There has been a good deal of chatter about the review / biased presentation (?) of the Mythic GME. Let me start with a disclaimer. I don't know either Doc Halloween, or the writer of Mythic. I'm not connected to the publisher. But I am a long time gamer, having been playing for longer than many of the readers out there have been living. I've contributed to MWAN (Amature Wargaming Publication previously edited by Hal Thinglum), as well as both the US and UK version of "Lone Warrior", the magazine done for and by solo wargamers. I've been a playtester / rules analyst / contributor to a number of games (some credited, some not) but was involved in The Rules With No Name (Old West rules by Rick Priestly), SAGA Gaming's "Ancient Warfare" & "Medieval Warfare" by Terry Gore, "Babylons Burning" (post-apocalypse/future wars skirmish game), West Wind's "Cowboy Wars", "Gladiator Wars", and FGU's Gladiators by Hugh McGowan.
I've been primarily a solo gamer most of my life due to my former profession (US Navy Officer) and requirements of my family life / profession since retirement that has me on the road often with no notice. Solo has often been the only opportunity for me to wargame. As anyone who has tried playing solo, there is a certain sameness to the games, as the AI is essentially you, regardless of the "tricks" you use. I've collected many of them through the years from the venerable masters, such as Tony Bath, and Donald Featherstone, but have always been on the lookout for other tools to use. Like many gamers, I've tinkered with existing rules, and written some of my own. But, I've become a big fan of the Mythic GME since I stumbled across a reference for it on one of the solo wargaming groups.
It is a handy tool that you can use to be the AI in a solo game, or as an assist if the game has a GM. You can use it to provide additional depth and randomness to flavor the rules you are already using, or you can use it to run the entire game.
It is inexpensive, versatile, and has an active support group on Yahoo:
http://games.groups.yahoo.com/group/..._Role_Playing/
where the participants range from crusty old codgers like myself to folks who are completely new to gaming; from folks who are pure RPG gamers, to those who are much more a case of wargamers first, often miniature wargamers. I've been in a number of discussions with the fellow members both asking and answering questions and find it to be a good flame-free exchange of thoughts and ideas. The files section has a wealth of additional items that you can peruse to see if the feel of it fits what you are after, even if you don't want to invest the less thasn $10 to buy the download.
Some of the disadvantages have already been covered by previous comments.
a. The "Chaos Factor" issue has been a source of confusion for some of us, and there was an extended discussion on the Yahoo group. The idea is that as you get into a situation that is less out of your control, events are more likely to happen. Don't like that idea? Fine - just leave the Chaos Factor where it is for the entire game.
b. The events table often comes up with strange wording that may be hard to fold into your story. Some combinations such as "Ambush / The Innocent" is easy to understand and build into your story. Others, such as "Intolerance / Investment" are more obscure. It might be interpreted as an opportunity to invest in a situation that has to do with intolerance (Contributing to a fund that supports a preacher who is intolerant of red savage heathens), or to become intolerant of an investment being made (You find your employer is the financial backer for the ranchers who are actively and violently driving out homesteaders). Yes, it can be obscure, and some fit worse than this example. You can roll again. Still too obscure? Here's what the GME says:
"When using Mythic and the randomness rules there will come times when you follow the rules, perform each step, and are left wondering, “What does all of this mean?” The clues offered by the meaning, context and focus should suggest an immediate meaning to the random event. Generally, whatever occurs to you first, and seems the best fit, is what you go with.
But what if nothing comes to mind? Or, it’s taking too long?
Then forget it."
Mythic is designed to keep things moving. When that isn't happening, don't get bogged down, just move on. Don't like the word combinations? Pen & Ink in your own.
I also don't care for the artwork. Seems too much of it is "filler" and not being a fantasy RPG player, the subject matter isn't my cup of joe.
I do like the simplicity, the flexibility of design, and the examples. The author does a better job than most other rules sets I've seen in explaining a concept, then illustrating its implementation with a few different examples.
Will it meet your needs? Hard to say. Not my job to sell you. But I am inviting you over to take a look. In the files, you'll find, among other things, some detailed after action reports from games. They range from the simple and quick resolution of a short event in a game to a long and detailed discussion of the ongoing narrative along with notes embedded in the storyline to guide the reader through the mechanics used by the author. I'm currently using the GME to try my own attempt at "Cinematic Story Gaming" which is also my first real use of Mythic. I got hooked on the idea by lurking on the page for a while, reading the items in the files, following Bob Stewart's Northwest Frontier Saga, exchanging emails with Bob and a few others, then jumping in with both feet. Is my effort a success? Depends. I'm not an author, and it probably shows, although I'm trying to do write-ups that are enjoyable from a gaming standpoint as well as informative for others interested in Mythic. I don't know if you care for the period I'm gaming, or the write-ups I'm providing. Whether they work for you or not, they work for me. I'm solo gaming, enjoying it, and using the GME to help move the story line as well as take some of the god-like control out of my hands.
Aside from the prattling on I've done above, I'd also be happy to discuss any of what I've done with Mythic GME, or answer any questions for you off line. Best place to reach me initially is at work (parusj@saic.com) as my road sked often has me in places where my aol or Yahoo email accounts are problematic, but I can get through to my work account.
So, grab yourself a cup of joe, a bottle of brew, or whatever your poison of choice is, and mosey on by. We'll keep the light on for ya.
Cheers,
John