The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Okay, let me start off by saying that this is probably the best free RPG on the web in my opinion.

Christopher Blankley has really come up with a gem of a game, and it is free to boot. Now, this is not an RPG to really base a year-long campaign on... and the author recognizes that. Instead, Mr. Blankley gives us a game that is fun as hell to play and is wonderful for those nights when you need to let off some gaming steam. I can not say enough about this game... just remember what this game was written for.

In this game you get a nice system, the groundwork for a fun setting, and even a full adventure (plus lots 'o tounge in cheek puns)

First off, the setting is just gobs of fun. Your neighboorhood has been overrun by apocalyptic, brain-eating, demons that used to to be the PCs teachers. The characters are all around the age of 7 to 13 and are armed to the teeth. That is about the extent of the setting, the gamemaster then fills in the rest... providing personalities and a setting that all the players can be familiar with... their school or hometown. Teachers who once gave you a "D" are now out to eat your brains and your character has the ordanance (hence the name) to end their evil predations. Now THAT is what real stories are made of!

The Reflex system that Mr. Blankley develops is a marvel. There are a lot of aspects to the system which I think, in retrospect, should have been added to a lot of games I had to pay for. Gambling takes a nice fun part of the system as does an elegant initiative system. Expirieince is hanled in much the same way as Call of Cthulhu (though with a bit more dice rolling). In addition, you get nice, clean examples of how each aspect of the system works... another thing that a lot of games I have paid for didn't quite get to. The only problems people may have is that there is a bit of record keeping involved (not excessive though... but there seesm to be this nasty trend for "rules-light" games... and I for one want rules in my games... that is what makes them games and not fan ficition... but I digress). Also, there is a random character generation system... but if you really want to invest a lot of time into making a 12 year old with an M16 w/ M203 undesling... than go ahead. I personally like random character generation is certain cases, and Heavy Ordanance is one of them.

The adventure is another perk to the game. The adventure is quite entertaining as well.

So, in the final analysis. Get this game, keep it on hand for one of those days in which half your group fails to show to a session, and enjoy it as much as I have. Highly recommended... especially for the price. :)

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Heavy Ordanance
Author: Christopher Blankley Category: game Company/Publisher: A Reflex System Game Cost: free! Page count: 40 or so Capsule Review by Chris Gunning on 11/06/98. Genre tags: Science_fiction Horror Comedy Post-apocalypse	Okay, let me start off by saying that this is probably the best free RPG on the web in my opinion. Christopher Blankley has really come up with a gem of a game, and it is free to boot. Now, this is not an RPG to really base a year-long campaign on... and the author recognizes that. Instead, Mr. Blankley gives us a game that is fun as hell to play and is wonderful for those nights when you need to let off some gaming steam. I can not say enough about this game... just remember what this game was written for. In this game you get a nice system, the groundwork for a fun setting, and even a full adventure (plus lots 'o tounge in cheek puns) First off, the setting is just gobs of fun. Your neighboorhood has been overrun by apocalyptic, brain-eating, demons that used to to be the PCs teachers. The characters are all around the age of 7 to 13 and are armed to the teeth. That is about the extent of the setting, the gamemaster then fills in the rest... providing personalities and a setting that all the players can be familiar with... their school or hometown. Teachers who once gave you a "D" are now out to eat your brains and your character has the ordanance (hence the name) to end their evil predations. Now THAT is what real stories are made of! The Reflex system that Mr. Blankley develops is a marvel. There are a lot of aspects to the system which I think, in retrospect, should have been added to a lot of games I had to pay for. Gambling takes a nice fun part of the system as does an elegant initiative system. Expirieince is hanled in much the same way as Call of Cthulhu (though with a bit more dice rolling). In addition, you get nice, clean examples of how each aspect of the system works... another thing that a lot of games I have paid for didn't quite get to. The only problems people may have is that there is a bit of record keeping involved (not excessive though... but there seesm to be this nasty trend for "rules-light" games... and I for one want rules in my games... that is what makes them games and not fan ficition... but I digress). Also, there is a random character generation system... but if you really want to invest a lot of time into making a 12 year old with an M16 w/ M203 undesling... than go ahead. I personally like random character generation is certain cases, and Heavy Ordanance is one of them. The adventure is another perk to the game. The adventure is quite entertaining as well. So, in the final analysis. Get this game, keep it on hand for one of those days in which half your group fails to show to a session, and enjoy it as much as I have. Highly recommended... especially for the price. :) Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty)