tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post5404155360156847203..comments2024-03-28T08:50:57.015+01:00Comments on Beyond Fomalhaut: [REVIEW] Sailors on the Starless SeaMelanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07165894144553629675noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-14029610728840572502019-02-27T13:48:11.759+01:002019-02-27T13:48:11.759+01:00I have never actually played or DMed this one, but...I have never actually played or DMed this one, but I have to admit I have a weakness for Harley Stroh's adventures. He sometimes writes a lot where less would suffice, also his short adventures tend to be linear (Tower of the Black Pearl and Jewels of the Carnifex come to mind), although I've seen him doing the exact opposite (e. g. one of my alltime favourites, Doom of the Savage Kings; Bride of the Black Manse was also a blast as a player). Then there is the Perils on the Purple Planet (sand)box, which is something absolutely awesome. <br /><br />I think Harley has a knack for creating atmosphere and engaging scenarios, has pulpy sources I also find inspiring, and the challanges he puts in his adventures are usually quite intriguing. I've also noticed that he likes to put the players into moral dilemmas, and their decisions - or ignorance - sometimes lead to disastrous consequences (like [SPOILER!!!] accidentaly killing off all lawful adventurers on global scale, or letting a certain dark goddess of torture loose from her prison). I think his adventures have soul.<br /><br />tl;dr: agree to what you said, i just felt the need to express how much of a Stroh fanboi I am ;)Chomyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11511246862191949076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-41211792735571225422019-02-26T16:02:55.080+01:002019-02-26T16:02:55.080+01:00Sounds cool. I love 0-level winnowings.Sounds cool. I love 0-level winnowings.Anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00887182346953090322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-39400717515495515952019-02-20T21:30:16.648+01:002019-02-20T21:30:16.648+01:00I played through this (using AD&D rules), and ...I played through this (using AD&D rules), and while I haven't read it, I do wonder how much our DM added to the barebones scenario you describe, Gabor. <br /><br />It's also worth noting that as Goodman has reprinted many earlier modules, they've often added another 2-4 pages of new material to the new edition; so if your version doesn't include that, there may be a version published that has a little more meat on the bone, so to speak. I think the earlier printings without the newer content were 18 pages long.<br /><br />Allan.grodoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11800184312511280050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6188119851730922397.post-33944931312922517092019-02-20T16:23:23.649+01:002019-02-20T16:23:23.649+01:00I ran this adventure four times, and would gladly ...I ran this adventure four times, and would gladly do it again. It's a lot of fun, especially seeing how the different parties get past the Leviathan, or siege the ziggurat at the end. While I usually prefer bigger dungeons with more branches and loops, it would undermine one of the module's virtues: it can be finished under 4-6 hours. That's enough for a funnel, and makes it ideal for cons. Unfortunately that's the timeframe other DCC RPG modules aim for too, with their mini-settings like The Chained Coffin and Purple Planet being the obvious exceptions. Unfortunately this also lead to the misconception that DCC RPG is a con game or one meant for episodic campaigns.<br /><br />I'm not too fond of the verbosity of Goodman Games adventures either. My biggest gripe isn't how it drains space from more content, rather how much harder it makes finding valuable information. Often the mechanics of a certain trap, room, or battle as presented seem more complicated than they actually are.<br /><br />Still, despite their problems I have a soft spot for the Goodman Games DCC RPG adventures. The early ones were a breath of fresh air, and inspired many to let the old-school conventions go and let the imagination run wild.Tamás Illéshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11415717108941674663noreply@blogger.com