The Inside Scoop on Gaming

Originally released in the DRAGONLANCE: FIFTH AGE game set, where they seem most at home, the SAGA Game Rules are also available in a curious little box about the size of a paperback book, and with a cover by Larry Elmore that, in fact, is from a novel. To be clear, however, this review is of the Fate Deck product which contains the SAGA game system, and *not* the DRAGONLANCE: FIFTH AGE game or the SAGA system itself. (It's best to take them one at a time, since they each have their own particular strengths and weaknesses.)

The physical presence of the Fate Deck boxed set is actually kind of charming. Everything is smaller than a gamer might be used. Giant hardcover books have been replaced with the small box. The customary "mini-adventure" is a small folded sheet of cardstock. The dice are instead a stack of attractive playing cards. The character sheet in the box is just about four inches high. It kind of like going to Disneyland and marveling at how cute everything appears to be in seven-ninths scale. Normally I might suggest that such an attempt at novelty is really just a cheap trick to get attention, but in this case it's really more symbolic. The SAGA system seems to be a smaller system, a more comfortable put-it-in-your-pocket, take-it-with-you kind of a game. But, really, it's got a tremendous amount of depth and lots of optional rules "corners" or "niches" to explore in the context of story-sensitive campaigns.

Let's break it down. The Fate Deck box, which is the set of core rules, I guess, contains an awful lot for such a small box. A 16-page, but still attractive, little book explains enough of the rules to get going. The deck, which is 82 cards strong, is divided into two shrinkwrapped piles (because otherwise it doesn't even fit in the box -- since it's so small). Eighteen character cards, of the same stock, give statistics and some background on characters, some noteworthy and some new. A little cardstock, well, pamphlet, I guess, has a miniature character sheet, a rules expansion for playing goblin and half-ogre heroes, and the rules for the Dragon Wars card game. A second pamphlet contains one of four randomly assorted mini-adventures. The one I got involves some dwarves missing a crown and wanting it back.

How does all this, as a product, work? Well, it depends on why you bought it. The Fate Deck box might make you think you can play a fantasy campaign using the SAGA system just from this box. And, honestly, I guess you could. But there's a curious inconsistency in the product. I'm unclear whether or not TSR expected this little ten dollar box to be the core rules, a spare deck of the cards, or a teaser-introduction to the DRAGONLANCE: FIFTH AGE game. Frankly, it doesn't really matter what they intended it as. The box is a little bit of each, but doesn't really excel at any of those roles. They sort of interfere with each other, since it's hard to tell who the booklet is written for.

As a set of core rules, it's a little slim. There isn't really enough of an explanation of how roleplaying or dramatic adventure games work to fully convey the complex nature of the hobby to beginners. Beginners who do start here, and like the idea, should move on to the DRAGONLANCE: FIFTH AGE game. Beginners who aren't terribly moved by the notion of dramatic adventure gaming won't be out too much, though, since the box is a measely $10. Heck, the Dragon Wars card game might be marketed for that much by itself (and it is simple fun). And, of course, old-timers who buy the box will just need to get a lowdown on the rules so they can give it a shot. So, I guess the Fate Deck boxed set succeeds there. By doing that, it also succeeds as an introduction to FIFTH AGE. Which is good, since everything in the box, although not *really* a FIFTH AGE supplement, per se, does relate to DRAGONLANCE.

As a spare deck of cards, it's a good buy. Although the FIFTH AGE game comes with a deck as well (which is how I started), it can get battered pretty quickly by angry players and greasy fingers. For ten bucks one can get a new deck, a little adventure, the Dragon Wars game, a rules booklet to give to an interested newbie, and an expansion for goblin and half-ogre player characters. So, it's a good buy. But, as I get down to my fourth or fifth deck of cards, I might not think so anymore.

So, the package is pretty and it's a joy to get anything in a box from TSR for $10. What about the rules?

Frankly, the SAGA system is what I've been looking for in a fantasy game. Now, to be fair, I've been bitter lately because I have shelves full of AD&D books and supplements that I stopped using once I discovered there were *other* RPGs on the market. The AD&D rule system and I don't get along very well, and so I'm somewhat prejudiced in favor of the SAGA system. Add to that my long-time love for the DRAGONLANCE setting, and I'm starting to seem downright biased. That's okay. It's still a good system.

Next week, a detailed review of the SAGA Game System itself, to be followed by a review of the DRAGONLANCE: FIFTH AGE game as a whole.

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

Fate Deck (for the SAGA Game Rules)
Author: Steven Brown, Steve Miller, Ed Stark Category: game Company/Publisher: TSR Inc. Cost: $9.95 Page count: 16 (and more) ISBN: 0-7869-1145-X Capsule Review by Wil Hindmarch on 03/17/98. Genre tags: none	Originally released in the DRAGONLANCE: FIFTH AGE game set, where they seem most at home, the SAGA Game Rules are also available in a curious little box about the size of a paperback book, and with a cover by Larry Elmore that, in fact, is from a novel. To be clear, however, this review is of the Fate Deck product which contains the SAGA game system, and not the DRAGONLANCE: FIFTH AGE game or the SAGA system itself. (It's best to take them one at a time, since they each have their own particular strengths and weaknesses.) The physical presence of the Fate Deck boxed set is actually kind of charming. Everything is smaller than a gamer might be used. Giant hardcover books have been replaced with the small box. The customary "mini-adventure" is a small folded sheet of cardstock. The dice are instead a stack of attractive playing cards. The character sheet in the box is just about four inches high. It kind of like going to Disneyland and marveling at how cute everything appears to be in seven-ninths scale. Normally I might suggest that such an attempt at novelty is really just a cheap trick to get attention, but in this case it's really more symbolic. The SAGA system seems to be a smaller system, a more comfortable put-it-in-your-pocket, take-it-with-you kind of a game. But, really, it's got a tremendous amount of depth and lots of optional rules "corners" or "niches" to explore in the context of story-sensitive campaigns. Let's break it down. The Fate Deck box, which is the set of core rules, I guess, contains an awful lot for such a small box. A 16-page, but still attractive, little book explains enough of the rules to get going. The deck, which is 82 cards strong, is divided into two shrinkwrapped piles (because otherwise it doesn't even fit in the box -- since it's so small). Eighteen character cards, of the same stock, give statistics and some background on characters, some noteworthy and some new. A little cardstock, well, pamphlet, I guess, has a miniature character sheet, a rules expansion for playing goblin and half-ogre heroes, and the rules for the Dragon Wars card game. A second pamphlet contains one of four randomly assorted mini-adventures. The one I got involves some dwarves missing a crown and wanting it back. How does all this, as a product, work? Well, it depends on why you bought it. The Fate Deck box might make you think you can play a fantasy campaign using the SAGA system just from this box. And, honestly, I guess you could. But there's a curious inconsistency in the product. I'm unclear whether or not TSR expected this little ten dollar box to be the core rules, a spare deck of the cards, or a teaser-introduction to the DRAGONLANCE: FIFTH AGE game. Frankly, it doesn't really matter what they intended it as. The box is a little bit of each, but doesn't really excel at any of those roles. They sort of interfere with each other, since it's hard to tell who the booklet is written for. As a set of core rules, it's a little slim. There isn't really enough of an explanation of how roleplaying or dramatic adventure games work to fully convey the complex nature of the hobby to beginners. Beginners who do start here, and like the idea, should move on to the DRAGONLANCE: FIFTH AGE game. Beginners who aren't terribly moved by the notion of dramatic adventure gaming won't be out too much, though, since the box is a measely $10. Heck, the Dragon Wars card game might be marketed for that much by itself (and it is simple fun). And, of course, old-timers who buy the box will just need to get a lowdown on the rules so they can give it a shot. So, I guess the Fate Deck boxed set succeeds there. By doing that, it also succeeds as an introduction to FIFTH AGE. Which is good, since everything in the box, although not really a FIFTH AGE supplement, per se, does relate to DRAGONLANCE. As a spare deck of cards, it's a good buy. Although the FIFTH AGE game comes with a deck as well (which is how I started), it can get battered pretty quickly by angry players and greasy fingers. For ten bucks one can get a new deck, a little adventure, the Dragon Wars game, a rules booklet to give to an interested newbie, and an expansion for goblin and half-ogre player characters. So, it's a good buy. But, as I get down to my fourth or fifth deck of cards, I might not think so anymore. So, the package is pretty and it's a joy to get anything in a box from TSR for $10. What about the rules? Frankly, the SAGA system is what I've been looking for in a fantasy game. Now, to be fair, I've been bitter lately because I have shelves full of AD&D books and supplements that I stopped using once I discovered there were other RPGs on the market. The AD&D rule system and I don't get along very well, and so I'm somewhat prejudiced in favor of the SAGA system. Add to that my long-time love for the DRAGONLANCE setting, and I'm starting to seem downright biased. That's okay. It's still a good system. Next week, a detailed review of the SAGA Game System itself, to be followed by a review of the DRAGONLANCE: FIFTH AGE game as a whole. Style: 5 (Excellent!) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

Fate Deck (for the SAGA Game Rules)