Before starting this review, I would like to thank HOMIEandTheDUDE for providing us with a digital copy of The Wandering Tavern. This is a setting compatible with D&D5e and inspired by Studio Ghibli’s works.
If you’re interested, the printed manual costs £44.99 (about €50), and you can find it on their website. The digital version is available on the same store for £24.99 (around €25). There is also a bundle that includes both the physical and digital versions for £59.99 (roughly €60).
I’d like to point out that this supplement is meant to complement HOMIEandTheDUDE’s other publication, Sky Zephyrs. Despite this, it can be easily used with and adapted for any other system or adventure. Enjoy your reading!
The Wandering Tavern: a World That Develops Vertically
The game is set in the world of Sky Zephyrs, where not only dragons cross the sky, but also flying ships and floating cities. One example is The Wandering Tavern, the floating city that serves as the main subject of the module.
No flying city is like this one and, although it has traits that recall the Titanic and the Howl’s Moving Castle (with a pinch of steampunk), life inside is not too different from any other settlement. In fact, the manual presents all the levels of the ship through explanations, maps, advice for plot twists, and much more. In this way, you can find all the useful details for your adventures.
Beyond the lighter and more obvious parts, the manual also includes more mature themes such as drugs, organized crime, and occultism. In this regard, I appreciated the presence of contacts for (real) detox centers, in order to show sensitivity towards those who have problems related to these topics. I also advise you to be careful when playing in the floating city, because it is not unusual to encounter malevolent spirits and all sorts of supernatural creatures. Remember to always carry some kind of charm to keep them away.
Layout and Graphics of the Volume
Moving on to more technical aspects, The Wandering Tavern has a minimal and clear layout, both stylistically and organizationally. The only flaw lies in the parts written in italics; in these cases, the font is less readable.
It is also accompanied by high-quality artwork, making the reading experience very pleasant.
Two Rulesets, One Great Versatility
The module is suitable for two game systems, allowing it to be used at multiple gaming tables.
One is D&D5e, for which tables and statistics are provided to turn the content into mechanics.
The other is what they call an Agnostic System. It is a minimal system that serves as a basis for playing with simple rules or for converting the material to other systems. Here too, we find tables, statistics, and everything necessary to set out on an adventure.
Review of the Contents of The Wandering Tavern
Inside, you will find material for every technical aspect of flying ships. I particularly appreciated a dedicated section where you can take separate modules to assemble your own ship, as well as sheets for ready-made ships already prepared to set sail. The ship modules do not focus solely on cargo and flight capabilities; some sections also include war equipment, such as cannons needed for aerial battles. After all, the sky is full of pirates and other airborne scoundrels!
Battles involving flying ships are certainly adrenaline-filled, but when the time comes to lick your wounds and rest, you might risk facing moments that are a bit dull. Fear not— the creators thought about this as well, providing activities to do during downtime to make it lively and fun. For example, we can find various games that can be played inside the ship, complete with rules. Another excellent alternative is a recipe book of dishes that the player can enjoy both in the game and in real life. The possibility of bringing to the game table the same meals enjoyed by your characters surely creates a high level of immersion. The presence of ingredients and measurements makes this easy to do and free of disasters.
Ready for Action
Each section of the ship comes with a brief description that sets the scene, complete with plot hooks useful especially for beginner Game Masters. This makes the setting ready to play straight away, with very little preparation needed.
Another highly appreciable element is the variety of NPCs included. They aren’t limited to simple obstacles or background characters; they often act as true narrative drivers. Many have personal goals, unusual alliances, or hidden secrets that, if uncovered by the players, can alter the course of an entire adventure.
In this way, the ship isn’t just a location to explore, but a dynamic ecosystem made of characters, relationships, and unexpected events that can turn into ever-changing gameplay opportunities. The result is a constant feeling that every session could take a completely new direction. Should tensions suddenly escalate into a brawl or a high-stakes conflict, the manual provides 15 detailed maps (including the various decks). Each one is dedicated to a specific area of the ship, making it easy to visualize the battlefield with no effort at all.
Conclusions of the The Wandering Tavern Review
In conclusion, I find this manual to be an excellent product. It offers its best when paired with Sky Zephyr, but even on its own it provides plenty of useful material to enrich any campaign that features this level of technology.
The modularity of the ships makes them suitable for many different settings and allows the Game Master to create versions tailored to characters of various levels.
If you want to make your fantasy campaigns quite literally take flight, I highly recommend giving this manual a look!
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