At the end of December, I already presented to you a first box from Larousse, Arsène Lupine against Sherlock Holmes, a board game based on the rules of the escape game. Today I come back to you with The League of Adventurers Strikes Back which, this time, takes up the rules of the tabletop role-playing game. Inside the box: a 32-page scenario, a 24-page roleplaying guide, 30 player aid cards, 10 character cards, 12 blueprints, 15 character tokens, two D10s, a screen for the master of game.
April 1931 - Tonight, your team of adventurers will have to face terrible adventures!
Members of the Aristote Club, here you are on board a retro-futuristic train for a speed record. But are the passengers really all there to witness this technological miracle? Around a scenario in 3 acts, an avalanche of twists awaits you...
From Paris to Asia, via Eastern Europe, set off for Adventure with a capital A!
This complete role-playing party kit includes everything needed for the game master and beginning players. The Good Gamer's Guide explains good tips for the GM, such as creating an atmosphere, following a scenario, entertaining the players, respecting the rules... Players may also want to read it so they know what to expect even if I don't think it's really necessary. The advantage is that, even if some passages are specific to the rules of this game, many elements apply to any other rule, which is therefore a good introduction for future roleplayers.
The scenario is exclusively dedicated to the GM, of course! It is detailed, scene by scene, with texts to read to be sure not to miss any element. The possible rolls to ask the players are listed, as well as the clues to reveal to them depending on the situation and the game aids to distribute (letters, photos, drawing...). The plans have player versions and game master versions, with tokens to visualize the position of each participant. The second GM version sometimes has more information, but above all allows the GM to be able to position his villains and better plan his actions.
All of this is done behind the screen behind the screen. Beyond confidentiality, it helps the GM with a summary of character sheets and how to resolve dice rolls, to decide if there are has success or failure. The rules are very simple, with a system of skills/objects specific to each character, to be combined with any bonuses/maluses, all temporized by the difficulty of the action.
The character sheets are in the same format as the game aids, in the form of large cards, with a small photo. However, it is a pity that these files cannot be modified (it is always possible to scribble on them, but that would really damage them stupidly!). This is also the only thing that could be missing in this box: blank sheets, in order to develop the characters or create new ones, which would facilitate replayability. Of course, a resourceful player can create his model in Word, but I would have liked even one page, to be photocopied, as a base.
Of course, all the elements are there for information only, the scenario, the game aids, the characters... No obligation to stick to them, an experienced GM can afford to use all these elements as a base and improvise from there. But even if there is a certain replayability possible, it must be kept in mind that this box is above all intended for a one-shot, a scenario in three acts which will occupy a group of 2 to 6 players for about four at five 'o' clock. But that you won't be able to play again, again and again, at least not with the same group of players, without a little extra work to create a new scenario. Nevertheless, for €19,90, an excellent step into the world of role-playing games that I recommend if you want to start your career as a game master!
Amazon - The League of Adventurers Strikes Back - €19,90
