Roboworld

You probably know the deal by now. Roboworld is another video game tribute monster book from Bloat Games. It's available in System Neutral, SURVIVE THIS!!, 5e, and DCC. The system neutral stats are easy to decipher, though unlike previous books this does have the page describing how to interpret. The other versions contain concise stat blocks. Once again Lukasz Piwinski does a great job with the art. Each piece is a great tribute to the Mega Man robots. 

The book contains 26 new robotic and android foes. If I counted correctly there are 16 robots that I would consider mooks and minions (though that doesn't mean they are pushovers). Additionally their are 10 unique robots and androids (including several robot masters). Like previous books in the series these are stand-ins for existing robot foes from Mega Man. I have to say of them my favorites are Slowmo and Treetor. Slowmo is an expy of Flash Man. Like that robot master he can freeze time. His description mentions he likes to take selfies when he does this and I'm wondering if this is a reference to a camera flash. Treetor is a tribute to Wood Man, one of my favorite robot masters. His ability, Leaf Shield, is awesome and ridiculous.

While there isn't a setting book for Roboworld. There are bits of info you can glean from the descriptors. There are two great scientists Dr. Luminous and Dr. Y. Lee. Dr. Y. Lee is mentioned much more, since he's the villain. While brilliant himself, he seems to modify and reprogram the creations of others more than make new robots.

Like Space Station M, this monster book might not fit perfectly into every game. However there are several I think it would be great for. And again, like Space Station M the SURVIVE THIS version is perfect for SURVIVE THIS!! The Blackest Space.  I would definitely include it in my Vigilante City games. The DCC version is a great add-on for Gunzo! Operation: Bughunt. Also because of the Appendix N nature of DCC, you could very easily add any of these robots to your game. The 5e version would be a great addition to any 5e supers game and in particular would add some nice foes to Carbide City #1 and Carbide City #2.  

If you didn't back the Kickstarter and want copies, make sure to pre-order from the Bloat Games store asap.

Space Station M

Space Station M (not Asteroid M as I keep calling it in my head) is one of the books from the prolific and talented crew at Bloat Games. This is another classic video game tribute monster book. Metroid is the focus this time. Like others in this series, their are multiple versions: System Neutral, SURVIVE THIS!!, 5e, and DCC.  The system neutral version includes base stats and how to interpret them to existing systems. The other versions contain concise stat blocks. Lukasz Piwinski does a great job with the art. Each piece is a great tribute to the Metroid monsters. 

A majority of creatures presented are the strange insect and mutant fodder that Samus Aran fights. There are about 14 of these creatures. This is followed by two different Space Bounty Hunters (a rookie and veteran). These could represent Samus or her fellow hunters. We are also given stats for Space Suckers (normal and queens). These are expy Metroids. There are a few big bads featured too. The first is Station M Terror, which could be used to represent Ridley from the series. The Thorn Beast is an expy of Kraid. Finally the Brain of the Death God (pictured on the cover) is the dreaded Mother Brain. 

Who doesn't love a new monster book? These aliens might not fight into every game, but I'm sure you can find a use. Obviously the SURVIVE THIS version is perfect for SURVIVE THIS!! The Blackest Space.  It could also work with Vigilante City if you aren't just sticking to street level shenanigans.. The DCC version is a great add-on for Gunzo! Operation: Bughunt. It would also be great for the Purple Planet. Finally the 5e version is a great monster supplement for Spelljammer, though many of the monsters are strange enough that they'd be perfect for planar encounters or the Underdark. 

There is also an Equipment Guide PDF. It contains stats in all the above systems. You'll find treasure drop tables, Space Armor, Space Armor Upgrades, and Refills for the suits. Overall they are really strong, but emulate the game well.

If you didn't back the Kickstarter and want copies, make sure to pre-order from the Bloat Games store asap.

100 Days of Halloween: Day 2

These unusual punishments come from Chamber of Chills #1.

It kind of feels like I'm slacking already, but I don't actually have new game content for this one. This was  just a single page from the above mentioned issue, but it really stuck out to me. While you could definitely use these punishments as inspiration for any game, I think they'd add great flavor to SURVIVE THIS!! The Blackest Space or the original version of the game. 

Rayguns & Robuts Review

Rayguns & Robuts is a retro sci-fi tour de force by Levi Combs, the mad genius of Planet X Games. Most of the content was written by Levi, with a contribution from Luau Lou. The cover is done by Planet X regular Ed Bickford (who also has some wonderful interior art). The rest of the interior art is done by Lawrence Hernandez, JE Shields, Dan Smith, and James V. West. In addition to the awesome artwork for the games itself, there are a couple of fantastic retro comic book ads for other PX content. These just add to the character and sheer awesomeness of Planet X Games books.

The book is a system neutral (OSR adjacent). Instead of giving stats for a bunch of new equipment and things, this book assumes you already have a system you like that has those things. The book contains an overview of the setting, ROBUTS and why they could have rebelled, planets and destinations, an adventure, and the craziest collection of characters you've ever seen. Seriously, you're players will never forget characters like Professor Mantis (a literal giant mantis scientist in a lab coat) or the cyborg chimp, H.A.M. 

This book is wild. Seriously, everything Levi rights is just interesting af. There's so must style. I love that every time the mechanical villains are mentioned they are ROBUTS in all caps. This setting feels alive and weird in all the best ways. To be quite honest this is the kind of strange sci-fi setting I was hoping for with Alpha Blue many years ago (in the days before its author went full asshole). 

When/if I do run this game, I think I'm going to use Survive This!! The Blackest Space. Scorched or the original Blackest Space are great options too. White Star is another great option. They all seem like a great fits. The few stats that are in the book would be easy to use with them. You can get your own copy of Rayguns & Robuts here. While you're waiting on your copy to arrive check out this great Spotify playlist Levi made for it.