|
Post by Melan on Nov 2, 2010 3:43:19 GMT -6
Review, courtesy of Your Dungeon is Suck. Enjoy!
|
|
|
Post by calithena on Nov 2, 2010 3:48:23 GMT -6
Sure, you post that - yours was one of the only articles he liked!
If anyone wants to set me up on say $50K per year to devote myself exclusively to Fight On!, I am willing to consider yourdungeonissuckguy's advice and quit my day job to run FO! full time.
|
|
|
Post by Random on Nov 2, 2010 5:56:11 GMT -6
This guy apparently takes his gaming quite seriously.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Schroeder on Nov 2, 2010 7:11:04 GMT -6
There is no such thing as bad publicity.
|
|
|
Post by kabuki on Nov 2, 2010 7:43:40 GMT -6
I've had a lot of fun reading this one. I've written 'The Shrine That Glittered' and designed those Medusae with bic lighters as well as this incredibly bloated formatting ;D.
Nutsty but hilarious.
|
|
|
Post by kesher on Nov 2, 2010 8:08:38 GMT -6
Wow. It must be unfun to be him. Cal, maybe you should solicit a submission from him so we can all see how not to suck.
|
|
18 Spears
BANNED
Yeah ... Spear This Ya' Freak!
Posts: 251
|
Post by 18 Spears on Nov 2, 2010 8:18:17 GMT -6
I won't read a blog by that title. If I miss out on the occasional helpful review? I can live with that.
|
|
|
Post by Melan on Nov 2, 2010 8:34:05 GMT -6
Sure, you post that - yours was one of the only articles he liked! Yeah, that does introduce a bias, but I can't just order the guy to write something derogatory about me. At least he said my maps sucked! OTOH, there are not many reviews of recent FO! issues around, especially full ones, and YDiS is pretty entertaining reading, sooooo...
|
|
|
Post by Alex Schroeder on Nov 2, 2010 14:39:53 GMT -6
Yeah, we (the fans and buyers of the magazine) should be writing more reviews ourselves. If we don't, then we must take what we get.
|
|
ant
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Posts: 243
|
Post by ant on Nov 2, 2010 15:33:36 GMT -6
I thought that review was excellent. Very funny stuff. I am a little disappointed that he didn't specifically mention how bad my art was. His generic "all the art sucks" just smacks of laziness.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Schroeder on Nov 2, 2010 17:27:41 GMT -6
I've started writing a review for issue #9. Man, this is hard work. I've reached page 25 and I'm very tired already.
|
|
|
Post by crusssdaddy on Nov 2, 2010 18:19:25 GMT -6
I'll put one together for #10 (I'll recuse myself from reviewing my own article) and have it out in the next day or two. I don't have a blog - where should I post it? I was thinking here, Dragonsfoot, K&K, and RPGNet... any others?
|
|
|
Post by Random on Nov 2, 2010 18:39:49 GMT -6
I thought that review was excellent. Very funny stuff. I am a little disappointed that he didn't specifically mention how bad my art was. His generic "all the art sucks" just smacks of laziness. The art isn't supposed to be good anyways; it's supposed to be fun! Cartoons are fun. What does the guy want, a masterpiece on every page?
|
|
|
Post by crusssdaddy on Nov 3, 2010 0:38:09 GMT -6
Here's my review. Feel free to move it if it would be better placed elsewhere:
DISCLAIMER: I was a contributor to this issue – I make mention of my adventure 'City of the Ancients' below, but I try to keep my comments brief.
With its recently released Summer/Fall 2010 issue, Fight On! magazine reaches double digits. This issue provides 140 pages of adventures, reviews, new monsters/spells/items/classes/traps, variant rules, as well as a tribute to Tom Moldvay. Let's get to it...
Three detailed (20+ pages each) adventures provide some real meat. The first – 'Khosura: Part II' – is a continuation of Gabor Lux's Middle Eastern-themed city location. This chapter details the haunted catacombs, lost temples, and bizarre dungeons that thrive beneath Khosura's streets. The Undercity is composed of several levels, with numerous entrances and exits linking nearby levels with each other and the city above. Notable locations include a gladitorial arena beneath a popular inn, several temples dedicated to gods fair and foul, a sewer section, and several tomb sections housing the restless dead.
There is a good mix of combat, puzzles, traps, and opportunities to interact with the Undercity denizens that do not involve bloodshed. Parties that lack a diligent mapper will be at a serious disadvantage – the layout is quite complex, particularly the interplay between the various levels, and getting lost is remarkably easy. With eight maps and dozens of keyed locations, the Undercity could conceivably provide the average group of gamers with enough material for several months worth of sessions.
The second is a sprawling Lost World-style sandbox from James Mishler, 'Lost Dragonia.' Adventure awaits those enterprising souls who can pierce the magical veil that conceals a lost island. As any sandbox worth its salt must, 'Lost Dragonia' provides encounters for a range of PC levels. Low-level characters can battle debased Dwarf cannibals, lesser dinosaurs, and the remnants of a conquistador colonial civilization. More accomplished heroes can square off against larger dinos and the three monstrous beasts that periodically thrash across the island: a Godzilla-analog, a Mothra-alike, and a gargantuan wholly mammoth that deserves to be nicknamed “Stampy.”
'Lost Dragonia' is designed to be dropped into any campaign. Keyed hex descriptions are generally quite extensive, providing all the framework a DM needs to minimize prep and keep the session moving quickly. Initially I thought the Spanish Main theme out of place for a fantasy setting, but the flavor actually works quite well when viewed as a whole.
The third is 'City of the Ancients,' the latest offering in 'The Darkness Beneath' megadungeon that spans the entire run of Fight On! The background is inspired by Geoffrey McKinney's CARCOSA: two factions of Space Aliens – one committed to logic & technology, the other devotees of sorcery & madness – battle for supremacy amidst the ruins of a hi-tech city. It's a little bit of a kitchen sink: Space Aliens, cultists, robots, a hover tank, Lovecraftian terrors, some familiar D&D monsters, and much more. Encounters are balanced between keyed locations and unique random encounters. If you have been looking for a way to inject a little CARCOSA into a more traditional Old School campaign, this might make a suitable entry point.
Numerous smaller adventures provide material for DMs looking for a one-shot. Several 'One Page Dungeons' are included – 'The Heart of Darkness' stands out, challenging players to hexcrawl their way up a nightmarish river. Encounter Critical enthusiasts will be heartened to see 'The Godzillas Will Breath on You': Geoff McKinney leaves the gloom of CARCOSA behind to provide a suitably zany set-piece for EC.
New monsters/spells/items/classes/traps are always a prominent part of each issue, and #10 is no exception. Entries span the gamut from deadly serious to Rientsian-whimsical, ensuring that there is probably something here for everyone. I particularly liked Lee Reynoldson's Cult Leader class, which reminded me of battling the various Chaos mooks in GW's Advanced Heroquest boardgame.
Dragon and White Dwarf lost much of their appeal when they became exclusive to TSR and GW support, respectively. Fight On! #10 works to avoid that mistake, and delivers a new monster for Bushido and a '50s casino setting suitable for any game that needs such a thing. In my mind, the value in presenting material for obscure/forgotten/off-the-beaten-path games is very real – jaded players and DMs get a fresh look at the hobby, left field inspiration, and potentially the desire to try new games or genres.
James A. Smith's 'The Familiar Spirit' really stands out for enlivening the otherwise uninspired standard rules for spellcaster familiars. You could end up with an Undead Brownie, a Miniature Hag, or a Small Anthropomorphic Lion, among other critters. Each comes with a couple powers of its own, and a benefit or two for the spellcaster: poisonous attacks, one-a-day powers, enhanced spellcasting ability, magic resistance, and more. An additional chart randomizes personality quirks for your mini goon. It's a versatile and flavorful system that should inspire you to add several of your own custom little peckers to the list.
For my money, Fight On! continues to be the flagship periodical of the OSR. The volume of material and range of ground that it covers conspire to provide unrivaled value. The magazine has grown quite a bit from humble beginnings, yet maintained its hobbyist vibe and commitment to an amateur aesthetic. Looking forward to #11!
|
|
|
Post by Alex Schroeder on Nov 3, 2010 2:25:40 GMT -6
Wow, nice review! I posted my old Fight On! review to both EN World and RPG.net in order to reach a new audience. Maybe you want to do the same? (Or Cal can do it for you? I'd feel weird doing it in your name...)
|
|
ant
Level 5 Thaumaturgist
Posts: 243
|
Post by ant on Nov 3, 2010 5:13:32 GMT -6
crusssdaddy: nice work Alex Schroeder: got some links there for your review? Tried both rpg.net and enworld but couldn't find them
|
|
|
Post by Alex Schroeder on Nov 3, 2010 6:54:00 GMT -6
got some links there for your review Sure! I reviewed issue #2 a long time ago and posted it here:
|
|
|
Post by calithena on Nov 3, 2010 7:03:02 GMT -6
My general sense of things is that rpg.net reviews reach the widest audience, but I am really not sure about that. Enworld has a big membership and in some ways is closer to what we do but I have never been sure if as many people read the reviews over there as at rpg.net. Are there other good places? Those two would be the ones I'd hit.
Thanks for writing reviews, friends! Older issues like 5-8 are worth revisiting too, if you feel the urge - those are all very good IMO.
|
|
|
Post by crusssdaddy on Nov 3, 2010 7:37:16 GMT -6
Wow, nice review! I posted my old Fight On! review to both EN World and RPG.net in order to reach a new audience. Maybe you want to do the same? (Or Cal can do it for you? I'd feel weird doing it in your name...) I tried posting to RPGNet, but either I'm not cool enough or couldn't figure it out. Please go ahead and post it there if you have those privileges. I don't have an Enworld account, so put it up there too. I put this up at K&K and Dragonsfoot.
|
|
|
Post by calithena on Nov 3, 2010 8:23:37 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by Alex Schroeder on Nov 3, 2010 8:35:54 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by Alex Schroeder on Nov 3, 2010 8:49:42 GMT -6
I submitted crusssdaddy's review to RPG.net… Cheers!
|
|
|
Post by crusssdaddy on Nov 3, 2010 9:44:41 GMT -6
Very helpful, thank you.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Schroeder on Nov 3, 2010 17:07:08 GMT -6
|
|
|
Post by abecross on Nov 5, 2010 22:21:09 GMT -6
I want to laugh at his inanity but....he's just not that funny or witty. I also refuse to take anyone seriously that uses language like: DOUBLE FAIL.
Can't stand it. This dude seems like someone that tries really hard to appear like he doesn't give a crap about the internet, but really....secretly....HE DOES!!!?!?!?!?!!!! LAME, UBER FAIL.
|
|
|
Post by abecross on Nov 5, 2010 22:24:42 GMT -6
Sorry for double post, but what Fight On! really needs is a wiki or index page where one can click through to find a description of all the articles included in each issue. I'm a cheap ass bastard and trying to find an article scanning through my PDFs is dang inconvenient.
Something like: "The Light That Never Warms" - a one-page Carcosan Dungeon for PCs level 4-6. feat. Flumphs, Black Lotus Zombies, and Robo-Flumphs.
Would be a huge help! (And yes, maybe I should make something like this!). And the article I was looking for and gave up trying to find at a game was one about bizarre mustache tables (maybe I just imagined it!)
|
|
|
Post by calithena on Nov 6, 2010 6:46:48 GMT -6
The index thing is overdue. Also, issues 1-10 make a good index subject, with the round number and all. Some people have started on this on-line actually.
If one gets made I will put it on the FO! website and in the next issue where there's room for it.
|
|
|
Post by Melan on Nov 9, 2010 13:55:16 GMT -6
|
|
terrex
Level 4 Theurgist
Posts: 108
|
Post by terrex on Nov 9, 2010 14:55:19 GMT -6
Kensanata, thanks. A web search turned up half of a FO! #4 review on your site. Any plans to finish that one? Either way, thanks.
|
|
|
Post by Alex Schroeder on Nov 9, 2010 17:03:00 GMT -6
Wow, I had forgotten about it! Having just finished a Review for #9, I'm not eager to start a review of #4 any time soon. If anybody wants to take it and write the rest to be published jointly, feel free! www.emacswiki.org/alex/Fight_On_4_Review(notice the To Do tag instead of the RPG Review tag...
|
|