The Sounds of Silence

A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement The Sounds of Silence

The Sounds of Silence by Joseph Mohr is a role playing game supplement published by Old School Role Playing for use with Cepheus Engine. 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 as a 14 page Pay What You Want PDF from DriveThruRPG. Two pages are the front and rear covers, three the front matter and three the Open Game License.

The Sounds of SilenceThe opening paragraphs explain that a mining company has been surveying the planets on the boundary of the Sonora sector – the adventure is set in the Frontiers of Space – and wants the characters to investigate a planet that probes show has promise but from which none of the survey teams have returned.

Patron has details on the employer.

Complications are things which aren’t known or which could go wrong.

CVB-54N has details on the planet.

Encounters on this World has a chance for a random encounter with the local species.

Geemox has details on the native sophonts of the world.

Silence explains that strange atmospheric conditions explain that no sound carries.

Communication looks at how the Geemox might be communicated with; they are telepaths who use their ability to communicate with each other.

Telepathy of the Geemox explains this is powerful and can knock people unconscious.

Cremation explains that this is how the Geemox dispose of their dead, and those of others, and that they can mistake unconsciousness and sleep for being dead.

Minerals on the Planet explains there are some.

Trade With the Geemox looks at how trade for the minerals could be established.

Mission Completion explains this is to discover the nature of the inhabitants and any minerals.

The final page of content has a map of the world.

The Sounds of Silence in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and is long enough with enough different sections that these would have been useful. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a single column format and appeared to be free of errors. Bar the map and covers, there are no illustrations. Presentation is okay.

The lack of sound – which is distinctly odd and probably not possible – adds an element of difficulty to the adventure, as it makes communication harder. The other problem is that, though the locals aren’t hostile, they may still accidentally cremate people alive. The Sounds of Silence can be found by clicking here.


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