[RPG]: Blue Rose: The Roleplaying Game of Romantic Fantasy, reviewed by Dan Davenport (4/5)

[RPGnet Reviews]

http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/13/13057.phtml

Dan Davenport's Summary:

Before Green Ronin turned its Mutants & Masterminds d20 variant into the generic True20 system, it applied it to the romantic fantasy subgenre. So what does that make this? A chick-flick with dice? A roleplaying “gayme”? A d20 game I’d enjoy running and playing? The Hard-boiled GMshoe is on the case.

Go to the full review (http://www.rpg.net/reviews/archive/13/13057.phtml) for more information.

[C.W.Richeson]

Another unbelievably comprehensive review that's both easy on the eyes and fun to read, what with its rhy humor and all. Great job!

I've enjoyed Blue Rose in play, though I'm not sure it's a game I'd want to run or play more than once.

[Wood]

I've enjoyed Blue Rose in play, though I'm not sure it's a game I'd want to run or play more than once.
Rhy's that, then?

I showed the review to one of my regular players, knowing full well that it's basically what DnD would be like if she wrote it. She was sold pretty early on.

[C.W.Richeson]

Part of the fun was the nature of the world - it's a little different from other fantasy settings, especially with a bit more focus on good organizations and corruption being so difficult to uncover. Talking animals and pure hearted adventures help round that out for a unique feel - but after having run it once I feel like I got my feel for the world. I think it would require a narrowly tailored campaign pitch to get me interested again, as I feel like I got the "Blue Rose experience."

[Old Geezer]

Part of the fun was the nature of the world - it's a little different from other fantasy settings, especially with a bit more focus on good organizations and corruption being so difficult to uncover. Talking animals and pure hearted adventures help round that out for a unique feel - but after having run it once I feel like I got my feel for the world. I think it would require a narrowly tailored campaign pitch to get me interested again, as I feel like I got the "Blue Rose experience."

On the other hand, it sounds like a refreshing change from the typical FRPG I've seen all too often -- "you're a bunch of black hearted bastards killing anything that moves."

[Wood]

On the other hand, it sounds like a refreshing change from the typical FRPG I've seen all too often -- "you're a bunch of black hearted bastards killing anything that moves."...and taking their stuff. Don't forget that part.

[Dan Davenport]

Another unbelievably comprehensive review that's both easy on the eyes and fun to read, what with its rhy humor and all. Great job!

Thanks, Chris! :)

[Dan Davenport]

On the other hand, it sounds like a refreshing change from the typical FRPG I've seen all too often -- "you're a bunch of black hearted bastards killing anything that moves."

Interesting point, OG... I can't see a whole lot of slaughter-for-profit going on in this game. (Well, not without missing the point completely, that is.)

[Mark Krawec]

Interesting point, OG... I can't see a whole lot of slaughter-for-profit going on in this game. (Well, not without missing the point completely, that is.)

"I pull my axe out of 'is head & rifle 'is corpse!"

"He's got a ring worth ... uh ... +1 wealth."

"..."

Yeah, not much of a thrill there.

[Old Geezer]

(Well, not without missing the point completely, that is.)


And that became rare when?

[Lev Lafayette]

Very nice review... I've been looking at Blue Rose for quite some time now (having read the PDF brief version more than a couple of times) and this may very well the review that puts me over the edge... I mean 9/10? Hell, I'd better get me some of that...

[Dan Davenport]

And that became rare when?

Heh. True enough, although in certain games, missing the point is less fun than it is in others. :)

[Dan Davenport]

Very nice review... I've been looking at Blue Rose for quite some time now (having read the PDF brief version more than a couple of times) and this may very well the review that puts me over the edge... I mean 9/10? Hell, I'd better get me some of that...

Thanks, Lev! It's good at what it does, so if you like what it sets out to do, you should be pleased. :)

[Wyvern76]

So, other than the setting-specific material, is there anything here that's not in True20? Are the arcana the same as True20's supernatural powers?

Wyvern

[Dan Davenport]

So, other than the setting-specific material, is there anything here that's not in True20? Are the arcana the same as True20's supernatural powers?

Wyvern

Sorry, Wyvern -- not having True20, I don't really know for sure. The one difference I do know about for certain is that in True20, armor helps prevent damage rather than adding directly to defense.

[Wyvern76]

Sorry, Wyvern -- not having True20, I don't really know for sure.Well, my question wasn't directed only at you. Anybody else know?

Wyvern

[C.W.Richeson]

I don't have my books with me, but here's what I said in my True20 review:

Fans of the system introduced in Blue Rose will like True 20 and may even be able to port some of the magic over. However, be aware that the system is largely the same and a person that owns Blue Rose could easily run True 20 fantasy games without the need to purchase this book.

And vice versa. IIRC there's a lot of overlap but I think some of the Blue Rose Arcana are different.

[Dan Davenport]

I don't have my books with me, but here's what I said in my True20 review:

And vice versa. IIRC there's a lot of overlap but I think some of the Blue Rose Arcana are different.

Is any of the magic higher-powered in True20? If not, seems like it'd be difficult to run a more traditional fantasy setting with the system.

[C.W.Richeson]

Is any of the magic higher-powered in True20? If not, seems like it'd be difficult to run a more traditional fantasy setting with the system.

It's equally high powered as far as I'm concerned, with the more evil spells packing a bit more punch.

Keep in mind that since it's always a Skill increasing the DC of the Save that the magic is as high powered as the characters are.

[Dan Davenport]

It's equally high powered as far as I'm concerned, with the more evil spells packing a bit more punch.

Keep in mind that since it's always a Skill increasing the DC of the Save that the magic is as high powered as the characters are.

That's true, but most of the effects in Blue Rose that characters will be saving against aren't all that impressive in the first place, relatively speaking.

[C.W.Richeson]

Harm and Psychic Blast, for pure evil damage, can be nasty.

Here's all the Blue Rose Arcana for anyone interested (from the SRD):

Blue Rose Arcana and SRD (http://www.darkshire.net/~jhkim/rpg/srd/srd_true_romantic/Arcana.html#Chapter%204:%20Arcana)

[Wyvern76]

Here's all the Blue Rose Arcana for anyone interested (from the SRD):

Blue Rose Arcana and SRD (http://www.darkshire.net/~jhkim/rpg/srd/srd_true_romantic/Arcana.html#Chapter%204:%20Arcana)Cool! Thanks for that link. I had no idea the True20 rules were available online.

So what are the rules for playing dolphins like? (I think bard would be a great class for awakened dolphins in D&D, but I've never tested that theory.)

Wyvern

[capnzapp]

"I pull my axe out of 'is head & rifle 'is corpse!"

"He's got a ring worth ... uh ... +1 wealth."
Cont'd:

"Ohboy-ohboy-ohboy!!"

"Let's kill some more and see if I can find a +5 Longsword of Wealth!"

Yep, I can see that... ;)

[jcfiala]

Cont'd:

"Ohboy-ohboy-ohboy!!"

"Let's kill some more and see if I can find a +5 Longsword of Wealth!"

Yep, I can see that... ;)

I don't want a longsword of wealth. I'm just as happy with a few gold bars of wealth. :)

[C.W.Richeson]

So what are the rules for playing dolphins like? (I think bard would be a great class for awakened dolphins in D&D, but I've never tested that theory.)


They're a little fishy, but as long as you have a water-based campaign there's not much difference between dolphin (and other rhy characters) and humanoids.

We had a rhy-cat and a rhy-horse in our game and they were as competent as any humanoid - due in part to the abundance of other rhy animals to interact with and the wilderness focus of my game.

[Andrew Montgomery]

As usual, Davenport, brilliant review.

I wanted to add my two cents as a 25-year gaming veteran and a gay man. It's nice, I guess, to have a game that addresses these issues, but in Blue Rose it all seems too overt and overpowering. To me, the ideal treatment is how Buffy handled Willow and Tara...gay, sure, but still just a part of the gang. Even Xena did a better job by being playful with it all. The thing is I don't recall heterosexuality being a central theme in a game before, so I question the need for homosexuality to be. Gay characters could pop up in any world or setting: do we need a special enclosure where it is "safe" to let them roam free?

As per my the review, my only complaint with you, Davenport, is that you don't quit your day job and do this full time. Damn funny. Thanks.

[Dan Davenport]

As usual, Davenport, brilliant review.

I wanted to add my two cents as a 25-year gaming veteran and a gay man. It's nice, I guess, to have a game that addresses these issues, but in Blue Rose it all seems too overt and overpowering. To me, the ideal treatment is how Buffy handled Willow and Tara...gay, sure, but still just a part of the gang. Even Xena did a better job by being playful with it all. The thing is I don't recall heterosexuality being a central theme in a game before, so I question the need for homosexuality to be. Gay characters could pop up in any world or setting: do we need a special enclosure where it is "safe" to let them roam free?

As per my the review, my only complaint with you, Davenport, is that you don't quit your day job and do this full time. Damn funny. Thanks.

I'm truly humbled by your comments, Andrew. I'm always gratified to hear from someone who found a review of mine useful, but in this case, I'm especially glad to hear that you found my treatment of the game's take on homosexuality to be fair. I didn't want to offend anyone, but I also didn't want to censor myself and dilute my thoughts on the subject.

Thanks for the feedback, and rest assured that I will review full time as soon as economically possible! ;)

[mindstalk]

I wanted to add my two cents as a 25-year gaming veteran and a gay man. It's nice, I guess, to have a game that addresses these issues, but in Blue Rose it all seems too overt and overpowering. To me, the ideal treatment is how Buffy handled Willow and Tara...gay, sure, but still just a part of the gang. Even Xena did a better job by being playful with it all. The thing is I don't recall heterosexuality being a central theme in a game before, so I question the need for homosexuality to be. Gay characters could pop up in any world or setting: do we need a special enclosure where it is "safe" to let them roam free?


Out of curiosity, is your "it all seems too overt" a reaction to having read the game, or to Dan's description in the review? Because while some reviews have said "Agh! The cloying PC!" or "it beats you over the head", others have said all the gay-related text gathered together might add up to a page. And saying "this is a nice and tolerant society, including poly and gay marriage" and including gay god myths (like, um, Zeus and Ganymede, or Apollo and Hyacinth?) doesn't seem like a huge deal, or making it a "central theme".

Personally, after a lot of exposure to White Wolf's mix of angst, "you're monsters", doom, and unstable god-kings[1], a setting geared toward heroic fantasy where you play actual good heroes who have a society worth defending (including a government other than unexamined quasi-feudal hereditary) sounds like a nice variation. My biggest second-hand complaint about be about the intelligent animals: not that they exist, but that they seem like furry angelic sources of Good. OTOH, no review has complained about them being immune to corruption, so I imagine PCs can fall just like humans even if NPC animals haven't.

[1] I am impressed by the Exalted setting. WoD mostly makes me dream of high explosives.