Today I'm going to take a look at Penicillin Issue #3. As I've mentioned before, the Penicillin zine is an interesting mix of rpg content and art. You can read my reviews of issue 1 and 2.
The second feature is "the wrong place." This is a combination of comic and game. It's system agnostic and made for at least two players. It features wonderful gothic artwork from Kaylee Rowena.
The third article is written for basic D&D. It discusses dwarves in a non-traditional way, much like the halflings in issue two. There's a discussion of orichalcum. These unique metal-eating dwarves are given the race-as-class treatment. I like these dwarves and while I might not replace standard dwarves with them, I like them as a subrace, perhaps one that sees themselves as the most pure of their race.
The fourth feature is called The Rose' Fountain, Home of the Dynamos Nymphs. I really like this one (and yes I'm a big fan or rose'). This is a unique set piece is cheeky, but fun. The nymphs and their hangers-on are given stats and some unique traits. This might be my favorite entry in the zine.
The fifth article present medicinal amphibians. The article starts with a bit of fiction, but mostly consists of random charts. A total of ten charts let you customize your experience. It's a random, but fun article. It also made me think of this Family Guy episode and song.
Nacre, City of the Squid and the Snail is next. This sixth feature is four pages discussing and underground city. The article as a whole is written as a creative writing journey. This gives a nice overview of the city though. There are several sidebars. Hirelings, things to buy, encounters, and land marks are all discussed. This is an odd one (like anything in the zine isn't, right?). This is a cool infernal underground city and could make an interesting addition to any D&D game.
Alligator Blood is a one page creative writing piece. It's a pitch for a drug and I really enjoyed it, even if there are no mechanics.
The final article is called So You Contacted an Outer Horror. This one includes several charts that would be useful in any game that includes Yog-Sotothery. The charts are as follows:
- In what terrible form is it glimpsed?
- What did it represent when it was worshipped in strange eons?
- How can the entity be called?
- What dark powers may it provide for mortals?
- What will it take for such boons?
- What horrid plane does it come from?
- How can it be released?
- What truth is there to its form?
- What does it draw power from?
- What oblivion would follow in its wake?
This is a great chart and honestly, you could base a whole game on this.
Once again, I'm happy I picked this one up. These zines are weird and I'm not sure I'll ever use them. Still, they really interesting zines to read and have quite a bit of artistic merit. You can purchase the pdf of the issue here.
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