Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #42: Unique Superscience Artifacts II 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 has a selection of advanced technological items.
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 Issue #39 introduced the idea of creating unique and iconic devices using Clarke’s Second Law and the Realms of Crawling Chaos supplement. This issue has larger items, which have multiple powers that take time to recharge. The powers come from spells from Labyrinth Lord‘s Advanced Edition Companion and mutations from Mutant Future. The different items have Caster Levels for the spells, too.
Green Stone is an item that secretes a green goo on contact with the skin that grows into a second head. The head can spit projectiles that can control others or break down inorganic matter, as well as prevent the host from feeling pain and entangle others or cause diseases. It also looks unpleasant.
The Hazard Stone was formerly used as boundary equipment for sports but a nanite infestation has changed it. It creates a force field that protects against fire and emits a counter blast of energy when the holder is struck with melee or natural weapons, though this may intensify physical strikes and cause double damage and throw the wielder into a temporary extra-dimensional space.
Jimmy’s Tube is a tube containing the six-year-old Jimmy, who can be contacted telepathically. Jimmy can choose to compel, paralyse or confuse others, contact people and alter perceptions, and has a powerful metal attack. Jimmy can be killed, but to use the tube he needs to be replaced.
Joe’s Diner/Hell’s Kitchen is some sort of diner or food truck that can teleport around and charm people into entering and eating. Everything consumed grants a drawback that lasts for several weeks. The diner can also defend itself with a conglomerate food monster. Drones find local people and bring them back to transform still-living captives into food. Characters may also have to reroll their mutations or race from exposure to the chemicals.
The Mining Rig can detect minerals, create water from the surroundings, shape and move minerals for storage, grow plants and animate earth and stone as a defence.
The Mining Staff can detect minerals, pulverise stone, shift soil and connect to a wireless network. It also has a force screen and project a fascinating hologram, and can attract underground mutants.
Mutated Healing Jelly bonds with a host and adds a climbing ability. The host can change skin colour, signal warnings when exposed to various things, produce a cloud of gas, excrete a protective gunge, stimulate healing and graft extra limbs onto the host.
Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #42: Unique Superscience Artifacts II 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. There are some stock tweaked colour images. Presentation is okay.
This supplement has a collection of interesting items that function in ways that look strange. The fluff is used to describe what are essentially a bunch of mutations and spell effects in an interesting and coherent way, which is better than just listing a bunch of features. Most of the artefacts are useful, though one is outright dangerous, but they also tend to have flaws that limit their use in some ways. Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #42: Unique Superscience Artifacts II has a nice collection of items and it can be found by clicking here.
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