When playing a role playing game that is set in modern times, a player often encounters problems when trying to decide what weapon he wants to use. Is the AK-47 better than the Heckler and Koch close assault weapon? Do you want a contemporary clip for that automatic weapon or is a round magazine system the better choice? What will stop a bullet better, the rigid body armor system or UK series 25 modular armor? You can find the answer to all of these questions and more in The Compendium of Contemporary Weapons.

Unlike most of the RPG books that Palladium has produced, this one is not designed for their system alone. It is a general guide to firearms and written in such a manner that the rules can be adapted to almost any game system.

But this volume has much more than just firearms listed. Before getting to the weapons, it first has a section that details the ammunition. This section covers how the various types of bullets differ from each other, what really happens when a bullet impacts a body, and the different types of wounds a firearm can produce. The book then goes into some detail about how to use firearms in a game system.

After that, the book covers the more popular and effective forms of body armor. This section is actually interesting to read because it explains exactly how body armor works. Did you know that kevlar is actually sprayed on in layers and it is the layers of the material that stops the slug rather than the thickness as in metallic armor? The book smoothly flows from body armor types into riot control devices and then at last gets to the firearms themselves.

That section starts with revolvers and pistols, then covers rifles, shotguns, sub-machine guns and full machine guns. Each section is broken down into country of origin and each weapon is drawn in perfect detail. Palladium even had some people from the Browning Company working on these illustrations so they reflect what the real weapon looks like. Each weapon has detailed information on who made it, what type of ammo it uses, how much it weighs, how long it is and the approximate effective range. All of these things are completely accurate, thus giving your game the feel of reality.

And then there is even more! The book has some small sections on grenades, light support weapons like flame-throwers and rocket launchers, special support weapons, antitank and antiaircraft guns, surveillance equipment, sights and night sight goggles, even tanks and armored vehicles! Everything you need to play modern wargames is all right here at your fingertips in an easy to find format.

Of course, the book is indexed to make locating a certain item even easier and there is even bibliography listing the real weapons guides that were used to create this game guide.

Recommended: Yes