Definitely a great value. I don't play in the author's setting but the plot hooks can be generally applied to most settings. Was great for brainstorming my next Cepheus session.

I picked this up with the idea I would blend some items into my game. I have always thought some cybernetics could and should be part of any scifi world, Cepheus/Traveller included. But as I read the book I found myself finding more and more I would like to blend in. The author put some real effort to make the items feel balanced in the core world. Yes some would be powerful, but then so would real cybernetics in a real world. With a small amount of effort, as suggested by the author, the person running the game could keep the cybernetics from overpowering the world and rather, remain as tools to enhance the overall experiance.

I would recomend this product to anyone who wants to sprinkle in some cybernetics into their game like a spice not turn thier game into a Cyberpunk world. Enjoy the far future that is the Cepheus/Traveller game.

11 pages of topical content, no maps. The adventure centers on "a non-aligned agricultural world ... sparsely populated. It has no major cities and a type E star port." and it's star is now about to go nova ! While many have already left in an orderly fashion "nightly news across the sector displays images of people desperate to get off ... while it is still possible." Now a charitable organization is offering you 10,000 Cr for each person rescued ! Eight fairly straightforward "complications" are listed, #1 restates the premise, none is outstanding as a twist. There's a table to randomize how soon the star explodes - as written it's possible that this will be a very short adventure ! Three principal categories of encounters have NPC's detailed ; desperate-to-escape passage seekers, various and sundry members of the populace milling about, and a squad of ship-jackers with a plan. "The Supernova will happen ... If the travelers are still in the system when it happens they will be killed along with those left on the planet." I think I would add in several someones wanting to go TO the planet ; perhaps a star-cultist seeking glorious "ascension", a biologist or a Collector keen to save a species from extinction, and certainly a Veteran who's been away and now needs to reunite with family. And this event ought to be quite the magnet for thieves, pirates and slavers.

If you are looking to drop a trading post full of NCP's and some plot hooks into a Cephus style Sci-Fi Game, congratulations, your quest is over.

I have used this product as is, re-used, re-skinned, ect.

Ho! Ho! Ho! (13 pages, free at DriveThruRPG) is a fun sci-fi adventure for Cepheus Engine RPG, but I used Comae Engine (45 pages, same place). To create my solo engine, I changed four lines in Rocket Rangers (T.W.E.R.P.S.) by GameScience (12 pages). I used eight first level characters.

So, the mission was to deliver toys to five different worlds. The PCs had to deal with meteor showers, ion storms, and active volcanoes. One dangerous challenge was a pirate ship. Within a few minutes, the PC ship was out of control (going in a straight line). The AutoPilot, Pilot Couch, and Pilot had been destroyed. The pirate ship lost its Faster Than Light Travel. The AutoNavigator, Navigational Couch, and Navigator had been destroyed. The battle ended, and both sides worked on repairs. While on a world with tribal hostility, the main antagonist (Grrr) pretended to be a baggage handler. He was going to destroy the toys. The alien mystic PC noticed him, did a detect thought, followed with a charm person (the second spell failed). Grrr signaled his ship and it fired at the PCs on the ground. My security PCs fired back and killed him. The Grrr ship hovered in place, the authorities arrived, the Grrr ship was confiscated, and the PCs were questioned. The PCs did get released. They did get a nice reward for completing their mission on time. Give this free adventure a try!

Scientists are useful. Scenario is complicated enough to be fun.

A million things worth taking from the module, even if you don't use the adventure.

I just ran this adventure for my Cepheus Deluxe game in the Terra Arisen setting. We finished the adventure in one night. It was a mixed bag.

Pros: It's a neat premise, clearly inspired by "Space: 1999" and similar schlocky sci-fi of past eras which I love. The three main locations are different enough to give some interest to the exploration of the rogue planet. It's flexible enough to be used as a one-off adventure or as a hook for more adventures along the same lines. And it's generic enough to fit into any campaign setting and ruleset.

Cons: The premise is totally unrealistic, so if your game is on the hard side of sci-fi it won't really fit. And if your players understand astronomy, they'll laugh at the absurdity. The adventure isn't very deep; you could grab three random dungeon maps off the internet and make up the premise and connective material yourself in a couple hours, or even just wing it. And there's no conflict or challenge, so the storyline is sorta "we came, we saw, we left again."

So, my recommendation is to grab a copy (the price is right!) and then spend some time tweaking the adventure a bit before you run it in your campaign. Add some extra danger and conflict to overcome. Add some extra plot hooks for followup sessions. For example, maybe extend the story to include evidence of an underground city that lies intact.

Lastly, here's an oddity. The publisher's website, https://oldschoolroleplaying.com, doesn't make any mention of this publication. It's not listed on their page of Cepheus Engine products, and if you use their search feature for "rogue" all you get is D&D stuff. Did they write it and then disown it? I have no idea.

I've read through this but haven't played it. If my review is incorrect I welcome feedback. I've played CT and MT2E but not Cepheus. This is a free product and I'm going to tear to shreds, which might be unnecessarily mean. Many of my points are good, some are dubious.

To play this adventure you would need a ship with J3, and one planet (out of 10 total) can only be reached with J4. The J4 planet is inessential, I believe. There is a lack of refined fuel which could have impacts in CT if used in that system, particularly with a damaged drive. You could move planets, fill in planets, or scifi something to double jump ranges in this area of space, to make the map workable.

The adventure is potentially campaign-ending. There are many plot holes, including things that I can't figure out how to fix. Starting at the top, you recognize an alien race here as being from your origin, but the wormhole leading back is extremely temporary and if you miss it, it's gone, and an entire race of people keep this secret, somehow, but it's about to disappear, like it's just weird and, dare I say, dumb. The McGuffin doesn't seem to be able to have its purported effects (enabling trade), it's a tooth blade from Dune, whatever they're called. How is this a rosetta stone? Why does he even want one? Why can the dog people smell the cats on you forever? How long does the smell last, despite showering, etc. Why are you doing all this jumping with a JDrive that needs to be repaired? Why are there no details about the risk of doing so? Finally, "The wormhole is closing in 2D6+5 days." Whaaaaat? What? Maybe make that weeks? Also, "The likelihood of another wormhole appearing which goes back to their home sector is negligible." Then how are the other people here? Anyways...

I think starport maps would be more useful than planet maps, though there may not be a generator for them. The ability to speak with locals may be difficult in this setting, which I've never found to enhance a TTRPG. I suggest watching District 9 without subtitles to emulate that experience. That said, there is a translator for sale, in which case, why have languages?

The details about the worlds and races are very light. One of the worlds I'll call Dune, which is an utter waste of space in the module, due to its popularity. The McGuffin is is located on Dune, but not detailed in any way, and it's central to the adventure.

I think this adventure would be well suited, excellently, in fact, to a wild jump in CT, instead of scripted into a game system where you would never use unrefined fuel. The page count to carry around for use in that event (based on the frequency of said event) is prohibitive, but could be achieved with editing. The document is sparse. There's no reason to mention Sonora as the origin of the adventure. Actually, now that I think of it, having a race from the origin actually detracts from the ability of the ref to use this in a wild jump scenario because he would have to know about this race already and have put it in his game. Is there a way of fixing this, or managing this difficulty? Maybe a better ref wouldn't have a problem with this.

Areas for improvement include lists of names for use on the worlds. Don't say "might be totally devoid of population," etc. Conflate complications 8 and 9. Not all of these things are complications. Get rid of complication 10. 4, 5, 6, and 7 can be put into a brief paragraph in a different section of the module and something even briefer for that put into an overview section which can include some of the "complications".

Regarding damage to the drives during misjump. You need to state what it is an how to fix it, or something. You put some pretty high stakes into that and didn't provide any mechanics to resolve it.

Consider this passage: "The engines shudder. The ship shakes. Time seems to stand still for a very long time. And the ship suddenly arrives in unknown space. The stars do not seem to be in the right places." Do we need this, as a GM? I don't think so.

Consider adding page references in alphabetical order (index) for planets. The listing as presented is likely excellent, but I haven't played it so I don't know for sure. It would be nice to have an index though.

Tell us more about the leader of Dune.

Change "at various points in the desert that have hardened" to "in areas where the desert sands have hardened."

I feel like the trade set up here is almost a railroad, but it's hard to make that criticism, so I guess just be advised of my impression and talk to your players about it during playtesting.

Consider making your cat people more like bobcats than tigers. Get some youtube videos on them to flavour. I feel like tigers are too bland in their behaviors.

"distinct sense of smell" is just poor writing. Consider "refined", or something that actually describes it, though it is indeed clear what you're trying to say.

Maybe move "(7+)" to the end of the sentence.

Tell us more about "meticulous species". This is good stuff.

"fruits, vegetables or other things to gather." You can't be serious. Picking like 10 tons of fruit for trade? No... no, no, no. With more information (Dumarest's experience with psionic bees on Hive?) this could be good, though.

Re: "alien ruins", give us more about this, or give us probabilities or something.

"Finding jump drive parts on this world is a sure bet but the risks are high." Again, give us more.

This is going to sound totally crazy, but maybe don't give us any UPPs on the planets provided. Maybe.

Consider a print friendly version. Consider removing the wormhole from the rear of the book (though I understand it, thematically).

This review is 1070 words. I believe the product is 3000 words, without the license. There's a lot wrong with this module.

It was okay but it could have been formatted alittle better. at one point everything seemed to meld into one.

FOR THE PAST FEW DAYS. I HAVE SOLOED MY WAY THROUGH A DELICATE MATTER (18 PAGES). THIS IS A SCIENCE FICTION ADVENTURE FOR TRAVELLER OR CEPHEUS ENGINE WHERE THE CHARACTERS HAVE TO FIND A PARTICULAR DEAD BODY AND BRING IT BACK TO THE QUEST GIVER. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE DONE IN A DISCREET MANNER. THE RPG SYSTEM THAT I USED WAS ENCOUNTER CRITICAL. THE SOLO ENGINE THAT I USED WAS SOLOCUTZ. ALL THREE OF THESE ITEMS ARE FREE/PAY WHAT YOU WANT AT DRIVETHRURPG. I DID USE FIVE CHARACTERS FOR THIS ADVENTURE.

So, one Wookie, one amazon, two Klingons, and a go-go dancer walk into a bar. No, this is not the beginning of a joke, this is how the adventure started. The Quest Giver was there, but he was not comfortable with this location. They moved to a private location to avoid problems. They received the quest and the funds to do it. They then hired a pilot and a cheap spaceship. It did break down during the trip and the amazon had to fix it. When they arrive at the starport, they encounter a third party selling info about their mission. They ignore him and head toward The House of Pleasure (the body is in there somewhere). The Wookie goes in and applies for the security job. The test involves fighting another Wookie security guard. The P.C. loses, but he does get the job and he loves the job benefits. He is not loyal to the other P.C.s. He then sets up a trap and invites his four “friends” in. Three of them are stunned in the first round (stun guns). The Klingon warlock stuns one of the guards, but he is stunned the next round. The four P.C.s are taken captive. They lose their equipment and most of their clothes. They will have to start their next adventure in this condition. The Wookie is happy with his new home, job, and work benefits. So, the mission was a failure, but we do have a happy Wookie (let the Wookie win). Give this fun adventure a try!

"Archeologists have been studying the primitive natives on the jungle world of Eniran. These natives have carved cities out of the thick jungle there. According to the native legends a god like race lives in a castle in the clouds above them. At first the archeologists thought that this was just native superstition but recently they discovered that there is, indeed, a castle floating in the clouds.

One of the archeologists offers to pay the travelers to accompany him on an expedition to this castle and find out who built it."

Joseph Mohr has been at it again & this time it's 'The Gods Left It Behind' a 'pay what you want 'Cepheus Engine rpg mission that works really well & its a dungeon crawl with a difference. Things go sideways & get complicate in this variation on a dungeon crawl really quickly.

'The Gods Left It Behind' has lots of potential especially for taking the usual dungeon crawl ideas & turning them on their head. Things get very complicated very fast in 'The Gods Left It Behind' really quick and don't let the intro fool you as a DM;

"Sonoran archeologists have been studying the planet Eniran recently. They have been spending time with the various tribes that have carved cities out of the triple canopy jungle on this world. Recently they have discovered legends about a god like race that live in a castle floating in the sky over their world. After a great deal of searching these scientists have discovered that there is, indeed, a castle like structure floating in the sky. It was very difficult to spot as the clouds on this world are often very thick. Archeologist Samuel Logan approaches the travelers about a proposition. He offers CR 100,000 for the travelers to visit Eniran, with him, to explore this castle. He wants to find out what is there, who built it and where they have gone. He also intends to try to find out how this castle is still floating in the sky after all these years. He offers a bonus of CR 10000 for every alien artifact found (and handed over to him)"

The DM could easily take 'The Gods Left It Behind' & adapt in several elements from Sword of Cepheus or even Cepheus Deluxe. This could be done to expand upon the adventure ideas within 'The Gods Left It Behind'. 'The Gods Left It Behind' presents a very short, well done, easy to read, and expand upon adventure for the Cepheus Engine rpg. This is a deadly little adventure in some regards so consider yourself warned!

We have no idea who the aliens were of Eniran within 'The Gods Left It Behind' and its open for the DM to expand upon the ideas, alien life forms, artifacts, etc. within it. There's plenty of potential here for out & out campaign expansion. The adventure elements are really easy to adapt to a wide variety of Cepheus Engine genres. And this unto itself is a solid premise to expand upon the material in 'The Gods Left It Behind'. All in all I'm going to be running to be running 'The Gods Left It Behind' for my Hostile rpg campaign coming up! Thanks for reading our review Eric Fabiaschi Swords & Stitchery Blog Want more OSR & 2d6 action then please subscribe to https://swordsandstitchery.blogspot.com/

Joseph Mohr's Furnace adventureis excellent with the added benefit of a war mission & up twist in the mix. The adventure is well done with a Hellish planetary background & complications added in. Furnace is tightly paced, excellently done, and very well done with a great adventure storyline thrown in! Highly recommended! Eric Fabiaschi Swords & Stitchery blog Want more OSR action subscribe to https://swordsandstitchery.blogspot.com/

There's a possible cure in the Sanora sector as Joseph Mohr's Rumble In The Jungle adventure provides one possible cure & or treatment. The trick is surviving Mr.Mohr's pay what you want adventure?! Mohr in twenty six pages neatly wraps up a solid adventure and its easy to use for Cepheus Engine or other OSR games. Joseph Mohr has been one of the leading light in the Cepheus Engine rpg community. He cranks out easy to adapt rpg adventures & this is a great one.

"It is well known across the Sonora sector that the planet Saresere is a frozen planet with no atmosphere. Despite these harsh conditions the Kon Lo Corporation has a small station on the world mining precious minerals. Of course....this is the story planted by the corporation to keep preying eyes from taking too close a look. Instead of miners there are scientists on this world excavating for alien artifacts and relics. They maintain a small complex of buildings on the surface of the planet. Recently all contact with these scientists has been lost."

There's something about the 2d6 science fictional goodness of Cepheus Engine rpg that draws me in like a moth to the flame. Not really nostolgia although there's a far degree of that, no there's something deeper here. And no more is this more primal then in other adaptations of the material. This is more of a 'locked room crime investigation'. And that's great for an old school Traveller or Cepheus Engine adventure.

Joseph Mohr is the little rpg engine that does, he not unlike Michael Brown & many Cepheus Engine rpg designers quietly churns out adventure after adventure. And 'The Thing in the Ice' is Mr. Mohr's latest adventure effort & 'The Thing in the Ice' nails it. Yeah its a 'pay what you want' & yes the scenario seems very familiar. And yes its only nineteen pages. But by God this is a neatly little way of handling a John Carpenter style adventure with a few twists of its own. This is a very well done short adventure but I'd run this with experienced players. There more then enough that can go wrong to wipe out an entire Cepheus Engine rpg party. This is quite like John Carpenter's The Thing from Another World but there are some shaded differences. And its with those differences where the party could potentially exploit the situation to actually move this beyond the tradition horror/dungeon adventure that takes place with paranoia aplenty. Or the 'The Thing in the Ice' could simply be used as a homage to classic novella 'Who Goes There' or the classic John Carpenter film. And that's fine.. The cartography & layout are solid,especially liked the maps in 'The Thing in the Ice'

What if 'The Thing in the Ice' happened to take place in Stella Publishing's setting 'These Stars Are Ours!? Imagine a new freed humanity PC's are called into an ice covered world & things get down right paranoid as the PC's are dealing with both investigation of the alien life form & the dire circumstances. Is the alien life form a left over Reticulan bio weapon or something else?!

And what about the other Cephues Engine rpg campaign settings such as John Watts 'Clement sector'?! Three things spring to mind here. One the sector isn't fully explored so there's more then enough room for this alien life form. The stars are still isolated, & finally the paranoia is already baked into 'The Clement Sector'. This alien life form is going to be one more alien among the stars to contend with.

Now let's talk about the fact that the Hostile rpg setting by Zozer Games comes with a similar 'John Carpenter's Thing From Anothr World' scenario baked already in the setting book. This isn't really a problem. Because 'The Thing in the Ice' is different enough to be run right along this homage & the PC's are still going to be wondering what do with the alien life form. Zozer games system is a perfect rpg contrast to what has come before.And in point of fact Zozer Games 1970s 2D6 RETRO RULES. But are going to be some or more adventure elements in 'The Thing in the Ice'

I really like 'The Thing in the Ice' the advenure tone is one that really expands in an original way to an idea that we've seen time & again over the years since the appearance of the alien life form in John W. Campbell Jr.'s short novella 'Who Goes there' Note that 'The Thing in the Ice' is a short adventure but there's room for expansion. And that promise is there within this adventure. However 'The Thing in the Ice' does what it sets out to do with a one shot adventure that can be added or subtracted from a campaign. The adventure provides the DM with the tools for running a one shot & does it well with plenty of opportunity for investigation as well as a real danger for even an experienced group of PC's their players. 'The Thing in the Ice' is a nice & dangerous mid tier Cepheus Engine rpg adventure! Eric Fabiaschi Swords & Stitchery blog Want more OSR action? Subscribe to https://swordsandstitchery.blogspot.com/