A review copy of “Strangely Changed” was provided by the publisher. Find more DMs Guild Reviews on my website and YouTube channel.
Support my work by using my affiliate links and pledging via Patreon.
Designed by: Gabriel Hatcher
Strangely Changed is all about the curses, and not just cursed items (though there plenty of those), but also personal curses and even party-wide curses.
The 100 curses are divided evenly between item, personal, and party, but from there the organization and layout is a letdown. Each curse has two subheadings: WHAT DOES IT ENTAIL? and HOW DID IT HAPPEN?, which are awkward and wordy.
Many curses also lack specific, mechanical details. For example, the Curse of the Arbalest is a cursed crossbow that never stops firing. That’s a fun, creative idea, but what kind of attack rolls does it make, how much damage does it do?
Likewise with curses that involve creatures, such as a haunting ghost or bargaining bat-thing, no statblocks are provided.
On the plus, there are some truly interesting, engaging, and original curse ideas.
The Dimensional Ring manifests an exit-only portable hole on the character’s body, acting as the exit point for a (hopefully) nearby bag of holding – ha! The Devil’s Chest teleports all its victim’s belongings inside, forcing them to make a bargain with the devil that appears. That’s an entire encounter right there!
With only a third of the new curses tied to items (both original and existing), many of the curses can easily be used as penalties for failing traps, or ongoing detrimental effects in certain environments or dungeons.
The Curse of the Golem creates a Terminator situation (or It Follows) of a mindless, powerful creature constantly hunting the afflicted. The Curse of Dispersion links damage and healing between party members, forcing some interesting tactical changes. And you can probably guess what the Curse of the Wild Mage does.
Many curses would be wonderful for a horror-theme dungeon or adventure, such as the visage of a screaming woman haunting the party every time they try to rest, or a glowing light trying to lure people away, or sprouting tentacles from one’s back.
The annoying layout and lack of details holds it back from being a must-have, yet I can’t help but recommend Strangely Strange for the quantity and quality of its horrible, lovely curses.
Pros:
- 100 item curses, personal curses, and party-wide curses.
- Huge variety of curses, including body horror, being hunted, transformation, and personality quirks.
- Each curse has an origin or source.
Cons:
- Awkward format and layout.
- Some curses lack important details, such as creature statblocks.
The Verdict: By expanding beyond the usual item curses, Strangely Changed provides a reservoir of nasty effects to bestow upon unlucky party members.
A review copy of “Strangely Changed” was provided by the publisher. Find more DMs Guild Reviews on my website and YouTube channel.
Support my work by using my affiliate links and pledging via Patreon.
RogueWatson 