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Lord Grimm Presents:
The Table of Contents
Where we list the contents of this page. Genius, no?
Scenarios
Amnesia
Artifacts Hall
Babysitting
Backwater Calls
Bahssikava
Bonus Army
Canopy: Manufactured Womb
The Cave of No Return
Cresent Valley
Death at Chapman's
Dilecia
Diplomacy with the Dead
Druids of Krell
Echoes: Renegade
Embers of Rebellion
Emerald Mountain
The Empire's New Grove
Exodus
Express Delivery
Frostbite
A Good Beginning
High Level Party Maker
Kill Prize, Win Ogre
A Large Rebellion
Lord Puditus
Mad Ambition
Magus of Cattalon
Nephilim Mystery
Nine Variations on Point B
A Perfect Forest
Proving Grounds
Rats Aplenty
Roses of Reckoning
Scenario
Settlers
Shipwrecked
Shortest Scenario Ever!
A Small Rebellion
Stairway
Twilight Valley
Undead Valley
Valley of Dying Things
Where the Rivers Meet
Witch Hunt
Xerch'de
The Za-Khazi Run
The Lenarian Rating Scale
The Lenarian Rating System is based off a ten-point scale, giving weight to various features and aspects of scenario gameplay and design.
Each rating category is given several subpoints, which are averaged into a category's total point score, which are subsequently totalled for the final rating.
As scenarios are rated, I will list a review and scoring.
The Scale
Playability – 1 Available Point.
I played the entire scenario through:
0: No.
1: Yes, I played it several times, but could never win/lose.
2: It is possible to both win and lose this scenario.
Total divided by 2 = ______ point
Plot – 2 Available Points
Plot flow:
0: This makes absolutely no sense.
1: Okay? How does that work?
2: Hmm. Well then.
3: I want to see how this ends.
4: [Too obsessed with the story to observe anything else]
Exposition:
0: Plot? What’s that?
1: The Scooby Doo effect.
2: Whoa, he said what?
3: That was pretty cool.
4: I never saw that coming!
Total divided by 4 = ______ points
Gameplay – 2 points available.
Combat Balance (compared to suggested level):
0: “There’s too many of them!” / What combat?
1: Obscenely difficult / Obscenely easy.
2: Difficulty is not quite right for the circumstances: weak bosses, strong wandering creatures, etc.
3: I didn’t notice anything about the combat.
Puzzle balance:
0: No puzzles whatsoever.
1: I had to check the walkthrough. And it still didn’t make sense.
2: The puzzles make sense / no need for puzzles.
3: That was cool.
RP Element:
0: Can we go on, please?
1: This would so never happen. Ever.
2: That was… odd.
3: This is an okay/good scenario.
4: Wait, I’ve been gaming?
Total divided by 5 = ______ points
Presentability – 2 Available points
The Overall Aesthetic Feel of the World:
0: Ick
1: Poor
2: Average
3: Above Average.
4: Wow.
The Proper use of Custom Graphics
0: No custom graphics, and a need for them.
1: Some custom graphics, a need for more.
2: No need for custom graphics / excessive custom graphics.
3: A good Balance: custom only where needed.
4. Very nice. It’s pretty and it makes perfect sense.
Functionality of the Average Town
0: The design makes no sense to me.
1: This is kinda confusing, but it works.
2: This makes sense for what the designer is showing.
3: I don’t even notice anything.
4: Nice bit of attention to detail.
Total divided by 6 = ______ points
The Replay Factor – 1 point available
I wanted to play the scenario again.
0: No. Never again.
1: Only to understand it.
2: I’ll come back in a while.
3: Hmm. I’d like to see the other side of this one.
4: Whoa. I need to do that again.
Total divided by 4 = ______ point.
Novelty – 1 point available
I swear I’ve done this before.
0: Ugh, yes. It's [blank] all over again.
1: This could be [blank], if not for [blank].
2: Déjà vu.
3: No.
4: No, but I’d like more of it.
Total divided by 4 = ______ point.
Scripting – 1 point available
I took a quick look through the scenario’s scripts, and…
0: There was nothing aside from the standard stuff.
1: I saw a few non-standard scripts, but nothing stood out.
2: I saw a good assortment of scripts.
3: I couldn’t help but be impressed by some of the ideas implemented.
4: “Dangit! How did you do that???”
Total divided by 4 = ______ point.
Bugs – Loss of points
Typos:
+ .1 per instance.
The author gave warning about bugs and error messages:
0: All
1: Common/important bugs and ways around them.
5: Only when they interfered with completing the scenario.
10: No.
The Bugs interfered with gameplay:
0: No.
5: Not often.
10: Yes.
Total divided by 10 = ______ points detracted from total.
Amnesia
Where, why, how? You have many questions to answer.
Levels 1-100. Rated T.
By Michael G. Slack
No Review Yet
Artifacts Hall
Get all artifacts from all scenarios.
Levels 1-1. Rated E.
By Terror's Martyr
SCORING:
Utility Scenario. No score.
REVIEW:
The description says it all. Very good when used in conjunction with the High Level Party Maker scenario.
Concensus: Not quite as fun as playing through the scenarios and earning them, but still rewarding.
Ka-ching!
Backwater Calls
The curses of being famous...
Levels 30-45. Rated E.
By Smoo
SCORING:
Playablity: 2.
1 Points
Plot: 2,2.
1 Points
Gameplay: 3,2,2.
1.4 Points
Presentability: 2,3,3
1.33 Points
The Replay Factor: 2.
.5 Points
Novelty: 2.
.5 Points
Scripting: 1.
.25 Points
Bugs: Zip, 0,0.
-0 Points.
Lenarian Rating: 5.98/ 10
REVIEW:
I have to admit, I'm a bit biased against this one because the original copy that I picked up right after it was first released had enough holes that I ended up playing the majority of the scenario in the wrong order. While said bugs and out-of-order exploits have been dealt with, I still hold a bit of a grudge against that first version and the anguish that it gave me as I tried to figure it out.
Join the army, see the world: get picked out for specialist missions in the middle of nowhere. Huzzah. And so you and your party trudge on over to Faerengrove to investigate why the local iron shipments have stopped being recieved. The Empire has their money on rebels. You? Well, the fact that the caravans have been slaughtered and all of their goods left behind has made you begin to think otherwise...
For an author's first scenario, it holds its own, if barely. While many of the plot elements (and gameplay elements) are derivative of A3, it is still a decent play-through and does have some highly amusing and rewarding elements. The cutscenes are creative, and some of the scripting in use was the oinnacle of its day. Small cookies now, yes, but I think only Jeff had ever used a force_talk command before this.
Consensus: It's mediocre. But that doesn't mean that you shouldn't play it.
You know, if I had known that Smoo would turn out so well, I would have definitely started over when things started getting confusing, because I would have known that I missed something.
Bahssikava
A quest for the souls of the Slithzerikai.
Levels 35-45. Rated M.
By Kelandon
SCORING:
Playablity: 2
1 Points
Plot: 3,3.
1.5 Points
Gameplay: 3,3,3.
1.8 Points
Presentability: 3,4,3
1.67 Points
The Replay Factor: 4.
1 Points
Novelty: 4.
1 Points
Scripting: 4.
1 Points
Bugs: Wasn't Paying Attention, 0,0.
-0 Points.
Lenarian Rating: 8.97 / 10
REVIEW:
Ah, Bassikava. It's a classic, really, embodying what I believe to be the core of BoA. It's the most outrageously detailed piece of Fannon to date, has a solid storyline, mostly good combat balance, and great characterization. Typical of Kelandon, it's plot-oriented, with some very nice cinematic cutscenes and a lot of attention to detail.
The party is hired to help explore and find the lost city of the Sliths, starting in a resurrected A1 Bassikava and eventually exploring the deeps below it. Through the process, we learn of the history of the Sliths, and their true culture and identity. The scenario ends on an emotional cliffhanger of sorts: a bittersweet victory leading to a longer journey ahead.
In terms of gameplay, there tends to be more puzzles and exploration than hack-and-slash, with rewards for careful exploring. The cutscenes can take a while, but you do get the option of skipping them if needs be. I recommend watching them, just the same. Combat is mostly balanced for the level set: I went in with a level 34 party (1 archer) and survived just fine.
Drawbacks are few and easily dismissed: a handful of scripts may take some time in execution, a set of archers can quickly disrupt combat, and protecting Phaedra (and the trek to heal her if you don't) can really get annoying near the end.
Concensus: This may be the quintessential plot-driven scenario. PLAY IT.
I'm not kidding. Load up BoA right now and get yourself up to speed with this beautiful work of art.
Back to ToC
Sponsors
Canopy: Manufactured Womb
The holy hands that hold the hand that holds the sword, Bring us all home, back under your care, don't cut us off!
Levels 35-50. Rated E.
By Terror's Martyr
SCORING:
Playablity: 2.
1 Points
Plot: 4,4.
2 Points
Gameplay: 3,2,3.
1.8 Points
Presentability: 3,3,3
1.5 Points
The Replay Factor: 4.
1 Points
Novelty: 3.
.75 Points
Scripting: 4.
1 Points
Bugs: Wasn't Paying Attention, 0,0.
-0 Points.
Lenarian Rating: 9.05 / 10
REVIEW:
While I can't say that I'm necessarily fond of TM's overall style and behavior toward his fellow designers, I will confess that I have an attraction to this scenario, to the point of considering it my all-time favorite.
The Party takes on the persona of a group of natives in a land called Canopy, where they work for the local militia. Things get weird when they have to quell an uprising, resulting in an interesting philosophical thriller that will have any player agape by the quite unexpected ending.
Gameplay is mostly linear dungeon crawling/hack-and-slash with a small handful of side quests and enough plot and characterization to get you from encounter to encounter. While this style of storytelling seems more fit for an FPS than a rogue-style RPG, TM successfully manages to weave a web so thick that not even I could escape it. Elements such as custom spells (awkward as I find them), enemies with unusual scripted special abilities, and some particularly powerful items add to a unique atmosphere and lend to a playing style that most Avernites would not usually consider. Balance is favored more towards the upper end of the levels 35-50, and the specialized items promote a diversified skillset in the party itself. I first came in with a level 40 party, and had to reload a lot.
I have several warnings I must make to the would-be player: 1. This ain't Avernum. Don't expect it to make sense at first. 2. Some of your skills and spells are edited from the get-go. You can't play your party like you would in a normal fight. You do get the removed skills/spells back at the end of the scenario. 3. Language. If you're the type to flinch when someone says "Bitch", then this is definitely not the scenario for you. Some of the characters are quite offensive.
Concensus: I like it. You may not. I don't care.
While not being TM's technical best, nor necessarily his best in plot or combat, it's a solid scenario and quite the ride.
The Cave of No Return
You heard that there was treasure. So, naturally, you came.
Levels 1-7. Rated E.
By Eldiran
No Review Yet
Cresent Valley
Cresent Valley - Adventure, glory and a she-devil, or so you've heard.
Levels 25-50. Rated M.
By Michael G. Slack
No Review Yet
Death at Chapman's
The Empire's most famous school of magery has mysteriously shut down. You must enter and find out why.
Levels 1-6. Rated T.
By Erik Westra
SCORING:
Playablity: 2.
1 Points
Plot: 2,1.
.75 Points
Gameplay: 3,1,2.
1.2 Points
Presentability: 2,3,2
1.17 Points
The Replay Factor: 2.
.25 Points
Novelty: 1.
.75 Points
Scripting: 1.
.25 Points
Bugs: Benefit of the doubt, 0,0.
-0 Points.
Lenarian Rating: 5.37 / 10
REVIEW:
DaC is one of the early scenarios for BoA, and comes recommended by the community in general for those first getting into playing and designing.
The Party is hired to investigate a lack of communication from Chapman's Magic School. There are undead in the area. You do the math.
Well, it's not... bad... but it's not good, either. The combat is fine for the range, the singular cutscene is unimpressive, there aren't any puzzles to speak of (unless you consider the puzzle of actually triggering essential events in the plotline), and the ending is reminiscent of Scooby Doo in plot exposition.
Meh.
Concensus: It's simple enough to teach the beginning designer.
Regular players... keep the hints file handy. Trust me, there aren't enough in-game context clues to play all the way through.
Sponsors
Dilecia
Is it really better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all?
Levels 35-45. Rated T.
By Lazarus
No Review Yet
Diplomacy with the Dead
It seemed like a simple mission. Show up. Kill a vampire. But then things got complicated ...
Levels 25-35. Rated E.
By Spiderweb Software
SCORING:
Playablity: 2
1 Points
Plot: 2,3.
1.25 Points
Gameplay: 3,2,3.
1.6 Points
Presentability: 3,2,3
1.33 Points
The Replay Factor: 3.
.75 Points
Novelty: 2.
.5 Points
Scripting: 2.
.5 Points
Bugs: Zip, 0,0.
-0 Points.
Lenarian Rating: 6.98 / 10
REVIEW:
It's widely accepted that this was Jeff's incentive for getting non-designers to become early adopters. I wonder if he just wanted to work his creative juices on something other than the plotline for a flagship product.
Show up, get hired to stop massive numbers of undead, find out the guy who hired you is a poor but stubborn liar, run off to kill a vampire... and start getting lectured to by the vampire. You really aren't paid enough for this.
The dungeon-delving motif in The Valley of Dying Things meets the political back-and-forth play of A Small Rebellion in a nice little story that spins off from a side quest in A3. There are a good deal of side quests, lots of areas to explore, and a good deal of loot to find, if you know how to look. Combat is balanced, the scenery is pretty. Only thing it's really missing is a good in-game plotline.
Concensus: Consider this among the par for all third-party scenarios.
And it still scores on the higher end of the rating scale. I wonder if that means something.
Druids of Krell
Restore the balance of power when a religious leader goes missing.
Levels 20-30. Rated T.
By Ephesos
No Review Yet
Embers of Rebellion
A simple courier mission gets blown way out of proportion...
Levels 10-15. Rated T.
No Review Yet
Emerald Mountain
The most sacred thing imaginable.
Levels 15-20. Rated T.
By Terror's Martyr
No Review Yet
Exodus
A journey to the homeland of the Slithzerikai.
Levels 55-70. Rated M.
By Kelandon
No Review Yet
Express Delivery
Come rain or sleet or gloom of night, the Post must be Delivered.
Levels 5-15. Rated E.
By Arancaytar
No Review Yet
A Good Beginning
A remote island, a magical portal, a murder, and you.
Levels 1-3. Rated E.
By Nikki "SupaNik" Jeffery
No Review Yet
High Level Party Maker
To prepare a party for scenarios.
Levels 1-100. Rated E.
By Kelandon
SCORING:
Utility Scenario. No score.
REVIEW:
I feel that I should, at the very least, mention the usefulness of the HLPM, in the off-chance that some poor first-timer looks to this site for guidance.
The premise is very simple. Make a new party, enter this scenario, follow the directions, exit scenario with a fully customized leveled party. While the party in question won't have the strength, experience, and artifacts from previous scenarios, it is a good way to suddenly have a party ready for a scenario that you wouldn't otherwise have a party within the level range for.
Concensus: Tis useful. Tis amusing. Pick it up and play with it.
It even has some scenario reviews, to an extent. Don't quite remember the last time Kel updated it, though...
Kill Prize, Win Ogre
'Nuff Said.
Levels 100-1. Rated E.
By Dintiradan
SCORING:
Playablity: 2.
1 Points
Plot: 2,0.
.5 Points
Gameplay: 3,0,2.
1 Points
Presentability: 2,2,3
1.17 Points
The Replay Factor: 2.
.5 Points
Novelty: 1.
.25 Points
Scripting: 0.
.0 Points
Bugs: 0,0,0.
-0 Points.
Lenarian Rating: 4.42 / 10
REVIEW:
I had originally planned to not rate gag scenarios. Then I played this one.
Concensus: 'Nuff Said
In fact, the only reason why I have a tagline is to say that it's the only reason to have a tagline.
A Large Rebellion
The naga, protector of Serpent Delta, has been captured by some cunning magic. Then, the Orb was stolen. Now that the Delta is unprotected more of the outcast nature folk return for vegneance.
Levels 25-35. Rated E.
By Otto HalmŽn
(My apollogies, Otto, for not having the correct character)
No Review Yet
Lord Puditus
An outer province faces a mysterous threat.
Levels 1-1. Rated A.
By Kelandon
No Review Yet
Magus of Cattalon
A magical experiment goes wrong. You are called to clean up the mess.
Levels 30-46. Rated T.
By Smoo
SCORING:
Playablity: 2
1 Points
Plot: 3,3.
1.5 Points
Gameplay: 3,2,3.
1.6 Points
Presentability: 3,3,3
1.5 Points
The Replay Factor: 3.
.75 Points
Novelty: 4.
1 Points
Scripting: 3.
.75 Points
Bugs: 0,0,0.
-0 Points.
Lenarian Rating: 8.10 / 10
REVIEW:
I have to admit, after playing a rather buggy version of Backwater Calls, I went into Smoo's second release with rather low expectations. These expectations were quickly surpassed by an impressive attention to detail and a beautifully executed plot twist. I'd been warned, and I still didn't see it coming.
The Party is contracted to deal with a rogue mage who killed all of the children in a region while trying to bless them. This, of course, is not as easy as it sounds, and is made even more difficult when... well, you'll just have to find out for yourself.
Plenty of puzzles, combat, Ermarian lore, a few mind games, and a good deal of fun. I took to it with a level 35 party and the combat was challenging enough to be fun without many reloads.
The only thing I need to point out is that the rocks can be moved by looking at them.
Concensus: It's a good, solid scenario, worth being in everyone's library.
So go pick it up from Shadow Vale or wherever and enjoy it.
Nephilim Mystery
After a while between tasks, the Empire asked you to deal with Nephilim troubles in a remote valley.
You were told that the Nephilim in the valley were much stronger than those the Empire used to face. If possible, you're supposed to find out why these Nephilim are so strong.
Levels 50-70. Rated T.
By Selentine
SCORING:
Playablity: 1.
.5 Points
Plot: 0,0.
0 Points
Gameplay: 0,0,1.
.2 Points
Presentability: 1,2,1
.67 Points
The Replay Factor: 0.
0 Points
Novelty: 3.
.75 Points
Scripting: 1.
.25 Points
Bugs: Benefit of the doubt, 0,0.
-0 Points.
Lenarian Rating: 2.37 / 10
REVIEW:
Designed for levels 50 to 70, it took an HLPM God Party to survive the second onslaught of a random encounter. My poor level 62 party never stood a chance.
To be completely honest, I fully believed that Selentine had not beta tested at all until I looked at the scenario credits about fifteen minutes before posting this review.
So where to begin? The cardinal sin of editing creatures of numeric identifier lower than 234, the Vahnatai conspiracy behind the total lack of plot, or the simple fact that a level 100 party got annihilated when attacking the Nephil Hill?
It's a first-timer's scenario. That much is obvious. There are a handful of working custom scripts, and the world design screams mediocre. I can't say much more, aside from the fact that the Nephilim are indeed strong.
Far too strong to be out in some remote valley. In fact, with this Vahnatai Lord friend of theirs, I'm surprised that they hadn't conquered a few cities at the very least by the time the party comes in.
Concensus: It's a great scenario to play if you need to learn exactly what not to do when designing.
In fact... heck, now that I know that it was indeed beta tested, I'm toying with the thought that it may have been designed with the anti-example purpose in mind...
Nine Variations on Point B
The birth of a moment in time.
Levels 1-1. Rated E.
By AlecKyras, ported to BoA by Kelandon
SCORING:
Playablity: 2.
1 Points
Plot: 3,0.
.75 Points
Gameplay: 3,2,3.
1.4 Points
Presentability: 4,4,4
2 Points
The Replay Factor: 2.
.5 Points
Novelty: 2.
.5 Points
Scripting: 0.
0 Points
Bugs: 0,0,0.
-0 Points.
Lenarian Rating: 6.15 / 10
REVIEW:
I look on this one with the kind of fondness one would have with a sleeping child. I'm not entirely sure why, and the metaphor actually kinda scares me.
Alec (though Kel) takes the player through the development of a map, having the party go from point A to point B, building layer upon layer with each variation.
Concensus: An absolute Must-Play for the Would-Be Designer.
And even if you're not designing, it's a great look at the thought process.
A Perfect Forest
If we do not learn from our mistakes, we are doomed to repeat them.
Levels 1-10. Rated E.
By Brian C. "Stareye" Kiedrowski
No Review Yet
Proving Grounds
Wiz 1 Proving Grounds - Trebor, Werdna and the rest of the crew.
Levels 25-40. Rated T.
By Michael G. Slack
SCORING:
Playablity: 2.
1 Points
Plot: 2,2.
1 Points
Gameplay: 2,0,2.
.8 Points
Presentability: 1,1,1
.5 Points
The Replay Factor: 2.
.5 Points
Novelty: 3.
.5 Points
Scripting: 1.
.25 Points
Bugs: Benefit of the doubt, 0,0.
-0 Points.
Lenarian Rating: 3.55 / 10
REVIEW:
It's a port of some abandonware game that I'd never heard of until I was told that this was actually a port. Go figure.
The Party is hired to dungeon crawl and kill a sorcerer.
Run up to stuff and kill it. Find a corner in a secret passage and wait for your health to regenerate. Repeat as necessary until you make it to the next level down. Then begin again.
Frankly, the only redeeming feature in the scenario is Slack's world wrap scripting, which is really just a bunch of fancy teleportation encounters.
Concensus: Eh... unless you're the mindless hack-and-slash type, don't bother.
Or, unless you liked Wizardry, maybe.
Rats Aplenty
It's just a remote valley infested with a rat plague. What could possibly go wrong? ... more wrong.
Levels 1-5. Rated M.
By Smoo
No Review Yet
Roses of Reckoning
When God declares war or the modern.
Levels 1-6. Rated E.
By Terror's Martyr
No Review Yet
Scenario
[Insert Description Here]
Levels 1-1. Rated E.
By Dallerdin
SCORING:
Playablity: 1.
.5 Points
Plot: 0,0.
0 Points
Gameplay: 0,0,2.
.4 Points
Presentability: 2,2,2
.5 Points
The Replay Factor: 4.
1 Points
Novelty: 3.
.75 Points
Scripting: 1.
.25 Points
Bugs: 0,0,0.
-0 Points.
Lenarian Rating: 3.4 / 10
REVIEW:
It's a brilliant gag scenario.
Concensus: Get your hands on it and enjoy.
I mean it. You just can't play through it enough.
A Small Rebellion
You've been hired to wipe out a rebellion. Will you follow your orders, or switch sides?
Levels 9-20. Rated T.
By Spiderweb Softare
No Review Yet
Twilight Valley
"In my own strange way, I've always been true to you... In my own sick way, I'll always stay true to you."
Levels 1-100. Rated T.
By Nikki Jeffery
No Review Yet
Undead Valley
A small Undead Problem in a beautiful remote Valley. What could possibly go wrong...
Levels 35-75. Rated E.
By Archmagi Micael
No Review Yet
Valley of Dying Things
Everything in the valley is dying. The plants, the animals, the people. Disease is everywhere, and people are losing hope.
Levels 1-10. Rated E.
By Spiderweb Software
No Review Yet
Where the Rivers Meet
As quiet as a place may seem, so many problems does it have.
Levels 35-45. Rated E.
By Benjamin "Thralni" van Soldt
No Review Yet
Witch Hunt
A peaceful area of Aizo has suddenly been wracked with an unusual bandit problem.
Levels 1-5. Rated T.
By Nioca
No Review Yet
Xerch'de
It's just a simple election...what can go wrong?
Levels 5-10. Rated E.
By David Sellinger/Jonah Zolohahni
No Review Yet
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