Giulia Gastaldi
In this review, I’m going to talk about Sweet Cherry Pie VS Evil, the diabetic RPG from Aces Games. Before starting, I want to thank the author Simone Morini for giving us a copy of the latest product from his mind.
Sweet Cherry Pie VS Evil is a tabletop RPG in which players can play anthropomorphic sweets, called Nomni, armed with sugar swords and liquorice bows and ready to defeat evil demons that disturb the peace of their home: the Isle of Nomnia.
If you are interested in buying it, the manual is available on the official store both in the digital version at the price of €9.90 and in the physical version (with PDF included) at €19.00.
Sweet Cherry Pie VS Evil Setting Review: the Isle of Nomnia
The Isle of Nomnia was a paradise for its inhabitants before the arrival of the demons, the Malegola (“evil-throat”). It is not known where the island is or what lies beyond the Mar Mellato (“jam-sea”), as no boat has ever managed to cross it. This land is made up of three regions: the Grande Cornice (“big frame”), the Vallutata (“mellow-valley”) and the Dolcecuore (“sweet-heart”).
The Grande Cornice is the outermost region of the island, a wild area fraught with danger to the Nomni and infested with Malegola. Here you can cross the stormy Bianco Deserto (“white desert”) of flour, the jungles of the Macchie Candite (“candied spots”), the slimy Paluduova (“swamp-eggs”), the tall and sharp Piccristalli (“crystal-peak”) and the sticky Terre Filate (“cotton candy-lands”).
The Vallutata is the region that separates the Grande Cornice from Dolcecuore and is the busiest area on the island. The volcanic peaks of the Fornontagne (“oven-mountains”) have become a refuge for many Nomni fleeing demons; then there are the calm Pandibosco (“sponge cake-woods”), where the vital saps for the sweets are found, and the Pannelande (“cream-lands”), where the parfaits train their Crevalli. In these areas arise the Marzaville (“marzipan-villas”), the big cities of the island of Nomnia; around them, there are villages and cultivated fields of zuccaramelle (“pumpkin-candies”), barbaquirizia (“beet-liquorice”) and much more.
The Dolcecuore is located in the centre of Nomnia Island and is its capital. This huge pie there are houses, markets, amusement parks and above all the Dolcima (“sweet-top”), the home of the current Queen Cherry Pie.
The inhabitants of Nomnia: the Nomni
In Sweet Cherry Pie VS Evil, the original inhabitants of the island are divided into families devoted to their heritage and called Lineages. They distinguish Nomni based on their cooking times and ingredients. There are also “sub-lineages” which offer a further classification. Here are the Lignages present in the manual:
- Forniani: stewed in the Fornontagne, they are the bravest, ready for adventure and confrontation with the Malegola. Queen Cherry Pie is part of the Melecote and thanks to her many of her have enlisted as warriors of the island, becoming Warrie. If you were thinking of interpreting cupcakes with armoured cups, hard biscuits to split your teeth or tarts filled with fruit, the Forniani are for you.
- Frostini: they live in the cold Terre Refrigelate (“refrigerated lands”), the coldest and most intelligent of the Nomni. Cheesecake, ice cream and tiramisù with a double layer of mascarpone waits for you.
- Pocotti e Semifreddi: the first agile but short-lived due to mould, the seconds very wise and capable of exploiting magical powers but a little crazy. If you have a sweet tooth for panna cotta or yoghurt cake, you have found something for your teeth.
Nomni not only have to be careful not to be devoured by the Malegola, but they must also feed themselves in the right way, so as not to become a pile of expired ingredients: the Zomni. They roam the island in groups scattering rotten matter and are so disgusting that not even the demons try to taste them!
How to create a Warrie
To create your own Warrie, you need to understand what it’s made of! The following is used to fill out the character sheet, or rather the Ricetta dell’Eroe (Hero’s Recipe). Each is made up of different Ingredient Fragments, and these vary based on which Lineages you have chosen:
- Yeast is associated with Combativity and is used for physical tests and melee combat.
- Butter represents Alertness, so reflexes and the use of ranged weapons.
- Eggs are the Warrie’s Physical Stamina.
- Sugar is Wisdom, useful for using spells and intelligence.
- Finally, Milk corresponds to Will or mental strength.
Each character also has a single Secret Ingredient (linked to another Ingredient) and a single Topping (to which a number from 1 to 9 must be matched). However, we will discuss their use later.
The last choice to make is the Plating, the Warrie’s equipment. In the manual, there are ready-made sets, but it is also possible to make Customized Plating (spending points to buy what is deemed appropriate). You can find Armored Baking Cups, Hard Sugar Swords and even both Defensive and Offensive Spells (like the Firemallow)! Finally, there are consumables that can save the day, such as juices for invisibility or to become more ferocious!
Don’t forget to give your Warrie a nice name; I called mine Peppermint Butler (but few will understand this one)!
And with these few simple steps, your Warrie is cooked and armed!
Sweet Cherry Pie VS Evil Rulebook Review
The ruleset of this RPG, as simple as it is, is also very original and closely linked to the setting. The tests are made on the basis of the Ingrediente (or Ingredienti Sostitutivi, as indicated in a table) that the Pasticcere (the master) determines, also establishing the degree of difficulty. Instead of the classic dice, the Misurino is used, a marked line placed on the edge of each page of the manual. The player must randomly open the manual after having declared which Page (left or right) and which Side (top, bottom, right or left) to consider; corresponding to what has been chosen, you will find the result highlighted in pink. The outcome can be:
- Such a Mess! indicates a critical failure and further escalation of the situation.
- It Doesn’t Look Good is a failure, that is, a simple failed test.
- It’s Still Good corresponds to success with negative but not too burdensome implications.
- Mouthwatering! finally indicates complete success and is free of side effects.
Before opening the manual, however, the player can decide whether to spend any number of their Ingredient Fragments; if they do so he can move the Misurino by the same number (or less), consequently altering the outcome. The use of the “Ingrediente Segreto” allows you to recover fragments of another ingredient when you use at least two of the one to which it is linked.
If during a test the result matches the number linked to the Topping, you will automatically have success; when you get five of them, you can add a Frammento to the maximum of an Ingrediente of your choice.
For the more boring sweets, it is possible to use an eight-sided die instead; in the manual, there is the conversion table of the results.
And now… Let’s Fight!
Combat is divided into rounds, and each round consists of three phases.
- First, you need to determine the Ordine dei Combattenti; the Warrie with the sum of Milk Frammenti and major Butter will be the first to act.
- Then you move on to Azione and the choice falls between Attack, Heal, Defend or whatever you want. But let’s not forget that the Warrie’s job is to remove as many Durezza points as possible from their enemies!
- Finally, there is the “Risoluzione”, or the reaction of the enemies. They are organized into Gruppi d’Attacco composed of one or more units. The manual contains examples of Gruppi d’Attacco (indicated by Durezza and special abilities) but obviously, new ones can be created. Enemies may act less when they lose Durezza, so don’t hesitate to hit them!
It may happen that due to too violent a fight, a Warrie dies; this happens when three of his Ingredienti reach zero. But on the island of Nomnia, nothing is thrown away: the other party members can decide to eat the dead companion to recover their Ingredienti. I know, it’s quite macabre… But think otherwise about how much milk is wasted!
The Enemies of Nomnia Island
But the question arises … What are the main enemies to face?
The demons decimating the Nomni are the Malegola. It is unknown where they come from, but their main interest is to devour every candy that comes their way! Their appearance is evil: black bodies and a huge mouth with yellow irises inside. The real problem, however, is their acute nose. There are various types of Malegola, from the Forchettieri with their very long claws to the Lord Mangioni, the so-called “Signori del Male”.
In addition to these demons from who knows where, originally Nomnia Island was already home to dangerous creatures. Be careful going into the wilds, you might encounter a Tristoforno and risk overcooking!
But let’s not forget that not all Nomni have a pure heart and sometimes conflicts can arise even between them.
Sweet Cherry Pie VS Evil Review Conclusion
From an aesthetic point of view, Sweet Cherry Pie VS Evil is a small masterpiece. The cover is colourful and full of greedy details, and each page is meticulously cared for. The font is clear and the simple layout makes it even more readable. I loved the Misurino, the jam and ingredients stains on the pages and all those nice details that help immersion; to further facilitate the Pasticcere, there are leaflets with various examples for each new mechanic. The illustrations are noteworthy, colorful, fun and very thematic; I congratulate Lodovico Sartirana!
I recommend this manual for all lovers of sweets and role-playing games; Sweet Cherry Pie VS Evil is the sweetest RPG in the world, it has a very simple and decidedly original system in all its aspects. As always, Aces Games demonstrates a boundless passion for their creations. Surely this manual will give you sweet sessions!
