Review & Commentary On Jason Vey's Castles & Crusades 'The Book of the Dead' For the Castles & Crusades & Amazing Adventures Rpg

 "Preparation for the afterlife is a time consuming and meticulous task and one that must be done properly to ensure proper passage from the world of the living to the world of the dead. But that preparation pales in comparison to the arduous journey through the afterlife where a misstep can land one in everlasting oblivion.

From the history of that ancient text to the magic that guided it the Book of the Dead opens new worlds for the gaming table. With spells that range from care of the dead to the Shadow Runes of Rune Lore, magic items, and a guide through the afterlife, the Book of the Dead unleashes a whole new world of possibilities."

After getting in on the Castles & Crusades Codex Egyptium we were really curious about Jason Vey's Castles & Crusades The Book of the Dead his contribution to the latest Castles & Crusades Codex Egyptium Mythos line of products . This is basically an Amazing Adventures or Castles & Crusades rpg add on book. What it does is add in Egpytian style Rune magic from Castles & Crusades rpg into the purview of the Castles & Crusades Codex Egyptium campaign line. Basically we personally ordered this book some monthes ago & its only now that we're getting into it as both players & dungeon masters. Its a good addition into the line of C&C books by someone who knows his own system as well as Brian Young's work. 
So basically rune magic has far more reaching consquencess then it would first appear. The whole cloth work of Castles & Crusades The Book of the Dead is a fictional version of the Egyptian Book of the Dead. 

The  Castles & Crusades Codex Egyptium has an eleborate list of clerical spells that allow the cleric,wizard,or illusionist,  to cast Rune magic allowing them to open doors into the Egyptian world of the dead, heal, gain great magical power, & ultimately operate the brass doors between worlds including the Castles & Crusades home campaign world. There are in some very interesting concepts here that tie into Egyptian cosmic balance, mythology, religion, etc. But its done with a fantasy Pulp style flare. Next we get into magic items & again these are centered around Vey's fictional version of the Book of The Dead. But some of these magic items are powerful, dangerous, & ultimately are always connected with the Egyptian mythos realms of the dead. Something to keep in mind. 
We get into the shadow realm rune magic  or the land of  the Grey mist. This section updates & expands upon material presented 'The Adventurer's Backpack'. But does it in such a way as to make it very useful for the C&C dungeon master. I don't want to spoil it for the players. But under this section is the 'Shadow Codex' & this is part of the dangerous spells, monsters, and magick of the Grey mist.This is an 'inbetween' realm of the dead & the living that has various serious connotations for the after life of the Dead. 

There's a lot that I like in 'The Book of the Dead' but there's a few things that I don't like as well. First of all this book is way too short to cover something as eleborate as the ancient Egyptian mythological 'Book of Going Out' & that's fine because this isn't that supplement. Instead this a crossover point book for both Amazing Adventures & Castles & Crusades. And in that regard it does a good meet point with its Pulpiness whist cattering to the fantasy aspect of the Castles & Crusades crowd. You get about 21 pages of material for a ten dollar PDF which is fine considering that the Troll Lords have to pay artists, the writer, etc. Is this a must buy?! Yes if your a fan or DM of the Amazing Adventures rpg game. If your running a Castles & Crusades ' Castles & Crusades Codex Egyptium' campaign then possibly if your looking for a bit of Hollywood Mummy style action within your Castles & Crusades games then the  Jason Vey's 'Castles & Crusades The Book of the Dead'  might be for you. Four outta of five because I really wanted a  bit more  Book of the Dead.