Post by mabon5127 on Feb 5, 2014 11:57:20 GMT -6
This latest review is what I would call a lukewarm response, somewhat similar to Steve Winter's review several months ago, though not as d**ning. Like Steve Winter, this fellow was looking for something different for spells and magic items; he doesn't go as far as Winter in saying the game "fails" as a result of these perceived flaws. This fine fellow also does not like that subclasses are not balanced with each other (4 of one subclass type, 6 of another, etc.), and he feels they do not convey proper S&S mood (he wants a witch-hunter class, for example). He seems to like the setting and some of the mechanical components of the game. He gives the game 3 out of 5 stars.
AS&SH Review by The Rambling Role-Player
The review was pretty balanced as he had good and bad to say.
His point that the players guide and the gazetteer could have been for different games was an interesting view. Its difficult to tell if his issue is whether the ASSH game is S&S enough or if the classes, magic system, and magic items are tied to the setting enough or both?? I believe the reviewer likes the setting and believes it represents S&S. His issue is the magic and classes not being tied to the setting and thus not being "pulpy".
I think the loose tie to the game world is an advantage. Some RPG's are so stuck on their world material that the classes are inseparable from it. Instead of Cataphract you could have created the Knights of Old Khromarium City Guard. They would have been very specific to the campaign but not perhaps what the players wanted or imagined. The greater the detail and specificity the less imagination needed and thus less fun at least for me. As for the spells and magic items same as above.
I think the descriptions of the classes, spells, and magic items evoke a S&S feel without tying everything down to the details in the gazetteer.
Kane to me is Fighter with a backstory. Though for me he is on the fringe of the genre given his real world setting (albeit with some supernatural elements).