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Old 01-15-2008, 01:54 PM
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GestaltBennie GestaltBennie is offline
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Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: British Columbia
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Re: [RPG]: Champions Of The North, reviewed by James Gillen (4/4)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bahama'at View Post
I picked this up despite havign cut way back on the Champions influence to my homebrew setting - I still get a kick from seeing how frigid Canuckistan is portrayed in RPGs.

All in all I was very impressed. Most of the detailing is good, but it seemed a bit dated. I read like it was written by a Canadian, but one who hasn't really been keeping an eye on latest trends or pop culture for a while (the TV show Due South was about as current as it got, and it's been off the air for several years, no mention of Trailer Park Boys, Good Cop/Bon Cop, Corner Gas, Little Mosque, etc). It is note perfect for games set in the mid-late 90s (just strip out the participation in Afghanistan/GWoT and play down the oil boom in Alberta as something that is just starting to happen). In modern day you'd likely need a bit more current info on music/movies/politics but a quick scan of a Canadian news site will do that for you.

Oh, and if you are a geography nitpicker - Wellington runs parallel to Parliament Hill. The author mixed it up with either Bank or O'Connor (O'Connor is the closest to running right up the Hill but isn't a main street, Bank is the big main street but is a tad West of the main part of the Hill). I'd be guessing without the book on hand but there is likely a couple of similar mix ups in other details. Nothing not easily corrected, or ignored.

It's a strong book. Stronger than most of the "Canada in RPGs" you see out there.

Glad you liked it, Maat. Thanks for the correction on Wellington.

Corner Gas, TPB and Good Cop/Bon Cop were all mentioned in the manuscript, but apparently didn't make the editorial cut (the author's copies are still in transit so I can'tr say for certain). Little Mosque wasn't mentooned because I'm not yet convinced it's going to be a long-term cultural staple, though it's an interesting show.
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