Realms of the Unknown (RotU) is unique in that the players take the role of a community's leader, and the GM (or Realm Controller, RC) takes the roll of the creator/deity of the world they play in. The rigidity of the game's mechanics makes it a natural for a play-by-mail or email campaign. Time conversions are dictated at 1 day of real time equals 1 week of game time. Players issue orders to their subjects and requests for results of their efforts via written correspondence to the RC, examples provided have the players referring to the RC by their deity name. As play continues, communities increase their size and sophistication through economic and technological advances. War also plays a part as communities encounter one another and NPC communities. Oddly enough there is a section on inter-realm travel, which means communities can relocate to other RC's worlds or a single player could command peoples in more than on realm. Little is provided on standard fantasy races or monsters, and magic gets a passing mention with little useful support but it's all up to the individual Realm Controller.

The two books, Realm Controller's and Player's manuals, are standard staple bound hard board covered publications. Color cover art, looking like a water color painting, and interior line art are good enough though not plainly connected to the surrounding text. The text reads clearly and plenty of examples are provided. The RC is given lots of room to hang himself and to bust the stones of the players, both will probably provide some of the fun in a game. The rules system is really a matter of statistics, resources in and relative expected results out. Resources like raw materials, talented people, time and money, are used to support activity from farming, to weapon production, exploration and war.

I can safely say that RotU is not a game for me. The Realm Controller is charged with doing a lot of work, not so much the math involved in rectifying resources vs. requirements, but in coordinating the information from independent player's realms which interact blindly as opposed to standard PC adventuring party interactions. I can, however, recommend it as complete and cohesive, as well as being easy for players who can't get together, to enjoy. So, if you ever wanted to run a play-by-mail game, here's one set up and ready to go. Buyer beware, this is not a table top rpg.

This review appears in Alarums & Excursions #321, and appears here with permission.