{"id":216,"date":"2017-01-06T15:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-01-06T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2017\/01\/06\/hubris-a-world-of-visceral-adventure-review-part-1\/"},"modified":"2021-11-16T00:41:14","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T05:41:14","slug":"hubris-a-world-of-visceral-adventure-review-part-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2017\/01\/hubris-a-world-of-visceral-adventure-review-part-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Hubris: A World of Visceral Adventure Review (part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"
(This is part 1 of two, part 2 will be released on Monday, January 9, 2017.)<\/div>\n
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The introduction to Mike Evans\u2019 Hubris is a vivid, almost technicolor cover that reminds me of the covers of old, used paperback sci-fi and sword and sorcery novels I saw in my childhood, covered in dust, wiped with an 80s brush. This is a good thing.<\/div>\n
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Gorgeous cover!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Inside the pages I find similar evidence of the weird nostalgia of gritty dark adventure, like the monsters of Beastmaster and from those stories I shouldn\u2019t have read in the back of the bookstore. These days I typically stick to lighter materials in my gameplay, but fuck knows that in the back of my mind those things still creep. What makes Hubris appealing? The visceral nature of it, for sure.<\/p>\n

Hubris uses Dungeon Crawl Classics (DCC) as its main mechanical structure, so I had to wiggle my brain a little since I\u2019m not super familiar with the system. Thankfully, it\u2019s relatively simple and nothing interfered with my ability to examine the game\u2019s setting and structure. There are lots of random tables, which I looove.<\/p>\n

The art of the book is black and white or grayscale, and not only is it great to look at it but it\u2019s well suited to the content of the text and theme of the book. I enjoyed just scrolling through looking at the images – the artists (Alex Mayo, David Lewis Johnson, Jeremy Duncan, Angie Groves, Doug Kovacs, Jason Sholtis, and Wayne Snyder) did an excellent job capturing the \u201cfeel\u201d of Hubris from my reading. There are a few spots where I (as an editor and proofreader) might have changed a few things textually, and some layout hiccups, but they\u2019re minor and don\u2019t disrupt reading, I don\u2019t think. Overall the book is really well put together and easy to read!<\/p>\n

The setting summary and flavor text of Hubris includes a lot of \u201cappealing\u201d concepts (by which I mean, oh, god, no, please! (wait, yes!)). A few bits from the setting summary itself:<\/p>\n

\u201cLegend states that Hubris was created from the fetid corpse of a long-dead god.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Black Queen rules the citizens of the Floating Island of Terror from her throne of bones and dreams terrible machinations for Hubris.\u201d (*swoon*)<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are no easily recognizable heroes in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYour epic tale will be forgotten in days as the dangerous world continues on without you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Yep. Yep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Lovely world map!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
The maps in Hubris are really nice! They have the kind of tight feeling that I enjoy in this Tolkien-esque kind of map, but it\u2019s clearly readable. They also immediately draw in my interest with the small icons of the locations. You know, places like \u201cRuins of the Deranged Elephant Emperor\u201d and \u201cLake of the Flayed\u201d and \u201cBleeding Mountain that Pierced the Sky.\u201d The kind of places you really wanna go, but kind of wish you\u2019d never heard of.<\/p>\n

In character creation, Hubris includes no elves, dwarves, or halflings. I was kind of surprised by that as I\u2019m so used to them being standard in a lot of settings, but it was cool to see. There is a list of occupations with weapons and goods, and I admit I laughed when I read that the chimney sweep child has a broom (as a club) as their weapon. There\u2019s also gems like the heathen carrying a bucket of dung, a nosey neighbor with a rake (as a club) and a rooster, and a rabid raven fanatic. (There\u2019s also later a \u201cdisgusting torturer\u2019s kit.\u201d)<\/p>\n

(Note: I am fully aware that Hubris contains some terms and subjects that are or may be problematic (g*psy, prostitute), so please don\u2019t think I\u2019m ignoring them. This is my note that they do exist and I\u2019m aware of them.)<\/i><\/p>\n

There are also additional races with specific occupations available: Avarians, Ekrasks, Half Demons, Murder Machines, and Mutants. The phrase \u201cMurder Machine\u201d as a race does amuse me, especially considering one of the available occupations is \u201cTinkerer.\u201d These are also doubled as classes, along with the additional human-only occupations of Alchemist, Blood Witch, Druid, and Shadowdancer, as add-ons to the base DCC classes. I am not commenting on everything – just stuff that sticks out.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Blood Witch<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
I admit I nearly shit myself while reading the Blood Witch class because of the Blood Walk ability:<\/p>\n

\u201cA blood witch can play a dangerous game and jump through a living creature that is the same size or larger than herself, traveling through their blood and can emerge from another living creature on the same plane of existence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Like. Fuck. Yes. This is totally my kind of ability, and it\u2019s so gross. To be honest, I said to John (husband) that it is one of the coolest abilities I\u2019ve ever seen. A+. (Oh, and the Familiar ability is really cool and gross, too. You\u2019ll have to see the book to find out why!)<\/p>\n

One of the interesting things about the Druid class that I liked a lot was the Animal Shape manifestations, corruptions, and misfires. They include things like worms burrowing out of the druid\u2019s skin and reshaping the druid to the new form, the druid\u2019s head turning permanently into the chosen animal, and a tree growing out of the top of the druid\u2019s head, respectively. Nice.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Druid<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
I will note my one big complaint is the general nonconsensual nature of the Half Demon race. This is such a stupid stickler for me, I know it pisses people off, but I\u2019ll always dislike it (and I\u2019ve written articles about the use of this in half-orc backgrounds). However, I know a lot of people dig it and it doesn\u2019t bug everyone, and I get that it\u2019s evil demons, and not just women getting raped (but rape is legit bad for anyone, regardless of gender, so). But, consider this my registered gripe. Aside from that, the race is pretty cool.<\/p>\n

Murder Machines are just\u2026 like, dude. I can\u2019t even register how cool and fucked up they are. They\u2019re basically humans melded into armor and made into\u2026 murder machines. They also have something called a \u201cSwiss-Army Hand.\u201d <\/p>\n

So the Mutant has this thing\u2026 It\u2019s a cosmetic mutation, and I\u2019m just gonna\u2026 share it:<\/p>\n

\u201cYour teeth fall out and in their place grows: 1) fingernails; 2) worms; 3) open sores; 4) small gasping mouths; 5) small writhing tentacles; 6) tiny, infant-like fingers.\u201d<\/p>\n

You\u2019re welcome (from Mike, probably).<\/p>\n

The Mutant powers are so disgusting I am still just kind of grossed out but they\u2019re so inventive and brilliant I\u2019m amazed. I laughed and gagged. Amazing. (Stomach maggots. Worm infested skin. Plague skin. Acidic belch. Ooze-like body. Ant colony. Boneless.)<\/p>\n

As we move along through the gear and services things, it\u2019s pretty standard and useful (including a great Quick Start Gear option!), but I have to make a vote that we stop with the \u201cprostitution\u201d tables in games\u2026 or at least not make them about how likely you are to get an STD. It\u2019s just kind of a bummer and negative. I love having sex workers in games! But I like them to be done respectfully. This is not exclusively judging Hubris either, this shit is everywhere, but it\u2019s in my read while I\u2019m here, so pointing it out. Other people might like it! Not my jam.<\/p>\n

Next up we hit the Territories section. I love that Mike specifically talks about how the Void of Hubris (kind of the post-life plane) has a lot of room to explore whatever the Judge (the GM) wants to explore. Pretty cool! I like that, and I also like that in the basic \u201cLay of the Land\u201d options it\u2019s a chart (d100) that works with a d100 chart of encounters and descriptions of locations. <\/p>\n

The Territories section is a really good read and has a ton of material that could support a really significant campaign without ever risking boredom or repetition. I\u2019m just going to cherry pick some of my favorite bits of the flavor text for the settings and items from their d100 lists here for you all!<\/p>\n

\u201cDevastating sandstorms, raging gigantic beasts, harsh environments, and a psychotic empire is all that stands in the way between an adventurer and unimagined riches from a long forgotten age.\u201d (The Blighted Sands)<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u201cGrove of weeping willows, used by a sect of extremist druids as their outpost. They are preparing for war against the heathens that destroy nature.\u201d (d100 table, Bogwood Swamp)<\/p>\n

Note: There is a list of what the mushrooms of the Bogwood Swamp do that is suuuper cool, but I think it would ruin a player experience to learn about all of them in advance!<\/p>\n

\u201cThe petrified remains and shell of the gargantuan turtle, Slathereth the Destroyer, rises out of the Bogwood like a jagged mountain.\u201d (Locations, Slathereth, Bogwood Swamp)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe constant gathering and release of energy has caused the veil of reality to become weak in the forest and it is not uncommon for those in it to have strange visions, become warped or monstrous, or even be transported to another area of Hubris, or teleported to another reality entirely.\u201d (Locations, Wrath, the Crystal Forest, Canyons of the Howling Red Rock)<\/p>\n

\u201cVineyard with grapes that have the faces of humans, young or old. The grapes scream when they are squeezed.\u201d (d100 table, Great Plains of Unbidden Sorrow)<\/p>\n

FYI THERE IS AN ENTIRE TOWN THAT IS BUILT ON THE BACK OF A GIANT METAL DOGGIE THAT BREATHES FIRE. It\u2019s called The Roving Nibbleton. <\/p><\/div>\n

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The Roving Nibbleton<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\u201cStrange mechanical ruins that stagger the imagination, gigantic reptiles and insects, altars of blood, druidic cults, moss-covered zombies, ancient stone temples of complex design, and plants that feed off living creatures\u2019 life-force await all who are brave or foolish enough to enter the Unsettled Expanse.\u201d (The Unsettled Expanse)<\/p>\n

\u201cA Tyrannosaurus Rex with a head-mounted laser cannon rumbles through the forest.\u201d (d100 Encounters table, The Unsettled Expanse)<\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

On Monday, January 9, 2017, the review will be continued! Keep an eye out. \ud83d\ude42<\/p><\/div>\n

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This post was supported by the community on patreon.com\/briecs<\/a>. Tell your friends! <\/p>\n

To leave some cash in the tip jar, go to http:\/\/paypal.me\/thoughty<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you’d like to be interviewed for Thoughty, or have a project featured, email contactbriecs@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(This is part 1 of two, part 2 will be released on Monday, January 9, 2017.) The introduction to Mike Evans\u2019 Hubris is a vivid, almost technicolor cover that reminds me of the covers of old, used paperback sci-fi and sword and sorcery novels I saw in my childhood, covered in dust, wiped with an … Continue reading “Hubris: A World of Visceral Adventure Review (part 1)”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[390],"tags":[10,17,43,115,138,8,15,12,42,18,56],"class_list":["post-216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-archive","tag-game-design","tag-gaming","tag-horror","tag-osr","tag-reviews","tag-roleplaying-games","tag-rpg","tag-rpgs","tag-tabletop","tag-tabletop-rpgs","tag-worldbuilding"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paHOcG-3u","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":215,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2017\/01\/hubris-a-world-of-visceral-adventure-review-part-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":216,"position":0},"title":"Hubris: A World of Visceral Adventure Review (part 2)","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"January 9, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Today is the second part of Mike Evans' Hubris\u00a0setting book review! See the first part here.We'll continue with the chapter on the Wizard\u2019s Spellbook (spells and Patrons). It has tables for spellbook constructions, options for Patrons from both DCC and Hubris (including the Charred Maiden, Floating Island of Terror, Spider\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archive"","block_context":{"text":"Archive","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/2.bp.blogspot.com\/-6tW8RimthOE\/WFsmDOg8LAI\/AAAAAAAA5XA\/rSPkcjzO_qgvBz9ORazY36YPmvcjCEYvQCEw\/s320\/hubris-cover.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":110,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2018\/02\/death-in-rpgs-let-me-live-revised-2-17-18\/","url_meta":{"origin":216,"position":1},"title":"Death in RPGs – Let Me Live (revised 2\/17\/18)","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"February 17, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Hi all!I recorded this recently and had to make some updates, but now it's a new video on a new URL:\u00a0https:\/\/youtu.be\/Uluvyh64_P8This post was supported by the community on patreon.com\/briecs. Tell your friends!To leave some cash in the tip jar, go to http:\/\/paypal.me\/thoughty.If you'd like to be interviewed for Thoughty, or\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archive"","block_context":{"text":"Archive","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":382,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2014\/07\/hangout-with-brie-and-pulse-creators\/","url_meta":{"origin":216,"position":2},"title":"Hangout with Brie and PULSE Creators","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"July 30, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"","rel":"","context":"In "Archive"","block_context":{"text":"Archive","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":345,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2015\/10\/five-or-so-questions-with-mike-evans-on-hubris\/","url_meta":{"origin":216,"position":3},"title":"Five or So Questions with Mike Evans on Hubris","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"October 8, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Today I have an interview with Mike Evans on his setting Hubris: A World of Visceral Adventure, currently on Kickstarter! Tell me a little about Hubris. What excites you about it?Hubris is a weird, horror fantasy setting that utilizes the Dungeon Crawl Classic rules.\u00a0 It's a setting of horrific monsters,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Archive"","block_context":{"text":"Archive","link":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/category\/archive\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1657,"url":"https:\/\/briebeau.com\/thoughty\/2019\/11\/thoughty-bundle-up-for-whitney-bundleup4whitney\/","url_meta":{"origin":216,"position":4},"title":"Thoughty Bundle-Up for Whitney #BundleUp4Whitney","author":"Beau J\u00e1gr Sheldon","date":"November 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Whitney is the creator of Prism, currently available on DriveThruRPG. I started this bundle in support of Whitney Delaglio, to provide financial relief after a back surgery. The funds will be processed by Beau Sheldon (me) through Thoughty and be rewarded to Whitney after the end of the bundle. 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