Fading Suns 4 – Lost Worlds is a role playing game supplement published by Ulisses Spiele for use with Fading Suns.
The supplement is available as a PDF from DriveThruRPG for $17.99 and is also available in printed form from sites such as Amazon. The PDF is the version reviewed although it was purchased at a reduced price during a sale and has 116 pages with two being the front and rear covers, two the front matter, one the Table of Contents and one a jumpweb for the Lost Worlds.
Introduction: Lost & Found is a single page explaining how when the Second Republic fell, many worlds shut down their jumpgates, surviving on their own outside the Known Worlds. They have been rediscovered, and efforts are now being made to bring them back into the fold. Whether this is wanted or not. This supplement details nine such systems. A sidebar mentions the Autonomous Union, originally formed to make an alliance to stop an invasion which has now, with what happened to Hargard, become more important.
Antioch describes the first of the Lost Worlds. It gives an overview and its traits, along with a map of the world, before covering its history up to and including the present situation. It next covers the world’s geography and fauna and flora as well as a site of interest in the form of Anunnaki ruins as well as an important NPC. A sidebar covers Qabirim, mutant Changed humans of high intelligence who suffer from mental instability.
Eridol follows a similar format to the previous chapter, describing another lost world. It has an overview of the world and its traits and a map, followed by a history from its first discovery to the current situation. The current conflict between the returned former rulers and the other residents is covered, along with the safe place for starships to land and a semi-sentient native species. Eridol’s solar system is described, because it is clearly artificial, along with the planet’s geography, fauna and flora and a single important NPC.
Heaven’s Ridge once again follows a similar format, with an overview followed by the world’s history, from its founding by a religious group that sacrificed people to the sun to stop it from fading, up to the current situation, traits, map, planetary conditions, important settlements and an important NPC. A sidebar looks at some Anunnaki sites.
Kun Lun follows the same format; overview, history from its founding by the psychics of the Phavian Institute to the present day, traits, map, planetary conditions, geography, the system, major settlements and an important NPC. Where Kun Lun is different, though, is that it has discovered the Known Worlds and has kept its presence secret, because of the number of psychics. Kun Lun has different castes and sends psychics out into the Known Worlds to spy on what’s happening, PCs from the planet and various things that have happened specifically because of the psychic presence.
Lamorak again follows the same format, with an overview, history from its origins as an entertainment centre – with the main creation place being Angel Woods; you can guess the inspiration for this planet – to the stars fighting back against Vuldrok invaders, traits, planetary conditions, major locations and an important NPC. This planet stands out for its production of entertainment and how its heroes are also stars of films.
Novgorod continues with the same format, with an overview, history, including how many failed expeditions attempted to get a foothold on the dangerous world, to a successful one and its current state, traits, major locations, flora and fauna, including some new, dangerous, fauna for which the planet is known, and a single NPC. The most notable thing about this planet is how dangerous the animals are.
Pandora follows the familiar format, with traits, overview, history, including how Pandora challenged the zaibatsu of the First Republic, the development of black market and forbidden tech, to its current position with unusually advanced medical technology and domination by a small number of people. The planet’s solar system is also briefly covered, along with its people, some important places, flora and fauna and a sample NPC.
Sargasso has the same format, with an overview, traits, history, including the difficulties in landing on the planet, discovery of an intelligent species, isolationism after the fall of the Second Republic and its current situation. Its solar system, people, some notable places, flora and fauna, a sample NPC and details on the new intelligent species are also covered.
Twilight continues with the same format, having an overview, history, which is comparatively brief, map, traits, rather more details on the present situation thanks to the association with the Emperor’s house, details on its solar system, extensive details on its societal system for one of the constituent governments, commerce, religion, genetic purges, security, propaganda and conditioning, important places, equipment and a new creature. Oddly, this section has no sample NPC.
Alien Encounters describes a new intelligent alien species in detail, together with some equipment and an NPC from that species, and Vuldrok Space Creatures, one that can be found in any system and seven that are mostly found on specific planets, all covered in the same manner as those in earlier chapters; what’s different about these is that they aren’t from any of the previously described worlds but others.
Emberhawk covers a light freighter type in depth. This light freighter type is known for its speed and it often being used by smugglers. There are stats for it, deck plans, descriptions of internal areas, variant models and upgrades available. The overall description of the light freighter, its general shape and, indeed, even its name, are all strongly reminiscent of the Corellian light freighter called the Millenium Falcon.
Fading Suns 4 – Lost Worlds in Review
The PDF is bookmarked but with only the various chapters linked. The Table of Contents is to a greater level of depth. Navigation is poor. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are a variety of colour illustrations, up to full page in size. Presentation is decent.
This supplement is an addition for Fading Suns, not something that can be used by itself. What it primarily does is describe nine worlds in a level of detail unseen in the main books outside of Hargard in the Gamemaster Book, which means it adds a number of much more detailed locations to visit. As well as that, there are the alien encounters and new ship at the end, and the various pieces of technology, abilities, new species and other new material, making this more than just a setting book as it adds more detail in other ways too. Fading Suns 4 – Lost Worlds expands the detailed locations available and it can be found by clicking here.
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