The Inside Scoop on Gaming

"It has come to my attention that many games of late have been of a deplorably low quality, borrowing ideas from hither and yon, with not a shred of originality to them (I shall name no names). Therefore I, the renowned BARON MUNCHAUSEN, have created a new game of the role-playing ilk, based upon the stories of my astonishing travels and surprising adventures, for the enjoyment and edification of noblemen and their friends"

So reads the cover description of the fantastic Extraordinary adventures of Baron Munchausen, a self-styled "Role-Playing Game in a New Style". The game is apparently written by the legendary eighteenth-century nobleman Baron Munchausen himself and is very different from every other RPG you will ever come across. In fact, it is not really an RPG at all. The point of the game is to capture the extravagant and delightful nature of the tales about the Baron's life. For example, the time he lived for several weeks inside a whale, or travelled to the Moon, or perhaps the time he rode a cannon ball to survey the Turkish army that was besieging him.

In this delightful game, players try to outdo each other by telling the most extraordinary story and without it having its credibility destroyed by the other players. Each player takes on the persona of a nobleman (or noblewoman; Baron, Duchess, Count, Cardinal etc), who has gathered with the others at some point towards the end of the 18th century to drink and to tell the amusing and fantastical stories of their previous exploits. Another player chooses the subject of the story.

For example, the choosing player might turn to another and say something like "So, Baron (or whatever), tell us the story of how your luncheon with the Duke of Strathcarn started the Industrial Revolution". Or perhaps, "Tell us the story of how you discovered that your manservant was the Emperor of Prussia, and what you did about it". The player so addressed must then tell the story. Having finished, that player will then select another player and give them a different story to tell. When all the players have told a story then a winner is determined depending on who told the best.

There are then certain extra elements within the game which make it even more fun and interesting. There is a system of using tokens in the game which are wagered in order to place amusing obstacles in the way of others people's tales. The end result in this system is that either the storyteller or the challenger must admit error and the concurrent loss of face which all the players, as 18th-century noblemen, will be trying to avoid. Also, if at any time one player directly calls into question the truthfulness or parentage of another player it is that person's duty to challenge the insult with a duel. There are two combat systems for duel resolution. The first is a simple 'paper-rock-scissors' between the duellists. The other method (infinitely preferred by the Baron) is to actually duel; with rapiers or pistols, to first blood or to the death.

So why buy a game that is just a glorified storytelling competition and drinking game? Well for a start it is genuinely very funny. The way that it is written as if by the Baron himself and the constant reference to hid own exploits are certain to cause laughter. As with every good game, I wanted to play a game as soon as I read it, delighting in the exceptional and ridiculous spirit of the stories which is very well conveyed in the book. It provided an exceptionally good relief for my gaming group one evening, and I doubt it will be badly received in any group who attempts it. It is also very cheap; with only 24 pages it isn't surprising. It would be worth it for at least twice the price. In short, considering what you get and how much you pay, this is a fantastic game. Even if you do not game regularly, buy this book; you'll enjoy the read of nothing else. I can't wait to play it again, just as soon as I get back from my expedition to lead an army of tigers against Gibraltar!

-Grand Duke Mao Chapman, the greatest games reviewer in all of Europe

Style: 5 (Excellent!)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen
Author: Baron Munchausen Category: game Company/Publisher: Hogshead Publishing Cost: 3.95 Sterling Page count: 24 pages ISBN: 1-899749-18-7 Playtest Review by Mao Chapman on 02/08/99. Genre tags: Fantasy Historical Comedy	"It has come to my attention that many games of late have been of a deplorably low quality, borrowing ideas from hither and yon, with not a shred of originality to them (I shall name no names). Therefore I, the renowned BARON MUNCHAUSEN, have created a new game of the role-playing ilk, based upon the stories of my astonishing travels and surprising adventures, for the enjoyment and edification of noblemen and their friends" So reads the cover description of the fantastic Extraordinary adventures of Baron Munchausen, a self-styled "Role-Playing Game in a New Style". The game is apparently written by the legendary eighteenth-century nobleman Baron Munchausen himself and is very different from every other RPG you will ever come across. In fact, it is not really an RPG at all. The point of the game is to capture the extravagant and delightful nature of the tales about the Baron's life. For example, the time he lived for several weeks inside a whale, or travelled to the Moon, or perhaps the time he rode a cannon ball to survey the Turkish army that was besieging him. In this delightful game, players try to outdo each other by telling the most extraordinary story and without it having its credibility destroyed by the other players. Each player takes on the persona of a nobleman (or noblewoman; Baron, Duchess, Count, Cardinal etc), who has gathered with the others at some point towards the end of the 18th century to drink and to tell the amusing and fantastical stories of their previous exploits. Another player chooses the subject of the story. For example, the choosing player might turn to another and say something like "So, Baron (or whatever), tell us the story of how your luncheon with the Duke of Strathcarn started the Industrial Revolution". Or perhaps, "Tell us the story of how you discovered that your manservant was the Emperor of Prussia, and what you did about it". The player so addressed must then tell the story. Having finished, that player will then select another player and give them a different story to tell. When all the players have told a story then a winner is determined depending on who told the best. There are then certain extra elements within the game which make it even more fun and interesting. There is a system of using tokens in the game which are wagered in order to place amusing obstacles in the way of others people's tales. The end result in this system is that either the storyteller or the challenger must admit error and the concurrent loss of face which all the players, as 18th-century noblemen, will be trying to avoid. Also, if at any time one player directly calls into question the truthfulness or parentage of another player it is that person's duty to challenge the insult with a duel. There are two combat systems for duel resolution. The first is a simple 'paper-rock-scissors' between the duellists. The other method (infinitely preferred by the Baron) is to actually duel; with rapiers or pistols, to first blood or to the death. So why buy a game that is just a glorified storytelling competition and drinking game? Well for a start it is genuinely very funny. The way that it is written as if by the Baron himself and the constant reference to hid own exploits are certain to cause laughter. As with every good game, I wanted to play a game as soon as I read it, delighting in the exceptional and ridiculous spirit of the stories which is very well conveyed in the book. It provided an exceptionally good relief for my gaming group one evening, and I doubt it will be badly received in any group who attempts it. It is also very cheap; with only 24 pages it isn't surprising. It would be worth it for at least twice the price. In short, considering what you get and how much you pay, this is a fantastic game. Even if you do not game regularly, buy this book; you'll enjoy the read of nothing else. I can't wait to play it again, just as soon as I get back from my expedition to lead an army of tigers against Gibraltar! -Grand Duke Mao Chapman, the greatest games reviewer in all of Europe Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

The Extraordinary Adventures of Baron Munchausen