A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Portal

Portal by Jospeh 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 from DriveThruRPG as a 29 page Pay What You Want PDF. Two pages are the front and rear covers, three the front matter and three the Open Game License.

The opening paragraphs explain that alien ruins have been discovered on a moon on the edge of the Sonora sector – though not stated, the adventure is set in the Frontiers of Space – and there’s an archway that seems to be active. A scientist thinks the archway is a portal; various military forces agree and consider it to be a threat that needs destroying. The characters can be hired to investigate the portal by the scientist and destroy the other side by the militaries.

Patron gives details on the scientist.

Complications are various things that can go wrong or which aren’t known.

The City of Baylo and the Fortress of the Uldar describes a city and fortress on the other side of the portal. The city is occupied by the planet’s natives; the fortress by the planet’s conquerors who built the portal. There are various random encounters and rumours to uncover, and notable parts of the city are described.

The Uldar describes the conquering species.

The Druub describes the natives.

Uldar Roster is a 4d6 table of Uldar to encounter.

Druub Random Encounter Roster is a 4d6 table of Druub; this has more variation than the Uldar.

Druub Resistance Roster has some Druub who are resisting the Uldar.

Working with the Druub are how the locals can be enlisted to help.

Possible Ways to Destroy the Portal are four methods of rendering it non-functional; though the characters have a nuke, this is inadequate. One way is destroying the planet. Not much fun for the Druub.

Mission Completion Objectives are what’s needed for success.

The final page of content has a black and white stock city map.

Portal in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and is long enough with enough different sections that these would have been useful. Navigation could be better. The text maintains a single column format and some minor errors were noticed. Bar the map and covers, there are no illustrations. Presentation is adequate.

This is a potentially dangerous adventure as the characters are heading to a planet taken over by a dangerous alien civilisation. Fortunately, with a bit of disguise, they can blend in as long as anyone doesn’t examine them too closely, otherwise they could quickly be overwhelmed. The locals not liking the invaders also helps. The characters will need to do some investigation in order to destroy the portal, otherwise they could just make things worse. Which may not be obvious. Portal is an okay adventure and it can be found by clicking here.