The Inside Scoop on Gaming

One thing that I've always loved about RTG is that their regional sourcebooks are some of the best in the industry. Just about every one of them comes complete with detailed political and governmental information, alternate histories; they do a fantastic job of describing the people who live in these regions and those than control them and most have additional rules that can be brought into an existing campaign (such as new professions, weapons, vehicles, etc.).

Rough Guide to the UK is no exception. The editors claim on the backcover that this guide has a "depth of information that rivals Home of the Brave" and in some cases this is very true. However, since I'm not here to write a compare and contrasting essay on the two books, I'll focus more on the information provided within the pages of the Rough Guide (after all, that's why you're reading this, right?).

The introduction is basically a primer of information that sets the stage for the rest of the book and gives the reader a very good idea of the status of Britain in the 21st century. The current state of the monarchy is described in detail as well as giving information on an "underground" organization simply called the Cartel that was responsible for re-establishing the monarchy. A governmental body called the MLA (which had thrust the island under martial law) was previously the ruling body within the UK until the Queen, Victoria II, was brought back into the country via the help of the Cartel.

Chapter one details the state of politics and government in the UK. This is one section, however, that doesn't really live up to the claim that this guide is more comprehensive than HOTB. The chapter goes over such issues as monetary matters, law and order, police structures, organized crime and the island's military organization called the British Combined Forces, PLC. In describing this organization I felt the editors could've given more information on the separate military forces that make up the PLC. However, the end of the chapter gives statistics and rules for creating armed forces characters (much like in HOTB) and some new military ordinance is described in detail. Weapons like the Spitfire 12mm Battle Pistol and the 25mm Cockerill Assault Cannon will make even a hardened edgerunner drool with envy. Sadly, these weapons are only available to military personnel. Although, any runner worth his weight in salt will find a way around that trivial obstacle.

Chapter two definitely gives more detail to the nomadic movement than HOTB does. If I'm not mistaken I think the sourcebook Neo Tribes performs that duty. If that's the case then I've proven my point: You wont have to purchase a separate book to get the whole picture on this aspect of the country's culture. Unlike the nomads in America, the UK's gypsy tribes have almost reverted back to a clan-like way of living. Spiritualism is heavy throughout and paganism has begun to surface again in the country with many nomad tribes embracing it as a new way of life.

Also rivaling the HOTB is the detail that's given to the media situation in Britain as described in chapter three. Unlike their American counterparts, the British still utilize paper newspapers as a major source of their information and the BBC has been transformed into a megacorp that could rival that of Net 54 and the WNS. I loved the fact that the Rough Guide gives readers profiles of a few key media personalities and showcases them with class.

Chapter four is titled "The UK: A Visitor's Guide" and that's just what it does. It guides the reader throughout the country describing the flavor of the UK. This is done in the form of describing travel, geography, food and drink, pubs and clubs, music, arts, sports and more. While this isn't the most important information to be found in the book it will definitely add flavor to campaigns being run in the UK.

While HOTB only provided a few pages of the different regions in America (well, not exactly a few), the Rough Guide dedicates a major portion of this guide detailing the regions of England. Everything from Devon and Cornwall to Scottland is brought forth in astonishing detail and even provides law codes for every region. It would be wise for runners to know that unlike America, the UK does not allow it's citizens to go around toting heavy ordinance and donning the latest advances in battle armor.

The law codes for each region are arranged in three numbers (i.e. 0-5-2). The first number represents a region's band for determining which crimes will bring about the death penalty. For instance, a code of 0 means that the area is a free-fire zone, no laws apply, and anything goes. A code of 1 means that crimes such as vagrancy and drunk and disorderly conduct can get someone executed! Fortunately, most regions institute a code of 5 (crimes such as treason and fraud are punishable by death). The second number represents the stance that the area takes on weapons and armor. The third number is the tolerance level of the local police.

The only complaints I have with this book (and they're small ones at that) are the amount of spelling errors and typos found throughout the pages. Once again an index is not utilized and the interior artwork is good, but not up to the quality that's found in books like HOTB or Eurosource Plus. All niggling complaints aside, Rough Guide to the UK is an exceptional book and will definitely provide Cyberpunk GM's with more information than they can shake a stick at.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Rough Guide to the U.K.
Author: Voodoo Penguin Category: game Company/Publisher: R. Talsorian Games Cost: $14.95 Page count: 128 ISBN: 0-937279-47-1 Capsule Review by Mark Bruno on 01/20/99. Genre tags: Science_fiction	One thing that I've always loved about RTG is that their regional sourcebooks are some of the best in the industry. Just about every one of them comes complete with detailed political and governmental information, alternate histories; they do a fantastic job of describing the people who live in these regions and those than control them and most have additional rules that can be brought into an existing campaign (such as new professions, weapons, vehicles, etc.). Rough Guide to the UK is no exception. The editors claim on the backcover that this guide has a "depth of information that rivals Home of the Brave" and in some cases this is very true. However, since I'm not here to write a compare and contrasting essay on the two books, I'll focus more on the information provided within the pages of the Rough Guide (after all, that's why you're reading this, right?). The introduction is basically a primer of information that sets the stage for the rest of the book and gives the reader a very good idea of the status of Britain in the 21st century. The current state of the monarchy is described in detail as well as giving information on an "underground" organization simply called the Cartel that was responsible for re-establishing the monarchy. A governmental body called the MLA (which had thrust the island under martial law) was previously the ruling body within the UK until the Queen, Victoria II, was brought back into the country via the help of the Cartel. Chapter one details the state of politics and government in the UK. This is one section, however, that doesn't really live up to the claim that this guide is more comprehensive than HOTB. The chapter goes over such issues as monetary matters, law and order, police structures, organized crime and the island's military organization called the British Combined Forces, PLC. In describing this organization I felt the editors could've given more information on the separate military forces that make up the PLC. However, the end of the chapter gives statistics and rules for creating armed forces characters (much like in HOTB) and some new military ordinance is described in detail. Weapons like the Spitfire 12mm Battle Pistol and the 25mm Cockerill Assault Cannon will make even a hardened edgerunner drool with envy. Sadly, these weapons are only available to military personnel. Although, any runner worth his weight in salt will find a way around that trivial obstacle. Chapter two definitely gives more detail to the nomadic movement than HOTB does. If I'm not mistaken I think the sourcebook Neo Tribes performs that duty. If that's the case then I've proven my point: You wont have to purchase a separate book to get the whole picture on this aspect of the country's culture. Unlike the nomads in America, the UK's gypsy tribes have almost reverted back to a clan-like way of living. Spiritualism is heavy throughout and paganism has begun to surface again in the country with many nomad tribes embracing it as a new way of life. Also rivaling the HOTB is the detail that's given to the media situation in Britain as described in chapter three. Unlike their American counterparts, the British still utilize paper newspapers as a major source of their information and the BBC has been transformed into a megacorp that could rival that of Net 54 and the WNS. I loved the fact that the Rough Guide gives readers profiles of a few key media personalities and showcases them with class. Chapter four is titled "The UK: A Visitor's Guide" and that's just what it does. It guides the reader throughout the country describing the flavor of the UK. This is done in the form of describing travel, geography, food and drink, pubs and clubs, music, arts, sports and more. While this isn't the most important information to be found in the book it will definitely add flavor to campaigns being run in the UK. While HOTB only provided a few pages of the different regions in America (well, not exactly a few), the Rough Guide dedicates a major portion of this guide detailing the regions of England. Everything from Devon and Cornwall to Scottland is brought forth in astonishing detail and even provides law codes for every region. It would be wise for runners to know that unlike America, the UK does not allow it's citizens to go around toting heavy ordinance and donning the latest advances in battle armor. The law codes for each region are arranged in three numbers (i.e. 0-5-2). The first number represents a region's band for determining which crimes will bring about the death penalty. For instance, a code of 0 means that the area is a free-fire zone, no laws apply, and anything goes. A code of 1 means that crimes such as vagrancy and drunk and disorderly conduct can get someone executed! Fortunately, most regions institute a code of 5 (crimes such as treason and fraud are punishable by death). The second number represents the stance that the area takes on weapons and armor. The third number is the tolerance level of the local police. The only complaints I have with this book (and they're small ones at that) are the amount of spelling errors and typos found throughout the pages. Once again an index is not utilized and the interior artwork is good, but not up to the quality that's found in books like HOTB or Eurosource Plus. All niggling complaints aside, Rough Guide to the UK is an exceptional book and will definitely provide Cyberpunk GM's with more information than they can shake a stick at. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Rough Guide to the U.K.