Pyramid Review
Medieval Player's Manual (for d20 System)
Published by Green Ronin Publishing
Written by David Chart
Illustrated by Caleb Cleveland, Kevin Crossley, Richard Decker, Mike Vilardi, & Lisa Wood
128-page b&w softcover; $22.95
After the excesses and exuberance of Mindshadows, the fourth title in Green Ronin's Mythic Vistas line is very restrained affair. The Medieval Player's Manual is a d20 System treatment of historical medievalism over Hollywood heroics. It is designed as a roleplaying game set in Western Europe during the age of Christianity and Crusade. More specifically, this is a Middle Ages set supplement supported by a campaign that takes place in England and Western France following the successful invasion by William the Bastard in 1066. It is penned by David Chart, the line editor for Atlas Games' Ars Magica RPG, and author of several d20 System supplements. Primarily for Atlas Games' Penumbra imprint, they include the recent Love & War, a d20 System treatment of knights and chivalry; the excellent treasure-free campaign Splintered Peace; and Black Monks of Glastonbury, the d20 System/Ars Magica Coriolis crossover scenario. It is this prior experience that would suggest that Chart is the best man to have written this book.
The Medieval Player's Manual introduces a long list of changes to the d20 System as found in the Player's Handbook. The first of these is the strong role that religion plays in the setting, particularly Christianity. Every character is presumed . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: August 27, 2004
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