Pulp Review: Indiana Jones Adventures
$Revision: 1.5 $

cover img Indiana Jones Adventures (WEG 45009).

Authors: John Robey, Peter Schweighofer, George Strayton, Paul Sudlow, Eric S. Trautmann.
Published in 1996 by West End Games
96 pages. B/W
ISBN: 0-87431-436-4
Price: Out of Print

Introduction

This supplement was a bridge product intended to help players and game masters to switch from Masterbook (the system used by WEG for TORG and a couple of other games) to D6 (the new "universal" engine launched with the WEG version of Star wars and subsequently adopted for all other games, including Indiana Jones).
As such, the first 13 pages (plus a single page towards the back of the book) were devoted to conversion notes and GM tips for converting existing characters and published adventures to the new system.
This may still prove useful, giving a rough idea of how "average" characters are rated, and so helping conversions to other game systems.
Apart from this, and the last pages, describing four character archetypes and including a blank character sheet, the rest of the book is devoted to adventures. You get a short solo scenario and three fairly long and detailed regular adventures.

The Adventures

I'm currently using this same supplement in my campaign, so the descriptions will be even more short than usual, in order not to spoil the fun for my players.
I'll try to flesh out these ones more in the future, feel free to write directly (marino "at" inrete.it) if you need more details.
The Carlisle Incident
Solo adventure, intended to familiarize people with the D6 system. Set in San Francisco, 1935. Introduces Mack Stanton, an archaeology expert "for hire" (sort of a cross between Marlowe and Indiana Jones). The character is hired by a woman to retrieve her husband. The catch is that along with the man, an ancient Chinese sculpture is missing.
Short and simple, with even shorter notes to change the scenario for group play.
On Ice
Chicago, 1926. The PCs are sent in by a Prohibition agent to investigate on alcohol smuggling and sales. The introduction is a bit flimsy (the idea is that the PCs are more reliable than the corrupt police, but it would work only if at least one of them has good FBI connections) but the adventure seems pretty funny.
The City of Dreams
Australia, no specific date, but probably around 1935. Professor Derek Wallace disappears during a solitary expedition in the Great Outback. The PCs should try to discover what happened to him.
Includes notes on Australia and a very short glossary ("bloody", "mate", "jackaroo"...).
An interesting change of pace from the usual China/South America stuff. Note that it's also more in line with the movies, introducing the possibility of tribal magic and legends being rooted in something real.
The Kweichow Exodus
China, 1933. The University of Chicago hires the PC to provide assistance to a team of archaeologists working in the remote Kweichow province.
The dig is almost complete, but the team reported an increasing number of alarming "accidents", probably due to some form of sabotage. The PCs should help the group to get back to civilization with their findings.
Long and fairly fun adventure, with plenty of occasions for action and interaction with NPCs.
A little short in "technical" details, like vehicles stats, for example, but seems fairly enjoyable, and can be used to launch a campaign set in Hong Kong (where the expedition is supposed to arrive at the end of the adventure)

Adapting Tips

The stuff should be pretty easy to convert, even without the conversion guide in it. D6 was fairly simple (stats and skills are rated in number of D6 plus adds, roll against difficulty or opponents roll) and there are little or no "strange" uses of the system, like magic.
The adventures are fairly original, even if the launching point is always pretty bland (you are contacted by "X" to do "Y"), and the last two can work well to create a new party.
They may also freely moved forward or backward in time with little damage, except for the second one, which requires Prohibition to still be in force.

Summing up

If you prefer globetrotting adventures to gritty urban sagas, this supplement is probably a good buy... provided you can find it on eBay or in some other second-hand shop.