Quote:
Originally Posted by GB Steve
Personally I've enjoyed running GUMSHOE and I'm using it for Cthulhu at the moment which it serves well, especially as the scenario is clue heavy and requires about 10 skill rolls to get all the handouts.
Esoterrorists is expressly written as a light modular game, as stated on page 1, so I'm not so worried about the present lack of depth.
And I'm in favour of the sparse setting. There's so much modern occult material available for free, much of it in news sources that I'm happy not to be tied down to something hard and fast. Part of the problem with Cthulhu and its ilk is that the players no so much about the background that it no longer presents any surprises.
I am rather associated with the project but this does mean I've had rather a lot of practise with it and haven't found it wanting yet for the kind of game it serves, except perhaps a slight hiccup in the area of listen rolls (easily remedied).
So 2/2 seems harsh to me, especially if you consider the great cover, the good GM advice and the rather attractive page layout.
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I agree. I just got my copy recently and, to be blunt, most of the critiques raised simply don't match with what I've found in the book.
Esoterrorists is essentially a setting to highlight the GUMSHOE system. That is the impression I get. And it came to about $38NZ including shipping, maybe less - which I think is a perfectly reasonable price for an RPG product like Esoterrorists.
The layout is attractive without being overly distracting. The Rules are clear and concise. I agree that combat is a bit bland, but I get the impression that by the time you reach a combat in Esoterrorists the game is nearly over. It serves the simple purpose of resolving conflicts in a suitably dramatic and expedient manner. Laws has stated that if the demand is there he will design a more detailed combat system.
The focus of the game is investigation - and the system does that very very well. It promotes thinking about a crime scene to find additional clues, and the mechanics are well suited to that.
I also like the modular nature because it can be transposed onto almost any other game system. Which is also a plus.
I agree - 2/2 is overly harsh. I'd say 3/3 or 3/4. The setting is light, but there is enough there to run a game - for the price you pay, it is fairly well done. The GUMSHOE system is cool and a nice shift in thinking for RPGs.
Conan