Role-playing Games Archives - Page 2 of 2

Platform: iPhone/iPad
Price: $1.00
Rating: 4-Stars Systems: Pathfinder, OGL 3.5

I have been a fan of Paizo’s Game Mastery cards for a while now. Their treasure cards are great, especially when playing with new and younger players. For new players a sheet of cards in a binder makes it easy for them to keep track of what they have and what it does. For the video game set, the tactile reward of getting a card is engaging in the same way that achievements are.

The fun my group had with the treasure cards opened my mind to the possibilities offered by Paizo’s Critical Hit Deck. This a deck of 52 cards. Each card contains 4 critical hit results, one for each of slashing, piercing, bludgeoning and magic damage. When you confirm a critical hit, you simple draw a card and apply the appropriate bonus. This is a fun way to make every critical hit different and more exciting.

Given the simple fun provided by the physical Critical Hit Deck, I expected iCrit to be pretty good. I wasn’t disappointed.

DESCRIPTION

You don’t expect much from an app that simulates drawing from a deck of cards, but still I was pleasantly surprised by simple UI for iCrit. When you start the app, you see a screen that is very easy to understand. There are 4 blank areas labeled: bludgeoning, piercing, slashing, and magic. When you confirm a critical hit, just touch the appropriate symbol on the left and the special result of your critical hit is displayed next to it. You then apply the result and move on with your combat. Couldn’t be easier.

USER INTERFACE

I had expected that I would touch the screen or swipe and get a whole new card, but the apps interface is even better. When I draw a card, I see results for 4 damage types, 3 of which I don’t need. Part of the fun on these effects is the surprise of getting something new. So, I like that this UI only shows me one result at a time. I also like that it will keep old results up for review, at least until I use that damage type again.

There are sounds effects that play when you touch the damage type symbols. Each is different, and fun. Critical hits don’t happen often enough that they get annoying.

The help screen is straightforward, containing the same basic information as the instruction cards in the deck.

USEFULNESS & VALUE

Critical hits are one of the most fun parts of Pathfinder. Nothing gets people out of their chairs in excitement like a critical hit at the right time. Two bucks to make that even more fun and interesting? Yes, please!

If you are using other apps, on the same device, I could see it getting tedious switching to iCrit to get the special effect. I think the best usage would be for 1 or 2 players to keep it up on their phones, ready for use. However, I suspect with a little practice, the 4 clicks to get a critical result can be done efficiently so as not to interfere with the moment.

CONCLUSION

iCrit is an excellent app. It does a simple thing, really well. It is probably even better than the deck of cards that inspired it, if for no other reason than it is cheaper and just as easy to use. I’m having fun with it, and I think you will too.

SERVANT

Servants accomplish much of what gets done in the world. They carry supplies, remove obstacles and handle many other details. In the 1930s, wealthy people will have personal servants and any expedition will have several laborers to move the expedition along. Servants may also blend in and mingle with working class society, becoming a source of local information. Servants are not mindless automatons. They have their own goals and motivations and can be key contributors to any expedition.

Examples: Loyal Butler, Experienced Sherpa, Rugged Porter

KID

The youthful combination of curiosity and naïveté leads kids to turn up in all kinds of surprising places, including the Hollow Earth. Kids seem to find trouble, but their small stature and harmless appearance can get them out of many situations. While they may not have much in the way of useful skills, they may have exceptional local knowledge and a fresh perspective. Frequently underestimated, exceptional children can be worth the inevitable pain.

Examples: Street Urchin, Spoiled Brat, Teenaged Runaway

ANIMAL JOCKEY

Mules, camels, sled dogs and elephants; these pack animals carry supplies over difficult terrain with a reliability that vehicles of the 30s can’t match. People with the skills to handle and care for these animals are essential to any successful trek into the wilderness. These individuals may also have valuable skills for dealing with the local fauna the expedition might encounter. Animal handlers don’t like to risk their animals, but an expedition can provide a way to pay the bills.

Examples: Cavalry Officer, Teamster, Dog Handler

EVERYDAY JOE

Everyday Joes are the right people in the wrong place at the wrong time. Maybe she was on vacation when her ship gets caught in the Bermuda Triangle, or maybe the bank financing the expedition sent him along to audit the expenses. Once over their head, the Everyday Joe will persevere and survive; and maybe find enough gold to pay off that mortgage.

Examples: Cook, Bureaucrat, Bartender

NEW PHYSICAL FLAW

Physical Flaws are an important part of character creation in Hollow Earth Expedition. Here is a new one that may be relevant to a Kid (above) or a Scion of Atlantis. Of course, any archetype could use it if it makes for a great character.

Youth: Your character is young, impatient and inexperienced. He does not have the same rights as the other party members and others will often treat him like the child he is. If you are a teenager you are size 0, if you are younger than that you are size -1. You also suffer a -2 penalty to any roll that depends upon age or experience, like a roll to recognize somebody famous or remember some historical event. You earn a Style Point whenever your character’s standing (physical, emotional, or social) causes him severe difficulties.

Category: Role-playing Games

iCrit: Make Critical Hits Even More Fun