Hackmaster: The Hacklopedia of Beasts, Vol I

Rating:
Summary: "Hack" is a four-letter word
Review: Following in the tradition of the original Gary Gygax Basic D&D module B2: Keep on the Borderlands (ISBN 0935696474)(arguably the single most played adventure ever produced by TSR), the folks at K & Co. continue to produce superior quality reproductions of the original TSR classics. While almost all of the material is brand new, they manage to keep the spirit & flavor of the original very much alive. Following on the heels of B1: Quest for the Unknown (ISBN 1889182478), this adventure continues to provide Players more experience as well as more background information on Garweeze Wurld. The module contains several inter-related adventures (basically a mini-campaign) that allow Players to advance as slowly or as quickly as they desire (provided, of course, they manage to survive). The adventure begins with the Players arriving at Frandor's Keep. This is an adventure unto itself but also provides the Players a relatively safe place to hole up while recovering from their forays into the wilderness and, ultimately, the Mines of Chaos. There are many sidebar stories for the Players to enjoy or ignore if they so choose. Perhaps one of the best features of these new modules is in how logically they are laid-out, especially the Appendices. All new monsters & magic items are described in their own sections and a complete module index is also provided. Additionally, all notable module personalities are given their own section for further detail. Finally, all Player handouts, visual aids, and maps are beautifully illustrated and numbered to aid the GM. The "hack-factor" on this module is beyond expectations! I hope all future K & Co. products are as well written and produced as this one. They are certainly providing a lot of bang for the buck.