[RPG]: Hollow Earth Expedition, reviewed by Dan Davenport (5/5)

[RPGnet Reviews]

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/13/13893.phtml

Dan Davenport's Summary:

This is not the best all-purpose pulp game out there. That is because it does not try to be. But in its wonder-filled Hollow Earth filled to the bursting with dinosaurs and other megafauna, ancient miraculous technologies, Nazi occultists, pirates, Amazons, and beastmen – just to scratch the surface (pardon the pun) – it may well be the best simulation of a specific pulp <i>genre</i> since <b>Call of Cthulhu</b>.

Go to the full review (http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/13/13893.phtml) for more information.

[C.W.Richeson]

A very thorough and well written review, Dan!

I agree with you that HEX doesn't enable default characters to be quite as kick ass as the characters it draws inspiration from.

[John Aynge]

Dan, a great review, and very fair.

I'll also point out that Exilegames.com has a LOT of extra free material that goes right along with the game itself.

[bluejay]

Thank you for this excellent review Dan! I realise now that this is the kind of game my players would be very interested in.

[Lemony_Fresh]

Awesome review, makes me feel better about buying this game on a whim. One request however, could you detail the process you used to create the more powerful characters used in your group?

[capnzapp]

Hi Dan, what is your relation to the designer/publisher?

[Dan Davenport]

A very thorough and well written review, Dan!

I agree with you that HEX doesn't enable default characters to be quite as kick ass as the characters it draws inspiration from.

Dan, a great review, and very fair.

I'll also point out that Exilegames.com has a LOT of extra free material that goes right along with the game itself.

Thank you for this excellent review Dan! I realise now that this is the kind of game my players would be very interested in.

Thanks for the feedback and kind words, guys!

[Dan Davenport]

Awesome review, makes me feel better about buying this game on a whim. One request however, could you detail the process you used to create the more powerful characters used in your group?

Thanks, Lemony!

And sure, I'd be glad to explain. If you look on page 72, you'll see the description for the Allies Resource. In column 2, paragraph 3, you'll see the point breakdown for Allies of each level. I replaced the standard point allocation with the point allocation for a level-5 Ally and removed any started experience points. This results in characters who are no less than above average in every respect and quite likely the pinnacle of humanity in several respects.

[Dan Davenport]

Hi Dan, what is your relation to the designer/publisher?

Well, I really did meet Jeff at GenCon '05, and it's my understanding that he took some of my suggestions to heart as he finalized the system for publication. At GenCon '07, he was nice enough to cover my ticket to the show, which I greatly appreciated. Basically, I do consider him a friend, albeit an online one.

That said, I made it clear to him (as I do to everyone offering me review copies) that I judge a game on its merits, my goal being fairness, not fanfare. So, my hope is that you found this to be a balanced review that ended up solidly on the positive side because the product earned it. :)

[capnzapp]

The reason for my asking that you say (or seem to say) you played the game prior to its publication. Standard practice in such a case is to begin your review with a disclaimer, detailing your relation with the publisher.

The fact I did not find any such notification, coupled with your high grade, prompted my question - and yes, I have purposefully disregarded the fact you are a prolific and appreciated reviewer, as well as a forum moderator.

I honestly think your review would be much better off with you disclosing the nature of your friendship with the author at the beginning.

Best regards,
Zapp

[Tim Gray]

I think you'll find we do things a bit less formally than that round here, Cap'n.

[Dan Davenport]

The reason for my asking that you say (or seem to say) you played the game prior to its publication. Standard practice in such a case is to begin your review with a disclaimer, detailing your relation with the publisher.

The game in question was a demo game at GenCon '05, so there was no special privilege involved. I just happened to offer Jeff more feedback than most. However, upon re-reading my mention of that game, I can see that I wasn't at all clear on that point. My apologies.

The fact I did not find any such notification, coupled with your high grade, prompted my question - and yes, I have purposefully disregarded the fact you are a prolific and appreciated reviewer, as well as a forum moderator.

I honestly think your review would be much better off with you disclosing the nature of your friendship with the author at the beginning.

Best regards,
Zapp

Well, as to the "friendship" part, I kinda did that in a joking manner in the intro; however, I'm sorry if I wasn't clear on that point.

To be honest, I tend to strike up online friendships with publishers as I chat and exchange emails with them to ask questions as I read review copies, so I hadn't really given it that much thought.

[Kaemaril]

Great review, Dan!

Now all you need to review are Ubiquity dice (which could be a first :) ), the excellent GMs screen, and the Secrets Of The Surface World. By the time you're finished with them, Mysteries Of The Hollow Earth will be out and you can review that too! :D

[C.W.Richeson]

The reason for my asking that you say (or seem to say) you played the game prior to its publication. Standard practice in such a case is to begin your review with a disclaimer, detailing your relation with the publisher.

The fact I did not find any such notification, coupled with your high grade, prompted my question - and yes, I have purposefully disregarded the fact you are a prolific and appreciated reviewer, as well as a forum moderator.

I honestly think your review would be much better off with you disclosing the nature of your friendship with the author at the beginning.

Best regards,
Zapp

For what it's worth, I think this is a great point to raise. Biases can be difficult to control for at times, and it's worth disclosing those biases. I agree, as well, that any review is worth asking these questions of. 'Forum status' and review history aren't a barrier, but hopefully they are a positive consideration in favor of the reviewer.

However, I don't detect any bias here. Dan very clearly lays out his reasoning for his score. The mechanics and content are clearly discussed in a way that any reader can determine whether this game is something they want to pick up.

[jcombos]

Thanks for the review, Dan. I really appreciate you taking the time to dive deep into the game and write up your experience with it. I think you did a great job presenting the game's strengths and weaknesses. Of course, we're working on improving it all the time.

Also, for those wondering about the 2005 demo game, I ran it at Gen Con and it was open to anyone brave enough to have bought a ticket. At the time I ran it for Dan, I had no idea who he was. He was just a nice guy with some good feedback on the game. I ended up incorporating a lot of the feedback from those demos. They were really helpful!

[NYTFLYR]

Great review!

My only qualms about the system is the all encompasing "to hit" roll, it just bugs me (just like it bugs me in nWoD).

HEX would probably be my pulp game of choice if I hadn't already discovered Adventure!, that being said, its a beautiful book and the two games are similer enough that elements of HEX will show up in my Adventure! game.

[Dan Davenport]

Great review, Dan!

Now all you need to review are Ubiquity dice (which could be a first :) ), the excellent GMs screen, and the Secrets Of The Surface World. By the time you're finished with them, Mysteries Of The Hollow Earth will be out and you can review that too! :D

Heh. Stay tuned... ;)

[Dan Davenport]

Thanks for the review, Dan. I really appreciate you taking the time to dive deep into the game and write up your experience with it. I think you did a great job presenting the game's strengths and weaknesses. Of course, we're working on improving it all the time.

My pleasure! The delving continues...

Also, for those wondering about the 2005 demo game, I ran it at Gen Con and it was open to anyone brave enough to have bought a ticket. At the time I ran it for Dan, I had no idea who he was. He was just a nice guy with some good feedback on the game. I ended up incorporating a lot of the feedback from those demos. They were really helpful!

I knew this game was going to do well very quickly. Not only did Jeff clearly have a vision of what he wanted to do, but he also had a really professional and friendly demeanor.

Of course, the fact that he was willing to throw down for that gorgeous, enormous display also suggested that he wasn't kidding around. :)

[zcthu3]

Great review!

My only qualms about the system is the all encompasing "to hit" roll, it just bugs me (just like it bugs me in nWoD).

HEX would probably be my pulp game of choice if I hadn't already discovered Adventure!, that being said, its a beautiful book and the two games are similer enough that elements of HEX will show up in my Adventure! game.

It bugged me when I first decided to give this game a try too; I excised damage from attack and found that it just slowed things up with no added benefit so I added back in and enjoyed the game even more.

Personally, for no reason I can tell, I still dislike it in nWoD

[Dan Davenport]

It bugged me when I first decided to give this game a try too; I excised damage from attack and found that it just slowed things up with no added benefit so I added back in and enjoyed the game even more.

Yeah, that'd be my advice. In fact, during that initial GenCon session, I don't recall being aware exactly how the hit/damage thing was working, and I had a great time.

Still, I have it on pretty good authority that Jeff's pondering a way to disconnect the two without slowing things down. It'd be nice to have that option, especially when dealing with giant creatures and the countermeasures used against them.

zcthu, what method did you use for separating hits from damage?