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This module
clocks in at 47 pages, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial/ToC, 1 page SRD and
1 page back cover, leaving us with 43 pages of content, so let's take a look!
This being
an adventure-review, the following contains SPOILERS. Potential players should
jump to the conclusion. Really. The outrageous premise is a part of the fun.
...
..
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Still here?
All right! First of all - if your PCs
have completed the superb "Death and Taxes"-module, they're likely to
be familiar with the subtle, off-kilter humor this module sports - if not,
well, then all the better. The PCs are contacted by one gorgeous lady called
Sylvia Towntree, the very top-brass of Hordenheim's real estate brokers and
agents. The lady contacts them to clear out a haunted manor constructed by an
eccentric gnome/architect, edgewaith manor. The encounters, though, quickly
show that this is not yet another grim-dark delve into a family's tragedy -
oozes in the closet just are part one of the challenges that hilariously echo
the tasks real life people may face when restoring an old manor: Of course, the
place has a vermin problem.
Only we're
talking fantasy world here, and thus, alas, the vermin are sentient - a Formian
queen has set up shop in the place and while the unseen servants may have been intended as a rare form of luxury,
the well-meaning magical constructs can result in pretty much hilarious
accidents on the side of the PCs. Heck, even the bound fire elemental providing
central heating can be reasoned with and be played up for a glorious blending
of the horrific and genuinely funny. It should also be noted that the house's
depiction regarding rooms is anything but rudimentary, coming with rather
exquisite details even before the superb maps in full color (including
player-friendly versions) come into play.
Yes, the
place has a rather nasty fuse-box. Oh, and yes, PCs may actually do battle with
animated chicken coops trying to eat them. No, I'm not making that up. More
impressively, they receive artworks that make them genuinely creepy! Now sooner
or later, the queen will seek diplomacy, rather piqued by the bad form of the
home-invading PCs...and either by combat or diplomacy, hand over the deed to
the manor - which coincidentally allows for the free re-arrangement of rooms -
all rules for that are perfectly described in a nice, concise handout. And
here, the module becomes totally awesome and bonkers - in a twist, the
real-estate agent arrives with a full-blown mop-up crew to kill friggin'
everybody! She didn't get to the top by playing nice, after all! So yes, the
PCs, with full command of the house (and hopefully a couple of Formians) may
defend the house and use its powers to essentially turn all those tricks they
witnessed upon their wannabe assassins for one of the most glorious, iconic
showdowns I've read in ages. Home alone, anyone?
The pdf
provides full stats of for all creatures for both PFRPG and D&D 3.X.
Conclusion:
Editing and
formatting are top-notch, I noticed no significant glitches. Layout adheres to
AAW Games' 2-column full-color standard with copious amounts of awesome
full-color art and superb full-color cartography. The module comes fully
bookmarked for your convenience.
Do you know
how many modules I read per year? How many I've read in total? Hint: Probably
too many. I have seen just about everything and only very, very rarely do i
encounter a module that instills a total sense of jamais-vu in me. This module
managed that. But it did so much more - it is logical, concise and downright
glorious. It is also the funniest module I've read in years. Now don't get me
wrong - unlike many comparable modules, this one is NOT a "joke
module" - it is superbly crafted, sports great writing and thoroughly
iconic ideas and is professional in every way. In order to note how this module
brilliantly skirts the boundaries between the creepy and funny, between
high-fantasy and tongue-in-cheek nods towards our own culture, all without
breaking the 4th wall, one practically has to run this exceedingly fun beast.
I am not
engaging in hyperbole when I'm saying that playing this module saw one player
fall from his chair, laughing. This is one of the most unique, inspired modules
I've read in AGES. Colin Stricklin's first module was great - this is
ridiculously good. And yes, pun intended. Even the premise would be enough to
qualify this as awesome, but add the optional, subdued and INTELLIGENT humor,
the unique adversaries and superb production values and we quite frankly have a
module that belongs into the collection of every Pathfinder DM. Yes, that good.
Unless you have even less humor than the stereotype accredits to Germans like
me, this is a must-have blast of a module. My final verdict will clock in at 5
stars + seal of approval and nominating this as one of my candidates for the Top
Ten of 2014.
You can get this SUPERB module here on OBS!
Endzeitgeist out.
