindisnowcomingfromtightontheportbowassuch,theshipspeedslows
considerably.Acrossthewater,afaintcheerisheardfromtheBagarrn.
Astheshipsdrawclosertogether,everyoneonboardreadiesthemselves.Allarenervous,andnoonespeaksunless
theyhaveto.Whateverhappens,itisgoingtobeveryclose.Ifanyonebotherstolookforhim,Girchelcanbefound
tuckedundertheladdertotheaftercastle,drawnupinaball.Hewillresistanyeffortstomakehimgobelowdecks,as
downthere,hewillbealone.RagaerwillorderEmelinandDiorethrin(andanynoncombatantsamongstthePCs)
belowdecks.EmelinandDiorethrinwillgotothedoorintotheaftercastleroom,butwillpropjustinsidethedoorwith
thedooropen,watching.
Thetimeseemstodragon,andontheBagarrnasitgetscloser,itcanbeseenthatthecrewisreadingthecatapultand
ballistae,buttheydon'tmakeanylongrangeattacksitseemsthateveryoneiswaitingtilltheyareattheirclosest.It
looksliketheHalatirwillmakeittotheheadsaheadoftheBagarrn,butnotbymuch,andtheywilldefinitelybe
withinrangeofthesiegeweapons
Suddenly,thereisacutoffshoutalmostsimultaneouslyfromboththeCrow'sNestandtheBow.Someonethencomes
chargingbackalongtheshiptowardstheCaptainassomeonealmostfliesdowntheropesfromabove.Themanfrom
thebowsmakesitontotheaftercastlefirst,andpantsout,"It'stheOnethsir,andshe'scomingthroughtheheads.She
doesn'thavefullsailupyet,butshe'scoming."
EarlyEveningoftheFourthDayIEndGame
Ragaerpausesonlyforasecond,beforebellowingout,"Hardaport,"andswingingthewheeldownhard.Thecrew
dropstheirweaponsandrushtodragthesailsacrosstotheothersideoftheship.Theshipshuddersasshecrossesthe
wind,andtheshipswingsontoabadtackandslows,andstartsheadingbackbehindtheBagarrn,awayfromtheheads
anddirectlyintotherocksalongthePoint.OntheBagarrn,thereisamoment'sconfusion,andtheorderisgivento
reefsails,astheytrytoslowtheshipdown.
RagaerwilltakethismomenttoquicklyinformthePCsabouttheOneth."She'saRoyalNavalTenderfromthe
TolfalasfleetatCarasTolfalas,musthavebeenvisitinginthebay.Carriesfourballistaetwofront,tworear.We
havetokeeptheattentionoftheBagarrnallowtheOnethtogetsailsupandcleartheheads.IfthePCswanttotake
thisopportunitytotrytodosomethingtoconfuseordrawtheattentionoftheBagarrn,allowthemtodoso.
WhilsttheHalatirisnowtravellingawayfromthefrontmountedballistae,itisnowtravellingdirectlyintothepathof
fireoftherearmountedcatapult,anditcanbeseenontheBagarrnthatthecrewispreparingthemachineforuse.
Ragaergivestheorder,"Holdfiredon'tdoanythingtostartthemfiringjustdrawtheirattention."Acoupleofthe
seamentaketheopportunitytodroptheirpantsandmoontheBagarrnovertherail.Thetwoshipsarenowwithin
extendedbowshotrange.
BehindtheBagarrn,theOnethcannowbeseencomingintoviewthroughtheheads.Shehasgotfullsailupnow,and
isstartingtoincreasespeed.ShecomesonquietlydirectlytowardsthesideoftheBagarrn.

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ShecoversafairproportionofthedistancebetweenthetwoshipsbeforethereisasuddenshoutfromtheBagarrn,and
facessuddenlyswingaroundandlookbehindthem.
Almostsimultaneously,thewhumpoftwoballistaeisheard,andthecatapultontheaftercastleoftheBagarrnswings
aroundtofacetherearandjerksforward.Screamsareheardfromtheaftercastle,assomeofthecatapultcrew
disappearsfromviewunderneathit.Theswingarmsnapsnearthebucket,andthebucketdisappearsontothedeck.
Theremainingarmsnapsforward,unrestrained,andthecatapultjerksupward,beforecrashingdownandontoitsside,
precariouslybalancedontheedgeofthecastle.Itpausesthereforamoment,beforerollingofftheaftercastleontothe
deckandrailingbelow,whereitalsobalancesforamomentbeforegracefullytippingofftheshipanddisappearinginto
thesea.Quiteafewbodiesfromtherailingabovefollowthecatapultinitsdiveintothesea,someofthemlooking
quitemangled.
Screamscanalsobeheardcomingfromtheforecastleoftheship,butasthatishiddenfromviewoftheHalatirbythe
sails,thedamagecannotbeseen.TheHalatirhasnowcomeintodirectviewoftheOneth,andmassedarcheryfirecan
beseencomingfromtheOnethontotheBagarrn,andthecrewcanbeseenquicklyreloadingtheballistae.Much
screamingandpaniccanbeheardcomingfromtheBagarrn,butabovethescreams,shoutedorderscanbeheard,and
sailsareunreefedandtheshipstartstopickupspeedagain.
OneoftheShip'sMatessaystoRagaer,"They'rerunning!"towhichRagaerreplies,"Theycan'tdomuchelsethey're
caughtdeadtowater."Heyellsoutorderstoswingtheshipbackontoaporttack,andheadsnorthwardsalongtheedge
ofthepoint,towardstheheads.
IfthePCswouldliketotrysomearcheryatthedepartingBagarrn,feelfreetoallowthemtotry.Therangewillbe
long,andtheywillbefiringfromamovingsurfaceatamovingtarget,buttheycouldcertainlyhitsomething.
AstheOnethturnstochasetheBagarrn,theHalatir'screwgivesacheer,andthecaptainoftheOnethturnsandraises
ahandtotheHalatir.Ragaermutters,"Don'tcheerjustyet,I'vestillgottobringthisinthroughtheheads,andwe'llbe
travellingatawalkingpace."
EarlyEveningoftheFourthDayIITheHeads
Theshipmovesslowlyuptothepoint,andthentackstoportinthroughtheheads.Asitswingsin,Ragaeryellsfor
everyonetohangon,andtheshipstartstobounceasithitstheturbulence.Ifyouwant,youcouldmakethePCsmake
rollstoavoidbeingloosingfootingorbeingthrownabout,butitispossiblyoverkillatthispoint.
Astheshippassesthroughtheheads,itrunsdirectlyintothewindandcurrent,anditsspeedslowsrightdown.The
shipstartsdriftingwiththecurrentsidewaystowardstherocks.Ragaergivesorderstountiethelongboat.Suddenly
thereisayellfromthebowoftheboat,"It'stheDesertRose,andshe'ssentalongboat!"
AssumingthePCsgotothebow,theyseealongboatcrewedbyHaradrimpullingtowardstheHalatir.Assheheaves
insight,thelongboatpivotsaround,andtheofficerattherudderyellsforaropetobethrown.Oneofthesailors
heavesoutahawser,whichtheofficerinthelongboatmakesfast.

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Asitswingsabout,Emelinsquealsouttoherbrother,"It'sGimi,look!"Shethenrapidlyremembersherplace,and
quicklyresumesademurepose.Thesquealcarries,andawhitefaceamongsttherowersraisesahand.Assoonasthe
hawserismadefast,thelongboatrowersstartpullinghard,andtheHalatirispulledthroughthepointandintoLond
AduilBay.

73RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

PIRATEENCOUNTERSFORGULLIVER'STRADING
COMPANY
byKarlBrown
NewmaterialforusewithGulliversTradingCompanyGrubStreetEdition(GTC)aroleplayinggameofexploration
ofstrangelandsinthe18thcentury.GTCissetintheworldoftheclassicsatiricalnovelGulliversTravels.Ituses
gamesystemderivedfromFUDGEandFATEsecondedition.FATE2eisastoryorientedroleplayinggamesystemby
RobertDonoghueandFredHicks.
ThelatestversionofGulliversTradingCompany(currentlyversion0.61)isfreeonwww.Scribd.comoratthislink:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2feoha1zdfscm2l/Gullivers%20Trading%20Co%20Grub%200.61.pdf?dl=0
TostayuptodateandfindoutmoreaboutGulliver'sTradingCompanyjointhelowvolumemailinglist:
http://rpgreview.net/mailman/listinfo/gullivers_rpgreview.net
AsalwaysifyouhaveanyfeedbackonthisarticleIdlovetohearit.Sendfeedbackto:
karl@rpgreview.net
PirateIncidentsatSea
ThisarticledescribesexampleincidentstobeusedwiththeseatravelrulesinGTC.UnderthoserulesaPirate
incidentisanyencounterwithfoesfromwithout.APirateincidentcouldbepiratesbutmightalsobeanavalvessel
ofaopposingnation,ahostileanimal,orevenvermin.However,mostoftheincidentsinthisarticleareencounters
withactualpirates,i.e.roguesaboardseagoing
vessels.
Theincidentsatsearulesaretheretomodelthe
factthatseavoyagesinthe18thcenturywere
risky,especiallyfortheunskilledand
unprepared.Theyarenotintendedtooverly
detractfromthevoyagesdestinationorpurpose.
Noraretheyintendedtobeonerousforthe
refereetoprepare.Accordingly,usingthe
maritimecombatrulesiftheplayersareprudent
andseektoescapetheyusuallywill.Referees
shouldnotbedisappointedifthePCsship
escapes;thisissupposedtohappenmostofthe
timesoyoucangettotheproperadventure
sooner.Thepiratescanbeusedagainandagain
untilthePCsgetaverygoodlookatthem.
InthisarticleIhaveuseanOtoindicatecheck
boxesforaspectsandextras.
ThievesbyNight
Whentheshipisnearland,asmallboat
approachesitinthedeadofnight.Thiscouldbe
anativecanoe,amudlarkrowboat,orother
vesselconsistentwiththelocation.Makeafair
rollagainsttheshipsobservationskillorthe

74RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

nativesmanagedtosneakaboardandstealatradeopportunityworthofsmallvaluablegoods.
Ifdetected,theboatturnsarounddiscouragedandvanishesintothenight.
PirateAttack
Thisisanencounterwithasmall
fastEuropeanbuiltpirateshiplike
thosefoundinthewatersaround
EuropeandtheEuropeancolonies.
Beginasastandardmaritime
combat.Inmostcasestheplayers
shipwillescapeafterafewofturns
butunfortunateorbravecharacters
couldendupinactualcanonfire
andboarding.
PirateSloop
TypicalColossalVessel
Thisisatypicalcoastalpiratesloop
orschoonerarmedwithsmall
cannonandcarrying4075ruthless
pirates.Smallsingleordouble
mastedvesselslikethisactually
representedthemostcommonform
ofpirate;onlythemostsuccessfulpirateshadlargervesselsandfewpirateshipswereover200tons.TheFiery
Dragon,ironicallydestroyedbyfirein1721,wastypical.
Tothreatenlargermerchantvesselsthesloopreliesonspeed,superiornumbersonboarding,andintimidation.
150tons,52Colossal.Crewof70.
Aspects:PirateSloopO,FastO,Opendecksaboveandbelow*O,OnlytheCaptainhasacabinO,Flushforeandaft
(theupperdeckisallonelevelnoforecastleorsternroundhouse)*O
*bothoftheseaspectscreatemoreroomtohousepiratesorcanonandforfighting.Theyareespeciallyusefulfor
boardingactions.
Weaponry:five3Lbminioncannononeachside(AverageWR9)
One1Lbswivelgun(AverageWR6)
RamWR7
Armour:AR9
Skilllevelsarethoseofatypicalpirateoraverage.
Skill
CrewMember(s)providingit(level)
Alertness
TypicalPirate(Fair).
Cooking
Shipscook(Average)
Logistics
Commander(Average)
Geography
Commander(Average).
Intimidation
Commander(Average).
Observation
Crowsnest(Average)
Oratory
Commander(Average)
Navigation
Commander(Average)
Persuasion
Commander(Average)
Sailing
TypicalPirate(Average)
Strategy
Commander(Average)
Tactics
Commander(Average)
WeaponSkills
Cannon(Average).Fordeckfightingusethetypicalpirateskillsandweapons

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Pirates
TypicalMinorNPCs
Giventhatthesesaltyroguesarelikelytobeencounteredinaboardingactiontheyaregivenherereadyforsavagedeck
fighting.
Nationality:(varies)O
Aspects:PirateOO,BullyO,CruelO,DebaserO,RoaringO
Conscience:Corruption3.
Extras:CutlassFairWR2,KnifeGoodWR1,NavalPistolAverageWR2,ItemofGoldJewellery
Skills
Sailing
30Average
Pistol
3varies
SingleHandedMelee
3varies
Brawling
3Good
Alertness
21Fair
Intimidate
21
Mediocre
OrneryLeviathan
Therearerecordedinstancesofbullsperm
whalesattackingsailingships.A
particularlyhugeandornerywhaletakesa
dislikingtothePCsvessel.Runthis
encounterasamaritimecombat.During
theSpotscenethewhalewillburna
corruptionpointtoapproachbeneaththe
waterinanattempttoavoiddetection.The
whaleusesswimmingratherthansailing
andallthewhalesattacksarebrawling
attacks.Ifcombatoccursthewhalewill
typicallytraveljustbelowthesurfaceand
canbeattackedasifashipbutcaninvoke
aspectstousedeeperwatertoaidits
defence,attackfrombelow&c.
SpermWhale
CollosalAnimal
Thisbullwhaleisamassive67
seamonster.
Nationality:SpermWhaleOO
Aspects:OrneryOCollosalScaleO
CannyBeastO
Conscience:Corruption3(useforactionsfuelledbyangerordeception)
Extras:Ramminghead+1FairWR8,Powerfultailslap+1FairWR7,Conicalteeth+1FairWR6,ThickBlubber
AR7,DiveDeepandLong.
Allweaponsandarmouralreadyincludetheeffectofscale.
Skills
Survival
32Good
Swim
32Good
Alertness
21Fair

76RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

Brawling
StrengthFeats
Athletics
Deception
Intimidate
Resist
Stealth
Tactics

2varies
21Fair
21Fair(goodforbreachingthesurface)
10Average
10Average
10Average
10Average
10Average

BarbaryDogs
Pirates:Asmallpirateship(anArabbuiltXebec)attacks.BarbarycorsairsaremostactivearoundtheMediterranean
andWestAfricancoastbuthavebeenknowntoraidasfarafieldasSouthAmericaandIceland.Theyseekvaluable
cargoesandpeopletotakeasslaves.
Xebec
TypicalColossalVessel
160ton.Colossal.Crew300
Aspects:ArabXebecO,LargeCrewOOGalleySlavesOthisshipuses24chainedslavestopullheroars,Arab
XebecOthistypeofshipisnarrowwithlateenriggedsailsontwoorthreemasts,anarrangementthatisswiftand
agile.Additionally,thexebechasoarslikeagalleyenablingittogainextraspeedtocatchbecalmedships.Cunning
CaptainO
Armour:woodenhull(3+Scale6)AR9
Weaponry:nine4LbCannonsoneachside(AverageWR10),two2lbSwivelGuns(AverageWR7),notequipped
witharam.
Skill
CrewMember(s)providingit
Skill
CrewMember(s)providingit(level)
Alertness
TypicalCorsair(Average).
Cooking
Shipscook(Average)
Logistics
Commander(Average)
Geography
Commander(Average).
Intimidation
Commander(Good).
Observation
Crowsnest(Average)
Oratory
Commander(Average)
Navigation
Commander(Average)
Persuasion
Commander(Average)
Sailing
TypicalCorsair(Average)
Strategy
Commander(Average)
Tactics
Commander(Average)
WeaponSkills
Cannon(3varies).Fordeckfightingusethetypicalcorsairsskillsandweapons
Onthexebec
Ifboardingactionoccursusethemasscombatrules,rememberthereare300corsairs!ShouldthePCsandcrewboard
thepirateshipsomemightthinktogettheslavestorevolt.Iftheydo,therearethreeproblemstheymustovercome.
Firstly,theslavesarechainedtotheirbenches.Second,thereareonly24slaves,theslavesareoutnumbered,andthey
knowit.Thirdly,yearsofbackbreakingtoilandthelashhavebrokentheirspirit.Asocialcombatwillberequiredto
convincethemtohelp.
Intheunlikelyoccurrenceoftheplayersbeingvictorious,thepirateshavesomelootmostlyaswornitems.Playerscan
pickupanitemofgoldjewelleryandpirateweaponsastemporaryitems.Thepiratecaptainscabinhasfinecutlery

77RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

andtablewareofsilverandivory.Thereisalsoagooddealofhashishonboard.
Ifitcomestoaboardingactionandthecorsairwin,theywillenslave(most)orholdforransom(therich)thePCsand
theircrew.Anycharacterwhoisstrongwillbeputtoworkontheoarsandseparatedfromtheothersinthehold.The
PCshaveuntiltheslaversreachtheBarbaryCoasttoescapeorfomentarevolt.ThepirateswillkeepthePCsship
(cargointact)inconvoywiththexebecuntilthen.ThePCsmustgetoutoftheirchains,openthehatchtothehold
whichisbarredfromtheoutside,sneakacrossthedeck,swimorstealajollyboat,crosstotheirownshipandretakeit
fromtheskeletoncrewaboard.Alternatively,alongarduousseacrossingcouldbeattemptedinthejollyboat.
BarbaryCorsairs
TypicalMinorNPC
Nationality:AraborBerber(donotspeakEnglish)O
Conscience:Corruption2,Pride1
Aspects:BarbaryCorsairO,KnowsthexebecwellO,CruelO,BullyO,Slaver(canbeusedonstarterattacks)O
Extras:Armedwithadragon(WR2butseepage55ofthecorerules,Mediocre1),scimitars(WR2,Fair+1)anda
starter(WR1,Good+2).Hasanitemofgoldjewellery.
Skills
Intimidation
32Good
SingleHandedMelee
3(varies)
Observation
20Average
Cannon
2(varies)
Pistol
2(varies)
GalleyOarSlaves
ApprenticeMinorNPCs
Nationality:variesO
Concience:Enlightenment3
Aspects:GalleySlaveO,DowntroddenO,StrongO
NoExtras
Skills
Athletics
32Good
StrengthFeats
32Good
Observation
20Average
JollyBoat
Thejollyboatisasmallrowboatusedtoferrysmallnumbersofpeople,inspecttheshipwhileatsea,andothertasks
whereonlyasmallnumberofpeopleneedtobeafloat.Onmostshipsitiskeptatthesternonapairofdavits(small
cranes)enablingthelittleboattoberapidlylaunched.Therearetwosailmaststhatcanbeassembledafterlaunchif
desired
LargeUnstableVessel
16Large,canholdnine.
Aspects:JollyBoatO,ClinkerbuiltO,RemovablesailmastsO,BarelyroomfornineO.
Armour:WoodenhullAR4
Weaponry:therearenoweaponsmountedonthisvessel.Thecrewcanusepersonalfirearmswhenthemaritime
combatrulesindicateswivelgunsmayattack.RamWR2notreinforcedtoram.
Ifmaritimecombatoraseacrossingoccursinthejollyboattheplayerswillhavetoassignpositionstocharacters.
Skill
CrewMember(s)providingit
Alertness
Commander
Cooking
Shipscook
Logistics
Purser

78RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

Geography
Intimidation
Observation
Oratory
Persuasion
Sailing
Strategy
Tactics

Master
Commander,orHeadMarine
Commander
Commander
Commander
Crew
Commander
CommanderorHeadMarinefordeckfighting

TheFirstPlague
Donttelltheplayersthisisapirate,thereshouldbesomedoubt.Theobservationphaseofcombatcanrevealsuch
detailsas:thevesselfliesnopirateflag,lookslikeaFrenchnavalvesselbutnoFrenchflag,insteadshefliestheSt.
AndrewsCross.SheisbetterarmedthantheHopewellbutpoorlyarmedforanavalship.ThefigureheadwasNeptune
butthegodsskinhasbeenpaintedred.
ThisistheshipofRedJames,theGentlemanPirate.RedJamesisinterestedinprofittosustainalavishlifestyle,not
bloodshed.AttheclosingphaseofmaritimecombatJamestriestomanoeuvrecloseenoughtoshoutacrosstotheother
captain.AsarefereeletplayersknowthatonhisfirstchancetoattackJamesletstheopportunityslipby,theplayers
canstillhavetheirshipfire.
RedJamesproposesathattheofficersofthePCsshipattenddinneraboardtheFirstPlague(unspokenhostages)while
hismenconductathoroughsearchoftheplayersship(s).Socialcombatisentered.IfthePCsactivelygetthecrew
involvedthisbecomesanIntrigueinsteadandnumbersmatter.Thereare200jeeringpiratesaboardtheFirstPlague.
Runasnormalexceptoneachhitscoredtheattackercangainaconcession.RedJameshasascribewhoisrecording
thedetails.ItislikelythattheplayerswilluseShipCombattoescapethepirateratherthangotodinner.Thatsfine,
RedJamesrangeswidelyoverthesea,theywilllikelymeethimagain.
SomesalvosfromRedJames:
Iwouldliketoavoidtastelessbloodshed
IamaGentlemanandanEnglishmanandofferyoumywordallowyouselftobeboardedandno
harmwillcometoyou.
Youareoutgunned
Youareoutnumbered
Mycrewareveteransofabloodywarbutarefaithfulandwillkeepmyword.
ThedinnerisinJamescabin.ThecabinisluxuriouslyappointedwithFrenchstylefurniture.TheDinnerisadelight.
ThefoodissomewhatFrench:thinonionsoup,roastfishinawhitewinesaucewithaselectionoflocalvegetables,
fruitplatter,breadandraisonpudding,coffee(nomilk).Conversationoverdinnerisnotasocialcombat,oncehehas
theupperhandRedJamesisquitetalkativeandopen,heispleasedtohavegentlemanguests.Thexplainsheissorryhe
hastotaxthemsoseverelybuthemustholdontowhatluxurieshecannowthewarislostandheisexiled.Players
mightinitiatesocialcombattowinconcessions,perhapsCatholicsamongthemmightappealtohisbetternature.Ifso
rollsforsocialcombatcanbedeclaredtraderollsifthatoptionalsystemisbeingused.
Whentheplayersreturntotheshiptheywillfinditstrippedofallfood,andvaluablesthatcanbecarriedbyhand.If
theoptionaltraderulesareinusehalfoftheshipstradeopportunitiesarelost.Foodstoresaresodepletedthattheship
mustmakeimmediatelyforaporttorestock.
TheFirstPlague.
TypicalGargantuanVessel
400ton.120Gargantuan.Crewof200.

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Aspects:PurposebuiltTransportO,ThickHullO,FaithfulCrewO,PullTogetherLads*O,CatholicCrewO,
ExcellentCookO
*goodforpushingtheshipscapabilitiese.g.speed,manoeuvrabilityetc.
Armour:warshiphullAR18butensureyouusetheThickhullaspect.
Weaponry:2x612LbCannonsWR21,2x2lbSwivelGunsWR7.
Canram:(2+Scale)WR8(Reinforcedbow)seetheGTCmaritimecombatrulesforrammingrules.
Skill
CrewMember(s)providingit
Alertness
CaptainorCrowsNest(Fair)
Cooking
Shipscook(Good)
Logistics
Purser(Average)
Geography
Master(Average)
Intimidation
Captain,orHeadMarine(Average)
Observation
CaptainorCrowsNest(Average)
Oratory
OfCaptain(Fair)
Persuasion
OfCaptain(Mediocre)
Sailing
Crew(Average)
Strategy
Captain(Average)
Tactics
CaptainorHeadMarinefordeckfighting(Average)
Cutlass
31Fair
PocketPistol
30Average
Cannons&SwivelGuns
31Mediocre
RedJames,theGentlemanPirate
ExperiencedMajorNPC
BornagentlemanssonJamesPollockGrewuponthefamilyestate.Howeverinhisearlyteenshisfamilywasexiled
fortheirCatholicfaith.FromFranceJamesjoinedtheJacobiterebellionasanavalofficer.Whentherebellionfailedhe
andhiscrewfledtoFarEastandturnedpirate.JamesandhiscrewhavegivenuponreturningtoEnglandandinstead
seektheluxuriesthatcanbegottenfromloot.Jamesisinterestedintreasurenotbloodshedandalwaysbehavesas
somethingofagentleman.
Nationality:English
O
Conscience:Quality1,Corruption1,Pride1.
Aspects:StrappingO,GentlemanO,CatholicO,TheFirstPlagueOO,PirateCaptainOO.
Extras:PocketPistol(1MediocreWR1butdontforgetrulesforpistolsatcloserange)
Cutlass(+1FairWR2)
FatherIsaac
Old
O
BrotherJohn
Youth O
BrotherMichael
CabinBoyO
LuckyRosary
Lucky O
TheFirstPlague
ThickHull
O
Transport
O
PulltogetherladsO
LargeCrew
O

80RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

CatholicCrew
CrewMinions O
Skills
Alertness
Geography
Persuasion
Sailing
WeaponSkillPistol
Art,Culinary
Cutlass
Oratory

10Average
12Poor
11Mediocre
21Mediocre
2varies
20Average
31Fair
31Fair

CatholicPirates
TypicalMinorNPCs
Nationality:Scots,EnglishorFrenchO(NoteallspeakEnglishandtheEnglishmenspeakFrench)
Conscience:Pride1,Enlightenment1,Corruption1
Aspects:FaithfultoRedJamesO,CatholicOO,ExNavyO,JacobiteOO
Extras:Cutlass(+1FairWR2),PocketPistol(0AverageWR1,butrememberrulesforpistolsatcloserange),little
luxury(e.g.snuff,candiedfruit,goodpipeetc.),religiousitem(rosary,crucifix,iconetc.).
Skills
Sailing
30Average
Weaponskillsinglehandedmelee 3varies
WeaponskillPistol
3varies
WeaponskillCannon
3varies
Alertness
21Fair
Language(FrenchorEnglish)20Average
JeanPierretheShipsChef
ExperiencedMajorNPC
AswellasprovidingJamesandthecrewwithexcellentfare,JeanPierreuseshisbarberandherbalism`skillstodothe
besthecanasasubstitutesurgeon.TheFirstPlaguedoesnothaveapropersurgeon.
Nationality:FrenchOO
Conscience:Pride2,Corruption1
Aspects:FrenchChefOO,CatholicOO,OutrageousAccentO,PirateO
Extras:BubbersLiver,Literate,Chefsknife(+1FairWR1)withFineSteelO
Skills
Cooking
42Good
Art,Culinary
31Fair
Stewardship
31Good
Logistics
30Average
Singlehandedmelee
3varies
Herbalism
21Mediocre
Barber
22Poor
Insult
21Fair
Conversation
20Average

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NaturalHistory
Horticulture
Climbing
Dance
Intimidation
Geography
Boating
LanguageEnglish
LanguageSpanish
LanguageItalian

20Average
20Average
10Average
11Mediocre
10Average
12Poor
11Mediocre
11Mediocre
11Mediocre
11Mediocre

82RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

NAUTICALRACESFORD&D5thEDITION
byKarlBrown
Part1:Understandingtheracedescriptions.
ThisarticleprovidesnewPCraceschosentosuitnauticaladventuresinspiredbyHarryhausenSinbadfilms,thegolden
ageofpiracy,orvikingsagas.IhavereverseengineeredtheWOTCracecreationsystemandusedthistoensurethese
racesarebalanceddesigns.Thisracecreationsystemwillbereleasedseparatelywhenitiscomplete.Itisnotthe
systempublishedinthepreviouseditionofRPGReview.Thearticlebeforeyouprovidesonlythematerialneededto
usetheracespresentedhere.
Tosavespacemosttraitsarenotdescribedinfull,insteadthecorebooksarereferenced.Referencestopagenumbers
areencodedbybook.PHB(PlayersHandbook),DMG(DungeonMastersGuide),MM(MonsterManual).
Safetystarrating
TohelpyoujudgehowcertainIamoftheevidenceusedtocreatearaceIhaveastarsystem.Likethehotelandcar
safetyscoringsystems,racesrangefrom0to*****.Notethatthestarratingdoesnotreflectbalance,allracesare
designedtobebalanced,buthowsureIamofthedesign.Thestarsystemcouldbeusedtocommunicatetoplayers
whatracesyouaregoingtoallow,youmightforinstanceonlyallowracesrated3to5stars.
0Flawed:ThisraceactuallybreakstherulessetbyWOTCsracecreationsystem.Manyfancreatedracesonthenet
areatthisrating.
*Experimental:Containsoneormoretraitsthatareproductsofintuition.Mostcommonlyspeedsabove40ftorbelow
25ft,andReachover10ft.ItdoesnotbreaktherulesofWOTCssystem.Veryfewfansextendthegamesysteminnew
directionssothislevelisactuallyrareamongfancreatedracesonthenet.
**Playtest:Thisracecontainsuncertaintraits.ItprobablydoesnotbreaktherulesofWOTCssystemandthatthereis
achancethatitmaybealittleoverorunderpowered.Alternatively,theraceusesrulesthatextendPHBrulesinnew
ways.Manybetterfancreatedracesonthenetwouldbeatthislevel.
***Typical:Thisracecontainsatleastonetraitthatwedonotknowtheexactvalueofanddoesnotbreaktherulesof
WOTCssystem.ConservativefanbasedracescreatedbyusingPHBracesastemplatescanreachthislevel.Adeeper
understandingofWOTCssystemobtainedbyreverseengineeringallowsgreaterdesignfreedomwhilestillremaining
atthislevel.IfnotcanonisedbythePHBthebuildsforhalflings,gnomes,andhalforcswouldbeatthislevel.
****Safe:Theracestraitsarealloneforwhichwehaveverygoodevidence.IfnotcanonisedbythePHBdwarves,
elves,tieflings,anddragonbornwouldbeatthislevel.
****to*****VerySafe/Canon:Theracehasnouncertainitems,allthetraitscanbevaluedbydirectstatementsin
thePHB.OfallthePHBracesonlytheHumanreachesthislevelwithoutcanonisationbythePHB.
Type&Tags
APCversionofamonsterhasthemonstersTypeandanyTags.
Racialabilityscoreadjustments
UnlikethePHB,racialabilityscoreadjustmentscanbenegative.
Abilityscorerange
ThecanonruleinthePHBisthattherangeofabilityscoresforPCsis320.However,whoeverheardofaStr9
awakenedfrog?Optionalrangesaregivenforstartingabilityscores.Duringplaymisfortunecanreduceacharacters
abilityscoresbelowtheseminimumsbutaPCmayneverriseabovethemaximumsgiven.

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Age
ThishasnobearingongamemechanicsandmightbegleanedfromMMtextorinvented.Agerangesarenotgiven
withtheraces.
Alignment
ThealignmentgivenintheMMistheonetheraceadherestomostoften.Formortalracesthisisjustatendencybutfor
extraplanarcreaturesdeviationfromthegivenalignmentcanbevanishinglyrare.Alignmentsarenotgivenintherace
descriptions.
Traits
Size:3eveteransnotethatSizedoesnotincludeReach.
WeaponsofdifferentSizesaredifferentproficiencies.ALargejavelinproficiencydoesnotletanogreuseher
proficiencybonuswithahumansjavelin.Ifacreaturechangessizewhenlevelsaregainedthenallweapon
proficienciesalsoscaleupatthesametime.
Naturalarmour:ifthePCwearsarmourusethehighestofthenaturalarmourandtheworn,theydonotstack(likethe
barkskinspell).
Waterbreather:youbreathewaternotair.Ifyouentertheairtheusualrulesforholdingyourbreathandsuffocating
apply(PHB183).
LowCRmonsters
SomecreaturesaresoweakthatextratraitsareassignedtothePCversion.
Flight
CaremustbetakeninthiseditionofD&Dwhenallowingflying1stlevel.ThelevelatwhichPHBonlycharacterscan
gaingoodaccesstoflightis6th!
Raceswithaflyingspeedat1stlevelshouldhavethefollowingwarning:
Havingaflying/swimming)speedbefore6thlevelisexceptionallyeffectiveincertaincircumstancesandexceedingly
dangerousinothers.Asaresult,playinga(race)requiresspecialconsiderationbyyourDMwhomaydisallowthis
choice.
Part2:Overcomingthelimits
Playtest
TherulesinthissectionarenotpartofthereverseengineeringofWOTCssystem.
ThePHBisdesignedtosupporthumanoidsofSmallorMediumsizeandlowerpowerlevelasPCs.Thereverse
engineeredracecreationsystemisboundbytheselimits.Thissectioncontainsnewrulestoovercometheselimits.The
rulesuseexistingD&DrulesandmathasabasisbutareNOTsomethingWOTCuses.Forexampleamathematical
analysisofclasseswasusedtocreatetheLevelAdjustmentrule.PlayersandDMsshouldtreattheseruleslikea
playtest.Ifyouusetheserulesyoushouldregardyourcharacterasaplaytestandacceptthattherefereehastheright
toremovethecharacterfromplayatanytime.
OutofCombat:Disadvantage&Inspiration
Wedontwanttowritealibraryofspecialcaserulestocovermarinecreaturesonland,awakenedanimalstryingto
pickpockets,etc.Weneedaseparatealternativesystem.Fortunately,wearegiventwogeneraltoolsforplayerswho
playwithinthelimitationsofarole:Disadvantage,andInspiration.

UseDisadvantagewhentheracecandosomethingbutwithdifficulty.
Whenaracecantdosomethingsaynobutifthispreventsthecharacterfromtakinganaction

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criticaltosurvivalorachievingimportantgoalsawardInspiration.Inspirationisexplainedasthecharacter
tryinghardertoprovethemselvesuseful.
TheInspirationawardsareimportant.AwardingInspirationwhenthehandicapbecomescriticalcompensatestheplayer
inproportiontohowoftenthehandicapisactuallyimportantduringplay.
SpecificexamplesfollowinthesectionsbelowonSizeandBeasts.
Size
WhenevertheSizeofyourraceplaceyouindangerorpreventyoufromdoingsomethingcriticalyourrefereemight
awardInspiration(PHB125).AgiantmightberewardedInspirationfornotbeingabletoenteraroomwheretherestof
thepartywasloosingafightbutnotifthedoorwentintoaninnonawarmsummernight.IfyourSizemakes
somethingmoredifficultbutnotimpossibleapplyDisadvantage,forexampleahillgianttryingtopickahumanbuilt
lock.
SizeandEquipment
Theotherissueisequipmentoftherightsize.Forscaledarmourwelearnfromthebardingrule,thearmourdoesnot
differinACfromMediumscale,costisx4perscaleupandx1/4perscaledown,weightisx2perscaleupandx1/2per
scaledown.InthePHBSmallarmourcostsandweighsthesameasMediumyoumaywishtochangethis.Theserules
couldbeusedforanywornequipmentincludingpacks.
Forothernonworngearmybestguessiscostx2perincreaseinscale,x1/2perscaledown.Theexceptionisitems
withvaluebasedontheirmaterials,suchasgoldjewelry,thoseincreaseincostasperweight.
Forscaledweaponsiftheweaponisinthemonstersdescriptionusethedamagelisted(minusthemonsterversions
STRmod).Ifnot,Largescaledoublethenumberofdamagedice,Hugescaletriplethenumberofdice.Byextension
Imguessingthatgargantuanscaledweaponswouldbe4xtheusualnumberofdamagedice.Okwhataboutsmaller?
Well,spriteintheMMtellsus1d8atMediumgoesto1ptatTinybutwecurrentlydontreallyhaveanyotherdata
pointsforsmallerthanmediumscaledweapons.WhilewewaitonfurtherevidenceIsuggesthalvingthenumberof
sidesofthediceusedperreductioninscalebelowMedium(forexamplea2d8becomes2d4,ad2becomes1pt,1pt
becomes0damage).UsingthissystemweaponscanbescaledtoSmallSizetoo;forexampleaSmallGreatsworddoes
2d3slashing.AtTinyanyslashingorpiercingweaponcanbebuiltwiththefinessequalityifdamageisreducedto1pt.
UnarmeddamageisNOTscaledthisway.Unlessboughtasaseparatetraitunarmeddamageis1bludgeoning.
WeaponcostprobablyincreasesinproportiontotheaveragedamageoftheweaponcomparedtotheMediumversion,
i.eLargex2,Hugex3,Smallx1/2andTinyx1/4.Weightincreasesbyx8persizeincreaseorx1/8perSizedecreasein
therealworld.
Agiantsrockisasimplerangedweapon.
Beastsandotheroddities
Thereareissuesifyoucannotwieldtoolsorspeak.Wheneverthelimitationsofyourraceplaceyouindangeror
preventyoufromdoingsomethingcriticalyourrefereemightawardInspiration(PHB125).Forexampleanawakened
panthermightberewardedInspirationfornotbeingabletoopenadoortoaroomwheretherestofthepartywaslosing
afightbutnotifthedoorwentintoaninnonawarmsummernight.
Speech
NotbeingabletotalkcancausecommunicationissuesthatcouldoccasionallybeworthInspiration.Youmight
understandlanguageswithoutbeingabletospeakorwritethem.Speechischaracterizedintothreecategories:
1.

Ifyoucantvocaliseatallthenyoucantcastspellswithaverbalcomponentandspellcastingclassesarenot
recomended.Youcanstilllearnlanguagesandunderstandthem,justnotspeakthem.(twigblight,crawling
claw)

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2.

Ifyournaturalformcantspeakhumanoidlanguagesthenforspellswithverbalcomponentsassumeyouare
abletotranslatethearcaneformulasintonoisesyoucanmake.Ifshapechangedintoaformthatcannotmake
yournaturalrangeofsoundsyoucannotcastspellswithverbalcomponentsuntiltheeffectends,evenifyour
temporaryformcanspeakhumanoidlanguages.(chimera,chuul,manes).

3.

Ifyoucanspeakhumanoidlanguagesthenyouusewordsforsomaticcomponents.Ifyouarepolymorphedor
shapechangedintoaformthatcannotsoundoutwordsyoucantcastspellswithsomaticcomponentsuntil
theeffectends(human,awakenedanimals,silverdragon)

ToolUse
Notallraceshavehandsortentaclesabletowieldweaponsandusetoolswell.Forweaponandtooluseratethe
creatureintooneof5categoriesmostracespresentedareequivalenttoahuman(tooluse5)butafewaretooluse2.
Ifyouhavenohandsoranoddbodyshapearmourisusuallynoproblem,exoticbardingcanexistsinD&D.Youmay
needhelptogetinoroutofarmour(seebelow).
Youcannotbeginplaywithequipmentyoucannotuse,norproficienciesinweapons,shields,ortoolsyoucannotuse.
Thisalsoappliestoanyclassbenefitsyoucannotphysicallydo.Youarenotdirectlycompensatedforthisyoujustlose
thesebenefits.However,themoreoftenthiscomesupthemorelimitedyourcharacterisandthemorelikelytheyareto
earnInspirationduringplay.
Forthosewithouthandsaspellfocuscanreplacemostmaterialcomponentsandcanbesimplygraspedorworn.I
wouldassumeyoucaninterpretsomaticcomponentsintocomplexsetsofmovementsyoucanperforminyournatural
form.Justasahumantransformedintoahandlessparrotcantcastspellswithsomaticcomponentsaparrot
transformedintoahumancannotusesomaticcomponentseventhoughthenewformhashands.Ifyoucantwriteyou
cannotwriteintoaspellbookwithoutaid,thereforecreaturesthatcannotwritewhoarewizardsmusttaketheMage
Handcantripatfirstlevel.
Tooluse1:Paws,mouth,orsimilar.Unabletouseanyweapons,shields,ortools.Cannotdonorremovearmour
withouthelp.CannotapplythebonusforDexteritytothrownormissileweaponsexceptobjectsdroppedfromabove.
Cannotopenlocks,disabletraps,pickpockets,openadoorknob,orwrite.AwizardmusttakeMageHandasaknown
spellatfirstlevel.SpellsrequiringspecificmaterialcomponentswithagpvaluerequireanactiveMageHand.Cancast
spellswhereafocuscansubstituteformaterialcomponents.CannotuseacomponentpouchwithoutanactiveMage
Hand.Somaticcomponentsrequireyourwholebodytobefreetomove(behir,beholder,blinkdog,chimera,cloaker,
killerwhale).
Tooluse2:Graspingpawsorsimilar.Abletograspitemsandpointwandsbutduetoweakgrip,lackofcoordination,
orlimitedrangeofmovementcannotwieldweapons,useshields,orperformfinemanipulationsuchaswriting.Cannot
donorremovearmourwithouthelp.Cannotapplythebonusfordexteritytothrownormissileweaponsexceptobjects
droppedfromabove.Cannotopenlocks,disabletraps.CanpickpocketswithaDisadvantage.RequiresaDC10Dex
checktoopenadoorknobthoughifthedoorwasintendedforpeopletwoormoreSizeslargeryouareata
Disadvantage.WizardsmusttaketheMageHandcantripat1stlevel.Abletocastmostspellsrequiringmaterial
components.SpellsrequiringspecificmaterialcomponentswithagpvaluerequireanactiveMageHandiffine
manipulationisdescribedinthespelldescription.Cancastspellswhereafocuscansubstitute.Canuseacomponent
pouch.Somaticcomponentsrequireyourwholebodytobefreetomove(dragon,raven,crab,homunculus,otyugh,
raccoon,possum,umberhulk).
Joininglevelsforpowerfulcreatures
Leveladjustment(LA)ishowmanyclasslevelstheraceisworth.Joininglevel(JL)isthelevelwhentheracecanjoin
aparty.IfnoLAorJLislistedassumeLA+0andJL1.
Joininglevel(JL)isthelevelofPHBracecharacterswhenthemonsterracejoinsthem.Typically,JL=LA+1butnot
always.ForexampleamonsterwithLA4,JL6joinsapartytwolevelsinherclasswhenthehumansinthepartyare6th
levelintheirclasses.AcharactermusthaveatleastonelevelinaPHBclasstobelegalforplay.Sometimeshowever

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JLishigherbecauseantraitrequiresahigherlevel(seebelow).
LevelAdajustment&traits
WherearacetraitisgrantedataleveluseLA+classlevelstodeterminewhenthetraitisgained.
Joininglevel&traits
Forsomecreaturesanadultstartingwithoutaparticulartraitisstretchingcredibility.IfthisisthecaseJLmaybe
higherthanLA+1sothatthejoininglevelisonewhereadesiredtraitisbalanced.
Part3:Unusualcharactersinplay
Charactercreation
Youstillgettheusual1stlevelHPforyourfirstclassevenifyouhaveracialHD.Proficiencybonusisdeterminedasif
yourlevelwasLA+classlevels.TherearenolimitsonBackground.TheOutlanderisgoodformaraudinghumanoids
andwildcreatures,eventhosefromtheocean.EquipmentisasgivenbyClassandBackgroundorpurchase.Ifyougo
withtheClassandBackgroundoptionsweaponsandarmourarescaledtoyoursizerepresentingasignificantsavingin
thecostofscaledgoodsforlargeraces.Youmaynotbeginwithequipmentyoucannotuse,forexampletooluse2
racesdonotbeginwithweapons.
Atthetable
Themorehumanlikethecharacteris,theeasieritwillbetoincludetheminD&Dstraditionaltypesofadventures.
CreaturesofanySizecouldbeadventurers.IfyourcampaignfeaturesalotofdungeonsthenLargeisprobablythe
maximumSizeforPCs.Howeveranauticalcampaignconsistsmostlyofoceantravelandislands.HugePCsshould
playjustfineifadventurerssticktotheshallowsorifalargeshipcarriestheparty.TinyPCscanbeusefulinanytype
ofadventure.
Unusualshapeisactuallyevenlessofanissuethansizeifthecharacterispartofaparty.Compareagianteagleand
awakenedparrot,thelattercaneasilyperchonanotherPCsshoulderandgowheretheygo.Asolitaryawakenedparrot
isgoingtobestuckwhenfacedwiththeirfirstdoorknobbutaspartofapartytheycangetpastthedooranddotheir
fairsharetoovercomewhateverisontheotherside.
Ifduringplaytheunusualcharacterseemstoopowerfulthetableshouldnegotiateasolution.Onealternativeisto
removethecharacterfromplay.
Part4:NauticalRaces
AquaticElf
***MediumHumanoid(Elf)
Elftraits(PHB23).
Subracetraits:Dex+1,Con+2.At1stlevelSwimspeedis35ftandlandspeed25.Amphibious(PHB305).Maskofthe
Sea:youcanattempttohideevenwhenyouareonlylightlyobscuredbyseaweeds,silt,andothernaturalunderwater
phenomena(asperMaskofthewildPHB24).Proficientinspearandtrident.TheaquaticelfspeaksElvish,Common
andSahuagin.
Notes:Thisversionofaquaticelfisbasedonthe2eversionfromtheBookofElvesandtheMonstrousManualforthat
edition.Interestingly,thesetwosourcesareinconsistentinseveralplaces.
Cat,Awakened
**TinyBeastTooluse1.Languages:Commonandoneotheroftheplayerschoice.
Str2{16},Dex+2{320},Con+0{320},Int+0{320},Wis+1{320},Cha+0{214}
Traits:Speed40,ClimbSpeed30ft.ProficiencyinStealth,Perception,andunarmedattacks.Keensmell,no

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disadvantageonsightchecksindimlight.Clawattackdoes1+STRslashingdamage.Exceptionalindividual:your
unusualpastisrepresentedbyonefeatofyourchoice.
Notes:mostshipshaveacat,whenaskaldtakesalikingtothefelineorwildmagicisencounteredinunchartedoceans
characterslikethiscanresult.
Eagle,Giant
*LargeToolUse2Speech2Beast.LA2JL3
Str+3{320},Dex+3{320},Con+1{320},Int1{216}Wis+2{320},Cha+0{320}.
Traits:Speed10ft,Flyspeed80ft,cannotflywhilewearingheavyormoderatearmour,keensight,Perceptionskill,
Beak1d6piercingandtalons2d6slashingnoextraattacksreach5ft.RacialHD2d10.UnarmedProficiency.
SpeaksGiantEagle.UnderstandsCommonandAuranbutcannotspeakthem.
Notes:Innauticalcampaignsonecaneasilyimaginegiantversionsofwhiteseaeagles.Beingabletoflybefore6th
levelisexceptionallyeffectiveincertaincircumstancesandexceedinglydangerousinothers.Asaresult,playinga
gianteaglerequiresspecialconsiderationbyyourDMwhomaydisallowthischoice.
FogGiant
*HugeGiant.LA8,JL11.Afoggiantjoinsan11thlevelpartywiththreelevelsinaclass.Languages:Common,
Giant.Thefirsttwotimesafoggiantwouldgainanextraattackfromaclassshegainsa1d8hitdieandassociated
increaseinmaximumhitpointseachtimeinstead.
Str+9{320},Dex+0{320},Con+5{320},Int+0{320},Wis+2{320},Cha+0{320}
Traits:Reach10ft.Naturalarmour13+DEX.RacialHD5d12.Speed40.ProficientinDex,Con,andWissaves.Skill
proficienciesinathletics,survival,andstealth.AdvantageonWisdom(Perception)checksforbothsmellandhearing.
Blendintofog,mist,fallingsnow,hail,orheavyrain(thisworkslikeMaskoftheWildfortheseconditionsPHB24).
Unarmedattacksdo1d10bludgeoningdamage.Weaponproficiencies:unarmed,hugerock(asperaCloudGiants
rockMM154)andGreatClub(asperHillGiantMM155).Advantageonsavesvspoisonandresistancetopoison
damage.
Notes:basedonthe2eMonstrousManualcreature.TheFogGiantwasfirstseeninthe1eFiendFolio.These24fttall
musculargiantshavemilkwhiteskinandsilveryhair.Theydwellintemperatecoasts,marshes,andboggyforests;all
placespronetofogs.Theyarehuntergatherersbutknowsomemetalworkandvaluesilver.Therearebothgoodand
evilfoggiants,bothareknownforbeingasquietinambushastheyareboisterousincarousing.AboardashiptheFog
Gianttakesupasmuchspaceas64Mediumsizedcrew/passengersprobablybysleepinginthehold.Onlylarge
vessels.However,thegiantsgreatstrengthandhieghtenablehimtodotheworkof64crewalsobutonlyifsay20%of
thevesselscostandconstructiontimeisspentmodifyingtheship.Inacoastalorislandhoppingcampaignthegiant
canwadeorswimwhileotherPCssailbutFogGiantscannotswimanoceancrossing.
HalfElfVariant
****or***ifhalfaquaticelf.MediumHumanoid
Charismaisraisedby+1
Speed30ft
Chooseonesubraceofelf.Yougainallofthetraitsofthatsubraceincludingtheabilityscoremodifierandlessertraits.
NotethatyoudonenotgetthecoreElftraitsandmodifiers,onlythoselistedunderyourchosenelfsubrace(PHB2324
oraquaticelfabove).
Traits:Yougaintwoskillsofyourchoice.Darkvision60ft,FeyAncestry(PHB23),plusthosegrantedbyyourelf
subrace.Languages:Common,Elven,andanyoneotherlanguage.

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Notes:thiscanbeusedtomakehalfaquaticelvesfornauticalcampaigns,halfdrowforunderdarksettingsetc.
HalfMer
***MediumHumanoid(Merfolk)
Str+0{320},Dex+0{320},Con+1{320},Int+0{320},Cha+1{320}.
Traits:Amphibious(PHB305).Landspeed30ft.Shorewalker:thehalfmercantakeanactiontotransformbetween
twophysicalforms,onewithlegsandanlandspeedof30ftandtheotherwithafishytailinsteadoflegs,aswimspeed
of30ftandalandspeedof10ft.Exceptionalindividual:yourunusualpastisreflectedinthefreechoiceofonefeat.
LesserTraits:speaksCommon,Aquan,andoneotherlanguageoftheplayerschoice.HalfMer:whenadjudicating
magicaleffectsthecharactercountsasbothahumanandamerfolk,bothalandcreatureandamarinecreature.
Lizardfolk
**MediumHumanoid(Lizardfolk)Speed30ft.Languages:Draconic,Common.
Str+2{320},Dex+0{320},Con+0{320},Int+0{214},Wis+0{320},Cha+0{214}.
Traits:SwimSpeed30ft,Naturalarmour13+DEX.Bite1d6+STRpiercingandclaws1d4+STRslashing,bothreach
5ft.Weaponproficiencies:unarmed,heavyclub,andjavelin.Holdbreathfor15minutes.
Notes:Inanauticalcampaignonecaneasilyimaginemarinelizardmenwhoperhapslooklikeanthropomorphic
saltwatercrocodiles.
Merfolk
*MediumHumanoid(merfolk)
Str+0{320},Dex+1{320},Con+2{320},Int+0{320},Cha+1{320}.
Traits:Perceptionskill.Proficientinspear,tridentandnet.Landspeed10ft,swimspeed40ftat1st.Amphibious
(PHB305).Yourunusualpastthathasdrivenyouawayfromtheusuallifeofyourkindisrepresentedbytwoskills,a
feat,andanextralanguageofyourchoice.
Notes:ThisraceisdesignedforacampaignwheretheMerfolkPCwillbespendingatleastsometimeoutofwaterand
interactingwithlanddwellerPCs.Itmaybeoverpoweredinothercontexts.Youshoulddiscusshowyouandthe
refereeimagineissueslikethirst,dehydration,andjumpingandhowDisadvantageandInspirationwillbeusedtomake
sureyouareonthesamepage.
Minotaur
**Largemonstrosity,thefirstExtraAttackfromaclassisswappedfora1d8hitdieandassociateincreasein
maximumhitpoints.
Languages:Abysal,Common.LA4,JL5.
Str+4{320},Dex+0{320},Con+3{320},Int2{212}Wis+3{320},Cha1{318}.
Traits:Darkvision60ft,LabyrinthineRecall.Speed40ft,naturalarmour14+DEX,Reckless.Proficientin:Perception
skill,unarmedandgreataxe.3d10racialHD.Gore,at13thlevelgainsChargebutwithadamagebonusof+1d8,this
becomes+2d8at19thlevel,Chargeonlyappliestogoreattacks.
Note:ThemaritimeminotaursofKrynwereplayercharactersinpreviouseditions.Minotaursmightalsofindaplacein
settingsinspiredbytheArgonautsofGreekmythorHarryhausenfilms.
Octopus,AwakenedGiant.
*MediumBeast.Tooluse5(asgoodashumanhands).Languages:Commonandoneotherlanguage.
Str+2{320},Dex+1{320},Con+1{320},Int+0{320},Cha3{214}.

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Traits:Aquatic(seeabove).SwimSpeed60ft,landspeed10ft.Waterbreather(PHB309)butabletoholdbreathforone
hour(MM326).Stealthskill.Tentacles1d6bludgeoning,reach10ft,andDCis13+STRmodifier(otherwiseasper
MM326).Inkcloud(MM326).At5thlevelbecomesLarge,tentaclereachextendsto15ft,andtentacledamage
becomes2d6.TocounteracttheeffectLargecanhaveondamageperroundagiantoctopusreplacestheirfirstExtra
Attackfromaclass(likefighterat5th)witha1d8hitdieandassociatedincreaseinmaximumhitpoints.
Notes:Anoctopusisanalien.Asolitaryambushpredatorwithnoneedforfriendshipandincrediblepatience.Youare
nevermotivatedbyfriendship,familyties,orlove.Inyourbondsyouonlyrecognizethevalueofothersskillsand
resources.Youmightbemotivatedtoprotectyouroceanhome,bycuriosity,ortoamassgoldtobuysafetyandfood.
TheHermitbackgroundwouldbeagoodfit.
Thatyouhaveeighttentaclesdoesnotgrantanyextraattacks.
ParrotorRaven,Awakened
*TinyBeastToolUse2.Languages:Common,anyoneotherlanguage.
Str4{14},Dex+2{320},Con+0{216},Int+0{320},Wis+1{320},Cha0{212}
Traits:Speed10ft,Flyat50ft.CannotflyinModerateorHeavyarmour.Mimicry(PHB309).Unarmedproficiency.
AdvantageonsavesagainstmagicwithDex,Wis,Cha,andCon.+3toinitiative.Skills:Perception,Stealth,andone
extraskilloftheplayerschoice.Falseappearance:lookslikeanordinaryparrotorraven.Beakdoesunarmed1
piercingdamage.Theabilitytocommunicatewithordinaryparrotsorcrowsandravens.Additionally,aRavenhas
advantageofsavesagainstpoisonandresistancetopoisondamagebutonlyfromingestedpoisons.
Notes:Mostofabirdssurvivabilityisinherpowerofflight.Thebestcharacteroptionsarethosethatenablethebird
toattackoraidatadistance.Parrotswouldstereotypicallyhavethepirateorsailorbackgroundbutitwouldalsobe
suitablefortheravenstakenbyVikingshipstoseekoutland.TheSageBackgroundissuggestedforVikingravens
whoemulateOdinsbirdsHuginn("thought")andMuninn("memory")orravensattractedtomanyaquaintand
curiousvolumeofforgottenlore.
Havingaflyingspeedbefore6thlevelisexceptionallyeffectiveincertaincircumstancesandexceedinglydangerousin
others.Asaresult,playingabirdrequiresspecialconsiderationbyyourDMwhomaydisallowthischoice.

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DEEPINTHEIVORYTOWER:ARUNEQUESTPIRATES
ADVENTURE
byLevLafayette

WiththankstoStanPolson,RalphLovegrove,andStevenTheRed
PartOne:TheTreasureMap
Asthesestoriesoftendobegin,"DeepintheIvoryTower"startswithatreasuremap.Howevertheplacementbythe
GMshouldbeundertakenwithsomecarewithtwokeyconsiderations(a)themapshouldbefoundinpossessionof
distatesful,ifnotdownrightevilindividualsand(b)themapshouldbeaobsfucatedpuzzleinitsownrightor,asa
simpleralternative,asajigsawpuzzle.ThemapitselfisonthereverseofaparchmentascribedtoAbramelintheMage.
Someexamplescouldinclude(a)amongtheaccountsofacorrupttownalderman,(b)inthepossessionofathievesor
assassinsguild,(c)aritualisticwizardwhocommandsabandoforcs.Anotheressentialelementisthatthetreasure
mapmakesgreatpromisesnotonlyofwealth,butalsoofesotericknowledgethatprovidesonespecialinsighttothe
world,unavailabletolesserbeings.
Forexample:
"...thouwiltthereinfindcertainexamplesandothermatterswhichwillbemostprofitableuntotheetolearnthe
VeritableandSacredMagic,anduntothepracticeofthatwhichI,ABRAMELIN,THESONOFSIMON,havelearned,
inpartfrommyfather,andinpartalsofromotherWiseandfaithfulMen,andwhichIhavefoundtrueandreal,having
submittedituntoproofandexperiment.Andhavingwrittenthiswithmineownhand,Ihaveplaceditwithinthiscasket,
andlockeditup,asamostprecioustreasure;inorderthatwhenthouhastarrivedataproperagethoumayestbeable
toadmire,toconsider,andtoenjoythemarvelsoftheGods"
...andsoforth.Makethetreasuremapanditstextsomethingfortheplayerstofigureoutthroughobsfucatedlanguage.
Iftheythrowtheirarmsupincompletefrustrationallowanappropriateskillrollforafewhints.Themajorelementsis
that:
(a)thegreattreasureistofoundontheisleofSanLorenzo.Thiscanbeexpressedasthe"theislandholdstheesoteric
knowledgeofthegreatemartyr,theFirstandLastoftheSevenDeaconofRome",i.e.,SaintLawrence.
(b)ontheislandofthegreatmartyrtheesotericknowledgewillbefoundinadungeon.Thisisfrom"itwillbefound
fromshewhohaseyeslikethepoolsofHeshbonbythegateofBathRabbim"(i.e.,theBiblicalreferencetothe"ivory
tower",i.e.,aninvertedivorytowerthatismadefrombones).
Insomethingthatmightbeahinttotheparticularlyinsightful,thelocationofthistreasureislocatedontheisleofSan
Lorenzo,forthoseusingafantasyEarthorsimilarenvironment.ThisislandanditsreligionofBokonismaredescribed
withsomecompletenessinthenovelbyKurtVonnegutJnr.,"Cat'sCradle"ofwhichelementsappearinthisscenario,
althoughinamodifiedmannerforthepurposeofthescenario.
Ifanycharactersbothertodosomeappropriateresearch(andtheysurelywill)theywilldiscoverthatSanLorenzoisa
tiny,rockyislandlocatedintheCaribbeanSea,positionedintherelativevicinityofPuertoRico.Ithasnoresources,no
industry,andapopulationofmiscreants.Theonetownship,LugardeMadeira,isaramshaklecollectionofhovelswith
remarkablypoorsanitationandisusuallydescribedbyitsfewvisitorsasLugardeMierda,instead.Inanutshell,the
placeisworthless.Theveryideathatagreattreasurecouldbefoundtheremayseemstrangethesaytheleast.

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ThewrittenhistoryoftheislandbeginswithCristvoJacquesasthefirstEuropeanmantolandSanLorenzo.Jacques
andhismencameashoreforfreshwaterin1519,namedtheisland,claimeditforManuelI,andneverreturned.
Subsequentexpeditionscameforgoldanddiamondsandrubiesandspices,foundnone,slaughteredmostofindigenous
populationentertainmentandheresy,andsailedon.
TheSpanishchallengedPortugueserulein1535,buttherewasnoobjectionfromPortugal.TheFranceclaimedSan
Lorenzoin1540withnoobjectionfromSpain.TheDutchclaimedtheislandin1634andfacednoobjectionfrom
Spain,andEnglandclaimeditameretenyearslaterin1644,withnoobjectionfromTheNetherlands.
InanenvironmentwheregoodfortunecouldbeachievedbyAngloandFrenchprivateerssailingunderaletterof
marque,ahandfulofsurlyindividualswhowererejectedofsuchanormallylooselicenseandcouldfindnootherplace
toinhabit,endedupinSanLorenzo.TherewasnocomplaintfromtheBritisheither.
PartTwo:SanLorenzoandBrawlattheTheFlyingShuttle
TheFlyingShuttleis,withoutdoubt,theworstpublichouseintheworstcityintheworld.Thefamouslatrinefrom
"Trainspotting"ispositivelyimmaculatecomparedtowhatwillbeencountered(andGMsshouldendeavourtomention
thistoarandomcharacterwhojustsohappenstofeeltheneedtovisitsuchfacilities;e.g.,makeaResiliencecheck).
Thebeerislikemakingloveincanoe,thewinecanbeusedapaintstripper,butthegrueldespiteatasteonparwith
therestofthefareissurprisinglynutritious.Weaponsmustbeleftatthedoorwithaparticularlyburlybouncer
emphasisingthispoint.
Thecompanyofaboutascoreofpiratesareasurlylottoputitbluntly.Neverthelesstheyconsiderthemselvestohave
someexpertiseonasurprisinglywiderangeofsubjects,whetheritbemusicandotherarts,politicalinstitutionsand
legalnorms,varioussciencesandmostimportantly,mathematicsandstatistics.Severalconversationsshouldconvince
thePCsthatwhilstsomeofthosepresentmayindeedhaveamodicumofskillinthesefields,themostprevalent
characteristic(evenamongthosewhodoknowsomething)isamostdisagreeablearrogancethattheyknow
*everything*aboutasubjectandare*never*wrong.
ItisunavoidableatsomestageintheprocessthePCswillbedrawntoagamblingtablewhereanumberofpeopleare
debatingovertherelativeadvantagesofacrapslikegamewhere"7"isamagicnumbertoachievedon2d6and
whetheritisbettertobasethegameonarollhigh("bigendian")orrolllow("littleendian")mechanic.Gamerswho
arelongversedinthedebateofhighversuslowrollsystemsshouldencountersomefamiliarargumentsinthisdebate,
suchasdeeplyheld(butcompletelyincorrectclaims)thatrowlowhasafixedfloorwhereasrollhighhasaninfinite
ceiling.AparticularlyoneryGMmaywishtointroducethedifferentvirtuesof2d6versusd12withtheirdifferent
distributions.
ItisimportantthattheGMencouragetheplayerstovoicetheiropinionsonsuchmatters.Atanopportunemomentin
thedebate,ahushwillfulluponthebarandabiguglypiratecaptainwillentertheroom.Ahissedvoicewillmention
"Therebetroublenow..It'sCaptainFranciscus!".TheCaptainwillleanoverthePCswithhisincrediblypungentbody
odour,hisgnarledteethwithexternalfangsandwillintroducehismostloyalcompanionsMasterBates,Seaman
Staines,andRogerTheCabinBoywhoaccordtheCaptainmessiahlikedevotion.Anymockingofthesefine
individualswillresultinimmediateviolence.
Infact,violenceininevitable.ThefriendlierandmoreconcilatorythePCsattempttobe,themoreaggressiveand
abusivetheresponsewillbe,especiallyfromtheCaptainitasifhewaswearingaringofcontrariness,tousethe
classicD&Dmagicitem.Eventuallyasvoicesareraisedandpushbecomesshove,thebartenderwillcalloutthatif
thereisgoingtobeafightonhispremises,astheremustbebetweenlocalsandstrangers,thentherewillbenoswords,
daggers,orclubsfisticuffsonly!TheCaptainwilltakethatashiscuetolandahaymakeronthejawofthebiggest
PC.

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Thisisaclassicbarroombrawlofallontoall.AGMshouldrunitforaslongasitisentertaining.Sadlyhoweverfor
thePCs,thisisonefightthattheycannotwin.TheCaptaininparticularseemstohavethisuncannyabilityofbeing
immunetodamage,nomatterhowwellablowislanded.Hehas,andperhapsnotjustmetaphoricallyspeaking,the
hideofarhino.EventuallythePCswillfindthemselvesunceremoniouslyturfedfromTheFlyingShuttle,almost
certainlywithanumberunconsciousandperhapsevenbadlywounded.
PartThree:BokononismandDeepinTheIvoryTower
AfterbeingturfedfromTheFlyingShuttle,thePCswillberescuedbyabronzeskinnedindividualnamedAgueybana,
whoisdescendedfromoriginalnobilityoftheislandsandslavesbroughtherebyEuropeanpowers,orsohesays.
Explainingthathecanhelpthem,hewilltakethepartytothesmallseasidefarmhousewhereheandhisfamilyofwife
andfivechildrenraiseafewgoats,engageinabitoffishing,andgrowcassavarootandfruit.
AgueybanaisanadvocateofBokononism,whofundamentalprincipleisthatalldogmaisbasedonlies.Howeverthese
untruths,ifproperlyapplied,canbringasolace;theseliesarecalledfoma.Itis,essentially,arecognitionthat
knowledgeisimperfect,incomplete,andwhenappliedtotranscendentaltruthsnecessarilyso."Thosewholiveby
fomathatwantsthemtobelievewithoutdoubtwillbeunhappyastheyaredamagedwithin.Livebythefomathat
makeyoubraveandkindandhealthyandhappy".
WhenquestionsareaskedaboutCaptainFranciscusitisexplainedthathesettledonSanLorenzoafterseveralyearsof
beingsystemicallythrownoutofnumerousotherports.Withasmallgroupoflackeysandalargergroupofslaves,he
tookthepreviouslypeacefulislandandestablishedhisrulefromtheformerBokononismtempleandcatacombs.If
askedifthereareanyrichesorknowledgeswithinthetemple,Agueybanawillanswerthatthey"beyondimagining".If
askedforspecifics,hewillmentioncoinage,weaponsandsoforthwhich,inaccordtohisreligionisaharmless
untruth,orrather,atruthwhencarefullyconsidered.Thetreasure"beyondimagining"isthesacredtextsof
Bokononism,andtherearecoinsandweaponswhichhe'shappytoseethepartytakeifthetemplecomesbackinthe
handsofthelocalpeople.
Thetempleitselfisonahilltopgraveyard,designedinthestyleofpreclassicMesoamericanArchitecture.Itconsists
oflayersconnectedbystonestairsatcardinalpointsallofwhichreachasevenmetreshighstonetempleattheapex
withthefloorspaceoftwentymetresbytwentymetres.Theentrancefacingthetown(andthedawn)isdoublesized.
Thetempleentrancesareguarded(oneateachminordoor,twoatthemajorentrance).Insidethemainchamberisan
additionaldozenmembersandanequalnumberofauxiliariesofCaptainFranciscus'crew.Thisspaceisusedasa
commonroomandasaresultwillhavetheexpectedbedding,trinkets,andsoforth.Thereisalso,inthemiddleofthe
room,asetofcircularstairsleadingdownwardstothecatacombs.Takingthetempleisanextraordinarychallengeinits
ownright,andcleverPCswillconsiderBokononiststrategyofverbaldeceptiontogainentrance;anyonewhoattempts
thiswillgaina+25%chanceofsuccessduetotheholyfomaoftheplace.Inaddition,anycharacterwhogoesbarefoot
onthisholygroundwillgainanadditional+10%toallskillrolls,althoughthatdoeshavetheusualrisks.
TheBokomaruCalypso
Wewilltouchourfeet,yes,
Yes,forallwe'reworth,
Andwewillloveeachother,yes,
Yes,likeweloveourMotherEarth.
Thesecondlevelofthe"ivorytower"isappropriatelynamed;approximatelyathirdindimensionstothelevelabove
(7mby7m),thewallsareencrustedwithbonefromgenerationsofindividualswhohavediedandhavebeenburiedin
accordtotheBokononfaith,givinganappearancenotunliketheCryptoftheSepulchralLampinParisianCatacombs.
ItisherethatCaptainFranciscushasmadehishome,withalargebedadornedwithskulls(fortheCaptainand

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whateverpoorlasshehasdraggedintohisdenforthenight),alongwithastouttablewiththesacredtextsof
Bokononism,whichalsoholdsalantern.Thereisatrapdoorinthecentreoftheroomunderneatharichcarpetand,at
thefootofthebed,theCaptain'streasurechestwhichcontainsthefollowing:3seatsoffineclothes,2000Reales,4000
PiecesofEight,2000Doubloons,4000Realesofjewellry,acompass,alogbook(backintheday...),navigator'skit,4
pocketwatches,
Asforthebooks,thetitlepageofthefirstbookopenedgivestheappropriatewarning"Don'tbeafool!Closethisbook
atonce!Itisnothingbutfoma!"InsidethesetextsisvariousmarginaliabyCaptainFranciscus,areviewofwhichwill
quicklyindicatethattheCaptainissearchingthroughthetextsforthemeanstosavehistroubledsoul.Inafutureage,
thecommentswillindicateasuffererofhistrionicpersonalitydisorder,paranoidpersonalitydisorder,antisocial
personalitydisorder,andpsychoticschizophrenia.
AscanbeimaginedtheCaptainwillengageindefenseofhisroom,alastlinefromanyinvadingforces.Healsocarries
ascrollwhichcansummonforthaveritableplagueofmindlessskeletonstoassisthiminthisprocess(beingmindless
andfollowingtheCaptainseemstogotogetherverywell).Thisscroll,entitled,"poolpah"mustbereadaloudto
functionandthroughaSpellchargeEnchantment,willSummontheformerpriestsofthetempleinskeletalform.Itcan
onlybeusedonce.
Thethirdlevel,deepintheivorytower,isaccessibleonlybythetrapdoorundertherug.Aricketyladderleadsdownto
acoldanddankchamberwhichmeasuresamere3mby3m.Againlikethechamberaboveitisencrustedwiththe
bonesofthedeadandifthescrollhasbeenusedasabove,therewillbeactiveskeletonspreparedtoslayanyforeign
intruders.Alsointhechamber,crawlingaroundthedarkandperhapsconsideredanotherfoebythepartyisthe
halfstarvedandinsanewifesisterdaughteroftheCaptain,Elisabeth.Itisprobablethatshewillwillattackthepartyas
wellunlesscalmedinsomemanner.
Appendix:FranciscusTheHalfTrollandFriends
FranciscusTheHalfTrollhashadatroubledlife.Hewasgotinfearbyamotherthathadapredilectionforburlymen
withbigteethwholiketobite.NaturallyenoughFranciscusfatherdidn'tstaytoseehisprogenydevelop.Almostas
attractiveashisfather,hismotherseducedhim,andhefathereduponheradaughter,Elisabeth.Whenshecameofage
(albeitbarely),hemarriedherundertheceremonyofanextraordinarilydrunkpriest.Tiredofhavingtointroducehis
wife,hissister,andhisdaughterwhenthereisonewomanpresentand,asusual,refusingtoacknowledgethatthere
mightbesomethingwrongwiththisrelationship,helockedherupdeepinanivorytower.Forthepasttwentyyearshe
haskepthiswifesisterdaughterinthisdungeonprisonandsubjectedhertotheusualabusesthatonecouldexpect.
Whilstdescribedasa"halftroll",inRuneQuesttermsFranciscuswasfatheredbyanogre,whohaspassedonhis
Chaotictaintwhichapartfromgivinghimatasteforhumanflesh,acontrarynaturetowardsthosethathavenotsworn
fealtytohim,alsohasprovidedhimarareaffliction;attacksuponhimbothhealandempowerhim,witheachpointin
damageeitherprovidingapointofhealingorapointofstrength(ifundamaged)forthefollowingaction.Instead,
Franciscusiswoundedbyfirstaidormagichealing,somethingwhichheiswellawareofandwillviciouslyattack
anyonewhoattemptsthis.ThereisnothingmoredamagingtoFranciscusthatbeinghealed,andifkilledinthis
manner,hewillawaken(albeitbarelyconscious),theChaotictaintremovedandremorseful.

OvertheyearsFranciscushasmanagedtoacquiresomeconsiderableloyaltyfromthoseimpressedwithhisstrength
andhisimperviousness,specificallyBates,Staines,andRoger.Theytoo,throughpartakingthefoulritualsthat
Franciscusisfondof,haveacquiredChaoticfeatures,althoughtheyarehardlyofthesameabilityordepravityastheir
Captain.
CaptainFranciscusTheHalfTroll
STR19CON16DEX11SIZ13INT13POW13CHA14
Rleg/7Lleg/7Abd/8Cht/9Rar/6Lar/6Hed/7

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Actions2SR+12Move4m+1d4Dam
Unarmed80%(1d3+1d4),Dagger90%(1d4+2+1d4),1HSword90%(1d6+1+1d4),Pistols55%(2d4)
Athletics60%Boating40%Dodge50%Gunnery50%Influence70%Perception80%Persistance90%Resilience
90%Shiphandling50%Stealth35%
Infamous,Vice,FearsomeAura,ChaoticTaint,Absorption(seetext)
MasterBates
STR16CON16DEX10SIZ13INT10POW10CHA11
Rleg/6Lleg/6Abd1/7Cht1/8Rar/5Lar/5Hed/6
Actions2SR+10Move4m+1d4DamBuffCoat1AP(3%toskills)
Unarmed60%(1d3+1d4),Dagger60%(1d4+1+1d4),1HSword60%(1d6+1+1d4),Whip50%(1d3),Musket40%
(1d8)
Athletics50%Boating35%Dodge20%Handiwork30%Influence30%Perception50%Persistance50%Resilience
50%Shiphandling30%Stealth35%
Infamous,Vice,ChaoticTaint
SeamanStaines
STR14CON12DEX11SIZ14INT10POW10CHA11
Rleg/6Lleg/6Abd/7Cht/8Rar/5Lar/5Hed/6
Actions2SR+11Move4m+1d4DamBuffCoat1AP(3%toskills)
Unarmed50%(1d3+1d4),Dagger50%(1d4+1+1d4),1HSword50%(1d6+1+1d4)
Athletics40%Boating30%Dodge20%Handiwork25%Influence25%Perception40%Persistance40%Resilience
40%Shiphandling25%Stealth30%
Infamous,Vice,ChaoticTaint
RogerTheCabinBoy
STR10CON11DEX16SIZ08INT12POW11CHA09
Rleg/4Lleg/4Abd/5Cht/6Rar/3Lar/3Hed/4
Actions3SR+14Move4mDam1d2
Unarmed50%(1d31d2),Dagger50%(1d4+11d2)
Athletics40%Dodge35%Handiwork25%Perception35%Stealth40%
Crewmen(17)
STR12CON12DEX11SIZ13INT09POW09CHA09
Rleg/5Lleg/5Abd/6Cht/7Rar/4Lar/4Hed/5
Actions2SR+12Move4m
Unarmed50%(1d3),Dagger50%(1d4+1),1HSword50%(1d6+1)
Athletics35%Boating25%Dodge15%Handiwork20%Perception35%Persistance35%Resilience35%
Shiphandling20%Stealth20%
Auxiliaries(12)
STR10CON11DEX11SIZ12INT09POW09CHA09
Rleg/5Lleg/5Abd/6Cht/7Rar/4Lar/4Hed/5
Actions2SR+12Move4m
Unarmed30%(1d3),Dagger30%(1d4+1)
Athletics35%Dodge15%FirstAid35%Handiwork25%Perception35%Stealth30%
Level2Skeletons(6)
STR12CON03DEX10SIZ10INT0POW0CHA0
Rleg5/3Lleg5/3Abd5/4Cht5/5Rar5/2Lar5/2Hed5/3
Actions2SR+5Move4m

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Unarmed30%(1d3),BoneClub30%(1d6)
DarkSight,NightSight
Level3Skeletons(3)
STR13CON05DEX11SIZ12INT0POW0CHA0
Rleg5/4Lleg5/4Abd5/5Cht5/6Rar5/3Lar5/3Hed5/4
Actions2SR+5Move4m
Unarmed35%(1d3),BoneClub35%(1d6)
DarkSight,NightSight
Elisabeth
STR10CON11DEX13SIZ09INT12POW11CHA09
Rleg/4Lleg/4Abd/5Cht/6Rar/3Lar/3Hed/4
Actions3SR+13Move4mDam1d2
Unarmed50%(1d31d2),BoneDagger50%(1d4+11d2)
Athletics40%Dodge35%Perception35%Stealth40%
Insane

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SHABALHIRIROACHREVIEWANDSCENARIO
byLevLafayette
Review
PhysicalProductandTheQuestion
It's72pages(plusadvertisements),lightlygluedforbinding,A5sized,singlecolumnseriffontthroughoutwithshadedemphasised
text.Theshortgamehasanexcellenttableofcontentsbutnoindex.Variousblackandwhiteartpiecesareappropriateforthe1920s
IvyLeaguesettingalbeitwithlittledirectreferencetothetext,andthere'sasetofsomewhatflimsycards.Allofthissoundsrather
plainatthispoint,soit'sworthjumpingintowhatTheShabAlHiriRoachisallabout.Itposeswhatmustcertainlybeoneofthe
moreunusualandsupposedlydifficultquestionsofalltime."Areyouwillingtoswallowasouleatingtelepathicinsectbenton
destroyinghumancivilization?""No?Evenifitwillgetyoutenure?"
ThebackgroundtothegamethereisonlyoneisthatanancientSumerianmonster,TheRoach,hasawokenduetothestumbling
mistakesofPembertonUniversity'sDr.ApplebyJenkins,whoreleasedthecreaturefromitsfourthousandyearsleep.Scuttling
amongthecobblestonesandtheneoGothicedifacetheRoach,onceknownasNumSodarRaseekstoreestablishaculturethatwill
catertoitsgreasyneeds.
CharacterGeneration
Charactergenerationisselectedfromanumberofbalancedchoices.Everyplayerinitiallydecideswhethertheircharacterwillbea
FullProfessororanAssistantProfessor,asallcharactersaremembersoftheUniversity.NPCsalsogettobeTownsfolk,University
Staff,orLuminaries.ForconflictsinvolvingAcademicStatus,theTownsfolkreceivead4,UniversityStaffandAssociateProfessors
ad6,FullProfessorsad8,andLuminariesad10.Foranyothersortofconflictthevaluesarereversed(i.e.,Townsfolkd10,
UniversityStaff/AssociateProfessorsd8,Professorsd6,Luminariesd4).Thisisthecharacter'sPersonalDie.
CharactesalsohaveanExpertise,"apeculiarbodyofspecializedandoftenuselessknowledge"(e.g.,Greekrhetoric,yeast
reproduction)whichwillhelpdeterminetheDepartmentthecharacterbelongsto.Apartfromtheexamplesalreadymentionedno
suggestionsareprovidedandPemberton'sdepartmentlistdoesn'treallysuit1920sacademia,hassomeoddabsences(e.g.,law,
politics,andeconomics)andsomeunexpecteddifferentiation(e.g.,aBiologydepartmentandaBotanydepartment).Ifaconflict
occurswherethecharacter'sExpertiseisappropriatetheyreceiveanotherPersonalDie.
Finally,characterschoosetwopersonalenthusiasms.Noenthusiasmmaybechosenbymorethantwoplayers,andifthereisa
conflictforthatchoice,determinebyplayerageoldestfirst.Theenthusiasmincludethelikesofcreativity,debauchery,wit,etc.A
totaloftwelveareoffered,andifanenthusiasmisinvolvedinascene(orpossiblyboth!)thecharacterwillreceiveanextraPersonal
Die,oreventwoifbothenthusiasmsareincluded.
Finally,charactershavearelationshipwitheachotherandReputation.Thesimplerelationshipruleisthatthereisabackstorywhich
meansthatthecharacterownedbytheplayerontheleftispositiveandtheoneontherightisnegative.Eachcharacterstartswith
threepointsofReputationwhichshouldbemarkedwithsometoken.
ScenesandConflicts
ActualplayiscarriedoutinaseriesofEventsandScenesatPembertonUniversity(withaconflictinthetextofwhetheritis
actually1919or1923wechosethelatter).EachEvent(e.g.,ConvocationandtheGreetingoftheClass)consistsofanumberof
sceneswhichmustincludespecificNPCs,butotherscanbenarratedin.EachplayerdrawsacardatthebeginningofeachEvent
whichcanbeusedinaSceneduringthatEvent.IfacharacteriscontrolledbytheRoachtheymustdesignateanotherplayer's
characterthatitwillbeperformedonpriortoreading.EachcardhasinstructionsinbothfreecharactersandtheRoachbound.

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EachplayertakesturnsinsettingaSceneateachEvent,framingtheconflictandsettingtheconsequences(whichcannotinvolvethe
deathofPCsortheRoachitisactivelyencouragedthatNPCsatragicend),andintroducinganyNPCs.Theplayersettingthe
ScenecanwageronetofivepointsofReputation.OthercharacterscanentertheScenebytheplayerwageringapointofreputation
andintroducingadditionalnarration.Ultimatelyconflictisresolvedbythedierollbasedontheirdicepoolachievedbytheir
narrationwiththecharacterwithasinglehighestindividualdieresult
determiningtheoutcome.Reputationisgainedorlostdependingonthe
amountwageredandtheoutcome.
ThatPsychicRoach
UnlikeothercharacterswhosePersonalDieisapoolofd6ord8s,
dependingontheirroleinaScene,aplayerwhosecharacterisunderthe
controloftheRoachgainsad12andanadditionald12thefirstScenethat
theymakeuseoftherequirementsoftheRoachcommands.Thismay
seemtoprovideagreatadvantage,butthemostimportantdisadvantageis
thatifacharacterisundercontroloftheRoachbytheendofthethe
Eventsthecharactercannotwin.PresumablytheRoachkillsthemor
somethingandscuttlesofftowaitforthenextgame.
Thisadvantagestated,becomingaslavetotheRoachisrelativelyeasy
simplydeclareoneselfandtheRoachwillhappilyslitherdownyourthroat
andthePCusestheRoachhalfofthecardsfromthatpointonwards.
Therecanbe,however,onlyoneRoachboundcharacteratatime.There
arealsotenRoachcardsinthepackleadingtocharacterswhobecome
takenoveragainsttheirwillbytheRoach.RoachcommandsateachEvent
mustbecarriedoutatleastonceinaScene,hopefullywiththePCreciting
theRoach'scommandinadeepotherworldlyvoice.
TheRoachcanberesistedbydrinkingalotofwineatanysocialfunction
thataSceneisbasedat.ItalsoreducesthePC'sPersonaldietoad4andof
coursetheydon'tgettheRoach'sd12.GettingridoftheRoach
permanentlyrequiresaRoachcardtobedrawn,representingan
opportunity,andlosinganEnthusiasm,representingthelossofpsychic
integrity.
Evaluation
TheShabAlHiriRoachisanenjoyablegame,andcancertainlyberunforafewsessionswithsomevariation.The
semiprofessionalproductionqualities,thelessthanclearwriting,andshortlengthofthetextallareunnecessarynegativestothe
game.Therearesomegreatopportunitiesforexpansionwhichareunfortunatelynotincluded;anysomewhatconstrainedsetting
wherepowerandreputationistheprimecurrency(e.g.,theRoachonapirateship,theRoachinaprison,theRoachinparliament).
Asanothermatterofelaboration,itwouldhavebeenhelpfulifthegameconsidereddesignfeaturesforanongoingstory,developing
yearbyyear,astheRoachcontinuesinitsincomprehensibleplansofhumanenslavement.
Moresubstantially,someofthecommandsoropportunitiesinthecardsystemareambiguousorratherplainintheireffect.Clarity
andraisingthenarrativestakeswouldbewelcome.Finally,anissueexistswiththeGMlessnarratingsystem,whichlacksameans
ofvalidatingtheverisimilitudeofnarrationinScenes;itistooeasilytoslapinbonusdiefromNPCsetcwhoseassociationis
tenuousatbest.Overallhowever,boththescenarioandsystemworkwellforsinglesessiongames.
Style:1+.4(layout)+.6(art)+.8(coolness)+.4(readability)+.3(product)=3.5
Substance:1+.4(content)+.6(text)+.8(fun)+.6(workmanship)+.6(system)=4.0
Originallypublishedat:http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/16/16224.phtml

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APirateScenario:TheCockroachCosairs
Introduction
ThebackstorytothisversionoftheShabAlHiriroachassumesthetheftofmummyfromSheikJafariofBarqahwhichisthen
transportedtoaslavecumcosaircumtradingvessel.TravellingalongthecoastofofOttomanTripolitaniaandintoIfriqiya,with
occasionalforaysintoraidingwealthyChristianmerchantships,thebandofcosairshaveanadditionalvisitoraboardthat's
determinedtousewhatpowersitcantoestablishaloyalcultofservants(andthusruletheworld,naturally).
CharacterGeneration
ForcharactergenerationeachplayerchooseseitherOfficerorCrewman.Officerswillhaveaslightedgeinspecialistskills,whereas
Crewmenwillhaveaslightedgeincombatroles.Aswiththenormalgame,charactersalsochooseanareaofexpertisefromthe
followinglist:
Boating,Brawling,Cooking,Craftwork,Gunnery,Medic,Musket,Logistics,Lore,Navigation,Performance,Pistols,Shiphandling,
Swashbuckling,Woodwork
Beingpirates,thecharacterswillhaveVicesinsteadofEnthusiasms.Theeffectisstillthesamehowever.Eachoftheseare
consideredmajorsinsinIslamwithvariousappropriatepunishmentsasdeterminedbyhanafifiqh.Acharactergainsabonusfrom
theirenthusiasmbutitmustbeincicrumstanceswherewitnessesareabsent,orareotherwisesilenced.
Apostasy,Cowardice,Cruelty,Deception,Debauchery,Greed,Lust,Pride,Uncleanliness,Violence
Theobjectiveinthegameisstillthesame;acquireReputation.BecauseenoughReputationmeansthatyoucanbecomeCaptainone
day.
Standing(chooseCrewmemberorOfficer)
GalleyRower(Power/Statusd4,EverythingElsed10)
Crewmember(Power/Statusd6,EverythingElsed8)
Officer(Power/Statusd8,EverythingElsed6)
CaptainorImam(Power/Statusd10,EverythingElsed4)
SequenceofPlay
Thesettingisthesummerof1607.Aswiththestandardgame,playhingesonsixeventswithscenesnarratedfromeachplayer.
ThreerecurringNPCswillbeateachEvent,canbeincludedinanyScene.
TheEventsinOrder
1.LaunchFromTripoliandCrewAssembly
ThelateenriggedandoaredxebechasleftTripoli.TheCaptain,AbidKhattabiassemblesthecrewandtellsthemofthejourney
ahead;captureaSpanishmerchantvessel,takethepossessionsandlandinSal.TheImamwishestoensurethatthelawisfollowed;
theheadofthegalleyrowerswantstoensurethattheyarenotworkedtoohard.
Featuring:
*AbidKhattabi,Captain
*HudaAbdullah,Imam
*Farid,headofthegalleyrowers.
2.CapturetheShipontheWaytoTunis
TheSpanishmerchantshipistravellingtoVenicefulloffartoomanyrichesforanycosairtoavoid.TheCaptaincallsfortheraid,
buttheRoachmighthaveotherideas.Anattackislaunched,andwithsomecasualtieswhowillneedhealing.Agoodopportunity
fortheRoachtoswapbodies.

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Featuring:
*AbidKhattabi,Captain
*KarimSanjar,FirstMate
*AlHadi,Ship'sSurgeon
3.KnightsofMaltaontheWayToTripoli
ShipsfromtheKnightsofMaltacatchupwiththecosair'sxebec;asasuperiorfightingforcetheMalteseknightswillsurelybea
deadlyproblemiftheycancatchthexebec.DoestheRoachcare?Probablynot,buttherowersandtheboatswainwillbeworking
hardtoescapethetrap.UnfortunatelytheChristianslaveship'sboyhasotherplanshe'dratherberescued!
Featuring
*Farid,headofthegalleyrowers.
*IhibibnRusd,Boatswain
*SamuelMorgan,ship'sboyandslave.
4.MutinyontheAlboranSea
GreedhastakentotheFirstMatewhothinksit'sabouttimethathetookcontroloftheship(andit'swealth).Besides,theCaptain
lostfartoomanycrewontheraid,andwasmainlyabsentduringthecounterattack.Plusthere'samysteriousmurdereronboard.
WillyoujointheFirstMatehelptakeover?IfonlytheQuartermastercouldbebroughtonside..
Featuring:
*AbidKhattabi,Captain
*KarimSanjar,FirstMate
*AbedalJabri,Quartermaster
5.StraitsofGibraltarUnseasonalStorm
AfreakstormcatchesthexebecasitcrossestheStraitsofGibraltar.Thiscouldcausetheshiptobeach,andit'suptothehelmsman,
thenavigator,andtheboatswaintopreventthis.It'sallhandsondeck,astheRoachponderswhetherdestructionofthevesselisto
itsadvantage.
Featuring:
*AbdulRahman,Helmsman
*AlSamhibnMalik,Navigator
*IhibibnRusd,Boatswain
6.DockinginSal;Celebration
Finallyreachingtheirdestination,thecrewwanttocelebrate,andtheQuartermasterknowsexactlyhowmuchcelebratingcanbe
done.TheCaptainwantstobegenerous,buttheImamisdemandingmoderation.ThedevilRoachneverallowsformoderation.
Featuring:
*AbidKhattabi,Captain
*HudaAbdullah,Imam
*AbedalJabri,Quartermaster
Opportunities
Ahandfuloftheopportunitycardsareobviouslyinappropriateforapiratescenario.Theseshouldbealteredasfollows:
*"JournalArticle"becomes"DisplayLeadership.GainapointofReputation."
*"ReceiveUniversityAwardbecomes"RecognitionofService.GainapointofReputation."
*"ReceiveAcademicAppointmentbecomes"ReceiveImportantCrewDuty.GaintwopointsofReputation."
*"EarnTenure"becomes"Receivepromotion.IfOfficer,becomeMate.IfalreadyMate,becomeCaptain!(D10/D4)andexisting
Captainabdicatesandleavesship!"
*"UncoverPlagiarist"become"UncoverPettyThief.TakeapointofReputationfromtheplayercharacterofyourchoice."

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ROACHOFTHECOSAIRS
CHARACTERSHEET
Name:__________________________________________________________________________
PlayedBy:_______________________________________________________________________
Background______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
STANDING(circleCrewmemberorOfficer
ConflictAbout...

GalleyRower

Crewmember

Officer

CaptainorIman

Power/Status

D4

D6

D8

D10

EverythingElse

D10

D8

D6

D4

EXPERTISE(SelectOne)
Boating,Brawling,Cooking,Craftwork,Gunnery,Medic,Musket,Logistics,Lore,Navigation,Performance,Pistols,Shiphandling,
Swashbuckling,Woodwork

VICE(SelectTwo)
Apostasy,Cowardice,Cruelty,Deception,Debauchery,Greed,Lust,Pride,Uncleanliness,Violence

OTHERPLAYERCHARACTERS
Player

Character

Crewmember

Position

Notes

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DiceForConflicts

Personaldie(yourStanding,modifiedbycards)+
YourDepartmentalExpertise,ifnarratedintotheScene+
OneorbothofyourEnthusiasms,ifnarratedintotheScene+
CharactersyouhavenarratedintotheScene+
SlavetotheRoach(D12)+
DoingtheRoachsdirectbidding(D12)

Events1015AH(1607AD)
1.LaunchFromTripoliandCrewAssembly
*AbidKhattabi,Captain
*HudaAbdullah,Imam
*Farid,headofthegalleyrowers.

4.MutinyontheAlboranSea
*AbidKhattabi,Captain
*KarimSanjar,FirstMate
*AbedalJabri,Quartermaster

2.CapturetheShipontheWaytoTunis
*AbidKhattabi,Captain
*KarimSanjar,FirstMate
*AlHadi,Ship'sSurgeon

5.StraitsofGibraltarUnseasonalStorm
*AbdulRahman,Helmsman
*AlSamhibnMalik,Navigator
*IhibibnRusd,Boatswain

3.KnightsofMaltaontheWayToTripoli
*Farid,headofthegalleyrowers.
*IhibibnRusd,Boatswain
*SamuelMorgan,ship'sboyandslave.

6.DockinginSal;Celebration
*AbidKhattabi,Captain
*HudaAbdullah,Imam
*AbedalJabri,Quartermaster

OtherCrewmembersOfNote
Name

Notes

CauseofDeath

AbidKhattabi

Captain

HudaAbdullah

Imam

KarimSanjar

FirstMate

AbdulRahman

Helmsman

IhibibnRusd

Boatswain

AlHadi

Ship'sSurgeon

AbedalJabri

Quartermaster

AlSamhibnMalik

Navigator

Farid

Headofthegalleyrowers.

SamuelMorgan

Ship'sboyandslave

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FREIBURG:AREVIEWANDELABORATIONS
byLevLafayette
FreiburgReview
IntroductionandProduct
Deepseaadventuresin7thSea'sTheaharestrikingly
implausiblegiventhelayoftheland.Ifonewishestoavoidthis
implausibility,thedeeplyinlandcitystateofFreiburgoffersa
goodalternative.Hereallthegoodthingsabout7thSeacan
comeintoplay;thebaroquerichnessofnotEurope's17th
centuryandtheadmixtureofnotEurope'scultures,the
combinationofintrigueandromance,theviolentcombination
sorceryandswashbuckling.Freiburgisacitystatewherethe
rulerhasdecidednottorule(orrather,ruleinaminimalist
manner)andletasocialexperimentunfold.Asaresultevery
vagabondfromallovernotEuropehasarrivedatthecitywalls
seekingtoescapetheirpastandbuildanew.
Thesturdyboxedsetisquiteimpressivealthoughthecontents
aresomewhatlighterthattheboxindicates;abouthalffull,
givingplentyofopportunitytoaddcharactersheetsandthe
smallbucketofd10srequiredforplay.Whatitdoescomewith
istwoA4books,"TheSightsofFreiburg"at72p,"TheCityof
Freiburg"at96p,anA5size"WelcometoFreiburg",at48p,a
hugefoldoutblackandwhitemapofthecityandasmaller(and
moreuseful)A3mapofthesame."TheSightsofFreiburg"
comeswithanumericalandalphabetizedindex;the"Cityof
Freiburg"comeswithnoindexortableofcontents.Theline
drawingsthroughouttheproductarequitegood,ifsometimesa
littlecautiousintheircreativity,butwithasoliddegreeof
techniqueandcontextualappropriateness.
WelcometoFreiburg
The"WelcometoFreiburg"bookletisanintroductoryguide,writtenwiththesortofthemockstylefromafriendlyandinformative
guide,whoisclearlyanadvocatedescribingthecityasthemostwonderfulinnotEurope.Abriefhistoryisprovided,fromthe
mythicpastofthedrachenskeletonsthatlitterthearea,thebuildingofagreatfortressthatbecomesthemilitaryheartoftheEisen,
akanotGermany.DuringtheWaroftheCross,thefortresswasthelynchpinoftheVaticineforcesinEisen,butwascapturedwith
surprisebytheObjectionists,followedbycounterattacksleadingtotheextremelyimprobablesituationthatneithersideclaimedit,
andinsteadnoncombatantsmovedinmakingatradingpost.Thisisindeedachallengingpropositionforanyhistorian!Whena
soldierdiscoversarichveinofdracheneisen,hechoosesthetradingpostcumfortressashisrewardandthusestablishedFreiburg:
"Instead[ofruling],hesimplysethimselfupasthenewleader,andallowedcitizenstoruntheirownaffairswithoutanyinterference
fromthegovernment".Thedescriptionexplicitlystatesthatthereis"nobusinesslicenses,norealcourts,andverylittlepolice
protectionunlessyou'rewillingtopayforit".
Howcansuchasituationexist?Wellbycharityofcourse!Yes,thereisaguardofsorts,andanableadministrator,buttherealforce
toprotectciviliansagainstcriminalgangsisamerefiftyWachhunde.Haveanotherlookatthecitymapanddecideforyourselfhow
effectivefiftyWachhundewouldbe.Inthisminarchistutopia,onlyarson,murder,slavery,revolution,andtreasonareillegal.Make
ofthatwhatyouwill.ThroughpureselfinteresteachcivilianinFreiburgsleepssafelyintheirbedatnightknowingthattheir
neighbouralsodesiresuchsafetyandthroughthismutualityviolenceisstunninglyrare.Theonlyproblem,themockauthor
explains,isthatthefairfreecityhasattracted,well,toomanypoorpeople.Toomanypeopleareathreattogoodwages,bytheway,

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sothesemigrantsneedtocleanedout.They'reahealthhazardtoo.Noreally,Iamnotmakingthisup.
Followingthisutterlypainfulexpositionofclosedvoluntaryism,thesixdistrictsofthecityaredescribed;theShade,theGreens,the
Candlelit,theStein,theBones,theDowns.TheShadeisashadyandimpoverishedplace,andnotrecommendedafterdark.Itisalso
thelocationofthemassiveFreiburgCathedralmadefromDrachenbone,andtheampitheatreforperformances(presumablynotafter
dark).IncontrastTheGreeniswherethewealthylive,becausetheyalwaysgetthebestparkland.HeretheGuardispaidbylocals
whoregularlyexpelnonresidents"fornothingmorethanlookingthewrongway".Becausenothingsaysfreedommore.The
Candlelitisthestudentquarter,sonamedbecausetheyworklateatnight.TheSteinisthecentralfortressofthecityandwherewhat
excuseforaguardandthecitybureaucracyexistsandtherulerpreferstodrinkandwritepoetry.Don'texpecttogetanythingdone
withoutpayingforit.ThenthereisTheBones,sonamedbythelargequantityofdrachenskeletonsintheregion,whichattractsa
numberoftraders.Finally,theDowns,amainlyresidentialandmiddleclassdistrictwhichtrieseversomuchnottobeexcitingat
all.

TheCityofFreiburg
Nominallythefirstbookintheseries,"TheCityofFreiburg"isaGMsguideforthecity,covering"History,LawandGovernment",
"ImportantNPCs",and,takinguptheoverwhelmingmajorityofthebook,"HammerandTongs"acampaignforusingtheset,touse
thesectionheadings.Thefirstsectiondoesn'tprovidemuchmoreadditionalinformationonthekeypointsasthetraveller'sguide
althoughitdoessoinamoreformalmanner,andwithgreaterattentiontothedetails.Atleastitdoesacknowledgethatthereisa
largercriminalelementinthecityastheresultofthelacklawenforcementandzerotaxationpolicy.Withtwentyneighbourhood
watchesandnomeanstopaythemthecitywatchissubjectto"horribleabuses,withunitsofguardsmenservingasarmedthugsfor
therighandpowerful",especiallygiventhatseniorguardsmenactasjudgeandjury.Punishmentofsuchdecisionscaninclude
variousfines,floggings,banishment,orevenexecution.Thereisasingledebtor'sprisonaswell.
The"ImportantNPCs"chapterisjustthat;statsanddescriptionofthe"moversandshakersofFreiburgsociety",startingwith
NiklausTrague,theEisenfusrtwhodoesn'trule,hiscapableadvisorWilmaProbst,thescribeLoganSieger,andthecaptainofthe
guard,VasyaWilem.Outsidetheimmediate"governance"ofthecityaremerchanttraderssuchasTiboldDedrick,theexplorer
MadelineduBisset,andthebankerandlandlord,RedmundErhart,alongwithafewothers.Eachofthesecharactersisprovidedwith
theirstatblockandashortdescriptionoftheirpower,personality,andmotives.Whatissurprisinglyabsentistheirrelationshipswith
eachother,letaloneanyfamilyinthepresenttense.FollowingthisisafewpagesoftemplatesforminorNPCsaccordingto
professionandclass.
Therecommendedcampaign"HammerandTongs"startswiththePCscomingintoapparentlygoodfortuneinthecityandthen
discoveringwhatresponsibilitiesitwillallentail.Thereisastructureprovided,withfour"hardpoints"thatmustbecarriedoutin
sequenceandeleven"softpoints"thathavealittlemoreflexibilityandcanactassideplotstosomedegree.Despitestrong
recommendationsbeingprovidedofwhenthe"softpoints"shouldoccur,thebookisorderedwithallthehardpointsfirstandthen
thesoftpoints.Asforthescenariosthemselvestheyarecertainlyamixedbag.Asawholethereisaworkableandratherimpressive
storylinewherethePCsreallydohavetheopportunitytorisetoheroiclevels.Butsomeoftheindividualscenarios,includingthe
hardpoints,arejustterribleaswrittenwherethePCsaresimplythumpedseveraltimeswithanunsubtleplotdevicestickuntilthey
canonlygoinonedirection;theyreallyareamongthelaziestscenarioseverwritteninRPGs.

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TheSightsofFreiburg
TheSightsofFreiburggivesanimpressivebreakdownofthecityfromsomethirtygridreferenceswithdescriptionsofmanyofthe
majorinstitutionsandindividualsfromeachreference,coveringaboutoneandhalfpageseachwithhalfapagededicatedtoamap
ofthegridrefeenceandaquoteformalocal.Oneisalsoabletogetaroughideaofthesizeofthecityproperasaresultaround
15,000to20,000housedresidentsismyestimation.Thequotesdohaveadegreeofcharmaboutthemandthedescriptionsofthe
buildingsandindividualsisagreattreasuretroveofpotentialplotsandintrigues.WhereverthePCsfindthemselvesthereisastory
totellineachneighbourhood,andthereisevidentiallysomegenuineefforttocombinecharacterstoriestogether.
Thebiggestdisadvantageistheoneoftheadvantagesofthebookthegridreference.Whilsteasytotranslatefromthelargemapto
thebook,neighbourhoodsarebynomeanssotidyandaremoreboundbythenaturalandhumanmadeboundariesthatdevelop.
Strangelyhoweverforacitythathasnorulestheredoesseemtoagreatdealoftownplanningthathasgoneahead.Certainlyitisby
nomeansasorderedasonewouldexpectinourowncontemporarysociety,butfornotEuropeofthe17thcentury,thereisa
surprisinglyhighdegreeoforderthathascomeabout.Thisisofcoursehighlyimprobablygiventhepoliticsofthecity,but
thankfullysensibleincreatingalmostanidealqualityRestorationeracity.Thestreetsaremostlystraight,andthebuildingsizeand
structureisremarkablyuniformaccordingtoeachdistrict.Whilsttherearepoorareas,therearenoshantytownsassuch,orburnt
outdistricts.Perhapssomewhatdisappointingisthereisnomuchdiscussiononthesewersystem,ifoneexistsatall.
Overall
Freiburgisverymuchamixedproductthatleanstowardsbeingsomewhataboveaverageinmostrespects.Itisphysicallyquite
impressive,andwithgreatstyleandpresentation.Itreallydoesproviderichdetailofthevariousinhabitantsofthecityandwitha
diverserangeofpersonalitiesandmotivations.Thecampaignhasopportunitiesforexploringthiscityinsomedepth,andalso
providestheopportuntiesforPCstomakearealdifferenceandbegloriouslyheroic,whichisverymuchinthestyleof7thSea,even
ifsomeofthescenariosaswritarejustunacceptableintermsoftheplotdevicesproposed.
Finally,whilstitiseasytopokefunatthecontemporarylibertarianvoluntaryistassumptionsofthesetting,thepurposeismoreof
oneofdesignratherthanpolitics.Forallitsdetail,theFreiburgcampaignsetreallydoesn'tgrapplewiththedifficultquestionsof
howacityofthisnaturewouldoperate,simplyhandwavingtheissues.Ratherthanbeing"NoQuestions",asisthecity'sslogan,the
descriptionreallydoesleaveonewith"NoAnswers"whichmeansthattheGMhassomeseriousworkcutoutforthem.
Neverthelesswiththesecaveatsasstated,Freiburgisstronglyrecommendedandespeciallyforthosewhowantacityandlandbased
adventureof7thSea.
Style:1+.6(layout)+.7(art)+.6(coolness)+.7(readability)+.7(product)=4.3
Substance:1+.7(content)+.7(text)+.7(fun)+.4(workmanship)+.7(system)=4.2

Freiburg:AnElaboration
NoAnswers
The7thSeacampaignpackFreiburgisdescribedthusly:Fiveyear'sago,EisenfurstNicklausTragueestablishedanewkindof
city:onefreeofgovernance,laws,andoppression;onewereeveryonewaswelcome.Howeverthereisscantdetailintheboxedset
onhowsuchacityactuallyoperates.Workingthroughthesometwohundredpagesoftext,onediscoveresthefollowing:
*Traguecommisionedafewimportantbuildings;acityhall,anewcathedral,arestoredversionoftheSteinandthenretiredtothe
Wachtturmtowriteontologicaltreatises,drinkwine,andwatchwhathappens.
*Freiburghasnomayor,nogoverningcouncil,notaxes.Ithasverylittlemoneytopayfortheservicesthatothercitiestakefor
granted.
*Thereisacityguardwhichnominallyexiststoenforcethethreeorsopagesoflaws.Thereisnomoneytopaysalaries,sothey
receivecompensationfromlocalmerchantswhofinditadvantageoustohavesuchindividualsintheirpocket.Thecrimesofthecity
includemurder,arson,incitingariot,publicassault,engaginginslavery,andsedition.

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*TheHallofRecordstrackslandedpropertyownershiponly.
*WilmaProbst,thecityadministrator,handlesdiplomaticcontacts,nominallymanagesthecityguard,andmaintainsthecity
records.
*Residents,wherepossible,haveformedvolunteerfirebrigades,vigilantegroups,payforservicesoutoftheirownpocketsetc.
HistoricalExamples
Inthewayofhistoricalexamplesfromwhichonecandrawsome
ideasofhowFreiburgwouldfunction,therearemanynegative
examplesandfewpositiveones.Firstly,itmustberealisedthat
thisisasizeablepopulation,some15000peopleorso.Even
unincorporatedvillagessuchasMax,Nebraska,whichdoeshave
agoverningcommitteeofsortsfornecessities.More
promisingly,onecouldlookattheanarchistterritoriesinthe
easternUkraineduringtheRussianCivilWar,orinpartsof
Spain(e.g.,Catalonia,Aragon)duringtheSpanishCivilWar,or
theZapatistaAutonomousMunicipalitiesofMexico.Ofcourse,
thesearenotableashavingariseninthemidstofconflict,and
ratherthantheFreiburgstylepropertarianapproach,verymuch
operatefromcollectivepropertyownershipthatisdemocratically
managed.ThisisperhapsnotwhattheauthorsofFreiburghadin
mind.
SomethingthatisalotclosertowhatFreiburgwouldrealistically
enduplookinglikeistheKowloonWalledCityofHongKongin
thelate20thcentury.Theinformallygoverneddenselypopulated
settlementinHongKongwasclaimedbytheBritish,butnot
enforced.ChinaalsowishedtoclaimKowloon,butalsohadno
enforcementintheregion.Populatedbyvarioussquatters(rather
likeFreiburg),itbecameahavenforcriminaltongs,which
largelyleft"normalpeople"goabouttheirbusiness.Power,
apparently,abhorsavacuum.Ifthereisnoformalgovernment
overaterritory,aninformalonewilltakeitsplace.Wherethere
isnodefiniteinformalgovernmentoveraterritory,awarresults
(e.g.,suchastheconflictbetweenthevariousSomaliawarlords).
Thenatureandcharacterofthatinformalgovernmentmaynotasbeastransparentasonewhichhaspubliccodification,butitwill
bejustasreal.
GatedCommunities
Anotheralternativeisthatvariouscommunitiesbecome"gatedcommunities",eachwiththeirownenforcementmeasuresandlinked
byaverythinglueoflawlessness.Thiscertainlyfitsthepropertarianmodelandcanprovideaveryinterestingandchallenging
settingfortheplayercharacters.Whenexpressedinthismannerthevariousneighbourhoodsareeffectivelyunderthecontrolofthe
landownersoracollectiveoflandownerswhowillusetheireconomicrenttofundenforcementagenciesand,insomecases,provide
publicworks.TheabsoluteminimumoverallgovernanceprovidedbytheCityGuardandtheHallofRecordsforthecollective
interestsofthelandlordclass.
ThestrongestforceinthecityisclearlyRedmundErhart,whomakeshiswealththrougheconomicrentandmonetaryinterest.Itis
notsurprisingthatheistheonlymoneyBygoingthrough"TheSightsofFreiburg"bookonecandiscernpossiblealternatives,
whichcanbethorouhglyconfusingasthereareindividualowners,pettyneighbourhoodlandlords,andcitywidepowers.For
example,thepowersintheShadesuburbarecertainlyFatherWeissel,GertrudEisler,JankoPfeiffer,RainerGershandandtoa
lesserextent,OrlandoFischerandWaldoHuber.Betweenthemtheywouldprovideprovidefromtherentalincome(afterextracting
ahealthymarginfortheirownluxury)variouscollectiveservices.

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Someimmediatepracticaleffectsofsuchanarrangementshouldbeevident.Evenmoresothatsocietieswheretheenforcementof
lawsisdistortedbyinequalitiesinwealthandincome,inFreiburgenforcementisdependentonwealthandincome.Itisnotsomuch
aquestionoflawenforcementasanauction;"surelythiscanbefixedbyanonthespotfine?"maybeoneofthecommonphrases
heard.Itisabsolutelycertainthatthosewhoarepayingtheconstabularyarenotgoingtosubjecttotheirjudgementinanynegative
sense.
Anothereffectisthatprivateviolencewillbecommon.ThecollectiveinterestexpressedbythefewlawsFreiburgisthatpublic
violenceandassaultisprohibitedand,dependingonwhocarrieditout,willbedealtwith.Withinthewallsoftheprivategathering
orindomesticsituationsviolencewillbedepressinglycommon;skeletonintheclosethasneverbeensotrue.Further,whoistosay
whereanassaultoccuredwheresuchadistinctionhappens?Aknifeinanalleyway,abodydraggedintoastable;"Itmusthavebeen
aprivatedispute".
Freiburgisacityofpublicpovertyforthemajorityandgreatwealthforthefewlandownerswhowillextractrackrent.Thereis
closetozerofundsavailableforpublicinfrastructure,suchaslitter(andattendentpublichealth),fires,publicroads,drainage,
sewerage.Theassumptionthatsomehowcivilianswillbandtogethertoprovidecommonfeesvoluntarilyismostcertainlyamyth
subjecttothefreeriderproblem(oneonlyhastovisitcitieswheresuchasituationexists).Itismorelikelythatifpublic
infrastructureisprovideditwillenforcedaspartoftherentalsystem.
AsthestandardplotofFreiburgunfoldsitisprobablethattheplayercharaterswillconfronttheexistinglandlordsandthealliesin
expropriation.Iftheysucceedmembersoftheneighbourhoodmaycometothemseekingfurtherprotection.Inadvertently,theywill
becomeyetanotherprotectionracket.Howtheycarryoutsuchpowerandresponsibilitycanbeamajorthemeofthecampaign,and
onewhichislittleexploredintheplotandpresented.

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THELIFEOFAPYRATE
byJakeThePeg
Youoffer"Rum,Sodomy,andtheLash",eh?
WheredoIsign?
"Thelawoftheseaisthelawforme,seafaring
pedophile.Withnolawatall,I'llbehavingaball,
seafaringpedophile!".ThatRolfHarris,hebean
amateur.
Soyebewantingtobecomeapirate,eh?Maybe
yearetiredfromallthosekingsandgeneralswho
tellyou,theCatholic,tokillyourfriendbecause
he'saProtestant?Maybeyebeaslavethat's
escaped?Ormaybeyouarearobber,orwantto
becomerichaneasyway?Maybeyethinkyoucan
bandtogetherwithfreemen?Well,it'snotaseasy
asyemaythink.Mostlikelyyealreadybe
captured,mayhapyouwerepressedintoanother
ship,eh?Gototheinnforaquietdrinkandnext
thingyouknow,youwakeupwithasplitting
headacheworkingonaship.Well,thenyouwas
capturedbyus,andnowyouhavethelifeofa
pyrate.Congratulations,haha.
Manythinkthatthelifeofpyrateissomesortof
freeassociation.Well,it'strueinsomecases,sort
of.Sometimestherearerules,calledArticles,that
determinethedivisionofspoilsandbehaviour,andtheyapplytoallandequally,eventhecaptain,sometimes.Yemayevengetto
voteonthecaptain,andtherunnerupwillbethequartermaster.Butonothershipsthecaptainrulesworsethananymonarch.Ifhe
don'tlikeye,yebefloggedifyebelucky.Ormaybesoldasaslaveatthenextportifyehaveausefultrade.Butmostofthetime,a
pirateshipisfoundedontwobasictruths.Thefirstisifusdon'trob,therebenomoneyforus.Thesecondbeing,iftheycatchus,us
willallbehanged.That'susuallyenoughmotivationtokeepusallshipshape.
Nowweknowwhobeincharge.Thenextbeyourquarters.Glorioustheyare!Lotsofsweatymencrowdedtogetheronarotting
lumpo'wood.Soyelikethat,eh?Freshwaterisaluxury;beerandrumisbetterforyeanyways.Thefoodismostlyhardtackitbe
madefromwater,flour,andlard,andsaltedmeatandnotmuchofit.Therebenofatpyrates,butplentywhoarehalfstarved,with
aleanandhungrylook.Thedamnratsseemtolikeourfoodtho',theybeeverywhere.Thenthereisthebilge.Wateralwaysseeps
intoaship,evenifshebetighterthanthearseofanewlyordainednun,andIshouldknow.Theydon'tcallmeJake"thepeg"for
nothing,haha.Butthebilge,itfillupwithwater,andthatwaterbeginstorotthewood.Soeveryshiphaspumpstogetridofit,forit
willsmellmostterribleandeventuallysinktheship.You'llneverforgetit.Anddon'tmovethat!Everythingherehasitsplace,
carefullyallocatedtokeeptheshipbalanced.Ifyouhavethecallofnature,gotothebow.Wehaveniceholestherewhereyousquat
anddeliveryegoodstoNeptune.
Rememberthiswhenwefindafatmerchantladenwithgoldandothervaluable.Uspyrateswinbecausewearesneaky,fast,and
normalfolkbeabsolutelyterrifiedofus.Usuallythemerchantornavyquiteoutnumberus;biggerboats,moremen,andmore
cannon.Sosneakupthem,bestatsunsetordawn,takethembytheboworstern,sothemcannonscannotturnonus.There'sa
fearsomereputationgiventous,sowegiveasignal,theblackflag,andletthemknowthatiftheyresist,we'llkillthemall.Alotof
thetimeit'sallthat'sneeded,mostcrewonamerchantshipwon'tlaydowntheirlives.Butiftherebeafight,kill'em,yehear?
Whenthemsurrender,justtortureacoupleandthenputtherestonaboatorisland.Ourfearsomereputationisdeserved!
Inafightyemaygethurt.MayhapourArticlesgiveyesomeextragoldorsilver,yeknowlikeinsurance.Itbeadangerousjob!So
yebehurtandinalotofpain.Wellmanup,becauseitlooklikethemmerchantpistoleshavedoneyeleg.Shattereditis,we'lldig

109RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

outtheshot.No,thereisnorealknowledgeofinfection.Butusknowthatfleshlikethatwillgonecrotic.Sousgoingtochopyeleg
off.Ashotofrumwillsteadyyournerves,butnotsaveyefromthepain.Butdon'tworry,ushasthebestsurgeoncarpenter
availableontheship.He'lltakeyelegoffinonlyfiveminuteswithhissaw.Ifyedon'tdiefromtheshockorthebleeding,he'llgive
yeahaircut!Hahaha.
Stopyecomplaining.Yebelucky,atleastyenothaveshotinthetorso,thatalmostalwayskills.Theonlyquestionishowlongit
takebeforethechillhando'deathreachesyeandhowmuchpainyehaveinthetimereamining.Mayhapifyebefat,thebulletnot
puncturetoofaranditwillworkitselfout,butasIsaid,therebenofatpyrates.Tobefairtho',yecouldhavebeenluckier.Ifye
bonesnotbefracturedthentherewouldbenoamputation."Afleshwound",theysay.Uscanjustdigthebulletout,sewupthe
wound,andbandageyeup.Whoknows?Maybeyegetbetterfromit.
Whatelsecanailyeinthislife?Plenty,byGod!Uspyratesliveinfilth.Apartfromthethoseratswhocangiveyeawickedbite
thancausethefever,therebeenoughlice,fleas,andtickstomakeastewoutof'em.Thescabieswillgiveyetheitchandsometimes
yescratchsomuchitbecometheboils.Thentherebefevers,liketyphoidandtyphus,notthesamething.ThereisalsotheGreat
Pox,whichyegetfromwhoringandsendyemoremadthanyealreadybe,andtheSmallPox,whichturnyebodyintoexploding
blisters.Yemayevenacquirethemalaria,orwhattheSpanishcallvomitonegroorwhatweEnglishcallyellowfever.Everyonewill
havesomeofthat,mostofyewillsurvive.Thentheremaybeanoutbreakoftheconsumption,whichyemoderntypescall
'tuberculosis'.Highlycontagiousandfatal,thedevilhimselfmusthavebrewedthatone.Thenthere'sthegripes,whichyecall
plainol'foodpoisoning,whichuscanproviderlavenderwater.That'llfixit,eh?Moreseriousistheflux,whichyecalldysentery,
andcauseyetoshitlikewaterandbleedfromthearse.
Andeveryonehasthescurvy.Yebleedfromthegums?Yebreathisfoul?Whyyebeapyrate!
Thebesttreatmentushaveforallthisisbleeding.Yesee,HippocratesandGalenbothsaidthatdiseaseisanimbalanceofthe
humours,andyeknowtheAncientswereperfectinallmattersofmedicine.Itisusuallybloodthatgooutofbalance,sothatbewhy
usdothebleeding.Ifusdon'thaveleechesonboard,usjustlanceavein.Sometimestho'itmaybeadifferenthumour;soweinduce
vomit,uriniation,ordiarrhea,ormaybegiveyeanenema.Anythingtogettheoverflowofthemimbalancedhumoursoutofye
body!
Fromtheplunderyemayacquireallsortsofcoin.TheSpanishhave
silverrealesandgoldescudo.Thefamous"pieceofeight"iswortheight
reales,see?Butwecall'em"peso".Eachrealehasoneeightofanounce
ofsilver,andeachonzaescuado,oneounceofgold.Ifyewanttoknow
whatthatisworthinshillingsandpounds,theshillingithasonlyone
twentiethofanounce,andtwentyshillingsisonepound.SotheEnglish
poundisonlyanounceofsilver.WhythefamoustreasureofCaptain
KiddbefoundinashipwreckoffthecoastofMadagascaryesay?There
be1750ouncesofsilverinasinglebar?Notquiteasgrandasthe
Wydah.Shesankcarryingthebootyoffiftyships,morethantentimes
thatamount.
NowIknowyebethinkingIfJakebesuchagoodpyrate,wherebehis
parrot?Well,thesimplefactisthatmanyfilthyrichpeoplehavetaken
anmosteccentrichobbyofhavingstrangeanimalsandthestrangerthe
better.Atalkingparrotisworthsomegoodgoldamongsuchpeople,or
maybeevenamonkey,althoughtheparrotbeeasierkept.Ontheship
though,usdokeepacattokeeptheratpopulationdown,andevensome
huntingdogsforwhenusgoashore.Thecatbegoodlucktoo,soitbest
behaveatleastone.Butdon'tletanyonewhohasthenameJonahon
board.ItsaysrighthereintheHolyScripturesthatsuchpeoplebring
badlucktoaship.
Yesaythatpyratesbeasuperstitiouslot,butitbeforgoodreason.Life
ontheseaisfullofhiddenandunexpecteddangersandushavenot
exploredthebottomofDaveyJones'slocker,haha.Letmetellyesome
ofthemonstersthatyemustcertainlywillfindinthedeep.Firsttherebe
thelucsa,agiantoctopusthatbealmost25yardslongandwithamouth

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likeagreatshark.ItliveintheCaribbeanamongtheatollsandreefs.ThentherebetheKraken,whichislikethelucsabutyeseeis
fromthefarnorthintheGreenlandandNorwegianSea.YemustalsobeawareoftheLeatherbackinthesameregion,itlooklikean
skerryislandcoveredinheather.Butittrulyamaliciouswhalethatwilldiveanddrownyeallonceyouhavealighteduponit.Then
itwilleatyou,obviously.Itisadangerousplacetheseoceans,foritisalsothehomeofthegreatseaserpent.Notmuchmoreneed
besaidaboutthatmonster;IwillletOlausMagnusexplain.
"ThosewhosailupalongthecoastofNorwaytotradeortofish,alltelltheremarkablestoryofhowaserpentoffearsomesize,200
feetlongand20feetwide,residesinriftsandcavesoutsideBergen.Onbrightsummernightsthisserpentleavesthecavestoeat
calves,lambsandpigs,oritfaresouttotheseaandfeedsonseanettles,crabsandsimilarmarineanimals."
NowIprefertheislandsoftheCaribbean,butushaveourownmonstershere.InTrinidadthereisaterriblewoman,"LaDiablesse"
whowasbornawomanbutdiddealwiththedevil.Sheappearsbeautiful,butkeepherhideousfacehiddenandhaveaclovenhoof.
Shewillenchantmenwithherhoneyedandofferthemallsortsoffavours.Whentheyfollowherintotheforest,theyarelostand
nevertoreturn.Yeshouldalsobefearfulofthesoucouyant,anoldwomanbyday,abloodsuckingfireballbynight.Andthenthere
isthelagahoowholikethewerewolfchangesshapeinthenightwithmalice.Andifyeencounteragreatmanwithabeardofleaves
thenthatisPapaBois,themasterofthewoods.Beyepolitetohim,andstarenotathishooves.
Anddon'tletmegetstartedonTheFlyingDutchman.
ButtherebeonefinalmyththatIdowanttoclearupforye.Thatbethepyratelanguage.Usdon'tsayarrr,forthatbeaninvention
ofyefilmindustry.ButwedospeakinarchaicandworkingclassEnglishfromtheseventeenthcentury.Whichbesomewhatlike
Shakespeare,Idosuppose.AlsoushavemanywordsthatustakefromtheFrench,theSpanish,theDutchandevenfromtheCarib
andTainopeople.
Sothereyehaveit.Doyestillwanttobeapyrate?Ifso,comeclosertome.I'llkeepyewarm,cabinboy.

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THAIINFLUENCESINGAMANDRIA
byBrendanDavies
SertoriusissetintheworldofGamandria,aplacethatdrawsonmanyhistoricalculturesfamiliartofantasyfans.Most
notablytheancientMediterraneancultures.Butthereareotherinfluencesaswellandsomeofthestrongestarethe
earlyThaikingdomsofSukhothaiandAyutthaya.

The earliest civilization in Gamandria, Nong Sai, draws from Thai history and myth. It is a fusion of the early
kingdomsandtheThaiversionoftheRamayana,calledRamakien.ThisisthebasisofGamandrianhistory.NongSai
wasapowerfulclusterofOgrekingdoms,occasionallyunitedbyasinglerulerandalwaysatwarwithAnumar,arival
powerinthewest.Thetwowouldclashinbrutalconflictsfightingalongsidetheirrespectivegods,SengaandLorgo.
NongSaiwasassistedbyelvenslaves,whowerespecificallycreatedtoservethekingdoms.Howevertheelveswere
releasedbythebenevolenceofSengaandthisspreadtheculturefurthertothesouthwest.Intheend,NongSaiwas
destroyedwhenitslastkingstoleSenga'spower,killingthegodandcreatingSertori.Thisunleashedthewrathofthe
othergodswhopulverizedNongSaiandcursedtheOgres.
MostofthepresentdayculturesinGamandriaaresurroundedbyNongSairuins.Manybuildtheircitiesontopof
them, incorporating the ancient architecture into their own designs. The language of Nong Sai, Singh, remains
influentialandmostpeoplespeakitinbitsandpieces.Theelvescarryonandinsomecasesdeliberatelyresurrect
elements of Nong Sai culture. The Ogres who are cursed to wander, also continue the traditions of their great
civilization.

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Chambar for example isa place where theoriginal settlers tried torestore oldNong Sai customs.The entryfor
Chambargoesintosomedetailaboutgovernmentstructureandsociety,whilethespecifictitlesaresomewhatdifferent
duetotheuniquehistoryoftheelves,muchofitwasinspiredbythekingdomofLanNaandthecityofChiangMai.
ButevenElvenplacesandculturesthatarelessspecificallybasedonhistoricalThaistateswereinfluencedbyaspects
ofThaihistory.Khata,MandaruandPhuKao,becausetheywereformedthroughtheElvendiasporafromNongSai,
allhavequalitiesbasedonearlyThaihistory.Thisisntallthatdefinesthemofcourse.Thereareotherelementsas
well.ButtheThaiisclearlydiscernable.
Anditisn'tonlytheOgresorelveswhocontinueNongSaiTraditions.Thehumanslivinginelveninfluencedregions
haveadoptedthewaysofNongSai.ThisismostnotableinKhataandthesurroundingareas.Belowtheimageofthe
OgrechieftainisahumanbeingcrownedqueeninacitywithinthesphereofKhata'sinfluence.
Perhaps most importantly though, because Nong Sai was such a widespread influence, its language became our
commontongue.SoallcharactersinGamandriahaveasinglerankinthelanguageSingh(whichisreallyjustour
fantasyversionofThai).
WhendesigningtheGamandriansettingIwasinspiredbymanydifferentThaisources.Forthemyth,Imainlytook
inspirationfromtempleartandfromoralretellingsofRamakienthatIencounteredwhenIworkedataThairestaurant.
ButIalsousedtranslationsofepicpoemsthatinspiredme.OnethatIquiteenjoyedistheIsanfolktalePhadaengNang
AitranslatedbyWajuppaTossa.ForhistoryIfoundbothChrisBaker'sAHistoryofThailandandDavidK.Wyatt's
Thailand:AShortHistorytobeuseful.
AnotherhelpfulresourcewasabookcalledSouthEastAsia:LanguagesandLiteratures,aselectguide(Herbertand
Milner). Thaimovies,musicandtelevisionshowsalsoprovidedsomeinspiration.Ihaveaparticularfondnessfor
TonyJaafilms,butmovieslikeKingdomofWarwerealsoaninfluence.

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VisuallySertoriusowesalottoThaiartwork.IfyoulookattheimagesofOgresintheSertoriusrulebook,theThai
influence is pretty apparent. In the above illustration of the Ogre King killing Senga, the backdrop is based on
Sukhothaitemples.TheclothingisbasedonThaidesignandthemagicsymbolsfloatingaroundSengawereinspired
byThaigoldleafimages.PresentdayOgrechieftainsinGamandriawearcrownsbasedontheThaichada(seethe
illustrationbelow).
So ultimately the Thai inspiration didnt just serve as ornament to the setting, it was very much the base and
foundation.
Originalarticle:
http://thebedrockblog.blogspot.com/2014/07/sertoriusthaiinfluencesingamandria.html
SertoriusPage:http://www.bedrockgames.net/untitled1.html

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SOMETHOUGHTSONTHEWHEELOFTIME
byNickLangdon
ItwasinlateJanuary2000thatIembarkeduponRobertJordan'sTheEyeoftheWorldamillennialbeginningtoa
millennialepicandIfinishedtheconcludingvolume,AMemoryofLight,thisFebruary.Thismeansthatthe14
bookshavetakenmealmostexactly15yearstoread,literallyhalfalifetimeinmycase,andthereforeIbelievesome
reflectingisdue.AfterthislongIfeelIhaveearnedtheright,andastributetoMrJordanI'msettingoutuponthisessay
onlyhavingavagueideaofhowI'mgoingtogettomyconclusionandI'llprobablyendupwafflingonforfarlonger
thanIshouldandtestingyourpatience,buthey,allWheelofTimefansshouldbeaccustomedtosuchthingsbynow.
Theseriesbegins,asthesesortoftalesalmostalwaysdo,withTheHero'sJourney.Havingoverthepastfewyears
upgradedmyselftoalmostfulltimereadingofliteraryfiction,thisparticulartropeofcontemporaryepicfantasyis
probablytheoneImissleast.Youknowhowitgoes,aboyoryoungman(occasionallyagirl,butnotoften)growsup
inobscurity(wretchedpovertyandabusivechildhoodsarealsooptions),usuallyunawareofhisrealparentage.Heis
thenfoundbyawiseolderpersonwhobecomeshismentor,thismentorthenrevealsthatheisthechosenonewho
mustsavetheworldorgalaxy.Throughtraininghelearnsheretoforeunknowngreatpowers,andalongwithhis
trustworthycompanionssurvivesmanytrialsandmuchsufferingwhichmayormaynotincludedyingandbeing
reborn.Eventuallyhewillhavetoconfrontanddefeattheeviloneorevilforcesthreateningtooverwhelmeveryonehe
loves,andthere'susuallyaweddingtosomesortofprincessthrowninsomewhere.Naturally,you'realreadythinking,
"Hey,thatsoundsliketheplotofTheLordoftheRings/StarWars/HarryPotter/TheMatrixetc"andyouwouldbe
correct.
RJclaimedthathedeliberatelycraftedthe
openingtoTheEyeoftheWorldtobe
reminiscentofJ.R.R.Tolkien'sTheLordofthe
Rings,buttomyself,andmanyotherreaders,
someofthosehomageslookmorelike
knockoffs.Towit:attheendoftheThirdAgeas
adarklordregainshisstrength,awizardlike
characterbringsfouryoungpeoplefromtheir
ruralidylfamedforitsproductionoftobaccointo
adangerousworldofbeastmenbredduringa
longagowarbypervertedscience,anunhasty
raceofnaturelovinggiantsandamysterious
creaturethatstalksthemontheirquest.Said
questinvolvestravelsthroughexoticlands,a
breakingofthefellowshipaftersomeofits
membersarekidnappedplus,ofcourse,the
obligatoryundergroundjourney.Notsayingit's
terrible,justderivative(althoughachargethatis
bynomeansuniquetoJordan).
Thankfully,followup,TheGreatHuntisa
markedimprovement.Morecharacters'
perspectivesareadded,mostoftheobvious
TolkienparallelsaredroppedandtheAesSedai
trainingpassagesaresomeofmyfavouritesin

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theseries.PerhapsTheWheelofTime'sgreateststrengthasaworkofimaginativefictionisitsmagicsystem;inmost
otherfantasyseriesthemagicoftenfeelsperfunctory,somethingtheauthorchucksinmorebecausetheyfeeltheyhave
toratherthanbecausetheyhaveanewspinonit.Ratherthanbeingunbelievablymagical,Jordan'sOnePowerseems
atangibleforceintheuniverse,almostscientificratherthanritualisticorreligiousinitsrulesandapplication,yetstill
undeniablynuminous.
Afterthebridgingvolume,TheDragonReborn(whichexistsmostlytosetupthenextphaseofthestory),the
subsequentthreebooks,TheShadowRising,TheFiresofHeaven
andLordofChaosformboththemiddlesectionoftheseriesand
alsocontainitsstrongestwriting.ThejourneythroughtheAiel
Wasterevealsmuchmoreofthehistoryoftheworld,Mat
becomesacharacterofsignificance,andingeneralshitgetsreal,
especiallyatCairhienandDumai'sWells.Yes,thebooksare
longerthanever(LordofChaosisover1000pagesinpaperback),
butthingshappeninthem,interestingthingstopeopleyouhave
cometocareabout.
UnfortunatelythesamecannotbesaidforthenextFIVEvolumes.
NowImustclarifythatIamnotaxiomaticallyopposedtoeither
longnovels/seriesnorlargecasts.GeorgeR.R.Martin'sASongof
IceandFirehasmorethanathousandnamedcharacterswithstill
twobookstogo,butMartinhasmoreskillatmanipulatingall
theseplotlinesintoapropulsivenarrative(althoughevenhe
seemstobestrugglingoverthecourseofthelatesttwovolumes).
FromACrownofSwordsonwardstheactionalmostseizesupas
storythreadswanderthroughmultiplebookswithouteverseeming
tobeadvancingtowardsanysortofconclusion.Charactersare
stuckinEbouDartalkingtoboringpeople,lurkinginSalidar
grimacingatthoseholedupinTarValonandviceversa,or
spendingfartoolongbeingheldprisonerorinabloodytravelling
circusdoinghighwireacts.Theoccasionalmomentofrealaction
nolongermakesupforthethousandsofpageswherenothingof
anyrealconsequenceisoccurring.Evenconsultingsummariesof
ThePathofDaggersandWinter'sHeartinordertowritethishas
merecallingonlyahandfulofincidents,therestwasjustablurof
repetition,snowandsoporificAesSedaisquabbling.
ThisisnottoimplythatmyissueswithTheWheelofTimebeginonlyatvolume7.Inadditiontoadheringalltoo
closelytothehero'sjourneyarchetype,onecannotoverlookJordan'stediousbuteverpresentgenderpolitics.While
occasionallyhehitsuponsomethingoriginal,suchasintheobviousyetuniquesexualallegorythatisthemale/female
divisionanduseoftheOnePower,forthemostpartthisconsistsofanendlessandimmatureMenarefromSeanchan,
womenarefromSharabattleofthesexessniping,andfromalmosteverydamncharacter!Whichleadstoanother
complaintofmine:theverythincharacterisationondisplay.Eventheprincipalactorsintheseriesoftenseemmorea
collectionofcatchphrasesandmannerismsthanbelievablepeople,andtheiremotionaldevelopmentisminimaltozero.
Irealisethatmostofthemaincharactersarequiteyoung,buttheyshouldbechangedfarmorebytheiramazing(and
oftentraumatic)experiences.
SpeakingoftheSeanchan,manyconsiderthembothirritatingandsuperfluoustothegreaterstory,butIactuallydon't
mindthem.IfindthegeostrategicthreattheyposetothenationsofRandlandandtheAielintriguing,asdifferentways

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ofpoliticalandculturalthinkingcausingfrictionisaproblemthatbedevilsrealworldleaders,andthereareoftenno
easyanswers,onlymessycompromises.AlsotheSeanchanculture,whileheavilyinspiredbyimperialChinaand
feudalJapan,ismoreinterestingthanthealltoofamiliarWardourStreetversionoftheMiddleAgesthatisthe
standardcurrencyinmostfantasynovels.Jordan'sdecisiontoaddtothisanalmostVictorianeraesqcultureand
moralityalongwithagreaterleveloffemaleempowermenthaspotential,butasmentionedabove,hischaracters'
mostlyinterchangeabledialogueandmonologuerapidlyhaveyouwishingforsomething,anythingelse.
Anyway,backtothesummary.AftertheseriesreacheditsnadirwiththeinterminableandinertCrossroadsofTwilight,
evenRobertJordanfinallyrecoveredfromhisnarrativetorpor,andinKnifeofDreamsthingsstartedtogetgoing
again,albeitstillfartooslowly.Howeverwhileworkingonwastobethetwelfthandfinalvolumein2007,MrJordan
passedaway,leavingsomecompletedscenes,descriptivenotesanddictationsofwhatwastobecometheconclusionto
hislife'smajorwork.Enterfellowfantasyauthorandreplacement,BrandonSanderson,who,whileactuallymanaging
tofinishthething,regrettablyboughtwithhimhisownweaknesses.
Whilethestoryitselfwasindireneedofanimmediateadrenalininjectionfollowedbynarrativetriage,Sanderson's
greatestchallengewasactuallythewriting.UnlikefilmsorTVserieswhich,evenifcreditedtoasinglecreator,are
alwayscollaborativeefforts,anovelremains,evenwitheditorialassistantsandproofreaders,anindividual'spersonal
visionwrittenintheirsingularvoice.ForallmycomplaintsaboutthesingularvoiceofRJ,unfortunatelythequalityof
writinginthelastthreebooksfellbeloweventhisstandard.Therewasadulledsenseofemotion,majoreventsjust
didn'tresonatethewaytheyshouldhave,andsomecharactersbehavedinmannersatoddswithhowtheyhad
previously.ForallthestreamliningandpaceSandersonbrought,attimeshisprosefeltmorelikeWheelofTimefan
fictionthanWWRJD.PerhapsthiswasinevitableandI'mbeingtooharsh,butgivenhisstatusasanberfanofthe
series,apublishedauthorinhisownrightandoperatingunderthetutelageofJordan'seditorialteam,IguessIexpected
better.Hestatedexplicitlythathewasn'ttryingtoapeRJ'sstyle,butinsomanycasesdidjustthat,howeverasmydad
alwayssays,consistency,thouartajewel.
Andwhilewe'reonthelanguagekick,longtimeWheelofTimereadersbecameresignedtoJordan'sweirdrepetitions,
whatwithallthosewoolheadedmenexclaimingLight!whilethewomensniffedandcrossedtheirarmsbeneaththeir
breastsasNynaevetuggedonherbraid....Sandersoncarriedonthiswaytooaswellaswithfartoomanyinstancesof
boringclicheslikehisfacehardenedorherexpressiondarkened.BSalsocontributedsomeregrettablemodern
phrasesthatjarredwiththefantasyworld,wordssuchascrazyanddoctorinsteadof,say,madandhealer.
Also,beingayoungercitizenoftheUnitedStates,hedoesn'tseemtorealiseeveryoneelsedoesn'tspeakAmerican,so
can'tseemtounderstandwhywordsliketwisterandstompeddonotworkinafantasycontext.USwritersfroma
perviousgeneration,suchasRobertJordanandGeorgeR.R.Martindo,whichiswhytheirworkismostlyfreeofsuch
stylisticinfidelities,butwithSandersonyou'realwayshalfexpectingtorunacrosssentenceslike:AndPerrinsaid,
'Awesome!'.
I'mnowgoingtodiscussinsomedetailthefinalbooks,sothespoilerphaserthathaspreviouslybeensetonstunis
nowredlinedallthewaytokillwithfireforthenextsixparagraphs,soconsideryeselveswarned.TheGathering
StormresolvedseverallongandtediousplotstrandsincludingFaile'scapture,LewsTherin'slessthanpositive
influenceonRand'spsycheandthesplitintheWhiteTower/BlackAjahconspiracy,andabouttimetoo.Theseries
alwayslabouredunderitssomewhatawkwardstructurewherebytheendingwasforetoldatthebeginning;fromthe
firstbookit'sobviousthatRandistheDragonRebornandwillfighttheDarkOneatTarmonGai'don,thereforethe
qualityofthereadbecomesgreatlydependentonunforeseenplotdevelopmentsandtwistsbeforetheinevitable
conclusion.VerinbeingrevealedasBlackAjahwasoneoftheincreasinglyraresurprises.
Havingwrappedupmostofthelooseends,TowersofMidnightbegansettingupthebigfinishwewerepromisedohso
manyyearsandbooksago.Rand'squasiapotheosishashimbecomeamixtureofJesusandShivaDestroyerofWorlds,

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whileMorainemakesanotentirelywelcomereentrance(anotherannoyingtropeoffantasyandsciencefictionisthat
hardlyanyoneeverreallydies,andwiththepossibilityofresurrectioneverpresentthestakesareloweredwhenever
charactersbecomeimperilled).Asthisthenseguesintothefinalvolume,AMemoryofLight,wealsogetquiteabitof
Asha'manpolitics,moreDarkfriends,andyetmorenotparticularlyinterestingcharacters.Afterbeingmostlyoffpage,
theBlackTowerarccomestoolateandtoothicklyformytaste,andithappeningjustwhenalltheequivalentWhite
Towershenaniganswaswindingupmakesitespeciallydifficulttowarmto.IlikeLogainasacharacterandTaimisa
qualityvillain,butfeelthataftervolume6thewholeBlackTowersubplotwasn'tgiventhetimeandspaceitdeserved.
Elsewhereinthefinalbook,havingsaidIappreciatedanotherpoliticalangle,theSeanchan,Imustnowcounterthat
withbysayingthattheDragonReborn'splanofsettinguphisversionoftheUnitedNationsofRandlandwiththeAiel
actingaspeacekeepersmakesnosense,andinfactsuggestseitherlazywritingorthatthecombinedeffortsLews
TherinandtheDarkOne'staintonSaidarmayhaveerodedcrucialpartsofRand'smind.Itcomesacrosslikea
hypotheticalsomeignorantnovicefromthebackwoodsofTearanglingforacareerintheGreyAjahwouldinvent.The
conceptofanentitysupranationalbodywithauthoritythat,incertaininstances,usurpssovereigncontrolandthrough
whichinterstateconflictsareadjudicatedistoogreatastretchformostdenizensofTHISworld,letaloneafantasyone
wherethenativesseemevenmorepronetoargumentthanhumannature(alreadyapricklycreature)wouldotherwise
suggest.JustlookattheoppositiontotheUN/EU/IMFetc.
TarmonGai'donitselfis,forthemostpart,deftlyhandled,evenifwenevergotourthreeheroesfromEmond'sField
standingtogetherandfightingasonewhichmostlongtermfansoftheseriessortofexpectedwouldfeatureinits
conclusion.Thecuttingbetweenthepointsofviewwaswellbalanced,itwasnicetoseeallthefamiliarfacesonelast
time,andwhilethereprobablyshouldhavebeensomemoredeathsofmajorcharacters,theoneswhodosnuffitmostly
gooutinstyle.Thatbeingsaid,therearestillproblems.Tuon'sprevaricatingisevenmoreannoyingthansheusuallyis
becauseit'sobviousthatMat,notElayne,willeventuallybedirectingTheLastBattle,andsoitproves,makingthe
delaysostupidlypointlessthatyoufeelPeterJacksonmusthavesomehowbeeninvolved.ThefactthatPerrinspent
mostofsaidbattleinbedafterplayinghideandseekwithSlayerwasalsodisappointingandRand'spersonalstruggle
withtheShai'tanunderwhelmed.Thetimedilationwasausefulplotdevice,buttheircapslockshoutingmatchand
competitivespeculativefictionscenariosdidn'tquiteadduptotheageendingRagnarkwe'danticipated.
I'malsonothappyabouttheSharanangle.HavingreadTheWorldofRobertJordan'sTheWheelofTimeIwas
familiarwiththemandhadbeenhopingthey'dshowup,butcan'thelpwonderingwhy,evendespitetheirfamous
hostilitytooutsiders,neithertheWhiteorBlackTowersentemissariesthere(orperhapsabitoftheoldta'verenaction
couldhavebroughtthemround?)evenwhenitwasknowntheLastBattlewasintheoffing.Andthey'reignorantofthe
propheciessurroundingtheDragonRebornthateveryothercultureintheworldseemstopossessyettheyhavetheir
ownwackyonewhichDemandreadcanexploit,orwasBaotheWyldsupposedtomeanRand?Evenifthereare
goodanswertothesequestions,whyweren'ttheyinthebook?Don'tsaytherewasn'tspacebecausetheretotallywas,it
wasjustwastedwithotherguff.
AswithMoraine'snondeath,thefinalendingis,tome,somethingofasellout.IknowthatJordanapparentlywroteit
whilestillalive,butthefactRanddoesn'tdielowersthestakesofhissacrificetopracticallynothing.Itjustseemslikea
copoutinordernottodisappointhisthreesisterwives(Ibetthey'dlovethatconceptinUtah)andtheiroffspring.Plus,
withnorealexplanation,hecannolongerchannelbutseemstobeabletoeffortlesslymanipulatethePatterntohis
will.Whatishenow,awizard?TheCreator'sonlysonsentdowntoredeemmankindbydyingandbeingrebornafter3
days?IknowJordanwasanEpiscopalian,butlikeallqualityfantasyauthorshe'dworkedoutthatthespiritualnever
reallyliescomfortablyalongsidethemagical,sosacrificedtheformerfortheconvenienceofthelatter.Well,Imeanhe
triedtohavesomesortofspirituality,butputitthisway;throughouttheseriestheWhitecloakswerethebadguys,and
ifthePatternoftheWheelwoveRandasthereincarnationofLewsTherinthentheCreatordidn'tdoshit.

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WereBirgittehereshewouldnodoubtadmonishmeforpreachinglikeaTovanCouncillor,butyoudon'tspend15
yearswithsomethingwithoutformingafewopinionsonit,soyou'rewelcome.Anybattlehardenedveteranswhohave
madeitthroughbothTheWheelofTimeandthisessay/rant(Inowhavetheendingwritten,Ipromise!)willmost
likelysharemystronglymixedfeelingsabouttheseriesasawhole.Apowerfulworkoftheimagination,itverymuch
improvedupontheDavidEddings/RaymondE.FeistmodelofpostTolkein,postAD&Dmodernepicfantasy,laying
thegroundwork,inasense,forother,deeperworks,suchasGeorgeR.R.Martin'sASongofIceandFire,that
followed.IthinkI'vemade,whatIconsider,themajorfailingsoftheseriesprettyobviousbynow,sotoaddanymore
wouldonlybebelabouringthepoint.Idon'tconsiderthetimeIinvestedinreadingandtalkingaboutJordan'sworld
wasted,butIstillbelievemuchofthattimecouldhavebeenbetterspentornotcashedatall.
So,asidefromtheforthcomingcompanionvolumethatwillmostlybeareferenceguidebasedonthebookswithafew
additionalnotesofMrJordan's,thisisverymuchfarewelltoTheWheelofTime.Thetwootherprequelshewas
planningtowriteafterNewSpring(whichIquiteenjoyed,comingasitdidduringtheseries'lowestebbandreminding
readersthatRJcouldindeedtellaconcisetaleandfillinginsomeofthebackstoryinaverysatisfyingmanner)will
nevereventuate.MorethanonceIhavebeenaskedformyopiniononTheWheelofTimeandtostateitas
emphaticallyasIcan,thelatterbooksstopmerecommendingtheseries,asitissomewherebetween4and7bookstoo
longdependingontowhatextenteachreaderthinkstheredpenshouldhavebeenwielded.TheWheelmayturn,butI
don'tbelieveIwillcomearoundagaintoreadingthisseries,sofromShayolGhulIwanderaway,mydestination
unknown,butmostlikelynevertoreturn,inthisageorthenext.

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THEPIRATES!BANDOFMISFITSMOVIEREVIEW
byAndrewMoshos
BucklemySwashandShivermeTimbers!
dir:PeterLordandJeffNewitt
Ah,finally,afilmwithPiratesthatdoesnthaveJohnny
Deppinit.NoonetoldthelovelypeopleatAardman
AnimationthattherestofusinthisnonClaymationworld
aresicktofuckingdeathofpirates,piraterelatedstoriesand
eventhewordpirate.Theyjustwentaheadandploughed
through,adaptingabookinordertogeneratesomehilarity
andsomeboxoffice.Icantimaginethisflickisgoingtodo
thiswell,whatwiththeschoolholidaysbeingoverandall
bynow,butitwasquiteentertainingforakidsmovie.
Yes,Itookmydaughteralong,andyes,sheandIboth
thoughtitwasawonderfulwaytospendanhourandtwenty
minutesinacinemastrewnwithbeanbags.Butdontgoin
expectingittobecomparabletoPixar,orforanydeep
environmentalmessagesorheartfeltheartstringpulling
mawkishsentimentfests.Itsjustmeanttobecleverbut
goofyfun,anditentirelysucceeds.Although,whenItell
youthattwoofthevillainsinthepieceareCharlesDarwin
andQueenVictoria,youllthinkthatIvebeensuckedin
anddupedbyaflickproducedbycreationistsandantimonarchistnutbags,whichwouldbeastrangeallianceindeed.
IhavelovedtheAardmananimatedmovies,speciallytheWallaceandGrommetstuff,foradonkeysage,butIstill
findtheircontinuedexistenceinthishighfalutin'dayandagesomewhatsurprising.Surprisinginagoodway,butIjust
findthatstopmotionanimationsomethingthatcontemporarykids,whohaverarelyifeverseenthatstuff,wouldfindit
tooyeoldeworldy.There'sacharmtoit,aphysicalcharm,anexpressivenessthatisillusiveandprobablyreally
difficulttoachieve,thattheydo,nonetheless.Andit'srefreshingtosee,afterallthegoddamnCGI1sand0sI'vebeen
subjectingmyselfandmyheirtolately.
Havingsaidallthat,whatIfoundmostenjoyableabouttheflickwerethevisualgags(asintheopeningseconds,where
atitlecardexplainingthetimeandplaceisrevealedtobebeingheldupbyaconfusedlookingchap),thestrange
Science!basedstory,andespeciallythecharacterofthePirateCaptainvoicedbyHughGrant.
Eveninourcurrentagewherepiratewearinessisatanalltimehigh,theunderlying'dumb'premiseofthestory,being
thePirateCaptain'sferventwishtowinthecovetedPirateoftheYearaward,leadstoaperplexingadventureasthe
Captainandthecrewtrytosafeguardthemostexceptionalmemberofsaidcrew,beingPolly.Polly'scalledaparrotat
first,butPollyisactuallyadodo,thoughtextinctforalongwhile.WhentheycrosspathswithCharlesDarwin,who
revealshimselftobesomethingofarumcovewithacrushonaQueen,itappearsthecrewhaveamorefearsome

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opponentontheirhandsthanjustthepotentialshameoflosing.
Thecrewinanyoneoftheseendeavourswouldbeamotleybunch,butthisbunchisevenmoremotleythanexpected.
Theyhavenamesthatdescribetheirpurposeoratraitaboutthem,likethesuspiciouslyfeminineSurprisingly
CurvaceousPirate,orPiratewithGout,orNo.2.AndthePirateCaptain'snameisPirateCaptain.Alleversohelpful
andunambiguous.Youknowwhereyoustandwithnameslikethat.
Mostofall,there'sareallydefthandatplay,lightlydancingoverthescript.ThePirateCaptaingetsthemajorityofthe
bestofthelines,deliciouslydeliveredbyHughGrant,withallthedelusionalsmugnessandbraggadociowe'vealways
prizedhimfor.He'snotaverygoodcaptain,infacthetotallysucksatitcomparedtotheotherpiratesheisin
competitionwith,whoseemtodripwithplunderedgoldandpillagedbooty.Theproblemisthattherestofthecrew,
wholikehimwellenough,sensethathe'sprettymuchafailure.Butwhenhelaunchesoutwithtopspeedtoravagethe
Caribbean,withbracedstunsailsandspankersaloft,allheendsupfindingisplagueships,leprosiacs(sorry,sufferers
ofHanson'sDisease)andbiologists.That'snotgoingtowinyouthetrophy.That'snotgoingtobestthelikesofBlack
Bellamy,CutlassLizorPegLegHastings,whoaretheotherpiratesvyingforthetitle.
AsabsurdasIfoundthewholestory,whenthePirateKingcameontothescene,andstartedyellingateveryone,Iwas
thrilled.ThrilledIsay,becausethePirateKing,whochoosesthewinnerofthePirateoftheYearAward,wasvoicedby
noneotherthanBrianBlessed.BrianBlessedisoneofthegreatest,loudestbeardedmenwhohaveeverlivedand
loved,andIadorehisveryexistence.And,sinceI'veseenhimineverythingfromFlashGordontoBlackadder,I've
knownandadoredhisbeardedbigbelliedwaysforanaeon.WhenIheardhisvoiceIsaidtomydaughter,"That's
BrianBlessed'svoice!He'sawesome!"Towhichshemusthavereplied"Ohgrowup,Dad."
Still,it'sHughGrant'sshow,andhecarriesitall,whethertalkingabouthisluxuriantbeard,orwonderingoutloudhow
toscrewoverhiscrewinordertogetthefleetingandmeaninglessrespecthesothoroughlydoesn'tdeserve.He's
perhapsnotthenicestchapintheworld,andhedoesn'tmeanwell,butasthepridethatgoethbeforethefallteaches
himtheimportanceofstickingupforyourmates,naturallythestorycraftselaborateanddangerouswaysforhimto
makeituptohisadoringcrew.
Everystoryneedsabigbad,apparently,andthisone'sbigbadisQueenVictoria,whofarfrombeingthemonstrous
andsternfigureofrenown,isasvelteandlethalswordswomanwitha(culinary)fetishforexoticandvirtuallyextinct
flesh.HowshegetsinvolvedI'llleavetotheprospectiveviewer.Let'sjustsayshereally,really,really,reallyhates
pirates.Andwhocanblameher;thenogoodscavengersandvulturesoftheseawereneverthisnice.ThisBandof
Misfits,though,theywereapleasuretospendsometimewith,andsincemydaughterandIweredelightedwiththeend
result,surelytheflickworkedonbothagelevels.
8timesIwonderedwhentheSurprisinglyCurvaceouspiratewasgoingtomakehermoveoutof10

"Behindeverycaptain,there'sacrew.Sure,someofyouareasuglyasaseacucumber,someofyouareclosertobeing
achairorcoatrackthanapirate,andsomeofyouarefishI'vejustdressedupinahat..."thrizzlingspeech,captain
ThePirates!BandofMisfits
OriginallypublishedatMovieReviewshttp://moviereviews.com.au/content/piratesbandmisfits

121RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

NOAHMOVIEREVIEW
dir:DarrenAronofsky

byAndrewMoshos

Thereisnomoreepicafantasythan
theBible,really.AndNoah,the
latestflickbyDarrenAronofskysets
outtoshowusjusthowabsurd
believingtheliteralversionofthe
storyis.No,that'snotfair.The
religioustypeswhotookumbrage
withthisflick,who,let'sfaceit,take
umbragewithanythingbecauseit's
theirfavouritehobby,andbecause
they'redeeplyinsecure,ignorethe
factthattheoriginalstory,asread,
straightoutoftheBookofGenesis,
isalreadyprettymonstrous.Andflat
outbonkers.Nothingsaid,no
blasphemousstatementcanreally
sayinganythingworseaboutthe
Hebrew/Abrahamic/Old
TestamentGodthanhisownactions
wouldindicate.Imeancomeon.Hewastheoriginalgenocidalmaniac.Hetriedtokilloffourentiregoddamnspecies,
forcryingoutloud,notjustthepeoplehedidn'tlikebecausetheyhadthewrongcolouredskinorbecausetheytalked
funny,ortheireyesweren'ttherightshape.Everyothermassslaughtererofhumanshastakentheirlead,their
inspiration,fromuponhigh.Fromtheclassics.Fromtheonewhostarteditall.
Aronofsky,whois,byhisownadmission,notareligioustype,seesotherpossibilitiesinthestory.Mostofthemhave
todowithaman,themindofoneman,Noah,thecrazymindofoneman(theonlyotherpersonbetterthanRussell
CroweforthiswouldhavebeenMelGibson).Thisonecrazymanhaseyeslitbyreligiousfervour.Atayoungagehe
seeshisfathermurderedbyamanwhostyleshimselfaking(RayWinstone),and,understandably,thismakesNoahnot
likeotherhumansthatmuch.AsasortofpreChristiansurvivalist/prepper,hecarvesoutadiceylifeforhimselfand
hisfamilyontheedgesofhumansettlement.Heisplaguedbyvisions,visionsofEden,ofthefruitoftheTreeof
Knowledge,ofCainslayingAbel,visionsofthehumanworld'ssinfulness,andwhatGodmustdotoeventhescales.
Asindustrialisationandthemuckofhumanityspreads,sotoodoNoah'smutteredandgruntedstatementsbecomemore
andmoreapocalyptic.Heseesthecomingoffirefromtheheavens,andheseesallofhumanityunderwater.Why?
Becausewe'reallsinners,apparently.Wedespoiledtheearth,webuiltstuff,wewerecrueltoanimals,wedidn'tcall
ourmothersenough,allofus,eachandeveryone,weresinnerswhodeservedtobewipedout.Andtherewerekids
around,theyweresinnersaswell.How?Why?Well,itwasbecauseofthebloodyApple,wasn'tit,intheGardenof
Eden.OriginalSinwasenoughtojustifykillingusalloffwhetherwe'ddoneanythingtodefyGod'swaysornot.
Inthisfilm,theemphasisisplacedonthemisuseofnaturebythepeoplewhofollowTubalCain(Winstone),
coincidentallythesameguywhokilledNoah'sdad.Thewaytheycutdownallthetrees,makestuff,andeatanimalsis

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whattipsthesinfultippingpoint.IndependentofNoah'svision/delusions,thestuffthebaddiesaredoingseemstobe
poisoningtheearth,leavingitbarren,contributingtoglobalwarmingorsomethingsimilar.Noah,whoseesallthisand
laments,lamentsatthetopofhislungs,hearsandseesstuffnooneelsesees.Inthisdayandage,hewouldprobably
havebeenmedicated,attheveryleast,theywouldhavekepthimawayfromsharpobjects.He'sverygoodatkilling
people,butatleast,forawhile,he'sdeterminedtoprotecthisfamily,andifhehastokillabunchofpeopletodoso,
thensobeit.Theothersareallgoingtodieanywayoncethefloodcomes.Thebiggerproblemhefacesisthathehasa
wife(JenniferConnelly),threesonsandanadoptivedaughter(EmmaWatson).That'snotenoughtobuildagigantic
boattypethingiewithwhichtoprotecttherealinnocentsofthisworld,isit?
Luckyforthem,theybumpintoabunchofangels.HonesttoGod,abunchoffuckingangels.Theseangelsare
basicallygiantrockmonsters,whoarereallygoodatbuildingstuff,becauseasoneofthemtellsNoah,they'retheones
whotaughthumanityhowtodopracticalstuffwiththeirhands.Theygaveourspeciestheskillstopaythebills,to
storethebills,todoallsortsofbillrelatedactivities.Theywerepunishedforthis,byGod,bybeingturnedintogoopy,
goofylookinggiantGumbys.TheyseeinNoah,eventually,achanceatreturningtoGod'sgoodgraces.Thefools.
WhattheyreallyrepresentisanopportunitytomakethisBiblicalstorylookahellofalotlikethemissing,apocryphal
chaptersofLordoftheRings.ItwouldotherwisebeimpossibleforAronofskytohavebigbattlesceneswithoutthem,
sinceNoahhimselfcouldn'tfightoffandkilltensofthousandsofpeopleonhisown,andtherearen'tenoughofhis
familytobeanarmy.So,stoneangelskillingguys...itlooks...interesting?TheymightlooklikeEnts,butthey'refar
lesspeacefulorslow,andtheycankillawholebunchofpeoplebeforethey'retakendown,whichiswhattheyreally
want,secretly,intheirfieryheartofhearts.
Asoddasthesesceneslook,theyserveapurpose.Theystaveoffviewerboredom.Alotofstuffthathappensinthe
flickisintendedtostaveoffboredom,andinmostcasesitsucceeds.Noahhimselfisanabusivetyrant,regardlessor
becauseofhisbeingthemouthpieceforGod'swill,sopastacertainpointallhedoesisglowerandgruntinafearsome
waythatnolongerseemslikehesdoingtheBigGuyUpstairsbidding.Hisfamilycoweraroundorawayfromhim
andhispronouncements,basicallydoingwhathesaysthoughtheydon'treallyagreewithhimmostofthetime.
Thestory,forsomereasonthatisntobvioustousintheaudience,needstogiveoneofNoahssons,Ham(Logan
Lerman),ample,ormoreample,reasontohatehim.ThewholefamilyhasplentyofreasontohateNoahalready,asfar
asIcouldsee,butHamhastohatehimextratojustifysomeofthemoredubiousthingshedoes.WhatHamwantsisa
wife.HissuspiciouslyattractivebrotherShem(DouglasBooth)andadoptivesisterareallhookedup,andheslooking
atbeingwithoutashaggingpartnerinthebravenewworldGodisgoingtocreatebywipingtheoldoneout.
EverythingHamtriestodoisrebuffed,byNoah,byGoditseems,byacruelfatethatwantshimtobepoundingsand
aloneforalleternity.Inthesefantasticalstories,thesepeople,theseprophetslikeNoahandhisgrandadMethuselah
(AnthonyHopkins),werelivinglikeathousandyears.Iknowhowridiculousthatsounds,butthatswhatthesedinks
whofollowthisstuffliterallybelieve.SonotonlywasHamlookingatbeingalone,hewouldbelookingatbeingalone
foraverylongtime.Thuscreepsthesnakeintothegarden,thusdoesevilsneakitswayevenintoGodsplans.Hisrole
isreallyunfortunate,becauseitrequireshimtodoalotofdumbthings,andthenchangehismindaboutthem
afterward.
Theonlyinnocentsinthismurderoussinfulworldofoursaretheanimals,asheseesit(orasGodcommands).The
variationhereisthatNoah'splanisn'tjusttonabtwoofeachandpushthemintoplace,feedingthemstraworwhatever
theyneed.Hisplanisactuallytogivethemroofiesandknockthemoutforthedurationofthetrip,whichperhaps
explainssomethingthatmakesnosenseintheoriginalstory,butthendoesn'tseemverybelievable,thoughitishorribly
convenient.Itdoesshowhowtheycouldhavegottenaroundthepeskyproblemofalltheseanimalseatingeachother.

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OnlywhenmostofhumanityiswipedoutdoesNoahrevealhisactualplan.Thismightbewherethestoryvariesthe
mostfromthebiblicalaccount,but,letsfaceit,itsallbonkersanyway.Hisplanisprettynuts,butthenGodsplanto
wipetheslatecleanandstartagainisprettynutsaswell.Unfortunatelyforhisfamily,especiallyhisadoptivedaughter
Ila,Noahsplanisnotonlynuts,butitisespeciallycruel.Monstrouslycruel;cruellerthanTubalCain,whohappily
eatsliveanimalstoprovehisdominionoverthecreaturesoftheearth,cruellerthanGodHimself,whokillednearly
everyoneinaflashyandinescapableway.Noahgivesthemanultimatum,onewhichtheyhavenocontrolover,butone
whichmademethinkthatthefamily,asawhole,wouldprobablyhavebeenthoroughlyjustifiedinkillingNoah
themselves,maybeforcinghimtowalktheplank.Itsnotlikeanyonewouldhavethoughtanythelessofthem
Thedramaticaspectsofthestoryareoveramped,whichisperverselymeanttomakeitseemmorebelievable,butitsa
storythatsinherentlyunbelievable,isntit,becauseitsafable.Inafable,aninstructionalmythicstory,anythingcan
happenaslongasitgetstothepointthatyouwanttomake.Realismandthiskindofstuffperhapsareincompatible.
Unlessyouthinkthestoryistrueworldhistory,inwhichcasetheresnofuckingwayanythingcanhelpyou,noteven
mydisgustorpity.Thatbeingsaidtherearedefiniteattemptstomakethisseembothepicinscaleandimportance,but
arelatablestoryonahumanlevel.Inthatsense,Noahisntjustatoolfollowinghisgodscommands,hehasagency,
hehaschoice(asIlaisforcedtoconcedetowardstheend,andsheexplainsNoahsFreeWillmomenttotherestofus).
WhetherNoahsisamonsterorJudaisms/Christianitys/Islamsgreatestprophetisuptotheviewer,thoughIdoubt
theshadingthisstoryprovideswouldchangeanydeeplyheldbeliefs.
Aronofskyandcrew,whoveworkedtogetheronsixinteresting,sometimesgreatfilms,reallygooutoftheirwayto
distancethisfromtheotherreligiousLifetimechannel/ChristiancrapwhichoccasionallyclogsupAmericancinemas
inordertogetpeoplebythechurchbusloadtotheflicksinordertoproveapoliticalpoint(andmakeaprettypenny).I
dontthinkAronofskyhasevermadebigbucksfromhisoddfilms.Thisishismostfinanciallysuccessfulfilmthusfar,
thoughitsalso,despiteplentyofweirdnessondisplay,hismostconventional.Hedoesuseittosayalotoffairly
unconventionalstuff.Yes,ofcoursewereallsinnersanddoomedtodiehorribledeathsandsuch,buthelinksour
selfishnaturestothewaywetreattheanimalsthattheBibleallegesGodgaveusstewardshipover,toprotectand
collaboratewith,ratherthanexploitanddestroyforouramusement.Idontknowifitsnecessarilyanantimeateating
message,itsdefinitelyananticrueltymessage,butthendidnteveryonealreadyknowitsbadtobecrueltoanimals?
Wesplithairsoverwhatconstitutescrueltyandsuch,andwhetheritsethicaltoeatthem,butonlythemostblindcant
seethatharmingthem,harmingnaturewilfullyusuallydoesntworkoutforanyofus.TheBiblesaidso,donttakemy
wordforit.Ratherthanbeingovertlyreligious(which,duh,italreadyis),thereismoreofamysticalqualitytostuff
thatgoesonhere.Asingleraindrophitsthegroundandbloomsinstantlyintoaflower.Theskinofthatfirsttempting
snakeintheGardenretainssomemysticalspark,someelementofthedivineorthemysterious.ThefruitoftheTreeof
Knowledge,whichtriggeredtheFall,throbswithastrangeenergy.
Inperhapsthemostbreathtakingmoments(mostoftheflicklooksprettyincredible,thankstocinematographer
MatthewLibatique,whoalwaysworkswithAronofsky),andalsoamomentthatmademelaughoutloud,Noahtellsof
Creation,oftheBiblicalliteralistversionofCreation,anditsdepictedtousinawaythatisntreallyamillionmiles
awayfromboththeCreationistversionortheDarwinianversion.Thattakesballs.Opposablethumbsthatprove
evolution,butalsoballs.Andwhenitends,notcontentwithasimplerainbowtorepresentGodscovenantwithNoah
thathedneveragainkilleveryoneoff,unlesshereally,reallywantsto,theskyeruptswithaprismaticeffectso
powerfulIthoughtmyretinashaddetached.Noahisastrangefilm.IfyoucouldstandwatchingRussellCrowedoing
hisbestimpressionofMelGibsonsweekendvisitswithhisfamily,youmightgetsomethingoutofthisstrange,
strangefilm.
7timestheirtimeonthearkwasaboutthesameaswhatIveheardmostcruisesarelikeoutof10
Originallypublishedat:http://moviereviews.com.au/node/1936

124RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

JUPITERASCENDINGMOVIEREVIEW
byAndrewMoshos
dirs:AndyandLanaWachowski
IcantreallyunderstandhowtheWachowskiscankeepgettingthese
budgetsfortheirmovies.Itsinsane.Icantgetanextensiononmy
overdraft,buttheWachowskis,whoselastfewmovieshavelostan
extravagantsum,closetolike500milliondollars,andyetsomeone
keepsbankrollingthem.TheyreliketheDonaldTrumpsofthe
moviemakingindustry.Maybetheyhavephotosofsomeone,maybe
theamountofmoneytheymadeontheMatrixmoviesgetsthemafree
passforlife.Ihavenoidea,butiftheyaregivenlikeanother$200
millionfortheirnextmovie,thereisnojusticeorfiscalsanityinthis
world.
Nah,justkidding.Iknewthosetwoabstractconceptsneverexistedin
thefirstplace.
Ifitdoes,amazingly,happen,itwontbeforasequeloranother
installmentintheJupiterseries.Ihavenodoubt,really,consideringit
costsomuchtomakeandcouldnothavemadeitsmoneyback,no
matterwhatisclaimedonvarioussitesthroughthesocalledforeign
markets.Saddestofallisthatsomehowthisisconsideredatleasta
partiallyAustralianmovie,duetowhoputmoneyintowhat,andalot
ofthepostproductionwork.Damn,someonescareershouldbetoastoverthatone,oratleastsomeonedeservestobe
mockedoverFridaydrinksattheveryleast.
Tosaythatthisfilmisterribleignoresafewbasicrealities.Itlooksniceincertainbits.Alotofmoneywasspenton
effects.ItsnotbasedonMarvelorDCcomics,oranycomics,andthatsaplus.Itsanoriginalcreationofthe
Wachowskis,inthatitsnotdirectlyanadaptationofanythingelse,although,sinceitstheWachowskis,itmeansits
cribbedfromwhatevertheyveseenandlikedbefore.
Anyotherdecentelements?Well,MilaKunisandChanningTatumareattractivepeople,andIbelieveaudienceslike
lookingatattractivepeople.Otherthanthat
BeforeIridicule/lambasteanythingoranyoneelse,Iwillpointoutthisonebasicfact:EddieRedmayneisinthis.Eddie
Redmaynemayormaynotbeahouseholdnameinyourhousehold.EddieRedmaynerecently,asinacoupleofmonths
ago,wonanAcademyAward,thatsright,anOscar,forplayingProfessorStephenHawkinginalittlemoviecalled
TheTheoryofEverything.EddieRedmaynesperformanceinthisheremovieisso,soawfulthatIhonestlyand
genuinelybelievetheOscarhewonforthatotherperformanceshouldretroactivelybetakenawayfromhim.Notonly
that,buthemustbebarredfromfuturemovierolesandawardscontention.Heshouldhavetopayfilmstudiostoget
roles,andspendalifetimedoinggoodworkstoclawhiswayoutofthedeeppitofshamehedeservestobein.Butdo

125RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

youblamehimforperforminginthesehorribleways,orthedirectorsforagreeingwithit/encouragingit?
Well,whenyouseeakidactingawfullyinpublic,dontyousometimeswishtheparentswouldstepinanddiscipline
theirkid?Idontmeanviolence,ImeansternlybutkindlycurbingwhateverawfultendenciestheirlittleKingJoffreyis
inflictinguponthegeneralpublic.Likeinthosecircumstances,itsnotentirelyfairtoblameeitherpartywithout
gettingsomekindofunderstandingofwhatwentsoverywrongandwhy.Havingsaidthat,IblameRedmayneentirely.
Theperformance,asBalemAbrasaxorwhateverthehellthatvillainousnamewas,isterribleinnewandhorrifying
ways,waysthatsometimesarentevenconsistentwithinthesamesentenceofdialogue,letalonethesamescene.
Thereneedstobeasupercutplacedonthetubesoftheinternetsthatdeleteeveryotherunimportantaspectsand
momentsofthemovie(ie.everythingelse)andjustletEddieRedmaynebeEddieRedmayne,withtheawful
whisperinglinedeliveries,theinfantilescreaming,thearchandpainedtoffeetone,theeverythingthatmakeshimseem
likesomeoneauditioningforaroleinahighschoolRockyHorrormusicalunsuccessfully.
Icouldgoon.InfactIwill.Redmaynesperformanceissobaditmakesmanyoftheotheraspectsofthemovie,which
areprettybadoratleastincompetent,seemslightlylessbad.Itstillsticksoutlikeapustulant,gangrenoussorethumb.
Orinfecteddogsballs,orwhateverotheranalogyyoucouldprefer.
Bythisstageitsalmostsuperfluoustoaddressotheraspectsofthemovie,butwhatremainsdoesmakeyouwonder
howthisshitgotmade.Imallfororiginalandriskyproductions,becausewhentheypayoff,theyreamazing,and
theyimpactthemoviesthatcomeafterthem,inwaysbothgoodandill.
JupiterAscendingwillconvinceatleastafewstudiosnottobotherwithbigscifiunlessthewordsbasedonorPart
IVareappendedtothescript.Inanotherbigreach,theWachowskiscomeupwithanotherwayofsayingtoaudiences
thattheworldtheyassumeistheirownisbutapaleshadowofwhatsreallygoingon.IntheMatrixmoviesitwas
revealedthatwerejustpalebodiesfloatingingooasourmindsaretrappedwithinasimulationofreality,slavestothe
system.
JupiterAscendingpositssomethingevenworse:peopleofEarth,youarebeingfattenedforslaughter.Aclanof
virtuallyimmortalaristocratsseedlikelyworldswithhumans,andoncethepopulationgetslargeenough,theyreall
slaughtered,reducedtotheirchemicalconstituentsandrefinedintosomekindofantiagingcream.Nowyouknowthe
terribletruthaboutwhatLancomeandLOrealhavebeendoingforcenturies,excepttheyjustdoitonorphans.This
wouldntbetoomuchofaproblem,exceptEarthisgettingtoberipeenoughforharvest.
AllofthisiscompletelyunknowntoeveryoneonEarth,especiallyayoungRussianAmericangirlcalledJupiterJones
(MilaKunis),who,bysomevastcoincidence,happenstopossesstheexactsamegeneticsequenceasthematriarchof
theawfularistocrats.Bythisamazingcoincidence(whichIguessisntthatamazingacoincidence,sincethereare
presumablytrillionsofhumancattlepepperingthecosmos,sothereappearanceofthespecificsequenceisperhapsnot
impossible,though,no,wait,itabsolutelyis),sheisimmediatelypursuedbyawholebunchofdifferentpeople,despite
havingdonesuchawonderfuljobasacleanerthusfar.
Itsnotforthesequalitiesthatsheisthechosenoneinthiscircumstance;itspurelyforherDNAthattheyloveher.

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TheevilAbrasaxguyhastwoequallyodioussiblingswhosesolevirtueisthattheyarentasunspeakablyactedas
Balem(thoughtheyrebothstillterriblydirected).Theyall,Idunno,wantsomethingfromJupiter,whodoesntreally
domuchotherthanlooksurprisedwhensurprisingstuffhappenstoher,andyell/screamwhenshefallsoffthings.
Shehasvirtuallynoagencythroughouttheentirestory.Contrastthat(unwillingly)withTheMatrix,whichhadsome
randomguyrandomlybeTheOnebecausewell,ithappens,butthenheactuallydoesstuffandlookscooldoingit,
andmakesdecisions.Jupitergetsto,Idunno,decidewhetherornottomarryanaristocrat,whoIguessisherson?
Also,shethenhastodecidewhethertogivetheEarthupornotattheendbecausefamily?
Shesgivenexactlytwochoices,neitherofthembeingactualchoices,andnothingshereallydoesactuallyimpactson
thestoryinitsstupidityfilledentirety.Othercharactersarealwaystheonesmakingthingshappen,savingherbacon,or
blowingthingsup.Shedoesntevengettoblowanythingup,fercryingoutloud.
TheonewithagencyintheflickisCaine(Tatum),whoisahuman/doghybridwiththesehoverrollerbladesanda
shield.Itsasdumbasitsounds.Andheusedtohavewings,sonotonlyishelikeanangelorsomething,hekindof
lookslikeakangarooaswell.
Thereisso,somuchtopickapartandmockbutImgoingtogoeasyitsreallynotworththeeffort.ButIwillpoint
outthatalotoftheflickplaysoutlikeweremeanttoknowwhatsgoingon,andthatweremeanttocare.
Wrongonbothcounts.ThisisastorythatmusthavemeantalottotheWachowskis,andliketrulycreativepeople
theyvecreateditwithlittleregardforwhatsomeaudiencemightthink.Butsomanybitsofthisbizarreyethorribly
conventionalstoryshouldreallyhavebeenexcised,andmaybethismakesthecaseformeddlingstudioexecshaving
moreofasay.
Whatabouttheformerfriend/colleagueofCaines(SeanBean)whotheygotoforhelpwhostartswailingonCaine,
fornodiscerniblereason,wholivesinahousefilledwithbees?Beeseverywhere?Isthishowthehoneyindustry
works:youfillupthewholehousewithrandomCGIbees?Whyarethebeesthere?Well,becausetheyrethereto
acknowledgethatJupiterisaqueen,becausethatswhatbeesdo.Apparently?
Ifanyofthatsoundssensibletoyou,byallmeans,watchthismovie.Ifthatsoundslikesomethingyoudhearacrazy
personscreamingonastreetcorner,orachildwouldwriteaspartofacreativewritingprojectinprep,thenmaybeskip
thisterrible,inexplicablyterriblemovie.Orseeit,andbeamazedandastoundedathowsomethinglikethiscouldever
beputtogetherbywillingparticipantswithbagsofmoneyandnoobstaclestotheirhorribleambitions.
2timesIcouldnttellwhetherChanningTatumwasboredandconfusedorjustconfusedoutof10

"Iwillharvestthatplanettomorrow,beforeIlethertakeitfromme."andIwillhelpyouifitmeansIllneverhaveto
watchamoviethisshittyeveragainJupiterAscending
Originallypostedat:http://moviereviews.com.au/jupiter

127RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

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128RPGREVIEWISSUE2627DecemberMarch20142015

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