Post originally by Lugh at 2004-07-15 07:16:10
Converted from Phorums BB System

You make some valid points, and a number of invalid points.

First, I'd recommend investing in a spell checker. It really does make your arguments look more professional and intelligent.

Second, I think this review should have been broken into two parts. You mostly performed a review of the Spycraft system, not this sourcebook in particular.

Now, for some points. I think you've missed several of the fundamental design decisions behind Spycraft. It was designed from the ground up to be a d20-alternative product. In much the same way I would not expect a Mutants & Masterminds sourcebook to be generically useful to any d20 campaign, do not expect a Spycraft product to be generically useful.

The silver books, those for the core Spycraft line, are designed to be 100% crunchy. It's all about how to play a high-action espionage game, with zero setting information. The makes it extremely portable to any modern or near-modern (and even some sci-fi) setting with minimal effort. The crunch-to-fluff ratio here, while not to your liking, is very deliberate, and has gotten some good feedback from other buyers.

As has been mentioned elsewhere, Spycraft is deliberately designed with the toolbox mentality. The sprawling rules are designed to cover every possible campaign need. But, they are also designed so that, if you don't have that need, you can ignore those rules, without unbalancing the rest of the game.

The debate about reprinting rules vs. referencing other sourcebooks is an old one, with excellent points on both sides. IMHO, AEG has struck a good balance with Spycraft. Getting further into that debate is unlikely to be fruitful.

Now, to answer some specific points you made.

<i>the writers of Spycraft seem to feel that rules suppliments sell far better than scenarios or even settings.</i>

This is flat-out true. Gentleman's Agreement was one of the poorest selling books in the line. The SFA line was terminated, due to lackluster sales. Core Spycraft, OTOH, is still selling extremely well.

<i>Spycraft rules seem almost universally excellent in quality</i>

Thank you (as one of the playtesters).

<i>To delineate other areas smacks of overkill.</i>

Um, then what exactly are you expecting out of a sourcebook? Why did you pick this up, if you didn't want villainous organizations delineated?

<i>not assembeling a central index</i>

There are, in fact, two indices. The first is in the Spycraft forums on the AEG site (and is often updated /before/ the books are released, as a teaser). The second, and phenomenally comprehensive, Master Index, is available at http://www.modus-operandi.co.uk/portal/downloads/spycraft_masterindex.pdf

<i>[animals in Mastermind]</i>

Most of the animals you are likely to run across in Spycraft are likely to be the trained pets of masterminds. q.v. "mutant sea bass with frickin' lasers on their heads"

<i>[NPC class rules missing from Mastermind]</i>

The rules for handling NPC classes have been in every single black book, and at least one silver book. Personally, I'm glad to not have two pages wasted in each book on reprinted rules. Aside from those who only purchase the SEH and one random supplement, I think it serves the majority of the community better. And, as you point out, the rules are reprinted in the errata for maximum availability (i.e., you are not being coerced into buying another sourcebook).

<i>Shouldn’t they both be self contained and only expect you to own the core rulebook?</i>

Er, no. I haven't picked up Mastermind personally yet, but I'm pretty sure it mentions that it's going to reference Fix/Ptm pretty heavily. If you've already expanded on a core rules set in one place, why should you ignore that expansion in another? /That/, more than the sheer number of sourcebooks, makes for a chaotic and inconsistent line. And, aside from pretty constant references to the Modern Arms Guide throughout the line, I believe that this is the first time this level of reliance on another sourcebook has really come up.

<i>I really don’t understand the utility of having a complex rules system </i>

Then don't use it. It's that simple. Some of us want it. Some of us need it. That's why we buy these supplements. Personally, I'm not a fan of the Mastermind system. I find it too limiting. But, others have praised it as a godsend for helping them to organize, and, most important, balance threats to their players. And, there are other subsystems, such as the interrogation rules, that I would have trouble living without.

<i>Perhaps if there were a computer program</i>

Ah, but there is! http://tyger.xganon.com/programs/support.html

All in all, this review tells me two things. One, you don't like Spycraft. Two, you don't like rules-heavy systems. So, in short, I don't think this supplement was likely to be your cup of tea. I do thank you for explaining a number of your problems with the system in general, as it gave readers an excellent grounding in your attitude coming into the review. But, given your prejudices and preferences, I'm not sure you gave the product a thoroughly fair consideration.