Aberrant RPG - EXPOSÉ: Aberrants

[Matt]

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<font size="+2" color="#000000">EXPOSÉ:</font><hr width="50%" align="center"><font size="7">ABERRANTS</font>

<img src="http://www.nprime.net/images/expose.jpg" border=0 height=200 width=140 align=LEFT><font size=+1>The Center Cannot Hold</font>

Fugitives… murderers… or unsung heroes? The controversial Aberrants faction is outgunned, outnumbered and has the weight of the world against it. Aberrants wouldn’t have it any other way.

<p align="left"><font size=+1>The Price of Liberty</font>

Exposé: Aberrants details the nascent Aberrants organization and its fight against Aeon’s Project Utopia. At only $4.95, this book’s a steal for Aberrant players and Storytellers alike.

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Retail Price: $4.95 U.S.

Page Count: 24

Authors: Greg Stolze

<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565046307/nprim-20">Buy it Now</a>

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[Matt]

<table width="140" border="0" height="200" cellspacing="5" cellpadding="0" align="right"><tr> <td><font color="#000000"><img src="http://www.nprime.net/images/expose.jpg" width="140" height="200"></font></td></tr></table><p align="center"><font size="+2">Expose: Aberrants Review</font>

Picture this: you're a nova, a being of superhuman power and ability. You can do what you please, and with the aid of Project Utopia have very little to want for. You live a life of pampered luxury, and if Utopia should occasionally need a little help no problem!

Then Jennifer "Slider" Landers died. Some think former T2M member and rogue Andre Corbin is the killer. But Corbin and those "Aberrants" he calls allies claim that Utopia is lying, that a force within the philanthropic organization wants to control-and cull-novas. Die hard Utopians are sure that Corbin is lying, that he's the killer trying to sow anti-Utopia feeling amongst novas. Where do you stand?

Expose: Aberrants is a book that details the newest faction in the Aberrant world (at least of 2008). The Aberrants are a group of rebels, rogues, and concerned Utopians who feel that Project Utopia has been corrupted, and that the organization killed Jennifer Landers for what she knew of their plans. In it's infancy in 2008, this book allows players and storytellers to help build this resistance movement from the ground up. Unlike more radical groups like the Teragen, the novas of the Aberrants (using a common anti-nova slur ironically) don't see Project Utopia as an enemy (although some radical Aberrants do), but rather as a noble body that has been misled by corrupt elements within it. Within this slim volume you'll find the organization working to find out the truth behind Slider's death. A list of suspects is provided, and theories forwarded, but concrete answers are few and far between. Also, you'll see the Aberrants gradually unearthing the far less telegenic aspects of Utopian procedure.

One of the benefits of detailing the Aberrants at their beginning is that the structure of the group is far less byzantine and complicated than other nova factions, leaving a lot of room for players to fit their characters, and storytellers to add or subtract what they like without fear of the entire house of cards falling down around them. The book details the three main factions of the Aberrant movement; from the silent yet observant Hidden, who continue to work with-and sometimes for-Utopia, to the outlaws of the Quarry who left Utopia yet still harbor sympathy for it's ideals, to finally the freaks and malcontents known as the Rebels, who seek to destroy Utopia and free the world from it's oppressive shackles. Quite motley crew, to say the least. Also included are relations with nova groups, an overview of Aberrant hot spots, as well as profiles of some of the major players within the Aberrant movement.

Written by Greg Stolze with art by Guy Davis, Expose: Aberrants is a nice book, if a little on the short side (23 pages). While the lack of concrete material and organization to the Aberrants allows for greater freedom, it still leaves a lot to be desired for those looking for more definite statistics on the group as a whole. Also, given the fact that the Aberrant setting is not static, much of the information here may be dated as the Aberrant storyline progresses. Perhaps an updated version of the book, or maybe a larger sourcebook, could be arranged? Also, compared to the flash of Team Tomorrow, the dark appeal of the Teragen, or even the crass commercialism of Elites or just plain independence, the Aberrant faction may not appeal to players, especially with so little to go on. I liked it, but it may not be what you're looking for.

<font size="4" color="#FF0000">Rating: <blink> Read in the store before buying.</blink></font>

<em>Review courtesy of Stacy Dooks, aka Defender.</em>