A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement The Living Building

The Living Building is a role playing game supplement published by Skirmisher Publishing primarily for use with Mutant Future. 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 a 22-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $1.99 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers, three the front matter, one is an ad and one the Open Game License.

The opening paragraphs have what is essentially an adventure hook about a growing building that appeared overnight and how this supplement provides an adventure location that is a combination of pre-gen and homemade for a Mutant Lord who hasn’t got anything prepared.

Designing History covers how engineers designed a structure that would grow rapidly for use as either disaster shelter or affordable housing. The building is alive and grows in place.

The Growth explains how a Living Building grows and creates new rooms as it does, as well as the problems this could cause and how these could be dealt with. There’s also a two-page map of an example Living Building.

Within the Walls details the general factors of a building’s interior, including doors, windows and interiors/contents.

The Current Situation explains that the apocalypse changed Living Buildings; they can in some areas cause earthquakes whilst growing, alter the weather around them and given that none now activated have growing instructions, they would grow beyond control. Rooms inside the buildings have also altered and they die off faster than they used to.

Game Mechanics explains these buildings are randomly generated, and physical characteristics as well as various types of rooms are given, divided into common, uncommon and rare., with 20 of each. Artefacts may also be found in the building.

Attacks details some ways a building can defend itself, if attacked, and there are a variety of ways.

Monsters lists some from Creatures of the Wastelands and the core rulebook which could be found in a Living Building, as well as some new ones.

Finally, New Mutations has a single new mutation, one that allows one material to be changed into another.

The Living Building in Review

The PDF is bookmarked with major sections linked. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of errors. As well as the custom map, there are a number of tweaked stock photos. Presentation is okay.

This supplement is best described as a random generator for a specific type of adventure location. It’s possible to reuse it, as each time it’s used, the end result will be different, though it’s unlikely that players would be that interested in exploring lots of Living Buildings, even if they all have their differences. The supplement does have additional options that can be added to the game, no matter where. The Living Building is a decent little supplement and it can be found by clicking here.