Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #1: Artifacts, Manuals, and Toolkits is a role playing game supplement published by Skirmisher Publishing for use with the Mutant Future system. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result. The Wisdom from the Wastelands series introduces new options for Mutant Future and this one has a selection of optional rules.
The supplement is available as a seven-page PDF on DriveThruRPG for $0.99 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. One page is the Open Game License and front matter and one is ads.
The opening paragraph explains that scientific artefacts are one of the main things to discover in post-apocalyptic settings. There are already rules for figuring out such artefacts and repairing them, and this supplement intends to provide more options.
Rules Option: Bonuses to Figuring Out Artifacts has bonuses for understanding artefacts depending on prior familiarity, some of them cumulative. In addition, some artefacts may be easy to figure out; a gun, no matter what kind, is still a gun; the Mutant Lord is the final arbiter here. Finally, there is a table of what might happen if a character fails to figure out an artefact, from nothing to destruction.
Rules Option: Manuals adds a new type of treasure. Like artefacts, they need figuring out, and come in two types; those used to understand an artefact and those used to repair them. Tables determine the manual type and condition.
Rules Option: Toolkits come in different types and are used to repair artefacts.
Next are some details on item saving throws and item strength, should an artefact suffer an accident or a character be trying to destroy one.
Rules Option: Damage Modifiers By Damage Type has a table that shows how different types of damage affect different types of material.
Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #1: Artifacts, Manuals, and Toolkits in Review
The PDF is bookmarked with major sections linked. There is also a short table of contents that is linked. Navigation is good. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of error. There are a number of stock colour images. Presentation is okay.
Mutant Future, as befitting its OSR origins, is a comparatively rules-light game. This supplement adds some extra crunch to the game, though nothing too crunchy. It can make dealing with artefacts more interesting by adding extra options. Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #1: Artifacts, Manuals, and Toolkits is a nice addition for Mutant Future and it can be found by clicking here.
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