Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #50: Artifact Quality 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 for 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 fantasy games have magical items with improved abilities and that this supplement intends to do the same for science fiction games by using a Quality Level, which could be used numerically or given a more evocative term. The supplement is intended to work with other issues in this series, especially Issues #3, #9, #13, #21, #22, #26 and #46.
Armour and weapon qualities are first, treated separately but with similar tables. There are Quality Levels from -1 to 5, each of which has different modifiers. Both tables modify weight, item saving throws, condition level DR and cost multiplier. Armour also modifies AC and DR; weapon modifies to hit/damage and range.
Primitive and advanced weapons are next. These are treated in exactly the same way as weapons in the previous section, and a primitive firearm could still be a handcrafted work of pre-Fall workmanship, far superior to anything made in the wastelands.
Powered devices again have the Quality Level, which modifies bonus per die, power efficiency, weight, item saving throw, condition level DR and cost.
Medical drugs again have Quality Level, with the modifiers being die type change, bonus per die, saving throw, statistic change, item saving throw, condition level DR and cost.
Power sources may also work better, with the Quality Level affecting efficiency, weight, item saving throw, condition level CR and cost.
Explosives are another, with the Quality Level affecting radius, bonus per die, saving throw, item saving throw, condition level CR and cost.
Finally, personal shields’ Quality Levels affect hit point, regen, weight, battery life, item saving throw, condition level CR and cost.
Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #50: Artifact Quality in Review
The PDF is bookmarked, with major sections linked. Navigation is okay. 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.
This supplement does admittedly add more bookkeeping when it comes to equipment, but it does also mean that even two otherwise identical items may, for one reason or another, not be identical when used, adding more options to the game. The ML could use the Quality Levels to give more evocative descriptions to items too, transforming the levels into the appearance of the item. Wisdom from the Wastelands Issue #50: Artifact Quality is an interesting collection of options for items for Mutant Future and it can be found by clicking here.
Leave a Reply