The Inside Scoop on Gaming

"Dying is easy . . . Comedy is hard."
- Sir Donald Wolfit

Snarf is back!!!

SnarfQuest began back in 1983 as a three-page black and white comic in the Dragon magazine. After six years, the strip was retired. It now has resurface as a bi-monthly color feature in Games Unplugged magazine. The adventures have also been reprinted in a $25 graphic novel. The SnarfQuest RPG Worldbook summmarizes the series, provides d20 advice and mechanics for SnarfQuest and humor adventures, and provides creator comments and analysis. In fact, the advice given in this book should help humor writers as much as roleplayers. The book itself is 128 b&w pages, digest sized, in hardback, and sells for $20. There doesn't seem to be many new SnarfQuest illustrations -- but it's not like you've read the series recently.

For those unfamiliar with SnarfQuest... Read the strip! At the bottom of this article is a link to the first 25 pages of the SnarfQuest saga. Enjoy.

The book's introduction includes the first two chapters of the SnarfQuest saga. Chapter One is an episode guide of each chapter (all 42 of them!). Chapter Two provides advice and d20 mechanics to add humor to your game. Chapter Three focuses on the SnarfQuest world (races, character classes). Chapter Four features magical and technical items (remember the robot???). Chapter Five lists the SQ creatures of the region, including the infamous Gagglezoomer. Chapter Six ends the book with stat blocks of our heroes.

Throught the book, Elmore (in caricature form!) provides comments and "designer notes" about the series, from analysis of creating humor to why all the women in the comic are so pretty. It's very entertaining, and provides analysis and anecdotes to both strip and storytelling.

Chapter One: The Quest for the Thrown

Chapter One is an episode guide for the series. While some rpg supplements (such as the BESM guides) treat the episode guide as separate entities (thus becoming a waste of space for those familiar with it), SQ provides Adventure Notes. Not mere Adventure Hooks, Adventure Notes are techniques a GM can add humor into his game, using the episode as a "real world" example. I wish more episode guides in rpg books did this.

Chapter Two: Adding Humor to Your Game

Despite the title, IMO, this chapter advises more how to add **SnarfQuest** humor to a roleplaying game. (I don't, for example, think SnarfQuest humor is the same as that in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.) The chapter consists of a series of humor gaming maxims ("The Silliest Possible Thing That Can Happen, Will!"), Variant Rules, and Goofy New Feats. The maxims are not d20-specific, and I would suggest the players also read them to get them into the spirit of SQ rolelaying. The Variant Rules are specifically for the d20 system. My favorite (which should be used for any d20 game!) is Bragging Experience: You only get the experience after you tell the story to an audience! The other rules and feats seem to focus more on rollplaying than roleplaying, but I haven't playtested them. The advice doesn't approach the level of Paranoia or "Robin Laws' Guide to Good Gamemastering", but is definitely a step above your typical "adapt a license" supplements I've read. (I'd also choose a different system than d20 for humorous adventure roleplaying, but that's another subject.)

Chapter Three: Characters, Races, Kings and Things

Character Races: My own assumption of SQ was that the races were random and spontaneously created (and from one of Elmore's commentaries, I think I'm right!) yet this section fleshes out the SQ-specific and D&D races as well as any standard campaign supplement. SQ races receive two pages each, including their own racial trait tables. I actually found the SQ races more substantive in the worldbook than the strip itself.

Character Classes: All D&D character classes, with minor background modification, are playable in SQ. Some roleplaying suggestions for each class is provided. SQ adds a new class, the Noble class.

Prestige Classes: You'll never guess what the new prestige class is. That's right: The Knight of the Order of Robot. It's something of a long story, but a robot entered the series around episode 30 and ended up saving a princess. As a result, an entire knighthood attempting to emulate this hero ("I'm a robot, I hardly sleep. / I'm a robot. I go bleep.") grew around his fame. I'd actually hazard that a KOR would be a great way for a player uncomfortable with humor to roleplay. (The class borders on parody, and IMO, parody is easier to play than humor.) Two PCs competing to be the better KOR should pretty much write itself (assuming they don't drive the other players nuts...).

New Skill and New Feats: Many characters in SQ can only read a few letters (and make an "X" mark to sign their name), so characters require the Literacy Skill to read. Feats, such as Subduing Strike, are feats you might see in any d20 supplement.

Chapter Four: Magic and Technology

Arcane Magic / Divine Magic / Psionic Powers: In SQ, magic isn't a tool, it's an extension of the personality (and not necessarily in a good way!). For arcane magic, wizards are rare, magic augments an obsessive trait (eg. time travel, "fighting evil"), and magic users get pouty when their toys are taken away. Divine magic is a self-fulfiling prophesy: The more you know it's true, the truer it becomes. Clerics and druids thus tend to be on the zealot side of faith, taking subtle jabs at othe religions. A new spell, Identity Crisis is included (so you too can make dragons think they're ducks...). Psionics weren't in the SQ comic strip, but roleplaying suggestions (eg. nervous twitches) are provided as well. In the SQ universe, magic becomes roleplaying fodder. That's a good thing.

Technological and Magic Items: Stats for about nine items, either magic or technological, are provided here. Some advice is given about how players should roleplay with these mighty items (like the cigarette lighter). One notable magic item is the Bikini Armor! Its AC modifier is based on the wearer's CHA modifier, of course...

Chapter Five: Monsters, Critters, and Creatures

D20 System Creatures in Snarfquest: Standard D&D monsters are part of SQ, and this section provides examples of how they were used in the story.

New Creatures: This section provides stat blocks for the crazy creatures of SQ. Remember the Gagglezoomer and the Whazzat Lizard? (: Creatures that I don't remember having names are given them.

Chapter Six: Cast of Characters

This section provides statblocks for the major and some minor characters in the SQ comic series. Snarf, by the way, is a 4th level fighter. Willie the lisping duck / red dragon has a CR of 12.

The book ends with the closing strip of the SnarfQuest series, and an afterword by Mr. Elmore.

Conclusion

Most "adapt a license" worldbooks provide an episode guide, background and history, and creature and character statblocks. (Many campaign books do this as well.) What sets apart the SnarfQuest RPG Worldbook from these supplements is its gaming advice and Elmore's design notes. The humor gaming advice isn't as comprehensive as the best advice books (and I doubt was meant to be), but does a good job at conveying roleplaying in Snarf's world. Elmore's commentary is simply entertaining. Fans of SnarfQuest will find this a joy to read. Humor writers will find some good advice. World building game designers should use this as a model to convey campaign atmosphere. Snarf rides again!

SnarfQuest from Larry Elmore's site :
http://www.larryelmore.com/SnarfQuest/AGSnarf.html

Start reading the comic here! :
http://www.larryelmore.com/SnarfQuest/SnarfComic/SnarfComic01.html

SnarfQuest RPG Worldbook
SnarfQuest RPG Worldbook Capsule Review by Cedric Chin on 23/01/03 Style: 4 (Classy and well done) Substance: 5 (Excellent!) Snarf is back! Product: SnarfQuest RPG Worldbook Author: Jamie Chambers & Larry Elmore Category: RPG Company/Publisher: Elmore Productions, Inc. Line: d20 Cost: $20 Page count: 128 Year published: 2003 ISBN: 9-780972-246866 SKU: EPI-8410 Comp copy?: yes Capsule Review by Cedric Chin on 23/01/03 Genre tags: Fantasy Comedy	"Dying is easy . . . Comedy is hard." - Sir Donald Wolfit Snarf is back!!! SnarfQuest began back in 1983 as a three-page black and white comic in the Dragon magazine. After six years, the strip was retired. It now has resurface as a bi-monthly color feature in Games Unplugged magazine. The adventures have also been reprinted in a $25 graphic novel. The SnarfQuest RPG Worldbook summmarizes the series, provides d20 advice and mechanics for SnarfQuest and humor adventures, and provides creator comments and analysis. In fact, the advice given in this book should help humor writers as much as roleplayers. The book itself is 128 b&w pages, digest sized, in hardback, and sells for $20. There doesn't seem to be many new SnarfQuest illustrations -- but it's not like you've read the series recently. For those unfamiliar with SnarfQuest... Read the strip! At the bottom of this article is a link to the first 25 pages of the SnarfQuest saga. Enjoy. Contents The book's introduction includes the first two chapters of the SnarfQuest saga. Chapter One is an episode guide of each chapter (all 42 of them!). Chapter Two provides advice and d20 mechanics to add humor to your game. Chapter Three focuses on the SnarfQuest world (races, character classes). Chapter Four features magical and technical items (remember the robot???). Chapter Five lists the SQ creatures of the region, including the infamous Gagglezoomer. Chapter Six ends the book with stat blocks of our heroes. Throught the book, Elmore (in caricature form!) provides comments and "designer notes" about the series, from analysis of creating humor to why all the women in the comic are so pretty. It's very entertaining, and provides analysis and anecdotes to both strip and storytelling. Chapter One: The Quest for the Thrown Chapter One is an episode guide for the series. While some rpg supplements (such as the BESM guides) treat the episode guide as separate entities (thus becoming a waste of space for those familiar with it), SQ provides Adventure Notes. Not mere Adventure Hooks, Adventure Notes are techniques a GM can add humor into his game, using the episode as a "real world" example. I wish more episode guides in rpg books did this. Chapter Two: Adding Humor to Your Game Despite the title, IMO, this chapter advises more how to add SnarfQuest humor to a roleplaying game. (I don't, for example, think SnarfQuest humor is the same as that in Monty Python and the Holy Grail.) The chapter consists of a series of humor gaming maxims ("The Silliest Possible Thing That Can Happen, Will!"), Variant Rules, and Goofy New Feats. The maxims are not d20-specific, and I would suggest the players also read them to get them into the spirit of SQ rolelaying. The Variant Rules are specifically for the d20 system. My favorite (which should be used for any d20 game!) is Bragging Experience: You only get the experience after you tell the story to an audience! The other rules and feats seem to focus more on rollplaying than roleplaying, but I haven't playtested them. The advice doesn't approach the level of Paranoia or "Robin Laws' Guide to Good Gamemastering", but is definitely a step above your typical "adapt a license" supplements I've read. (I'd also choose a different system than d20 for humorous adventure roleplaying, but that's another subject.) Chapter Three: Characters, Races, Kings and Things Character Races: My own assumption of SQ was that the races were random and spontaneously created (and from one of Elmore's commentaries, I think I'm right!) yet this section fleshes out the SQ-specific and D&D races as well as any standard campaign supplement. SQ races receive two pages each, including their own racial trait tables. I actually found the SQ races more substantive in the worldbook than the strip itself. Character Classes: All D&D character classes, with minor background modification, are playable in SQ. Some roleplaying suggestions for each class is provided. SQ adds a new class, the Noble class. Prestige Classes: You'll never guess what the new prestige class is. That's right: The Knight of the Order of Robot. It's something of a long story, but a robot entered the series around episode 30 and ended up saving a princess. As a result, an entire knighthood attempting to emulate this hero ("I'm a robot, I hardly sleep. / I'm a robot. I go bleep.") grew around his fame. I'd actually hazard that a KOR would be a great way for a player uncomfortable with humor to roleplay. (The class borders on parody, and IMO, parody is easier to play than humor.) Two PCs competing to be the better KOR should pretty much write itself (assuming they don't drive the other players nuts...). New Skill and New Feats: Many characters in SQ can only read a few letters (and make an "X" mark to sign their name), so characters require the Literacy Skill to read. Feats, such as Subduing Strike, are feats you might see in any d20 supplement. Chapter Four: Magic and Technology Arcane Magic / Divine Magic / Psionic Powers: In SQ, magic isn't a tool, it's an extension of the personality (and not necessarily in a good way!). For arcane magic, wizards are rare, magic augments an obsessive trait (eg. time travel, "fighting evil"), and magic users get pouty when their toys are taken away. Divine magic is a self-fulfiling prophesy: The more you know it's true, the truer it becomes. Clerics and druids thus tend to be on the zealot side of faith, taking subtle jabs at othe religions. A new spell, Identity Crisis is included (so you too can make dragons think they're ducks...). Psionics weren't in the SQ comic strip, but roleplaying suggestions (eg. nervous twitches) are provided as well. In the SQ universe, magic becomes roleplaying fodder. That's a good thing. Technological and Magic Items: Stats for about nine items, either magic or technological, are provided here. Some advice is given about how players should roleplay with these mighty items (like the cigarette lighter). One notable magic item is the Bikini Armor! Its AC modifier is based on the wearer's CHA modifier, of course... Chapter Five: Monsters, Critters, and Creatures D20 System Creatures in Snarfquest: Standard D&D monsters are part of SQ, and this section provides examples of how they were used in the story. New Creatures: This section provides stat blocks for the crazy creatures of SQ. Remember the Gagglezoomer and the Whazzat Lizard? (: Creatures that I don't remember having names are given them. Chapter Six: Cast of Characters This section provides statblocks for the major and some minor characters in the SQ comic series. Snarf, by the way, is a 4th level fighter. Willie the lisping duck / red dragon has a CR of 12. The book ends with the closing strip of the SnarfQuest series, and an afterword by Mr. Elmore. Conclusion Most "adapt a license" worldbooks provide an episode guide, background and history, and creature and character statblocks. (Many campaign books do this as well.) What sets apart the SnarfQuest RPG Worldbook from these supplements is its gaming advice and Elmore's design notes. The humor gaming advice isn't as comprehensive as the best advice books (and I doubt was meant to be), but does a good job at conveying roleplaying in Snarf's world. Elmore's commentary is simply entertaining. Fans of SnarfQuest will find this a joy to read. Humor writers will find some good advice. World building game designers should use this as a model to convey campaign atmosphere. Snarf rides again! SnarfQuest from Larry Elmore's site : http://www.larryelmore.com/SnarfQuest/AGSnarf.html Start reading the comic here! : http://www.larryelmore.com/SnarfQuest/SnarfComic/SnarfComic01.html

SnarfQuest RPG Worldbook