Yes, the 3rd Reformation Coalition Manual is out! The Reformation Coalition
Equipment Guide is now available for $20.00. Is it worth it? Yes, if you're
a user of FF&S. The RCEG has a lot of good designs for all players and NPC's.
It covers equipment used by the RC, the Guild, and planets in the wilds.
Basically it is broken down into four types of equipment. Equipment
(resporators, armor, drop capsules, etc), Weapons, Vehicles, and Spacecraft.
The equipment is further categorized by availability (RC, Relic, Guild, Wilds,
Hivers).
Finally, there is a four page FF&S rules expansion in the back. Modules and
Pods are added to spacecraft design. Floatation screens to ground vehicle
design, Grav belts to lift vehicle design. For Aircraft design, further notes
for compound helicopters are added as are aircraft modifications for other
planetary environments. (How to compromise your design so that it works in
Thin atmospheres as well as your native standard atmosphere).
For small arms, Dual-feed receivers, Modular small arms, and overpowered
cartridges are dealt with. For high-energy weapons, Rapid-fire High-energy
weapons are added, Plasma and fusion bazookas are added, and the question of
concussion and burst of high-energy weapons is answered. In Munitions,
guidance and missile design is added. Shotgun and Flechette rounds for
Grenade Launchers are added. A New Rule is added for projectile weapons with
a penetration of Nil. And in Misc. some details of Workstations and Labs, and
Hatches and Rates or Troop Egress are dealt with.
Whew!... A lot a rule for just four pages but if any of those area are things
that you are designing with FF&S then you will want RCEG.
All in all it is a good source of equipment for the busy GM. There are even a
few adventure ideas for dealing with relic equipment buried in the
descriptions.
Other Impressions. Lots of decent artwork. Most equipment has a picture to
go with it. Eight full color plates of the equipment in use.
What I miss. DECKPLANS! One thing I loved about CT was the detail level of
standard starships. That seemed to be farmed out with MT and is nonexistant
with TNE. Maybe they will finally appear in the Personalities of the
Reformation Coalition supplement, but I won't hold my breath.
John Bucsek
[email removed]