Post originally by Attila at 2004-02-02 10:03:56
Converted from Phorums BB System

You are a bit too kind with the book IMO.

The storylines are rather bland and lack detail. Important things are mentioned in the text, but all details remain to the GM.

IMO the writers didn't thought about the characters, who played through the previous, Prelude to war book - they probably became important adepts in Barsaive, with lots of connections, but most of the adventures and ideas basically ignores this possibility. In the first storyline, for example they are basically nothing more than a bunch of postmen. The mayor events are played by bigguys of the setting, without needing the characters - which is a problem, since this is supposed to be the top of the most important epic in Barsaive's history, and the characters are supposed to be, you know, important heroes in the game.

Cara Fahd, the ork kingdom, which seemed to be one of the most important battlefield of the war, due its strategical place is barely mentioned in the book. Ditto for Kratas, or Travar - which is strange, since Travar has one the largest airfleet in the whole province, and don't understand why don't participate in the war at all...

There are no charismatic NPC's in the book, who would help the GM and the players to emotionally attach themselves to the events. In Prelude there were Neden, Aardela, Omasu or Krathis Gron - now nobody.

The editing is confusing, hard to read or find anything in the book.


Having read the hints about the original FASA version and seeing the LRG product I had the impression, that the original storyline was already a bit too much in love with the metaplot and less about the characters. The changes made by the LRG guys did not improve on the problems at all.

LRG improved their standards since this book, and maybe a revised (meaning: a completely rewritten) version would be a good idea... Or maybe not. I consider this one the worst books ever released for Earthdawn, it is even worse than Mists of Betrayal or the Theran Empire sourcebook...