Review of Blood and Blades: The Profiler’s Guide

Reviewed by Marx
Score: A

Blood and Blades: The Profiler’s Guide is a 65 page PDF written by Michael Tresca for RPG Objects. The game is a supplement for d20 Modern.

I recently purchased this PDF looking for some good ideas for a horror game. Boy, did I get my wish. Have you ever wanted to turn your d20 Modern game into a 80s horror film? Want to go up against Freddy (Nightmare on Elm Street), Jason (Friday the 13th), Michael (Halloween), Chucky (Child’s Play), etc? Then this is the book for you.

You can play as either the tough agents of the PRU – Paranormal Response Unit (enter the Bounty Hunter and Profiler advanced classes) or teenage victims (enter the Cheerleader, Jock, The Mundane, Nerd, Outcast, Scream Queen, Stoner, and Tough Guy). I’ve seen versions of the Bounty Hunter and Profiler classes before, but the teenager classes are new and really add that horror flick feel.

There are some really great new rule additions. The book includes one of the best horror check rules that I’ve seen in d20. It appears to be a blend of OGL Horror and the Sanity Rules in Unearthed Arcana that were adapted from Call of Cthulu d20. The book also includes new Flaws that add a little depth to your characters personality (Cowardly, Cruel, Envious, Greedy, Hot-Headed, etc). There are also Diplomacy skill rules on how to ‘tempt’ someone of the opposite sex and detailed rules on profiling.

And of course, there are lots of ‘Slasher’ info included in the book. There are various types of Slashers that can fit the archetype of various horror film icons. Advanced classes include the Alter Ego (Psycho), Arawnite Guardian (typical cult nut), Mad Genius (Hannibal), Psychogene (Firestarter, Carrie) and Stalker (Scream). Slasher feats include many familiar ones from d20 games (Diehard, Rage, etc), but a few new and very appropriate feats including Head Squish and Jaw Rip.

Monsters include the Warrior Breed, Pumpkin Demon, Slasher Demon, Demonic Slasher Template (very undead Jason Voorhees like), Dream Stalker (Nightmare on Elm Street), Evil Doll template (Child’s Play), Lurker (Jeepers Creepers), Sentinel Sphere (Phantasm), Shape (another Jason Voorhees type), Soul Sucker (Bubba Ho-Tep), Thin Stranger (Phantasm), and Vengeful Spirit (Candy Man).

So, as you can tell. This book has it all, when it comes to the horror genre that is. So, what are waiting for? Go get it…before it gets you. *evil laughter* FADE OUT