The Secret Name (P1) by Bart Wynants 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.
The supplement is available as a PDF from DriveThruRPG for $7.45, as a softcover print on demand book for $11.45 or as both PDF and softcover for $12.64. The PDF is the version reviewed although it was purchased at a reduced price in a special bundle. It has 45 pages and two pages are the front and rear covers, two are ads, two the front matter, one the Contents and one the Open Game License. The PDF comes in two versions, one optimised for print and high-end devices and the other for low end devices and mobile.
The Foreword explains that this supplement is intended to help GMs and it is comprised of three adventures that were released separately with design choices made so that they could be played in any order rather than it being a linear structure.
The Sacred Name Storyline begins with an overview of the Lonely Coast with a stat block, its features and sites of interest and travel times between settlements, as well as a map.
Using a Storyline explains that this is a self-contained mini-campaign tying together several products and four “A”s must be determined. There is also some standard material on using Dungeon Backdrops.
The four “A”s are then covered. These are Antagonist, Agenda, Agents and Assets. Each has three options, and the GM can choose which they want from each.
It then covers how to run the storyline and what’s in it. There are three suggested encounters to be run, and they are to be run in order. The first two are run after the first two adventures, whichever they are, and the third before the final adventure. Finally, it looks at wrapping things up.
The remainder of the supplement is the three adventures in the storyline, Dungeon Backdrop: Scarlock Hill, Dungeon Backdrop: Craghollow Mine and Dungeon Backdrop: The Shard Isles, which duplicate the material in those supplements.
The Secret Name (P1) in Review
The PDF is bookmarked with major and minor sections linked and only sidebars missing. The Contents is to a similar level of depth and is hyperlinked. The text maintains a two-column format and appears to be free of errors. As well as the maps, there are some stock black and white illustrations. Presentation is okay.
Now, how worthwhile getting this is depends on how many of the Dungeon Backdrops are owned. The new material is less than half a dozen pages and that includes the Lonely Coast material which may already be owned. Though the new material does tie the backdrops together, if buying this on top of the three adventures, you aren’t getting much new material for the extra cost. In addition, as the backdrops are duplicated, they still require the work to flesh them out. This is a useful mini-campaign to get if the three backdrops are lacked; if they are owned, it becomes a lot less worthwhile to buy. The Secret Name (P1) can be found by clicking here.
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