The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Puppetland is one of two games printed in the same book from Hogshead. You get two games in one book at a very good price. I only review Puppetland here.

Weighing in a hefty 21 pages of material, this is a very surrealistic game. This is a storytelling game taking place in Puppetland. Puppetland was created by The Maker to protect his precious puppets from the horrors of humans. This is not always a happy game and can get quite dark.

A brief introduction gives an overview of the history of Puppetland. The next section details the rules. There are three rules:

1) An hour is not always an hour. You only play the game for one real-time hour is the gist I got from this rule. Even if the adventure takes place more than three game days, you only play for one real hour.

2) What you say is what you do. The only way to talk out-of-character is to get up out of your chair. All other speech is considered to come from the puppet themselves. All of it.

3) The tale grows in the telling, and is being told to someone not present. A weird way of saying, "You are telling a story, speak like it." When you want to do something, you say it like "Run! Out the door, everyone!", not "I run for the door." Creativity is encouraged.

Fairly simple rules, I think.

There are four types of puppets to be played: Finger Puppets, Hand Puppets, Shadow Puppets and Marionette Puppets. All puppets can talk, move, think and pick things up. Each puppet type is then limited beyond that as to how fast they can move and what they can throw and lift.

One interesting thing about the game, after the hour is up the game is over and the puppets all fall asleep. They awaken back in their beds the next morning, healed of any damage they may have taken. You were chained to a wall and being beaten you say? No matter, you still wake up at home. Isn't that how most TV shows go?

The book then describes our villains, Punch the Maker-Killer. Puppetland is no longer a happy place because Punch killed the Maker. He made six "boys" who faithfully serve him and his wishes. Then there are the Nutcrackers. The foot soldiers of Punch. All the puppets live in Puppettown. Those who have escaped live in Respite. This is where our heroine lives, Judy. Respite is on the other side of the lake of milk and cookies.

The game makes for excellent reading. I encourage everyone to buy it. The layout is clean, the art is appropriate (read: dark and foreboding). The writing is also clear and understandable.

Did I forget to mention the mechanics? No. There are none to mention. It's a storytelling game. Diceless can be good sometimes, as it is in this case.

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

Puppetland
Author: John Tynes Category: game Company/Publisher: Hogshead Publishing Line: New Style Cost: $5.95 Page count: 24 ISBN: ISBN 1-899749-20-9 SKU: HOG401 Capsule Review by Chad Wilson on 01/21/00. Genre tags: Fantasy Horror Comedy Diceless	Puppetland is one of two games printed in the same book from Hogshead. You get two games in one book at a very good price. I only review Puppetland here. Weighing in a hefty 21 pages of material, this is a very surrealistic game. This is a storytelling game taking place in Puppetland. Puppetland was created by The Maker to protect his precious puppets from the horrors of humans. This is not always a happy game and can get quite dark. A brief introduction gives an overview of the history of Puppetland. The next section details the rules. There are three rules: 1) An hour is not always an hour. You only play the game for one real-time hour is the gist I got from this rule. Even if the adventure takes place more than three game days, you only play for one real hour. 2) What you say is what you do. The only way to talk out-of-character is to get up out of your chair. All other speech is considered to come from the puppet themselves. All of it. 3) The tale grows in the telling, and is being told to someone not present. A weird way of saying, "You are telling a story, speak like it." When you want to do something, you say it like "Run! Out the door, everyone!", not "I run for the door." Creativity is encouraged. Fairly simple rules, I think. There are four types of puppets to be played: Finger Puppets, Hand Puppets, Shadow Puppets and Marionette Puppets. All puppets can talk, move, think and pick things up. Each puppet type is then limited beyond that as to how fast they can move and what they can throw and lift. One interesting thing about the game, after the hour is up the game is over and the puppets all fall asleep. They awaken back in their beds the next morning, healed of any damage they may have taken. You were chained to a wall and being beaten you say? No matter, you still wake up at home. Isn't that how most TV shows go? The book then describes our villains, Punch the Maker-Killer. Puppetland is no longer a happy place because Punch killed the Maker. He made six "boys" who faithfully serve him and his wishes. Then there are the Nutcrackers. The foot soldiers of Punch. All the puppets live in Puppettown. Those who have escaped live in Respite. This is where our heroine lives, Judy. Respite is on the other side of the lake of milk and cookies. The game makes for excellent reading. I encourage everyone to buy it. The layout is clean, the art is appropriate (read: dark and foreboding). The writing is also clear and understandable. Did I forget to mention the mechanics? No. There are none to mention. It's a storytelling game. Diceless can be good sometimes, as it is in this case. Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 5 (Excellent!)