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Progenitors Crash Cart, Issue 2 $2.50
Average Rating:4.5 / 5
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Progenitors Crash Cart, Issue 2
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Progenitors Crash Cart, Issue 2
Publisher: White Wolf
by Charles S. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 09/28/2019 20:02:33

The first thing to say: this seems to have little to do with Crash Cart I, except that both focus on the Progenitors. It seems to implicitly be tied, but I don't believe that Crash Card is mentioned once in it, which is a bit odd.

The product is broken into four parts: an antagonist (who seems to use 1st edition Technocracy tricks, but a barrabus can be weird), a brief overview of who is around in Tampa that could be tied to the antagonist, a couple of enhancements/biomods, and then rotes (adjustments and procedures).

The third and fourth sections are fairly strong, though throughout the book is fairly paradigm-light, so the Barrabus is indicated to do things that don't really fit into a Technocratic paradigm. But it's a very brief overview, so most such things are forgiven. The weakest thing was tying it specifically to Tampa when nothing about it really seemed to require that city, just an arrangement of players that was similar to what is described in part 2.

The most jarring thing is just how monstrously powerful the NPC is. This is a common problem with NPCs in White Wolf/Onyx Path mage books, but it's still jarring to see what should be a gritty, street level sort of antagonist with Enlightenment 8, all spheres at 3+ except for Time, and other absolutely massive statistics.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Progenitors Crash Cart, Issue 2
Publisher: White Wolf
by matthew p. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 01/10/2019 19:15:40

The Progenitors Crash Cart took an interesting approach when organizing and presenting this book. All of the book spirals our from a single spindling point. This point is the fully fleshed our character Dr. Evan Grillard. The first chapter of the book covers the Doctor's history, current situation and a full character sheet. The following chapter after that covers in much greater details about organizations and the forces surrounding the Doctor and the city around him. The final go into merits, gear and rotes that would be used by progenitors. But all finding ways to connect back to this central npc.

It was a fresh approach and the book makes it easy to base a story or even a campaign off the information presented just using this book. From werewolf biker gang to an entrenched Verbrena covenant. Even a mention of a nearby Black Spiral Hive. But to learn more pick up the book for yourself and give it a read.

I should start this part with I'm not a good judge of art by any means. But, as much as I like this book I need to say, the art felt off. I like the art and the text, they seemed to having a jarring effect put together in this book. However, this is just my opinion.

This supplement is useful in the hands of a Storyteller. It has great detail and plenty of ideas to pull from. I give this product 7 out of 10.

Resonance granted for by this review is Bad Medicine.



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Progenitors Crash Cart, Issue 2
Publisher: White Wolf
by Sebastian F. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 01/03/2019 11:48:14

This book, primarily about a single character and his activity in the region, is a fun read. The author presented a web of usable personalities and motives which could be easily adaptable to our games. The presentation, layout, and uses of the game rules were all used very well. I might place more importance than others on layout. Perhaps it is superficial of me, but I like to feel like I am reading a Mage (or whatever other game when referring to other documents) supplement. This didn't disappoint.

The specific thing I liked about this short book was that all of the information was relevant to the characters and events. Yes, "flavor text" is great, but is a distraction when it isn't relevant. Same goes for entries like new powers, new items (Artifacts, etc), and other extensions of rules mechanics. This book made use of everything the author put into it.

The only thing I didn't care for really only comes down to how we all play the game differently and enjoy different aspects of it. The characters involved seemed a little too powerful or heavy-handed. They could work as masterminds for a larger chronicle based upon the actions of the Doctor and his associates, but the book just scratched the surface for potential stories like that. Similarly, if scaled down, I could see them as being very fun elements for characters to directly interact with. I really love crossovers, but in this case I would likely adapt this book to just slightly reduce the amount of "heavy hitters" from each of the supernaturals present.

Overall: fun ideas, absolutely could see using it in my games, but would reduce the power levels of provided characters



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
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Progenitors Crash Cart, Issue 2
Publisher: White Wolf
by Drew S. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 09/27/2018 08:10:26

TL;DR: An excellent examination of a Progenitor hard at work, and the web of plots (tying to Mage, Werewolf, and Vampire) that swirl around him. The smattering of toys and rotes at the end are the icing on a delicious cake.

Progenitors Crash Cart: Issue 2 focuses on Dr. Evan Grillard, a model member of the Progenitors; by day working to help the medically underserviced and impoverished of Tampa, while at night... he engages in more questionable practices. Because Dr. Evan Grillard is a barabii, a Mage turned Nephrandus.

The majority of the book focuses on Dr. Evan's methods, both for work and for keeping himself safe from discovery (as well as the unfortunate fate of those who pierce his deception), and how a subset of Tampa's other supernaturals think about him. Grillard is an excellent character in himself, and better for having such a deep well of potential story hooks in so many directions. The ties to Tampa are also fairly shallow, which would make Grillard easy to transplant to other settings and games as needed.

The tail of the book has a handful of Artifacts and Rotes (excuse me; Enhancements and Procedures) which could see broad use in any Mage game, either as toys for the players or tools for antagonists.

The layout is generally solid (apart from the author's propensity to italicize words for emphasis maybe a little too often). The interior art is also excellent; in particular, the twisted Major Arcana style full page illustrations are just the right kind of grotesque and disturbing.

I can only find two criticism worth raising; first, we learn almost nothing about the other members of Grillard's Amalgam. Considering the detail we get about more tangential relationships, this feels like a sad oversight. Second, Dr. Grillard himself suffers from the same sort of stat inflation (Enlightenment 8? Seven spheres, rated at 3, and Life at 4?) very common to Mage NPCs.

But neither of these are remotely deal breakers. Crash Cart 2 delivers well on what it promises.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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Progenitors Crash Cart, Issue 2
Publisher: White Wolf
by Josh H. [Verified Purchaser]
Date Added: 09/22/2018 21:03:19

When I'm planning to run a game I'll skim through books to pick up ideas, thought forms, and strings of concepts that I can utilize to hang a story on. The great thing about this book is that it provides that in heaps with Chapter 2. The NPC, Dr. Grillard is amazing, and I won't spoil anything, but he is a very dark and purposeful beast. He would be a villain I would easily pull into a chronicle. Then, there are the Rolling 13s, who are an awesome group for folks to bring into their Florida based games. So, win-win on the NPC concept front.

Then, for those of you that love your crunch, you've got Chapter 3 and 4, which provide Enhancements and Procedures that you can use for either Dr. Grillard, or other Progenitors that you might use in your own games. So, for this price, the book is 100% worth every dime, regardless of the types of things you are interested in getting out of a book.



Rating:
[5 of 5 Stars!]
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