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Review of Toon - The Cartoon Releplaying Game


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Hello and welcome! I am here to review the game named "Toon". Toon as you may have guessed is a game where the players take on the role of cartoon characters and it is loosely based on the Loonie Toons. Go on laugh, scoff, snicker, everyone else does... Everyone thinks Toon is a big elaborate joke or that it is meant for little kiddies. Wrong! This game is actually deep and satisfying. The game is so simple that everyone will enjoy playing it and in your D&D game if one wants to stab a friend and steal his best sword - then you can. If you still think this game is just for kids then perhaps we can delve a little deeper. (By the way, this review is for the deluxe version, not the 1985 version).

The rules: as I've said earlier, Toon rules are simple but actually, they are REALLY simple. I'll give you an example - the character creation's rule: Step 1 The Concept. When Toon says you can be anything you want, that's right, from an ape to a hairless ape or rabbit or a duck or a toaster or poison ivy - ANYTHING you want. If you can't think of anything good, the book contains a Species table, a Silly species table, the Really Silly species table and greatest of them all is the Unbelievably Silly species table. Step 2 Stats. Next the player determines 4 attributes - muscle, zip, smarts and Chutzpah (a.k.a. 'the attribute which cannot be pronounced').

Connected to these 4 attributes are a bunch of skills. The players receive 30 character creation points, to max out the remainder of skills. Oh and by the way, if the characters have points left over (which they probably will) they would be able to buy a shtick. Step 3 The Shtick. These are cartoon character's version of super heroes super powers. These Shticks vary from detect carrots to a bag of many things. But, my favorite (and the most expensive I might add), is Cosmic Shift!!! which allows you to do super cartoony things. Step 4 The Finishing Touches. Characters are given short backgrounds (not too long, this is a cartoon afterall), they are also given tools to cause mayhem, such as cream pies, seltzer bottles, shovels, chocolate cream pies and the likes.

See I told you this game was easy. What? You still think this game is just for kids?! Well then, let's delve a little deeper... Here's how the game plays: Toon actually plays more like a boardgame than a roleplaying game. Each player takes their turn getting their characters to do whatever they want. When they are faced with a task, either A. they will make a skill or attribute check or B. do a 50% roll. (Roll dice, a 1, 2 or 3 means YES and a 4, 5 or 6 means NO. This is not a new achievement in rollplaying, but hey, it works). Did I mention that really stupid cartoon characters can do silly things such as walk through walls or use a telephone booth as transportation! (Dr Who has got nothing on us).

What? You still think this game is for kids? Well, we'll do you one better... The Adventures. The book "Toon" is 208 pages. Most of the space is taken up by ready made adventures. I can't list all of them, but here's one of my favorite: The adventure is called 'Mars Needs Creampuffs'. In this story, an Alien Baker, named Do-Nut, is planning to use the planet Eclair to take over the Earth. This adventure has everything you'd want in a cartoon. It has a great story, even better villain and it practically begs for a sequel.

The End. Well, this is the end of my review. I hope you liked it. In my opinion, Toon is one of the best roleplaying games ever created. If you still dismiss this game because you think it is just for kids - well, that's your loss.

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