Charles Ryan

Written at the height of the D20 movement in tabletop RPGs, and at a time when new Wheel of Time content was hard to come by, this book definitely scratched an itch for fans of the series. However, it lacks the sort of depth and replayability that might have elevated it from the level of novelty.

A sourcebook like this has two tasks. It must present the setting in a compelling way, and it must present compelling game mechanics. A mediocre job was done with both of these tasks. The setting was painted in broad strokes only. Perhaps the creator were hoping that they would have a chance to publish country-specific guides at some point in the future, or perhaps Jordan himself limited the amount of detail they could give. (After all, many locations in this world had still yet to be written about at the time it was published.) Either way, the presentation of the setting felt cursory.

As for the game mechanics, this is where a Wheel of Time RPG ought to shine, by all rights. The magic system in the books is so detailed, so well developed, that roleplaying it should have been the focal point of the story. As it is, we find a tired D20 spell mechanic that has been twisted to fit. This aspect, more than any other, was a disappointment for me.

Recommendation: For a talented GM, with a cadre of Wheel of Time fans as players, this book could be a jumping off point for a memorable campaign. By itself, it is simply lacking in too many aspects to come highly recommended.… (mehr)