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- Review -
Swashbuckling Arcana
Contents
This book presents and explains magic use and different magicians in AEGs Swashbuckling adventure setting. It describes all the older ways of using magic: myth/illusions, shapeshifting, rune magic and scrying, in addition to a new setting-related way concerning a happening called the Bargain. This magic follows certain bloodlines and ascendants of this. The powers here comprise of teleportation, fire control, fate control and the power to destroy and corrode. These blood magics have a high price of possession.
Also included are our beloved secret societies and their dabbling in this matter.
Appenices describe new spells in various ways.
Organization
Generally this work uses the same standard as most D20 books I have seen. The text density is fairly high, but just enough space is given with tables and graphics so it is relatively easily readable. Drawings are simple but good and they portray my expected mood at once. The cover is by Jonathan Hunt and is satisfying but not dazzling. All tables and spell listings are short and detail-packed in the fashion I find very suitable.
General impression
I am not sure that I'd really like magic in a swashbuckling campaign, or at least not as a major attention claimer. With that said, the possibilities open further for schemes and plots for extended and developed play, especially as we deal with influence of secret societies. Magic in this setting is not meant for everybody, making it more a spice than a meal. I find these arts more fitting as tools for a GM, as mad, magic-wielding villains are always a hit. Brilliant ideas occur in the Invisible College Inventor, which is basically a magic using engineer. Also the art of shamanism is nice for encounters with northern people. Of course, players could have backgrounds as magic users, and used wisely, it could spice up the playing and the campaign.
In the northern areas you will find Lærdom mages teaching rune magic of the old ways. The different talents of these are translated into Scandinavian sounding names. Sadly, AEG have used a dubious translator and some of the Norwegian sounding words are totally wrong. A good example is the use of bevegelse as translation for empathy. Bevegelse means movement. Intensity is called Nød, which to me means distress or famine. Etc.
Don't get me wrong. I believe that if used wisely, this book is a good sourcebook for swashbuckling adventures, but there are flaws
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