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*Note: This review is based on a hardcopy 2nd printing of the Explorer's Edition*

Savage Worlds is a rules-medium RPG that specializes in suporting large battles while minimizing GM prep time. Gameplay is tactical, yet fast and loose, offering plenty of opportunity for integrating roleplaying with combat, while providing a framework to do so consistently and in a balanced manner.

Although inteded to be genre-independent, the game is focused on the human (or near human) power level. There are sections on magic, equipment at various tech levels, etc. The rules also offer satisfying character development with a minimum of complexity. The only common genre for which the game seems ill-suited (at least without supplements) is Supers. Nonetheless, overall I'm quite pleased with the variety of settings and games that could be run with just this $10 book.

And mention of the book itself brings up the big problem that prevents a five-star review: The binding on the 2nd printing of the Explorer's Edition is simply terrible. Despite careful handling, my copy was dropping pages right away, and a quick check of the Pinnacle boards shows I wasn't alone. Pinnacle is aware of the issue, and is correcting it in future print runs, but beware the 2nd printing, or at least plan to have it spiral bound.

Boy, was this a tough review to write.

First of all, here's what you get: A much prettier version of 3.5 w/ some of the proud nails removed. DMG and PH in one book. In other words, if you've been following Pathfinder Roleplaying Game (PFRPG), pretty much exactly what you should be expecting to get.

Did I mention this book is beautiful? Huge, sewn binding, ink that doesn't smear, amazing art (including armor that doesn't appear to do double duty as S&M gear). The physical quality of this book is 5 stars, and it's a steal at $50.00.

The game itself, in its attempt to clean up the biggest problems with 3.5, intoduces some great ideas. Enter Combat Maneuver Bonus (CMB) and Combat Maneuver Defense (CMD), which act in tandem to unify combat maneuver resolution mechanics. The math may need some tweaking, but the idea is sound and delivers a noticeable effect in speeding up the use of maneuvers.

But for the most part, under the (very pretty) hood, this is just mostly 3.5. Which, again, is to be expected. If you really enjoyed 3.5, and/or you main concerns are easily addressed with houserules, this is a five-star book. There is also Paizo's great content to consider, which just sweetens the pot.

But (and this shouldn't be a secret to anyone):

If you dislike D&D 3.5, you probably won't care for Pathfinder. I don't think it is different enough to really turn many people around. For those folks, this book is probably 3 (or even 2) stars.

Context: I GM'ed this module at Gencon 2009 seven times.

The good: This adventure's settings are very thematic and evocative. Combats are tactically interesting. The encounters provide plenty of chances for various character classes to shine. A steal for the price. Makes great use of Flip-Mats.

The bad: Minor mechanical snafus (NPCs with PC levels do not have their hit points computed per the PFRPG core rules; a missing spell or ability in a few spots). Needs an RP encounter.

Improved (sewn) binding over the regular release, but the same smudgy ink and bendy spine. This books is closer to what the $35 version should have been.

The 3.5 edition deluxe editions got it right, and were worth $75. This isn't even close.

Improved (sewn) binding over the regular release, but the same smudgy ink and bendy spine. This books is closer to what the $35 version should have been.

The 3.5 edition deluxe editions got it right, and were worth $75. This isn't even close.

Improved (sewn) binding over the regular release, but the same smudgy ink and bendy spine. This books is closer to what the $35 version should have been.

The 3.5 edition deluxe editions got it right, and were worth $75. This isn't even close.

Different than, and probably not quite as funny as, the Gamers, but still a must-see.

Even having the original Dungeon mags, this was well worth the purchase at full price. At $30, this is a steal. Wonderful NPC depictions, a cool atmospheric city, planehopping; the list goes on. Great, great, great.

...because it contains so much useful flavor. I can't think of any other book, beyond the CS or the Gaz, that would be more helpful to a DM in making Golarion come to life.

Buy it. Watch it. Love it.

Ok. The monsters that are here are great. BUT there are just too many iconic monsters missing. Missing dragons. Missing giants. Missing mundane animals, for goodness sake. And this book has the same physical quality problems in the other 4E core books: Bendy spine, crappy binding, smudgy ink. Falls frustratingly short of its great potential.

Really great DMing and encounter building advice. Actually focused on running a good game. The main problems? Half-finished skill challenge rules and lackluster physical quality. Still, probably my favorite DMG so far.

Super heavy duty (admittedly an idea lifted from Green Ronin's awesome True20 screen). Great choice of charts on the inside, no unwanted pack-ins to jack up the price.

...but this isn't one.

The good: The rules. They are cleaner, simpler, and easier to run.

The bad: Incomplete. The druid should be here. The gnome should be here. And where is my 2nd controller? Stealth borked.

The ugly: Physical quality of the books is bad. Bendy spines, blotching ink, marginal bindings.

This could have been a knock-out. As it is, it is a flawed (and incomplete) presentation of a great system.

...and then bought the PDF to see the experience from the DM's side of the table. Good production values, very atmospheric descriptions.

All-in-all a solid effort.

After multiple, thorough readings, my appreciation of this book just keeps growing. There is enough detail here to form a solid foundation, but not enough to constrain creativity. (Edit:I would almost recommend this over the full CS; if you're on a tight budget, but want to get in on Pathfinder Society play, this should be your first purchase).

The map is very well done, and the book itself stands up to plenty of punishment. There are a few minor editing snafus, and no index, but overall this product is a great value.

Buy it!

Not gonna cut it in a Paizo world. Physically flimsy, thin on plot and setting, this is a cliche of a dungeon crawl. Worse still, basic things like the treasure parcel rules are ignored. Some good art and a few tactically interesting combats can't save this one. If this is WotC's A game, and it should be, I might just forget about 4th edition.

Not recommended.

...but the short version:

Excellent content
Great organization
So-so editing

Very good book. Worth a purchase.

I finally got around to giving this a thorough read-through, and wow I'm sorry I let it sit on the shelf as long as I did. I'm hip deep in DMing ROTRL, but I'd love to run this right now. I dont' know of any higher praise than that...

With the exception of Seven Swords of Sin and Into the Haunted Forest, I've been extremely impressed with the Gamemastery line, and this adventure is a prime example of the best the line has to offer. Unqualified "Buy on sight."

I didn't find this as impressive as "Gates of Delirium." It works, and has the virtue of not being recognized or distracting, but pales in comparison to things like the WoW soundtrack (which you should RUN out and get, but ONLY if you players don't play WoW) or even lesser known classic works you can get in the bargain bin.

Preface: I know *nothing* about music, so if you want technical details, I can't give them. I can't tell a trombone from a harp.

I used this CD as background music while running "Expedition to Castle Ravenloft." It was suitably disturbing, dark, and creepy.

I'm going with 4/5 stars because imho the price is a little high. I think they'd be better off all around by going with $9.99 or so...I would guess the higher unit sales would offset the lower price. I know that at $10, I'd pick up more of Midnight Syndicate's work. As it is I have this disc and one other.

...but chain him to a desk and make him write more of this for me while he is at it.

To be fair, much of the imagery here may come from Mr. Hitchcock. In any case, there were several "shudder" moments that gave me pause. This module captures dark fey perfectly...I can't wait to inflict...err, run this.

One thing I do have to say about Mr. Logue's work: the outcomes seem relentlessly bad no matter how well the players do, which could get old. Easily changed, and not worth losing a star over, but worth mentioning. Someone needs to give Nic a hug... :D

Ok, I wanted to love this adventure. The world can always use another good 1st level "kick off" adventure. The art and production values are top notch, as we have come to expect from Paizo, and the author even mixes in some good old fashioned detective work.

So what's the problem? Well, the set up for this adventure is a total railroad. While I understand that this criticism can be levelled against most adventures, especially ones of the low-level variety, there are *way* too many places to come off the rails here.

Assuming you manage to stay on the track, things turn into a solid low-level wilderness romp, with cool, varied encounters. I didn't see any glaring stat-block errors on the first read-through, and I really liked the flavor text, names, etc.

Another nipick, more related to the integration of the various TC products than to the adventure itself: A few of the related products feel a bit shoe-horned in (for example, the Inn is two stories, but the map pack depicts a single-story Inn). The adventure does point out this discrepancy, and I get that most people will buy this as part of the treasure chest. Just read carefully lest you make bad assumptions based on the map tiles, etc. that end up not matching the text.

Undoubtedly well worth the $5 price, but not up to Paizo's normal standard. In any event, D0 is a much stronger choice.

First of all, this product really is a "special-features" behind-the-scenes look at the process of designing a new edition. If that interests you, this is well worth picking up. I know I intend to buy the next entry in the series.

The art is very strong. O'Connor seems to play a lead role, which I like as he was one of my 3E era favorites. A bit too much of the "Dungeon-punk" aesthetic endures, but that is more of an issue of art direction than it is of execution. There are several pieces that made me pause in admiration.

Complaints? The book is physically flimsy, being noticeably inferior to the paper/print quality of pathfinder. Also, the price is too high, given this book really does serve some marketing purposes. Given the print quality, I think $10 would have been a better idea, and probably moved the quantity demanded high enough to do a bigger run and spread the fixed cost over a larger # of copies.

Recommended for would-be designers or people interested in the design process; otherwise pass.

Very portable and convenient, but a touch flimsy. This flip-mat in particular is one of the better ones...the "path through the forest" is so common in D&D, and this is a more generic, prettier take on it that the Forest Path flip-mat. This would probably be the second flip mat I picked up after the dungeon one.

At this point, I have a half dozen of these things, but I still pick them up selectively. If that isn't an endorsement, I don't know what is. I can't see a reason not to own at least a few.