IFReviewed by
Tom Zuchowski on 2006-05-13 09:20
Extra Commands: SCOLD, LECTURE, PET, TIME, PAY, FEED
Deleted Commands: ATTACK, BLAST, HEAL, POWER, SPEED, READY, PUT, FREE
Special Features: no violence; time limit; can stand alone without Master disk
Playing Time: 1.5-2 hours
Reviewer's Rating: 8
Description: In a remote world, once upon a time, a group of teachers all signed a document (legally binding) vowing chastity, poverty, and obedience. This document was entrusted to one of the teachers, who put it in a 'safe place'. Somewhat later, he left to take another teaching position, and the other teachers have been unable to contact him. A political group is searching the school for the document in order to use it to intimidate the teachers.
You have been summoned here by a spell that several teachers pooled their life savings to buy. You have two hours before the spell wears off and you are sent back where you came from. If you find the missing document and take it to the teachers' lounge, you will be rewarded.
Adventurers should realize that in this world violence is frowned upon. Therefore, your only weapon is an unabridged dictionary and all battles are verbal. You need to remember to 'scold' or 'lecture' your opponents.
Comment: This adventure marks a radical departure from ANYTHING that I have seen previously in the Eamon world. There is absolutely no violent confrontation at all. The player 'scolds' his enemies, and is 'lectured' in return. Each opponent scores hits on the other's ego, until one of them 'dies with embarrassment'. The verbal battles are very clever and fun to follow. The school is full of surprises and events. It is well written; there is a single no-warning 'gotcha' death trap that was funny enough that I really didn't mind all that much having to start over.
I got the distinct impression that the school and its inhabitants were based on a real school & faculty somewhere. It all had the ring of truth, from the odd things that I found in the classrooms to the crocodiles beneath the kitchen. I loved it all.
There were two minor drawbacks that reduced the enjoyment a little. This adventure has a time limit, which served well to heighten the tension, but none of the room descriptions gave the available exits, forcing the player to waste turns finding them. And the other drawback was that the 'dungeon' was actually a large elementary school, containing three long halls that were flanked by an endless procession of classrooms. The authors did a very good job scattering surprises and jokes throughout, but it wore a little thin just the same.
This adventure will NOT be for everyone. It is definitely not one for the 'hack & slash' crowd, and may not be fully appreciated by younger adventurers. But it is an excellent shot at a non-violent Eamon adventure, and I had a great time.
Used with Matthew Clark's kind permition.
Original review available at Eamon Adventurer's Guild Online website.
