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cybergoths's review
5.0
I finally got time to sit down and read through both parts of Luka Rejec's Longwinter setting and I'm glad I did. Split across two pristine perfect bound books, I was almost afraid to handle it because it reminded me of freshly fallen snow that you didn't want to disturb. That snow has bursts of glorious colour, where Luka's pen and ink style illustrations capture the essence of the setting. The first book is the Visitor's Book (104-pages), a gazetteer of the Barony of Brezim, a high valleyed alpine setting. The second book is the Referee's book (114-pages), which provides details of the factions, encounters and the metaplot that the characters will hopefully endure and break free from.
The Longwinter Visitor's Book presents enough to use the setting for a campaign; written in the style of an in-game guidebook, it describes the history, notable personages, factions, towns and geographical features such as the mountains, forests and rivers. Although quite short, these layer together nicely to provide plenty of hooks and opportunities for adventures. The setting feels early modern (with technology close to the 1920s/1930s albeit done in such a way that it is magical). It would suit a low powered D&D game (although there are certain types of character and ability that would ruin this) but part of me found myself realising that this would work with most low-heroic systems. Traveller sprung to mind, but there are hints for Luka's SEACAT and 5e included. The setting includes guns, so definitely isn't vanilla D&D.
The later part of the book provides core rules for travel, survival and encounters. Guidance on encumbrance, dealing with cold and some sample equipment is provided. The book wraps with a short story that illustrates the setting.
Finishing the book, I imagined shenanigans not unlike those in Helvéczia, with the characters being drawn into machinations between factions such as the Oldsettlers, Baronials and Wolffolk. The book describes it as a cosy roleplaying setting of high mountains and deep problems. A land of beauty in the summer and cold and snow in the winter. If you don't read the second book, that's the natural thing to be thinking. Except for the ill-omens.
The Longwinter Visitor's Book presents enough to use the setting for a campaign; written in the style of an in-game guidebook, it describes the history, notable personages, factions, towns and geographical features such as the mountains, forests and rivers. Although quite short, these layer together nicely to provide plenty of hooks and opportunities for adventures. The setting feels early modern (with technology close to the 1920s/1930s albeit done in such a way that it is magical). It would suit a low powered D&D game (although there are certain types of character and ability that would ruin this) but part of me found myself realising that this would work with most low-heroic systems. Traveller sprung to mind, but there are hints for Luka's SEACAT and 5e included. The setting includes guns, so definitely isn't vanilla D&D.
The later part of the book provides core rules for travel, survival and encounters. Guidance on encumbrance, dealing with cold and some sample equipment is provided. The book wraps with a short story that illustrates the setting.
Finishing the book, I imagined shenanigans not unlike those in Helvéczia, with the characters being drawn into machinations between factions such as the Oldsettlers, Baronials and Wolffolk. The book describes it as a cosy roleplaying setting of high mountains and deep problems. A land of beauty in the summer and cold and snow in the winter. If you don't read the second book, that's the natural thing to be thinking. Except for the ill-omens.
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