apps. n jam ratings, 2/?
The Appendix N Jam 2026 ratings will continue until morale improves! Or I make a larger dent in my backlog of entries to rate.
WHERE OUTEL'S EDGE WAS FORGED by Conner Sites-Bowen
"Where Outel's Edge Was Forged" is so very delightfully weird. It is bizarre and arcane and unknowable in ways that some of the stranger entries of science-fiction from the mid 20th could only be. The entry itself is a fictional sequel to an in-universe book that the readers and players have absolutely not read and can only intuit the plot through the terse descriptions for each region as they ascend from the ground ever upwards towards the final destination of the Moonforge in an attempt to recreate the titular Outel's journey towards her lover.
The author, Conner Sites-Bowen, masterfully combines clean layout and font choice with photo-bashed public domain artwork and his own art. It all blends seamlessly together. In particular, I love the strange and weird "Moon Beasts."
For all of my praise of the terse room descriptions with described sensory elements that I love, I'm not sure how to play this at the table. The two maps depicting the same ascent, on the front and final pages, seem at odds with one another and I think could be clearer. But at the same time, I'm honestly not sure that I care about my own minor critique. "Where Outel's Edge War Forged" is an experience to behold, and for me, that's more than enough.
One last note, the creator did a great job with a very difficult title prompt. I can't even think where I'd begin were I given the same. Masterful job, Conner!
TIME'S NEEDLE by Logan Carter
I've said this about other entries, but it's especially true here, "Time's Needle" does a lot with little space. It is a tower crawl dungeon, with rules for patronage, ample rumors (which I always love to see), random encounters, a small bestiary with cleverly reskinned entries from the ShadowDark core book, two magic items, and rules for accidental time travel.
Interspersed throughout the tri-fold adventure to reach the Archmage Yasha-Gok, Logan Carter includes his own artwork with an excellent map to explore and images of the Archmage and the titular Time's Needle. Logan makes great use of layout space with the tri-fold and has selected a very readable font throughout the entire body of the text, which is always appreciated.
Tower crawls can be difficult with their propensity to feel linear, however the multiple options at each floor really helps sooth any railroady concerns. For me, that's a non-issue. Each room is filled with expertly written terse descriptive text. Every entry has a small puzzle, combat, or other challenge, but perhaps most interestingly, a mechanic where time shifts forwards and backwards, changing what conflict may be found in the room. I know space prevents this being expanded even further, but if Logan expands on this adventure, I'd love to see even more time travel shenanigans. It's very clever and makes great use of the random encounter table and ShadowDark's use of real time as a progression tracker.
I think is a fantastic entry and is very easy to bring to the table. I'd love some guidance on what patronage with Yasha-Gok, who envisions herself a god, looks like and what possible conflicts, if any, may arise when/if adventurers remove the titular "Time's Needle" from its resting place. I understand the nature of the game jam's space limitations, and in the hands of a clever GM, these "critiques," as they are, are ultimately trivial in the face of an otherwise brilliant entry.