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Re: [HoE] A Complete Review Of HoE

first of all, thanks for the reviews!    I like reading reviews and you covered your bases well. 


1.The wasted west
The Witch character and
spells were pretty nifty, too. Thought they could use more (the ones up on
the webpage right now help)

I like the Witch character as a minor arcane background.  they are one of the very few ABs you can have without being part of some organization. I honestly don't think they need much more, or maybe a once-in campaign thing they find a couple more spells.  the fact they are weaker, to me, gives them more appeal.


Overall thoughts: Great, definitely required reading.
I agree.


2. Brainburners


Overall thoughts: Good, definitely required for Sykers.
I liked it, tho I thought it was a teensy bit powerful with a few of the powers.  but thats a personal thing, not a real criticism.
depending how your player rolls, it may be awhile before you get to enjoy a Backlash.  I have yet to see a Syker in one of my games do so. (ed note: yes, I know you spent chips not to, Mr. L.. ;-))  IOW, I agree.



3. Children O' The Atom
 The Lectors, Hekants, Atum, and Amarna. What can I say?
I didn't like this one bit. It was booring, silly (I didn't care for the
whole Egyptian myhology and sun god angles to mutations.) Dull, and in my
case, nonexistent in any campaign I run.
I strongly disagree here.  I like the Lectors, their whole alternative take, ect.  I think they do an excellent job as another brand of Doomsayer.  I take issue with it being boring, strongly.  We have a Lector in our group and she does a good job.  The mythology is a fresh way of viewing things, IMHO.

Then there is Brin, what's not to
like about Brin? I actuall am serious, the character is great, and has a lot
to offer and a motivating NPC.

I disagree here as well.  I did not like Brin. why? the reason you gave above: boring and silly.  we have YET ANOTHER beautiful woman who hates being hit on and will fry whatever poor sod does so.  This has been done so many times its sickening.  Heck, this was done in the 70s in gaming...nothing new here.  I was almost looking for the Black Fury Glyph on her.  I thought she was trite. One more "I am gorgeous, I know it, and no man better touch me" then I need.


Sucked; Not a Pepper, I'm a Pepper, I'm a Pepper,
too. These three struck me as just plain useless (and I don't care for the
mention of Pop Rocks and Mikey, just a bit too immature)..

I liked these, but for the same reason you disliked them.  clearly, we simply disagree.
 

Globs (just because I can see a PC continually nagging me "Are there
any frogs around" at ever available opportunity),

If the PC nags you, tell him no. As far as I am concerned, this is a risk you take when you pay your points for this one.  I like Globs, and I expect if my Doomie has it it will very very rarely be used.  But then, as my Posse can attest, I do have a fascination with frogs, so I am biased.

Overall thoughts: Very Good, despite that whole Atum nonsense. Required
(obviously) for Doomies.
I agree apart from the Atum slight with this.


4. Road Warriors.
Ahh, what can I say about Road Warriors? Well, the intent was certainly
good, and effort was made, but there isn't enough here in the way of story.
Sorry to say it, but the whole deal with the Convoy was nice, it it has
place in the Wasted West, but this infor would have been better off if it
had a place in the Wasted West book itself (much more brief, of course). I
wouldn't call it "fluffed", and there was good effort to make it more
usefull, like the general info on the west, the Maze (like the fires), what
the Combine has to say about the Convoy, Etc. Overall, not Drek, but it
needed more.
I had issue with the NO part that seemed to contradict WW.  otherwise, I agree.


 And despite the fact that this book is called Road
Warriors, there are no edges and hinderances, gadgets, relics, or anything
that you could use if you had a road warrior character (I was hoping for a
relic that was a Hacksaw used by a waster to saw his own hand off to escape
a soon to blow up vehicle (Ok, so it's blatantly lifted, but it wouls still
be neat)).
I think RW relics would be unnecessary.  we don't need the wheel of driving.
I understand some wishing there were E&H here.  It would have had its place but I did not miss it.



Overall thoughts: Great, but only if vehicles play a large part of your
Wasted West games, if not, call it below average.

I generally agree.


5. Last Cruasders
Of particualr
note, I though using John Wayne as the Saint of Grit was *perfect*, with
that nift back story about his conflicts with the reckoning. Totally cool.

I think this is odd considering what you have a problem with above.  Esp. if you know alot about John Wayne.



Overall Toughts: Excellent, Up untill this point I was convinced that this
was the best character book for HoE, then I read....
I liked it less, but I am not overly fond of Templars.  Personal thing.  I had no real problems with the book tho.  Its a personal thing.  The average reader should note that quality wise I agree, I just wanted to post the personal note.


6. The Junkman Cometh
OK. I gotta admit, John Hopler (and this book) are currently tops on my list
for best RPG supliment for next years Origins awards. Man, this book was
un-friggin'-believable. Totally amazing. The background story at the front
of the book was so well written, so clever, and so cool. That whole thing
with Junker Magic and Tech Spirits is great. The Whole bit about how the
Manitou pulled out all their assisatance once Ghost Rock bombs were
deveolped was great, especially the torment (and violence, and suicides,
that followed, with distraught scientists). The early development and the
Sons of Sitgreaves story was good as well, and I have to admit that I love
how the Weird West comes full circle and it's influence pops up in HoE from
time to time (like Ronan Lynch as a Saint and such) it's what makes this
game so damn cool. Hopler evidently knew this and used it to full effect.

I agree 100% with this statement.  I even second it.  This to me was part of what made the book for me.
.


Overall thoughts: The single best sourcebook for HoE. You won't be
dissapointed.
My sole issue with the book is that Junkers alone usually require a calculator to play.  The math, given what we are used to (ed. note, stress the given what we are used to, not overall) is very advanced.  If this does not bother you, then run with it.
I will say that I approved strongly of Junkers using Cards, if only a little bit.  I missed the cards with the ABs of HoE.  In my game,. I have Junkers bring their own decks, like Hucksters or Mad Scientists, but then I obsess.

7. Cyborgs
Background was well
developed and had a lot of good info on the use of cyborgs in the last war,
alway a plus for roleplying a Last War era cyborg.
I agree very strongly with this.  I loved the BG.



Overall Thoughts: Great for Cyborg and Harrowed wasters, good overall.

I agree.



Thanks again for the reviews.

Chris Aniballi
Anciously awaiting M3 and Iron Oasis



The Baron Samedi,
The Fastest Zombie in the West