Reviews

Reviews and Comments about Ashen Stars.

Ashen Stars is available to buy from the Pelgrane Press Shop.

Download the character creation chapter and part of the GM’s Advice.

Reviewers say:

A review here. “Look. Just go buy it, okay? It’s worth it, and then some.”

A review of the Ashen Stars pre-order edition here.

A review on rpg.net gives it 8/10

Another one, 9/10

Playtesters and Preorderers say:

“Nailed it – Just nailed it. I read through this book like it was a good novel. I’ve never called an RPG rulebook a page turner, but here it is! Great setting, engaging to read, and a smooth and polished system. Robin Laws continues to impress, and after seeing the final layout PDF, I have to say that Pelgrane has outdone themselves with this game. I cannot wait to have the physical thing in my hands (and the hands of my players!)”

“I’m going to big up the Pelgrane Posse.

I have my PDF and I cannot say just how impressed I am with both the content, style and layout. Yet another beautifully written evolution of Gumshoe with a unique take on the genre, written by one of the best authors in the industry.

On looks alone it puts products from other bigger companies to shame. I have a sense that I really have got my monies worth (and I haven’t got the hardcopy yet) For a small publisher Pelgrane can flex some serious creative muscle.

The bar hasn’t just been raised, it’s in a geo-stationary orbit”

“And congratulations on this game – I think it is destined to become a classic – This is the best sci-fi RPG I’ve ever read.”

“It reminds me a bit of Mouse Guard (/Burning Wheel)’s combat system, but I think it fits the ship piece much better, ensures everybody has a good opportunity to contribute, and really does have the feel you’d expect with combat on Serenity, the Enterprise, or the Millennium Falcon.”

“Just finished poring over Ashen Stars. It’s brilliant. I’ve never seen Space Opera done better. Not even close.”

“Gratz to Ashen Stars, this is going to be an awesome game. My regular gaming group adopted it from the spot. It has a really vibrant feel.”

“The delight in the setting is that it is constructed from the ground up to suit role-playing, unlike any licensed property would be.”

“When I originally read the playtest draft, three things occurred to me: first, Robin had outdone himself in his integration of classic space opera tropes; second, this would become my favorite space opera setting, replacing both Star Wars and Star Trek; and third, how seamlessly the GUMSHOE mechanics adapted to the most diverse genre that it thus far had attempted to tackle. Brilliant, in a word.”

“Just picked up some of my freebies; the sample chapters from the final layout look great. This game is a must-have!”

“The PDF is a taster of what promises to be a brilliant new take on classic Space Opera, backed by a solid system (roleplay & atmosphere first, worry about dicerolling later) from the company run by people who actually give a dingo’s kidney about what gamers want.”

“The space combat system was really enjoyable. Everyone is involved and has plenty to do.”

“The numerous possibilities presented in the text for setting up your own version of the Bleed. Ashen stars is really full of suggestions, ideas and creativity-sparking elements to work with when you want to design a universe to play in all by yourself.”

“Rarely have we read a roleplaying book that provides such an amount of good gameable ideas
The PDF is one of the best pitches of a space opera setting I have seen and would make a great TV series (that would subsequently end up being cancelled by a network who didn’t understand what they had). That TV series feel is, of course, exactly what Robin D Laws was aiming for; and he hits the spot. I am brimming over with ideas for my series arc already, mixing Babylon 5 with Firefly and a liberal dose of Star Trek TNG…”

*Thanks cutter_good