A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Shady Outposts and Settlements

Shady Outposts and Settlements by David Woodrum is a generic role playing game supplement published by Fishwife Games.

The supplement is available as an 11-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $1.99 but was purchased at a reduced price during a sale. One page is the front cover and one the front matter.

The supplement opens with a short piece of fiction, before explaining that there are a variety of seedy and dubious settlements in the galaxy that might be visited and that this supplement has a dozen such locations with general details on them.

Location Details explains how the locations are laid out. Primary Interests is the main purpose or business dealing. Location Notoriety is how well the location is known, in general and sometimes in specific circles. Overseer gives an overview of the person running the settlement. Population is the total living there. Population Outlook is the general outlook. Economic Outlook is for economics. Local Crime is self-explanatory. Hospitality is how the population reacts to outsider. Local Technology gives a description as compared to galactic average. Community Defences is similar, but for defences. Miscellaneous Problems is other relevant things. Details describes the location.

Outpost/Settlement Locations then describes the dozen locations using the above format. They cover a range of types though, naturally, none are entirely legitimate. They aren’t covered in great detail, and none are mapped, but there are enough details given to use them as a starting point and there are also potential adventure hooks.

There is also a Bonus Encounter Chart, which is a d100 list with 50 results of encounters to have.

Shady Outposts and Settlements in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and, though comparatively short, given the sections they would have been useful. Navigation could be better. The text maintains a single column format and appeared to be mostly free of errors. There are a few black and white stock images. Presentation is okay.

This supplement does what it sets out to; provides a dozen briefly described locations that can be dropped into most futuristic settings. Stats and such will need to be added if necessary, and if more time is spent there, more details will need to be added, but as-is, it provides a dozen useful locations. Shady Outposts and Settlements is a nice little supplement and it can be found by clicking here.