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Originally Posted by MrWilli
Good review, although I would have been a bit more critical of the system. I don't think it makes a very enjoyable experience in terms of gaming -- there is not enough detail built into FATE the to make enemy encounters fundamentally different from one another. Fights are a bore, and pulp is supposed to be a very action oriented genre. Plus SOTC makes the common mistake of trying to cram different pulp genres -- adventure, crime-fighting, detective fiction, etc. -- into the same setting and, as a result of trying to find room for all that information, doesn't describe how to GM any of them particularly well.
I think FATE is good for more story-driven adventures where the characters are pretty limited in their options. Mysteries and detective gaming are the areas where it shines, since such game rely more on interviewing witnesses and investigation rather than gunfights. What doesn't fit are pulp adventures like Indiana Jones, masked avenger-type scenarios or anything where combat and exploration is a central focus. I think three stars is more appropriate since the book and the system is only useful for some scenarios and not others.
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I'm very surprised by this - I actually find fights in SotC more entertaining and action-packed than a lot of other games, mainly for the added options tagging scene aspects adds, and deciding how you can use the environment to your character's advantage. I think Indiana Jones is a good fit for SotC's take on action! I guess it's just one of those 'your mileage will vary' cases.
My only beef with fights is that it can take a lot to threaten a PC's stress track if they're geared up for a fight with high skills and combat-related stunts, and at 5 boxes and 3 consequences resolving them can take awhile - although my concern is addressed by options on the Fate wiki, so in practice I'm happy!
Nice review I thought!