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Title: Beyond Science: Guide to Fx by Sean K. Reynolds ISBN: 0-7869-1432-7 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: February, 2000 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $18.95

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Average Customer Rating: 3 (4 reviews)

Rating: 1
Summary: A weak offering
Comment: Much of this has been covered before. What Reynolds offers is a mish-mash of previously available material dressed up as something new. Don't be fooled by this one.

Rating: 4
Summary: A Quality Guide. A must have for any Alternity enthusiast.
Comment: It is a ..shame that Wizards discontinued Alternity.

This guide is an excellent example of the versatility of the system. Beyond Science gives you the strait goods on how to add magic, faith and super powers to any campaign. All the abilities are well thought out and pretty detailed. They even throw in some FX using monsters for fun like golems, familiars, demons, angels and vampires!

On book quality, the art work on the cover and the inside are well done.

Now...my gripes. I feel that such a versatile thing such as FX should have been included in the Player's Guide (I know, it was included in the Gamemaster's guide) along with Psionics and cyberware. I also was dissapointed by the lack of a FX skill page for photocopying and such. Finally, FX can wipe the floor with Psionics and the guide dosn't go into enough detail about how to counter this overpowering. They aknowledge it and go into some detail about balancing but not enough for my tastes.

It may seem like alot of complaints but I am still very satisfied with the guide!

Rating: 3
Summary: Not as Useful as You Might Think
Comment: While this FX Guide is true to the Alternity rules and can fit into virtually any setting, I can't help but dislike many of the choices for the new skills. Too many of the Arcane Magics have an evil feel to them (summoning evil spirits, blood magic, fire magic, etc), and too many of the Faith Magics are difficult or dangerous to use (alienism, shamanism, etc). This makes many of the new skills inappropriate for heroes in most settings. The Super Powers are, sadly (in my opinion), the best made and most playable.

Despite those complaints, it is a well written book and anyone who is interested in putting magic into their setting will want it. I will only warn Game Masters about the power of FX Skills--they will put Psionics to shame. Be very careful to balance them if they are used.