The Inside Scoop on Gaming

TSR's new interesting Saga system has some pretty interesting rules and an overall fresh feel, and its hell-bent focus on roleplaying is quite a worthy effort. At its heart lies the Fate Deck, a set of 84 cards that you now use instead of dice.

What do you get with this set? The Fate Deck (and some character cards), a small booklet detailing the basic Saga game, a Dragonlance adventure and the somewhat forgettable Dragon Wars game.

While the Saga rules are touted as a roleplaying system you could use with any of your fantasy games, don't expect to be able to just get a Fate Deck and start playing right away. Basic game rules are included on the set, but they are woefully incomplete (is there initiative? what sort of school do Sleep or Charm spells fit into?) and nowhere near those included on the Fifth Age set. This shows another weakness of the system (as detailed in here): it seems

So, just what is the Fate Deck supposed to do for you? If the Hounds of Tindalos chewed over some of the cards that came with the Fifth Age, the Fate Deck is a somewhat inexpensive way to replace them. If you've played with the Saga before, you could conceivably start a game with just what is included here. Alas, if you're new to the Saga system it is likely that you would have to go for the Saga Companion too, which explains and clarifies some of the rules a little better.

Bottomline, give it a shot if you know and love the Saga system, but don't expect to get a full game with it.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 3 (Average)

Fate Deck
Author: Steve Brown, Steve Miller and Ed Stark (designers) Category: game Company/Publisher: TSR Cost: $12.95 Page count: 84 Fate Deck cards, 16 character cards and 16 page booklet Capsule Review by Ricardo J. Méndez on 11/25/98. Genre tags: Fantasy Diceless	TSR's new interesting Saga system has some pretty interesting rules and an overall fresh feel, and its hell-bent focus on roleplaying is quite a worthy effort. At its heart lies the Fate Deck, a set of 84 cards that you now use instead of dice. What do you get with this set? The Fate Deck (and some character cards), a small booklet detailing the basic Saga game, a Dragonlance adventure and the somewhat forgettable Dragon Wars game. While the Saga rules are touted as a roleplaying system you could use with any of your fantasy games, don't expect to be able to just get a Fate Deck and start playing right away. Basic game rules are included on the set, but they are woefully incomplete (is there initiative? what sort of school do Sleep or Charm spells fit into?) and nowhere near those included on the Fifth Age set. This shows another weakness of the system (as detailed in here): it seems So, just what is the Fate Deck supposed to do for you? If the Hounds of Tindalos chewed over some of the cards that came with the Fifth Age, the Fate Deck is a somewhat inexpensive way to replace them. If you've played with the Saga before, you could conceivably start a game with just what is included here. Alas, if you're new to the Saga system it is likely that you would have to go for the Saga Companion too, which explains and clarifies some of the rules a little better. Bottomline, give it a shot if you know and love the Saga system, but don't expect to get a full game with it. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 3 (Average)