Bondsworn: Desiderius and Keale (PFRPG) PDF

This is the first little pdf of Mór Games' Council of Lords-series; it clocks in at 22 pages, 1 page front cover, 2 pages of editorial, 1 page ToC, 1 page SRD, 1 page advertisement, leaving us with 16 pages of content, so let's take a look!

So, what is this? There is no single easy answer to this question, but I will try: A bondsworn constitutes a lordship and commons and as such, this should be considered a kind of sourcebook that can be used to flesh out either components of the Imperiums Campaign Setting...or to insert the material into a kingdom building context, but unlike similar supplements, the focus here does lie on the roleplaying aspects: While there are full statblocks to be found herein (alongside abbreviated ones that contain basic info for RP-heavy non-combat encounters), the captivating concept here lies less in the stark numbers and more in the narrative potential. You see, to me, the work in fleshing out the holdings of a given lord or clan are not necessarily founded on the crunch-work - there are quite frankly enough supplements out there to deliver that.

Instead, I consider the work to be in something more devious and ultimately harder to achieve component: Weaving a convincing tapestry/political landscape/structure. To drive home the point I'm trying to make: How many of us have endeavored to properly depict interesting struggles between barons, how many books have you read where that fell terribly flat of its own ambition? Well, and then there would be one famous example where this worked almost perfectly - I'm obviously talking about "A Song of Ice and Fire." Call me a nerd, but one of the developments in the Game of Thrones TV-series that irks me to no end is that the gross oversimplification of the political landscape is catching up to the series, making some of its more intricate elements coming apart at the seams. Where is this detour going?

Well, essentially, you should picture this book as a little look at two "A Song of Ice and Fire"-like noble houses, supplemented by some crunch. From mottos and traits to common knowledge regarding the respective houses, we have, ultimately here, two inspired houses with notes on the ranking members, DCs and the like all presented, to the point where, beyond known information on key players, we also get information on properly playing such a character...including reputation, naming-conventions and the like.

Oh, and the writing is downright stellar, to the point where I'm quite frankly grinning from ear to ear, having some fine tidbits for the scholars among us - Keale's chapter opens thus:

Prithee heorcnian æt mín luftíme fitt

Of hwítlocu ælfcyning hyghte Aladone

Hwonne íc wæs on mædencild íc aswáf án

æt þæm heald þære wintertid blóstmest

Ere ic I spurnan on se acsan ceald

Mædencild an ofhende winter weald

Aladone wæs bihrite and wéman mín blæt

Und mid aelfencræft ánerede mé

If you're a bit rusty, fret not - there is a handy translation provided - and yes, this direct quote of Minne-traditions is represented in the half-elven nature of most Keales as well as in the theme of the bondsworn. Oh, and yes, even the BANNERMEN of the bondsworn have their own motto! This focus on smart, narrative potential is btw. also mirrored in e.g. an artifact-level blade associated with a poem - reciting a line activates the power of the blade (regular English suffices here, btw.) - which, while not perfectly formatted, still adds a level of poetry, of immersion into the material here that is absent in so many supplements.

Better yet, there is a gamemaster section that not only provides inspired hooks, it also capitalizes on the genius emergence-rules innovation of the Imperiums setting, providing a unique benefit for both bondsworn featured herein.

Conclusion:

Editing and formatting are very good on a formal level, though some missing italicizations for spells and minor hiccups like that do exist. Layout adheres to Imperiums' 2-column full-color standard, which, while beautiful, makes this slightly less printer-friendly than it could be. The pdf comes fully bookmarked for your convenience.

William Moomaw and Mario Podeschi deliver a most uncommon pdf here - one I wholeheartedly endorse you to check out - why? Because it is a supplement that does not exist primarily to justify numbers or the like, to provide bloat in that regard. Instead, what we have here is an inspired book that brims with narrative potential - not only for the Imperiums campaign setting, but also for others. The strength of this supplement does not lie exclusively in the rules presented, though they are neat: It is in the intelligent writing, in the well-crafted prose, in the captivating details that this pdf comes to life. It may not be perfect, but there is a reason I quoted "A Song of Fire and Ice" in this review: What we have here is a thoroughly intriguing political sandbox that practically demands expansion, that lives by virtue of the strength of its inspiring prose and by the grace of its daring, unconventioal premise.

It is, pretty much assumed in the 3pp-scene that crunch sells better than fluff and that groups are primarily interested in bashing foes and taking their loot and while there is crunch here, I certainly do hope some of you take a look at this pdf and buy it; What we have here are wonderful political factions that can drive whole campaigns, if you want them to - lavishly detailed and crafted with love and passion that oozes from the pages, factions that hint at the vast potential of this series. This is a great read for a truly fair price, so let's refute the notion that we gamers prefer cardboard cut-outs over detailed, diverse factions and political landscapes. In one sentence: This is a true, capital letters ROLEplaying supplement.

If my gushing rambling was not clue enough -I love this book. While not perfect, I will still award it 4.5 stars + seal of approval for its superb writing, rounded up for the purpose of this platform, with the ardent hope we'll get to see more.

Endzeitgeist out.

This is designed as but the first in a series called Council of Lords which is intended to provide players and GMs alike with a wealth of additional lore and game mechanics to enhance their enjoyment of the Imperiums Campaign Setting. Considerable reference is made to the Campaign Guide: Plight of the Tuatha, and this book will be of limited use (particularly as far as new rules are concerned) if you do not possess it. If you do, however, it adds to the richness of the setting, describing two Bondsworn in quite a lot of detail.

OK, so what is a Bondsworn, anyway? Basically, it is an individual or group that runs an area or provides a function for the Avitian Emperor and all the people that work for or are beholden to him/them. This is described by referring to the Lordship (an individual leader or group of leaders) and the Commonus, who are all those who help support the Lordship's function... in any role whatsover, from functionaries to soldiers, cooks, people who dwell in the area. In a feudal-style ceremony, people swear an oath to the Lordship and the Bondsworn as a whole upon reaching the age of majority (10 years) - just how the choice of which Bondsworn is made is left a bit vague. Most being territorial, it's probably based on where an individual lives at the time. Although this sounds feudal it isn't strictly so, the Lordship does not take on concomitant obligations although many do treat their Bondsworn well, as extended family even, others do not, regarding them as slaves and chattels. As long as the Lordship fulfils their duty to Avitus, they can run their own affairs pretty much as they like.

First up is the Bondsworn Desiderius. They're on the up and up, gaining prosperity and prestige at an amazing rate... although nobody's quite sure how and many feel they are due a catastrophic downturn in their fortunes ere long. The background and organisation is described, with notations throughout as to the suggested Difficulty Class (DC) of finding out each nugget of information, a neat touch to aid the GM when the characters become interested in the Desiderius. Hyperlinking is also used to good effect, to appropriate parts of Campaign Guide: Plight of the Tuatha and even to a webpage on the Mór Games website where there's further information and an attempt to build a community around this Bondsworn... something that at the time of writing is under construction although you can 'swear your oath' to them, presumably if that's the group your character has chosen to join. Several NPCs are provided in enough detail to play them convincingly, whilst there is also a section on playing a Desiderian, useful for characters wishing to throw in their lot with them.

We then meet Bondsworn Keale, an ancient Bondsworn with origins in a union between the human Baronness Ke and an elf called Valerian Aledone (the name being derived from ancient tradition by the combination of their two names upon marriage). Their wealth is based on countless acres of fine woodland as well as excellence in arts and crafts. They also mine silver and mithril. Again, history, NPCs and other information is provided, along with some pithy quotes attributed to Keale Lordships.

Finally, there's a Gamemaster Section which in the main provides some neat scenario ideas for those who wish to bring these two Bondsworn to life within their game. These are quite skeletal, and you'll have to develop them into full-blown adventures for yourself, but as suggestions they are quite imaginative.

Overall, there's good material here if you have decided to use the Imperiums Campaign Setting. Presentation is attractive, although more attention could have been paid to proofreading - the most glaring error is when 'Bondsworn' suddenly changes to 'Bloodsworn' in the Gamemaster Section! - but the mistakes don't detract from the sense too much. It certainly highlights the rich depth of this campaign setting, and leaves you waiting for more!

(Would have awarded 4.5 stars did the system permit...]