Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 kmfdm Nov 04, 2003 15:14:17	After having about 3 days to look it over, I have mixed feelings of the new edition. Now I sat down to write a review 3 times now, but could not find the words to explain everything. So a quick run through of what are the PROs: 1. Using the new d20M or 3.5 rules 2. Excellent background: just enough but not too much. the humor is excellent very old school: read 1st story and Brutorz 3. Balanced weapons (compared to 4th's vibroblade and a sword) 4. Biotech very interesting to give non-mutant powers to anyone 5. Cybernetics also like Biotech 6. Very cool Commuity based rules 7. I do like the mention of lowering Damage Threshold for realism 8. Synthetics: PLayers always wanted the robot type 9. Removal of that stupid idea of aliens in Alternity 10. Gamma World is back baby! CONs: 1. Few mutations: well we do compare it to 4th which had alot, but I think these are just to get us by till Mutants & Machines comes out. 2. Some mutations can be devastating to players and can screw up the character's role and abilities in a second, I can se many mutants committing suicide after their prized character gets a very bad mutation. 3. No mention of the old Tech III items: flintlocks... 4. Very little on the old Cyrptic Alliances 5. Not enough info to make Mutated Animals 6. Same as to Plants: how am I supposed to balance them? Mixed Feelings: 1. Psionics are finally old school, but right now very small 2. Community chapter good, but seems out of place. Way too many example communities, pages shouldve been used on something else. The whole Ch4 couldve been put in DM's HB 3. Pure Strain Humans seem not the same, players who played as PSH in 4th liked it they didnt have to worry about mutations, but now thats all changed. 4. Mutants that get a mutation everytime they go to 0 HPs? not to mention every level they gain.... and I thought Radioactivists were too much. 5. Stock Humans just seem out of place or just underpowered compared to Muants and Synths... no one wants to be one. 6. Nanotech is interesting, but seems very powerful right now. Ive already had known powergamers grinning at the sight of the nanotech rules... 7. Seems the Tech has been pushed too high for my taste. 8. Losing the loved GW flavor, makes this version a generic sci-fi apocolyptic setting. Now we all have to take a deep breath and finally come to the acknowledgement that this is not edition 4.5 which we thought it would be. This is a new style, setting, and rules that we will probably use because who even likes 4th's skill system? Not I for one or the crazy Artifact chart no one really used. Using the d20M classes do allow customization, but so far I see too many characters taking all the weapon feats they can get their hands on and the wealth system is wacky in the beginning when players can get all the power cells they want and a couple blaster weapons to start with (1st thing to be changed) Characters seem the same in the beginning when they use all their feats on weapon proficiencies. I will be reflecting on changing this some how and maybe creating a HighTech Weapon Prof. Other then that I will be running a few GW games soon so I can get a good idea of what I need to change so it can reflect the good old days where we had clubs, flintlock, drooled at the sight of a Tech IV weapon, and almost had a heart attack when we saw Mark Blaster that we can take!! If U like GW, get this book and wait for the next couple of books before U start Home Ruling. But the first thing U should look at if U do want the 4th ed. feel is increase Wealth DCs or use currency instead. I give the book a B- But I am looking forward to playing GW once again. Thank You SoS and Bruce for bringing us GW back from the grave
#2 lugnut71 Nov 06, 2003 16:02:38	Wow thats a great review.
#3 lugnut71 Nov 10, 2003 10:32:35	You lied to me. You told me you would repost after someone wrote into your post
#4 kmfdm Nov 11, 2003 9:43:33	HAHAHA I meant a good post! HAHAHA I didnt even see the second post always saw it as a the first. This GW board is kinda slow... (Lug grab the Savage Species book from me next time ur here.)
#5 lugnut71 Nov 11, 2003 10:26:47	Oky Dokey artichokey
#6 zombiegleemax Nov 11, 2003 13:56:18	RPGnet posted a magnificent review, I give you the link . I'm of the few people that discovered Gamma World through the Alternity version anf I have to say that I simple hate the idea of seeing it go D20... I just don't see the level mechanic in an "open" game like this one, and I love the Alternity version (the story sucks... but hey, nobody forbid me from getting a 4th Edition copy and read the one there ^_^)
#7 kmfdm Nov 11, 2003 16:38:32	Wow that was a great review. He had a lot of excellent points on the errors. Im glad he gave examples, but I need more if he said there are alot, cause now Im worried. But he is dead on the idea of rules not correlating w/ each other. It seems real strange Also Ive come to the conclusion nanotech very complex and I gave up trying to understand it.
#8 lugnut71 Nov 11, 2003 20:12:01	You don't need to understand the rules to play the game. Heck I make all the rules I use up on the spot.
#9 zombiegleemax Nov 20, 2003 13:45:09	No kidding lugnut71!