Pyramid Review
The Secret of Zir'An Game Screen
Published by Paragon Games
Three-panel b&w screen with Empyriar Code Wheel insert; $5.99
No question, The Secret of Zir'An RPG would benefit from a few supplements that disseminate more information about the setting. While The Secret of Zir'An Game Screen may not cover much ground from a setting perspective, it's certainly a helpful item that condenses the charts spread throughout the core gamebook into a dandy pill.
First, the physics of the whole thing. It's a three-panel affair, with each panel clocking in at a fairly standard 8.5" × 11". The two side panels fold out from the middle, and the panels lie along their length, making it one of those half-as-high screens that obscure all the die roll fudges you're going to lie about while still allowing you to look your players in the eye as you do it.
The outside deserves only brief mention, since it's mostly decorative with the game's title in the middle (though more on that in a moment). That isn't to say it's not nice -- it's got an almost glossy look to it, the sort of cover that someone paid good money to make feel greasy to the touch when in fact it's just high quality.
Within, your charts. Central to the action, combat (since fights are usually, well . . . central. To the action). The middle bit is the finesse effects you can pull off with various combat skills and weapon types using the Finesse System. Admittedly it's a pretty simple . . .
This article originally appeared in the second volume of Pyramid. See the current Pyramid website for more information.
Article publication date: March 3, 2006
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