Star Ace Campaign Master's Screen
Featuring Ace in the Hole
Module for Star Ace

Game Review

Review by Aaron Allston


by Mark Acres
Pacesetter Limited P.O. Box 451, Delavan, W1 53115
Released; December, 1984
Catalog No. 4004
Price: $6.00
Complexity: Intermediate
Solitaire Suitability; None
***

The Star Ace Campaign Master's Screen is yet another in the parade of Gamemaster (GM) screens for roleplaying games. Star Ace contains a three-panel full color screen and an eight-page mini-scenario titled Ace in the Hole. The screen folds out into a 8 1/2 by 11 inch piece of cardstock.

The Star Ace screen is certainly adequate. Star Ace has a few too many charts for my taste, but they seem to be well - represented here. The screen doesn't include the charts on kill values of enemy objectives, ranks by order, strength and penetration damage, or vehicle speeds, none of which I miss; however, I'd have preferred to have the Hit Locations chart about somewhere. Placement of the charts causes a bit of a problem. Of the six 81/2 by I I inch panels we have to work with, two are useless to the buyers. They are the front cover painting with an adequate cover by Les Dorscheid and the back cover hype. Now, what this means is that the GM has three black and white panels facing him, and the players have one color panel staring their way. As it stands, the GM gets the majority of the useful charts, while the players get to view two copies of the cover art and one prettily colored skills chart. As a player, I'd have preferred to be looking at another copy of the Action Chart which is the chart most often used in the game.

On the other hand, Pacesetter doesn't advertise this as anything but a campaign master's screen, so perhaps I shouldn't complain too much. But I will anyway. The bottom of the back cover, which consists of the Pacesetter logo, ISBN number, and Universal Product Code, seems to be a bit of a waste, and the Action Chart could've slipped in fairly easily. Oh well, it's not a great detriment, in any case.

The adventure included with the screen is Ace in the Hole. It's a clever title, actually. A Star Ace has indeed gotten himself in something of a hole, and the player- characters (PCs) have to straighten out his mess. The adventure calls for some space dogfighting, some sneaking, and some chandelierswinging space opera action. It's simple and not difficult for a beginning GM to run.

When it comes to GM screens, Gamemasters break down into two clear categories: those that use'em and those that don't. If you're a Star Ace Gamemaster who likes screens, or a beginning GM who doesn't have the knack of the charts yet, you should pick this up. Otherwise, there's little reason. The adventure's cute but not worth $6.00 on its own.

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