Re: [RPG]: Intruders: Encounters with the Abyss, reviewed by C.W.Richeson (3/4)
Another great bestiary review, Chris!
This book sounds really surprising. Given what I know of the powers of mages -- granted, mostly second-hand -- forcing them to think their way through a problem rather than just coming up with the right spell would seem to be pretty tricky.
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Re: [RPG]: Intruders: Encounters with the Abyss, reviewed by C.W.Richeson (3/4)
Aren't the spiders just a variant on the Azlu? What makes them unique/different/awesome when compared to the Azlu? I've already used an Azlu-brain infection as a subplot in a Mage game; if I dragged out these Abyssal spiders my players would think it's just the same idea!
Re: [RPG]: Intruders: Encounters with the Abyss, reviewed by C.W.Richeson (3/4)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shattercrack
Aren't the spiders just a variant on the Azlu? What makes them unique/different/awesome when compared to the Azlu? I've already used an Azlu-brain infection as a subplot in a Mage game; if I dragged out these Abyssal spiders my players would think it's just the same idea!
I don't know what to tell you, Shattercrack. I agree that if you just used spiders as an antagonistic entity then it's probably not a good idea to immediately rehash the same idea. Fortunately there are many more Abyssal entities presented herein.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Whizbang Dustyboots
Is the Mage corebook necessary to use these critters (obviously all the advice and fluff can be run without) in, for instance, a Hunter chronicle?
I think you can get a lot of mileage out of this without the Mage corebook. The research rolls will still work fine as long as the Hunters have access to some funky arcane resources. The big problem will be that some of the entities will be damn hard to figure out without magic to detect various things. If you can find a way to work around that, perhaps with magical MRI scanners and various pieces of gear, then you're set. Just be aware that the characters will likely need some pretty solid resources in order to perform as well as Mages can.
Re: [RPG]: Intruders: Encounters with the Abyss, reviewed by C.W.Richeson (3/4)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shattercrack
Aren't the spiders just a variant on the Azlu? What makes them unique/different/awesome when compared to the Azlu? I've already used an Azlu-brain infection as a subplot in a Mage game; if I dragged out these Abyssal spiders my players would think it's just the same idea!
There are similarities, yeah, but I'll tell you why I chose to make them spiders rather than, say, Abyssal Lobsters. There's a layer in the coverings of your brain called the "arachnoid layer" because it looks like a web. That notion just wouldn't leave me alone unless I wrote about it.
Plus, the Abyssal Spiders do something very different than the Azlu. Psychic static vs. EAT BRAINS and all.
But, yeah, if you just used the Azlu, it's probably better to do something else...unless you want to draw parallels between one creature and the other. Maybe the Abyssal Spiders are Azlu in a more purified spiritual form? Maybe they're seeking out the PCs for some reason - revenge?
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