However, there were limited attempts to provide extra graphics and sprites, and the rating of the scenario is for levels 1 - 7. This could be seen as a positive thing, if you have a relatively young party of characters, as it allows you to enjoy the extra scenario straight away without having to build up your party first. However, it does severely limit the longevity of the scenario if you have a signinficantly more advanced party.

I enjoyed the feature where a forest is turned into an indoors area, and the one slightly complex puzzle that is included, but there were very few side missions (only found one)

Overall an enjoyable scenario, which should provide a challenge for lower level parties, but will sadly only provide a couple of hours of entertainment for more advanced ones.

As most players will build up their characters' levels on the standard scenarios, beofre embarking on third party scenarios, it would be good to see some more advanced scenarios being designed (e.g. for levels 20, 30, 40 and above).....

Rating:3.5
Comments:Coding? Good. And now, for things that I didn't like as much.

The plot needed bollocks- minimally, more than what it had. Humor? Drama? Tried only vaguely to achieve either. Personally, I'm tempted to down this scenario's score even MORE to ensure that this style is not emulated in the future. Both have potential, but at least one has to be fufilled. Perhaps one can be filled and another left devoid (Farmhands!!). I wish I could complement this scenario that much to say that any which one was made. Perhaps experience with BoE has jaded me to this scenario's genius. What I see, however, is a definite benefit of the BoA's juvenile nature.

Combat... Bah. It steadily increased as it went on. Unfortunately, there were no spellcasters (I'm not the only one to notice? Amazing!). Lots of level-upü-to-increase-difficulty tricks pulled. Combat remained "challenging", but the nature of its challenge never really changed. And damn it all to hell, I sincerely apologize for glorifying the ambush in my own work- it seems to be the only trick pulled here as well. When, then, will we get something different? That said, it's made very steadily, and many pluses for always being at the proper level. At the very worst, combat here is monotonous.

Dungeon design... The atmosphere suffered because of the vaunted Vahnatai/Crystal Soul combo, and other clever jokes (ie. janitor's office) didn't help. Second floor was WAY too long.

A definite must-play right now, but somebody who plays three or four years hence will be able to notice the flaws. If I'm sounding harsh, it's because I'm being harsh! And rightfully so, since the designer has potential. Praising the work at this point is not a worthwhile venture, even if the fruits of his effort still taste relatively good. Play it (being the third scenario, there's no real choice), but if you're looking for a masterpiece... Keep on looking, but don't be surprised if Eldiran is one to make it.

Rating:4.0

Comments:Very enjoyable short scenario, with good balance and depth of gameplay. The ending is a bit abrupt, something of an anticlimax after the buildup. I played with a mixed level 1 group on Difficult mode, which provided a decent challenge. Nice to finally see a user scenario with enough varied monsters to be played by parties of different levels and abilities! Not quite Jeff quality, but definitely worth playing.

Rating:3

Comments:Let's just say this is a scenario created by somebody who wants to see how 'this stuff' works. Not much attention to the details. Just the main storyline. And.. erhm.. I got stuck in one place (almost the end i guess), got tired of searching the exit. Probably a bug or a very strange puzzle. Background items are mostly skipped. After playing SpiderWebSoftware scenarios this one seems 'empty'.

Rating:3.7

Comments:Overall, a pretty nice scenario. No bugs that I could find, about the right level rating (I used a brand-new party and found most combat challenging), and an okay plot. Plus the town was pretty well-designed, I thought.

And the bad news:

Only one town and one sidequest to be found, if I remember correctly. Most of the action took place trying to get to the dungeon and in the dungeon.

Also, though the humor was a nice change, there was a bit too much of it. Things like Mayor Dumbhead and the Janitor's Closet were kinda funny, but a bit out of place and/or ridiculous.
The dungeon was alright, but I found it a bit annoying to have to go all the way back, through the long, tedious levels, through the Giant's Forest, and through that little cave, to get back to the original town when I needed something there. This is where you can take two hints from Valley of Dying Things, I think: First, big dungeons are a lot more interesting when they're... well, interesting! A lot of this dungeon seemed to be just going through endless boring tunnels after you had killed the monsters. And, if you're going to have many levels of the dungeon, "secret" ways out are always very convenient, though don't look at me to try to script one!

Finally, as other reviewers have said, spellcaster enemies provide a nice twist that you should always use, and puzzles can have a much better and subtle hint than "HINT: Go back to the graveyard.".

Anyway, this was a solid and enjoyable scenario. Not a masterpiece, but fun. Just remember to use a low-level party when you play it!

It took me only 45 minutes to play, but with the party level it was tricky at times.

Anyway - Bahs awaits!