The Inside Scoop on Gaming

I have no idea what separates this from the first edition. But that's completely understandable, as I have no idea where I am. This morning, I had faith in the rationality of the world. This morning, I thought I knew everything that was necessary to know about psychic powers, the soul, alien races, and world-expanding conspiracies, which is to say, precious little. This morning, I was as confident as ever about my place in the cosmos.

Then I bought Over the Edge, 2nd Edition. Anyone familiar with the game knows what I'm talking about. Thr rest of you will be getting the idea, shortly.

It's not the game system that has my head spinning. The system itself is as "rules-light" as a system can be and still have a system. Simple six-sided dice, with as little or as many complications as you feel like adding. The "Golden Rule" made famous by White Wolf is so ingrained into the system that the authors don't even bother to point it out due to it's obviousness. Character generation is as close to "free-form" as you can get without losing the concept of guidelines altogether. Being a fan of this trend, I was ecstatic. People in need of more structure will not be as impressed. (But don't worry; power- gamers and munchkins will dig their own graves faster than in any other game.)

It was the setting that got to me. Picture a tiny Mediterranean island just south of Italy. Now picture every one of David Lynch's films going on at once. Throw in some live action William Burroughs' stories, with a dash of Franz Kafka. Stir in a few X-files episodes, and bring to simmer. That's life on Al-Amarja, where your characters ended up for some reason and may never get to leave. If the conspiracies and plotting in the shadows doesn't do you in, the bizzareness and random violence will. Unless, of course, someone's watching out for you, or you're just incredibly lucky. Or you don't mind developing the moral backbone of a Slinky just to make it through the week....

Oh sure, everything seems normal, at first. But that creeping suspicion you have, the one that tells you that something is out of whack, will soon be replaced by the creeping suspicion that things are spiraling quickly out of control. That dread will soon be replaced by the sinking feeling that nothing was ever in your control to begin with, and that everything you think you know was a lie. Then it gets really bad.... But at least you won't miss out on one of the most intriguing settings ever in a "modern" game, with some of the most colorful people who never made it into a movie. (Maybe someday.....)

But that's okay. You can turn a blind eye and miss out on the chance to really take life by the horns. I'm sure what you don't know won't hurt you.....

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

Over the Edge 2nd Edition
Author: Johnathan Tweet w/ Robin D. Laws Category: game Company/Publisher: Atlas Games Cost: $25.00 Page count: 240 ISBN: 1-887801-52-9 Capsule Review by Carl L. Congdon on 09/30/97. Genre tags: none	I have no idea what separates this from the first edition. But that's completely understandable, as I have no idea where I am. This morning, I had faith in the rationality of the world. This morning, I thought I knew everything that was necessary to know about psychic powers, the soul, alien races, and world-expanding conspiracies, which is to say, precious little. This morning, I was as confident as ever about my place in the cosmos. Then I bought Over the Edge, 2nd Edition. Anyone familiar with the game knows what I'm talking about. Thr rest of you will be getting the idea, shortly. It's not the game system that has my head spinning. The system itself is as "rules-light" as a system can be and still have a system. Simple six-sided dice, with as little or as many complications as you feel like adding. The "Golden Rule" made famous by White Wolf is so ingrained into the system that the authors don't even bother to point it out due to it's obviousness. Character generation is as close to "free-form" as you can get without losing the concept of guidelines altogether. Being a fan of this trend, I was ecstatic. People in need of more structure will not be as impressed. (But don't worry; power- gamers and munchkins will dig their own graves faster than in any other game.) It was the setting that got to me. Picture a tiny Mediterranean island just south of Italy. Now picture every one of David Lynch's films going on at once. Throw in some live action William Burroughs' stories, with a dash of Franz Kafka. Stir in a few X-files episodes, and bring to simmer. That's life on Al-Amarja, where your characters ended up for some reason and may never get to leave. If the conspiracies and plotting in the shadows doesn't do you in, the bizzareness and random violence will. Unless, of course, someone's watching out for you, or you're just incredibly lucky. Or you don't mind developing the moral backbone of a Slinky just to make it through the week.... Oh sure, everything seems normal, at first. But that creeping suspicion you have, the one that tells you that something is out of whack, will soon be replaced by the creeping suspicion that things are spiraling quickly out of control. That dread will soon be replaced by the sinking feeling that nothing was ever in your control to begin with, and that everything you think you know was a lie. Then it gets really bad.... But at least you won't miss out on one of the most intriguing settings ever in a "modern" game, with some of the most colorful people who never made it into a movie. (Maybe someday.....) But that's okay. You can turn a blind eye and miss out on the chance to really take life by the horns. I'm sure what you don't know won't hurt you..... Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)

Over the Edge 2nd Edition