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Board Games and TCGs

Mutant: Year Zero – Ad Astra – Take the Apocalypse into Space

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I was sent the Mutant Year Zero: Ad Astra Campaign for free to cover for my blog. I haven’t had a chance to play the game because I am still finishing up my Dragonbane campaign, but I’ve read through the book. This will be my impressions of the book.

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What is Ad Astra

Ad Astra is the latest campaign book for Free League Publishing‘s TTRPG, Mutant: Year Zero releasing onf Febuary 13th. Ad Astra picks up after The Path to Eden campaign. It is recommended you own the Mutant: Genlab Alpha and Mutant: Mechatron expansions for additional rules and stats. I don’t see why you couldn’t just make up rules on the spot, but it is always nice to have balanced stat blocks at the ready. You’ll also need a copy of the core rule book, although you might get away with just using the starter booklet. 

If you’re interested in running a game of Mutant: Year Zero, I recommend you pick up the starter booklet. The booklet provides a streamlined and condensed sample of the game, and it comes with a sample campaign and character sheets to get you started. I recommend you run through the starter booklet before you invest in the system. You can grab your free copy of the PDF on Drivethru RPG, but I’ll leave a copy here for your convenience. 

MYZ_starter_bookletDownload

Story

Society has fallen. The planet has become a wasteland. Those who survive on its surface have mutated, and are now unrecognizable to their ancestors. With the resources dwindling, survivors must fight to stay alive. This time, the call to adventure takes our heroes into space. What mysteries lie beyond the stars? What adventures await? Explore the solar system and fight new monsters in this new epic adventure.

Impressions

I love the comic book style of this system, and Ad Astra is no exception. I absolutely love the flavor of this game, and space campaigns are always fun. I am never big on following prewritten adventures, but I am coming around. It is nice to have something already prepared with lore, encounters, and loot. I usually use these as a jumping-off point, but will eventually end up off-book. When that happens, it is nice to have something to fall back on when the story needs a little nudge.

I like how this book feels like a history book. It goes into a good amount of detail about factions, history, and everything you need for World Building. How much I would use it would depend on my players, but I appreciate the book for the resource that it is. 

As gameplay goes, I’ll have to run a campaign first. I’ve been having a lot of fun with the Year Zero system, so if this game plays anything like Dragonbane, I am here for it. 

If you are interested in a campaign of Mutant, I recommend you run the booklet first to get a sense if it’s the right game for your table. After your table has become invested, move through the rest of the resources until you’re ready to take things into space. 

If you’re already playing Mutant and want to take things into space, you should consider Ad Astra. The artwork is fantastic, the flavor is great, and it introduces unique monsters, items, and mechanics you’re going to want to borrow for your campaign. 

You can preorder your copy of the Ad Astra campaign on the official site for $41.80 (not including shipping), or from Amazon for $39.99 (free shipping with Prime). 

Board Games and TCGs

Ruins of Symbaroum 5E is Getting Two Exciting Expansions!

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The Ruins of Symbaroum 5E is getting two new expansions: The Throne of Thorns Part I and The World of Symbaroum. You will need the 3 core Ruins of Symbaroum (Player’s Guide, Gamemaster’s Guide, and Bestiary) and a fundamental understanding of the 5E OGL rules to play the expansion. I can see you running games with just the Gamemaster’s guide, but there is always room for more flavor. The expansions bring new characters, monsters, and adventures to fans of Ruins of Symbaroum 5E. If you’re looking for a way to spice up your next campaign, you might want to look into the Ruins of Symbaroum 5E.

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What is Ruins of Symbaroum 5E?

Ruins of Symbaroum is a dark fantasy TTRPG that uses the 5th Edition OGL rule set as a foundation, but expands on it with its intruduction of new settings, mechanics, and classes. If you enjoy 5E but want to change things up without having to learn a new system, Ruins of Symbaroum might be worth looking into. While there is a lot of content to keep you busy for a while, all you really need is the Gamemaster’s Guide. Everything else you can purchase as you need it. 

Synopsis

The rich and nuanced Symbaroum setting revolves around the Ambrians – a civilization that two decades ago were forced to flee their ancestral soil after a devastating war. Their new and promised land borders on the vast forest of Davokar, covering the remnants of the Empire of Symbaroum which fell into ruin hundreds of years ago. Brimming with natural resources and mythical treasures, the forest calls out to the Ambrians to be explored and plundered, but the road into its depths lays far from open. Not only are the shadows beneath the foliage fraught with danger, monsters and infectious Corruption; there are also the elves of the Iron Pact who have vowed to die to keep anyone from disturbing the ruins of old, warning that the ancient evil of Symbaroum stirs in its sleep. 

Throne of Thornes I

Throne of Thornes I contains the first two episodes of the epic adventure chronicle. Designed for players levels 7-9, the book takes adventures on a perilous expedition into the dark depths of the Davokar Forst. The stakes of this adventure are high as heroes must fight off cultists, monsters, and other horrifying dangers that fill its pages. The book introduces:

  • 20+ color maps with new towns and areas to explore
  • 50+ stat blocks for new NPCs, monsters, and advesaries
  • New side quests and adventures
  • Handouts for clues and other important information

I’ll need to see the book and read through it to form a better opinion, but the world seems pretty neat so far. If you’re looking for a new campaign in the Ruins of Symbaroum universe, Throne of Thornes I might be worth the preorder. You can preorder the beautiful hardcover from the official Free League Publishing website for $47.85. Preordering the book also gives you instant access to PDF so you don’t have to wait for shipping. 

The World of Symbaroum

The World of Symbaroum is more of a resource book for the GMs who enjoy the world but want to create their own campaign. The book expands on existing lore and settings presented in the Ruins of Symbaroum Gamemaster’s Guide by diving into the history of the world and introducing new people, places, and events. The book also provides Gamemasters with 34 plot hooks, 18 historical secrets, and 7 adventure landscapes in the forest of Davokar for level 5-10 adventurers. 

I’ll need to get my hands on this first before I can form an opinion, but this seems like a wonderful resource for people who are already invested in this game. If you have a table that cares about lore, or just need some ideas to freshen up that next session, go preorder The World of Symbaroum. You can preorder The World of Symbaroum from the official Free League Publishing website for $47.85. Preordering the book gets you instant access to the PDF so you don’t have to wait for shipping. 

Conclusion

These expansions seem to be geared more toward people who are already invested in the system. I recommend you check out the core book and move from there. If you’re already invested, make sure you put in your preorder! I’ll be doing a preview of the core book soon, so make sure you stay tuned for that.

Board Games and TCGs

Explore Vaesen, a Supernatural Mystery TTRPG

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There are still slots available for the free Vaesen learn-to-play event happening over at StartPlaying Games on Thursday, December 28 at 10 AM PT, and Tuesday, January 2nd at 2 PM PT. The event is hosted by the good folks over at Alchemy VTT through Discord, and it gives potential players a chance to learn about a new system and virtual tabletop. I sat through one of the sessions, and it’s gotten me curious about the Vaesen RPG. I’ve written about the class in a previous post, but you should sign up anyway since it’s free. 

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Recently, Free League Publishing was nice enough to send a bunch of their games to review. I am currently running through my first Dragonbane campaign and loving every minute of it. Till I can get to the rest of the games, I’ll be previewing all the games in the Free League Publishing library. These will be my initial impressions since it wouldn’t be fair to review a game I haven’t finished a campaign in. 

I’ll begin with Vaesen because it is the game I have the most exposure to outside of Dragonbane. What drew me to Vaesen initially was the artwork. The art in this book is beautiful. It reminds me of the old children’s books my father used to read to me when I was little.

Background

Vaesen is the spirits that exist in this mythical 19th-century Scandinavia. There used to exist a symbiotic relationship between the humans and the Vaesen. The humans would know how to keep them happy through things like offerings, and the Vaesen would bring them rain or make the fields grow. It was a relationship that worked, but one that didn’t last forever.

War and industrialization change the landscape. People begin to move to cities, and people begin to forget about the Vaesen. Years go by, and the corruption of industrialization begins to change the Vaesen. Strange and unexplainable events start to haunt the people, and they demand answers.

Only a few people exist with the ability to see the Vaesen. They have formed a secret organization to investigate and stop any nefarious supernatural activity.

Flavor

What I like most about is the flavor. The 19th-century aesthetic is neat, but the folk tale and lore are what sell this RPG to me. The core rule book is full of lore for the different Vaesen that can appear in your campaign. I enjoy reading about the different monsters, and can already have a few ideas for one shot. If your table enjoys dark supernatural mysteries, you might want to consider Vaesen.

I like how classes are handled in Vaesen. Each class has unique abilities, motivations, and equipment that help build the world of the RPG. The core book does a good job of giving players ideas for things like motivations, secrets, and trauma to help with character creation. For example, you can play a priest who is on a sacred mission because he wants to atone for being possessed by a witch, but he still hears the devil speak to him. You can also create your own, and the possibilities are endless. I like that the adventurers are just normal people who have been called to keep the world safe from the supernatural. It’s giving me fun monster of the week vibes, and I am here for it.

Gameplay

Vaesen is a D6 system. You only need six-sided dice to play. There is combat and checks which seem pretty straight forward, but the main focus seems to be on the roleplay. The game is about investigating supernatural events so players will be asking questions, searching for clues, and although there is combat, you don’t always have to kill the monsters. This is something you should consider before buying into the system. This one might be a little hard to sell at my table, but they’ve surprised me before.

Where to Buy

You can pick up the core book from the official Free League Publishing website ($52.91 + shipping). You also get access to the PDF so you won’t have to wait to get started. The core book is also available on Amazon ($64 book only) and DrivethruRPG ($24.99 pdf only).

Board Games and TCGs, video game reviews

Dragonbane on Foundry VTT is Amazing!

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We’ve had our third session of Dragonbane, and have been enjoying every minute. It was a rough start as we learned and adjusted to the new rules, but things are running more smoothly. 

What has made the transition easier has been playing on Foundry VTT using the official module. You don’t need the module to play Dragonbane. All you need is the quick start guide and some dice. You don’t even need the official module if you’re using Foundry, but it makes things so easy that you’re doing yourself a disservice by not using it. 

I’ve written about why you should use Foundry VTT as your virtual tabletop, so make sure you read that post if you haven’t done so already. Foundry VTT is easy to use, it has tremendous community and dev support, and it has a lot of the features you want from a VTT for only $50. There is also a demo you can try if you need more convincing. 

The Dragonbane module costs $27.22 with everything you need to play the game. You get:

  • 144 Actors.
  • 28 Journal Entries.
  • 370 Items.
  • 164 Rolltables.
  • 20 Scenes.
  • 5 Macros.
  • 6 Card Stacks.

Starting a game has never been so simple. The module splits up everything you need into easy-to-search journal entries and chapters. You can choose to play one of the ready-to-play pre-generated characters. But if you want to make your own, the module walks you through the simple process of character creation where you can roll your stats, and drag and drop everything you need. 

Running the prewritten adventure is even easier because you have everything you need at your fingertips. It splits up the adventure into manageable sections with quick links to help you navigate decisions. You have tables to roll from, monster stats you can easily drag onto maps, and you can roll for the monster abilities. Maps come with all the lighting effects, walls, doors, and hidden areas which is sure to impress your table. I’ve never had an easier time prepping running a game. Now this will change if you want to run your own adventure, but if you want to start with the prewritten content, the module is a boon!

The only issue I’ve been having is getting used to the system. While the system is easy to learn, my table is full of busy dads who somehow manage to make time for our weekly games. It’s been fun, and getting better as we grow more comfortable with the system.

If you’re playing Dragonbane, or thinking about running your first game online, I recommend you get this module. You’ll get more than your money’s worth, especially if it ends up being your tables main RPG.

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Board Games and TCGs, gaming news

Alien: The Roleplaying Game is getting its newest adveture

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Free League Publishing releases their Building Better Worlds module for their award-winning Alien: The Roleplaying Game on January 16th. You can preorder your copy of Building Better Worlds ($46.03) from the official shop today. 

Build Better Worlds is the RPG’s second story module. It promises a new action pact adventure as players explore uncharted loss worlds and face never-before-seen Xenomorphic creatures. The module introduces new gear, ships, and character options to freshen up your next campaign. 

Building Better Worlds is only an expansion. You’ll need to core the rule book in either physical or digital format to play the game. Keep in mind that buying any of the physical copies gives you instant access to the PDF version. You can pick up copies of the Core Rulebook ($54.70), Starter Set ($51.81), or any other expansions on the official Free League Publishing website.

I got an early copy of the book, and it looks amazing. I am always amazed at how full of authentic flavor these movie-themed games always turn out to be. I haven’t had a chance to play this game but will review it as soon as I can. Probably after all my Dragonbane content. Until then, if you’re a fan of the Alien franchise, or simply looking for a horror RPG to bring to your table, you should definitely look into Alien: The Roleplaying Game. Don’t forget to preorder your copy of Building Better Worlds while you’re at it. 

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Board Games and TCGs

The Electric State RPG Kickstarter fully funded after only 30 mins!

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The Electric State Roleplaying Game Kickstarter campaign just went live, and it was fully funded after only half an hour. That’s a fantastic sign for a beautifully illustrated RPG with an interesting concept. 

The year is 1997, and the world is on the brink of collapse. America faces its second civil war. People find escape through cheap VR headsets but become lost in the Electric State. Set off on an adventure through a war-torn countryside, and occasionally risk becoming lost yourself. The goal of this game isn’t the end but the journey you make. 

The Electric State Roleplaying Game is based on Simon Stålenhag’s art book of the same name. The art is beautiful, and if you are a fan of the art book, the RPG will feature never-before pieces from the same collection. There’s a movie in the works, which I hope is as awesome as this book looks. 

The game uses Free League Publishing’s Year Zero Engine, which I have been enjoying a lot. I love the flavor. What’s not to love about a post-apocalyptic 90’s aesthetic? If you like sci-fi and story-driven adventures, or what promises to be a very pretty rulebook, you’re going to want to look into this Kickstarter. The Kickstarter runs until December 20. People who are back during the first 24 hours of the campaign also get a bonus 216mm x 279mm print of the cover art for display. Backers of the Kickstarter will also get access to an alpha rulebook to get their journey started. 

If you don’t like physical media, the PDF is $24. You’ll get access to everything you need to get started instantly, and any of the early versions as well. 

If you want the book in your library, there are two levels you’ll need to consider. Both come with PDFs and all the stretch goals. $87 gets you the regular book, and $127 gets you a special edition only available to Kickstarter patrons. If you’re a fan of the art book or know this will be your main RPG for a while, there’s nothing wrong with paying a little extra for the special edition book. Whether you back or not, it’s worth at least looking at the project to appreciate its art. 

I’ll be reviewing the game as soon as I get a copy. Stay tuned for that. If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. 

Board Games and TCGs, gaming news

Mech Horror TTRPG Eldritch Automata Coming to Kickstarter

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Eldritch Automata launches its campaign on Kickstarter on January 2nd, and it just might be the horror RPG you need at your table. Eldritch Automata uses the Year Zero Engine that combines anime, science fiction, and horror in what promises to be a frightening and memorable experience. I’ve gotten a taste of the Year Zero System through Dragonbane, and I’ve been enjoying it. It’s easy to learn, and unique enough to provide a memorable experience. Putting this into a world of Kaijus, mechs, and other abominations seems like a good time. 

Society has fallen. Eldritch Horrors and nightmarish Seraphs reign chaos over a dying world. Humanity’s only hope rests on the shoulders of pilots and their Automota, but this is no easy task. Pilots must brave the monsters that terrorize them and the demons that dwell inside them. Do you have the willpower and fortitude to be the hero the world needs, or will you be another resource in this game of survival? 

The game will be revealed at PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia happening this weekend. If you’re attending, make sure you hit up the Gehenna Gaming game room to try it for yourself or head over to their booth (3750) to ask them any questions. I have to see more before I buy into the system, but I am interested. I love that it will introduce mech combat, but the moral mechanic adds a level of complexity I am here for.

Make sure you add the Eldritch Automata Kickstarter to your watch list so you get notified the moment it goes live. If you enjoy these updates, make sure you leave a like, comment, follow, and share this with your friends. You can also always buy me coffee.  

video game reviews

After playing the first few levels of Bandai’s new MMO, Blue Protocol, I find it breathtakingly beautiful

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Bandai’s MMO, Blue Protocol, has officially launched in Japan. While there will be a Western release in the future, I can’t wait that long. So I turned on my VPN, made a Japanese account, and have been playing essentially since launch. If you’d like to play in the Japanese servers, I made a quick guide to get you started. Make sure you are using a good VPN or your account will get banned. I use Mozilla VPN to play Blue Protocol. This isn’t an endorsement. It is the VPN I use for everything, and it works great for me.

Before you get started, it might be helpful to install the MORT: English Translation tool if you don’t know how to read Japanese. It comes in handy for some of the less intuitive quests but isn’t essential for your enjoyment of the game. MORT is a third-party app that translates Japanese text to English almost instantly. It is easy to set up and simple to use. Keep in mind that running MORT does put a strain on your computer. While I did not experience any performance issues, it did make my computer run hot. It’s a great tool you can download it on the official site if needed.

The first challenge of any MMO is the character creation. I am not big on character creation and can’t speak on how in-depth it gets. The character designs are heavily anime-inspired, which was fine, and there were enough choices to create a character I was happy with. I was excited to see that Blue Protocol offers darker skin tones in their character creation. It may not seem like a huge deal, but younger me would have loved going on adventures as a brown guy.

Once I made my character and decided on a class, I loaded into one of the most beautiful MMO worlds I have ever played in. I am blown away by how good this game looks. The spells look cool without being too busy, the attack animations are cool, and I love the monster design. Even the early-level boars look good in this game. The attention to detail in this game is astounding. There is a day and night cycle that will allow you to sit through some beautiful sunsets. I loved watching the blow through the grass as I ran through the large open fields. Based on the early levels, Blue Protocol brings a beautiful and immersive world that you should check out at least once. I can go on, but you need to see for yourself. 

The early level is similar to any other MMO. I won’t spend too much time talking about the early levels. The early-level quests do a great job of teaching players the fundamental mechanics at a solid pace. There is a healthy population of players to help you if you get stuck. Most of the early-level quests are intuitive and don’t need translating. I did get stuck trying to get to adventure rank 2 to progress through the story, but this video does a great job explaining what to do if you get stuck:

Combat is where this game wins me over. I played the Spellcaster and loved it. There are five playable classes in Blue Protocol: Aegis Fighter, Twin Striker, Blast Archer, Spellcaster, and Heavy Smasher. Don’t stress about your choice too hard because you can change between classes freely later in the game. Choose whatever appeals to you most. I have only played Spellcaster and can’t speak on gameplay for the rest of the classes.

I love the magic mechanics of Blue Protocol. Spellcasters get a basic attack, a recharge action, 4 regular spell slots, and an ultimate. You have to stand still to cast a spell, but the kiting in this game feels so good. I never found myself standing still for too long, even when I was fighting low-level boars. What sets this game apart is how the mana regen mechanic. Mana either replenishes automatically after battles, with a spell you get early on, or with the recharge action. Combat becomes this fun game of managing your resources, kiting, and casting which I am all about now. Coming from the NGS magic system, combat took a bit of getting used to, but it is slowly becoming my favorite. I know for sure now that I will be a Spellcaster main. 

I haven’t gotten too deep into the game, but I am enjoying the journey so far. The game looks great, runs perfectly, and it is a lot of fun. I don’t know how grindy it will be towards the end game. The early levels at least don’t haven’t felt grindy, although there are a bit too many fetch quests for my liking. 

I have been searching for an MMO to replace the void Phantasy Star Online has left, and I think Blue Protocol might be the one. I have been enjoying it so much that I even stopped following the story because I want to enjoy it properly when it comes to the West. I do watch the cut scenes because the voice acting is fantastic. I will be playing Blue Protocol on the Japanese servers until the official Western release, or until I get banned for being American. Whichever comes first. 

Gaming News and Review