Re: [HoE] The Boise Horror -- my review (LONG)

["travis lide" <sinisterdexter@mindspring.com>]

----- Original Message -----
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Sun, 19 Mar 2000 16:14:21 -0500
> From: loki@triadntr.net
> Subject: [HoE]  The Boise Horror -- my review (LONG)


I'm not gonna quote that whole thing, but I do have just a few words about
it.

First off, I agree that in some parts, it certainly falls a little short.
Maps should be used anytime combat gets this complex and missing text is..
well, irritating - although not really Pinnacle or Goff's fault..

Secondly, this is the second time someone has mentioned that it's "endless
carnage" and "nothing but combat", etc... I have to totally disagree.
Between every major fight sequence there is a great deal of role playing
available. With space as obviously limited as it is, every adventure CAN'T
say, "And now here is a section of wonderful conversations to have while
your posse gets acclimated to their new locale:...." It's expected that a GM
will do this themselves.

Sure, after a fight players may have no chips, but good players should gain
several before the next combat. The exception to this is towards the end,
but that's why it's the climax of the story/adventure. Just like in any
(good) action movie, the hero always faces more and more at the end that he
wouldn't have been able to face at the start. Just my 2¢...

And personally, I don't think there was supposed to be any surprise to a
Marshall who and what the Horror was. Hell, most everyone had it figured out
by the time _Last Crusaders_ was published, so it didn't really disappoint
me.

That said, I will also say that I enjoy prepackaged adventures, even though
I've played few and run less. But they're usually good reads (as Boise
Horror is, IMHO), and if you don't want to run it, or think your version is
better - you're free to think that and change anything and everything you
feel necessary. Hell, when I was run through the Devil's Tower Trilogy, it
served as background to a more pressing (!) adventure our GM was running. He
altered the ever living mess out of that thing. (I know because after he ran
it, he told me to read the originals)... Names were about the only thing
that stayed the same. Hellstromme didn't even make an appearance!

Anyway, I agreed with some of your review, but overall, I think you were
just a bit to nit picky on some things based on the fact that you don't like
prepackaged adventures..
It takes all kinds, though.. ;-)

sinisterdexter@mindspring.com
-the kind that stays up REALLY late reading his e-mail.....