The Inside Scoop on Gaming

The Lejendary Rules (LR) claims two goals in its preface. First, it aims to bring new people to the hobby. Its second goal is satisfying experienced gamers. The author necessarily compromises in the effort to reach these goals, but manages to fall short of both.

LR has a rules-light, skill-heavy and point-based system. Character creation is fast and easy, but it oddly encourages players to pick Orders. These are analogous with, but not identical to character classes. Character creation has two novelties that offset this atavastism. One, it presents character intelligence as an optional attribute. This has been done before, and it removes a great challenge: role-playing a character more or less intelligent than the player. Two, the Abilities chosen adjust Ratings (attributes) and starting equipment. Abilities chosen thus encourage character's game mechanics to match their conception. This is a subtle and important strength. Unlike most point-based games, it is very hard to make a character without a clear idea in the player's mind.

This book also covers character creation, supernatural powers, and some of the combat rules. LR could be quickly learned, but some of the other rules lie in the as-yet unpublished "Legend Master's Lore" book. In order to have the entire rules, you must get that other book. A bestiary and game setting are also absent, although the latter may be found at the author's web site. This means play requires a high initial investment, which works against the stated goal of introducing new members to our hobby. Using non-standard terms throughout also works against this goal. Why call a character an Avatar? Why call an attribute a Rating? Sufficient precedent has been set to make certain words industry standards. Avoiding these serves no one. The included glossary helps with LJ's strange word choices. An index would help more, but this text lacks one. Its table of contents also claims a non-existent module lies at the book's end. Other poor editing includes "Game Master" instead of "Lejend Master," and inconsistent use of measuring units. This distracts from the book's content.

Gygax's preface raises an important point. Fresh participants are vital to the continuation of any activity, especially a social hobby like role-playing games. Unfortunately, nothing else in the book compares with this. LJ lacks both innovative mechanics and a captivating setting. The former fault has no remedy. Devoting a few pages to the absent module would have fixed the latter. It is too bad that this text fails to hit such clearly-stated aims. At half the cover price, LJ's would deserve an audience. At twenty-five dollars, the potential gamer is much better served by finding a free RPG on the Internet and printing a hard copy.

Style: 2 (Needs Work)
Substance: 1 (I Wasted My Money)

The Lejendary Rules
Author: Gary Gygax Category: game Company/Publisher: Hekaforge Productions Line: Lejendary Role-Playing System Cost: $24.95 Page count: 210 ISBN: 1-930377-02-9 SKU: HFP1003 Capsule Review by Til Eulenspiegel on 03/10/00. Genre tags: Fantasy	The Lejendary Rules (LR) claims two goals in its preface. First, it aims to bring new people to the hobby. Its second goal is satisfying experienced gamers. The author necessarily compromises in the effort to reach these goals, but manages to fall short of both. LR has a rules-light, skill-heavy and point-based system. Character creation is fast and easy, but it oddly encourages players to pick Orders. These are analogous with, but not identical to character classes. Character creation has two novelties that offset this atavastism. One, it presents character intelligence as an optional attribute. This has been done before, and it removes a great challenge: role-playing a character more or less intelligent than the player. Two, the Abilities chosen adjust Ratings (attributes) and starting equipment. Abilities chosen thus encourage character's game mechanics to match their conception. This is a subtle and important strength. Unlike most point-based games, it is very hard to make a character without a clear idea in the player's mind. This book also covers character creation, supernatural powers, and some of the combat rules. LR could be quickly learned, but some of the other rules lie in the as-yet unpublished "Legend Master's Lore" book. In order to have the entire rules, you must get that other book. A bestiary and game setting are also absent, although the latter may be found at the author's web site. This means play requires a high initial investment, which works against the stated goal of introducing new members to our hobby. Using non-standard terms throughout also works against this goal. Why call a character an Avatar? Why call an attribute a Rating? Sufficient precedent has been set to make certain words industry standards. Avoiding these serves no one. The included glossary helps with LJ's strange word choices. An index would help more, but this text lacks one. Its table of contents also claims a non-existent module lies at the book's end. Other poor editing includes "Game Master" instead of "Lejend Master," and inconsistent use of measuring units. This distracts from the book's content. Gygax's preface raises an important point. Fresh participants are vital to the continuation of any activity, especially a social hobby like role-playing games. Unfortunately, nothing else in the book compares with this. LJ lacks both innovative mechanics and a captivating setting. The former fault has no remedy. Devoting a few pages to the absent module would have fixed the latter. It is too bad that this text fails to hit such clearly-stated aims. At half the cover price, LJ's would deserve an audience. At twenty-five dollars, the potential gamer is much better served by finding a free RPG on the Internet and printing a hard copy. Style: 2 (Needs Work) Substance: 1 (I Wasted My Money)