A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #35: Terror Weapons

Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #35: Terror Weapons is a role playing game supplement published by Skirmisher Publishing for use with the Mutant Future game system. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and parts are therefore considered to be Open Game Content. The Wisdom from the Wastelands series adds new options to the Mutant Future game; this issue covers terror weapons.

The PDF is available from RPGNow for $0.99 and is also included in the High-Tech Weapons Bundle for $2.99 and the Wisdom from the Wastelands Issues 1-52 Bundle for $27.74, although it was actually purchased at the substantially reduced price of only $0.01 as part of a special bundle. This is a seven page PDF with one page being the Open Game License and one an ad for other supplements.

The supplement starts with a brief description of how some parties used terror weapons in the final years, a method that often backfired on them. Although many of the weapons detailed in the Wisdom from the Wastelands series could be considered to be fairly terrifying, this issue concentrates on one specific type – biological weapons. It also points out that these should be used with care by the Mutant Lord as, without access to advanced technology, these weapons provide a means of not just killing player characters but of destroying entire communities.

Acidic Blood turns the victims blood into acid, dissolving them until they explode, causing serious damage to everyone in the blast radius and potentially infecting them as well.

Bio Rot is a fungus that contaminates food sources and renders them poisonous.

Cannibalize mutates the infected person (this is a new mutation, detailed in the description) and requires them to eat flesh from their own species every day in order to survive (this is considered to be an earlier version of the Walking Dead virus).

Gargantuan Toothy Worm is a bacteria with a massively increased size that starts off as dust-like eggs, which hatch inside the host and then eat their way out, growing up to several feet long. Stats on the new monster are provided.

Last Generation renders the victim sterile.

Liquid Bane alters the victim’s skin so it is damaged by water.

Sleepless prevents the victim from falling asleep. It is noted in the description that the mechanics have been simplified; if the Mutant Lord actually wants to go the whole hog for the effects of lack of sleep, they can do so.

Starver prevents the victim from absorbing nutrients from food.

Vampire Flesh is similar to Liquid Bane, but instead of water it makes the victim’s skin get damaged by sunlight.

Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #35: Terror Weapons in Review

The PDF is bookmarked and there is a hyperlinked table of contents as well. Navigation is therefore very good for a short supplement.

The text maintains a two column format and no errors were noticed. The illustrations are the standard vaguely appropriate stock images that have been tweaked to make them appear more like illustrations that are commonly seen in Skirmisher’s publications.

The supplement references two other issues from the series, Issue #8: Diseases & Medical Options, which is frequently referred to, and Issue #11: Optional Combat Rules.

As it mentions in the introduction, these new weapons are dangerous. Possibly too dangerous for regular game use, unless the ML has some way of getting the characters suitable high tech medical gear in order to stop the infections before they run rampant – which could admittedly make a plot for an adventure. Casual usage is definitely not recommended; the ML should plan any use of these weapons carefully. The weapons themselves are interesting, on occasion frighteningly plausible, and come with the extra needed material, not just the diseases and infections.

Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #35: Terror Weapons is a titularly terrifying bunch of biological weapons and it can be found by clicking here.