[HoE] Hell on Earth, My $0.02 (take two)

[Allan Seyberth <darious@darious.com>]

	Hell on  Earth is Pinnacle's latest game.  A $30 hardback, it is a post
apocalypse setting and is one possible future of the events that occur in
the Deadlands setting.  While it is an extension of the Weird West (and
uses the same mechanics) HoE has the complete rules within its pages.
Pinnacle has also woven several elements into the Wasted West, allowing you
to recreate the feel of almost any post apocalypse movie or book you might
have read.  If you like to role play after the bomb, or you like the
Deadlands in general, I would recommend a hard look at this book.  If you
happen to be a fan of both, this book is a natural.  

_Major Strengths_

Rules system:
	The rule system for Hell on Earth is the same as for Deadlands.  There
were some modifications to the system from the original DL rules, but these
were introduced to the Weird West in recent books.  
	I consider this to be a major strength for two obvious reasons - I already
know the Pinnacle system, and I happen to like the way it works.  I can hop
right in and get  the players to save a town against a biker gang or get
the medicine across the country without having to learn a lot of rules. As
an added benefit, I've already played the system and know which things
won't like - allowing me to use my house rules.  One side comment - while a
lot of the text seems lifted straight 
	If you are just picking up the book (or reading this review) because you
like the setting, this strength obviously doesn't apply.  But IMHO - quirks
and all - it's a pretty good system.

Pretty
	Having come to expect a high production quality (usually 4 out of 5) from
Pinnacle products, I usually don't comment on the appearance of the books
unless it falls below this quality.  Not in this case - Hell on Earth is
pretty, going above the usual quality.  Each archetype still has a full
color plate and there are several general actions scenes done in full color
(like the DL book), they improved on several things.  Each monster now has
a single full color page to itself - like the archetypes.  White space is
almost nonexistent and the tables are far less intrusive.  I usually prefer
substance over style but even I have to admit that HoE is pretty.  (Note -
the version I have is the limited edition leatherette version.  I don't
expect that there is any difference between the regular edition and the
limited one - except for the cover - but I just want to state that I don't
know for !certain! that there is no difference)

Plot diversity
	As far as I can see, Hell on Earth has enough elements to allow you to
recreate almost any post apocalypse setting.  Mad Max, Damnation Alley,
Terminator, Akira, Hell Comes to Frogtown (well, maybe that last one is a
bit much.)   It's all in there.
	On a side note - the theme of the setting seems a bit less fear oriented.
The mechanisms are still there for running fear, but there is a lot less
emphasis on secrecy.  As HoE puts it "Abominations that get too wild can
actually stagnate a Fear Level.  The unknown is the greatest horror of
all."  Well, seeing as how the Reckoners themselves have ridden the land
destroying everything in their path, there seems little effect to secrecy now.

It's a standalone product.
	Hell on Earth has everything you need to play it within it's pages.  You
don't need to own DL to play this one.  With the exception of some minor
references, everything mentioned in HoE is explained in HoE.

_Major Weaknesses_
None that I've seen - but I didn't expect to find any, I'm a rabid fan-boy
of Pinnacle.  If you've already tried the DL setting and found it wanting,
you'll probably wish to skip HoE.

_Strengths_

Only a !Possible! future
	Pinnacle went out of their way to make certain that Deadlands is not
superceded by Hell On Earth.  The mention that the world in HoE is only one
possible outcome of events in DL, and even then, the Reckoners had to cheat
by sending someone back in time to wipe out the heroes.  You've seen
Terminator?  Well - Hell on Earth is what would happen if the "terminator"
won.  
	One thing I like about Pinnacle is that they are not afraid to have the
heroes lose for fear of derailing the ongoing plot lines.  I am also
tickled at the idea of having some DL players hose up royally during the
game, only the have the Gamemaster whip out HoE for the next session and
have the players play in a world that is a direct consequence of their
actions.

Future supplements
	Pinnacle has a proven track record of supporting, so rest assured that if
you get the rabid-fan bug and really enjoy HoE, there will soon be a large
number of supplements out there adding more detail to the setting.

_Weaknesses_

A bit thin
	Certain points within the book seemed thin in substance, notably the
background material and the special character write-ups.  I know why it
seems thin to me - I'm used to more fully detailed setting of DL, and I
know that there will be supplements fleshing out the world, but it would
have been nice to have more then three "powers" for the Junkers and some
more background information.  

Yeah, but....
	While I called these it a major strength, their is one minor problem with
the fact that the rules are the same for both DL and HoE, and it can be
summed up by one comment I heard at Gen-Con.  A gentleman I was with
wondered if it would be possible to just get the setting information at a
discount, since he already had the rules.  Now, I can't see any other
feasible way to put out a new setting then as a complete system, but as a
fair warning to DL players, your $30 will be going towards a book that is
75% already in books you now own. 
	And I mentioned above that the HoE is independent of DL  Well, a couple of
well known DL beasties were referenced in the HoE book.  It seems that the
Tummy Twisters and Mojave Rattlers still exist in the Wasted West.  This
doesn't mean that they won't be covered in future HoE supplements, but that
will again be more space devoted to information you already own.  Again, I
personally feel the alternative is worse - a setting that require people to
own the entire line of sourcebooks, but I do have to wonder if Pinnacle is
planning a HoE Harrowed book, and just how different it will be from DL's
Book of the Dead.
-------------------
Allan Seyberth
darious@darious.com

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Sisko:  I don't care -why- it was crossing the road! All I want to know is
-why- it left the coop! So it wanted to "get to the other side"--there is
only -so far- that my tolerance will go!