The Inside Scoop on Gaming

This book pleases me.

Ken and Jo Walton did their homework when they wrote this book. It shows in how they present the important aspects of Celt society, how they explain something's importance and why that thing was important. It shows in how easy it was for me to generate plenty of uses for all of the material within its covers, and it got me excited to concoct a Celtic fantasy campaign.

This book is an excellant adjunct to a Werewolf, Changeling, Mage, Ars Magica or Pendragon campaign. It's helpful when dealing with other settings that possess Celt-like peoples, and it's great for breaking the monotony of more common historical or fantasy gaming. (Naked PCs fighting with spear and shield is not something that's common in most.)

What I liked most about this book is that it addressed the druids. I haven't seen this topic much in RPGs, and few others attempt to cover the historical originals like this book does. That was a strong point for me when I decided to buy it.

What I liked least also concerned the druids, and this is the lack of references in the bibliography. Only the most dismissive mentions of the esoteric books about the druids got made, and I believe that to be a mistake. Now, while I agree that there's a lot of fluff out there I also know that some of these folks- like the Waltons- also do their homework. Lumping them into the same lot as the fluff stuff is not fair to those writers, or to the neo-druids those folks write for.

You certainly don't need this book, but I advise that you take a look at it anyway. If you run a game with a substantial Celtic influence or presence, then I advise that you get this book and use it as a sort of adjunct to whatever main RPG you use. You won't be disappointed.

Style: 4 (Classy and well done)
Substance: 4 (Meaty)

GURPS Celtic Myth
Author: Ken and Jo Walton Category: game Company/Publisher: Steve Jackson Games Cost: $19.95 (US) Page count: 128 pages ISBN: 1-55634-195 Capsule Review by Bradford C. Walker on 07/21/98. Genre tags: none	This book pleases me. Ken and Jo Walton did their homework when they wrote this book. It shows in how they present the important aspects of Celt society, how they explain something's importance and why that thing was important. It shows in how easy it was for me to generate plenty of uses for all of the material within its covers, and it got me excited to concoct a Celtic fantasy campaign. This book is an excellant adjunct to a Werewolf, Changeling, Mage, Ars Magica or Pendragon campaign. It's helpful when dealing with other settings that possess Celt-like peoples, and it's great for breaking the monotony of more common historical or fantasy gaming. (Naked PCs fighting with spear and shield is not something that's common in most.) What I liked most about this book is that it addressed the druids. I haven't seen this topic much in RPGs, and few others attempt to cover the historical originals like this book does. That was a strong point for me when I decided to buy it. What I liked least also concerned the druids, and this is the lack of references in the bibliography. Only the most dismissive mentions of the esoteric books about the druids got made, and I believe that to be a mistake. Now, while I agree that there's a lot of fluff out there I also know that some of these folks- like the Waltons- also do their homework. Lumping them into the same lot as the fluff stuff is not fair to those writers, or to the neo-druids those folks write for. You certainly don't need this book, but I advise that you take a look at it anyway. If you run a game with a substantial Celtic influence or presence, then I advise that you get this book and use it as a sort of adjunct to whatever main RPG you use. You won't be disappointed. Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 4 (Meaty)

GURPS Celtic Myth