I want to thank Game Omnivorous for sending us a copy of Putrescence Regnant in order to be able to write this review. This product was born from the collaboration with Exalted Funeral, Stockholm Kartell, Ockult Örtmästare Games and other creatives; it is a vinyl with everything you need to embark on an adventure compatible with Mörk Borg.
The contents of the core rulebook are therefore a requirement to be able to appreciate this product, which can be purchased on the official store at a price of € 30.00.
What you will find, in short, is a vinyl, a master screen, a map, random tables and mechanics specific to this swampy setting, twenty minor locations and three conflicting factions. In the next few paragraphs of this review we will analyze all these parts of Putrescence Regnant!
The Cover of Putrescence Regnant: The Master’s Screen
The first element we can appreciate is the cover, beautifully illustrated and cleverly usable as the master’s screen. Its bright yellow color and its aesthetic style are a first sign that the work fully embodies the spirit of Mörk Borg.
The external side, the one seen by the players, has two illustrations, the logos of the authors, the tracks on the vinyl and the artists who worked on it. Simple and valuable, given its dual function.
The inner side instead contains useful elements to the narrator. We find the map of the swamp of Targ-Dungel, the statistics of a very common creature and random tables of various types; one for encounters in each swamp region (The Royal Swamps, Killer’s Moor and The Rotlands), one for drowning and one for capsizing. All this content is complete and easy to consult, considerably speeding up session management.
An Interesting Booklet
Inserted in one of the two halves of the cover, we find an 8-page booklet full of interesting information on the marshes. This is not just an adventure in the classical sense, but rather a detailed set of ideas that can constitute a complete mini-setting; in detail we have:
- The lore of the area, with the most recent relevant events and some explanations on how the area has become so corrupt. A missing king appears to be lost in this desolation.
- Three factions present in the swamps and in conflict: cruel nobles, rotting fanatics and alligator-headed undead. Each of them is linked to a place that no sane person would ever want to visit.
- Another twenty minor locations, scattered throughout the three sections of the swamp. The explanations are essential, but more than enough to create suggestive and disturbing scenes.
The graphic style of this booklet (and of all Putrescence Regnant) fully reflects that of Mörk Borg. Dark colors alternate with a very bright yellow, giving life to extreme and fascinating illustrations. Moreover the font and layout also vary, falling within the free expression of the art of this product.
The Putrescence Regnant Vinyl Case
The other half of the cover contains the vinyl case, which is the material to be provided to the players to introduce them to the adventure. I found this idea very clever, as it is a very compact solution to insert everything they need.
On one side we can find a new class, the Gilded Wolf, with all the statistics and tables to define its abilities. It is to all intents and purposes an unscrupulous killer of nobles, a predator always on the hunt for new prey.
The other side contains a cryptic copy of the map, with uncertain notes and deliberately rough (but still high quality) graphic style. It can be a great element to give to players so they don’t feel lost and can build their own action plan.
Review of the Vinyl and the Tracks
Yellow, transparent, “smudged” with black and decidedly eccentric. This is how the Putrescence Regnant vinyl that we will show you now in this review looks like. Already a first glance shows the sake for originality.
The tracks contained have been designed to accompany the sessions created with the material we have seen previously. The genre is close to metal, but has many experimental elements. Moreover the songs have been specially designed not to be intrusive, but giving life to a dark and evocative atmosphere. Each note will be a step towards the deadly secrets of the Targ-Dungel swamp.
Here are some examples:
Conclusions of the Review of Putrescence Regnant
I also really appreciated the fact that, by purchasing the product, you automatically have the digital version of all content, including an MP3 version of the tracks. This is so useful, as it offers completely new ways to experience this role-playing experience. With the physical material, a record player, a few candles and dice, you can create an unforgettable evening; if, on the other hand, you do not have a device to read vinyls or if we want to play online, then digital content will be your salvation.
The proposed setting is also wide enough to be added to other campaigns or explored in different circumstances; this increases the replayability of the work.
To conclude this review, I would therefore like to recommend Putrescence Regnant to all lovers of Mörk Borg, metal and original experiences.
