In the interests of transparency and full disclosure, let me start off this review by noting that I have worked as a freelancer on a number of 3PP products, mostly for 4 Winds Fantasy Gaming, but I also have done a piece of work for Stan! and Owen Stephens. In addition, I'm an acquaintance of Ms. Poussin, one of the models used in this product.
All that aside, this is an excellent product. In terms of quality, it's a standard 32-pages softcover with color photographs in lieu of traditional art, with a standard dual-column layout. The text is clear and easy to read, and the tables are well organized. I did spot one typo: under the "Wardens, Reavers, and Thieves", it mentions that time thieves' powers are fueled by motes and aeons, rather than aevum. Not a big deal for me, just a minor whoops. No points deducted.
So what about the content? Well, the classes both draw inspiration from such diverse sources as "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time", "The Matrix", and "Doctor Who" and "Back to the Future" among probably others I didn't catch. The classes are excellent executions of the concept, and when reading through I wanted to roll up a character just so I could play through a campaign as a time thief. That class has lots of abilities that are both fun and useful, essentially daring the player to "go awesome". The time warden, while slightly more complex (being a spellcaster) appears to have a very nice balance of abilities. Neither a time thief or time warden are especially "better" or more powerful than a standard class, but rather they establish their own niche. A time thief *can* be a skill monkey, but won't replace a rogue when it comes to trapfinding and sneak attacks. A time warden *can* be a support caster or secondary warrior, but they won't replace a monk or bard. This careful balance means that there should always be room in a party for one of these characters.
My final note will be about the art. The photograph is good, both adding to the exotic nature of the classes. While some may feel that the time thief is a bit heavy on the fanservice, I don't mind that at all, and the time warden is about the same for those so inclined. I was slightly amused that the Time Warden appears to have chosen to carry a wooden scimitar instead of a steel one, but again, no points off for that.
So, what do you get with this product? In short, 2 classes that should be a fun and well-balanced addition to any campaign, and a quality product from Super Genius Games.
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