Lone Wolf (D20) - Magic of Magnamund

Magic of Magnamund is the third book published by Mongoose for its Lone Wolf D20 RPG.

The main thing that this book adds to the Lone Wolf RPG is more character classes, both good and evil.

The Cener Druid and Shadakine Wytch/Wytch Chylde are both evil character classes to expand what was introduced in The Darklands. Both of these character classes are presented in a clear and easy to understand fashion. They are unique enough to warrant publication and should provide interesting enemies for the PCs.

Herbalish, Kundi Mystic, Sage of Lyris, Shianti Sorcerer, and Vakeros Knight are all good character classes that greatly expand what was presented in the core rulebook. Additionally, some "advanced classes" are also detailed. Each of these character classes is truly unique when compared to the ones previously published in other books. The Vakeros Knight's eagle steed make it a unique character class. Although I wouldn't allow a player to play a Shianti Sorcerer because of their massive power, I think it's a good thing that they are presented so the DM can create NPC Shianti Sorcerers. The Kundi Mystic is perhaps the most unique class presented here, however. Strange that it hasn't been included in LWM to date...

Additionally, some rules for magical items and crafting are presented. These, along with some information regarding the mechanics of magic in Magnamund, help to round out the feel and scope of the world.

While this volume isn't essential, I think it adds variety to the game for the players. All of the classes presented are fully detailed and given extensive write-ups.

1LR Review - 16 out of 20 - It's a Hit!

Lone Wolf (D20) - The Darklands

I've previously reviewed the Lone Wolf Multiplayer Darklands book. A lot of the content is remarkably similar between the D20 Darklands book and that one. I felt that the LWM version was an excellent supplement. I will focus my review on the unique aspects of The Darkland book.

The Darklands doesn't disappoint. The second entry in the D20 Lone Wolf RPG is a strong one. Beyond the information about The Darklands and Helgedad itself (the map is an nice inclusion), this book also includes a bestiary, AWESOME write-ups of Darklords (You'd better have a party of all 20th level before you run into one, essentially), and rules for corruption of characters who enter The Darklands, the book offers quite a bit more.

Evil character classes are also included in this volume. Now, it's one thing in Dungeons and Dragons to say, "My alignment is Chaotic Evil," but in LW evil is EVIL. The descriptions of the abilities, powers, and dark rites that evil characters go through will give you the shivers. Which is exactly what you're looking for in this book, of course.

Additionally, there's a "Tools of Evil" section that details various weapons, armor, and evil magical items one might encounter in the Darklands. All of it is, of course, deliciously evil.

The Darklands manages to equal its LWM brother in quality but it includes more great material.

1LR Review - 19 out of 20 - It's a Critical Hit!

Lone Wolf (D20) The Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook

The D20 Lone Wolf RPG was first published in 2004. It is based on the D20 Open-Game License so many of the core rules are very similar to Dungeons and Dragons 3.5.

This is a hefty book, clocking in at over three hundred pages. In this book you get content that it takes FIVE Lone Wolf Multiplayer books to present (core rules, Heroes of Magnamund, Book of the Magnaki, Magnamund Bestiary, Sommerlund, and the list will most likely also include Stormlands I and II when they're released).

The character classes are the core attraction to Lone Wolf that makes it different from other RPGs. Mongoose did one think GREAT when they made this game and one thing HORRIBLY.

The great thing is the tiered abilities each character has. When you go up in level, not only do you get to choose a new ability but the abilities you had selected previously become more powerful by allowing the character to access the next tier of that ability.

The horrible thing they did was have some character classes pay for the use of their skills with endurance points (health points or hit points). This almost completely breaks the game and makes some character classes worthless. Who would want to play a wizard with D4 HP if you lose HP every time you cast a spell?

The book is fully black and white. The information is presented in an easy-to-access format. There's a good index and table of contents. The little art that's in the book is okay at best... but I don't care about the art so that's okay with me. I don't know how widespread this problem is but my copy of the book is lightly used and the binding already came undone in the front of the book.... pretty bummed about that!

Overall, this is the best overall Lone Wolf RPG produced to date. My advice is to use the homebrew rule to simply ignore endurance point costs for skills.  It's a shame Mongoose stopped supporting this line.

1LR Review - 17 out of 20 - It's a Solid Hit!

Lone Wolf (D20) - Free Download - Flight From the Dark (Solo Adventure)

Flight From the Dark is the original Lone Wolf game book. The character creation and combat rules sections are very simple and easy to understand. When Mongoose came out with the Lone Wolf RPG, they re-released the first gamebook translated into the D20 system.

I think this is a brilliant idea. It takes the first gamebook and presents it in a completely new light even though the flavor texts are not changed at all. Where once there may have been a random roll, it's replaced with a skill check or an ability check. Creatures are presented with D20 stats instead of their original "bare bones" stats.

It should be noted that this adaptation is meant for solo gameplay - meaning you could roleplay in the D20 system by yourself. You COULD have a DM read the text to you but what would be the point of that since the DM wouldn't make any decisions?

It's a shame the great Gary Chalk art wasn't reproduced but I'm willing to make that sacrifice to see a familiar path with new eyes.

1LR Review - 17 out of 20 - It's a Solid Hit!

Lone Wolf (D20) - Free Download - Bad Moon Rising

Bad Moon Rising is an adventure for the D20 Lone Wolf RPG. It was originally available as a free download from Mongoose Publishing. For some reason, it appears that they've taken it down off their website but you can still get it here.

This adventure is extremely well writeen. It is very well thought out, covering "minor" details to provide an enjoyable gaming experience for all involved. I liked how it provided specific results for certain skill checks (if you got a 9 or less... if you got 15 to 20....). The flavor texts do a great job at painting a mental picture for the players. I liked how the party isn't "plot hammered" the entire time - they are free to roam around Toran and do as they wish during the "interlude."

Combat doesn't seem forced and players are really eased into the system with some simple encounters early on. One of the things this adventure does particularly well is allow the players to learn about the world and the D20 Lone Wolf system. At times the game master is presented with different "options" on how to run an encounter. Really, these "options" are coaching a gamemaster though how to run the game.

I really liked how items and creatures were presented in the Appendix for easy reference.

The icing on the cake, however, are the pregenerated player handouts. Fantastic!

This is one of the best Lone Wolf adventures written to date.

1LR Review - 19 out of 20 - It's a Solid Hit!

Lone Wolf - Corruption of Ikaya (D20)

Corruption of Ikaya is an adventure for the D20 Lone Wolf RPG. It is available for download in Signs and Portents #39 and #40. You can find them here.

Earlier, I reviewed The Corruption of Ikaya, the Lone Wolf Multiplayer adventure. Although that adventure is nearly identical to the CoI D20 adventure, I thought I'd review them separately because the presentation and formatting in the D20 version is so different from the Multiplayer format. I'll refrain from duplicating my remarks on the adventure itself.

This adventure is presented in a much better way in the D20 version. Enemies are fully fleshed out with abilities, skills, and equipment as you would expect in a D20 adventure. This version actually gives you stats for the Nightfire Rod! The rules for ship control and details are a nice touch that was left out of the Multiplayer version. The inclusion of maps (warhouse, ship, and Ikaya itself) are welcome since they were left out of the Multiplayer version. The rules presented for things such as the Avalanche are much more precise than the Multiplayer version.

Still, this adventure has some serious flaws such as relying upon random encounters too much, being too deadly, and a lack of a clear story thread from the player's point of view.

1LR Review - 14 out of 20 - It's a Hit!