Keeper of Secrets
First Post
Back in the late 1980’s, I entered a cheap and unimpressive gaming store in my home town, looking for some new game to try. Sadly the store no longer exists, but thankfully the memories of the store do. One such memory was when I found a set of books that gave my gaming group years of juvenile enjoyment. The game was Macho Women with Guns, a cheaply made and simple wargame, where each person played a ridiculously powered buxom female with more weapons than brains, blowing the Hell out of everything in sight. Creatures like Puppies of Tindalos, Isaac Azathoth and Psychotic Psantas were among some of the enemies the Macho Women were blowing up. It was hours of pizza and soda fun. (This was before we could drink beer and eat pretzels.) The original publisher (Blacksburg Tactical Research Center) and writer Greg Porter did a great job by creating an instant cult classic in the gaming world.
Imagine my surprise when close to 15 years later I came across the Macho Women with Guns role-playing game for the d20 system. It was even better that the game was published by Mongoose, a company that I have come respect. Macho Women with Guns is much like another comedy game, Paranoia, in that it relies on satire and a devil-may-care brand of senseless violence in order to get the players involved in the excitement.
The role-playing game differs vastly from the simple strategy game from whence it was born. Obviously, it is much more in depth and has a great deal more variety than the earlier version but a closer reading shows that the game is not only playable but can be a whole lot of fun for a gaming group looking for a change of pace instead of the usual fantasy or superhero game.
The premise of the game is simple: the players all create larger-than-life (and in the case of the bust lines, MUCH larger-than-life) characters that are combat machines. These combat machines are let loose on a campaign world and depending on the style of play. In fantasy settings they can face Dragons and Noblins. In a modern setting they can expect to see Porno Publishers and Shoddygoths. In a futuristic setting they might go up against BattleWarMechBots and randy Greys. The settings described and the creatures provided are extremely funny and obvious parodies of creatures in other systems, providing laughs as the characters blow them to bits.
While D20 Modern is not required to have in order to play, it is really, really, really suggested. A number of the elements from D20 Modern are taken for use by Macho Women with Guns, like Action Points and the skill list. Most of the D20 Modern feats are used and Macho Women with Guns offers a whole new set of feats. The rulebook also provides a lot of other information to further customize the setting. Instead of races there are archetypes (like the strong heroine, the brainy heroine, the charismatic heroine, and so on. Instead of classes, there are occupations (such as batwinged bimbo, celebrity, dominatrix, and naughty schoolgirl). The fact that each of these is given a starting cup size (which actually impacts a variety of other skills and abilities) should be very telling. Further, the prestige classes are a little risqué to really get into, but you are probably getting the idea.
As mentioned earlier of the book has a special section of feats. Its great that they are useful and humorous at the same time. For instance, B.F.G. Proficiency, Dimensional Bust, Hard Drinking, Look Good in Armor, and Swearing are all a variety of feats that can be selected which all provide a useful ability within the context of the game. A variety of other feats, while equally as funny, may not be completely appropriate to repeat here. However, you will certainly want to take a look for yourself.
In addition to the feats that the game provides, the reader is also treated to Heinous Draw Backs, which are essentially weaknesses. Like most other weaknesses in game systems, the more a player takes, the more points the get to spend on feats, equipment, etc. Much like the feats, the draw backs are cute and more than just a little dirty and perverted. But the off-color humor is what makes the game so much fun.
One significant change from both D20 Modern and the original game is the use of Mana Points to operate the spell system. A spell costs Mana (and a nice system is worked out if someone wants to import a spell from other D20 products). The price of the spell in Mana is assigned to spells and other spells not in the game cost about five points per spell level. Honestly, the system works pretty well, especially for a game that is only as serious as the silly antics created by the GM and players.
Other than the changes that are made at the ‘race/class’ level and the Mana System, the game pretty much runs just like D20 Modern. Obviously, those who are devotees of D20 Modern will have no problem figuring out Macho Women with Guns. If the GM and players decide to use more serious feats and skills, it would certainly work (even though it would be a shame to lose the flavor of the game by NOT using some of the silly and sexist ones provided).
I think one of the most impressive things about Macho Women with Guns is that the writing style does a great job of grabbing the reader and bringing them into the excitement. The level of humor displayed wonderfully sets the tone and inspires the reader to play in or create a world that features women with large weapons and even larger breasts destroying things by the metric ton. If a system is designed to be comical and satirical, it certainly helps that the writing style goes along with the joke, too.
Whereas I did not have a problem with the d20 format for Macho Women with Guns, at first it seemed like a rather unusual choice. On one hand I can see where just about everyone thinks that d20 is the system of choice. On the other hand, d20 is on the ‘rules heavy’ side for a comedy or parody game. I recall the creators of Paranoia XP stating that d20 was certainly a consideration for their product but in the end they felt that d20 would have hampered their product rather than enhance it. Macho Women with Guns may be a similar situation, but the d20 version certainly seems to work. I just wonder if they could have gone with a simpler system.
One of the major problems I have with the book is actually a fairly significant one. The moment you sit down to put together a book like Macho Women with Guns - a game which is based on the idea that unearthly attractive and buxom women going around blowing things up - your first priority should really be the artwork. Obviously the creators did not share my view. Without getting very nasty or hateful, the art is not very good. I was frankly quite surprised by it. The pages are slick, it’s a hardback book and the pages are in color but the artwork is substandard for the kind of effect they are trying to get. Because they obviously spent so much money on the layout, having it in hardback, etc., one would think that they could have made it in black and white and put more money into better art. Certainly, all the pictures depict well-endowed women but there is certainly enough talent out there to have done a better job with the art. (And what male gamer could give up a chance to buy a parody game where the pictures were all wildly scandalous?) Frankly, the art was the biggest disappointment and it was so disappointing because the pictures are at the essence of the (dirty) joke they are trying to make.
My disappointment with the art aside, the writing is pretty good and I am a sucker for parody and humor games. I think that a gaming group looking for an alternative for a few sessions would really get some enjoyment out of Macho Women with Guns and have a good time with the senseless mayhem. Yes, the product is sexist. Yes, the product is probably demeaning (to a bunch of people). But reading between the lines, the game is awfully funny and gamers will certainly get lots of the ‘in-jokes’ liberally littered throughout it.
Will you like Macho Women with Guns? If you treat Call of Cthulhu and Dungeons & Dragons as sacred texts and view all RPGs with the dour seriousness as the average game of Vampire: the Masquerade, then probably not. If, however, you like Toon, Paranoia and Ghostbusters then this will be a fun game to dedicate a few gaming sessions to. I would definitely suggest this as a great relaxing and fun game to try out at a convention.
I would give it a better rating but the poor art forced me to knock some points off. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Imagine my surprise when close to 15 years later I came across the Macho Women with Guns role-playing game for the d20 system. It was even better that the game was published by Mongoose, a company that I have come respect. Macho Women with Guns is much like another comedy game, Paranoia, in that it relies on satire and a devil-may-care brand of senseless violence in order to get the players involved in the excitement.
The role-playing game differs vastly from the simple strategy game from whence it was born. Obviously, it is much more in depth and has a great deal more variety than the earlier version but a closer reading shows that the game is not only playable but can be a whole lot of fun for a gaming group looking for a change of pace instead of the usual fantasy or superhero game.
The premise of the game is simple: the players all create larger-than-life (and in the case of the bust lines, MUCH larger-than-life) characters that are combat machines. These combat machines are let loose on a campaign world and depending on the style of play. In fantasy settings they can face Dragons and Noblins. In a modern setting they can expect to see Porno Publishers and Shoddygoths. In a futuristic setting they might go up against BattleWarMechBots and randy Greys. The settings described and the creatures provided are extremely funny and obvious parodies of creatures in other systems, providing laughs as the characters blow them to bits.
While D20 Modern is not required to have in order to play, it is really, really, really suggested. A number of the elements from D20 Modern are taken for use by Macho Women with Guns, like Action Points and the skill list. Most of the D20 Modern feats are used and Macho Women with Guns offers a whole new set of feats. The rulebook also provides a lot of other information to further customize the setting. Instead of races there are archetypes (like the strong heroine, the brainy heroine, the charismatic heroine, and so on. Instead of classes, there are occupations (such as batwinged bimbo, celebrity, dominatrix, and naughty schoolgirl). The fact that each of these is given a starting cup size (which actually impacts a variety of other skills and abilities) should be very telling. Further, the prestige classes are a little risqué to really get into, but you are probably getting the idea.
As mentioned earlier of the book has a special section of feats. Its great that they are useful and humorous at the same time. For instance, B.F.G. Proficiency, Dimensional Bust, Hard Drinking, Look Good in Armor, and Swearing are all a variety of feats that can be selected which all provide a useful ability within the context of the game. A variety of other feats, while equally as funny, may not be completely appropriate to repeat here. However, you will certainly want to take a look for yourself.
In addition to the feats that the game provides, the reader is also treated to Heinous Draw Backs, which are essentially weaknesses. Like most other weaknesses in game systems, the more a player takes, the more points the get to spend on feats, equipment, etc. Much like the feats, the draw backs are cute and more than just a little dirty and perverted. But the off-color humor is what makes the game so much fun.
One significant change from both D20 Modern and the original game is the use of Mana Points to operate the spell system. A spell costs Mana (and a nice system is worked out if someone wants to import a spell from other D20 products). The price of the spell in Mana is assigned to spells and other spells not in the game cost about five points per spell level. Honestly, the system works pretty well, especially for a game that is only as serious as the silly antics created by the GM and players.
Other than the changes that are made at the ‘race/class’ level and the Mana System, the game pretty much runs just like D20 Modern. Obviously, those who are devotees of D20 Modern will have no problem figuring out Macho Women with Guns. If the GM and players decide to use more serious feats and skills, it would certainly work (even though it would be a shame to lose the flavor of the game by NOT using some of the silly and sexist ones provided).
I think one of the most impressive things about Macho Women with Guns is that the writing style does a great job of grabbing the reader and bringing them into the excitement. The level of humor displayed wonderfully sets the tone and inspires the reader to play in or create a world that features women with large weapons and even larger breasts destroying things by the metric ton. If a system is designed to be comical and satirical, it certainly helps that the writing style goes along with the joke, too.
Whereas I did not have a problem with the d20 format for Macho Women with Guns, at first it seemed like a rather unusual choice. On one hand I can see where just about everyone thinks that d20 is the system of choice. On the other hand, d20 is on the ‘rules heavy’ side for a comedy or parody game. I recall the creators of Paranoia XP stating that d20 was certainly a consideration for their product but in the end they felt that d20 would have hampered their product rather than enhance it. Macho Women with Guns may be a similar situation, but the d20 version certainly seems to work. I just wonder if they could have gone with a simpler system.
One of the major problems I have with the book is actually a fairly significant one. The moment you sit down to put together a book like Macho Women with Guns - a game which is based on the idea that unearthly attractive and buxom women going around blowing things up - your first priority should really be the artwork. Obviously the creators did not share my view. Without getting very nasty or hateful, the art is not very good. I was frankly quite surprised by it. The pages are slick, it’s a hardback book and the pages are in color but the artwork is substandard for the kind of effect they are trying to get. Because they obviously spent so much money on the layout, having it in hardback, etc., one would think that they could have made it in black and white and put more money into better art. Certainly, all the pictures depict well-endowed women but there is certainly enough talent out there to have done a better job with the art. (And what male gamer could give up a chance to buy a parody game where the pictures were all wildly scandalous?) Frankly, the art was the biggest disappointment and it was so disappointing because the pictures are at the essence of the (dirty) joke they are trying to make.
My disappointment with the art aside, the writing is pretty good and I am a sucker for parody and humor games. I think that a gaming group looking for an alternative for a few sessions would really get some enjoyment out of Macho Women with Guns and have a good time with the senseless mayhem. Yes, the product is sexist. Yes, the product is probably demeaning (to a bunch of people). But reading between the lines, the game is awfully funny and gamers will certainly get lots of the ‘in-jokes’ liberally littered throughout it.
Will you like Macho Women with Guns? If you treat Call of Cthulhu and Dungeons & Dragons as sacred texts and view all RPGs with the dour seriousness as the average game of Vampire: the Masquerade, then probably not. If, however, you like Toon, Paranoia and Ghostbusters then this will be a fun game to dedicate a few gaming sessions to. I would definitely suggest this as a great relaxing and fun game to try out at a convention.
I would give it a better rating but the poor art forced me to knock some points off. I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
