Book of Tables
Supplement for Powers and Perils

Game Review

Reviewed by William W Jaffe


Avalon Hill
Released: 1984
Catalog: 8520
Price: $10
Complexity: Beginner
Solitaire: None
* 1/2

The Book of Tables (BOT) for Powers and Perils (P & P), the roleplaying game from The Avalon Hill Game Company fits well within the general situation for the game. P & P is a system with so much good in it that you can't ignore it despite the lack of development work. BOT is intended to solve the problem that the Gamemaster (GM) and players have of dealing with the massive number of tables in the game. All the tables are reproduced in a booklet form, along with some errata.

BUT THERE IS NO INDEX FOR THE TABLES!!!

There is a division which separates the tables according to the books that the original tables appeared in, but beyond this, there is no help for the player lost in the morass. When I first looked at the product, my reaction was GREAT! Here's some help. Now I'm just disappointed.

The box is The Avalon Hill Game Co.'s thin supplement box, about half the thickness of the standard Cross of Iron box. included in the set are the Book of Tables, an Adventure Record Sheet Pad, and three GM screens for Magic, Encounters, and Combat. I'd like to register again the fact that these boxes are not capable of handling the storage of standard 81/2 X 11 inch paper. If you intend to put copies of your character sheets, or anything else in there, then it will either have to be folded or curled. The product title is also misleading since the Book of Tables contains a new character record pad, several GM screens, and some extremely important errata. This last is unfortunate since the errata given make major changes in character generation and magic purchase costs.

The Book of Tables is organized in the sense that the tables are listed in almost exactly the same order that they are found in the original books. This is almost useless, and frankly, this is the main reason for the low rating on the product. The tables are jumbled and, because of this, are difficult to read. In addition, the table headings are usually not explained and appear to have simply been clipped from the books and pasted-up as a new product.

The Adventure Record Sheet Pad combines the combat skills with the general factors involved with combat on one side and the magic spells and magic factors on the other side. This makes for a very useful record sheet for adventures and helps the characters focus on the things that help them in their chosen areas. The formulas for computing experience and increases are also conveniently repeated on the sheet.

For example, the combat side lists Offensive and Defensive combat values, hit points, damage taken, dodge value, heal chance, energy level, magic defense values, stat bonuses, and phase move rates. There are sections for armor, actual characteristics, and for all currently used melee and missile weapons. There is also a section for keeping track of the hits and damage scored, so that experience can be computed. This record pad is an excellent addition and will help those confused by the experience process.

The three screens for the referee have extremely colorful front covers. The encounter screen will be particularly helpful. it repeats the key tables and effects from each area in an easyto-read format. The referee will find it much easier to run P & P using this part. of BOT. For example, the encounter screen has the tables for climbing and swimming successes, all the individual encounter tables, including the motivation tables for human encounters, as well as the sections on skill use and problem solving. The screen has the hunting tables and the ambush chances, These are necessary as a great deal of adventuring is intended for the outdoors, with hunting and camping being played out actions. I could quibble with what's included and what's excluded, but these are small problems.

The errata are absolutely critical to the game and should be separated and given to every P & P player. Especially important are the redefinition of the family spells and the new weapons chart.

In summary, I'd say that this was a useful addition for P & P players only if they take the time to make their own index. The product is only for P & P and would be useless to any other fantasy role-playing game.

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© Copyright 1985 by Dana Lombardy.
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