An Unfortunate Discovery by Joseph Mohr is a role playing game supplement published by Old School Role Playing for use with Cepheus Engine. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.
The supplement is available as a 20 page Pay What You Want PDF from DriveThruRPG. Two pages are the front and rear covers, three pages are the front matter and three the Open Game License.
The opening paragraphs explain that the characters are approached by a representative of the Ilsuni Directorate – though not stated, this adventure is set in the Frontiers of Space – who wants them to investigate recent problems at a mine.
Complications explain the various problems the characters will run into. There are a number of dangers that the characters are not informed about but, for once, it seems these are problems the patron didn’t know about either, so the patron hasn’t deliberately withheld vital information.
The Roster of Miners are the NPCs that can be found in the mines. These stats are duplicated in the locations that the miners can be found.
The Planet Edoka IV gives a brief overview of the vacuum world.
The Mines describes the various locations in the mines.
The Craals covers the NPCs from an alien race who may turn up looking for some of their possessions.
The Artifacts describes the items causing the problems; technological artefacts from the previously mentioned aliens.
The Radiation and it’s Effects adds a new level to radiation effects from the SRD.
Finally, Conditions for Success explains what the patrons need to know about what the characters discover.
There is a full page black and white map of the mine and exterior.
An Unfortunate Discovery in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and is long enough with enough different sections that these would have been useful. Navigation could be better. The text maintains a single column format and a number of minor, primarily grammatical, errors were noticed. The only illustrations are the stock covers and stock map. Presentation is okay.
This is a fairly straightforward adventure, though one in a hazardous location. The lack of air, which can add tension to combat, and the radiation are a couple of the biggest dangers. The radiation-affected and no longer entirely stable miners are also going to be a problem. The characters will more than likely have to fight the miners in less than ideal conditions. An Unfortunate Discovery is a decent little adventure and it can be found by clicking here.
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