According to Mel Gibson’s character in Conspiracy Theory, people who are known by three names are always patsies — Lee Harvey Oswald, John Wilkes Booth, etc. I wonder if that’s true.

All avid BOErs know Tarl Roger Kudrick (tarl@charm.net) for Tatterdemalion, but, in this reviewer’s opinion, Tarl’s other scenario, Islands of The Wheel is a close rival to it’s better known sibling.

The story begins as your party finds itself stranded on a strange island, where food is plentiful, but where everyone is going insane, and there is no escape. Why have these islands been brought together? Why is everyone going insane? And how the heck do we get away? Exploring these mysteries is the focus of Islands of The Wheel, and I’m not cruel enough to spoil the mystery for you. However, I will say this unlike too many scenarios, IMHO, Islands of The Wheel spends a good deal of time developing an intricate and important plot, and it is time well spent.

Whatever the scenario may lack in other areas, its engaging plot more than makes up for. There are, however, a few parts of Islands of The Wheel I disliked. The designer experiments with odd terrain combinations in many places, an altogether noble motive. However, far too many times the experiments end up being either aesthetically offensive or merely an adequate representation that adds little overall to the scenario.

And I can’t even tell you how enraged I am that Tarl got to the Deranged Snow Goons before I could. But that’s just me being bitter.

Leaving those things aside, however, Islands of The Wheel is a very good, very engaging scenario, and I recommend you give this one a try. It’s rated PG, and is designed for medium to high level parties.

My score — 9.0

— Alcritas

Back to Scenario Reviews