A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Four Horsemen Present: Animated Traps Expanded

Four Horsemen Present: Animated Traps Expanded by Stephen Rowe is a role playing game supplement published by Rogue Genius Games and The Four Horsemen for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. 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 an 8-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $3.95 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. One page is the front cover, one the Credits and one the Open Game License.

Animated Traps Expanded explains that this builds of the concept of animated traps found in Monster Menagerie: Construct Companion. An animated trap is a trap with a semblance of life and animation. They do not require a trigger mechanism and may trigger and reset themselves. Most kinds of mechanical traps can be made into animated traps. Their stats are the same as an animated object of the same size, with some differences. Following this are rules for making a trap into an animated one, and then for making an animated trap magical.

Following this are seven examples of animated magical traps, with the simplest being a lock that is harder to pick and can use shocking grasp and a door that can slam itself shut, on someone, of course. More complex ones are a pit trap that opens and shuts and a crushing stone rap with a grasping hand that tries to push people into a prismatic wall.

Four Horsemen Present: Animated Traps Expanded in Review

The PDF is bookmarked with the different sections linked. Navigation is good. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are several pieces of custom colour artwork depicting some of the traps, as well as one that’s been reused. Presentation is good.

This supplement has some ingenious ideas for making traps even worse, especially as they are traps that don’t necessarily detect as such. The instructions on how to convert more are useful as well, and the examples of animated magical traps are useful and nasty. Four Horsemen Present: Animated Traps Expanded is a nice little supplement and it can be found by clicking here.