Just came by a PDF download of this Space Opera, until I can add a hard copy to my collection.<br /><br />Thought I'd review it <br />Its a campaign setting not a module.<br />http://www.amazon.com/Casino-Galactica-Adventure-Setting-Scenarios/dp/B… /><br />Openning advice:<br />1. A resort like this has lots of things going on as well as events that come and go; referees would do well to have several storylines in play at the same time and to give the players more information than they need. [Ironically the kids were watching something and have moved on to other things and now the TV just happens to be playing an episode of Love Boat in the background. I wasn't paying attention till just now but I thought I detected two different story lines. As I remember it Fantasy Island might be a good model of this as well.] I'm reminded of the d20 list of rumors from Keep on the Borderlands and a similar rumor list would stand a referee in good stead in running this setting but referees will need to develop this rumor table themselves.<br />2. Dont be sparing with the named NPCs, lay them on thick and let the players encounter them, even the owner of the resort. In fact the author states "A star master that cant use Conchita Columbia should be ashamed." <br /><br />Immediately after the above advice things transition to a flow chart of the Table of Organization for the resort showing admin, security and service staff is provided and probably helpful. this then is followed with a section on 17 NPC resort staff with stats and background and some have portraits. Toward the end of the list the NPCs that are the Head Waitress or Head Bartender are little more than stats and a paragraph.<br /><br />Next comes NPC descriptions on 12 Notable Guest. same deal about 4-5 get several paragraphs and portraits but latter you get a prostitute with just a stat block and paragraph or Father Doherty who is listed as a boss operative but only has a stat block<br /><br />Buildings and Grounds <br />One page numbered map followed by numbered room descriptions- feels like an old school D&D module map much like the above mentioned Keep on the Borderlands module, particularly the map of the keep and the surroundings. This is followed by the more detailed resort map which feels like the Caves of Chaos map in Keep on the Borderlands.<br /><br />Fun and games <br />This section covers gambling in the casino but doesn't provide a mechanic for actually running poker or blackjack or slot machines in the RPG<br /><br />GRav Ball sport and betting<br />Bit of background on the previous season plus posturing by the local team captain then a schedule of the upcoming season is provided for the game master with odds of winning, actual % chance of winning, advice on giving the setting flavor by having sports news briefs on how the teams are doing even creating other teams from the league. the Grav Ball game is based on a board game by the publisher and its recommended for purchase as a fun simple game. I dunno yet if this is still in print.<br /><br />Anual Race event is described. the race is for space ships and seems tailor made for the players to actually get involved in- the prize purses are listed race course is 140 LY long.<br /><br />Information on the SID or subliminal imagery device which reads like a plot hook to me.<br /><br />Next is encounter tables for various places in the resort as well as an act table for what acts might be performing. Encounter tables can have a night and day listing.<br /><br />A section on local fauna which all look like earth animals with different names, these would be for PCs engaging in the hunting preserve portion of the resort.<br /><br />Section 10 is scenarios <br />There are 5 scenarios which are each covered with 4-5 paragraphs. Scenario 6 is titled other ideas and has 6 entries of plot hooks needing more development by the "star master"<br /><br />Opinion: <br />the setting book is lavish in detailing NPCs: a total of 29 not counting the captain of the local grav ball team who is only mentioned by name in the course of the module.<br /><br />Aside from only rudimentary information on gambling in the casino, the data on local team's grav ball season and odds for betting and actual chance of a win are very handy in providing atmosphere. In fact something like this would be a good model for developing a sector wide sports league with teams for star frontiers and add atmosphere to a campaign where players might risk a little money on sports betting. I like the fact that there are odds of winning 2-1, 4-1 and then an actual % chance of the team winning. Makes this easy to use.<br /><br />Plenty of plot hooks in the NPC seciton and scenarios seciton.<br /><br />Maps are open and un cluttered by grid lines. Plenty of black and white artwork through out. <br /><br />Some work is needed on the part of the referee but otherwise a very usable document. Easily ported over to any other rule set and placed in almost any other sci fi setting.
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