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The Darkest Age
by William B. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 04/02/2015 12:04:58

I really liked the writing, the concept, and the execution.

Except for a few points where it seemed to be hit with a bit of copy pasta from the OGL material, it was extremely well written and organized.

As a horror work for D20 I'd rank it up there with the Ravenloft 3.X Gazetteers in terms of how well it presents a setting, and inspires you to get immersed within it as both a player and game master. Its story blurbs, background write ups, artwork, etc, all add to the ambience and make it have a distinct and original character. I know some may take issue with a few of the setting's historical revisions. However once you arrive at the setting material in the Game Master's section, you are made well aware that this was not meant to be a historically accurate game or setting (in case the undead being a thing were not a big enough clue to begin with), that time period's prejudices and values are not intact here, but an alternative history with fantastical elements added is. So take it or leave it on that point, it was just how the authors chose to exercise their artistic license. (Side note: Also many people are not well studied students of history, and themselves substitute what never was as 'how it REALLY was back then' when criticising works of historical fiction anyhow.)



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
The Darkest Age
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The Darkest Age
by Jim R. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 04/02/2014 17:29:17

A bit of explanation for my rating. This is a 5-star game, beyond a shadow of a doubt. I love the setting, the D20 rules system is one my players know and love, the production values for the book are superb... but the unprintable expletive company that publishes it has made the .pdf unprintable. So, if you're semi-stuck-in-the-stone-age, like me, your only method of getting a print copy is to buy it. I buy a lot of print copies through DriveThruRPG, but before I go to that expense, I print out a copy and read it away from my computer. That's why I'm rating this as I have.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Creator Reply:
Hey Jim, Obviously the unprintable Character Sheet is an error! I think we\'ve fixed it. Try the download and see. If not, let us know! Thanks!
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The Unconventional Dwarf
by Anthony J. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 03/24/2014 13:55:09

'THE UNCONVENTIONAL DWARF' IS A BRILLIANT SETTING & CULTURAL STUDY FOR THOSE SEEKING AN ALTERNATIVE TO YOUR FATHER'S ROLE-PLAYING GAMES.

As a game master and player in almost every major fantasy and horror RPG system for the past 20+ years, my ability to be surprised by anything taking place in Greyhawk, Mystara, Dark Sun, Forgotten Realms, or on one of the Worlds of Darkness has taken a back seat to a comfortable familiarity and basic kinship with my gaming group. That's not to say I haven't enjoyed these campaign settings because I have. That's not to say I haven't had DMs or storytellers who breathed fresh life into these worlds and their lovable casts of characters. However, it's been years since I picked up a new book that actually brought something truly original to the gaming table.

In place of endless reinterpretations of the same old horrors and player classes, 'The Unconventional Dwarf' introduces you to a fantasy world that blends classic fantasy with mythology, politics, and history in a progressive, contemporary fashion that will inform your character building and campaign creation in a very profound, very meaningful way. In the world of 'The Unconventional Dwarf' you are more likely to spend an afternoon exploring the ruins of a defunct civilization than you are slaying a dragon or dungeon crawling. Not to say there isn't room for plenty of the latter, but your characters will function differently in this world. They will reason. They will have a reason. They will live.

This is a book of lore that functions as a historical document. The text is humorous, intellectual and carefully considered but reads like a work of non-fiction rather than a slapped together jumble of stats and rules. Game masters and DMs looking for epic long game source material should stop and take note. This is hands-down the best indie RPG publication of the past several years. Enjoy.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
The Unconventional Dwarf
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The Darkest Age
by A customer [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 10/22/2013 10:22:57

Thoroughly enjoyed the game. I am a zombie fan (who isn't) so I thought it was a great new setting to consider for the genre. I appreciate the integration of the female characters and I hope that others take note of the importance of this option, especially for the population of young girls.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
The Darkest Age
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The Darkest Age
by Derek A. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 10/07/2013 23:22:36

Just bought the digital download a few days ago and, so far, it looks great. The artwork is solid, the flavor text and lore enriching and immerse, and the setting grim and unforgiving. It does a very good job at making each character, though not too many characters to have the problem of "class-cloning", but each one feels completely different from the rest. I liked the introduction of more social and support classes such as the merchant or midwife; character archetypes that have been breezed over in the past. The storytelling and a true commitment to roleplaying seem to be essential in playing the game to its full potential. The idea of playing an Apothecary and being told by the DM, "Your friend has just been bitten by an infected... Unless you amputate his arm immediately, he will die and become a zombie" is quite a daunting task, along with countless other horrible fates worse than death. The social setting revolves around moral choices and dialogue, rather than slaying mighty dragons with cosmic thunder punches. The mechanics are very well fleshed out using the widely-used D20 system for combat, however it seems like this game's selling point is its atmosphere. Ultimately, its power lies with the imagination of the players, not the numbers on a die. I recommend the Darkest Age to anyone who might be looking for a mature horror style campaign.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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The Darkest Age
by Scott L. [Verified Purchaser] Date Added: 10/05/2013 22:58:22

The Darkest Age is a creative take on the popular zombie apocalypse genre. I really enjoy horror and fantasy games and I was happily amazed by the setting and concept. It feels like a survival horror video game in which strong heroes face impossible odds. There is palpable dread the moment you being reading, with well-written tales sprinkled throughout, setting the stage. The art and graphic design are well done. I especially like the period woodcut style art. The writers have smartly made use of the popular d20 system making it accessible to many players. I didn't have to teach my group to play, which made it so much more enjoyable. The character classes are plentiful. They all fit well within the setting and have clear purpose within a party. The writers turned the classic D&D classes on their heads and made them their own with some interesting additions. I am especially fond of the Midwife and the Apothecary. Both are entirely new; at least I've never seen them before, adding an unique flavor to the setting. Some players might be put off by the extremely low magic of the setting. However, it makes sense, since the game takes place in an alternate history of our own world. There are no wizards or flashy spells, making hand-to-hand combat and smart tactics the core of the play experience. Luckily, my gaming group are combat lovers, so the combat is never boring. That's not to say the game is completely without the mystical. The rites and relics presented within the game are nice additions, keeping 'magic' a bit more realistic. Plenty of new feats and a few new prestige classes round out the package. The Darkest Age is a worthy addition to any role player's collection.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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