Gallery of Evil
As always when reviewing game modules; if you are a Dungeon Master, there is no such thing as spoiler. If you are a player, stop reading here and mark this review Very Helpful.
When the Magazine Dragon and its sister title Dungeon closed up shop, it was a grim day indeed for gamers everywhere. This left an empty niche in the market place, and while it has not been filled, there are plenty of people scrambling to exploit this.
One of the ones in the best position to do so is Piazo Publishing, the company that had the contract with Wizards of the Coast to produce Dragon and Dungeon. Now, they have started their own line of Game Mastery Modules; stand alone adventures set in a world of their own devising.
Gallery of Evil is a definite change of pace from the underground hack and slash adventure. Set in the "Ivy District" this upscale neighborhood can be dropped into whatever game world you are running.
A wizard who fancies himself an artist has found a way to pay back his critics (a chilling thought for this reviewer) utilizing paintings that spring to life and slay their recipient. The first victim is someone who was going to hire the adventurers. Now they have to follow the clues, not from room to room, but from event to event. A swanky cocktail party is the next stop, and if they heroes succeed, they will proceed to intercept the last painting before it claims its victim. The fourth scene actually takes place INSIDE a painting, and should they survive, they now have all they need to face the author of these horrors.
This is a wonderful module, because it turns so many things on their ears. Even a familiar monster is different when it is just a paint copy. This is an excellent adventure to use if you have a wizard who is an enchanter or illusionist, and you want to take them down a peg, or just make them work for that ninth level.
Several of the Magic Items depicted in Appendix 3 are really intriguing, and will probably inspire the players to new heights of creative exploitation. Appendix 2 contains New Monsters with unusual capabilities that should be exploited to the fullest extent.
Appendix 1 details the Ivy District and its inhabitants. If you set this in Piazo's Lands of the Runelords, this gives you a valuable patch for the thus far spotty back ground. If not, it will take some work to adapt to your setting, but still is detailed enough to make it worth the effort.
As with all Piazo products, the production is first rate; glossy paper and color throughout all 32 pages. The Art really plays a role, because several portraits mentioned in the text are there in full color. Description is wonderful, seeing is better.
At $12.95 it is slightly higher cost for much higher quality. I say it's worth it.
In fond Memory of Gary Gygax, Father of Dungeons and Dragons.
27 July, 1938 -4 March, 2008
You enriched my life.
Published by Talyseon
Everyone is entitled to my opinion. View profile
