[RPG]: In Harms Way, reviewed by Kester Pelagius (3/4)

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/12/12972.phtml

C. Demetrius Morgan's Summary:

Have you ever wished someone would publish a Napoleonic era naval role-playing Game with both in-depth naval rules and period character development? Well wish no more! In Harm's Way may be just the RPG you've been waiting for.

Go to the full review for more information.

[flyingmice]

Another excellent review, Kester. The only thing you didn't discuss which you might have productively were the rules specific to IHW which are not in the standard SC rules, and thus, it may be inferred, aimed specifically at emulating the genre - specifically Honor/Practicality, Interest and Notice, and Troupe Play. Other than that, it covers IHW very well.

Thanks!

-clash

[Kester Pelagius]

Originally Posted by flyingmice

Another excellent review, Kester. The only thing you didn't discuss which you might have productively were the rules specific to IHW which are not in the standard SC rules, and thus, it may be inferred, aimed specifically at emulating the genre - specifically Honor/Practicality, Interest and Notice, and Troupe Play. Other than that, it covers IHW very well.

Thanks!

-clash

I felt, as I'm sure some familiar with my reviews may agree, that a brief yet succinct thumbnail overview of the game would be the best approach. Not that I have a tendency to overanalyze and nitpick or anything so tawdry as ramble on and on. lol!

But if I were to ramble I'd probably mention how bleak the section on "Medicine and Surgery" sounds, or rather will sound to those used to the magical mystical healing magics of fantasy role-playing games where their PC's are healed with the wave of a wand and pinch of pixie dust. Or how hilarious I found the sub-section on "drugs" after reading what preceded it, specifially the statement: "Drugs are used with either Surgery or Treatment to help the healing process."

Why did that strike me as humorous? Because this is an RPG where the LAST thing I think I want my character to do is getting wounded. Best to just get gored by a canonball or slip on grue on deck and slide into the deep during battle than have to deal with the stark realities of "treatment" in this time period!

Better yet I think my character will just stay home.

[flyingmice]

Originally Posted by Kester Pelagius

I felt, as I'm sure some familiar with my reviews may agree, that a brief yet succinct thumbnail overview of the game would be the best approach. Not that I have a tendency to overanalyze and nitpick or anything so tawdry as ramble on and on. lol!

But if I were to ramble I'd probably mention how bleak the section on "Medicine and Surgery" sounds, or rather will sound to those used to the magical mystical healing magics of fantasy role-playing games where their PC's are healed with the wave of a wand and pinch of pixie dust. Or how hilarious I found the sub-section on "drugs" after reading what preceded it, specifially the statement: "Drugs are used with either Surgery or Treatment to help the healing process."

Why did that strike me as humorous? Because this is an RPG where the LAST thing I think I want my character to do is getting wounded. Best to just get gored by a canonball or slip on grue on deck and slide into the deep during battle than have to deal with the stark realities of "treatment" in this time period!

Better yet I think my character will just stay home.

You often see the same sentiment in Napoleonic Naval fiction - that the lucky ones were the dead, and the unlucky ones those that had to submit to the ministries of the surgeon. Still, for practical help with minor injuries, they were actually fine. Their observational and diagnostic skills were excellent, they understood things on a practical level, like washing deep wounds in wine or extracting bits of cloth with a musket ball to prevent infection. The big thing was infection. If you didn't get infected, you were home free.

-clash

[anarchangel]

Am I correct in assuming that this is a complete game which does not require the Starcluster rules to play?

Edit: There are several revi9ews of Starcluster 2, but not of 2.5. Are there any significant changes?

[flyingmice]

Originally Posted by anarchangel

Am I correct in assuming that this is a complete game which does not require the Starcluster rules to play?

That's correct. All necessary rules are in the In Harm's Way book.

Edit: There are several revi9ews of Starcluster 2, but not of 2.5. Are there any significant changes?

StarCluster 2.5 was a system revision, not a game revision. Thus there are no reviews. The StarCluster game itself still uses the 2.0 version of the ruleset. Various other games like Cold Space and FTL Now use differing versions of the ruleset which vary slightly. The StarCluster 2.5 renames some skills - i.e. Guns is now Firearms; drops metaskills, incorporating some of the former metaskills into the skill sets - they were too confusing for most players; drops random CharGen entirely in favor of Determined CharGen - in 2.0 you could chose either; adds Volley/Supressive Fire rules; and in general hones and tightens up the package. However, these are all very minor changes, and the system is very much the same otherwise.

-clash