The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Hello again everyone. Before I write this review I would like to ask that if there is anything anyone has to say regarding this review please feel free to email me. My last review was pulled because someone felt the urge to claim I was a "plant" for the company I was reviewing for, I think that whoever made such claims was out of line and uncalled for and if they feel the need to say anything like this again, take matters up with me. I feel my opinion is worth just as much as anyone else's and with that being said, let me start on the review. [editor's note: nothing like a strong start to a piece! The original one is back up after his bonafides checked out. We had a complaint with supporting evidence, we pulled while we investigated, and now it's back. This happens every now and then, and is just part of how we try to make sure unsolicited reviews are kept pure.)]

While I did say the rulebook was excellent, I liked the Book of Worlds much better. It is much easier to read, well plotted out, and is everything a module should be. Instead of pointing you in the direction of the prime storyline, it gives you many, and not just in the form of single paragraph back-up stories. There are 9 scenarios in the book with the potential for many more. Also a surplus of supporting characters as the authors are quoted,"...worlds filled with people who can help the character, or will oppose the character, and there are worlds that are nearly empty, where the character must work by himself." Let me lead you through them.

The first is NagaWorld, which is the place that all characters who play the game are encouraged to begin, a flat bias that makes use of all items difficult. It is explained as a world as different from earth as possible. Things like orange-citrus grass, lots of technology, psionic presence, and an ongoing war between two races called the dar Koni and Kreelak are all outlined in this setting. Also, much different from Earth, the world is a flat one, and it is filled with an array of weird creatures like land-based clams described as being the size of station wagons pulling themselves across flat plains by their tongues. There's a lot of weird possibility here from the moment the character lands. The authors also go into a degree of detail that many books do not, uses for different chemicals found there and such. There is also a glass city that radiates psionics the same way Ravenloft radiates evil. Nagaworld by far has the best potential in the book, but the odds of getting blasted out fast are pretty big, but I think as a referee, I'd bring the characters back at some point. As in this game, characters don't die, they "verse" to other scenarios.

Next is Tristan's Labyrinth, as described by the author as being the place to drop characters/players who like to kill monsters. Eight unique monsters in a confusing maze with biases described as being "through the roof", which I did not address in this review, "bias" is the room for error an object from another scenario has. For example, that nice Gravmace you got in Alternity might just turn out to be a "dud" in this scenario, or it might blow away the whole labyrinth, depending on a dice roll on a chart made by a referee to see what happens when affected by "bias". Anyway, the scenario is the shortest at about 5 pages and the simplest, a good scenario for people just wanting to kill, kill, kill as the authors pretty much stated.

Next is the "Dancing Princess" scenario. It is described by the authors as " ..a chance to unravel a mystery, then find fabulous treasures, then fight powerful monsters, and win the heart of a princess" , I happen to know of this tale and it does in fact make a good scenario for a game. It revolves around three sisters: Margaret, the proper elder sister; Nerene, the shy and bashful one; and Olivia, the wild youngest sister. They are charmed by demons disguised as princes, and are taken along with the demons. This sets up many different role-playing opportunities for the "verser", which is really up to the referee and too elaborate to describe here, but a fun scenario, regardless.

The next scenario is actually 2 in 1. It is called Mary Piper Twin Scenario, and is set up with Mary Piper Alpha, a sea ship and Mary Piper Beta a space ship. For every thing in one scenario there is a comparable one in the other scenario. Things like Icebergs/Comets, Fake Monsters/Holographic Monsters, Whirlpool/Black Hole, this is in my opinion the most interesting scenario. I had visions of Patrick Stewart in Star Trek as well as his role in Moby Dick as the captain in this setting. My only complaint is this scenario was cut slightly short for the promise it had and I was a little disappointed in less detail on this, but not to the affect where it would hinder the scenario.

The next scenario, or series of scenarios revolves around Sherwood Forest(yes, Robin Hood). Learning bow skill is not just the extent of this scenario, the fun of the scenario is the sub-plots that can evolve from it. Things in this setting that can happen(which I won't give too much away in case any players are reading)that will change modern history. If the character returns to modern times(present) there will be many changes to the present similar to things that we would see in "Sliders" the TV series. A likable concept and best if used by more imaginative GMs.

The next scenario is based upon the Richard Connell story "The Most Dangerous Game" (which I mistakenly referred to as The Deadly Game in my last review). It is the story where you fall victim to a manhunt by a big game hunter on his own island. It is well known enough that I can leave out the details, but one of those scenarios you always thought to use, but with the outline provided in this, it's a lot easier.

The final scenario is called "The Zygote Experience", it takes the player through the entire rebirth process. It is a fun scenario for the purposes that the GM will give brief descriptions of the "feeling" the character has during the whole process without giving in and telling them what it is. It starts at the Pre-natal period, so imagine having that described to yourself. A fun way to punish overzealous players in my view. That's basically it.

The entire book comes off as something the authors have used to give a feel for their game. It seems if they continue the trend with other Book of Worlds, it may be in a different format, but I am not complaining, I thought this came off well

Style: 5 (Excellent!)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Multiverser: First Book of Worlds
Author: E.R. Jones and M. Joseph Young Category: game Company/Publisher: Valdron Inc. Cost: Free w/ rulebook Page count: 149 ISBN: http://members.aol.com/NagaWorld/mv.html Playtest Review by Grover Penn on 01/11/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Science_fiction Modern_day Historical Horror Far_Future Space Comedy Anime Espionage Conspiracy Post-apocalypse Old_West Vampire Gothic Asian/Far_East Diceless Generic Live-action	Hello again everyone. Before I write this review I would like to ask that if there is anything anyone has to say regarding this review please feel free to email me. My last review was pulled because someone felt the urge to claim I was a "plant" for the company I was reviewing for, I think that whoever made such claims was out of line and uncalled for and if they feel the need to say anything like this again, take matters up with me. I feel my opinion is worth just as much as anyone else's and with that being said, let me start on the review. [editor's note: nothing like a strong start to a piece! The original one is back up after his bonafides checked out. We had a complaint with supporting evidence, we pulled while we investigated, and now it's back. This happens every now and then, and is just part of how we try to make sure unsolicited reviews are kept pure.)] While I did say the rulebook was excellent, I liked the Book of Worlds much better. It is much easier to read, well plotted out, and is everything a module should be. Instead of pointing you in the direction of the prime storyline, it gives you many, and not just in the form of single paragraph back-up stories. There are 9 scenarios in the book with the potential for many more. Also a surplus of supporting characters as the authors are quoted,"...worlds filled with people who can help the character, or will oppose the character, and there are worlds that are nearly empty, where the character must work by himself." Let me lead you through them. The first is NagaWorld, which is the place that all characters who play the game are encouraged to begin, a flat bias that makes use of all items difficult. It is explained as a world as different from earth as possible. Things like orange-citrus grass, lots of technology, psionic presence, and an ongoing war between two races called the dar Koni and Kreelak are all outlined in this setting. Also, much different from Earth, the world is a flat one, and it is filled with an array of weird creatures like land-based clams described as being the size of station wagons pulling themselves across flat plains by their tongues. There's a lot of weird possibility here from the moment the character lands. The authors also go into a degree of detail that many books do not, uses for different chemicals found there and such. There is also a glass city that radiates psionics the same way Ravenloft radiates evil. Nagaworld by far has the best potential in the book, but the odds of getting blasted out fast are pretty big, but I think as a referee, I'd bring the characters back at some point. As in this game, characters don't die, they "verse" to other scenarios. Next is Tristan's Labyrinth, as described by the author as being the place to drop characters/players who like to kill monsters. Eight unique monsters in a confusing maze with biases described as being "through the roof", which I did not address in this review, "bias" is the room for error an object from another scenario has. For example, that nice Gravmace you got in Alternity might just turn out to be a "dud" in this scenario, or it might blow away the whole labyrinth, depending on a dice roll on a chart made by a referee to see what happens when affected by "bias". Anyway, the scenario is the shortest at about 5 pages and the simplest, a good scenario for people just wanting to kill, kill, kill as the authors pretty much stated. Next is the "Dancing Princess" scenario. It is described by the authors as " ..a chance to unravel a mystery, then find fabulous treasures, then fight powerful monsters, and win the heart of a princess" , I happen to know of this tale and it does in fact make a good scenario for a game. It revolves around three sisters: Margaret, the proper elder sister; Nerene, the shy and bashful one; and Olivia, the wild youngest sister. They are charmed by demons disguised as princes, and are taken along with the demons. This sets up many different role-playing opportunities for the "verser", which is really up to the referee and too elaborate to describe here, but a fun scenario, regardless. The next scenario is actually 2 in 1. It is called Mary Piper Twin Scenario, and is set up with Mary Piper Alpha, a sea ship and Mary Piper Beta a space ship. For every thing in one scenario there is a comparable one in the other scenario. Things like Icebergs/Comets, Fake Monsters/Holographic Monsters, Whirlpool/Black Hole, this is in my opinion the most interesting scenario. I had visions of Patrick Stewart in Star Trek as well as his role in Moby Dick as the captain in this setting. My only complaint is this scenario was cut slightly short for the promise it had and I was a little disappointed in less detail on this, but not to the affect where it would hinder the scenario. The next scenario, or series of scenarios revolves around Sherwood Forest(yes, Robin Hood). Learning bow skill is not just the extent of this scenario, the fun of the scenario is the sub-plots that can evolve from it. Things in this setting that can happen(which I won't give too much away in case any players are reading)that will change modern history. If the character returns to modern times(present) there will be many changes to the present similar to things that we would see in "Sliders" the TV series. A likable concept and best if used by more imaginative GMs. The next scenario is based upon the Richard Connell story "The Most Dangerous Game" (which I mistakenly referred to as The Deadly Game in my last review). It is the story where you fall victim to a manhunt by a big game hunter on his own island. It is well known enough that I can leave out the details, but one of those scenarios you always thought to use, but with the outline provided in this, it's a lot easier. The final scenario is called "The Zygote Experience", it takes the player through the entire rebirth process. It is a fun scenario for the purposes that the GM will give brief descriptions of the "feeling" the character has during the whole process without giving in and telling them what it is. It starts at the Pre-natal period, so imagine having that described to yourself. A fun way to punish overzealous players in my view. That's basically it. The entire book comes off as something the authors have used to give a feel for their game. It seems if they continue the trend with other Book of Worlds, it may be in a different format, but I am not complaining, I thought this came off well Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Multiverser: First Book of Worlds