I reviewed the .pdf. For disclosure, I have played in the setting with Jack and also spent considerable effort adapting his previous Gothic Fantasy setting, World Between, to another game system. I'm mentioned in the book briefly as a player. Here are my thoughts about this book!
The rule for a good campfire is also good for a setting book; close enough for warmth, space enough to breathe. Jack Shear nailed down enough relative location information and suggestions beyond the edge of the map for those flavors to matter, but left a lot of vagueness all through the book for each game table to operate free of constricting canon.
He also provided the skeletal structure to support the GM. In addition to all the squirmy wet flavor bits, there are lines and joints and load-bearing anchor points that give direction for how to get in and started, with names and places and themes presented together.
There are cities, and they are focused to be gameable. There are factions, and individuals, and suggestions of threats and rewards. This setting is inspirational and functional right out of the box.
I could pick this book up, select a location and a prefab idea or two of things to do in it, grab a random NPC or two, maybe a faction for background menace. Add a monster or two. Jack's work aligns really well with the needs of the GM running the game in this book.
Jack Shear has my hearty congratulations on making a fine setting book that can proudly serve in the OSR, Indie territory, D&D, or (best of all) the wild space in between.
|