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Undead Paragon Classes: Skeleton, Zombie and Vampire
Publisher: Zenith Games
by Ricky L. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 07/14/2016 00:14:25

This is a solid 4/5 for me! Really interesting stuff and the undead have always been a favorite of mine. I'll go into some details for curious folk...

I love the cover art - it’s a cool picture to me (though the rest of the art in the book doesn’t do much for me). The book starts off with a quick explanation of what a racial paragon class - simply emphasizing these are classes that play up the defining racial traits associated with the 'race' the class is based off of. Then, it moves into a 'racial template' that allows you to make any PC an undead creature ("a rotting corpse"). You can apply it to any existing race with ease. In exchange for some heavy penalties (ex. -2 to most ability scores), you get some major perks (ex. undead traits). It’s probably a little harsher than it needs to be, but in the end it’ll play fine. It’s a tricky balance. There's a spell (Raise Undead) associated with the template - basically explaining how races with the template come into creation. Pretty straight forward, but it’s a nice touch.

We then get into the undead feat section which takes up two pages. Several feats exist to further the racial classes covered (ex. extra boons), but the majority of them can be taken by any undead. The feats themselves vary - for example, there's a 'feat line' than steadily improves your resistance to Channel Energy effects. The feats generally play up qualities that you expect to see from undead or they attempt to shore up some of their vulnerabilities. I am worried about the ‘balance’ of some of these feats (particularly one focused on fast healing) but it’s not enough to detract my interest. The coolest feat to me being 'Remove Hand' which allows you to remove your hand and basically gain a crawling claw to act as a scout or helper for you. Get your very own Thing from the Addams Family! :)

Now, onto the classes: Skeleton, Zombie, and Vampire.

The skeleton comes equipped with d8, 2+int mod skills, full bab, and good reflex save. He's kind of set-up to be a quick frontliner or archer. He takes a lot from the fighter -- even getting Weapon Training and a few other perks that play up to what you would think skeletons would get (cold resistance/immunity, claw attacks, etc). Where the customization for the class comes in is the 'skeletal boons' which is a list of abilities you can pick from as you level - think of it like rogue talents.

Zombie is up next with d12, 2+int mod, 3/4th BAB, and good fortitude save. Zombies get a handful of defining traits like slower speed, natural armor, damage reduction, slam attacks, etc. As they level, they begin to take on more genre zombie like traits -- such as a grab attack, bite attack, etc. Like skeletons, they get a set of 'zombie boons'. A few example for these include being a vector for disease or a host for insects.

Finally, the vampire: d6, 6+int mod, 3/4th bab, good reflex and will, and 6th lvl sorcerer type casting. As a vampire, you get a little resource management in the form of a "Blood Pool" which you can fuel with your Blood Drain abilities. We also get the return of the 'boon' system here for talents which encompass the typical vampiric abilities you're used to seeing such as summoning vermin and other critters, gaseous form, energy drink, DR, wild shape, and stuff of that sort. To balance that, a vampire has to pick out 'weaknesses' alongside their talents. This can kind of let you craft different 'ideas' of vampires and how they're all different in some ways - running water, unable to enter homes, holy symbol, garlic, etc. Stuff like that associated with their lore - I like the roleplay value of these weaknesses.

I look forward to seeing future incarnations of the undead classes or even a We Be Undead type module. Currently, I am planning to run a small gestalt campaign where the PCs pick their main classes, but slowly acquire one of these undead classes as their second class - succumbing to gradual curses or corruption.

$3.00 for 3 classes - seems like a good deal to me. The feats, racial template, and spell are just gravy on top of this undead buffet. I dig this book - check it out guys!



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
Undead Paragon Classes: Skeleton, Zombie and Vampire
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We Be Dragons (P1)
Publisher: Zenith Games
by Ricky L. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 06/27/2016 23:53:15

Zenith Games delivers again with We Be Dragons! I'd give it two thumbs up (or 5/5!) The adventure has a nice hook and it is clean, concise, and fun - everything I want in a one-shot adventure.

The author gives a bit of background information and adventure summary at the start - along with a note on how to lower or increase difficulty of the adventure based on the number of your players. The first part of the adventure has several interesting 'thought challenges / social encounters' then kicks it into a gear with a few encounters - the last of which I feel provides a good emotional punch and capstone to the whole thing.

The coolest part to me is the Dragon(s) write-up. While there are no "class levels" like some people may expect, we are instead presented with 9 unique dragons each with their own personality and tidbits written up to help you get into their scaly skin. The dragons are all one family, so you can see the dynamic between them in their background write-ups. Each dragon often has a 'class' mirror (like Barbarian or Bard), but possess all the unique and common traits of a dragon. The 'dragon' aspect of the PCs come first and foremost in their write-ups.

The adventure ends on a satisfying note - though it tantalizes us with the possibility of a sequel in the future. I highly recommend We Be Dragons for a fun and unforgettable night of gaming. Players enjoyed it thoroughly and I look forward to more content from Zenith Games down the road.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
We Be Dragons (P1)
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