Pyramid Review
Behind the Veil (for Lightning Strike)
Published by Dream Pod 9
Written by Wunji Lau
32 pages, $15.95
Behind the Veil is the second release for Lightning Strike, the mass combat rules system based on their Jovian Chronicles line. The 32-page book details the planet Venus and their military, adds new rules to the basic game, and includes two pages of full color counters. The book consists of four chapters bound in a flashy cardstock cover and containing two pages of counters of similar quality to the cover.
Chapter one begins with two pages of obligatory fiction, climaxing with a further two pages at the end of the book (pages 30-31). The story is interesting, and sets the mood for playing Venusian characters, and marks the return of an infamous Jovian bad guy. Following this intro are a number of small sections detailing the structure of both Venusian society and its military. This section can best be described as a teaser for a Jovian Chronicles sourcebook. Like the free sample table at Safeway, it teases you with a brief look at Venusian society, before asking you to move along. I wanted to know more about the people and culture of Venus. In the scant few pages provided, I learned that Venus and the solar system in general believe that the planet is mostly harmless; only the military realize this is not the case. The book is peppered with brilliant ideas and concepts such as: Venusian corporations jockeying to place loyal employees . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: April 21, 2000
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