General RPG DiscussionDiscussion of all RPGs and non-system-specific topics. DM/GM/player issues, settings, etc. Rules discussion belongs in one the forums below.
I just finished reading Game Night by EN World's own Jonny Nexus and it is a laugh riot.
I'm not sure if any of you have read Jonny's website Critical Miss, but the "falling on your ass laughing" calibre humour that he's always brought to the site translates well into this book.
It is about a group of Gods (literally) playing a fantasy roleplaying game using mortals as their PC's. The concept seems pretty easy to come up with...but I'm happy to say the author really delivers
Basically, the Chief God has a really epic, poetic drama-filled adventure in mind, and it keeps getting sidetracked by the fact that his players (the rest of the pantheon) are for the most part petty, rules-lawyering yahoos, bored goofs who can't retain any information from moment to moment, snide know-it-alls with a sense of entitlement...and the lone awesome gamer for whom you get the feeling the adventure was designed.
The "adventure" itself is pretty compelling , but the real gold in the book is recognizing how many of these exact "Group Dynamic Disasters" I myself have been in over the years.
This one sentence sets the tone I think...
The ride up the Valley had been long and tiresome, and the party's spirits had been further dampened by an unfortunate dispute over the bill at the inn in which they'd spent the night. But now they were within sight of that which they'd spent many moons travelling towards.
The Gate
And unfortunate dispute over the bill at an inn...the very picture of an Epic Fantasy
Anyway, the writing is top-notch, the story is hilarious and the book is very reasonably priced.
Go that Amazon link and buy one for your DM for Christmas
And, in the grand tradition of EN World reviews ***** 5/5 Stars
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"...show me a game where the roleplaying involves deep emotional experiences and making tough decisions in-character and experiencing vicarious unpleasantness and, generally, all the stuff that people like Ron Edwards insist is the very heart of roleplaying without which the activity has no meaning and is so much wasted time, and I'll show you me leaving the room..."
---Stephenls; RPG.net Moderator---
Last edited by Teflon Billy; 11th January 2008 at 09:25 PM..
"...show me a game where the roleplaying involves deep emotional experiences and making tough decisions in-character and experiencing vicarious unpleasantness and, generally, all the stuff that people like Ron Edwards insist is the very heart of roleplaying without which the activity has no meaning and is so much wasted time, and I'll show you me leaving the room..."
Well speaking as the author, that's a very nice review to read.
Could I just add that if any of the Brits among us want a link to the Amazon.uk version of the book (which currently has discounted copies on offer for £5.50 against an rrp of £7.99) then you can find them at the main Game Night website:
OP: you should post that review on Amazon's page for the product too.
__________________ All role playing advice is given without knowledge of you and your group. Only you and your group knows what is fun for you. What you are doing is not badwrongfun. My advice is offered based on what I think might be fun for you to try.
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That first chapter was too funny (and spot on as far as gamers I've rubbed elbows with). Just ordered it. Can't wait to read the complete book.
__________________ Steve Greer Father, husband, writer... INSOMNIAC!!!
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I am going to have to get a copy of this book...after I pay off some Christmas bills.
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ahem - gamer fiction is a bored and tired genre that has no real value in the annuls of literature, regardless of how popular.
Now, that being said, WOW, that is freaking hilarious. This isn't gamer fiction, it parody of the highest order and I like it! This is like the movie The Gamers set to print!
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On one hand, taking away their weapons is a dead giveaway that they will need them. On the other hand, by the time conflict starts the players will already have opened the rulebooks and found the parts that deal with bare-handed combat, performing disarm moves, and using improvised weapons. Players may blunder through dialog with shocking ineptitude, forget the name of the country they are in, or get confused about which side they are on, but once it comes time to roll for initiative they all turn into Sun Tzu. - Shamus Young DM of the Rings
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