A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Contagion Savage Adventures

Contagion Savage Adventures is a role playing game supplement published by Aegis Studios for use with Savage Worlds and is a conversion of the original Contagion Second Edition.

The supplement is available as a 68-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $6.95, as a softcover premium colour book for $18.99 or as both PDF and softcover for $19.99. The PDF is the version reviewed although it was purchased at a reduced price during a sale. It has 68 pages with two being the front and rear covers, one the front matter and one the Table of Contents.

Chapter One: The World of Contagion explains that the world of Contagion is cosmetically similar to our own, but is torn by a supernatural conflict that until recently has only raged in the shadows. Gods, demons and monsters fight over the souls of humanity. In 2016, everything changed when the city of Mauston, Wisconsin was destroyed in a massive battle between angels, demons, monsters and magicians, and humanity became aware that the supernatural is real. More evidence started flooding in, and even though many don’t believe the stories to be true, many do. Following this is what’s called a brief history of everything. This covers history, which saw one of the gods, Yahweh, make a power grab for world domination, which was by and large successful. The other gods were exiled and forgotten, but eventually Yahweh’s lover, Samiel, later called Lucifer, rebelled against him and was cast down with her followers. This resulted in a long struggle between the two, fought on Earth, until Lucifer discovered the existence of the other gods and where they were imprisoned. In the present, the supernatural has reared up and become much more obvious.

Chapter Two: Rules starts with Character Creation. It explains that the setting allows a wide variety of character concepts and archetypes. Twenty-one different races are included, which cover a wide range of different types, from supernatural to fey to mythical to undead. Each is described along with their features.

It then explains that the game uses Hindrances as described in the Savage World core rules. It then details the Hindrances from the core rules and the Savage Worlds Horror Companion that have additional effects in Contagion. Following this are some new Hindrances.

Traits explains how Contagion uses the core rules for determining Attributes and Skills. It also introduces a new Derived Trait, Contagion Points. Contagion Points are said to represent the metaphysical anima that makes up existence. They are generated by sentient souls and coveted by celestial beings. Characters have a limited amount of Contagion Points, but these slowly regenerate. One point can be spent to do a number of different things, such as altering tests, using abilities that require a point spending, remove or defer various conditions and more. They are, in a way, a sort of super-powered rate point.

Edges explains that those from the core rules are available to characters, as well as some new ones, which are then described. These are divided into Background, Combat, Leadership, Power, Professional, Racial, Social and Weird, and include some, with modifications, from Savage Worlds, Savage Worlds Fantasy Companion and Savage Worlds Horror Companion.

Chapter Three: Magic explains that the world is fuelled and shaped by magic. It explains that magic is usually accessed by either an Arcane Background or Racial Feature. The chapter has the Arcane Backgrounds available and new Powers specifically designed for the setting. There’s also a brief section on how antimagic fields work, and explains that most of the arcane items from Fantasy Companion and Horror Companion are suitable for the setting.

Chapter Four: Realms and the Incorporeal starts by explaining that the setting is comprised of different realms, though most are only aware of Earth. These realms are then detailed. Arcadia is the world that was created for the elves, and gives details on its history and current state. Hades is a realm that was wrecked when the realms were closed, spilling many of the mythological associated realms into each other, and is now dominated by Kronos and the Titans. Hell is given an extensive treatment, covering the different Circles, together with many Pits. How to get to Hell and what happens to non-celestials in the realm are covered. Oblitus is the prison realm created by Yahweh to imprison all his rival gods. Purgatory is the realm of ghosts, and consequently a realm where different forces try to gain these ghosts. The Void is the raw nothingness that surrounds creation.

The Incorporeal are the ghosts, spirits and bodiless entities of the setting. Ghosts, their powers and Remnants are looked at; Remnants are useful items found in Purgatory and some samples are described. The relationship between ghosts and Heaven and Hell are looked at, as well as the existence of damned and saved souls. Spirits are other incorporeal beings that may be dangerous and how to exorcise demons, spirits and ghosts is described.

Chapter Five: The Gamemaster is a brief chapter on running the game. It explains that they are the person who decides the rules and adjudicates them as well as sets the story and setting. It looks at the importance backgrounds have in the game and how they need to fit, and how to get started. There are explanations as to how Hellspawn function mechanically, as well as a list of do’s and don’ts for running the game.

Contagion Savage Adventures in Review

The PDF is bookmarked to a somewhat variable depth. The Table of Contents is less thorough and is hyperlinked. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be almost free of errors. There are a number of stock colour and black and white illustrations, sometimes of wildly different styles. Presentation is adequate.

Contagion Savage Adventures is a substantially shorter – about one tenth the length – book than Contagion Second Edition, but the latter is a complete system whilst this is an adaptation of it to Savage Worlds. It’s stated that the original game isn’t needed to run this one, and indeed a lot of the original book is taken up by rules, many of which in this case are spread amongst the various Savage Worlds rulebooks, so are therefore not duplicated.

The setting is not described as thoroughly as it could be. Chapter One does give a pretty extensive background to the current time, but that’s what it is, background, and there are more bits and pieces scattered throughout in various places. However, it lacks the detail even most modern settings tend to have. Admittedly, with a modern setting, much can be scavenged from reality, but it’s the things that can’t that require more details, and those are a bit lacking. Some of the supplements for Contagion Second Edition might be useful, but these primarily cover rules expansions, which will not work with the Savage Worlds edition. What the system feels like it could really do with is a setting book. Contagion Savage Adventures can be found by clicking here.