| Game Type: RPG Supplement
Authors: Fred Bush, Joseph Goodman, Mike Roberts
Publisher: Goodman Games
Medium: 128 pp
Price: $22.00
Reviewer: Peter Mancini Cretasus Adventure Guide (or just CAG) is the first supplement to Dinosaur Planet: Broncosaurus Rex. I've previously reported on the core book with praise. It is a unique and interesting system that combines so many genres that you can't help but be fully amused. The CAG fills an important piece of the game for you.
I was hoping for more maps, but I suppose it makes sense that this book focuses on The Main Valley. Given the level of treatment to the locations in it and the size of the Valley, it will be a while before adventurers need to venture further. The back-story given is actually quite good and continues to show Mr. Goodman's skills as a writer. Want to know what happened to Moe Williams, of Moe's Dinner? It's in there. Want to know some more about domesticating (or trying at least) dinosaurs? It's in there! Want to know where the saloons-per-capita is the highest? You won't have to dig deep to find out it is Plesiosaur Bay.
For me, chapter 2 was the one that most interested me. It is about dinosaurs and it goes into detail about their intelligence, behavior, culture, economy and so much more. I think that was one of the most major omissions from the first book but at the time I figured it was up to the GMs style. While much is still left to the GM there is plenty here to flesh out these beasts. It is quite interesting. Joe Goodman and team did a fantastic job with this section. What I like is that the information is given to you second hand from characters in the game-world sometimes. For example the section on Dinosaur Intelligence starts: "Professor Calhoun Carey of the University of New Houston is the leading scholar of Cretasus dinosaurs. His critics call him a near-savage who's gotten a little too close to his subjects. Nevertheless, his works, Lectures on Dinosaur Life, are best-sellers across the inhabited worlds." It's hooks like that, that really make this an engaging read.
Chapter 3 has more interesting stuff for players such as cool prestige classes (oh yeah, Federal Marshal has my name all over it!) and some new feats among other goodies.
The 4th chapter, a Gamemaster's Reference, is interesting. It has lots of tables for generating interesting world information. I like in particular the "Power Centers" table, which helps you randomly determine who controls the settlement. It is varied by population. There are also some interesting Vehicle Rules - D20 needs these as much as Dinosaur Planet does.
There are some nice encounter charts too. I think any GM will be glad to have these. In fact the entire book retains the high quality of the first. Walter Stuart, whose cover art on the first book was questionable, did a fantastic cover on this one. The interior art is also quite good.
I met Joe Goodman at Origins. Folks, he is a really nice guy and he deserves a share of this week's paycheck. --Peter Mancini 7/1/2002 | |
