Whether a Mythras fan or not this is a great book for those interested in running games with a more ‘Lies of Locke Lamora’ schemes and plots style game. The setting is a solid and at a minimum a great platform for hanging these sort of games with lots of hooks and adventure suggestions throughout the text. I’m quite fond of it but tastes will naturally vary.

If you are a Mythras fan the book contains a wealth of new options for equipment, combat, sorcery and animism. It’s also a natural partner to the Factions book.

For me this book joins the ever idolised Monster Island as a Mythras no brainer.

-Open and fair: I volunteered to review this adventure so have received a free copy to do so. -Warning: This is spoiler light review, but I’m bound to slip a few details in as I go.

I’m also looking at it from the viewpoint of a Mythras player since I am unlikely to use the house system (although I am told it’s interesting).

The setting for the adventure is a low fantasy Europe but pleasantly central rather than western Europe and set in the 15th century (1452 C.E.) which is certainly a nice change from the majority of European based or inspired games. There is magic but rational explanations and substitutions can easily take that out.

I’m going to split this review into several parts starting with the reprinted adventure (from the players guide) ‘The Robbery at Zur Höll’, the titled The Devils Pass and probably a ramble of final thoughts at the end.

‘The Robbery at Zur Höll’ Described as a mini-encounter I’d say a good GM can get a very full intro out of this if they don’t just work along the dots and play to the social interactions. The scenario has two well described NPCs to roleplay off, like Hans the tavern keeper and the main antagonist, but also the location and situation which are characters in their own right.

Two pre-gens are provided and make good examples of setting PCs.

The Hook for the adventure is a kidnapping, lovelorn lad gets snatched by notorious robber knight, the PCs are agents for the young noble’s family, not rescuers mind, but to deliver the ransom to the bandit lord that has him.

The encounter is situated at Zur Höll, an inn located in a burnt-out hamlet…taking a step back, the overall setting is Franconia (Medieval Germany) after a series of wars and battles…relatively isolated from the main country. The inn itself is well renowned and intact despite the surrounding hamlet being burned out and is the backdrop for this ‘encounter’.

Avoiding too much detail the PC’s, who you will recall carry a great deal of money and have horses, are besieged by bandits and must overcome them to save their, and the inn folks hides.

There is a second act where the innkeeper whose staff have been spooked ask the PCs to investigate his cellar, this leads to the discovery of a secret tunnel and a foreshadowing encounter for the next adventure (although you can run without leading to that).

This is a simple introduction to the setting, but it works well and I’ll tell you why, in bullet point.

The Good

• It starts in an inn, for us oldies where else. Seriously the inn forms a very real character in its own right, I’d encourage a bit of research to really sell the feel of this essential medieval locale, but the writers give you more than enough material to work with and Hans is a solid NPC to interact with. • It has a tight but broad hook that several different character types can use all at once if not using the pregens. • It ties easily to the follow-on adventure and gives a nice base to work from if the players want a feeling of continuity and attachment. • The fight with the bandits involves range and melee and can move between several locations from the inn, stables and courtyard. Given its gaming roots it’s nice to not just see a slugfest. • The baddies are easily identified so the players shouldn’t have too much moral ambiguity to muck things up. • The most important thing though is the author paints a setting and presents a historical period in enough depth and detail that the GM should have no issues presenting this for his players. At least on an introductory level.

The Bad • The inn employees, except Hans, are cardboard and could use some padding. I genuinely don’t know that you’d care if Pavel the stable boy gets crucified (he doesn’t). • The second act I have a small issue with, and I’ll explain as best I can. The innkeeper who owes the PC his life and inn ask the strangers nearly murdered there to investigate ‘mysterious’ goings on in his cellar. No matter how I squint at it I can’t see why your PCs would do this (maybe that’s a reflection on my players), remember they have a ransom to deliver. One of the suggestions to encourage the PC’s is have one of the undeveloped NPC’s steal the ransom in a sudden but unexpected betrayal…the ingrate. It felt very forced, the cellar could just have easily been introduced as an escape route, you discover a tunnel to an old church, or used as a means to ambush the bandits from behind and introduced organically that way.

Mythras Thoughts *So as a Mythras player I think this is a great intro scenario.

The setting is interesting (I look forward to reading the Codex Baltic Volume 1 & 2), it has character in the sense that it has its own personality, there is conflict and flavour unique to the place and time. It’s a good choice for a backdrop.

The hook is a roleplay delight and I’d encourage my PCs to have passions towards the kidnapped or his kidnapper!

The combat is just the sort to make me nervous, in a good way, and although not set up with Mythras in mind a Mythras GM is going to appreciate the possibilities of the inn (particularly if they expand it to include more guests and bandits maybe a possible siege. It can be a real dynamic location given the chance.

We move on…*

The Adventure Continues! Upon leaving Zur Höll to continue their mission the PC’s find their way blocked due to various armed conflicts till they find themselves diverted and trapped in a small valley ‘The Devils Pass’. Devils Pass is in a bit of a bind and the only hope the PC’s have of leaving are to resolve this

It’s probably very important here that the GM explains to the PC’s the high likelihood of the forces fighting killing them on sight or discovering the money and killing them for that. The tunnel from Zur Höll is suggested to also potentially lead here. I’d do this as the inn makes a great base of operations.

The only concern I have with the valley is it can potentially feel railroaded getting the PC’s there if you’re not careful. It’s actually a very realistic option for the characters in the middle of war-torn Franconia but players and their pesky sense of agency, so be careful to establish the issues early on and well.

Devils Pass is not a linear adventure, rather a mini sandbox with several plot threads to explore, expand upon or ignore. I think it’s unlikely the players will ignore them as the author has placed an interesting conflict in the valley that needs resolution if the characters are to achieve their goal of getting further along their journey.

The village of Tettau is effectively under siege and its inhabitants have concealed/blocked the entrance/exit to their valley to avoid attracting further troubles from the roving band of warring bandits and nobles.

You get a very detailed look at the region, the inhabitants and the history of events to date. Again, the author gives the GM a playing board and the equipment to really embed the players in the location and period.

The valley has several factions and major NPC’s who are very well detailed in personality and goals although I suspect unless your PCs are unpleasant at least two will be obvious enemies but even the villagers and their leader the Abbess aren’t guaranteed allies.

From a plot point of view the main goal of the PC’s will be getting out of the valley and to do that they’ll need to deal with the valley’s problems. Since these problems universally involve large numbers fighting it out shouldn’t be solution number one.

The author offers several well detailed encounters and possible plotlines, more than enough for this mini-sandbox, random encounter tables to help fill in what happens inside or outside the valley for roaming players are also present. Tettau is a stopover but unless its problems are resolved its more Hotel California.

The Good • Great location with plenty of flavour, history and ambience. Your players should enjoy getting to know the valley and its inhabitants. Good and bad. • NPC’s! Better, much better. A variety of NPCs with enough detail in personality and motive to give the GM plenty to work with. • Good plots and events. Unless you’re playing with pure dice rollers the players should be at least a little intrigued by what’s going on and have a good reason to get involved. The relationship between the NPCs is also good fodder for roleplay. • Some solid GM advice is popped into the text about how your players could suicide if stupid. I would prefer sidebars as some of its important to highlight for novice GM’s.

The Bad • Not really a bad as to be fair we are talking a small company, but layout and art are only a solid C, decent but unlikely to blow you away. That said the layout is functional, and the art used (stock?) is appropriate and evocative. I was happy to hear and see a sample of the upgraded maps coming and this could push the score to a C+. I love a good map. • The players could feel railroaded into the valley, as I said it’s a completely realistic and logical outcome for events, but this should be called out page 1 and some guidance included.

Mythras Thoughts *If you play Mythras the presence of gunpowder weapons will be a sobering thought on trying to bully your enemies or potential allies, their numbers likewise will discourage suicidal assaults. The level of magic is very suitable to Mythras and easily converted using Folk Magic and Theism.

For a game like Mythras the encounters and situation present players with a variety of characters ample opportunity to shine. Social, combat, exploratory inclined can all find rooms here.*

Overall I really like ‘The Devils Pass, it’s a solid sandbox in an interesting location and period of history.

Overall I’d score this adventure 8/10 It presents a solid situation for characters to interact with and explore but with room enough for the GM to expand and make its own. The writer puts sufficient detail for the non-historian to present the setting to the players and also be entertained themselves.

I think it a glowing recommendation that I have purchased the Medieval Baltic books and would happily run a game (or play one) in the setting presented.

So up front I have to say I don't like writing reviews and I especially don't like to do so for adventures I haven't run. That said, I really want to run this adventure and definitely feel it should come recommended if you intend to play Mythras/Monster Island. I will try and stay spoiler free.

If you're not familiar with Monster Island you should think about becoming so, however a clever DM should be able to easily substitute the contents of this module and their own creativity as a substitute.

I was going to call this a little adventure but at 60 pages (inc. Covers) and chock a block full of events and info it feels anything but. Broken into three distinct chapters you cover quite a bit of the traditional adventure pillars, social/exploration/combat and there is plenty of opportunity for a variety of character builds to shine.

The story is interesting and fun with a plethora of NPC's to act as aid or foils as well a wonderful mix of exciting environments to explore and challenge the PC's. It's difficult to do it justice without spoilers so you'll just have to take my word...or buy it.

The individual chapters should offer many nights of enjoyment as the players are challenged in a variety of ways from a possible heist, trekking through a hostile jungle and some exciting exploration keeping all your bases covered. If you enjoy a good pulp action adventure you'll enjoy this.

Tonally I was reminded of such films as Doc Savage or Indiana Jones the environment is reminiscent of Kong Island meets Tortuga.

As a GM I was particularly impressed at the ease in which this adventure could be expanded and the advice given to help new GM's, a lot of guidance is given in each chapter to help with structuring that part of the adventure but it is 'guidance' not railroading. The section on Hex Crawls is certainly useful and one of many pieces that you could easily carry over to other games alongside NPC's, creatures and so forth.

The art is excellent, with some lovely story pieces and some simpler but useful, clean and well done map pieces. The cover is particulaly excellent and captures quite a bit of the feel for the adventure.

Hopefully my poor review hasn't put you off picking this adventure up, if like me you're a time poor GM then you'd be mad not to. The heavy lifting is done for you. If you're not time poor then the material here could add many nights of enjoyment to your existing game.

Fantastic new product from the Monte team.

Afterworld is a dark setting with a populous at the very bottom of a big pit of despair and social degradation but in the emerging 'New Gods' and the Seven Prophecies you have a spark that to me allows for a campaign of true heroism and hope. The vibe I got was very much like the superhero comics of my youth filled with characters (the PC's) who are larger than life and shining beacons of hope and heroism. Not that I can't imagine a darker toned game, God of Evil anyone?

Mechanically you have a system that I feel is more fantasy superhero than gods and I'm not entirely sure how the deeds ascribed to the old gods were accomplished but that small criticism is really no criticism at all as the characters you get to play have plenty of scope for amazing deeds and fantastic adventures very reminiscent of the legends of Greece.

I'd definitely recommend picking this game up and I only hope the line gets continued support.