Paolo Garelli
Let’s start this review by thanking Officina Meningi for throwing us into this epic adventure with the complete Odyssey Black Tales package.
In case this product is an irresistible temptation for you too, know that the complete package can be purchased for around €20. If desired, it is possible to purchase just the manual, or the accessories we are most interested in; For the amount and purchase methods, I refer you to the Officina Meningi website.
Before embarking on this great undertaking, it is necessary to briefly explain what we are talking about. Odyssey Black Tales is a role-playing game that takes inspiration from the events narrated in Omero Odyssey.If you’re imagining yourself leading an intrepid crew of sailors on epic adventures, you’re slightly off track. Odyssey Black Tales is an tabletop RPG in which a big lie about the adventures of Ulysses will be revealed. A journey in search of the truth, cleansed of the embellishments created by Homer.
Tell me, O Muse, the man with an agile mind who wandered for a long time, after Troy, the strong city, fell, and saw the lands of many peoples and knew the nature of the soul, and suffered many pains in his long heart. the sea routes, fighting to return home with his companions.
A First Look at Odyssey Black Tales
We have a high-level product in our hands, and we can already understand this from the cover which immediately recalls the macabre component inherent in this game. Leafing through the manual we see how much attention is given to the style and characterization of each page. The black background enhances the text and illustrations. White and yellow are the main colors and everything makes the manual perfectly readable.
In addition to the manual, there is the map pack (for 5€) which collects all the maps of the different chapters present in the adventure. We are talking about 7 squared maps in A4 format printed front and back which perfectly follow the style of the manual. Designed by the skilled hands of Veronica Wu e Moreno Paissan, they will allow you to bring to the table the deceptions and looting perpetrated by Ulysses’ crew.
In addition to the maps, there is also an A5 character sheet, 6 ideas for new chapters and the raider’s die, a 6-sided die with which you will choose the fate of your players.
Some Hints on the Plot of Odyssey Black Tales
The fate of the characters is precisely on the scales. In Odyssey Black Tales players will take on the role of Ulysses’ crew, accompanying their captain in actions that are anything but legendary. You will be raiders, no more, no less. Yet Odyssey Black Tales leaps forward by putting the player in front of a choice. Will you follow the captain’s orders or will you try to deceive him by gathering allies against him? It won’t be an easy task but, if you’re skilled and lucky, you might even succeed.
Of course, you can also deceive your allies and betray them to follow the captain’s orders. In this game, you are not good people. The story develops through seven chapters which then lead to the epilogue in which you will be faced with your choices, becoming saviors or executioners.
Odyssey Black Tales Rules Review
Odyssey Black Tales has a really simple regulation, written by the skilled hands of Andrea Rossi. For each chapter, the Singer (master) will read a short introduction to the players. Then we will move directly to the three phases of the game:
- The meeting in which the raiders will make contact with the peoples of the sea who may be peaceful or hostile. In this phase the attitude of the invaded peoples and Ulysses’ orders are decided by the roll of a d6.
- The pact by which players decide whether they want to follow the captain’s orders or start weaving the web of betrayal around him.
- The looting in which the cards are revealed and the raiders will have to carry out what they have decided. A die roll once again determines the behaviour of Ulysses and the people of the sea.
That’s all, since inside the manual there are various tables to use in each scene. The only thing to decide now is which game mode to use.
Let’s Choose a Route
Odyssey Black Tales is a game that can be approached with various approaches. Just as if we were faced with a sea of possibilities, I will now show you the different routes so that you can choose the one that suits you best.
- The single-player mode asks us to keep a real logbook in which we will tell the various vicissitudes we will encounter. The dice rolls will give us the consequences of our behaviors and we will have to report the outcome of our undertakings. An intermediate phase is added to the three previous phases which will determine the choice between a diplomatic and a more violent path.
- In two-player mode, one takes on the role of Ulysses’ emissary, while the other changes character every mission, taking on the role of a member of the sea peoples. Players will take turns describing what happens to the various protagonists. The outcome of the battles is decided by a simple dice roll.
- Finally we come to the complete regulation. With its use, various raiders will be created, with their abilities and skills. For each mission the phases explained previously will be played and players will be able to decide whether to follow Ulysses or their own conscience.
These are the main game modes, to which are added three possible alternatives to the regulation written by Andrea Rossi. Odyssey Black Tales can in fact be played with the D&D5e, Mork Borg or OSE rules. To be able to do this you need to purchase the Conversion Kit.
The Artistic Value of Odyssey Black Tales
I have already mentioned before the attention that has been paid from an aesthetic point of view. The manual is truly valuable, as beautiful as it is convenient to browse.
From the cover which enhances the image with gold details, up to the internal illustrations which follow a style similar to that of the cartoons, telling a macabre story and enhancing the cruelty of Ulysses’ crew with black and white graphics; Jeorge Coelho, Mimir, Marco Sada e Valentina Tretola did a great job.
Conclusions of the Review
It’s time to take stock. Odyssey Black Tales is a fascinating TTRPG, which puts a sea of possibilities in players’ hands to experience extraordinary and macabre adventures. It starts from a simple set of tables and transports players to some truly difficult moral choices.
This is a game in which I suggest using the X-card or in any case security systems that put players at ease, given the themes proposed.
I recommend Odyssey Black Tales to anyone who wants to bring a compelling story of intrigue and lies to the table.
