Atlas Games (old-school)

http://www.atlas-games.com/

Atlas published a number of Ars Magica supplements while the game was still owned by Lion Rampant. They bought the line in 1996 and subsequently published Ars Magica Fourth Edition and many other supplements; you can jump directly to these newer supplements if you like.

Each of the following publications includes a rating on a scale of one to four stars, based on a given number of readers' feedback, and comments if they are available. Note that many of these reviews were written before Fourth Edition. If you'd like to add to the reviews, check out the new form, or email the FAQ's maintainer.

AG3040 South of the Sun, by Thomas M. Kane, cover art by Janet Aulisio
FAQ Rating: *** (8 reviews; 1 *, 3 **, 2 ***, 2 ****)

• A very good supplement on the Legendary Kingdom of Prester John. If the thought of African adventures intrigues you, this is a _must_ buy.
• Daliesque Ars Magica for those who want a note of strangeness in their lives. A bit outlandish for my tastes.
• Moderately interesting, but of little relevance to either Mythic Europe or to the average saga.
• Excellent fantasy stuff. Very mythic.
• Very exotic setting, I'm ready to play with a little more medieval feeling.
• In 1220, medieval thought put Prestor John in India, not Africa. It was hard for me to get over that historical error

AG3035 Festival of the Damned, by Jonathan Tweet, cover art by Janet Aulisio
(Reprinted in Festival of the Damned Anniversary Edition.)
FAQ Rating: *** (3 reviews; 0 *, 1 **, 0 ***, 2 ****)

• Not just the best adventure produced by Atlas Games, but the best adventure produced for Ars Magica, period. It's written by Jonathan Tweet, and it's clearly he who understands the background of Mythic Europe.
• Demons as they should be done (though not too frequently). Adventures such as this one help bring the neglected themes of sin, temptation and damnation back into the game and revive a healthy respect for the forces of Darkness.
• I thought this one went overboard on the demons, but others liked the application.

AG3025 Trial by Fire, by Thomas M. Kane, cover art by Newton Ewell
FAQ Rating: ** (7 reviews; 2 *, 4 **, 1 ***, 0 ****)

• Offered the players few choices and fewer ways to interact with the story.
• A rather boring adventure. It looked like an evening's play to me. The scant notes on Flanders make it barely worthwhile.
• A rather linear plot.
• Interesting, but only for experienced players with very powerful Magi. May end in a AD&D munchkin style.
• Has a relatively accurate description of a Flemish trading town. May be a little over a beginning magus's abilities.

AG3020 The Sorcerer's Slave, by Thomas M. Kane
FAQ Rating: *** (7 reviews; 1 *, 4 **, 2 ***, 0 ****)

• Dated now, and can be hard to fit into a game, but a good scenario
• Pretty good scenario, but premises must be prepared (game) years in advance
• Adventures in Constantinople and the Black Sea. Only really useful for those who want to go there, and doesn't include much detail.
• I thought that this supplement was just too short to really be effective.
• A sort of patchy adventure with lots of holes and insufficiently complex NPC motivations and background. Lots of interesting ideas though.
• Background on Byzantium and the East is well worth it. Adventure is only so-so.

AG3010 Tales of the Dark Ages, by John Nephew, Thomas M. Kane, and James P. Buchanan; cover art by Tara Kinnunen
FAQ Rating: *** (6 reviews; 0 *, 1 **, 3 ***, 2 ****)

• Good short stories. First two are especially interesting. For novice Magi and/or players, or as a small diversion for experienced players. May even be used without Magi, just for companions.
• While the adventures need a fair amount of adaptation to bring them into line with ArM4, this is the best collection of short one-off adventures put out for the line. In fact, I would argue that the line could use a few dozen of these.
• Two good adventures, one so-so, one I can't remember.
• Atlas Games' first supplement was one of their best. The quality of the four adventures in this supplement is not totally consistant, but for the most part, they're good.
• Four stories, some with an AD&D feel to them (complete with humanoids in at least one!).