A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement YS1 The Outpost of the Outer Ones

YS1 The Outpost of the Outer Ones is a role playing game supplement written and published by Jeremy Reaban. The supplement is an adventure primarily written for Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.

The supplement is available from DriveThruRPG as a 20 page Pay What You Want PDF. One page is the front cover, most of a page is the Open Game License and Credits and one page is an ad.

The opening paragraphs explain that the adventure, whilst specifically written for AD&D, can be used with other OSR systems and is aimed at levels 6-10, depending on the system used. It’s inspired by H.P. Lovecraft‘s The Whisperer in Darkness, but is written as more of a science fiction dungeon crawl than horror or mystery. It also explains that it is light on traditional treasure and that the “Burrower” monster is similar to one that is product identity, namely the umber hulk. Characters will probably acquire Mi-Go technology, but that technology generally does the same things as magic items and, if it gets out of hand, can always break or wear out.

Background explains that the Mi-Go have a base in the area and are conducting mining operations. They also have technology in advance of that seen in the short story. A short list of rumours is then provided.

A wandering monster table is first, then the dungeon itself is described. The dungeon contains Mi-Go, in their own bodies, in brain cylinders and in human suits, bionic servants, which are enhanced monsters, human agents and robots. There are some items of advanced technology for characters to play with, with potentially beneficial results.

Following the dungeon’s description is Aftermath & Further Adventures. It explains what the Mi-Go will do and what might happen with survivors.

The Design Notes explains that the Mi-Go are not portrayed in the original fiction as outright evil. There are mentions of Mi-Go operating in a modern game and how to make the adventure more horror-themed, as well as notes on the technology. This is followed by a monster experience summary.

Mi-Go Devices, Weapons, and Technology lists the various technological items that characters could walk away with.

Incantations, or rituals, are spells that can be cast by none-spellusers. Three are given, for summoning and dismissing Shub-Niggurath and the Voorish Sign.

The Brain Cylinder Occupant Generator is a series of tables for determining who is in such, if they are not already described.

The Keepers of the Yellow Sign are an organisation of Hastur worshippers opposed to the Mi-Go. Eight NPCs are described as members of the group who could be encountered by PCs. There are also three new monsters.

Two pages have maps of the dungeon, one labelled, one not.

YS1 The Outpost of the Outer Ones in Review

The PDF is reasonably well bookmarked with the major sections linked. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a two-column format and appeared to be free of errors. There are some colour and black and white stock images. Presentation is okay.

There is quite a bit of supplemental material as well as the actual dungeon that could be reused or used to develop the adventure further, and this is indeed suggested. As it stands, it is an Old School dungeon crawl; monsters have set up locally, go and destroy them. If the characters want to destroy them of course. There isn’t a lot of plot, nor is there supposed to be. Being of an older design, it is also far easier for characters to get in over their head. YS1 The Outpost of the Outer Ones is a decent little dungeon crawl and it can be found by clicking here.