The direction has the unfortunate but, now common, tendency to partially cover subjects and then finish covering them later. This wouldn't be a problem if you didn't have to reference both sections for a complete understanding (it's a pdf, I need to ctrl F and find a minimal amount of hits.) The formatting looks like it was printed into pdf direct from libre office writer. I still use it but, not solely, preferring the streamlining of MSH advanced and the other MSH supplements. I've found that it really doesn't add much and that what it changes seems arbitrary. the only thing I found useful where some of the charts but, it stops short of charting everything that it could.

If you only got this book, you could run a faserip game, though it might be sloppy to look things up, due, not only to the disected definitions but, also to the large print. There is the occasional typo but the real problem I have with it is that it it's huge for no reason. It doesn't add much to the existing system, aside from page count. It doesn't feel like an upgrade to the nearly four decades old system.

These mad scientists actually did it! Even if you aren't interested in the setting, this is a testament to game conversion! If you enjoy any FASERIP games, the statblocks alone worth the buy. If you're just somewhat interested in game design, this book is a great example of the upper limits of effort.

This is what OSR should be. Simple, straightforward and consistent. Crown lets you craft a customized character and makes the DM's job easy with clear rules and sensible mechanics. Another hit for Mason Waaler who is miles ahead of all other OSR conversion creators. I recommend checking out Grim Castle, as well but, Crown is the simpler and easier to run of the two and I'm telling you that is not saying much in comparison when they are both incredibly streamlined. Waaler has taken the 5E and brought it back down to earth twice, now.

The direction of the book is good. The formating is good but the editing could have used a bit more of a proof read. The art is sparse and reused throughout. It's an inexpensive title from one person.

It's rather jank. On the one hand, I truly do laud them for trying to make a compex character creation process easier while allowing exports to printable format but, on the other hand, I can't muster the forgiveness for the act of charging for the additional packages when it essentially hooks you up to some unknown server via direct port link. You've got to just trust them, I suppose, to use this tool.

Sell a package for roll20 and/or foundry. It might be a smidge better if character creaton followed the same process of the books but, as it is, you get lost trying to follow both. If you have a form fillable sheet for RM, you're better off and safer. This 'tool' is amateur, invasive and risky.

I've just checked, the roll20 sheets are a busted mess too.

It's hard to not draw comparisons with the video games, Darkest Dungeon or Bastard Bonds, while reviewing this supplement. The players are probably criminally accused, doing penance for some crime by being forced into servitude and likely execution by undead. The meat of the book is backstory and city layout, with informational box maps that can serve as guides for making your own maps but, not seriously for direct use. The PDF is bookmarked, which is good, making it easy to navigate between different sections if you are using the book in real time. The loot tables have items that are sensible for the setting and quite mundane which is fine but each of these items is preceded by a number of O's that I don't understand the significance of. The loot is so mundane that it could have been represented by a table reference for boring loot, rather than listing each candlestick or old boardgame you find in a drawer of an empty bedroom. This is a setting book. While there is a 40ish page bestiary, which holds very versatile ideas for different kinds of zombies and hoards, the book is for atmosphere and there is perhaps, too much of it. There are so many details that you may never need to know and this is a hard turn for the publisher, who normally puts out supplements with much less detail under the assumption that GMs are capable of combining and creating to assemble their list of minor nothings when they need to. As someone who is a fan of their previous works, I find myself skipping through heaps of this book. The lore is fascinating and not a single aspect is wasted though and that is what I really need to immerse myself, then my players in this world. The maps are useful but the breakdowns of each room, especially when empty, are not. Is it worth it? Yes. Is it perfect? No but none of it is necessarily useless to everyone, just not useful to more experienced GMs. I highly suggest getting this if you like to read to yourself for several weeks before starting a game though, as again, the lore is top notch.

From the statblocks, the art, the writing, this book is fantastic. The lore is written clearly and in nonspecific style and the stories for these monsters are easily slotted into any real world mythology but, as we're dealing with the hells, it's decidely semitic in theme. It's a joy to read it and the pdf bookmarks are handy for navigation.

This is well thought out and can because of the way it's done, can be inserted into any game, low or high magic, and most of it adaptable to nearly any time period.

Highly recommend for settings with low to zero magic. Not a lot of supplements out there for low fantasy in 5e and this one is essentially setting the standard.

I've spent the last two months adapting content for a bespoke 5E campaign. Everything I've touched from Carbon, Star Wyrms, Lowlife, Modern Dungeons and Ultramodern (and more!) has been changed and reincorporated into our new setting. This little supplement has become the backbone of that endeavour. It suits all the other settings and makes converting disparate sources less difficult.

This is the best hardcore hack of 5e there ever was. Everything my players tried to front on was in it. When I presented it, they felt the horror of their hubris, the weight of their folly - they quaked in anticipation of their fates. It's not just the difficulty. The stuff that you always wished for in a grim dark 5e hack is in it. The overhauls are near perfection. There is no other option over Grimdark for grim-dark 5e.

I was curious about this product because of the map-aides and higher price point. I was hoping to get something of equal or greater quality to some of the better maps on here. Instead, it has poorly detailed maps reminiscent of vomit and low-grade art monsters that could be bested by a first-time mspaint user.

This is very well thought out and unique. I incorporate this race in all of my games.

This is a great addition to the library! There is a mix of new ideas that I hadn't seen as well as reimagined concepts done very well. They are all very well balanced for play.

This is a highly customizable, pointbuy, mana system D&D clonesque RPG that I am here for. I will stan this system til the day I die. If you are interested in getting out of the boxes that cause all sorts of inane design decisions related to class ownership of weapons, abilities and character development; if you are sick of vancian magic systems requiring you to consider spell-slots; if you sigh everytime you consider that one class isn't smart enough to know how to stab with martial weapons but can figure out the mysteries of the universe; then this book and this system is for you. Mason Waaler has retained the classic D&D feel but elevated the execution to the standard that helped wake up from the fanboy fog back when other systems started to take the spotlight from D&D back in the 80's and 90's. Take control of your character and their advancement. Get this inexpensive, easy to learn masterpiece for your DM and shatter their preconceptions of what a fantasy game should be.

Pick up this superb book for your grim castle game or if you just want to see a mana system done well.