Pyramid Review: Jovian Chronicles: Ships of the Fleet, Vol. 4 -- Venus Fleet

Pyramid Review

Jovian Chronicles: Ships of the Fleet, Vol. 4 -- Venus Fleet

Published by Dream Pod 9

Written by Wunji Lau (Writer/Designer and Lloyd Doug Jessee (Game Stats/Design)

144 pages, $20.95

Being truly excellent is a double-edged sword: On the one hand, of course, you're excellent -- and that comes with a lot of perks. On the other hand, though, you have set yourself a very high standard indeed -- and a failure in the details suddenly becomes a notable offense.

Which is why I'm going to take a few moments to dwell on the failures of Ships of the Fleet, Vol. 4 -- a supplement describing six Venusian ships of the Jovian Chronicles line, the principles of Venusian ship design, and Venusian fleet operations. Although these failures may all be in the details, they are no less disappointing.

Why are they disappointing? Because Dream Pod 9 has excelled -- with all three of their games -- in providing a level of depth, breadth, and quality for their fictional worlds that almost beggars the imagination. When, for example, you not only know the broad strokes of political machination and warmongering in the solar system of the 21st century, but also what the favorite books of the Jovian Confederation are, and how the details of shipboard life onboard a Constantinople differ from those of an Birmingham -- and all of this weaves together into a consummate and seamless whole -- you've achieved something special.

You can build mighty worlds out of . . .

This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.




Article publication date: August 11, 2000


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