RE: International Society - Review @ OnlySP

Reid Gacke (OnlySP) has reviewed the recently released strategy RPG Renowned Explorers: International Society:

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Each of the 20 potential party members has unique and varied skills and abilities. You could choose the more-than-slightly-mad scientist Anna Proskuriakova who is well-versed in electromagnetics and engineering…and able to electrocute anyone who stands in her way if they’re not terrified into fleeing by her insane cackle first. Or the adorable Austrian stage magician Hildegard Haas, who can charm even the coldest (or most violent heart) with her honeyed words or a well-timed magic trick. Or the aggrivating Kiwi Paakariki, whose cutting jabs can cause enemies to go into a frothing frenzy.

And the best part is, each of these strengths manifest just as you would expect them to. Anna is an exceptional attacker who can also intimidate her enemies into a terrified state. Hildegard is very good at making her enemies rethink their desire to attack her team through her charm and stage tricks. And Kiwi can distract an opponent by sending them into a mad, frothing rage…making them more vulnerable for one of your beefier explorers to take out.

This is where Renowned Explorers shines and may even be revolutionary. It makes debates and rhetorical approaches to conflict fun…all by simply turning them all into a combat scenario where you use words as attacks as much as your fists. Sure, in a lot of fights you are exchanging physical blows with people you disagree with. But you may just as often be debating with a bunch of loud-mouthed hick villagers about the merits of science and the study of ancient artifacts. Or trying to trick some simple rube out of their treasures. And Renowned Explorers treats all of these as combat scenarios, with your words – either friendly or devious – being used as rhetorical “attacks.”

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