Scaled to page size for printing, I have mixed feelings. The text is mostly kept in a readable size range. A little squinty, but not looking like a jumble of scribble. That's certainly a step above a lot of entries I have done. That said, the red is a bit rougher than I expected for me. Additionally, I would end up only ever using this digitally. I just never liked printing out documents that are going to bleed my color cartridge dry on a single color. I currently use an ecotank, so I can fill a color individually, but for two decades I was using those multicolor printers so if one color went low, the entire thing was considered empty and you were shelling out another 40 to 60 dollars on another. If possible, maybe offer a printer-friendly version for people who are still using those.
I have to take a minute any time I encounter a trifold to make sure I am reading things in the order a person would read the physical book version. If I am mis-ordering them, do forgive me. The cover does it's job, telling us the what and why. I question the choice not to capitalize the A here since that doesn't seem to be an aesthetic choice anywhere else on this side of the trifold. I suppose arguably the list of the auction, but I mean more in terms of starting a paragraph or sentence. Not a problem, just sort of something I noticed and wanted to point out in case it wasn't an active choice, but an oversight.
Holy hell that list! (See what I did there?) I know a lot of players are going to try to weasel away from the rough ones, but even valuable items can be interpreted. Everything here is pretty ephemeral. Trying to give a valuable gem isn't really 'treasured'. The ring of mystic whatever on the other hand. The one they treasure because it has gotten them out of trouble before... that is 'treasured'. This makes every choice hurt. A deep and rough choice that means anyone here is either insane or deeply desperate.
Onward to the archdevil's puppet vessel. I think this is the first point where I as a GM have to put in some legwork. Most games will have stats for an archdevil, but this isn't the archdevil. It's a sort of twisted toy being used as a remote drone. I have no real idea what stats to give it. Possibly weak ones considering it just keeps reappearing once per minute if destroyed. A lot is left up to me to decide here. That's not always bad, but I think maybe if it was slightly less implied here and more noted that the danger of this form isn't pure physical brutality, but the impossibility of eliminating it unless you went after the one controlling it.
The list of bidders is interesting enough. Having the bride be the second most bidding power is a choice since it implies she really only has one thing she's going to want to bid on. Having the last one though is almost cruel. That's a lot of coins the group is going to have to pool to outbid him. Cruel isn't bad though. I think if I ever run this, I might do some tweeking on the list of bidders. Maybe add a few who can bid high, but aren't technically interested in the PCs themselves. Just sometimes going to bid well on something for the sake of tension.
The items... you really don't pull punches do you? Right away, a potential issue of the only way out being to win this first bid. It's entirely possible the PCs have to burn through a huge number of coins before ever getting anything they want. Date with the Devil becomes an oddity since I noted before Crinkle Fox might be weak. This isn't saying time with the Archdevil, just the puppet. For me, I think I would probably give the players two options. Several hours with the fox, or 1 hour with the archdevil himself.
Second chance could be either wildly entertaining or horrifying depending on what mortal happens to be closest. Lot of interesting options there. Ends on a classic wish spell. Nothing wrong there. Probably not worth the cost at the end of the day, but yeah. I know a few who would do it anyway.
Information about the auction, thralls, and collector are all fine. Nice little extra note on the collector outside of the stat block to indicate an extra reason it might mark you. Feels like death by a thousand cuts given how weak it is. Short of somehow dealing with the Archdemon, this thing is going to be a permanent and inevitable problem for someone.
All of the 'a thing happens' table items seem fun. Lots of ways for things to go sideways. I think number 8, either say 'a player' or 'the players'. Saying 'the player' implies only a single person is actually playing. Nitpick, but still.
As a whole, this is a lot of fun. It stays true to the title given, feels like the sort of madness one might find in certain corners of the Appendix N, and allows for different styles of play. The silly groups will find a lot of fun in the stranger elements. The brooding folks will find the angst they crave. The murder hobos will have lots of fun stabbing their way through situations. Overall, it feels like it is meant for low level characters who might not have access to amazing things yet and offers a sweet set of rewards at a very steep cost.
I can see a lot of ways for this to result in upset players too though. If they are here for a singular goal, then they might have sold away half of their stats and the soul of their grandmother and still not be able to 'save the world' or whatever it was that drove them here. I also feel like this would be a good candidate for expansion. Not some huge book, but offering perhaps a set of auctions. Each time, different potential bidders and each time with unique items to bid on. In a way, it could become a dangerous gamble of knowing where to go when the players hit a wall, but also are desperate enough to try the unthinkable.
I quite enjoyed this. I will probably try to figure out a way to make my printer a little less sad printing it and do so. I wouldn't have a lot of times I can use it, but there will come a moment where this is the absolute perfect little module for what I need. Thanks for putting this out into the world.
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