The Stormlord's Citadel (Birch Boyer)
ACKSII adventure for three to six PCs of levels 9th-11th
I am reviewing these in the order they were submitted. For my review criteria, please check out this post. All reviews will (probably) contain *SPOILERS*; you have been warned! Because these are short (two page) adventures, it is my intention to keep the reviews brief.
It may surprise some of my readers to know that I do keep tabs on my fellow judge's on-going reviews...although I AM careful not to read their reviews before writing my own (I'm trying to render my judgments unbiased and un-colored by others' analysis). So it's with some interest I noticed reviews for this adventure popping up on three of judge's lists already (one coming out as early as January 10th!). While I definitely spend zero time worrying or wondering about my fellow reviewers order/methods of reading these things, the fact that so many pulled this one early made me decidedly curious and excited to finally get to it.
And, of course, it's another ACKS adventure.
Man, I know Ben was explicit that ACKS is "close enough" to count in the "must be compatible with TSR-era D&D category." Yes, I know. He wrote it, I respect it. But when I read the "quicksilver golem" has
aerial and aquatic mechanoreception 150', acute hearing, immune mundane and all physical, magic resist +11, skirmishing, paralyzed by cold (one round per die of * damage, in lieu of the damage), contortionism
I can't help but find myself asking: Really, Ben? Really?
Whatever. Three stars and devil take your "surging blows" and "topple and fling" feats.
[Really, Ben? Compatible with TSR-era D&D?]
ACKS I was a very direct B/X expansion and the terminology was much more recognisable, but I believe ACKS II was under development at the time that WotC was trying to cancel the Open Gaming License, and I think that spurred Alex to rewrite a lot of things in language he was confident was non-infringing, even if it's ... a big burden.
ReplyDeleteAnd since it does have a lightweight feat system, I mean "proficiency", there are keywords - here from the ACKS SRD:
Contortionism: The character is extremely flexible, able to squeeze or fold his body in ways that seem humanly impossible, including squeezing between bars and escaping chains and restraints. He may make a proficiency throw of 18+ each round to escape from bonds or to slip between the bars of a portcullis.
Skirmishing: The character may withdraw or retreat from melee combat without declaring the intention to do so at the start of the melee round. Characters without this proficiency must declare defensive movement before initiative dice are rolled. See Defensive Movement.
How many more have you left to go? I thought that you were going to finish them all in January, but we're four days into February and you're still going!
ReplyDeleteLooking at the other judges they've barely got into double figures.
There were 38 in total. I've finished all my reviews. I've just set them to roll out on a daily basis...so mine will be done by Valentine's Day. Not that I expect a bunch of bouquets or anything....
Delete; )
Oh no! I was looking forward to your review. Do you think ACKS is so different than you couldn’t infer enough to be able to provide a cogent review?
ReplyDelete"Cogent?" Man, I don't know. If I treat it like BECMI (ACKS's closest analogy), it's a little light on treasure (you're looking for 290K-300K), but it's tough to judge the danger level. "Mute elves" aren't much of a threat, and all these constructs (golem, statues) are just big, tough piles of hit points. Same with the elemental and the (single) invisible stalker.
DeleteSo what's the big threat? The Stormlord? Yeah, he's mean, but if you can figure out he's cursed (and remove the curse) then all of a sudden the entire adventure loses its threat and you get to borrow his floating ride. Which is cool, but some folks are probably looking to get paid, you know?
Eh. It's "allright." 3* is about what it's worth, ACKS or not.