Supplement Four
Mongoose
My first thought when I bought this screen was, "Damn! Fifteen bucks?! That's freakin' over-priced."
My next thought about it, once I opened it, was, "Damn! That's one beautiful screen! I don't think I've ever seen a screen that purty!"
So, yeah, they're proud of the screen. It's got a hefty price tag. But, also "yeah", it's a damn nice looking screen. Plus, you get a large, fold-out (also very purty) map for the Hyborian Age.
Many Howard purists have multiple problems with the map, and while I'd prefer a more accurate map, the thing is so damn good looking that I don't really mind all that much that it's not as accurate as it could be.
You mileage may very on this, depending on how much stock you put into the accuracy of the maps you use in your game.
But, let's talk about the meat & potatoes of any RPG screen--what's on it.
All-in-all, I'd say Mongoose did a pretty good job of selecting the right stuff to go on this screen--stuff you'll need during a game.
Panel 1 is dedicated to movment. You get a Movement and Distance chart; Mounts and Vehicles; Carrying Capacity; Carrying Loads; Terrain and Overland Movement; and Hampered Movement.
Panel 2 provides combat oriented information: Actions In Combat and Defense Modifiers.
Panel 3 also contains combat information, but also provides skill-related info: Ability Modifers; Examples of Opposed Checks; Difficulty Class Examples; Melee/Finesse/Ranged/Magic Attack Roll formula; Defense/Saving Throw/Initiative/Skill throw formula; Natural Healing; Size chart; DCs to break or burst items; Substance Hardness and Hit Points; Object Hardness and Hit Points; and Light Sources.
Panel 4 provides role playing throws and information such as: Scholar's Knowledge if Power Ability; Repuatation Scores; Bluff Examples; Climb Checks; Diplomacy Checks; Concentration Checks; Disable Device Checks; Heal Checks; Handle Animal Checks.
As you can see, it's a pretty-useable screen. Noticably absent, though, is a master weapon chart. And, a master Feat chart. I'm guessing Mongoose thought that those charts took up too much space--that weapon stats would be on character sheets anyway--and that the master Feat chart wasn't worth the space it would require.
And, Mongoose may very well be correct on this. There's a couple of things on the screen that I could live without out, but I don't know if I could make the room required on the screen for the master Feat chart. A list of combat maneuvers would have been helpful, too, but, again, maybe Mongoose felt that it didn't justify the space requirement.
My verdict: It's a buy, but be warned about the steep price.
My next thought about it, once I opened it, was, "Damn! That's one beautiful screen! I don't think I've ever seen a screen that purty!"
So, yeah, they're proud of the screen. It's got a hefty price tag. But, also "yeah", it's a damn nice looking screen. Plus, you get a large, fold-out (also very purty) map for the Hyborian Age.
Many Howard purists have multiple problems with the map, and while I'd prefer a more accurate map, the thing is so damn good looking that I don't really mind all that much that it's not as accurate as it could be.
You mileage may very on this, depending on how much stock you put into the accuracy of the maps you use in your game.
But, let's talk about the meat & potatoes of any RPG screen--what's on it.
All-in-all, I'd say Mongoose did a pretty good job of selecting the right stuff to go on this screen--stuff you'll need during a game.
Panel 1 is dedicated to movment. You get a Movement and Distance chart; Mounts and Vehicles; Carrying Capacity; Carrying Loads; Terrain and Overland Movement; and Hampered Movement.
Panel 2 provides combat oriented information: Actions In Combat and Defense Modifiers.
Panel 3 also contains combat information, but also provides skill-related info: Ability Modifers; Examples of Opposed Checks; Difficulty Class Examples; Melee/Finesse/Ranged/Magic Attack Roll formula; Defense/Saving Throw/Initiative/Skill throw formula; Natural Healing; Size chart; DCs to break or burst items; Substance Hardness and Hit Points; Object Hardness and Hit Points; and Light Sources.
Panel 4 provides role playing throws and information such as: Scholar's Knowledge if Power Ability; Repuatation Scores; Bluff Examples; Climb Checks; Diplomacy Checks; Concentration Checks; Disable Device Checks; Heal Checks; Handle Animal Checks.
As you can see, it's a pretty-useable screen. Noticably absent, though, is a master weapon chart. And, a master Feat chart. I'm guessing Mongoose thought that those charts took up too much space--that weapon stats would be on character sheets anyway--and that the master Feat chart wasn't worth the space it would require.
And, Mongoose may very well be correct on this. There's a couple of things on the screen that I could live without out, but I don't know if I could make the room required on the screen for the master Feat chart. A list of combat maneuvers would have been helpful, too, but, again, maybe Mongoose felt that it didn't justify the space requirement.
My verdict: It's a buy, but be warned about the steep price.
