RPG Review - Onslaught at Arda I

By Fantasy Flight Games

'Onslaught at Arda I is an adventure supplement for the Star Wars®: Age of Rebellion™ Roleplaying Game which explores the themes of desperate struggles, tenuous alliances, and an overwhelming enemy. This 96-page adventure is set at Arda I, a secret Rebel Base, and features mass-combat rules that Game Master’s can use to bring large battles to life, along with in-depth gazetteers that cover the Arda I base, and all-new adversary and vehicle profiles!'

I've said it before and I'll say it again - reviewing adventures for a roleplaying game is a difficult thing to do. Give too much away and it could ruin entire sessions for a gaming group, give too little and what's the point? I can't just say 'this is really good'.

Although, I wish I could say that - because this really is good.

As with all Fantasy Flight Games products the quality is of a high standard, with full-colour throughout and wonderful atmospheric artwork. The adventure is a simple story but it is told with the flair that you'd expect from Star Wars; daring Imperial assaults, desperate fleeing Rebels and dark, dangerous traitors. There's plenty for everyone to do in this book and it'll suit both the careful strategic player and the guns-blazing rip-roaring adventurer.

Not only is the 96-page adventure a great yarn with extra vehicles and adversaries, it also features mass combat rules so that you can recreate those huge battles you've seen on-screen. It's a great little system that's detailed enough to make battles fun and dynamic, but simple enough so that it doesn't overshadow the PC gameplay by removing the players from the adventure while you play a mini-game on it's own.

These new rules aside, the adventure also has a gazetteer for new locations but it can feel a little railroaded sometimes; such is the nature of published adventures, but it does make up for this by giving the GM a great open area where they can create their own adventures, or use the location as a visiting point. There are no less than three worlds that the players will jump between, so there's a lot to do and experience.

Onslaught at Arda I is a fun adventure that feels a little restrictive in the first act but then really opens up with much more open locations as the game progresses. Even after the game is over the GM can use the new locations, and the extra vehicle and adversary stats, as well as the mass combat rules, really help fill the game out and make it a worthwhile purchase.

Recommended.