Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #14: Aggregates 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 though no 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 looks at monsters that are aggregates of two different creatures.
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 paragraphs explain that aggregates are composite creatures that result from endosymbiosis, from a host and a symbiont living as one. It mentions this is similar to the transformations in Issue #12, but this is two species that merge. The charts with the creatures include something called Step, similar to generations in Creatures of the Wastelands: Mutational Evolution, which is a stage of mutation affecting host or symbiont. The creatures in the rest of the supplement use creatures from the core book as hosts. There are a number of different creatures from the core book, together with their symbiont; each has a list of stages of mutation as mentioned. In some cases, the same symbiont is shown affecting different creatures; there are six aggregates in total.
New Mutations has four new mental mutations and eleven new physical mutations, which it’s stated can be used to make new aggregates or modify those in the supplement.
Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #14: Aggregates in Review
The PDF is bookmarked with major sections linked. There is a short table of contents that is hyperlinked. Given the length, navigation is decent. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be almost free of errors. There are some stock tweaked colour images. Presentation is okay.
The new mutations are interesting, but it’s a shame they don’t really have a connection to the monsters included. The monsters themselves provide a way of surprising players, perhaps even multiple times, as the creatures encountered will not be the ones players are familiar with, and moreover can be unfamiliar repeatedly. It should also be easy enough to create more aggregates. Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #14: Aggregates is a decent supplement and it can be found by clicking here.
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