With the close-out of the Arathi Sector kickstart, Castle Grief bangs another winner out of the park.
Having slept for too long on Kal-Arath, I wasn’t about to let this one go without throwing a few bucks into the pot. The total package under a single cover for just $25 represents a steal, even if – and perhaps because – the core mechanic of this sci-fi game is already included and proven out in the fantasy title. It’s clean, robust, and flexible, and the zone approach to development means Mr. Grief has worked enough kinks out of the system to allow for a smooth transition into a new genre.
Or not so new, given that science fiction and fantasy are two sides of the same coin. It’s a good bet I won’t be the only one, and probably not even the first, to mash up Kal-Arath and Arathi Sector once the games get going. After all, with Cobalt-15’s twin blasters and MSB’s vague psychic wizard, we’re already half way there.
As a reminder, the crew of the Blackraven has spent the last two years drifting through interstellar space in cryosleep after getting blasted out of the Traveller universe. In that time I have been unable to find a game worthy of their talents. With the release of a gritty and pulpy solo-RPG wide open with possibilities, we’ll have no problem coming up with a band of slacker salvagers who let their guard down and release my channel’s favorite recurring characters.
We just have to wait a little bit longer, because while the campaign is over, the delivery isn’t expected until February.
Happy New Year!