I am a cream-filled saviour of Oith. . .

[jdrakeh]

Or "I made an unplanned game purchase and was blown away" -- take your pick I tried Savage Worlds way back when it was initially released and I liked it well enough, though none of the support products really grabbed me in a "I've never seen this before" kind of way. Today I purchased a little-hyped product called "Low Life" -- and everything changed. Low Life is, simply, the most original fantasy campaign that I've seen for a long time. Now, that having been said. . . it ain't for everybody.

Ever wanted to play a sentient snack cake? Really? Me either. Until now. Low Life is an unholy mixture of bachelor life and geek culture viewed through a warped lense of surreal thought that I haven't seen since the advent of HoL. What's more, unlike HoL, Low Life is actually designed to be played (though reading it is pretty engaging, too). It's equal parts Fantastic Planet, Robert Howard, and 30-Something Bachelor's Studio Apartment. With that, I'm off to reacquaint myself with Savage Worlds.

And learn the joys of playing a sentient snack cake for the very first time.

 

[Piratecat]

By whom?

 

[jdrakeh]

Some guy named "Andy Hopp" wrote it, designed it, and illustrated it. His personal site is here.

 

[Pepster]

Low Life

Hey jdrakeh!

If you think the book's a hoot, you ought to play in a game run by Andy! I remember being attacked by hair bares, finding the pic for them, then trying to stifle my giggles for about 20 minutes in game.

Low Life is more post-apocalyptic than fantasy. After a world-wide nuke attack, the only lifeforms able to survive are the croach, werm, cremefillian (living snacky cake), horc, pile, etc. The book is a hilarious read but actually has mechanics and a plot point campaign. It's both written and illustriated by Andy, who's an artist by trade.

You have to be in a certain frame of mind to play Low Life. I'd love to run it but it also takes a certain type of gamemaster, and I don't know if I could do it justice. It's not for everybody as it does have a certain level of silliness.

I hope to get in a least one Low Life game at Con on the Cob in November (Akron OH). Andy is the convention coordinator.

Pepster

 

[Epidiah Ravachol]

Soume guy named "Andy Hopp" wrote it, designed it, and illustrated it. His personal site is here.

And a purchase was made. I've enjoyed Andy as an artist, and I'm delighted to hear he has a game. Do I need to purchase the main Savage Worlds book as well?

 

[jdrakeh]

Do I need to purchase the main Savage Worlds book as well?

Yes. Although the "Exlplorer's Edition" seems to be out now (I grabbed two at the FLGS) and at $10, it's a pretty good deal.

 

[SavageRobby]

Low Life is a fantastic setting, and like someone mentioned earlier, one I'd love to run but I'm not sure I could do justice as a DM. Its far more creative a setting than I am a DM. I keep hoping someone in my group will run it, but I suspect if I'm ever going to play, it will be as a DM or at a convention or something.

Andy's work on the book is phenomenal, and this is one of the few RPG books where the quality of the art is as good as the writing, and both are great. Look closely at it again - the entire thing is hand-illustrated.