Love's Labour's Liabilities Review

Love's Labour's Liabilities is the follow up to Love's Labour's Liberated. Unlike the first, which was greatly delayed, the pdf for this volume in the series dropped today (less than 24 hours after the project funded). Like the previous zine, this one has romance oriented content for 5e. There's also quite a bit of lightning themed content, which I'll be honest, confused me at first. Here's a closer look at the content.

The pdf begins with a few dedications from backers to their loved ones, well currently there is only one. However, there are others that will be included in the final version. After this there is a well written discussion on romance and consent in gaming. While some argue this isn't needed, it's a good thing to discuss and I approve of its inclusion. This also mentions the idea of the X-Card which was included in the original and this volume. This is followed by a fantastic poem about desire and love.

The Elemental Lightning Lord otherworldly warlock patron is the first crunch we're presented with. It's an interesting idea too, because it deals with a forced relationship. It embodies the perversion of love. While it thinks it has control over you, you use this power to gain your freedom. The patron grants a series of storm-centric spells to your warlock list and some interesting powers. You gain a few interesting damage abilities and one really cool movement one. The top tier warlock power you grant is unique. It gives you a go big or go home attack against a foe.

The other new classic archetype in the zine is the Way of the Broken Heart monk. Many characters are galvanized and built upon a great loss of a loved one. The archetypes abilities and focus are built upon that. What's interesting is the abilities are all named after four of the five stages of overcoming grief (depression is omitted). I am a fan of this archetype, though I can understand how some might see it as playing on the "women in the fridge trope." I believe the archetype is more than that though. You could use multiple types of trauma to justify the class, not just the loss of a lover.

There are two new backgrounds. The first is the child of the elements. This background is based on someone that was whisked away by an elemental being, such as a genie and raised. There is a variant that you were kidnapped and/or imprisoned by an elemental. The other background is the chaste. This background works on the premise that the character abstains from something (not necessarily love) until they obtain the perfect version. These are both interesting backgrounds. The chaste makes sense based on the romance centered content, but initially the child of the elements is another potentially lightning themed entry.

After backgrounds we have two new feats. The first is Lightning Rod which seems pretty powerful, though also specific which might balance it out. The other is Heart Felt Defense which I like because I'm a fan of bodyguard style abilities.

There are four new spells. None of these are lightning related and all are centered around devotion and the heart. 

There are six new monsters:

• Cupid - these celestials seem like an obvious addition to the game
• Eyes of the Storm - these extremely powerful elementals see themselves as gods and definitely have tie to the Elemental Lightning Lord
• Lightning Elemental - given all of the other lightning based content, the inclusion of these elementals is a no brainer
• Missile Mistletoe - this symbiotic (rather than parasitic) sentient mistletoe may be related to the mistletoe that slayed Baldur.
• Millhive - this bearshaped honey beehive creature is fantastic and frightening. I can't wait to use them
• Ghost General - a phantom that while once a symbol of devotion, now seeks to destruction, using undead minions and magic

There are five really flavorful new magic items. They are utterly quest worthy and have a fairy tale/fable quality that I adore.

There two love related adventure hooks. I appreciate the inclusion of a CW with one. Both are cool and I really want to use the Shelter one, especially given my love of succubi.

The final bit of content is a nine page piece of fiction that gives context to all of the lightning based content. It's a nice little piece that includes some content warnings at the beginning and deals with some series issues,

If you're looking for some new themed content for your 5e game, this is a great addition to your collection. As a hopeless romantic myself, I love it. Currently only the pdf is available (and only to backers). Once it becomes available to the public, I'll let you fine folks know.