Pyramid: Pyramid Pick: Avalon (for 7th Sea)

Pyramid Pick

Nations of Théah: Book Two, Avalon

Written by Rob Vaux and John Wick

Published by Alderac Entertainment Group

128 pages, $19.95
7th Sea is a game that seems to polarize the gaming community. People either love it or hate it.
Those who love it can give a list the length of their arm on its virtues. Those who hate it seem to find issue with either the cinematic rules or with the setting, a continent called Théah on the world of Terra. The chief complaint against the rules is that player characters are hard to kill. The big gripe with the setting is that, while at first glance, it looks like Restoration era Europe, the details are quite different. This has seemed to alienate some folks, and the question has been raised as to exactly why such a familiar but changed environment was chosen. Why not just go one way or another?
Well, Nations of Théah: Book Two, Avalon doesn't tell the answer. It clearly and concisely shows it.
While the book is entitled Avalon, it is actually a study of all three nations of the Glamour Isles off Théah's northwestern coast: Avalon, Inismore, and the Highland Marches, known collectively as the Triple Kingdoms.
The tone for this setting is evident as soon as the book's cover is opened. On the first page, at the very bottom, are four famous words that sum up the book's intentions, "Once Upon a Time."
While still concerned with swashbuckling action, and adventure, Avalon filters it through the wonder and occasional darkness . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.

Article publication date: January 14, 2000

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