The Frontier has been a great addition to my gaming arsenal! It uses a familiar-enough version of the general d20 mechanics for everyone in my various groups to feel comfortable, but with enough streamlining touches that it really doesn't slow down play.

While it wouldn't be my game-of-choice for a long-term campaign (it is the "shoot and loot roleplaying game," after all), it does make for an excellent low-prep one-shot or mini-campaign (especially with its included, but not requried, setting in the Three Lakes region of Prometheus) that gives you all the crunch and flavor I need to tell any kind of story.

The wide variety of supplemental materials also makes it easy to cherry-pick additional classes, equipment, enemies, etc.

The deck is a lot of fun when you're in the market for a quick, random Savage Mutant. It's great for supporting any post-apocalyptic homebrews (like Fallout, Gamma World, Thundarr, etc), even if just for the deck's theme, with or without the mutations.

I really like the look of the new tuck box; it helps carry the theme of the whole deck. Be careful on the first opening, though... 54 cards in a 52-card box means they're packed tightly (but fit comfortably after a couple uses and the box has a chance to breathe). The paper used for the box is really thick, though, so no worries about ripping.

A great supplement to the core setting book (and complement to the Wastelands guide) that adds all kinds of "day in the life of a city adventurer" trappings to the primary cities. The city-specific rules are a fun addition.

I'm a huge fan of the Winter Eternal setting and its artwork. I look forward to the printed version for my gaming room wall!

What a great and engaging post-post-apocalyptic fantasy setting! As a crowd-funding backer I was able to get and run an advanced copy and had a great time with it. I generally prefer modern/sci-fi settings for use under the Savage Worlds rules, but the setting details include enough post-apocalypse, steam punk and more-than-just-fantasy urban intrigue elements that I was really able to pick-and-choose from a wide variety of elements that I (and, hopefully, my gaming group) really enjoy. It's really got something for everyone (just remember to bring a heavy coat ;).

I really enjoyed the first issue of Volume 2, but was willing to take a star away from my review after putting on my uber-critical hat. I made lavish demands and threatened military instability throughout the region!

I am proud to report that every last nit-pick I was able to come up for the first-issue of the volume (not counting changing the company name to make it easier for me to remember) has been actively addressed in this last-issue of the volume. The layout on my tablet looks just as good as on desktop (whether that was an intentional change or just happened to work out) and, more importantly, I think the balance between GM and Player is very equitable this time around. There are now multiple somethings for everyone in this issue. My fifth star has been gladly restored.

It took a little struggling to come up with something else I'd like to see new or changed, but finally happened to stumble on one as I re-read the issue with an eye toward leaving this review... The convention listing seemed to be about a month "behind" where I'd expect. I believe that may have been the result of publishing a little behind intention, but with the plans for Volume 3's releases I'd like to see the listing of the "current month's" event (including those that may have already come and gone in the few weeks before publication) plus the next three months' worth (so that the listings will overlap each other on a quarterly release schedule, resulting in a lower percentage of "stale" listings for those who purchase shortly after publication). It's a little bit of a stretch, and certainly doesn't impact my opinion of the overall content of the issue, but I have to be picky about something!

As a long time Savage Worlds player and GM I've always had a special affinity for the Savage Insider. Until now, though, it's never been a publication that I've really considered a "must buy" (but I was all over the free issues). With the shift to Obatron I finally decided it was time to put a little money where my game was... and boy was it worth it!

Appearance: Since my last free (ie, cheapskate) issue, V1I9, there is a noticeable change in layout. Between in-place art, backgrounds and watermarks there is color splashed all through the magazine. It gives the overall product a very polished look and made the visual experience a real joy, starting right there on the cover.

Content: Linked Table of Contents!! In the age of tablet reading an active TOC is practically a must these days. Coming right after the gorgeous cover, this feature alone was enough to make me feel secure in converting over to a paying customer. But it didn't end there. With a State of the Savage from Clint Black, himself; several articles geared toward GM advice; multiple adventures, maps, and even figure flats(!); and a High-Space Designer's Diary (one of my own, personal, favorite Savage Settings)... this issue really has a little something for everyone.

Kudos: I'd love to get my magazines all advertisement free, but am willing to accept the financial realities of them. This issue really impressed me with its ability to keep the total ad space low (a lot lower than most eZines I read) and keep those ads very specifically tailored to the target audience (not one eCig, "legal herb" or "enhancement" ad in the bunch). Because of the appropriateness of the ads, I actually prefer having them in there over paying a higher per-issue or subscription rate to have them removed. Well done, Obatron.

Room for Improvement: A review without critique is only half a review, so there are a few things that I'd like to see in future issues.

• It may just be the device I was reading on, but I found that font-widths and line-spacing tended to vary a little between articles, and sometimes even between paragraphs. While the ability to read the text wasn't impacted, it did give many pages an overall "word-processed" appearance that really stuck out when compared to the rest of the production value. This is really the only thing that stopped me from giving a 5-star rating (even though I readily admit is purely a style-over-substance issue).
• The overall content definitely has its balance toward the GM. Players that aren't as interested in mechanics tips or running adventures may find themselves a little short on content (though certainly not left out). I wouldn't presume to dictate any specific percentage balance, as everyone's tastes and interest are their own (and the balance was great for me, as a long-time GM who also enjoys being a Player), but it may be something to keep in consideration for new readers.
• It's apparently the hardest thing in the world for me to think of the publisher as Obatron and not Orbatron.