GM’s Miscellany: Places of Power II is a role playing game supplement published by Raging Swan Press 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. This book compiles the second twelve Places of Power that were originally published separately.
The supplement is available as a PDF from DriveThruRPG for $11.99, as a softcover print on demand book for $10 or as both PDF and softcover for $11.99. The PDF is the version reviewed although it was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. The PDF has 99 pages with two being the front and rear covers, two the front matter, two the Contents, one the Open Game License and one an ad.
The Foreword explains that this is the last Places of Power compilation for the foreseeable future, due to a shift in focus to Ashlar and Gloamhold.
The twelve locations follow. Each follows a roughly similar format, though there is more variation that with the first twelve. In general, most have the following information: stat block for the location, lore, notable NPCs, marketplace, d6 table of events or similar, d6 table of whispers & rumours, some false, notable locations, both in brief and in more detail, and using the location in the reader’s campaign.
Beacon Promontory is all that’s left of the village of Beacon Cove after a rise in the waters. Also included are sidebars on daily life and Serat, the goddess of sea, storms and voyages.
Dead Man’s Run is all that remains of two border villages and a border fort after a destructive night of chaos. Also included is Life in Dead Man’s Run, covering trade & industry, law & order, customs & traditions and a d20 table of location dressing, The Surrounding Locality and more details on the important NPCs. Rather than a d6 table of events, each important location has details of what’s going on at that location.
Dreamden is a small resort in a desert that is not what it seems There is also Life in Dreamden, covering trade & industry, law & order, customs & traditions and a d20 table of location dressing, The Locality, covering the surrounding area and a d6 table of sights and sounds, more details on important NPCs and some new drugs.
Forgotten Athenaeum is a library that was sent to the Astral Plane to get it away from an invading army. Also included are Life at the Athenaeum, which has details on visiting it, and the exterior area.
Fort Vigil is a small fort where ghosts are common. Life in Fort Vigil has details of dreams, ghosts and hauntings and two d10 tables of location dressing, one for daily life, one for dreaming. The Locality covers the nearby area, there is a d6 table of hauntings at one location and more details on some of the important NPCs.
Fraywrack is a location where a ship was wrecked by harpies seeking allies for battle against Dagon. This has no extra details.
Khla’Akear is an ancient stupa formerly occupied by rakshasas until they were defeated by the present inhabitants, an order of monks and wizards. Also included are Life in Khla’Akear, covering trade & industry, law & order and customs & traditions, together with a d20 table of location dressing. The Locality briefly describes the surrounding area, there are more details on important NPCs and rather than a d6 table of events, the important locations have details on what’s going on at them.
Oleander’s Sanctuary is an obscure location where Oleander heals and improves animals. Using Oleander’s Sanctuary is a sidebar serving the same purpose as the In Your Campaign ones, and there are details on visiting the place as well as Oleander’s Transmutations, which are improvements that can be done to animals, as well as an NPC Gallery, covering important NPCs in more detail.
Raveneye Sanatorium is a remote place providing magical healing for various magical or supernatural afflictions. In addition, there are details on visiting the sanatorium and more details on some important NPCs.
Soulspur Inn is an inn renowned for the welcome and safety it provides. Life in Soulspur Inn has details on atmosphere, law & order and customs & traditions, together with a d20 table of dressing. The surrounding locality is covered, there are more details on an important NPC and rather than a d6 table of events, the important locations have details on what’s going there, each with a separate d6 table.
The Last Resort has a number of inns and taverns that originally provided respite on a lonely road, but it’s also a planar nexus where the spirits of the dead gather and angels, demons and devils fought over the souls. When the rift couldn’t be relocated, an agreement was made to reduce the constant strife by assigning a being of neutrality and law to watch over the place, along with creatures shaped from the stuff of the planes. Also included are Life in the Last Resort, which has trade & industry, law & order and customs & traditions, together with a d20 table of dressing. The Locality briefly describes the area and there are some adventure hooks for various locations.
Tibol-Korrin is a strait leading to the sea which two landlocked baronies sought to control, came to an agreement over, fought a war and are now picking up the pieces. Also included are Life in the Strait of Tibol-Korrin, which has trade & industry, law & order and customs & traditions, together with a d20 table of dressing. The Surrounding Locality has details on the nearby area, there are more details on some important NPCs and, rather than an overall table of events, there are two specific to locations.
GM’s Miscellany: Places of Power II in Review
The PDF is decently bookmarked with major and minor sections linked. The Contents is to greater depth. Navigation is decent. The text follows a two-column format and appeared to be generally free of errors. There are a number of black and white illustrations, including maps, and as well as stock illustrations, each location appears to have a custom image of it. Presentation is decent.
Like Places of Power, this supplement contains the twelve original supplements put together in one, though seemingly without any tweaking other than the Contents, and therefore errors may well have carried over. As such, if the original twelve PDFs are owned, this only has value in the printed form; there doesn’t appear to be anything new otherwise. However, if they are not owned separately, this is good value for money. In addition, the quality of each location seems to be higher than those in the original supplement.
Again, as with the previous supplement, this is a collection of small, low-population locations. They are well described single locations and most of them should be easy enough to drop into any campaign setting; Tibol-Korrin is perhaps the most difficult to use, due to specifics related to it. There are plenty of adventure hooks and the different locations have different things to offer. GM’s Miscellany: Places of Power II is a nice collection of interesting locations and it can be found by clicking here.
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