Review & Commentary On Neulow Games's Stardust the Super Wizard (2016) By Fletcher Hanks, & Steve Miller

 "Stardust the Super Wizard is a name spoken in hushed whispers throughout the universe, He uses his vast knowledge of interplanetary science and sorcery to monitor all inhabited worlds, and when he finds beings he considers exceptionally evil or vile, he dispenses the justice he feels they deserve. Once you've incurred the wrath of the Super Wizard, you are done for!"

For many now the Nuelow games universe setting has been one that we've been dipping into for many years. A combination of public domain comic book series & supplement the whole book  is more then the combination of its parts. This formula is one that allows Nuelow to flesh out characters such as Stardust The Super Wizard; "Stardust the Super Wizard from NUELOW Games collects six tales from the Golden Age of Comics by one or its most eccentric and erratic creators, Fletcher Hanks. Although he only worked in comics for a brief time during 1939 to 1941, the over-the-top nature of his work left a permanent mark on the emerging artform--and it makes the stories worth reading even today. The "Stardust the Super Wizard" series is where his bizarre story-telling style was most prominently on display. followed closely by run on the "Fantomah" series (highlights from which are featured in NUELOW's The Three Lives of Fantomah: Mystery Woman of the Jungle." 
Who is Stardust The Super Wizard? According to the Public Domain Super Hero site; "Stardust the Super Wizard lived on a "private star" far out in space. He patrolled the cosmos fighting criminals, racketeers, spies, and terrorists, but comes to Earth after intercepting a radio signal from America."  And Neulow Games 
What really makes Stardust The Super Wizard is the cultclassic comic artwork but who was this renagade comic book artist from the Golden Age of comic books;"Fletcher Hanks, Sr. (December 1, 1889 – January 22, 1976) was a cartoonist from the Golden Age of Comic Books, who wrote and drew stories detailing the adventures of all-powerful, supernatural heroes and their elaborate punishments of transgressors. In addition to his birth name, Hanks worked under a number of pen names, including "Hank Christy," "Charles Netcher," "C. C. Starr," and "Barclay Flagg." Hanks was active in comic books from 1939 to 1941" Here's a great article on the comic book work & fate of Fletcher Hanks.

 Stardust The Super Wizard would  be considered a cultclassic  cosmic anti hero & he's a reality bender with super science. This cosmic demigod is as bizarre today as he was back when he exploded onto the Golden Age. Stardust alters criminals, bends reality, & causes complete genocide of several gangs. Stardust the Super Wizard (2016) has several super science devices of some really twisted applications for adventures. Because  is a simple OGL d20 Modern product & so easily convert to most OSR systems. Steve Miller doesn't get half the credit that he should as a game designer.  Stardust the Super Wizard  works well as a NPC antagonist for OSR super heroes. There are several super hero systems that I'd use  Stardust the Super Wizard  as a main villain. The original material for  Stardust the Super Wizard  is well done.  Stardust is a perfect candidate for a cult leader or the like because he acts as judge, jury, & executioner. His actions towards his continuum's Earth are bizarre. In some respects Stardust reminds me of DC Comic's Mister Mxyzptlk with his crazy actions & 

I can see playing an epic campaign of bizarre  crazy reality bending adventure &   weirdness. Invading Stardust's base could be climax of a long series of weird adventures with Stardust doing incredibly strange things along the way. 
The thing to remember about Stardust The Super Wizard is the fact that this is a character of absolutes, the punishments ironically  fit the crimes. Things that detract from Stardust the Super Wizard ? Stardust the Super Wizard 's base needs to be improved. The map while usable needs a huge improvement but other then that Stardust the Super Wizard  is completely usable as a villain or antihero of the highest order. I'd say four out of five & I've got a whole lotta of Stardust the Super Wizard  action coming in one of my campaigns so stay tuned. 

Review of D20 Terrors of Egypt From NUELOW Games

I was looking for some new D20 resources for my upcoming Dungeon Crawl Classics game. I received Terrors of Egypt as a gift from a friend today and now I'm very sorry I did. This pdf retails for around two dollars and twenty five cents clocks in at forty eight pages of public domain horror comics. These are really good horror comics with really zero D20 material. There's one crappy D20 Egyptian themed zodiac chart in this horror comic book anthology for character generation and that's part of the missed opportunity of this book. The author simply looks like he cleaned up the public domain comic book source material and didn't bother to write in the adventure opportunities, D20 monster stat blocks, mystic items, and mini adventures all hidden in the comic book stories themselves there by rendering this book for game use absolutely pointless.




But then again NUELOW Games it seems isn't about giving the public useful D20 gaming resources its about making a quick buck out of public domain comic book material. Terrors of Egypt had the potential to be a really useful forty eight page anthology and source  book woven together from public domain comic book material. Instead they've put together a slip shod hacked title that they've got the nerve to charge the public money for. This book isn't even worth the half a star. The design is crap, the premise is a solid one but one little D20 resource surrounded by some great vintage horror comics that with a bit of work could have been something great. F- for this effort in slip shod writing and design work. According to the Drivethrurpg blurb "The center piece of Terrors of Egypt is Alan Hewetson and Cesar Lopez's tale of the mysterious and bewitching Khefra, collected here for the first time anywhere, but the other stories are also sure to haunt your imagination long after you've put the book down."  Umm not exactly, these comics were taken from the  The Digital Comic Museum which offers free access to thousands  of pre-1959 comic books, uploaded by users who often offer historical research and commentary alongside high-quality scans. NUELOW dusted the scans off & knocked this "comics anthology"  together. Save yourselves two dollars and a bunch  of gaming pain and headaches. Grab yourselves a membership over at the Digital Comic Museum and begin downloading your own precode horror, fantasy, and sci fi comic book titles yourself then create your own old school gaming material.


 Christ, this is the first time in a long time that I've given this low of a rating to a product but what pisses me off is the potential is there but it seems like sheer laziness on Nuelow games part.  If they had put some effort into a product that advertises itself as Terrors of Egypt this title really had a lot of potential to really be something very useful at the table. Next time Nuelow games  please put i a bit of effort into your next Egypt line title. As a precode comic book fan and old school gaming enthusiast Terrors of Egypt left me bitterly disappointed, incensed and totally pissed off at the author whose past work was far more up to par then this drek that passes itself as a "D20"  product. This is one to avoid at all costs.

Egyptian Adventures: Hamunaptra (d20) Unboxing

 

Recently Paizo.com had a sale on Egyptian Adventures: Hamunaptra (d20). I've been lusting after this box set for a long time & a friend of mine Mick Leach one of the founders of the OSG group on facebook was kind enough to send me this!
From the Description : 

'Towering pyramids rise from the sands, speaking of the glory of kings long gone. Three mighty pharaohs, kings and gods, rule over a land divided-- over nations hovering on the brink of war. Priests of mighty deities guide the lives of peasants and nobles alike, as all struggle to make the most of the fertile lands that line the mighty river Yor, whose rushing waters are at once the symbol and the source of all life. But all around, the desert grows, encroaching nearer each day to the last remaining refuge of a once mighty civilization.

Egyptian Adventures allows you to play the world's most popular roleplaying game in the sands of Hamunaptra, a new fantasy setting inspired by the myths, legends, and culture of Ancient Egypt. Neither the Egyptian feel nor the playability of the game has been sacrificed. The classes and races that populate the lands of Hamunaptra are still recognizable as your own favorites, yet re-imagined to convey the feel of a time of pharaohs under the shadow of war.

This boxed set includes three separate books, each of which presents vital setting information. From the classes, races, feats, and magic of Hamunaptra, to a complete gazetteer of the continent of Khemti and a book of GM-only secrets, this boxed set contains all you'll need to explore the world of Hamunaptra. Battle foul beasts of the desert, excavate the curse-warded tombs of dynasties past, sabotage and spy upon the armies of rival nations, master ancient magics, or simply attempt to solve the riddle of the expanding Red Land before the desert overtakes the last, dwindling bastions of civilization.

This is an age of legend. Make it your own.'
 This whole set was about 5.00 & worth every penny in my book. I've been looking for a decent Egyptian themed set for Crypts & Things for awhile now & I think that this might fit the bill. I'll end up retro fixing everything into the system. This isn't as big a deal as it sounds. 

All in all the setting seems very pulpy & reminds me of the box sets of yesterday. It looks like a nice mix of stuff here. 

The Book of Days is the players hand book & the thing is pretty darn awesome. It explains & lays out the character classes very well & adds some dimension which reflects some major changes to the usual D&D tropes. Most of the major races are specifically tied to their gods. Elves are children of Isis, etc. 

The Book of Gates is the day to day life book in the setting & adds some awesome twists on the religions of  the realm. Be warned though these aren't even remotely historically accurate. They're created right into the setting. 

 The Book of Law are all of the DM's secrets & contains some interesting tidbits on the religions, monsters, tribes, inner plots, etc. This is a nicely laid out little book 

This is the map that comes with the set. Very cool, quick, & seems like a nice reference piece

Some of the Egyptian Style artwork 

Not bad for 5.00! These normally sell for 25.00 but if you keep your eyes open you might find one on sale!

Paizo's was Here

A much more detailed review of the stuff Here

 A Quick Note: The Old School Gamers group on Facebook is perhaps one of the most dynamic & fun bunch you'll ever meet. The  topics fly fast & furious. If you have a Facebook account ask to join & you won't be sorry. They're are gobs of  gamers, game professionals, & all kind of old school goodness there!

Here

Also while your there be sure to check out the Mystara Reborn group which is actively working on new material, exploring the old school world, & getting into some really cool topics!

 Check them out right Here
 Thanks Mick!