Post by darrght on Jun 15, 2021 4:04:12 GMT -5
I thought since I'd voted for this section being added to the 'Bridge, I ought to put something in it 
Here is the review I posted at Amazon regarding Thessaly's splendid GM resource:-
New GM material for Tunnels & Trolls or its sister game Monsters! Monsters! for that matter is generally in short supply whether produced by the original author, Ken St. Andre via Flying Buffalo Inc., or from other independent publishers. As soon as I heard that Thessaly Chance Tracy would be releasing ‘Buzzard’s Gulch’ through Peryton Press, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Now, I am old school when it comes to my role-playing games. I can appreciate the convenience of pdfs but I want a real book to thumb through, enjoy the artwork, read every last word and perhaps make notes in the margins. I understand that Thessaly chose to publish with Peryton because a print on demand version would be part of the release and may I thank her for this and encourage other writers of material for my favorite game to do the same. We old fellas really appreciate it.
Having had glimpses of what was to come from the author via the Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls Monsters! Monsters! Facebook Group: 3 years of play testing no less, I certainly wasn’t disappointed. The cover art from Simon Lee Tranter is superb and really does reflect much of what this book is about. There are three sections and I will try to say something about each one in turn.
Part I is all about how to create a monster character and how to approach playing a monster kindred. Being a supplement for M!M! where the monsters are the PCs and the so-called ‘good kin’ are the NPC protagonists this is bound to be really helpful for the GM and players alike who may be unfamiliar with this switch around of the usual RPG social norm. Also included are some optional sections on monster motivation, monster talents and my favorite part Fightin’Dirty: combat stunting for monsters. Equally as impressive is the map of the island where the action takes place. I admit it; I am a sucker for cartography. Who wouldn’t want to explore ‘Smuggly Wood’ or climb Gryphon’s Peak? This supplement is all about The Buzzard’s Gulch Monster Reservation and surrounds but I understand others will soon be released detailing more of the areas seen on the map.
Part II is the meat of the feast containing literally dozens of locations, organizations and important characters in those organizations. There is so much material that it would be possible to spend the next several years running adventures based in this setting. There is plenty of detail particularly with regard to prominent figures in amongst the monsters to lend some real texture to games without it restricting one’s own creative instincts. T&T has always had that slightly tongue-in-cheek quality when it is at its best and Buzzard’s Gulch has this in abundance. I won’t ruin it for the rest of you but there are some superb character names of which one of the best is the monk ‘Deerly Beloved’ but there are plenty of others.
Part III is a short section detailing new monsters, spells and some super adventure hooks. I cannot wait to have my friends’ characters go chasing a bunch of pesky hobbits that call themselves ‘No Small Threat’!
I am not really someone who scores anything 5/5. That implies perfection, which as an official card carrying member of ‘the glass is half empty society’ I don’t really believe in but I cannot find fault with this product. I would heartily recommend it to any aspiring or established GM. It is quite simply excellent.
Here is the review I posted at Amazon regarding Thessaly's splendid GM resource:-
New GM material for Tunnels & Trolls or its sister game Monsters! Monsters! for that matter is generally in short supply whether produced by the original author, Ken St. Andre via Flying Buffalo Inc., or from other independent publishers. As soon as I heard that Thessaly Chance Tracy would be releasing ‘Buzzard’s Gulch’ through Peryton Press, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Now, I am old school when it comes to my role-playing games. I can appreciate the convenience of pdfs but I want a real book to thumb through, enjoy the artwork, read every last word and perhaps make notes in the margins. I understand that Thessaly chose to publish with Peryton because a print on demand version would be part of the release and may I thank her for this and encourage other writers of material for my favorite game to do the same. We old fellas really appreciate it.
Having had glimpses of what was to come from the author via the Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls Monsters! Monsters! Facebook Group: 3 years of play testing no less, I certainly wasn’t disappointed. The cover art from Simon Lee Tranter is superb and really does reflect much of what this book is about. There are three sections and I will try to say something about each one in turn.
Part I is all about how to create a monster character and how to approach playing a monster kindred. Being a supplement for M!M! where the monsters are the PCs and the so-called ‘good kin’ are the NPC protagonists this is bound to be really helpful for the GM and players alike who may be unfamiliar with this switch around of the usual RPG social norm. Also included are some optional sections on monster motivation, monster talents and my favorite part Fightin’Dirty: combat stunting for monsters. Equally as impressive is the map of the island where the action takes place. I admit it; I am a sucker for cartography. Who wouldn’t want to explore ‘Smuggly Wood’ or climb Gryphon’s Peak? This supplement is all about The Buzzard’s Gulch Monster Reservation and surrounds but I understand others will soon be released detailing more of the areas seen on the map.
Part II is the meat of the feast containing literally dozens of locations, organizations and important characters in those organizations. There is so much material that it would be possible to spend the next several years running adventures based in this setting. There is plenty of detail particularly with regard to prominent figures in amongst the monsters to lend some real texture to games without it restricting one’s own creative instincts. T&T has always had that slightly tongue-in-cheek quality when it is at its best and Buzzard’s Gulch has this in abundance. I won’t ruin it for the rest of you but there are some superb character names of which one of the best is the monk ‘Deerly Beloved’ but there are plenty of others.
Part III is a short section detailing new monsters, spells and some super adventure hooks. I cannot wait to have my friends’ characters go chasing a bunch of pesky hobbits that call themselves ‘No Small Threat’!
I am not really someone who scores anything 5/5. That implies perfection, which as an official card carrying member of ‘the glass is half empty society’ I don’t really believe in but I cannot find fault with this product. I would heartily recommend it to any aspiring or established GM. It is quite simply excellent.
