War can be quite different - a Mephisto review

Like its predecessors, the fourth Zone Compendium for Mutant Year Zero, The Eternal War, introduces four Special Zone Sectors. As The Eternal War focuses on robots, it fits in well with the Mechatron expansion.

The first Special Zone Sector, The Eternal War, which gives the book its name, introduces an outpost of the Titan power Noatun, where robots engage in an endless battle. Here, the player characters can not only get caught between the fronts but can also find old technology. A unique feature of this scenario is that this Special Zone Sector is suitable for providing player characters who are not robots with access to Mechatron-7, the location of the Mechatron sourcebook.  

Fort Robot, the second Special Zone Sector, is reminiscent of a science fiction movie. It presents a Wild West amusement park that has been taken over by robots who are cleaning up and running the park. But of course, this setting is not about offering the player characters some leisure activities. Conflicts and secrets can draw the player characters into a broader story if they get involved.

The third scenario, North Bay Nandeep 23, on the other hand, is centered around robots as player characters, making it suitable as a mission within the Mechatron-7 scenario. The robots are sent out to investigate an outpost run by robots and investigate what resources can be found in this farm facility. What awaits them is, in a way, a zombie setting for robots…  

The final scenario, The Robot Factory, revolves around an old factory where an enterprising mutant uses robots to produce canned food. Naturally, this place offers an exciting resource, but also presents a situation in which players must decide whether and which side to take, as some of these robots begin to develop consciousness.

As usual, the Special Zone Sectors work according to the familiar principle: a setting including background, an overview map, and characters are introduced, and some events are presented to fill a game session using this location. There are no specific game objectives or “correct” solutions, except for the third scenario, which must be adapted for characters who are not robots.

Especially in the interaction with Mechatron or considering the initial situation that the robots have moved into the zone, there are interesting hooks for adventures here. These range from a bleak survival scenario to a somewhat bizarre amusement park, each with its own challenges. In this respect, The Eternal War is a captivating addition that enriches the game with more special locations.

(Björn Lippold)