Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #47: Underwater Rules 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 new rules related to underwater.
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, as water is common, characters may venture into it, but it’s also hostile. This is followed by many new rules for running underwater adventures.
Cold-Based Weapons and Mutations explains that these freeze a column of water, not create a beam.
Condition Level Damage looks at how items, especially technological ones, might be affected by being underwater, referencing Issue #1 for condition level damage, and has a chart.
Deafened has what happens to characters affected.
Depth looks at the problems caused by water pressure.
Drowning and Suffocation looks at what happens when characters can’t breathe.
Effects of Water on High-Tech Weapons has a chart on how such are affected by water.
Electricity looks at what happens to electrical discharges underwater, which centre around the individual using such.
Explosives and Concussion Effects are what happens when basic explosives are used underwater, which can include being deafened.
Light shows how light is less effective underwater.
Melee Weapons looks at how hand to hand weapons are affected.
Mutations looks at what happens to the effects of some of these.
Projectile Weapons looks at how the effectiveness of these drops off rapidly.
Radiation looks at how radiation is washed away from affected areas.
Sonic Weapons looks at how such are affected; increased effectiveness but centred on the character using them.
Swimming and Slogging has alternative rules for such.
Thermal-Based Weapons and Mutations looks at how these function differently.
Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #47: Underwater Rules 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 is a collection of new, optional, rules for running Mutant Future campaigns underwater. There are a lot of changes that underwater environments can have on things characters might otherwise use. Things can be less effective, more effective but more dangerous to the user as well, or simply changed. Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #47: Underwater Rules has a useful collection of new rules for running games in such environments and it can be found by clicking here.
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