[Review] The Sword of Cepheus 2e

Introduction

The name’s Davenport. I review games.

So the other day my good buddy Omer Golan-Joel stops by my office. He’s the brains behind Cepheus Deluxe, a swell sci-fi game based on the old Traveller rules.

None of which explained why he was wearin’ a loincloth.

“Greetings, GMshoe!” he says. “I come bearing The Sword of Cepheus Second Edition, taking the Cepheus Engine and applying it to sword and sorcery!”

Well, that explained the loincloth. Kinda.

“So,” I says, “what’s the scoop on The Sword of Cepheus?”

“An abundance of swordy goodness!” he says.

Swordy…?

“A dozen playable non-human species, a huge bestiary full of vile monstrosities, fast-paced combat, and a perilous sorcery system that can mutate the caster!”

“Okay, sounds good,” I says. “I’ll give it a review. Just drop it here on my desk.”

He drops it on my desk, knockin’ over my coffee cup in the process.

“Fear not!” he says. “I have this cloth right here I can…”

“NO.”

[Review] The Uncanny Highway: Blue-Plate Special Edition

Introduction

The name’s Davenport. I review games.

So the other day I was in my office, mindin’ my own business, when in walks… a dirty hippie.

“Hey, man,” he says, “I’m here to, like, give you a review copy of The Uncanny Highway. Dig it.”

“Okay,” I says, wishin’ I’d picked up that can of Febreze from the store. “So what’s The Uncanny Highway?”

“Oh, right,” he says. “It’s this game about, like, a psychedelic road trip during the groovy 1960s and 1970s, where, like, everything you ever heard of is real, man: vampires, spacemen, Bigfoot, you name it. Far out!”

“Fine,” I says, takin’ the book. “I’ll give it a look. Seems a little silly, though, if you ask me…”

“Yeah? Well, you know, that’s just like, uh, your opinion, man.”

[Q&A] Dan Prisco-Buxbaum (Omega Horizon: Core Rulebook)

[7:32 PM]Dan – Paleo Gaming: Hey everyone! My name is Dan Prisco-Buxbaum, and I’m the lead writer and developer of Omega Horizon, which is a new sci-fi TTRPG based in an original space punk setting on an interstellar scale. The game utilizes our recently launched PGRS d6 roll-and-keep system, where Skill Groups determine how many dice you get to roll, and associated Traits determine how many dice you get to keep from that roll to build your final result.

[Q&A] Rich Oxenham (Cryptid Creeks)

[1:01 PM]Rich (HatchlingDM): Hi Dan, I’m Rich, the director and designer at Hatchlings Games, a ttrpg publisher for all ages. (done)

[Review] Talislanta Epic Edition (6th edition)

Introduction

The name’s Davenport. I review games.

So last Tuesday I’m sittin’ at my desk, mindin’ my own business, when in walks this tall, skinny guy — 7′ if he was an inch — with sandy skin, frilled ears, a row of six little horns running down the middle of his head, and a kinda bony spur comin’ out of his chin.

Had to be a Sindarin, which could mean only one thing: Talislanta was back. Crazy high fantasy setting, like J.R.R. Tolkien and Robert E. Howard got together and dropped acid. Lotsa different races. No elves.

“Salutations, human being! I have ambulated to this location to purvey to you a reviewable tome of Talislanta Epic Edition, which might otherwise be known by the appellation of Talislanta 6th Edition.”

One thing about Sindarins: They just love to hear themselves talk.

“Now, the ‘6th Edition’ sobriquet is likely the more accurate designation. But then, ‘Epic Edition’ more fully elucidates the grandiose nature of the effort.”

Oh, yeah, another thing about Sindarins: They got two brains in their noggins. And they don’t always agree.

“Nice,” I says. “Been a while. So what’s new with Talislanta?”

“Much!” he says. “Perhaps too much to articulate! Or perhaps not! For the moment, it is enough to discern that the volume collects the best elements of the rules from previous editions and presents them in glorious full color!”

“Tal in full color, eh?” I says. Now _that_ hadda be somethin’ to see. Up until now, the art’s been great, but all in black and white, ‘cept for the covers.

“Sounds good,” I says. “So, you gonna hand over the book, or what?”

“I’m of two minds on the subject.”

[Q&A] Geoff Gray (Tales of the Kytin Age)

[1:03 PM]KytinousG: Hi Dan et al, I’m Geoff Gray, author of the TTRPG, Tales of the Kytin Age – currently on Kickstarter!