Dust Bowl 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 19 page Pay What You Want PDF from DriveThruRPG. Two pages are the front and rear covers, three the front matter and three the Open Game License.
The opening paragraphs start with a brief description of terraforming before explaining that one world in the Sonora sector – the adventure is set in the Frontiers of Space – was recently claimed by a major power which plans to terraform it, and looks to hire the characters to help.
Patron has details on them.
Complications are things that aren’t known or which can go wrong.
The Conditions of this Adventure explains that the characters will not be the only people hired to help with the terraforming.
Terraforming Any World looks at how this would be done.
Terraforming Marrar looks at what the characters will be asked to do.
The Planet Marrar has some details on the world.
Random Events on Marrar has a 2d6 table of events.
Bringing in Water looks at this.
Changing the Temperature looks at how this might be done.
Changing the Temperature looks at this step.
Changing the Biosphere looks at the final step.
The Natives of Marrar covers the locals.
Potential Hazards looks at the various dangers.
Mission Completion Objectives explains this is to do the necessary steps in the required timeframe.
Marrar Tribesmen Roster has a 3d6 table of NPCs.
The final page of content has a map of the world.
Dust Bowl in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and, though comparatively short, has enough different sections that these would have been useful. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a single column format and some minor errors were noticed. Bar the map and covers, there are no illustrations. Presentation is okay.
One thing the adventure doesn’t really cover is the morality of the characters helping terraform a world that is already inhabited without the permission of the inhabitants. Which should be a major factor. There are a variety of hazards, but the only dangers working actively against the characters are said inhabitants. The inhabitants could also probably be covered with just a few stat blocks rather than 18. Dust Bowl can be found by clicking here.
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