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by Wes
on 5/25/2009
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Scion: Hero
The basic concept and idea of Scion is actually quite intriguing: Gods, their interaction with the physical world, and the invisible conflicts that occur above and below them. This game does suffer from several issues, however, both systematically and in setup. The primary conflict is a VERY simple, white-and-black titanomachy, where you play a God (good) and you fight the Titans (evil); even though the game includes perspectives and gods/goddesses from different parts of the globe (Norse, Greco-Roman, Japanese, Aztec, etc.), the titanomachy is overtly Greco-Roman in setup and carry-out (with favortism towards the Norse pantheon as you read through the book). Another problem with the conflict is that it does not allow for any kind of self-defining view of the world (something that SHOULD be on the mind of any deity, especially a growing one), and thus hinders the game by suppressing it to a "crush, kill, destroy!" mentality. As for the system, the two main ways used to augment divine power are Epic Attributes and Boons; both of them make sense and flow well together. However, the usage of Knacks can be game-breaking and lead to a heavy micro-management of abilites (a problem that faces many RPG's and can potentially ruin gameplay). And Birthrights are in serious need of reworking: there are only four to pick from (rather limiting), and Relics are a necessity that no deity can go without. The variety and function of Virtues is a plus, though. And a side effect of playing this game might lead to the promotion of critical thought, and a stronger understanding of spiritual/religious beliefs and how one sees the world around them. But don't hold my review to any guarantees that you will become wiser by purchasing this book. Scion does need a stronger and smarter revision, but until then: this game can be entertaining, and I would recommend it to anyone breaking into role-playing, just to satiate the juvenile rp-ing mentality of sculpting yourself into combative awesomeness. |
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by DMPEI19
on 3/19/2009
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Scion Hero
The concept behind the system is well thought out. As with most White wolf books I've had there is a lot of backstory, rich history and excellent painting of the mood.
Scion is also very good for people who wish to run a pre made story, as Scion comes with story outlines for the ST that makes running the first few session a little easier.
The premade characters fit well for people who drop in and out of stories. (As I get for running open games at the local gaming store.) Or for players who don't want to build a character from scratch. Making Scion able to be picked up, hand out character sheets and play.
Scion runs easily for ST's and that is something I like. The only two thing I could complain about is that when you need the crunch, just pure numbers, stats, or how to do a semi complicated extended roll you have a little trouble finding exactly what you need amid all the backstory and history. This can usually be rectified with a little creativity on the ST's part.
I strongly advise ST's to be semi familiar with the system before running it. |