"Touched by the Gods" is a d20 supplement published by Atlas Games, in hard cover format. Atlas Game's Penumbra line of d20 products epitomises the concept of adaptability to any campaign, and this book is an example of that.

Fifteen organisations or groups are described, each with its origin, goals and important members. Each group can be used to people a campaign world or provide background for PCs. Each description of a group also provides adventure seeds. These texts are a few paragraphs long and contain ideas for adventures that will introduce that group to a given campaign world. Descriptions of the groups range from 3 to 14 pages in length. Most contain new spells, feats, magic items or prestige classes. There are also seven new deities and a few new monsters.

Here is a brief description of some of the groups:

The Forge is a group of three wizards who have decided to become perfect and immortal by transferring their consciousness into exceptional golems. These wizards take apprentices. The most promising ones are taught the art of magical grafts, which allows them to replace their mortal limbs with powerful magic items.

Davlika, also known as the Putrid Lungs, is a tribe of goblinoids who suffered a curse that reversed their alignment. They are now flower loving do-gooders, spreading the joy of love to their misguided brethren. Their breath exudes a stinking lavender cloud. Anybody who comes in contact with them must save or suffer the same alignment reversing curse.

Lurient's Legacy is formed by malcontents who are fed up with the injustices they suffer under the nobles. They intend to set things right from the inside by infiltrating the organisations that provide services to the nobles. Once inside, they will work anonymously to protect the people from the greed of the nobles, and bring them down if they can.

The Reborn is an alliance of humanoids who have been transformed into animal form, through reincarnation or transformation. They are the reverse of druids and rangers who are people guarding the wilderness and have powers over animals. The Reborn are animals living in cities and have power over people.

These groups, cults and cabals are very original. The stories leading to their existences are very entertaining. The constant narratives and dialogues interspersed between rules and background text bring the organisations to life in the mind of the reader. The black and white illustrations are beautiful, they describe each group and reflect the text exceptionally well. A whole campaign could easily be created out of a single such group. This book can provide years of inspiration for DMs and players alike.

New Rules:

Weaknesses: none.