The Inside Scoop on Gaming

First off, I'd just like to say, "I love this book and the one's it was derived from." If you know the works of Weis and Hickman, and you haven't read the Darksword series, go now and read them. Come back when you're done.

Back? Good. Now we can continue.

I've had this book for about five years. I first picked up the series (well, the second book) on vacation. I read the first chapter, and was intrigued, but I didn't understand most of the references. When I realized that there were other books, I did two things: first, I slapped myself for not paying attentiong to the covers; then I went out and found the other books.

Once I had read the original trilogy, I found out, "Hey! They made a game, too!" This was about the time when my brother was getting me hooked on RPGs, and I just had to go find something really cool that he hadn't heard about yet.

I found Adventures in my local bookstore and took it home to pour over extensively. While I had misgivings, I still loved the book.

Adventures is presented as a journal of a priest of the church of Thimhallan to the evacuation force from Earth. In order to allow the people of Earth to better understand the fantastic world which he came from, this priest modeled the world in a game of make-believe called "Phantasia" - you and I would call it an RPG.

Through journals and historical records, the history and geopolitical situation of the world just before the occupation is laid out before we ever get into the rules. This section is a treat for fans of the books.

The rules are where this game meets its first hang-up. The system is crippled by its main mechanic: the Comparitive Probability Standard, or CPS. The CPS is a complex table of trait value Differentials and Random Differentials. Comparing the difference between Force (acting trait) and Resistance (well ... resisting trait) with a random number (either from 2d10 rolls or a convaluted system of hand signals between GM and Player) yields a result in the TAROC scale (Total, Almost, Reasonable, Off, and Canceled). T is good, C is bad.

Once you figure this system out (it took me a couple years in which I got frustrated and moved on many times), it is conceivable that you could use the system.

But it would be easier just to convert to your favorite system and use the background which is presented nicely in the first half or so of the book. If you have any experience with Weis and Hickman (ever heard of Dragonlance?), you will enjoy the background as a departure from the usual "monster are the strongest (or only) evil" fantasy worlds.

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

Darksword Adventures
Author: Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman Category: game Company/Publisher: Bantam Spectra Line: Darksword Cost: $4.99 Page count: 437 ISBN: 0-553-27600-X Capsule Review by Paul Stefko on 10/28/99. Genre tags: Fantasy	First off, I'd just like to say, "I love this book and the one's it was derived from." If you know the works of Weis and Hickman, and you haven't read the Darksword series, go now and read them. Come back when you're done. Back? Good. Now we can continue. I've had this book for about five years. I first picked up the series (well, the second book) on vacation. I read the first chapter, and was intrigued, but I didn't understand most of the references. When I realized that there were other books, I did two things: first, I slapped myself for not paying attentiong to the covers; then I went out and found the other books. Once I had read the original trilogy, I found out, "Hey! They made a game, too!" This was about the time when my brother was getting me hooked on RPGs, and I just had to go find something really cool that he hadn't heard about yet. I found Adventures in my local bookstore and took it home to pour over extensively. While I had misgivings, I still loved the book. Adventures is presented as a journal of a priest of the church of Thimhallan to the evacuation force from Earth. In order to allow the people of Earth to better understand the fantastic world which he came from, this priest modeled the world in a game of make-believe called "Phantasia" - you and I would call it an RPG. Through journals and historical records, the history and geopolitical situation of the world just before the occupation is laid out before we ever get into the rules. This section is a treat for fans of the books. The rules are where this game meets its first hang-up. The system is crippled by its main mechanic: the Comparitive Probability Standard, or CPS. The CPS is a complex table of trait value Differentials and Random Differentials. Comparing the difference between Force (acting trait) and Resistance (well ... resisting trait) with a random number (either from 2d10 rolls or a convaluted system of hand signals between GM and Player) yields a result in the TAROC scale (Total, Almost, Reasonable, Off, and Canceled). T is good, C is bad. Once you figure this system out (it took me a couple years in which I got frustrated and moved on many times), it is conceivable that you could use the system. But it would be easier just to convert to your favorite system and use the background which is presented nicely in the first half or so of the book. If you have any experience with Weis and Hickman (ever heard of Dragonlance?), you will enjoy the background as a departure from the usual "monster are the strongest (or only) evil" fantasy worlds. Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Darksword Adventures